Hello, reader. I am reaching back for a CoffeeBreak written a little over a year ago, (3/2/2009) resending it today. On Monday, my mother received a diagnosis of lung cancer from her physicians. It was the kind of news that slaps a person in the face, that slows everything else to a crawl as you try to make some sense of it. My mind has been in a loop – alternately sad, then hopeful in the Lord. Last night a friend whose husband died suddenly last year sent me a copy of what I wrote the day following his death. The Word in it ministered to me, again. May the Lord use to touch any of you who are struggling to make sense of what God is allowing in your life today.
______________
Bob died yesterday. A week ago, to all appearances, he was a healthy middle-aged man. On Sunday, his heart quit! What is God doing and why did Bob die? Honestly, I do not know! It is faith-walkin' time for me. Sometimes God can be infuriatingly unpredictable. God, why is one dream realized and another shattered? There are not enough answers this side of Heaven to satisfy every question. However, there are enough testimonies of grace to help us to trust Him even when we cannot understand His ways.
Naomi, whose story is told in the book of Ruth, moved to Moab with her husband and two sons to escape a famine. It looked like finally they were getting life together, then Elimelech died. Naomi, picked up the pieces of her life and went on. Her two sons married Moabite women and for 10 years, life was good, then... both sons died! Naomi's life was tragic, her dreams shattered. Where was God in all that happened to her? Right there with her. Now that might just seem to the 'right' answer, but it is the true answer.
Dear disciple, consider that sometimes our dreams must be shattered so we can find God's dreams for us. When God doesn't make OUR dreams come true, we are faced with a huge choice. Will we trust Him and wait for a new dream to replace the shattered one OR will we descend into bitterness and unbelief? In such moments, I borrow the prayer of a desperate father who brought his son for healing to Jesus and cried out when the Lord asked him to believe: "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!" (Mark 9.24)
IF we will trust Him, He can give us a new dream, a new life that recovers JOY! After learning of the tragic circumstances of her life, we read the end of Naomi's story... "Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God's gracious gift she conceived and had a son. The town women said to Naomi, "Blessed be God! He didn't leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He'll make you young again! He'll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she's worth more to you than seven sons!" Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot." (Ruth 4:13-16, The Message)
That baby became the grandfather of Israel's great king, David! God used Naomi, to touch an alien woman’s life. Ruth, was brought to Israel and included in the line of David and the line of the Messiah, Jesus. You might read that and say, "So, does that make the pain Naomi had to endure all right?" I cannot answer that, nor can you!
Life is not about us living in a perfectly balanced scale where the pain is always offset by the blessings, where the hard times are offset by the good times. Life is about living in full faith, trusting that He is able to keep us secure in His love through the shattered dreams!
Are your dreams for life shattered today? Reach out to people who will love you, weep with you, and hold you up until your faith is strong enough to touch the heart of God again. Reject the easy answers, the psycho-babble, the half- truths..... but do not reject God. Ask Him for courage to weep yet keep hope and faith intact as you pray --- "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"
________________
O love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow,
May richer fuller be.
O light that foll'west all my way,
I yield my flick'ring torch to Thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze it's day,
May brighter fairer be.
O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
George Matteson © Public Domain
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Hindered by Self-esteem?
We make much of self-esteem, don’t we? We value self-confidence, teach our children to express themselves, and hold our opinions in very high regard. Americans are individualists, quick to defend personal rights. “I matter!” – is a core belief of our culture. I believe that God loves me, both as a member of His Body, the Church; and as an individual to whom He has given a unique place in this world.
A healthy sense of self worth, however, can morph into ugly pride and arrogance quite quickly! It can make us hard to deal with, unforgiving, and worst – unwilling to submit ourselves to the Lord. Imagine Jesus Christ as a modern American. As He approaches the end of His earthly ministry and faces the Cross, He says, “I’m not doing that. It makes me look like a criminal. I deserve better than this.” Nonsense, right? The Gospels reveal Him in his humanity struggling with the will of God, as we do. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays intensely, wrestling with God’s plan and purpose, the cost that it would bring to Him. Even on the Cross, He cries out, “WHY?” But, in each situation, we see Him choose humility!
