Hype - defined as 'exaggerated claims, overblown publicity' - turns me off. Whenever I sense that someone is 'hyping' the situation, I start looking for the door.
Politicians do it, claiming that if they are not elected the nation will perish in the next electoral cycle. It never does.
Preachers do it, urging the faithful to give and serve sacrificially, or else... well, there are all kinds of ways to finish that sentence with hype.
Salesmen do it. "Buy this car right now, 'cause I've got someone coming in to see later today, and they are ready to buy!" To which we ought to say, "Yeah, right!"
We're so accustomed to this kind of language, we take little that is said to us at face value.
So, when you see my opening line about a life and death matter, you probably discounted it as just more hype, right?
Believer, is is the truth. How you conduct yourself today is a life and death matter. Consider this word from the Scripture. "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? . . . Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 2:15-3:6, NIV) As we interact with people today, we are spreading the fragrance of God's Presence. To some we are a stench that reminds them of death and doom; to others we are the sweet smell of Spring and new life! What a responsibility. It is a life and death matter.
The Word quickly reminds us that we need not be overwhelmed for it is God in us that does the work. We cannot change anyone's eternal destiny but God, the Holy Spirit, Who lives in us, spills over and allows us to serve up the water of life in a dry and thirsty land. What a privilege; a real honor. Think of it, Believer; wherever you go today you can be like a drink of cool water to those who are dying of thirst. To be sure, some who are living in a spiritual desert will reject the water of life and to those people you will become an offense, a harbinger of the death that awaits. But that results from their choice, not yours. How I want to pour the Spirit's life into my world; how about you?
Don;'t mistake representing Christ with being religious! Religion serves up judgment and condemnation that makes people even more 'dead' to God. Last week our local newspaper reported on a group from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas who were planning a trip to our area (Easton, PA) to demonstrate at a soldier's funeral. This group of "Christians" (their claim, but not the way I'd describe them) has made it their mission to show up at various places where there have been tragedies to announce what they see as God's judgment on America. They wave hateful signs and yell about impending doom with rhetoric that is too disgusting to use in this TFTD. And they think they are doing God's work! This misguided group does not pour a refreshing drink of the Spirit. They offer a cup of religious sand to those who thirst. What a travesty. But that is what happens when we make the rules about serving God more important than the relationship we can have with God.
God does require holiness of those who follow Him. It is absolutely true that those who are 'in Christ' cannot live with impurity, greed, lust, gluttony, materialism, sensuality, hate ... controlling their lives. But it is not regulations that make us holy. It is knowing God, through Christ Jesus, that makes us "His holy people." Indeed, apart from knowing God, there is no possibility of holiness that pleases Him. Yes, Believers we are ministers of a new agreement with the God of Heaven, one that He wrote in the Blood of His Son, that fully releases us from the guilt and shame that once separated us from our Father. It is our job to point people to the Cross where they find forgiveness and reconciliation. "We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21, NLT)
That's what I mean about a 'life and death matter.'
Represent your King well, won't you? Prepare your mind and heart for this work by taking a few moments to soak up the Water of Life and then let it flow from you to those who need to be loved in God's Name.
When they ask the reason you're full of hope, that you have made a different choice to live for Heaven, tell them about the joy of knowing Jesus, who gives life - and that 'more abundantly!'
___________________
Here's a song I love. If you know, sing it! If not, just make it your prayer, as I do each day.
May we be a shining light to the nations,
A shining light to the peoples of the earth;
'Til the whole world sees the glory of Your name,
May Your pure light shine through us.
May we bring a word of hope to the nations,
A word of life to the peoples of the earth;
'Til the whole world knows
There's salvation through Your name,
May Your mercy flow through us.
May we be a healing balm to the nations,
A healing balm to the peoples of the earth;
'Til the whole world knows
The power of Your name,
May Your healing flow through us.
May we sing a song of joy to the nations,
A song of praise to the peoples of the earth;
'Til the whole world rings
With the praises of Your name,
May Your song be sung through us.
May Your kingdom come to the nations,
Your will be done in the peoples of the earth;
'Til the whole world knows
That Jesus Christ is Lord,
May Your kingdom come in us.
May Your kingdom come in us.
May Your kingdom come on earth!
-- Song For The Nations - Christensen, Chris - © 1986 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, February 12, 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
The tragedy of a loveless life
The news media blasted us with the story of the death of Anna Nicole Smith, who achieved notoriety for taking off her clothes for Playboy magazine, making a joke of herself on 'reality TV,' and marrying a billionaire who was 60 years older than she was. She died in a hotel room in Florida at age 39. Speculation is that abuse of drugs and alcohol were the cause of her death. But, I believe that there is a cause for her death that will not show up in the coroner's investigation. She really perished from a lack of genuine love! This woman who managed to attract so much attention was lonely and insecure, estranged from many people including her family. Money, celebrity, and attention could not fill the need for authentic love - love of family and God. She destroyed herself by looking for love in all the wrong places. It makes me wonder what happened to her when she was very young - if someone missed the opportunity to show her genuine love?
Tony Wood, a friend and a man who does ministry in prisons, is a 'Dad' to a hundred young men who are in lock-ups. Young tough guys hug him and send him cards and letters. Why? Many of them have lived most of their young lives with a famine of love. Then along comes Tony showing them genuine loving concern, treating them like sons. He does it without any selfish interest on his part and not because he's paid to be concerned. They begin to feel human again, as God intended. The power of love never ceases to amaze me. I see it everywhere I go, wherever I have the opportunity to interact with people. When I show even the smallest amount of interest and concern for another person, there is almost always a positive response.
Bringing love to our world is what Christ's followers are commissioned to do. It's not that we send everybody a Valentine Day card! It's not about giving a box of chocolates! We love in ways that declare to everyone - the broken as well as the whole, the unattractive as well as the beautiful, the powerless as well as the powerful - "You are a person of dignity and worth!" Whenever and wherever Believers have found ways to do that, they have made the world a better place, and glorified God. But wherever and whenever they start to judge and condemn others they go 'off purpose.'
Here's how Jesus said it. "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." (John 15:9-13, NLT) Read it again!
Deception is all around us, a lie that says that we can be full of joy and live a rich life if we selfishly serve our own needs. "Take what is yours. Push your way to the head of the line. Don't let anyone steal your credit. Hoard your wealth. Feed your needs." These messages are pounded into us, day after day, but they are simply wrong. Here's the truth - Let God love you, and then forget yourself. Give your life away and you'll find it again- but in a whole and wonderful way.
This love life principle is so basic I feel silly sending out this TFTD. Why state the obvious? Because we forget. Even among the Christians that I work with everyday, I see men and women who forget that they are loved and that they are called by God to be lovers! They get all caught up in promotions, recognition - trying to make sure that they get their whole slice of the pie, so to speak. So, I am reminding us today, of what we already know. Go love somebody. Just as the Father has loved you, deeply and restoratively, love others. You just might save someone's life! Really!
______________________
"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!
Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.
But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to." (1 John 3:1, The Message)
"For this is the original message we heard:
We should love each other. We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don’t be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.
The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together. This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves."
(1 John 3:11-16, The Message)
Tony Wood, a friend and a man who does ministry in prisons, is a 'Dad' to a hundred young men who are in lock-ups. Young tough guys hug him and send him cards and letters. Why? Many of them have lived most of their young lives with a famine of love. Then along comes Tony showing them genuine loving concern, treating them like sons. He does it without any selfish interest on his part and not because he's paid to be concerned. They begin to feel human again, as God intended. The power of love never ceases to amaze me. I see it everywhere I go, wherever I have the opportunity to interact with people. When I show even the smallest amount of interest and concern for another person, there is almost always a positive response.
Bringing love to our world is what Christ's followers are commissioned to do. It's not that we send everybody a Valentine Day card! It's not about giving a box of chocolates! We love in ways that declare to everyone - the broken as well as the whole, the unattractive as well as the beautiful, the powerless as well as the powerful - "You are a person of dignity and worth!" Whenever and wherever Believers have found ways to do that, they have made the world a better place, and glorified God. But wherever and whenever they start to judge and condemn others they go 'off purpose.'
Here's how Jesus said it. "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." (John 15:9-13, NLT) Read it again!
Deception is all around us, a lie that says that we can be full of joy and live a rich life if we selfishly serve our own needs. "Take what is yours. Push your way to the head of the line. Don't let anyone steal your credit. Hoard your wealth. Feed your needs." These messages are pounded into us, day after day, but they are simply wrong. Here's the truth - Let God love you, and then forget yourself. Give your life away and you'll find it again- but in a whole and wonderful way.
This love life principle is so basic I feel silly sending out this TFTD. Why state the obvious? Because we forget. Even among the Christians that I work with everyday, I see men and women who forget that they are loved and that they are called by God to be lovers! They get all caught up in promotions, recognition - trying to make sure that they get their whole slice of the pie, so to speak. So, I am reminding us today, of what we already know. Go love somebody. Just as the Father has loved you, deeply and restoratively, love others. You just might save someone's life! Really!
______________________
"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!
Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.
But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to." (1 John 3:1, The Message)
"For this is the original message we heard:
We should love each other. We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don’t be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.
The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together. This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves."
(1 John 3:11-16, The Message)
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Just paying your dues?
America is a religious nation! Compared to Europe, Australia, and other 'first world' nations, the USA is way out front in percentages of people who regularly attend church, who support religious charities, and who profess belief in a Personal God, who can be known and loved. Before you break out in praises, let me hasten to say that while I am glad for this, it is a small comfort for this pastor in all that for two reasons.
The first has to do with the so-called Millennial Generation, those born in the two decades spanning 1977 to 1997. That generation is bringing us a rapidly changing set of values. They are just now beginning to assume places of power and influence. They have disdain for traditions and 'Truth,” including religious dogma. They are wired, connected to one another in such a way they shut out the voices (and influence) of their elders. yes, they are 'spiritual,' but in a most experiential way; swayed by what 'feels right' more than what they are told is right by experts. They doubt the integrity of the institutions that provide social stability. The next 25-30 years is going to be interesting for the Church. As the Millennial generation takes over our pulpits, I wonder if they will lead America to quickly become a secular society like those in Europe. Or, in the mysterious ways of God, will a religious revival shake the American psyche like the awakening that changed millions of lives in the early 70's? The the so-called "Jesus People" movement of that era produced the evangelical and charismatic churches that many of us worship in today, where contemporary forms of worship and conversational prayer are the norms.
The second reason that I find small comfort in American religiosity is that for many people overt Christianity is just another way to 'pay the dues,' to make a tacit deal with the Almighty. "I'll show up for church and support the American Cancer Society, and You, Lord, make sure that the social contract that provides me a good life stays intact." Perhaps that is much too cynical, but I can say this with certainty, preaching total commitment and self-sacrifice is not a prescription for growing a mega-church in religious America! Many sermons are just re-packaged "me-ism" about a therapeutic God and a Jesus who dispenses endless love and favor to us because we are so important to Him. There's just enough truth to make it all sound right, but not enough to really change our hearts and minds!
Reading the prophets this week - Hosea, Amos, Joel - I see that they, too, wrestled with a changing society that enjoyed great blessings. The people to whom they preached loved their wealth, their wine, and their idol gods. The prophets, living in the world but listening to the music of Heaven, saw the coming judgment of God. Hosea actually lived his sermon! His wife, Gomer, ran off with other men more than once, a lesson of the spiritual adultery of God's bride, the Jewish nation. Just as Gomer's infidelity enraged and broke Hosea's heart, so the Jews' waywardness infuriated God, but still He longed to show them love.
This nation, which He has blessed with unparalleled opportunities, with wealth and influence of a magnitude that no other nation in all of recorded history has ever known, must surely face the heavy hand of God discipline unless we turn again to Him. The shallow experiential religiosity of the Millennials and the "Christianity Lite" of many who occupy church pews is an offense to His glory and majesty which He cannot overlook for long.
Joel, the prophet, heard the Lord God say, "Now, therefore, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” The prophet followed up God's invitation with this advice. "So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. " (Joel 2:12-13, NKJV) Enough of the superficial religiosity, the emotionalism and excitement that the flesh craves, but passes as quickly as thunderstorm, leaving little genuine spiritual change. Rip up your heart in a true sign of desire for transformation. It's not too late to discover a deep passion for holiness and Truth, for God is very patient.