One of the earliest hymns of the church worships Him, not for His individualism or expression of self-will, but for His submission. Paul records that hymn for us in his letter to the Philippian church:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:6-9, NIV)
Yesterday, I ran up against a situation in my extended family that I do not like, do not want, and do not understand. I would like to demand that the Lord remember ME, that WE don’t deserve this, that He make it change NOW! I am still angry about this thing, without even the most basic idea about how it could possibly be ‘good’ in any sense of the word. Ever been in that state of mind? I am choosing humility as the Word teaches: "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:5-6, NIV)
Humility does not rob us of dignity or worth. It does not mean that we throw away our self-esteem. It is a choice to elevate the Lord, to remind ourselves that He is worthy of our worship, and that it is good to bow our head in His Presence. Job raged against the Lord when his pain became too much, when he could no longer make sense of life. He pressed God to show up and explain Himself. How very 21st century of Job! But note how that worked out. "God then confronted Job directly: “Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?” Job answered: “I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen.” (Job 40:1-5, The Message)
With God’s help, I will choose the Jesus road! I will adopt Job’s response and ‘shut up and listen.’ I do not want self-esteem to hinder God’s ability to pour His grace into my life.
How about you, disciple? Will you choose humility? It’s truly an ennobling response of faith.
Here’s a word from the Word for those who are humble before Him. May the promise protect our hearts this day.
"Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand!
Do not forget the humble.
Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”
But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand.
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless." (Psalm 10:12-14, NKJV)
A healthy sense of self worth, however, can morph into ugly pride and arrogance quite quickly! It can make us hard to deal with, unforgiving, and worst – unwilling to submit ourselves to the Lord. Imagine Jesus Christ as a modern American. As He approaches the end of His earthly ministry and faces the Cross, He says, “I’m not doing that. It makes me look like a criminal. I deserve better than this.” Nonsense, right? The Gospels reveal Him in his humanity struggling with the will of God, as we do. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays intensely, wrestling with God’s plan and purpose, the cost that it would bring to Him. Even on the Cross, He cries out, “WHY?” But, in each situation, we see Him choose humility!
One of the earliest hymns of the church worships Him, not for His individualism or expression of self-will, but for His submission. Paul records that hymn for us in his letter to the Philippian church:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:6-9, NIV)
Yesterday, I ran up against a situation in my extended family that I do not like, do not want, and do not understand. I would like to demand that the Lord remember ME, that WE don’t deserve this, that He make it change NOW! I am still angry about this thing, without even the most basic idea about how it could possibly be ‘good’ in any sense of the word. Ever been in that state of mind? I am choosing humility as the Word teaches: "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:5-6, NIV)
Humility does not rob us of dignity or worth. It does not mean that we throw away our self-esteem. It is a choice to elevate the Lord, to remind ourselves that He is worthy of our worship, and that it is good to bow our head in His Presence. Job raged against the Lord when his pain became too much, when he could no longer make sense of life. He pressed God to show up and explain Himself. How very 21st century of Job! But note how that worked out. "God then confronted Job directly: “Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?” Job answered: “I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen.” (Job 40:1-5, The Message)
With God’s help, I will choose the Jesus road! I will adopt Job’s response and ‘shut up and listen.’ I do not want self-esteem to hinder God’s ability to pour His grace into my life.
How about you, disciple? Will you choose humility? It’s truly an ennobling response of faith.
Here’s a word from the Word for those who are humble before Him. May the promise protect our hearts this day.
"Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand!
Do not forget the humble.
Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”
But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand.
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless." (Psalm 10:12-14, NKJV)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Your Bridge Over Troubled Water
The year I entered high school, a song that has become something of a standard was first sung: Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It was a time of social unrest and war protests. The Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King had been assassinated. And then came the folk anthem about making one’s way through the mess:
When you're weary, feeling small;
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all.
I'm on your side
When times get rough,
And friends just can't be found;
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down. – Paul Simon, copyright, 1969
There is nothing like a friend in a time of trouble, is there? That person who offers concern, who helps us to see past the bleakness of this day to the hope of a new day, is indeed a kind of bridge. But troubles come that no friend can take away, that no amount of song can soothe, that will not be erased by calming words of concern. What then? I go to the fountain of life and there I find the wisdom of the One is ‘yesterday, today, and tomorrow’ for me. There I read this directive that invites the troubled person to make the choice of "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV)
The verb is one of action in the original language of the New Testament. It only appears twice and has the meaning of ‘throwing something down violently!’ We are urged to take those heavy burdens of life and throw them onto the shoulders of an Almighty God. The writer of the letter is Peter, the impulsive disciple whose faith, at first, was expressed in fits and starts! He responded to Jesus’ invitation to walk on water, then saw the waves and sank, saved only by the Master’s grasp. He followed Jesus on the night of His arrest showing more courage than all except John, but then his courage collapsed and he swore, “I never knew Him.” But, when the Holy Spirit filled him, he fearlessly preached on the streets of Jerusalem and led the disciples through the first decade of Christianity. Now he uses the same kind of language of action that is reflected in his personality. “Weighed down by concern, troubled by life? Throw it on the Lord! He is ready to care for you.”
Situations will arise that do not yield to your best efforts at finding an answer. People will act irrationally, disappointing and frustrating you. Disasters come – fire, flood, and disease – and we cannot understand why. These are the times to cast your care on Him! Fall on your face and give it up, letting go of control, releasing your need to know – not in resignation to fate, but in an act of faith that says, “Lord, I cannot carry it; please lift it from my shoulders.”
Here’s a word from the Word for this day.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NKJV)
Go ahead, right now… take that heavy thing that is breaking your heart and imagine you have in your grasp. Got it? Now, with a toss heavenward say, “Here it is. Thank you for helping me carry it, Lord. Amen.”
______________________
There is no problem so big,
God cannot solve it.
There is no mountain so tall,
He cannot move it.
There is no storm so dark,
God cannot calm it.
There is no sorrow so deep,
God cannot soothe it.
If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulders,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulder,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.
He Will Carry You
Brown, Scott Wesley
© 1982 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc.
CCLI License No. 810055
When you're weary, feeling small;
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all.
I'm on your side
When times get rough,
And friends just can't be found;
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down. – Paul Simon, copyright, 1969
There is nothing like a friend in a time of trouble, is there? That person who offers concern, who helps us to see past the bleakness of this day to the hope of a new day, is indeed a kind of bridge. But troubles come that no friend can take away, that no amount of song can soothe, that will not be erased by calming words of concern. What then? I go to the fountain of life and there I find the wisdom of the One is ‘yesterday, today, and tomorrow’ for me. There I read this directive that invites the troubled person to make the choice of "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV)
The verb is one of action in the original language of the New Testament. It only appears twice and has the meaning of ‘throwing something down violently!’ We are urged to take those heavy burdens of life and throw them onto the shoulders of an Almighty God. The writer of the letter is Peter, the impulsive disciple whose faith, at first, was expressed in fits and starts! He responded to Jesus’ invitation to walk on water, then saw the waves and sank, saved only by the Master’s grasp. He followed Jesus on the night of His arrest showing more courage than all except John, but then his courage collapsed and he swore, “I never knew Him.” But, when the Holy Spirit filled him, he fearlessly preached on the streets of Jerusalem and led the disciples through the first decade of Christianity. Now he uses the same kind of language of action that is reflected in his personality. “Weighed down by concern, troubled by life? Throw it on the Lord! He is ready to care for you.”
Situations will arise that do not yield to your best efforts at finding an answer. People will act irrationally, disappointing and frustrating you. Disasters come – fire, flood, and disease – and we cannot understand why. These are the times to cast your care on Him! Fall on your face and give it up, letting go of control, releasing your need to know – not in resignation to fate, but in an act of faith that says, “Lord, I cannot carry it; please lift it from my shoulders.”
Here’s a word from the Word for this day.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NKJV)
Go ahead, right now… take that heavy thing that is breaking your heart and imagine you have in your grasp. Got it? Now, with a toss heavenward say, “Here it is. Thank you for helping me carry it, Lord. Amen.”
______________________
There is no problem so big,
God cannot solve it.
There is no mountain so tall,
He cannot move it.
There is no storm so dark,
God cannot calm it.
There is no sorrow so deep,
God cannot soothe it.
If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulders,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulder,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.
He Will Carry You
Brown, Scott Wesley
© 1982 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc.
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, August 13, 2010
Fragile, yet treasured
I live in a house that is solid. It makes me feel secure to close the door and turn the bolt lock when darkness falls. I have money in the bank, not a great deal, but enough that I don’t have to wonder about how I will feed myself tomorrow. There is a kind of security in that, too. I am physically strong and have no fear of falling down or being assaulted. For each of those things, I am thankful! But, my house could be gone in a moment if a tornado blew through my town. The value of my money could be lost (and it appears more likely it will be!) if the economy of these United States collapsed. My physical body is already starting to betray me as it ages and I know that one major illness could rob me of my strength!