Read this ancient prophecy and invite God, the Holy Spirit, to make it speak to your heart today."O Israel, come back! Return to your God! You’re down but you’re not out. Prepare your confession and come back to God. Pray to him, “Take away our sin, and accept our confession. Receive as restitution our repentant prayers. Assyria (our powerful neighbor) won’t save us; horses won’t get us where we want to go. We’ll never again say ‘our god’ to something we’ve made or made up. You’re our last hope. Is it not true that in you the orphan finds mercy?” God replies - “I will heal their waywardness. I will love them lavishly. My anger is played out. I will make a fresh start with Israel. He’ll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring. He’ll put down deep oak tree roots; he’ll become a forest of oaks! He’ll become splendid—like a giant sequoia, his fragrance like a grove of cedars!" (Hosea 14:1-6, The Message)
Those who claim that the Lord God of the Old Testament is a vengeful, wrathful, graceless God just do not know what they are talking about. He's always loved His People and He still does.Today, His people are not those of a nation or a race, but those who have received His Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus. That Spirit, says Joel, will bring new visions, new dreams - a rebirth of God's glory among those who really love Him. Ah, friend, the question is - "Do you love Him whole-heartedly, for Who He is, beyond the blessings, for more than the promise of a good life?"
___________________
"Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. ” (Joel 2:13, The Message) Amen.
The first has to do with the so-called Millennial Generation, those born in the two decades spanning 1977 to 1997. That generation is bringing us a rapidly changing set of values. They are just now beginning to assume places of power and influence. They have disdain for traditions and 'Truth,” including religious dogma. They are wired, connected to one another in such a way they shut out the voices (and influence) of their elders. yes, they are 'spiritual,' but in a most experiential way; swayed by what 'feels right' more than what they are told is right by experts. They doubt the integrity of the institutions that provide social stability. The next 25-30 years is going to be interesting for the Church. As the Millennial generation takes over our pulpits, I wonder if they will lead America to quickly become a secular society like those in Europe. Or, in the mysterious ways of God, will a religious revival shake the American psyche like the awakening that changed millions of lives in the early 70's? The the so-called "Jesus People" movement of that era produced the evangelical and charismatic churches that many of us worship in today, where contemporary forms of worship and conversational prayer are the norms.
The second reason that I find small comfort in American religiosity is that for many people overt Christianity is just another way to 'pay the dues,' to make a tacit deal with the Almighty. "I'll show up for church and support the American Cancer Society, and You, Lord, make sure that the social contract that provides me a good life stays intact." Perhaps that is much too cynical, but I can say this with certainty, preaching total commitment and self-sacrifice is not a prescription for growing a mega-church in religious America! Many sermons are just re-packaged "me-ism" about a therapeutic God and a Jesus who dispenses endless love and favor to us because we are so important to Him. There's just enough truth to make it all sound right, but not enough to really change our hearts and minds!
Reading the prophets this week - Hosea, Amos, Joel - I see that they, too, wrestled with a changing society that enjoyed great blessings. The people to whom they preached loved their wealth, their wine, and their idol gods. The prophets, living in the world but listening to the music of Heaven, saw the coming judgment of God. Hosea actually lived his sermon! His wife, Gomer, ran off with other men more than once, a lesson of the spiritual adultery of God's bride, the Jewish nation. Just as Gomer's infidelity enraged and broke Hosea's heart, so the Jews' waywardness infuriated God, but still He longed to show them love.
This nation, which He has blessed with unparalleled opportunities, with wealth and influence of a magnitude that no other nation in all of recorded history has ever known, must surely face the heavy hand of God discipline unless we turn again to Him. The shallow experiential religiosity of the Millennials and the "Christianity Lite" of many who occupy church pews is an offense to His glory and majesty which He cannot overlook for long.
Joel, the prophet, heard the Lord God say, "Now, therefore, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” The prophet followed up God's invitation with this advice. "So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. " (Joel 2:12-13, NKJV) Enough of the superficial religiosity, the emotionalism and excitement that the flesh craves, but passes as quickly as thunderstorm, leaving little genuine spiritual change. Rip up your heart in a true sign of desire for transformation. It's not too late to discover a deep passion for holiness and Truth, for God is very patient.
Read this ancient prophecy and invite God, the Holy Spirit, to make it speak to your heart today."O Israel, come back! Return to your God! You’re down but you’re not out. Prepare your confession and come back to God. Pray to him, “Take away our sin, and accept our confession. Receive as restitution our repentant prayers. Assyria (our powerful neighbor) won’t save us; horses won’t get us where we want to go. We’ll never again say ‘our god’ to something we’ve made or made up. You’re our last hope. Is it not true that in you the orphan finds mercy?” God replies - “I will heal their waywardness. I will love them lavishly. My anger is played out. I will make a fresh start with Israel. He’ll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring. He’ll put down deep oak tree roots; he’ll become a forest of oaks! He’ll become splendid—like a giant sequoia, his fragrance like a grove of cedars!" (Hosea 14:1-6, The Message)
Those who claim that the Lord God of the Old Testament is a vengeful, wrathful, graceless God just do not know what they are talking about. He's always loved His People and He still does.Today, His people are not those of a nation or a race, but those who have received His Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus. That Spirit, says Joel, will bring new visions, new dreams - a rebirth of God's glory among those who really love Him. Ah, friend, the question is - "Do you love Him whole-heartedly, for Who He is, beyond the blessings, for more than the promise of a good life?"
___________________
"Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. ” (Joel 2:13, The Message) Amen.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Choose the narrow way. Find life!
There is a real case to be made for choosing to live God's way in this world. His way leads to life; and not just eternal life, but to 'abundant life.' With the advantage of having lived a half-century I can say I am so grateful for all those people who, over the years, pointed me to the 'Way' and encouraged me, again and again, to respond to the Spirit's call with a ready 'Yes!' As a result I do not have to live with a ton of regrets and a list of 'what might have beens.' No, I am not polishing my halo! I've made quite a few detours from the Way and done my share of stupid tricks. I've failed God and others from time to time. But, overall, my life has been lived with God as the center and with an overall desire to discover and live in His will. And, to this day, I have no regrets about that. I've missed out on a few experiences as a result of choosing obedience to God over self expression. I have no record of arrests, no skeletons in the closet to hide, and I can look every woman I know in the eyes without shame over what was done in the dark. Living in God's way has kept me from sins that could have prevented me from my enjoyment of a solid marriage, the love of my adult children, a wide circle of friends, and a career in church work that provides more than adequately for my needs. By some measures I suppose my life would not be judged a successful one. I don't have a big retirement account. I live in a comfortable but modest house. I cannot lay any claims to fame. But, it is a good life, full of God's Grace - and that satisfies me.
Please do not read this TFTD as a Pharisee's self-congratulation. I know full well that who I am today and those things that I count to my credit are the result of God's grace and the investment of good people in me. What I am trying to illustrate is that there are good reasons to encourage others to say "yes" to God's invitation to follow Christ. Though there are some hard choices and required self-denial, there are rewards, too. I have to ask: Do we make that case strongly enough? Do we make it plain that life offers us two roads - a wide one that looks great and leads to a dead-end of destruction or a narrow one that looks hard but leads us to a life that is rich and full of those things that are of true and eternal value? Do we talk only about the Cross of Christ and seldom of the Crown of life? Jesus said it plainly: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NKJV)
Perhaps a false modesty causes us to feel that just coming out and saying, "serving Christ is the best way to live and here's why!" I know I am reluctant to say that because I fear that my words will be read as prideful. But if we don't tell others what the Lord has done for us, why would they choose to love and serve Him? The Psalmist says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies." ... “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." (Psalm 107:1-2, 6-9, NLT)
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul contrasts two ways of life. As you read, ask the Spirit of God to lead you to choose the way of life.
" So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-25, NIV)
A God-centered, Christ-redeemed, Spirit-filled person will live a life that is demonstrably
different from those who walk apart from God, without His life in them.Does His Light shine in you?
________________________
Proverbs 4:18-19 (The Message)
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
Please do not read this TFTD as a Pharisee's self-congratulation. I know full well that who I am today and those things that I count to my credit are the result of God's grace and the investment of good people in me. What I am trying to illustrate is that there are good reasons to encourage others to say "yes" to God's invitation to follow Christ. Though there are some hard choices and required self-denial, there are rewards, too. I have to ask: Do we make that case strongly enough? Do we make it plain that life offers us two roads - a wide one that looks great and leads to a dead-end of destruction or a narrow one that looks hard but leads us to a life that is rich and full of those things that are of true and eternal value? Do we talk only about the Cross of Christ and seldom of the Crown of life? Jesus said it plainly: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NKJV)
Perhaps a false modesty causes us to feel that just coming out and saying, "serving Christ is the best way to live and here's why!" I know I am reluctant to say that because I fear that my words will be read as prideful. But if we don't tell others what the Lord has done for us, why would they choose to love and serve Him? The Psalmist says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies." ... “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." (Psalm 107:1-2, 6-9, NLT)
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul contrasts two ways of life. As you read, ask the Spirit of God to lead you to choose the way of life.
" So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-25, NIV)
A God-centered, Christ-redeemed, Spirit-filled person will live a life that is demonstrably
different from those who walk apart from God, without His life in them.Does His Light shine in you?
________________________
Proverbs 4:18-19 (The Message)
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Keep yourself pure!
I am not a prude (defined as 'a person of excessive modesty') but I am outraged by the torrent of sexuality that has swept over our culture like a tsunami wave. I am not sure that young adults in America even know the meaning of friendship or true beauty any longer. Many young men are convinced that the only way to relate to women is genitally. The entertainment industry has so sexualized the standard of 'beauty' for women that many constantly dress like prostitutes. In what I believe is one of the most tragic developments of our time, many of our young women (yes, even adolescent girls!) have come to believe that the only way to be valuable is to be sexual. Foul men stand ready to exploit this mistaken value system. Hugh Hefner, of Playboy fame, started the industry of exploitation 50 years ago. From his airbrushed pictures of naked women, the industry devolved to things like the coarse 'entertainment' produced by Jim Francis called - "Girls Gone Wild" - featuring drunk college girls in various states of nudity, and explicit pornography available on Main Street, Anytown, USA.
Even Christians have been overwhelmed by the tide! The majority of couples that come to me to be married are already living together and they have no sense that they are acting in an immoral way. Christian teens and young adults publish songs, photos, and poems on their MySpace of such explicitness that the material makes me blush! Christian men are consuming pornography at nearly the same rates as non-Believers. Nobody, it seems, knows the meaning of moral purity. The Bible calls us to a different standard. "Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world." (Ephesians 5:3-5, NLT)
This TFTD is not a call to return to Victorian prudery! I don't think that pretending sex does not exist is any kind of answer to immorality. Nor must all Christians aspire to celibacy; unwilling to be real, live, warm-blooded men and women who feel and experience sexual passion. What we must do is to return sex to the place of exclusivity that God gave to it. "Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex." (Hebrews 13:4, The Message) Christians must reclaim sex from the gutter. We need to affirm the spiritual aspect of human sexuality. Having sex must have more significance to us than having a hamburger. Both satisfy an appetite, but a meal is just that. Sex satisfies a physical need, but carries a much deeper meaning with it as well.
The physical union of sexual intercourse creates a spiritual bond. Consider what God says. "There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another." (1 Corinthians 6:16-18, The Message)
Believer, one of the ways that you and I must be remarkably different from our world is in the area of sexual purity. Our lives should be notable for the way we celebrate our sexuality - wholly and holy - in a God-honoring manner. We cannot allow ourselves to become scolds and nags, wagging our condemning finger at those who are duped by the lies of this sensual culture. We must not imply that sex is ugly or base or vile! That was the course chosen by others that helped to get this culture to its present state. Instead, we must speak of sex in terms that honor God's gift of maleness and femaleness. Christian men can and should be virile without needing to lust after every attractive woman they see. Christian women must recover true beauty, in body and spirit, without adopting a whorish appearance or a sluttish attitude
Today, ask the Lord to help His people to begin anew. Pray for a wholeness of mind and heart in terms of sexuality. If you've fallen into sinful impurity, commit yourself to a restoration - starting today.
Make this your prayer, for God's sake.
Psalm 101:1-6 (NIV)
1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.
3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
Amen.
Even Christians have been overwhelmed by the tide! The majority of couples that come to me to be married are already living together and they have no sense that they are acting in an immoral way. Christian teens and young adults publish songs, photos, and poems on their MySpace of such explicitness that the material makes me blush! Christian men are consuming pornography at nearly the same rates as non-Believers. Nobody, it seems, knows the meaning of moral purity. The Bible calls us to a different standard. "Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world." (Ephesians 5:3-5, NLT)
This TFTD is not a call to return to Victorian prudery! I don't think that pretending sex does not exist is any kind of answer to immorality. Nor must all Christians aspire to celibacy; unwilling to be real, live, warm-blooded men and women who feel and experience sexual passion. What we must do is to return sex to the place of exclusivity that God gave to it. "Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex." (Hebrews 13:4, The Message) Christians must reclaim sex from the gutter. We need to affirm the spiritual aspect of human sexuality. Having sex must have more significance to us than having a hamburger. Both satisfy an appetite, but a meal is just that. Sex satisfies a physical need, but carries a much deeper meaning with it as well.