Yes, all the things that I cling to for my security are ephemeral- here today, gone tomorrow; yet, I am not afraid! Here’s why. The fragile nature of life is wrapped in the unchanging promise of God. In fact, my weakness becomes the revealer of His strength. Yesterday, when my inability to control my world was squeezing down hard on me, I whined to a friend – “What does God want from me?” His answer was a reminder of what I already knew: “All of you!” Yes, the truth is that when I live with confidence in my illusory strengths, I rely less on God and the luster of His Spirit is dimmed. In that moment, I realized in a fresh way that through fragile, God’s Spirit is a my true strength. This treasure in me shines out in me when weakness tears away my own confidence.
The Scripture tells us that "We have this light (the Gospel of Christ Jesus) shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, NLT)
Disciple, is life great for you right now? Then, give thanks! Enjoy it, but don’t let yourself be tricked into thinking that you have somehow become a master of the universe. "Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore. …Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop." (Ecclesiastes 12:3, NLT)
Perhaps you’re in a different season, when you feel insecure or alone. Embrace your weakness! No, not in a whiny, misery-laden, complaining way. Invite God to shine in you revealed in your time of weakness. "He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NLT)
______________
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious,
The Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting
And silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains,
High soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains
Of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest,
To both great and small;
In all, life Thou livest,
The true life of all;
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish
But naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory,
Pure Father of light;
Thine angels adore Thee
All veiling their sight.
All praise we would render,
O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth Thee.
Amen.
Immortal Invisible
Smith, Walter Chalmers / Robert, John
© Public Domain
Yes, all the things that I cling to for my security are ephemeral- here today, gone tomorrow; yet, I am not afraid! Here’s why. The fragile nature of life is wrapped in the unchanging promise of God. In fact, my weakness becomes the revealer of His strength. Yesterday, when my inability to control my world was squeezing down hard on me, I whined to a friend – “What does God want from me?” His answer was a reminder of what I already knew: “All of you!” Yes, the truth is that when I live with confidence in my illusory strengths, I rely less on God and the luster of His Spirit is dimmed. In that moment, I realized in a fresh way that through fragile, God’s Spirit is a my true strength. This treasure in me shines out in me when weakness tears away my own confidence.
The Scripture tells us that "We have this light (the Gospel of Christ Jesus) shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, NLT)
Disciple, is life great for you right now? Then, give thanks! Enjoy it, but don’t let yourself be tricked into thinking that you have somehow become a master of the universe. "Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore. …Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop." (Ecclesiastes 12:3, NLT)
Perhaps you’re in a different season, when you feel insecure or alone. Embrace your weakness! No, not in a whiny, misery-laden, complaining way. Invite God to shine in you revealed in your time of weakness. "He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NLT)
______________
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious,
The Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting
And silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains,
High soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains
Of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest,
To both great and small;
In all, life Thou livest,
The true life of all;
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish
But naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory,
Pure Father of light;
Thine angels adore Thee
All veiling their sight.
All praise we would render,
O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth Thee.
Amen.
Immortal Invisible
Smith, Walter Chalmers / Robert, John
© Public Domain
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Higher Choice
Are you ruled by your emotions? Many people are! I hope you have matured to the point where you are working to use your feelings to enrich your life while never letting them be ‘in charge.’ Some days I feel madly in love with Bev. Some days, not so much! Does that change my marital status? Of course not. Sometimes I feel more godly than others. Should I allow that to determine if I choose to be holy?
Is your faith totally dependent on feelings? Do you pray only when you are in a certain state of mind? Do you somehow think that your relationship with the Lord is directly tied to the chemicals that ebb and flow inside your cranium? Such a flimsy foundation is insufficient for Christian faith! Eugene Peterson, one of my favorite authors, writes: “My feelings tell me next to nothing about God or my relationship to Him. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him or myself or my neighbors.” (A Long Obedience)
Look at this declaration! "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV) Rock, fortress, refuge! Those are strong words, expressing faith that is not here today and gone under the stress that comes tomorrow!
Those who enjoy a deep and life-governing love of Christ are those who choose daily to practice the disciplines that open both their heart and their mind to the Truth of God and the work of the Spirit. They set God above all other parts of their lives – higher than family, higher than demands at work, higher than their desires, higher than diversions; and yes, higher than their emotions. They faithfully open the Scripture to learn. They regularly offer prayer and listen in meditation. They make gathering with other disciples a priority choice. They serve others. They give time and resources to the work of God first, not last.
You may object- “Jerry, that sounds like duty; like I am attempting to earn God’s favor.” To be honest, there are days when my choice to deny my impulse to be selfish or sinful is dutiful! But, I am glad for the Truth that guides me past the shoals of my own emotions at that moment. There’s nothing wrong with doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do! If only follow God when our heart is stirred by good feelings, our discipleship will be shallow, if it exists at all.
The paradox is this: the person who consistently makes the choice to do what God desires of him –regardless of his feelings– almost certainly will develop a deeper, richer intimacy with God over time! He learns what it means to ‘walk with God’ and knows that He is equally present in the dark valley and the mountaintop. It is like the man who moves past infatuation with a woman, who makes the covenant pledge of marriage. His choice for one woman, his surrender of the ‘freedom’ of bachelorhood, lays a foundation for discovery of a deeper relationship with his wife; one he could never find in a series of relationships based only on attraction.
Disciple, exercise the God-given ability to choose!
Don’t float with the current. You’ll drift away from God, never to Him. Don’t walk with the crowd. They will never lead you to the King of Glory! Take Joshua’s challenge – “Choose today whom you will serve!”
Here’s the word from the Word.
"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.
None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives.
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."
(Colossians 3:15-17, The Message)
_________________
He’s my Rock, my Sword, my Shield!
He’s my Wheel in the middle of the wheel!
He’s my Lily of the Valley,
He’s my Bright and Morning Star!
Makes no difference what you say,
I’m going on my knees and pray,
I’m gonna wait right here for Jesus ‘till He comes.
- Public domain
Is your faith totally dependent on feelings? Do you pray only when you are in a certain state of mind? Do you somehow think that your relationship with the Lord is directly tied to the chemicals that ebb and flow inside your cranium? Such a flimsy foundation is insufficient for Christian faith! Eugene Peterson, one of my favorite authors, writes: “My feelings tell me next to nothing about God or my relationship to Him. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him or myself or my neighbors.” (A Long Obedience)
Look at this declaration! "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV) Rock, fortress, refuge! Those are strong words, expressing faith that is not here today and gone under the stress that comes tomorrow!
Those who enjoy a deep and life-governing love of Christ are those who choose daily to practice the disciplines that open both their heart and their mind to the Truth of God and the work of the Spirit. They set God above all other parts of their lives – higher than family, higher than demands at work, higher than their desires, higher than diversions; and yes, higher than their emotions. They faithfully open the Scripture to learn. They regularly offer prayer and listen in meditation. They make gathering with other disciples a priority choice. They serve others. They give time and resources to the work of God first, not last.
You may object- “Jerry, that sounds like duty; like I am attempting to earn God’s favor.” To be honest, there are days when my choice to deny my impulse to be selfish or sinful is dutiful! But, I am glad for the Truth that guides me past the shoals of my own emotions at that moment. There’s nothing wrong with doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do! If only follow God when our heart is stirred by good feelings, our discipleship will be shallow, if it exists at all.
The paradox is this: the person who consistently makes the choice to do what God desires of him –regardless of his feelings– almost certainly will develop a deeper, richer intimacy with God over time! He learns what it means to ‘walk with God’ and knows that He is equally present in the dark valley and the mountaintop. It is like the man who moves past infatuation with a woman, who makes the covenant pledge of marriage. His choice for one woman, his surrender of the ‘freedom’ of bachelorhood, lays a foundation for discovery of a deeper relationship with his wife; one he could never find in a series of relationships based only on attraction.
Disciple, exercise the God-given ability to choose!
Don’t float with the current. You’ll drift away from God, never to Him. Don’t walk with the crowd. They will never lead you to the King of Glory! Take Joshua’s challenge – “Choose today whom you will serve!”
Here’s the word from the Word.
"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.
None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives.
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."
(Colossians 3:15-17, The Message)
_________________
He’s my Rock, my Sword, my Shield!
He’s my Wheel in the middle of the wheel!
He’s my Lily of the Valley,
He’s my Bright and Morning Star!
Makes no difference what you say,
I’m going on my knees and pray,
I’m gonna wait right here for Jesus ‘till He comes.
- Public domain
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tossing grenades?
There is a part of my earlier years I sincerely regret, that of assuming the role of critic! I did it far too often and know now that I was a foolish man whose words created more animosity than real change. Critics have a role to play, pointing out flaws; giving artists, leaders, and other a strong motivation to ‘get it right.’ But, the years have taught me that it is a lot easier to toss grenades that blow things up than it is to build things in the first place.