The physical union of sexual intercourse creates a spiritual bond. Consider what God says. "There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another." (1 Corinthians 6:16-18, The Message)
Believer, one of the ways that you and I must be remarkably different from our world is in the area of sexual purity. Our lives should be notable for the way we celebrate our sexuality - wholly and holy - in a God-honoring manner. We cannot allow ourselves to become scolds and nags, wagging our condemning finger at those who are duped by the lies of this sensual culture. We must not imply that sex is ugly or base or vile! That was the course chosen by others that helped to get this culture to its present state. Instead, we must speak of sex in terms that honor God's gift of maleness and femaleness. Christian men can and should be virile without needing to lust after every attractive woman they see. Christian women must recover true beauty, in body and spirit, without adopting a whorish appearance or a sluttish attitude
Today, ask the Lord to help His people to begin anew. Pray for a wholeness of mind and heart in terms of sexuality. If you've fallen into sinful impurity, commit yourself to a restoration - starting today.
Make this your prayer, for God's sake.
Psalm 101:1-6 (NIV)
1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.
3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
Amen.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Can He trust you?
I tuned into "Dateline" last night and saw another sad episode of "To catch a predator." In case you have not watched, it is a show in which men who have engaged in explicit sexual online conversations with police officers who pose as 13 year boys or girls are invited to a home to meet their prey. In reality, they are only going to meet the police. Once there, some are brazen in their attempts to lie their way out of their predicament., Some are pathetic as they realize that they are facing a tough time at home and/or at work when they have to explain their choices. Most grow apologetic when they see the Chris Harris and the TV cameras. They are charged with crimes, depending on the statutes of the state in which Dateline is operating. And - their double life is exposed. It is a tragedy all around - for children they may have exploited prior to being caught; for wives at home, most of whom have no idea of the secret sordid lives of their husbands, and for the men who are enslaved by lust and who are unwilling to seek out the help they need to overcome their sin. These men are not all 'losers,' either. Clergymen, physicians, teachers, lawyers, tradesmen with steady jobs and good homes are all in the mix!
My Bible readings this week have taken me to the book of Daniel, in preparation for the class I'll teach this evening. As much as anything in that book, I am captivated by his amazing integrity. As a teenage boy, taken by the Babylonians into servitude, far from home and under great pressure to conform, he held to principle over expedience. Throughout his life, he held onto that honesty. As a result, he became a trusted advisor to 4 kings, with a career that spanned about 70 years. If you know his story, you are aware that he and his friends paid a dear price, more than once, for their refusal to 'go along to get along!' They made a trip through a fiery furnace and he through a night in a den of hungry lions! As an old man, his reputation was stellar, such that when Belshazzar, the king, needed someone to interpret a troubling vision, he was told to call Daniel. Those who recommended him, knew that Daniel would not sugarcoat the message, would not bend the words to appease the king. When he appeared before the terrified king, he was offered wealth and privilege to tell the meaning of the handwriting on the wall. Here is Daniel's response. “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means." (Daniel 5:17, NIV) In other words, "I am not for sale!"
Are you for sale? It is said that every person has a price. I don't want to believe that, but there is certainly a mountain of evidence that lends credence to the idea that for the right amount of money, for 15 minutes of fame; people will sell their souls. Do you have a price? Are you worthy of trust, a person of solid character all the way to the core? Is there a level at which you will compromise your integrity?
Those are painful questions but we need to ask them often of ourselves. Hidden compromise and secret sin is a source of rot in our souls. It isn't just about lust like that which is featured on Dateline. It could be financial irresponsibility, abuse of alcohol or drugs, flirting with members of the opposite sex when you travel, feigned spirituality, hatred hidden deep under layers of sweet talk - any situation where you know that in your heart you are not the person others believe you to be.
The only cure is confession! Getting honest - with yourself, with God, and with others - is the way that we become people who can be trusted, whose lives are marked with integrity. Deal ruthlessly with any areas of rot in your life, friend - for God's sake. Quit making excuses, blaming somebody else, or looking for loopholes. Call it what it is. And, find a confessor. Millions have found freedom from terrible habits and/or addictions in 12 Step groups. Is it because they find some amazing revelation there? No, not at all. It is where they start to tell the truth. When they have to say it out loud, in front of others who once told the same lie, they have to deal with it.
Value integrity like a treasure. It is! Nothing makes a person more admirable, more respected, than integrity. Jesus demands it from us. He said, "Let your Yes mean Yes... nothing more, nothing less!"
Here's a word from the Word for your meditation today. It points the way to integrity, to a life that can be lived in the light without fear."If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." (1 John 1:6-9, The Message)
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
My Bible readings this week have taken me to the book of Daniel, in preparation for the class I'll teach this evening. As much as anything in that book, I am captivated by his amazing integrity. As a teenage boy, taken by the Babylonians into servitude, far from home and under great pressure to conform, he held to principle over expedience. Throughout his life, he held onto that honesty. As a result, he became a trusted advisor to 4 kings, with a career that spanned about 70 years. If you know his story, you are aware that he and his friends paid a dear price, more than once, for their refusal to 'go along to get along!' They made a trip through a fiery furnace and he through a night in a den of hungry lions! As an old man, his reputation was stellar, such that when Belshazzar, the king, needed someone to interpret a troubling vision, he was told to call Daniel. Those who recommended him, knew that Daniel would not sugarcoat the message, would not bend the words to appease the king. When he appeared before the terrified king, he was offered wealth and privilege to tell the meaning of the handwriting on the wall. Here is Daniel's response. “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means." (Daniel 5:17, NIV) In other words, "I am not for sale!"
Are you for sale? It is said that every person has a price. I don't want to believe that, but there is certainly a mountain of evidence that lends credence to the idea that for the right amount of money, for 15 minutes of fame; people will sell their souls. Do you have a price? Are you worthy of trust, a person of solid character all the way to the core? Is there a level at which you will compromise your integrity?
Those are painful questions but we need to ask them often of ourselves. Hidden compromise and secret sin is a source of rot in our souls. It isn't just about lust like that which is featured on Dateline. It could be financial irresponsibility, abuse of alcohol or drugs, flirting with members of the opposite sex when you travel, feigned spirituality, hatred hidden deep under layers of sweet talk - any situation where you know that in your heart you are not the person others believe you to be.
The only cure is confession! Getting honest - with yourself, with God, and with others - is the way that we become people who can be trusted, whose lives are marked with integrity. Deal ruthlessly with any areas of rot in your life, friend - for God's sake. Quit making excuses, blaming somebody else, or looking for loopholes. Call it what it is. And, find a confessor. Millions have found freedom from terrible habits and/or addictions in 12 Step groups. Is it because they find some amazing revelation there? No, not at all. It is where they start to tell the truth. When they have to say it out loud, in front of others who once told the same lie, they have to deal with it.
Value integrity like a treasure. It is! Nothing makes a person more admirable, more respected, than integrity. Jesus demands it from us. He said, "Let your Yes mean Yes... nothing more, nothing less!"
Here's a word from the Word for your meditation today. It points the way to integrity, to a life that can be lived in the light without fear."If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." (1 John 1:6-9, The Message)
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
He makes me crazy!
So, have you ever been offended? Silly question, right? Everybody gets mad at somebody, sometime. Wives make their husbands angry. Husbands leave the toilet seat up! Neighbors get angry and build fences. Nations make war. We human beings are offended - constantly, it seems. Too many times to count, I have found myself with a pounding heart, gripped with anger, over some perceived encroachment in my life by another. The source of the offense can be something as trivial as a person who drives too slowly in the fast lane on the Interstate highway. The larger question is not - will I be offended, or even why am I offended? The truly important issue for us as Christ's followers is - how will I respond when I feel offended? The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
As I shepherd God's people, the one thing I do as much as any other is soothe people's ruffled feelings! When marriages hit a rough spot on life's road, I work with the couple to help them discover a way back to harmony. When Believers disagree, I attempt to create a sense of shared vision once again. And let me tell you the real truth - sometimes the very fact that someone in my flock has taken offense, offends me! How's that for a complicated mess? I feel the stir of irritation, from time to time, thinking - "how could something so relatively unimportant become such an issue to her?" Then, I recall my own times of offense, when sleep has been robbed, when I have found myself thinking unholy thoughts about another. And, with distance and perspective I, too, see how those troubled moments were the result of some little issue, unworthy of the depth of emotion I invest in it!
Offense almost always grows in self-love, self-concern; doesn't it? Yes, of course, I've heard about 'righteous indignation.' And, I've read about Jesus' anger when He cleared the money changers out of the Temple, offended at their blatant greed and abuse of people who came to worship. But, our offense is seldom about such weighty issues, is it? We get worked up because someone parks in our spot, sits in our pew, fails to show expected appreciation for our service, and/or fails to meet our expectation in some way or another. All this is a symptom of a greater need, to feel that we have worth, that we are valued. That's a legitimate need. But how we meet it is important. If we gauge our personal worth by measuring the response of other people to us, we will spend inordinate amounts of time angry or in despair. People are often insensitive or just plain thoughtless. They will fail to appreciate or even see our contribution to their lives.
As we mature, both emotionally and spiritually, we develop genuine self-esteem as we come to understand the strengths and weaknesses in ourselves. We learn how to 'fit' in our place in this world, accepting who we are and needing less and less affirmation from others in order to feel 'worth.' The key to this serenity is the love of God! The great message of grace is that God, because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, forgives us, removes our shame and guilt, and restores our dignity. We, who were broken by sin in ourselves and by the sins of others, are called 'children of God!' And we are not just tolerated kids, either. We are His beloved sons and daughters. Here is the kernel of truth about this. The more we are filled with the Spirit of God, the less we will grow offended.
Pondering John's letter to Believers this morning, I saw again, how important it is for me to receive God's love for myself. He writes, "See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:1-3, NLT)
As he develops the thought, inspired by God's Spirit, John reaches this conclusion - "This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was right. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:11-16, NLT)
In summary, what John teaches us is this - "to the extent that we are in the love of God, we will express love to others." If we are constantly offended, it should signal a basic spiritual need to us; a need that cannot be met by any living person, but that can be completely met by God, who is Love Personified.
Does she make you crazy? Does he drive you over the edge?
Not really, friend. Those are responses we choose. Let God love you today. Take His grace to heart.... really!! And you will find yourself at peace- loved, and therefore, loving. "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first." (1 John 4:18-19, The Message)
____________________________
How Deep The Father's Love For Us - Townend, Stuart
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross.
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
As I shepherd God's people, the one thing I do as much as any other is soothe people's ruffled feelings! When marriages hit a rough spot on life's road, I work with the couple to help them discover a way back to harmony. When Believers disagree, I attempt to create a sense of shared vision once again. And let me tell you the real truth - sometimes the very fact that someone in my flock has taken offense, offends me! How's that for a complicated mess? I feel the stir of irritation, from time to time, thinking - "how could something so relatively unimportant become such an issue to her?" Then, I recall my own times of offense, when sleep has been robbed, when I have found myself thinking unholy thoughts about another. And, with distance and perspective I, too, see how those troubled moments were the result of some little issue, unworthy of the depth of emotion I invest in it!
Offense almost always grows in self-love, self-concern; doesn't it? Yes, of course, I've heard about 'righteous indignation.' And, I've read about Jesus' anger when He cleared the money changers out of the Temple, offended at their blatant greed and abuse of people who came to worship. But, our offense is seldom about such weighty issues, is it? We get worked up because someone parks in our spot, sits in our pew, fails to show expected appreciation for our service, and/or fails to meet our expectation in some way or another. All this is a symptom of a greater need, to feel that we have worth, that we are valued. That's a legitimate need. But how we meet it is important. If we gauge our personal worth by measuring the response of other people to us, we will spend inordinate amounts of time angry or in despair. People are often insensitive or just plain thoughtless. They will fail to appreciate or even see our contribution to their lives.