How easily we take the critic's role.
We look at the struggling marriage of another saying, “Why doesn’t he just love her more intensely? What’s wrong with her that she can’t just forgive him his indiscretion?” Do we really understand the pain, the back story, all the issues that are at stake? No!
We are tempted to toss word grenades at Christians who walk through up’s and down’s in their holiness, at those whose financial situation is precarious, and ... well, who have you criticized today?
Jesus was sometimes a critic, but He generally approached others with offers of acceptance, understanding and lifting them up. When some grenade throwers dragged a woman who was having an adulterous affair to Him, did He lash out at her with scathing words about her shamelessness, her failure to understand the consequences of her choices, or her lack of character? No! He offered her love, gave her dignity. Only then did he say, “Now, go and sin no more.”
It’s a sign of security in God’s purposes and real emotional maturity to be an encourager. When Moses was told that his leadership of Israel was drawing to a close, he argued with the Lord, asking for more time. The Lord refused his request and told him - "commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” (Deuteronomy 3:28, NIV) Moses’ obedience was remarkable. He became Joshua’s biggest supporter, urging him on, endorsing him before the nation. In part, Joshua’s amazing success was directly attributable to Moses’ encouragement.
So, disciple, will you forget yourself, your preferences, your comfort and take an interest in another?
Will you, for the Lord’s sake, become an encourager?
There is a great joy to be found in instilling another with hope, in helping to lift a burden, in pointing one to a new way of thinking. Some may realize what you have done and say, ‘thank you.’ Some may never know the wind that you redirected into their sails. Will you toss grenades like any old critic, or will you hold out hope?
Here’s a word from the Word. "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)
--------------
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad.
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Make Me A Blessing
Wilson, Ira B. / Schuler, George S.
© 1924. Renewed 1952 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
How easily we take the critic's role.
We look at the struggling marriage of another saying, “Why doesn’t he just love her more intensely? What’s wrong with her that she can’t just forgive him his indiscretion?” Do we really understand the pain, the back story, all the issues that are at stake? No!
We are tempted to toss word grenades at Christians who walk through up’s and down’s in their holiness, at those whose financial situation is precarious, and ... well, who have you criticized today?
Jesus was sometimes a critic, but He generally approached others with offers of acceptance, understanding and lifting them up. When some grenade throwers dragged a woman who was having an adulterous affair to Him, did He lash out at her with scathing words about her shamelessness, her failure to understand the consequences of her choices, or her lack of character? No! He offered her love, gave her dignity. Only then did he say, “Now, go and sin no more.”
It’s a sign of security in God’s purposes and real emotional maturity to be an encourager. When Moses was told that his leadership of Israel was drawing to a close, he argued with the Lord, asking for more time. The Lord refused his request and told him - "commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” (Deuteronomy 3:28, NIV) Moses’ obedience was remarkable. He became Joshua’s biggest supporter, urging him on, endorsing him before the nation. In part, Joshua’s amazing success was directly attributable to Moses’ encouragement.
So, disciple, will you forget yourself, your preferences, your comfort and take an interest in another?
Will you, for the Lord’s sake, become an encourager?
There is a great joy to be found in instilling another with hope, in helping to lift a burden, in pointing one to a new way of thinking. Some may realize what you have done and say, ‘thank you.’ Some may never know the wind that you redirected into their sails. Will you toss grenades like any old critic, or will you hold out hope?
Here’s a word from the Word. "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)
--------------
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad.
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Make Me A Blessing
Wilson, Ira B. / Schuler, George S.
© 1924. Renewed 1952 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Take ALL of me, Jesus
I could not help but overhear the conversation being carried on in a church’s coffee shop. The beautifully dressed woman was talking to two friends. She had her Bible laying there in front of her on the table and she was about to attend a worship gathering. To every appearance, she was a Christian. Her manner of speaking did not reflect the spirit of Jesus! A torrent of criticism, bitter words without love or compassion, spilled out of her.
After a couple of moments, I moved away and given her self-obsession, I wondered how she would worship ‘in Spirit and in truth.’ Lest you think I’m a judge only of another, I will hasten to tell you that when I went into the church’s sanctuary and prayed before the first song, the Holy Spirit led to remember my own manner of speaking in a conversation the prior day! My prayer in that moment was one we all need to pray often- “Jesus, take all of me!”
The Scripture calls us to serve Jesus with an unquestioning obedience. "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18, NIV)
Michael Spencer writes: “Invest yourself in anything, from watching South Park to obsessing over your lawn, and it will alter the kind of person you are. Human beings aren’t static, but dynamic. We change. We are influenced, nurtured, moved, and moldable.” (Mere Churchianity, Waterbrook, 2010)
I want to invest myself in Jesus, so as to enter into the paradox of being a ‘free slave!’ It is difficult for us to accept that by giving away our right to self-rule we discover the highest form of liberty. The Scripture asks to ponder the cost of hanging onto our natural impulses and inclinations. "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:21-22, NIV)
From the depth of your being, pray this surrender: “Take all of me, Jesus!” Let Him own you and find the freedom to be who He purposes and enter, right here and now, into eternal life.
_________________
"Gotta Serve Somebody"
You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Copyright – Bob Dylan
Judy Collins sings it.
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=bYam0tQfPrU&feature=related
After a couple of moments, I moved away and given her self-obsession, I wondered how she would worship ‘in Spirit and in truth.’ Lest you think I’m a judge only of another, I will hasten to tell you that when I went into the church’s sanctuary and prayed before the first song, the Holy Spirit led to remember my own manner of speaking in a conversation the prior day! My prayer in that moment was one we all need to pray often- “Jesus, take all of me!”
The Scripture calls us to serve Jesus with an unquestioning obedience. "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18, NIV)
Michael Spencer writes: “Invest yourself in anything, from watching South Park to obsessing over your lawn, and it will alter the kind of person you are. Human beings aren’t static, but dynamic. We change. We are influenced, nurtured, moved, and moldable.” (Mere Churchianity, Waterbrook, 2010)
I want to invest myself in Jesus, so as to enter into the paradox of being a ‘free slave!’ It is difficult for us to accept that by giving away our right to self-rule we discover the highest form of liberty. The Scripture asks to ponder the cost of hanging onto our natural impulses and inclinations. "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:21-22, NIV)
From the depth of your being, pray this surrender: “Take all of me, Jesus!” Let Him own you and find the freedom to be who He purposes and enter, right here and now, into eternal life.
_________________
"Gotta Serve Somebody"
You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Copyright – Bob Dylan
Judy Collins sings it.
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=bYam0tQfPrU&feature=related
Monday, August 09, 2010
No Place Like Home
Each of the last 8 nights, I have laid my head on a different pillow in a different room. Bev and I helped Chris and Pete relocate from California to Maryland, 14 states, 2975 miles in 7 days! It was fun to see the countryside across these United States, but I’m ready to go home! Taking a break from life’s routines is a welcomed experience, but there is a genuine comfort in seeing faces of those who I love, buying coffee at the same shop, and sitting on my own couch.
We cannot over-estimate the importance of making a place called home. We do it less by building a house than by becoming part of a network of friends who love us, by regularly serving in a way that dethrones self-interest, by being a small part of something larger than ourselves. The late Kingman Brewster (1918-1988), a president of Yale University and a public servant, said "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation." In other words, it challenges Self to serve, but it is immensely rewarding to do it well and in a way that makes us part of a supportive web. That is the true ‘home.’
Our culture lauds independence, making our own way in life, with swaggering distain for a need of assistance. Such a life is largely mythical. Those who pursue life apart from 'home-making' will find themselves emotionally crippled, alone, and spiritually useless! The richness of love, not the sappy stuff of romance novels, but the robust, bold love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV) is the soul of the best life. So, I’m looking forward to going home, plugging back into my network, and doing what God calls me to do each day.
What about you, disciple?
Are you creating a ‘home’ where you are doing the sometimes seemingly impossible, always costly, work of weaving a strong web that ties you to others? Some will nourish you. Some will require you to feed and serve. Both are part of love.
One of these days, we will all be called to our final home. If our hearts are already in love with the Father and His family, it will be a wonderful reunion. But, what of those who have been too pre-occupied with themselves, too committed to self-indulgence to step outside of themselves to create authentic, loving relationships? What will they experience? For me, there’s no place like home.
Here’s a word from the Word. Soak it in today.
"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:8-10, NLT)
"Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own." (Hebrews 11:14, NLT)
_____________________
Wherever there is laughter ringing,
Someone smiling someone dreaming,
We can live together there,
Love will be our home.
Where there are words of kindness spoken,
Where a vow is never broken,
We can live together there,
'Cause love will be our home.
If home is really where the heart is,
Then home must be a place we all can share.
For even with our diff'rences
Our hearts are much the same.