As we mature, both emotionally and spiritually, we develop genuine self-esteem as we come to understand the strengths and weaknesses in ourselves. We learn how to 'fit' in our place in this world, accepting who we are and needing less and less affirmation from others in order to feel 'worth.' The key to this serenity is the love of God! The great message of grace is that God, because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, forgives us, removes our shame and guilt, and restores our dignity. We, who were broken by sin in ourselves and by the sins of others, are called 'children of God!' And we are not just tolerated kids, either. We are His beloved sons and daughters. Here is the kernel of truth about this. The more we are filled with the Spirit of God, the less we will grow offended.
Pondering John's letter to Believers this morning, I saw again, how important it is for me to receive God's love for myself. He writes, "See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:1-3, NLT)
As he develops the thought, inspired by God's Spirit, John reaches this conclusion - "This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was right. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:11-16, NLT)
In summary, what John teaches us is this - "to the extent that we are in the love of God, we will express love to others." If we are constantly offended, it should signal a basic spiritual need to us; a need that cannot be met by any living person, but that can be completely met by God, who is Love Personified.
Does she make you crazy? Does he drive you over the edge?
Not really, friend. Those are responses we choose. Let God love you today. Take His grace to heart.... really!! And you will find yourself at peace- loved, and therefore, loving. "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first." (1 John 4:18-19, The Message)
____________________________
How Deep The Father's Love For Us - Townend, Stuart
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross.
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, January 29, 2007
Planned Obsolescence
Did you know that many products are designed with a limited life cycle so that we will be forced to buy new? Microsoft, for example, after a few years no longer offers support to the older computer operating systems forcing us to upgrade to their new products. I am told that light bulbs that would last a lifetime could be produced, but manufacturers want them to burn out after a thousand or so hours of usage, so we will buy another. Even the automobile industry changes models with superficial design modifications so that it is possible to recognize a 2004 model from a 2007 model! Humans, being what we are, want the latest and greatest, and so we are caught up in the cycle, often buying something 'new,' not because we actually need it, but just because it gives us a feeling of being 'with the times!'
The Bible says that God created you and me for eternity! We do not become obsolete. Yes, as we age, we may feel like life is passing us by, especially in our current youth-oriented culture. Americans worship youthfulness - the firm bodies, smooth skin, and physical vigor of that time of life. For many the value of aging and the enjoyment of greater productivity and effectiveness that life experience can bring to us is eclipsed by the diminishing stamina, the increase in aches, and yes, the diminishing sexual desire. With a fervency approaching the ridiculous we try to hang onto our youth. If you doubt me on that, explain all the products that are successfully marketed that serve no purpose other than maintaining the illusion of unending youth for us.
Though we live about 70 years here on earth, give or take a decade or two, God has given you and me the promise of eternal life in His Presence. The Scripture says, "He has set eternity in our hearts!"
Believer in order to finish well in this life- with honor intact, and a record of achievement that honors the Lord- we need to take seriously the encouragement of the Word that teaches us to "keep our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven." (Hebrews 12:2, NLT) Why did Jesus finish the plan of God? Because He knew there was something on the other side of the Cross! If we have only a vague, fuzzy idea about eternity; if Heaven is just a concept 'out there somewhere' for us, then we will become slaves of the present, fighting the process of aging with every pill and cream we can lay our hands on. But, if we are loving and serving a living God, making the connection to Eternity on a daily basis, we will move steady on through life - accepting each season with grace - and becoming increasingly ready to ''go home" to our true and eternal house, not made with human hands, in which there are no products created by engineers with the idea of planned obsolescence!
Friend, is Heaven in your heart? Are you taking joy in life today, maximizing the opportunities to serve and love God, because the Holy Spirit has already made you alive for eternity through Jesus Christ?
Please do not think I am talking about detaching from life here and attempting to escape the very real challenges of living in this present world by fantasizing about heaven. I am talking about making life a richer, fuller, more productive experience because of the hope of Heaven that gives our struggles meaning and that helps us choose the path of right living.
Let me leave you with these words from the Word. Ponder them deeply and invite the Spirit to give you eyes to see Heaven on the horizon of your time here on this planet."We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down—when we die and leave these bodies—we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." (2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, NLT)
__________________________________________________
I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known;
Nor why, unworthy,
Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own
But "I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed,
Unto Him against that day."
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me.
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
But "I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed,
Unto Him against that day."
© Public Domain
I Know Whom I Have Believed
Whittle, Major Daniel W. / McGranahan, James
The Bible says that God created you and me for eternity! We do not become obsolete. Yes, as we age, we may feel like life is passing us by, especially in our current youth-oriented culture. Americans worship youthfulness - the firm bodies, smooth skin, and physical vigor of that time of life. For many the value of aging and the enjoyment of greater productivity and effectiveness that life experience can bring to us is eclipsed by the diminishing stamina, the increase in aches, and yes, the diminishing sexual desire. With a fervency approaching the ridiculous we try to hang onto our youth. If you doubt me on that, explain all the products that are successfully marketed that serve no purpose other than maintaining the illusion of unending youth for us.
Though we live about 70 years here on earth, give or take a decade or two, God has given you and me the promise of eternal life in His Presence. The Scripture says, "He has set eternity in our hearts!"
Believer in order to finish well in this life- with honor intact, and a record of achievement that honors the Lord- we need to take seriously the encouragement of the Word that teaches us to "keep our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven." (Hebrews 12:2, NLT) Why did Jesus finish the plan of God? Because He knew there was something on the other side of the Cross! If we have only a vague, fuzzy idea about eternity; if Heaven is just a concept 'out there somewhere' for us, then we will become slaves of the present, fighting the process of aging with every pill and cream we can lay our hands on. But, if we are loving and serving a living God, making the connection to Eternity on a daily basis, we will move steady on through life - accepting each season with grace - and becoming increasingly ready to ''go home" to our true and eternal house, not made with human hands, in which there are no products created by engineers with the idea of planned obsolescence!
Friend, is Heaven in your heart? Are you taking joy in life today, maximizing the opportunities to serve and love God, because the Holy Spirit has already made you alive for eternity through Jesus Christ?
Please do not think I am talking about detaching from life here and attempting to escape the very real challenges of living in this present world by fantasizing about heaven. I am talking about making life a richer, fuller, more productive experience because of the hope of Heaven that gives our struggles meaning and that helps us choose the path of right living.
Let me leave you with these words from the Word. Ponder them deeply and invite the Spirit to give you eyes to see Heaven on the horizon of your time here on this planet."We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down—when we die and leave these bodies—we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." (2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, NLT)
__________________________________________________
I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known;
Nor why, unworthy,
Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own
But "I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed,
Unto Him against that day."
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me.
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
But "I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed,
Unto Him against that day."
© Public Domain
I Know Whom I Have Believed
Whittle, Major Daniel W. / McGranahan, James
Friday, January 26, 2007
Consequences
I'm currently reading a book titled, Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. It is not a 'Christian' book. The author, Dr. Jared Diamond, does not address spiritual issues as a factor in a civilization's success or failure. None the less, he makes a fascinating case for the power of our choices and the inevitable long term consequences of actions. Writing about his studies of great civilizations such as the Maya in Central America, he shows how certain faulty assumptions about weather and/or abuses of the environment eventually brought about unintended consequences and the eventual collapse of these societies. Often the process of collapse spanned several generations and could have been reversed if the society has been willing to make radical changes in their way of life. However, because of the time between cause and consequence, the need to change was either missed or ignored until things were too desperate to bring about a stop in the rapid slide to oblivion!
Do you know that there are spiritual laws, principles that govern outcomes we experience in life? The principle of 'sowing and reaping' is one of those that we can count on. The Word teaches us saying, "Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, The Message)
The 'judgment of God' is a recurrent theme of the Scripture. Indeed, it is the focus of the End Time doctrines of the Scripture which assures us that all people, of every age, will be summoned to stand before the Great Judge to give an account for the way they used the opportunities of life. My observation, however, is that judgment does not have to wait for eternity. It often happens right here, right now. Judgment does not always require a direct act of Divine intervention! We are 'judged' in that we receive the consequence of our choices in much the same way as we benefit or suffer in the physical world because of Newtonian laws of physics. Those laws 'judge' me all the time, for example, as I drive my car. When I step on the brakes, I am assured, because of those laws, that my car will decelerate and stop; a very good thing. I am also assured that if I exceed safe driving speeds on a curvy road, my tires will lose their traction and my car will end up in the woods. Judgment will have occurred! In a similar way, God's principles 'judge' us everyday. If we are loving, we will find love. If we are selfish, we will find loneliness. If we live only for today, we will not have rich resources for tomorrow.
One way to illustrate God's law of sowing and reaping is in marriage. A couple of weeks ago, Bev and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary. Our marriage is a treasure to both of us, providing us with a safe place in life, with a depth of security and a wealth of love, that has no equal. We did not come to these benefits simply by accident. We are quite intentional in guarding our relationship, exclusively loving each other, offering support to one another, giving up self concern to serve each other, and keeping our vows. As a result, we enjoy a harvest of intimacy, trust, and security that we could not have even imagined 20 years ago. (Yes, I also recognize the amazing grace of God and His rich blessings. I do not write the previous paragraph from any sense of pride, but with deep, humble gratitude to Him!) There were choices to be made along the way. As we did what was right, sometimes not because we necessarily felt like doing it, but because we believed the wisdom of God about marriage; we sowed the seed that is producing an abundant harvest.
A caution is in order. Be careful that you do not look at others and conclude - "They are suffering because they sinned!" Jesus forbade that kind of action from us. "Judge not," He said, "lest you be judged!" You and I do not have enough information about the choices of others to sit in God's seat. And, on this side of eternity, we cannot always discern the 'cause and effect' because we do not grasp the purposes and plans of God which are sometimes hidden from us. Even in our own lives we must not be overly congratulatory or condemning for there are many factors outside of ourselves that influence the outcomes we experience. But, do not ignore the principle - "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7, NKJV)
Are you building a rich life, walking in God's way, accepting His wisdom, day by day?
Or are you headed for collapse, living a fool's dream that says, "I can do what I please without suffering the consequences."?
Be wise. Submit to God. Learn His ways, and live in His blessings.
_________________________________
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Do you know that there are spiritual laws, principles that govern outcomes we experience in life? The principle of 'sowing and reaping' is one of those that we can count on. The Word teaches us saying, "Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, The Message)
The 'judgment of God' is a recurrent theme of the Scripture. Indeed, it is the focus of the End Time doctrines of the Scripture which assures us that all people, of every age, will be summoned to stand before the Great Judge to give an account for the way they used the opportunities of life. My observation, however, is that judgment does not have to wait for eternity. It often happens right here, right now. Judgment does not always require a direct act of Divine intervention! We are 'judged' in that we receive the consequence of our choices in much the same way as we benefit or suffer in the physical world because of Newtonian laws of physics. Those laws 'judge' me all the time, for example, as I drive my car. When I step on the brakes, I am assured, because of those laws, that my car will decelerate and stop; a very good thing. I am also assured that if I exceed safe driving speeds on a curvy road, my tires will lose their traction and my car will end up in the woods. Judgment will have occurred! In a similar way, God's principles 'judge' us everyday. If we are loving, we will find love. If we are selfish, we will find loneliness. If we live only for today, we will not have rich resources for tomorrow.
One way to illustrate God's law of sowing and reaping is in marriage. A couple of weeks ago, Bev and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary. Our marriage is a treasure to both of us, providing us with a safe place in life, with a depth of security and a wealth of love, that has no equal. We did not come to these benefits simply by accident. We are quite intentional in guarding our relationship, exclusively loving each other, offering support to one another, giving up self concern to serve each other, and keeping our vows. As a result, we enjoy a harvest of intimacy, trust, and security that we could not have even imagined 20 years ago. (Yes, I also recognize the amazing grace of God and His rich blessings. I do not write the previous paragraph from any sense of pride, but with deep, humble gratitude to Him!) There were choices to be made along the way. As we did what was right, sometimes not because we necessarily felt like doing it, but because we believed the wisdom of God about marriage; we sowed the seed that is producing an abundant harvest.
A caution is in order. Be careful that you do not look at others and conclude - "They are suffering because they sinned!" Jesus forbade that kind of action from us. "Judge not," He said, "lest you be judged!" You and I do not have enough information about the choices of others to sit in God's seat. And, on this side of eternity, we cannot always discern the 'cause and effect' because we do not grasp the purposes and plans of God which are sometimes hidden from us. Even in our own lives we must not be overly congratulatory or condemning for there are many factors outside of ourselves that influence the outcomes we experience. But, do not ignore the principle - "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7, NKJV)
Are you building a rich life, walking in God's way, accepting His wisdom, day by day?
Or are you headed for collapse, living a fool's dream that says, "I can do what I please without suffering the consequences."?
Be wise. Submit to God. Learn His ways, and live in His blessings.
_________________________________
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, January 25, 2007
More than words
A sign outside of a church proclaimed: Tithe if you love Jesus. Anyone can honk! Yes, it's a preacher's idea of a joke. There is a lot of sentimental religiosity out there, people who get misty-eyed during prayer time on Sunday morning, who live like the Devil on Monday morning. And that just should not be the case. The Scripture reminds us- "God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life." (1 Corinthians 4:20, The Message) When we choose to identify ourselves with Christ, claiming to be His followers, we are obligated to live in a way that is distinctly different from those who are not Believers. I think most Christians 'get it' intellectually, but many fail to put it into practice. The question is, why?
Some are waiting for a magical moment of transformation to happen. They have confused the fairy tales of their childhood with the reality of the Christian life and believe that somewhere there is an experience to be found that will erase all evidence of the sinful human nature, take away every impulse to selfishness, and leave them blissfully above the seductions of temptation. So, they go right on living a dual life - talking like a Christian, living like the Devil. The Word tells us to "work out your salvation." An alternate reading says, "...you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear." (Philippians 2:12, NLT)
Others are simply abusing the grace of God. They know they ought to live differently, but they think that God winks at their behavior. "Jesus loves me and He's forgiven all my sins, so what's the big deal?" The big deal is that sin exacts a price from us. The principle of sowing and reaping is not set aside just because a person believes in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Yes, God's grace is wide and deep! But, if we sin with our eyes wide open, that sin will produce a terrible harvest down the road. For example, the Believing parent who lives an inconsistent Christian life should not be surprised if his son ditches church and the things of God in his early teens, after all, he may well reason, "if it doesn't 'work' for Dad, why waste time going to church?" To those who think that God's grace gives them liberty to go on living sinfully, the Word says, "Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2, NLT) Farther along in that passage, we read, "That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day." (Romans 6:12, The Message)
Some are just too casual about their faith life, too in love with the ways of the world. Keith Green sang lyrics that say in part, "the world is sleeping in the dark, that the church can't fight, 'cause it's asleep in the light!" Truth is, many Believers are just giving their best energies to the wrong things, deceived about what is really important - yes, asleep in the light. They live two lives, not so much intentionally, but out of immaturity and/or ignorance.
We need to commit ourselves to change, making the choices that lead us to holy lives. This is the will of God for every Believer. Even as I write those words, I am concerned that there will be some who misunderstand them and move into a rigid, rule-based, ugly perversion of Christianity! Those who think, even for a moment, that they can perfect themselves, that they can earn God's favor by adopting an ascetic lifestyle in pursuit of holiness - slide quickly into a Pharisaical religion that Jesus described as having a beauty like a "whitewashed tomb that is full of dead men's bones!" Can you say, U G L Y? True holiness is not a thin veneer of goodness glued over our lust, greed, and selfishness. Holiness is heart deep, resulting from pursuing God with our whole heart. Yes, there are choices to be made that open our lives to the work of the Spirit.
Regular times in personal and corporate worship, giving sacrificially, using our spiritual gifts in service, tithing (had to include that one!), prayer and meditation, confession, Scripture intake - and such things - create channels into our lives through which the Spirit of God flows, bringing real and lasting transformation from sinner to saint. It's a process that never stops until the moment we make the transition from life to Glory.
Get serious about being a great Christian, for the glory of God. If you're just dabbling in the faith, or if you have made peace with habits and sins that diminish the beauty of holiness in you, today is the day to get down to business with God. Tell Him you want to make His goodness known to the world, that you want to shine His Light for all to see.
Here's a word from the Word for your meditation today.
"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NIV)
_________________________________
Here's an old clip of the late Keith Green singing, "Asleep in the Light." I am not sure of the year, but for some of us, it's a trip back to our formative years in the faith.Watch and be blessed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHamV1pfMJU
Some are waiting for a magical moment of transformation to happen. They have confused the fairy tales of their childhood with the reality of the Christian life and believe that somewhere there is an experience to be found that will erase all evidence of the sinful human nature, take away every impulse to selfishness, and leave them blissfully above the seductions of temptation. So, they go right on living a dual life - talking like a Christian, living like the Devil. The Word tells us to "work out your salvation." An alternate reading says, "...you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear." (Philippians 2:12, NLT)
Others are simply abusing the grace of God. They know they ought to live differently, but they think that God winks at their behavior. "Jesus loves me and He's forgiven all my sins, so what's the big deal?" The big deal is that sin exacts a price from us. The principle of sowing and reaping is not set aside just because a person believes in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Yes, God's grace is wide and deep! But, if we sin with our eyes wide open, that sin will produce a terrible harvest down the road. For example, the Believing parent who lives an inconsistent Christian life should not be surprised if his son ditches church and the things of God in his early teens, after all, he may well reason, "if it doesn't 'work' for Dad, why waste time going to church?" To those who think that God's grace gives them liberty to go on living sinfully, the Word says, "Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2, NLT) Farther along in that passage, we read, "That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day." (Romans 6:12, The Message)
Some are just too casual about their faith life, too in love with the ways of the world. Keith Green sang lyrics that say in part, "the world is sleeping in the dark, that the church can't fight, 'cause it's asleep in the light!" Truth is, many Believers are just giving their best energies to the wrong things, deceived about what is really important - yes, asleep in the light. They live two lives, not so much intentionally, but out of immaturity and/or ignorance.
We need to commit ourselves to change, making the choices that lead us to holy lives. This is the will of God for every Believer. Even as I write those words, I am concerned that there will be some who misunderstand them and move into a rigid, rule-based, ugly perversion of Christianity! Those who think, even for a moment, that they can perfect themselves, that they can earn God's favor by adopting an ascetic lifestyle in pursuit of holiness - slide quickly into a Pharisaical religion that Jesus described as having a beauty like a "whitewashed tomb that is full of dead men's bones!" Can you say, U G L Y? True holiness is not a thin veneer of goodness glued over our lust, greed, and selfishness. Holiness is heart deep, resulting from pursuing God with our whole heart. Yes, there are choices to be made that open our lives to the work of the Spirit.
Regular times in personal and corporate worship, giving sacrificially, using our spiritual gifts in service, tithing (had to include that one!), prayer and meditation, confession, Scripture intake - and such things - create channels into our lives through which the Spirit of God flows, bringing real and lasting transformation from sinner to saint. It's a process that never stops until the moment we make the transition from life to Glory.
Get serious about being a great Christian, for the glory of God. If you're just dabbling in the faith, or if you have made peace with habits and sins that diminish the beauty of holiness in you, today is the day to get down to business with God. Tell Him you want to make His goodness known to the world, that you want to shine His Light for all to see.
Here's a word from the Word for your meditation today.
"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NIV)
_________________________________
Here's an old clip of the late Keith Green singing, "Asleep in the Light." I am not sure of the year, but for some of us, it's a trip back to our formative years in the faith.Watch and be blessed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHamV1pfMJU
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Always the right thing to do
Watching the President's State of the Union address last night, I felt a kind of sadness for the man as he tries to lead our nation against the current of public opinion, in the face of stiff opposition. The weight of leadership lays heavily on his shoulders at this time. The Holy Spirit reminded me that regardless of the opinion that you or I have about his policies, as Believers we have a sacred obligation to him as expressed in this word from the Holy Word - "Pray this way for ...all ... who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior." (1 Timothy 2:2-3, NLT) I wonder what would happen if every praying Believer in this country wrote down the names of a dozen political leaders, from local representatives ranging up to the President; kept that list at hand, and then prayed for each one, specifically, every day?
Criticizing leaders of every kind; political, religious, even bosses at work - is a kind of almost universal past time in our nation. Going beyond what is appropriate expressions of dissent, some use the privilege of free expression to demean those in leadership. We must guard ourselves against this, dear Believer. While God does not require us to slavishly endorse every policy or to exalt those in office as though they are little gods, He does demand that we give them the deference due their office. Paul says, "Be a good citizen... fulfill your obligations, pay your taxes... respect your leaders." (Romans 13, The Message)
I am thankful that we live with a system of government that allows us to select our leaders! Our democratic system keeps those in power accountable and allows the people to replace them when they begin to use their position unwisely or for selfish gain. What seems to be forgotten, by many, is that when we have elected men and women to office, we need to let them lead. Good leaders do not always give the masses what they crave. Those who hold office - from local mayor to President of the nation - need a vision, a broad view of the needs of those they govern, so that they can implement programs and policies that create a just and equitable society for all people - rich and poor, weak and powerful. And for that, dear Believer, we ought to pray. This is always the right thing to do for those who govern.
God has given us a good land, and He has favored us with a place of great privilege in these United States at this time in history. We are not rich and powerful just because we are more clever than other societies. We are a blessed nation, called by the Sovereign God of history to this high place, handed unique and wonderful opportunities for this time. Let us pray that we (the people and her leaders) recognize the obligation that comes with our wealth, our power, and our privileged position. President Bush borrowed the words of Jesus near the close of his speech last night. "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48, NKJV) How right he is!
President Ronald Reagan frequently invoked an image of a shining city on a hill (another Biblical reference, by the way) to describe America. I ask us to consider what kind of light we shed across the world. Do we only spread the light of materialism, sensuality, and self-worship? Or are we spreading the light of freedom, selflessness, and goodness?
Pray for the nation! Pray for those who lead - business leaders, political leaders, church leaders - that they will be given a clear vision, a godly vision, a vision that is not designed to produce more privilege for the powerful, but that gives justice for all. This is always the right thing to do.
__________________________
Father of the nations, God of glory,
we come to You today in the Name of Jesus Christ,
whom we acknowledge as the King of kings,
Lord of Heaven and earth.
We pray for those who lead us.
We ask, Holy Spirit, that you would rest on them,
that Your wisdom and goodness would fill their thoughts.
Replace any selfish ways with selflessness.
Take away egotism and grant to each of them the heart of true servants.
Give them a vision for the nation and the world
that is based on justice, truth - and one that honors You,
both explicitly and implicitly.
Today, we pray specifically for President George Bush,
on whose shoulders rests a heavy burden.
Sustain him. Draw him often to Yourself and
give him a heart of wisdom.
Amen.
Criticizing leaders of every kind; political, religious, even bosses at work - is a kind of almost universal past time in our nation. Going beyond what is appropriate expressions of dissent, some use the privilege of free expression to demean those in leadership. We must guard ourselves against this, dear Believer. While God does not require us to slavishly endorse every policy or to exalt those in office as though they are little gods, He does demand that we give them the deference due their office. Paul says, "Be a good citizen... fulfill your obligations, pay your taxes... respect your leaders." (Romans 13, The Message)
I am thankful that we live with a system of government that allows us to select our leaders! Our democratic system keeps those in power accountable and allows the people to replace them when they begin to use their position unwisely or for selfish gain. What seems to be forgotten, by many, is that when we have elected men and women to office, we need to let them lead. Good leaders do not always give the masses what they crave. Those who hold office - from local mayor to President of the nation - need a vision, a broad view of the needs of those they govern, so that they can implement programs and policies that create a just and equitable society for all people - rich and poor, weak and powerful. And for that, dear Believer, we ought to pray. This is always the right thing to do for those who govern.
God has given us a good land, and He has favored us with a place of great privilege in these United States at this time in history. We are not rich and powerful just because we are more clever than other societies. We are a blessed nation, called by the Sovereign God of history to this high place, handed unique and wonderful opportunities for this time. Let us pray that we (the people and her leaders) recognize the obligation that comes with our wealth, our power, and our privileged position. President Bush borrowed the words of Jesus near the close of his speech last night. "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48, NKJV) How right he is!
President Ronald Reagan frequently invoked an image of a shining city on a hill (another Biblical reference, by the way) to describe America. I ask us to consider what kind of light we shed across the world. Do we only spread the light of materialism, sensuality, and self-worship? Or are we spreading the light of freedom, selflessness, and goodness?
Pray for the nation! Pray for those who lead - business leaders, political leaders, church leaders - that they will be given a clear vision, a godly vision, a vision that is not designed to produce more privilege for the powerful, but that gives justice for all. This is always the right thing to do.
__________________________
Father of the nations, God of glory,
we come to You today in the Name of Jesus Christ,
whom we acknowledge as the King of kings,
Lord of Heaven and earth.
We pray for those who lead us.
We ask, Holy Spirit, that you would rest on them,
that Your wisdom and goodness would fill their thoughts.
Replace any selfish ways with selflessness.
Take away egotism and grant to each of them the heart of true servants.
Give them a vision for the nation and the world
that is based on justice, truth - and one that honors You,
both explicitly and implicitly.
Today, we pray specifically for President George Bush,
on whose shoulders rests a heavy burden.
Sustain him. Draw him often to Yourself and
give him a heart of wisdom.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Like Top Ten Lists?
Do you read top ten lists? Here's a serious one that I found on a blog by Tony Morgan, a minister and 'strategy consultant.' He writes about growth and about the necessity of change if our desire is to grow in our skills and effectiveness. I've been visiting the change theme often lately. Could be that God is just doing something in me and letting you look over my shoulder while He does, or - could He be sending you a message, too? Each of us is tempted to settle into our rut, to discover a way to live life that fits, and then to stay there. If we make that choice, our effectiveness in every area of our lives will diminish, rapidly, as our skills become irrelevant, and as the world passes us by. Tony suggests a list of indicators that would show us we are stuck, that we are at risk. Are you unwilling to adapt to the demands that exist today? Take a look.
10 Signs You're not Ready for Change
- You see other organizations as the competition instead of the idea incubators.
- You're trying to avoid criticism that comes when you fail...and when you succeed.
- You're afraid of the culture.
- Your life is fast and cluttered and there's no space to dream.
- You value getting it right over getting started.
- You believe conflict is a bad thing.
- You've stopped asking questions.
- You think systems and strategy are the enemy of creativity.
- You're expecting to receive credit for your ideas.
- You think you've already arrived.
Amen and Ouch! He's made me think, how about you?
"Idea incubators" is a great concept, isn't it? Why are we so reluctant to admit that somebody else has thought of a way to accomplish a task effectively?
And, if someone has found a better way to get the job done, why are we so resistant to letting them teach us what they've found? Could it be just pride? That old sin dresses itself up in all kinds of costumes - doctrinal 'purity', love of 'tradition,' are just a couple I'm familiar with inside of the Church. I want to be a person who knows how to cooperate and collaborate, especially with others who love God, even if their ideas and methods challenge my comfort levels.
That 'cluttered life' is something I know too much about. Yesterday, I sat around all day at home, not by choice or wisdom, but because I was waiting for a UPS shipment for which I had to sign! God is so good at making us take some time to just sit and listen to His voice, isn't He? Create margins in your life, time to recharge mentally and spiritually, to be a listener, instead of a 'do-er.' Remember the Mary and Martha story from Luke 10? Martha was rushing about making dinner for Jesus. Her sister, Mary, was at the feet of the Lord, listening and learning. When Martha finally blew a fuse and asked Jesus to tell her lazy sister to help her get dinner on the table, the Lord's response was surprising, a gentle rebuke to the misplaced values of the hard-working Martha. “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”" (Luke 10:41-42, CEV) It is hard to accept that the faster we move, the less likely we are to allow change into our lives that will keep us effective.
The price of change is the risk of making mistakes! When we are adapting and trying new methods, new ways, we will get it wrong, from time to time. Despite our best intentions we will confuse inspiration and excitement. But it is a risk worth taking.
Let's grow on in the Kingdom, ready to let God do what He wants to do, first in each of us, and then with each of us. When Isaiah saw how stubbornly sinful his nation had become, how resistant to God's call for repentance and change, he went to the Lord in prayer. And here is what God spoke to Him:
"For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home.
I will create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches, too, for giving them water in the wilderness.
Yes, I will make springs in the desert, so that my chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
“But, my dear people, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me!" (Isaiah 43:19-22, NLT)
I believe those ancient words are written for you and me. God is preparing a people for Himself that will take the unchanging Gospel into a changing world with new tools, new methods, and new means. Will we join Him, or will He find the animals more ready to receive His gifts and thank Him for His provisions than us?
In every place in life we have a choice - innovate or die!
Life is not static, but ever changing.
Don't be afraid. Our eternal God is our anchor. He who is Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today, and forever, leads us into the future, showing us new grace, new ways, new things for each new day. Trust Him.
_____________________
Change my heart, O God,
make it ever true,
Change my heart, O God,
may I be like You.
You are the Potter,
I am the clay,
Mold me and make me,
this is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God,
may I be like You.
-- Eddy Espinosa, Vineyard Publishing
Monday, January 22, 2007
Make lemonade from those lemons!
Recently I read a story of a person who suffered terrible loss a quarter century ago in the tragic death of her young husband. There was no denying the awful sorrow, the terrible grief. To me, the greater tragedy was that her life, to this day, is defined by that single loss. She has not found a way to overcome it and make a new life. By contrast, I met another woman recently who was a homemaker and a mother of a 4 year old when her husband left her for his young secretary. His decision rewrote her playbook, presented her with choices she had not even considered. She turned a disappointment into a fresh start, went back to college, earned her degree, started a career, and recently retired after a 20 years of achievement. She told me, "it wasn't the life I planned, but when you're handed lemons, you must make lemonade!" What a great attitude!
Aren't you thankful for a new week, another opportunity to make a difference, a fresh beginning? The people who live the best lives understand and use the life's fresh starts. They refuse to live in regret, will not waste time trying to even the score with those who have hurt them, and know that yesterday's triumphs are old news. They build on the past, but look forward. Perhaps it is a cliché, but it is still a good thought: "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!"
It is just a fact of life that there are seasons of success and seasons of sorrow, days when we celebrate and days when we mourn - but as long as the sun rises - each day presents us with new opportunities to live out God's purposes. Jeremiah, the prophet of Judah, who lived during some of the darkest days in his nation's history, wrote these wonderful words near the end of his life. "I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:20-23, NIV)
Celebrate that promise!! God's love sustains us, keeps us from being eaten up by the past. We may feel like we are beyond hope, but His love is limitless. We may be starting to believe that we are doomed by our sins, but His faithfulness to His promise of redemption can become the foundation of a new beginning. On this Monday morning, take charge of your thoughts and throw out the self-defeating ones that would make you a captive of yesterday - whether good or bad. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow may never arrive. Discover God's love for this day, His provision for a new beginning for you that exists right here, right now.
Anonymous (he's the wisest person I know) said, "Opportunity knocks only once. Temptation leans on the doorbell!"
Answer the knock, take the opportunity that God gives you today - to forgive, to set a new course, to learn a new skill, to love someone, to let go of yesterday, and to grab onto this day.
_______________________________________
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Chisholm, Thomas O. / Runyan, William M.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning
New mercies I see;
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord, unto me.
Great is Thy faithfulness,
O God my Father,
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars
In their courses above;
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness,
Mercy and love.
Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence
To cheer and to guide;
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine,
With ten thousand beside!
© 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, January 19, 2007
Worthy of respect
Last night Bev and I got around to watching the first episode of "American Idol." Having a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) is great. We watch what we want, when we want to, and zip through the commercial breaks. What an invention. Anyway, as we watched I saw, with new eyes, the contempt for persons that is so prevalent in our world. Admittedly some of the performers were totally without talent, amazingly self-deceived about their chances at becoming a national star. They warbled and wavered through horrible renditions of popular songs. Simon and company, in most cases, were not kind and gentle in making the contestants aware of their shortcomings! Those poor souls (yes, I know they knew what they were getting into) were devastated, broken by sarcasm and mockery. I found myself asking, why do we watch people treating those who are less fortunate with such contempt?
That thought triggered a time of reflection in my mind about times and places I have failed to show others the respect that God desires.
It happens quickly, easily! Words that mock another's weakness, that spread the story of another's dumb mistake, come quickly to our lips and we speak them - somehow feeling empowered even as we diminish the worth of others. Who needs to deal with the complex relationship of getting know people who are different if we just dismiss them with some demeaning remark? For example, many Americans find it hard to understand the world of Islam, so they just lump Muslims all into one group - 'terrorist' and make them the object of their hatred. It's done with politics. How convenient to throw all those who have a differing opinion about public policy into a big group labeled with a name like 'Looney Left,' or 'Religious Right!' Some men do it to their wives. Instead of interacting with them as the truly different and sometimes puzzling people they can be, they make jokes about women - jokes with a barb and a dose of contempt. I suppose women do it, too. Contempt takes away the personhood of another and makes it so much easier to avoid contact -yes, even to hate!
Jesus calls us to live without contempt! Even our criticism of others that is justified, is to be offered with the hope of correction, not the desire of destruction. The Lord wants to give us a new way of relating - taking away the 'us versus them,' that fills the world around us, replacing it with a true sense of community and connectedness. What a difference it would make in our tone, our words, our thoughts if we considered everyone around us a brother or sister. Right now you can treat me with contempt by thinking, "Jerry must be having an emotional crisis. Poor sap!" If you do that, you won't have to consider the challenge of loving others who are hard to relate to - the broken, bitter, and battered people that society has kicked off the curb!
But aren't some people deserving of contempt because of their actions?
Read this story from Jesus' life and then answer that question.
"Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” (John 8:1-11, The Message)
Neither do I condemn you!
God give us eyes to see the true need in others, give us love that is willing to engage with the difficult, the broken, the ugly, the needy. As you have loved us and made us your 'treasure,' may we take that love to others, giving them a gift of dignity, respect - for Jesus sake. Amen.
___________________________
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand
Why we pull away from each other so easily,
Even though we're all walking the same road.
Yet we build dividing walls
Between our brothers and ourselves.
The day will come when we will be as one,
And with a mighty voice together,
We'll all proclaim
That Jesus, Jesus Christ is King.
It will echo through the earth;
It will shake the nations,
And the world will see,
See that-
You're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us
When we're walking side by side.
As long as there is love,
We will stand.
We Will Stand
Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James
© 1983 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055
That thought triggered a time of reflection in my mind about times and places I have failed to show others the respect that God desires.
It happens quickly, easily! Words that mock another's weakness, that spread the story of another's dumb mistake, come quickly to our lips and we speak them - somehow feeling empowered even as we diminish the worth of others. Who needs to deal with the complex relationship of getting know people who are different if we just dismiss them with some demeaning remark? For example, many Americans find it hard to understand the world of Islam, so they just lump Muslims all into one group - 'terrorist' and make them the object of their hatred. It's done with politics. How convenient to throw all those who have a differing opinion about public policy into a big group labeled with a name like 'Looney Left,' or 'Religious Right!' Some men do it to their wives. Instead of interacting with them as the truly different and sometimes puzzling people they can be, they make jokes about women - jokes with a barb and a dose of contempt. I suppose women do it, too. Contempt takes away the personhood of another and makes it so much easier to avoid contact -yes, even to hate!
Jesus calls us to live without contempt! Even our criticism of others that is justified, is to be offered with the hope of correction, not the desire of destruction. The Lord wants to give us a new way of relating - taking away the 'us versus them,' that fills the world around us, replacing it with a true sense of community and connectedness. What a difference it would make in our tone, our words, our thoughts if we considered everyone around us a brother or sister. Right now you can treat me with contempt by thinking, "Jerry must be having an emotional crisis. Poor sap!" If you do that, you won't have to consider the challenge of loving others who are hard to relate to - the broken, bitter, and battered people that society has kicked off the curb!
But aren't some people deserving of contempt because of their actions?
Read this story from Jesus' life and then answer that question.
"Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” (John 8:1-11, The Message)
Neither do I condemn you!
God give us eyes to see the true need in others, give us love that is willing to engage with the difficult, the broken, the ugly, the needy. As you have loved us and made us your 'treasure,' may we take that love to others, giving them a gift of dignity, respect - for Jesus sake. Amen.
___________________________
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand
Why we pull away from each other so easily,
Even though we're all walking the same road.
Yet we build dividing walls
Between our brothers and ourselves.
The day will come when we will be as one,
And with a mighty voice together,
We'll all proclaim
That Jesus, Jesus Christ is King.
It will echo through the earth;
It will shake the nations,
And the world will see,
See that-
You're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us
When we're walking side by side.
As long as there is love,
We will stand.
We Will Stand
Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James
© 1983 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Your focus - yesterday or tomorrow?
"That's just who I am. It's too late to change now." And with that, she dismissed hope and possibility; convinced that her past was the prologue to her future. But, she is wrong, dead wrong! Betty, (not her real name) has a story some would call colorful, others would more honestly call sinful. For a decade she's done what she wanted to do without much consideration of what it was costing all the people in her life. An intervention staged by her family and friends brought her to tears, and made her see her actions as others saw them. She likes to think she's just 'having fun.' But the circle of friends who confronted her, told her that her life of 'fun' was actually slow suicide- a sure course to loneliness, regret, and early death. Despite that, she will not even hope for change for she believes that who she is is unchangeable. She prefers her present rut to the challenge of becoming a new person.
Many people are like Betty, knowing that life ought to be different, knowing that they are hurting others, and realizing that they are headed for more pain. And yet, they plunge ahead because they cannot see an alternative to the way they are living. Some even know that they are not pleasing God, but they refuse to turn to Him. I am describing you? Have you made peace with some habit, some pattern in life, that is destructive? Are you making excuses for what you do? Are you, Believer, living far below your heritage as a child of God - because you are fearful of change?
God has made an intervention on your behalf. But unlike the interventions that are designed to make a person see their sins clearly, God has a different strategy to draw us to change. He does not just hold up a mirror to show us our past, He paints a picture of possibilities that exist if we will allow Him to begin the process of transformation through the salvation that is provided in Jesus Christ and the power that the Holy Spirit brings to us when He takes up residence in our lives!! Even more than a clear picture of yesterday, we need a vision of tomorrow that draws us to the Lord and His purpose for our lives, don't we? Proverbs 29:18 tells us that "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (KJV) In The Message, that passage reads - "If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed." (Proverbs 29:18, The Message)
Remember Saul who became Paul? In his early years as a Pharisee, he hated Believers in Christ and worked to destroy the Gospel message and those who followed Jesus. But God, in amazing grace, met him on the road to Damascus. Saul believed that day and was changed. The transformation was so profound, he even took a new name! Had he lived in perpetual regret, he might have faded into obscurity, making tents in some Roman town, sorrowful 'til death for his persecution of those who loved the Lord. But, he didn't do that. Why? He tells us. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV)
Paul was not looking back with regret, he was looking ahead in faith. That's the road to transformation!
Yes, we learn from the past - both positively and negatively. We understand that it cannot be erased here on this earth, but we need not let it determine our future. "In Christ, we become a new creation!" And don't let yourself think that is just a 'once and done deal' either. The transformation is ongoing. We grow deeper in the things of the Lord as He shows us new challenges, new places for service, and presents us with new opportunities.
Let's grow on!
________________
Father, I confess that change is difficult.
In the familiar there is a certain comfort.
I slide easily back into the habits and patterns of my past,
even when they are not pleasing in Your eyes.
So, I pray, first - forgive me, in Jesus' Name.
Wash me clean.
And, I ask for a vision of a new me.
Let me see a picture of the kind of person You want me to be,
and give me faith to own that vision,
to engage myself in the process of 'becoming...' -
an ongoing transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
I pray this in His holy Name. Amen.
Many people are like Betty, knowing that life ought to be different, knowing that they are hurting others, and realizing that they are headed for more pain. And yet, they plunge ahead because they cannot see an alternative to the way they are living. Some even know that they are not pleasing God, but they refuse to turn to Him. I am describing you? Have you made peace with some habit, some pattern in life, that is destructive? Are you making excuses for what you do? Are you, Believer, living far below your heritage as a child of God - because you are fearful of change?
God has made an intervention on your behalf. But unlike the interventions that are designed to make a person see their sins clearly, God has a different strategy to draw us to change. He does not just hold up a mirror to show us our past, He paints a picture of possibilities that exist if we will allow Him to begin the process of transformation through the salvation that is provided in Jesus Christ and the power that the Holy Spirit brings to us when He takes up residence in our lives!! Even more than a clear picture of yesterday, we need a vision of tomorrow that draws us to the Lord and His purpose for our lives, don't we? Proverbs 29:18 tells us that "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (KJV) In The Message, that passage reads - "If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed." (Proverbs 29:18, The Message)
Remember Saul who became Paul? In his early years as a Pharisee, he hated Believers in Christ and worked to destroy the Gospel message and those who followed Jesus. But God, in amazing grace, met him on the road to Damascus. Saul believed that day and was changed. The transformation was so profound, he even took a new name! Had he lived in perpetual regret, he might have faded into obscurity, making tents in some Roman town, sorrowful 'til death for his persecution of those who loved the Lord. But, he didn't do that. Why? He tells us. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV)
Paul was not looking back with regret, he was looking ahead in faith. That's the road to transformation!
Yes, we learn from the past - both positively and negatively. We understand that it cannot be erased here on this earth, but we need not let it determine our future. "In Christ, we become a new creation!" And don't let yourself think that is just a 'once and done deal' either. The transformation is ongoing. We grow deeper in the things of the Lord as He shows us new challenges, new places for service, and presents us with new opportunities.
Let's grow on!
________________
Father, I confess that change is difficult.
In the familiar there is a certain comfort.
I slide easily back into the habits and patterns of my past,
even when they are not pleasing in Your eyes.
So, I pray, first - forgive me, in Jesus' Name.
Wash me clean.
And, I ask for a vision of a new me.
Let me see a picture of the kind of person You want me to be,
and give me faith to own that vision,
to engage myself in the process of 'becoming...' -
an ongoing transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
I pray this in His holy Name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Fool's Gold
Determining the truly valuable from the cheap imitation can be difficult, at first glance, anyway. On the streets of New York, vendors spread out displays of watches on small tables, offering a 'Rolex' for a few dollars. A discriminating buyer knows that genuine Rolex watches are not sold by street vendors and cannot be owned for a few dollars! But, if you took those same 'Rolex' imitations and put them in a jewelry store, on black velvet displays, under the right kind of lighting - many people could be fooled into buying one. My point? When Hollywood sells us a line that the meaning of life can be found in food, drink, sex, pleasure, or consumerism - the lie is obvious, at least to those with even a scrap of maturity about them. But, when those same things are wrapped up, repackaged, and promulgated in the Church, seeing the lie is much more difficult!
And that is happening! We live in a 'me' culture. The 'good' life defined by a sense of personal happiness, which is obtained by having the ability to satisfy our desires - by having sex without rules, by eating whatever we want to eat, by buying whatever we want, by making others do our bidding. When the movies and music of our culture throw this philosophy of unrestricted self-expression at us, we can name the lie. But, when our church takes the same basic philosophy that says, "Your happiness is what is the most important thing in the world. God promises to make you happy." - many cannot discern the lie and buy it at the cost of their spiritual health!
Take marriage for example. The Bible teaches that marriage is a sacred covenant, established by God at the dawn of Creation, to be honored by all. A man and woman pledge themselves irrevocably to each other, in the sight of God, until death parts them. (Yes, divorce exists - as a concession to our humanity, but it is not in the ideal plan of God. That's another discussion.) If a Believer understands the covenantal nature of marriage, he will not marry an unbeliever, even if she's tremendously attractive because without shared faith, he cannot fully become one with his wife. When tough times come to a marriage formed as a covenant, and they will, the husband and wife submit themselves to God and find a way to honor Him. A husband who wants to honor God in his marriage dies to himself and serves his wife with a Christ-like love. A wife who wants to honor God in her marriage, sets aside self-will and submits herself to her godly husband for the Lord's sake. But, how often is this taught in our churches? Not all that often! Instead, we are taught about being happy in marriage, about the joy of sex, about finding our highest potential as we are supported by our mate! The 'me' culture gets dressed up in churchy language, and few discern it. Of course, I believe that God wants every marriage to bring happiness, satisfying sex, and a greater sense of wholeness - but those are by-products of a God-honoring covenant, not the meaning of marriage! It's not a wonder that divorce is now as common among American Believers as it is among those those without faith. The lie has produced its fruit.
The purpose of my existence and yours, dear friend, is to know and love God as we serve Him in this world. He did not call us to Himself to make us rich, famous, or even necessarily happy. He called us to Himself that we might discover eternal life. As with my example from marriage, the life that is devoted to God, does ultimately find true joy and greater blessings, but not necessarily as defined by our present culture.
Jeremiah lamented that his people had traded the blessings of God for empty things. "...my people have traded my Glory for empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes. “Stand in shock, heavens, at what you see! Throw up your hands in disbelief—this can’t be!” God’s Decree. “My people have committed a compound sin: they’ve walked out on me, the fountain Of fresh flowing waters, and then dug cisterns— cisterns that leak, cisterns that are no better than sieves." (Jeremiah 2:11-13, The Message)
Show discernment, dear Believer.
Don't accept fool's gold of self-fulfillment in place of the true gold of the affirmation and approval of God. Pray for eyes that see the Truth. Learn to love the Lord, really love Him, not just for the 'blessings' the preachers of prosperity offer you, but for the joy of belonging to the God of Heaven and earth who is worthy of our worship.
“Come back, wandering children! I can heal your wanderlust!”
“We’re here! We’ve come back to you.
You’re our own true God!
All that popular religion was a cheap lie, duped crowds buying up the latest in gods.
We’re back!
Back to our true God, the salvation of Israel." (Jeremiah 3:22-23, The Message)
And that is happening! We live in a 'me' culture. The 'good' life defined by a sense of personal happiness, which is obtained by having the ability to satisfy our desires - by having sex without rules, by eating whatever we want to eat, by buying whatever we want, by making others do our bidding. When the movies and music of our culture throw this philosophy of unrestricted self-expression at us, we can name the lie. But, when our church takes the same basic philosophy that says, "Your happiness is what is the most important thing in the world. God promises to make you happy." - many cannot discern the lie and buy it at the cost of their spiritual health!
Take marriage for example. The Bible teaches that marriage is a sacred covenant, established by God at the dawn of Creation, to be honored by all. A man and woman pledge themselves irrevocably to each other, in the sight of God, until death parts them. (Yes, divorce exists - as a concession to our humanity, but it is not in the ideal plan of God. That's another discussion.) If a Believer understands the covenantal nature of marriage, he will not marry an unbeliever, even if she's tremendously attractive because without shared faith, he cannot fully become one with his wife. When tough times come to a marriage formed as a covenant, and they will, the husband and wife submit themselves to God and find a way to honor Him. A husband who wants to honor God in his marriage dies to himself and serves his wife with a Christ-like love. A wife who wants to honor God in her marriage, sets aside self-will and submits herself to her godly husband for the Lord's sake. But, how often is this taught in our churches? Not all that often! Instead, we are taught about being happy in marriage, about the joy of sex, about finding our highest potential as we are supported by our mate! The 'me' culture gets dressed up in churchy language, and few discern it. Of course, I believe that God wants every marriage to bring happiness, satisfying sex, and a greater sense of wholeness - but those are by-products of a God-honoring covenant, not the meaning of marriage! It's not a wonder that divorce is now as common among American Believers as it is among those those without faith. The lie has produced its fruit.
The purpose of my existence and yours, dear friend, is to know and love God as we serve Him in this world. He did not call us to Himself to make us rich, famous, or even necessarily happy. He called us to Himself that we might discover eternal life. As with my example from marriage, the life that is devoted to God, does ultimately find true joy and greater blessings, but not necessarily as defined by our present culture.
Jeremiah lamented that his people had traded the blessings of God for empty things. "...my people have traded my Glory for empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes. “Stand in shock, heavens, at what you see! Throw up your hands in disbelief—this can’t be!” God’s Decree. “My people have committed a compound sin: they’ve walked out on me, the fountain Of fresh flowing waters, and then dug cisterns— cisterns that leak, cisterns that are no better than sieves." (Jeremiah 2:11-13, The Message)
Show discernment, dear Believer.
Don't accept fool's gold of self-fulfillment in place of the true gold of the affirmation and approval of God. Pray for eyes that see the Truth. Learn to love the Lord, really love Him, not just for the 'blessings' the preachers of prosperity offer you, but for the joy of belonging to the God of Heaven and earth who is worthy of our worship.
“Come back, wandering children! I can heal your wanderlust!”
“We’re here! We’ve come back to you.
You’re our own true God!
All that popular religion was a cheap lie, duped crowds buying up the latest in gods.
We’re back!
Back to our true God, the salvation of Israel." (Jeremiah 3:22-23, The Message)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Support your local Pastor
Every pastor hears an old joke again and again - "Hey, must be nice to have a job where you work one day a week." That's not even close to the truth. Despite an appearance of being a relaxed lifestyle, full-time ministry is a demanding calling that can be hazardous to both health and family. A pastor is 'on call,' 24 hours a day. Every minister knows what it is to get a call during time off when a member of his flock is in dire need. He awakens in the middle of the night with the needs of his flock on his mind, and lifts them to God in prayer, at 2 am. He must move rapidly from emotional highs to lows; for example, celebrating a new birth and conducting a funeral during the same week. Sorrow makes its way to his door constantly as he's usually the first person called at death, marriage difficulty, tragedy, or times of serious illness. It may not seem that such work wears on him, but it does because he is not 'just a professional.' He really cares for his flock. He studies constantly so that when he stands before the congregation to preach he is able to provide spiritual nourishment. And, he must deliver a message every Sunday -regardless of his personal circumstances. And, he loves every minute of this life to which God has called him!
Until... he's attacked unfairly for the thousandth time, often at a moment when he's struggling to cope with some need in his own life. It's at that moment that some pastors, tragically, give up their service. Tony Campolo describes one of those 'hits' that can knock a pastor off his feet. "Only a pastor truly knows what it feels like to have yet another person call to tell you they're leaving the church- a person you love, a person you helped and served, a person who needed you, a person you now feel you need, and yet another person is going, leaving, abandoning, rejecting. . . People go, and they take a chunk of your heart with them. And of your morale." -Adventures in Missing the Point
So, how can you maximize your Pastor's effectiveness in ministry?
1. Pray for him, everyday.
Spiritual leaders are front-line targets in the battle that the Devil wages in this world against the work of God. We all know the devastation left behind when there is a moral failure in ministry. Some conclude that Christianity is a fraud. Others lose their ability to receive ministry because they think all preachers are like those whose sins were revealed. And even where there is no moral compromise, pastors know the attack of the Enemy through discouragement. Pray for your Pastor - that God will keep and protect him, that he will be disciplined and courageous, and that he will finish the race well.
2. Accept him and the spiritual gifts God has given to him.
Pastors are not all equally adept at all kinds of ministry service. Appreciate the unique strengths of your Pastor and encourage him in those areas where he is not as proficient. Understand that God has equipped him to minister in a way that will not be exactly like the ministry of your favorite TV preacher or the pastor who introduced you to Christ and who you still love like a father. He probably knows the gaps in his skills and giftings better than you do, but it will squander his strengths if those in the Body constantly press him to 'fix' those areas rather than focusing on what he can do best in God's service.
3. If you must criticize him, (and no pastor is above correction or criticism) do it honestly, directly, and person to person.
Every pastor deals with Mr. They Say in his church. By that I mean that we hear Mr. They quoted all the time. "Pastor, They say..." But he cannot respond to anonymous criticism because he has no context for it. He wonders, "Does it mean that a majority feels this way, or is this just the opinion of the same two people who are never satisfied with anything I do?" If you have an issue with your pastor, be mature about it. Don't play games, hinting at the difficulty. Make a time to sit with him and just tell him what you think, what you want, where you think he's missed the mark. If he's wise, he'll listen and evaluate. He may not share your perception. He may have an explanation for the decision with which you disagree. Realize, too, that it's not quite fair to get angry with him when you're angry at God! He can help you with your doubt or confusion when you don't understand why life is turning out a certain way, but it will be doubly difficult if you're attacking him.
4. Don't idolize or idealize him.
Pastors are just people who deal with kids who don't always do what they're taught, who have marriage struggles, who have up days and down days, who fight temptation - just like you. Yes, you should expect him to live what he teaches, but not perfectly. He is a sinner, too; and, like you, he is working out his salvation each day. If you make him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, thinking he's more or better than he is really is, you will be disappointed, and may mistakenly transfer your disappointment to Christ which would be tragic. When you put him on a pedestal, remember that you make his ability to minister to you all the more difficult. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed, but as you watch him live a real life that demonstrates a living faith in a loving Lord.
Thanks for reading this today. I leave you with this word from the Word.
"Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message)
"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)
Until... he's attacked unfairly for the thousandth time, often at a moment when he's struggling to cope with some need in his own life. It's at that moment that some pastors, tragically, give up their service. Tony Campolo describes one of those 'hits' that can knock a pastor off his feet. "Only a pastor truly knows what it feels like to have yet another person call to tell you they're leaving the church- a person you love, a person you helped and served, a person who needed you, a person you now feel you need, and yet another person is going, leaving, abandoning, rejecting. . . People go, and they take a chunk of your heart with them. And of your morale." -Adventures in Missing the Point
So, how can you maximize your Pastor's effectiveness in ministry?
1. Pray for him, everyday.
Spiritual leaders are front-line targets in the battle that the Devil wages in this world against the work of God. We all know the devastation left behind when there is a moral failure in ministry. Some conclude that Christianity is a fraud. Others lose their ability to receive ministry because they think all preachers are like those whose sins were revealed. And even where there is no moral compromise, pastors know the attack of the Enemy through discouragement. Pray for your Pastor - that God will keep and protect him, that he will be disciplined and courageous, and that he will finish the race well.
2. Accept him and the spiritual gifts God has given to him.
Pastors are not all equally adept at all kinds of ministry service. Appreciate the unique strengths of your Pastor and encourage him in those areas where he is not as proficient. Understand that God has equipped him to minister in a way that will not be exactly like the ministry of your favorite TV preacher or the pastor who introduced you to Christ and who you still love like a father. He probably knows the gaps in his skills and giftings better than you do, but it will squander his strengths if those in the Body constantly press him to 'fix' those areas rather than focusing on what he can do best in God's service.
3. If you must criticize him, (and no pastor is above correction or criticism) do it honestly, directly, and person to person.
Every pastor deals with Mr. They Say in his church. By that I mean that we hear Mr. They quoted all the time. "Pastor, They say..." But he cannot respond to anonymous criticism because he has no context for it. He wonders, "Does it mean that a majority feels this way, or is this just the opinion of the same two people who are never satisfied with anything I do?" If you have an issue with your pastor, be mature about it. Don't play games, hinting at the difficulty. Make a time to sit with him and just tell him what you think, what you want, where you think he's missed the mark. If he's wise, he'll listen and evaluate. He may not share your perception. He may have an explanation for the decision with which you disagree. Realize, too, that it's not quite fair to get angry with him when you're angry at God! He can help you with your doubt or confusion when you don't understand why life is turning out a certain way, but it will be doubly difficult if you're attacking him.
4. Don't idolize or idealize him.
Pastors are just people who deal with kids who don't always do what they're taught, who have marriage struggles, who have up days and down days, who fight temptation - just like you. Yes, you should expect him to live what he teaches, but not perfectly. He is a sinner, too; and, like you, he is working out his salvation each day. If you make him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, thinking he's more or better than he is really is, you will be disappointed, and may mistakenly transfer your disappointment to Christ which would be tragic. When you put him on a pedestal, remember that you make his ability to minister to you all the more difficult. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed, but as you watch him live a real life that demonstrates a living faith in a loving Lord.
Thanks for reading this today. I leave you with this word from the Word.
"Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message)
"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)
Monday, January 15, 2007
"Bid my anxious fears subside!"
Fear, not the 'you scared me half to death' kind of fear, but the gnawing anxiety that drives sleep away and creates a dread of tomorrow is something most of us experience. Sometimes anxiety is focused around a specific issue: something such as getting on an airplane or having a medical procedure done. A worse form of anxiety is a general fear of life, about things that we cannot control like aging, the economy, or environmental issues. The worst anxiety is that which is not connected, at least in any discernable way, to specific situations, and thus is much more resistant to relief. That kind of anxiety drives people to despair, into depression, and frequently is a cause of self-destructive behaviors- overeating, alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity among them.
Defeating anxiety includes becoming whole spiritually!
What can we do to chase away the terror?
First, accept your status as God's child. We are not orphans, scrabbling to deal with life, defensive and alone. The Bible says, "you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him “Father, dear Father.” (Romans 8:15, NLT) When we turn to Christ, in faith, and receive His gift of gracious love and forgiveness, God adopts us as His sons and daughters. Because of Jesus, we are loved. That truth is so healing, the Enemy of God and good does everything he is able to do to keep us from believing and receiving it. He attempts to keep us focused on our failures, hearing only the voices of our critics, seeing only the sorry and sad side of life. That is why when anxiety creeps up on us, we need to turn to the Word and to worship, praising God for His love. And, we need to personalize that love! "God loves me!" When we accept that, John tells us that "perfect love drives out fear!"
Second, talk about your anxiety with your Father. Fear grows in the dark! When we hide our dread and attempt to be big and brave, the ache of terror takes hold deep inside of us. So the wisdom of the Word is "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns." (Philippians 4:6, The Message) When your anxious, tell the Lord about it. Find a Believer and let her pray with and for you. Make sure you connect with a person of authentic faith, not somebody whose experience of God is full of platitudes! We need brothers and sisters in the faith who know how to weep with us, and then having met us at the point of our need, can lift us up with sincere prayer into the Throne Room of God. This is one of the reasons that no Christian should attempt to live the Christian life alone. We need to provide cover for one another.
Third, evaluate the situation in ultimate terms. By that, I mean, take your fear and ask - What is the worst that could happen? What are my resources to deal with this? The Psalmist asks, "in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11, NIV) Again, this can be a solo exercise, but it is much more effective when there is a trusted friend who will listen, encourage, and keep your perspective on life in balance.
Fourth - do what's right! Pain, especially the emotional kind, makes us desperate for relief, doesn't it? If we feel trapped, we are more likely to try extreme measures to escape. When anxiety comes and threatens to move in and stay, we are tempted by things that offer us a quick release. Tragically, usually what gives short-term relief, produces long-term destruction. And so, we must tell ourselves to do the right thing- often, just because it is the right thing to do! Once again, the value of counselors and friends comes into play. When we share our temptations, they become less attractive. When we tell someone that we want to spend too much, quit our job, or have an affair - the very telling can help us to see the folly of the proposed 'solution' to our problem. Remember, you and I are not the victims of our temptations. As Believers, we are privileged to grab onto God's promise that He 'will never leave us nor forsake us.' And, He has promised to make a way for us to stand up in times of temptation. So, do what's right!
Are you anxious today? Don't let fear swallow you and destroy this day.
Take the offense and engage that anxiety with the steps outlined above. Pray for and accept the confidence of faith in God and live in it.
_______________________
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thro' the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs and praises, songs and praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter
© Public Domain
Defeating anxiety includes becoming whole spiritually!
What can we do to chase away the terror?
First, accept your status as God's child. We are not orphans, scrabbling to deal with life, defensive and alone. The Bible says, "you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him “Father, dear Father.” (Romans 8:15, NLT) When we turn to Christ, in faith, and receive His gift of gracious love and forgiveness, God adopts us as His sons and daughters. Because of Jesus, we are loved. That truth is so healing, the Enemy of God and good does everything he is able to do to keep us from believing and receiving it. He attempts to keep us focused on our failures, hearing only the voices of our critics, seeing only the sorry and sad side of life. That is why when anxiety creeps up on us, we need to turn to the Word and to worship, praising God for His love. And, we need to personalize that love! "God loves me!" When we accept that, John tells us that "perfect love drives out fear!"
Second, talk about your anxiety with your Father. Fear grows in the dark! When we hide our dread and attempt to be big and brave, the ache of terror takes hold deep inside of us. So the wisdom of the Word is "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns." (Philippians 4:6, The Message) When your anxious, tell the Lord about it. Find a Believer and let her pray with and for you. Make sure you connect with a person of authentic faith, not somebody whose experience of God is full of platitudes! We need brothers and sisters in the faith who know how to weep with us, and then having met us at the point of our need, can lift us up with sincere prayer into the Throne Room of God. This is one of the reasons that no Christian should attempt to live the Christian life alone. We need to provide cover for one another.
Third, evaluate the situation in ultimate terms. By that, I mean, take your fear and ask - What is the worst that could happen? What are my resources to deal with this? The Psalmist asks, "in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11, NIV) Again, this can be a solo exercise, but it is much more effective when there is a trusted friend who will listen, encourage, and keep your perspective on life in balance.
Fourth - do what's right! Pain, especially the emotional kind, makes us desperate for relief, doesn't it? If we feel trapped, we are more likely to try extreme measures to escape. When anxiety comes and threatens to move in and stay, we are tempted by things that offer us a quick release. Tragically, usually what gives short-term relief, produces long-term destruction. And so, we must tell ourselves to do the right thing- often, just because it is the right thing to do! Once again, the value of counselors and friends comes into play. When we share our temptations, they become less attractive. When we tell someone that we want to spend too much, quit our job, or have an affair - the very telling can help us to see the folly of the proposed 'solution' to our problem. Remember, you and I are not the victims of our temptations. As Believers, we are privileged to grab onto God's promise that He 'will never leave us nor forsake us.' And, He has promised to make a way for us to stand up in times of temptation. So, do what's right!
Are you anxious today? Don't let fear swallow you and destroy this day.
Take the offense and engage that anxiety with the steps outlined above. Pray for and accept the confidence of faith in God and live in it.
_______________________
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thro' the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs and praises, songs and praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter
© Public Domain
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