For where love is we come together there.
With love our hearts can be a family,
And hope can bring this family face to face,
And though we may be far apart
Our hearts can be as one,
When love brings us together in one place.
Love will love will be our home,
Love Will Be Our Home
Chapman, Steven Curtis
© 1988 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
We cannot over-estimate the importance of making a place called home. We do it less by building a house than by becoming part of a network of friends who love us, by regularly serving in a way that dethrones self-interest, by being a small part of something larger than ourselves. The late Kingman Brewster (1918-1988), a president of Yale University and a public servant, said "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation." In other words, it challenges Self to serve, but it is immensely rewarding to do it well and in a way that makes us part of a supportive web. That is the true ‘home.’
Our culture lauds independence, making our own way in life, with swaggering distain for a need of assistance. Such a life is largely mythical. Those who pursue life apart from 'home-making' will find themselves emotionally crippled, alone, and spiritually useless! The richness of love, not the sappy stuff of romance novels, but the robust, bold love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV) is the soul of the best life. So, I’m looking forward to going home, plugging back into my network, and doing what God calls me to do each day.
What about you, disciple?
Are you creating a ‘home’ where you are doing the sometimes seemingly impossible, always costly, work of weaving a strong web that ties you to others? Some will nourish you. Some will require you to feed and serve. Both are part of love.
One of these days, we will all be called to our final home. If our hearts are already in love with the Father and His family, it will be a wonderful reunion. But, what of those who have been too pre-occupied with themselves, too committed to self-indulgence to step outside of themselves to create authentic, loving relationships? What will they experience? For me, there’s no place like home.
Here’s a word from the Word. Soak it in today.
"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:8-10, NLT)
"Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own." (Hebrews 11:14, NLT)
_____________________
Wherever there is laughter ringing,
Someone smiling someone dreaming,
We can live together there,
Love will be our home.
Where there are words of kindness spoken,
Where a vow is never broken,
We can live together there,
'Cause love will be our home.
If home is really where the heart is,
Then home must be a place we all can share.
For even with our diff'rences
Our hearts are much the same.
For where love is we come together there.
With love our hearts can be a family,
And hope can bring this family face to face,
And though we may be far apart
Our hearts can be as one,
When love brings us together in one place.
Love will love will be our home,
Love Will Be Our Home
Chapman, Steven Curtis
© 1988 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, July 30, 2010
Living By Faith?
Christians are held in a tension. We know that we cannot earn a place of acceptance with our Heavenly Father with any amount of good works. We are made right with Him through faith. Yet, our faith is not abstract. It is shown in how we live.
Abraham is the example used in Romans. "What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” (Romans 4:1-3, NLT) From his life of faith, however, we discover that a 'faith-full' life is consistent in word and actions!
Many disciples talk about faith, but live like atheists. They pray, but act as though God does not hear, or is not willing to act, or is incapable of doing what they ask. Abraham’s faith was a core value from which his life was formed. In Genesis 12:1 we read of a radical choice based on faith: The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.”
Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, teaches three ‘life of faith’ principles.
1. Faith is informed by God's voice.
It does not spring from self. Abraham heard from God before he did anything! Do you think that faith is hatching up an idea and then insisting that God bless it? Do you mistake faith for presumption because you think that you have the right to 'tell' God what to do for you? God does the telling, we do the living. God sets the agenda, we implement His plans. A heart of worship that is learning to listen to the Spirit and the Word is the fertile soil from which faith grows.
2. Faith leaves the familiar.
Abraham was compelled, by faith, to pack up and move out. He left comfort, safety, family, and friends behind to faithfully pursue God's plan. Sounds so easy when we say it like that, doesn't it? Sounds Almost adventurous, like getting on the cast of 'Survivor.' EXCEPT, that the Adventure doesn't end in 6 weeks. It's a life-long pilgrimage that only rests in Heaven. Faith will pull you out of religious traditions that no longer are useful in connecting you with God. Faith will lead you out of cultural norms that 'deaden' you to God's work. Faith may cause you to do the ridiculous, not because you're crazed and hearing voices, but because you're 'hearing His voice.'
3. Faith goes forward without knowing tomorrow.
Imagine stopping Abraham's caravan 50 miles out of Ur, his hometown.
"Abraham, where are you going?"
"Don't know, He didn't tell me. He just said, go."
"How will you know when you're there?"
"Don't know. He didn't tell me. He just said, go this way today."
Faith is risky. Living in faith we will certainly make mistakes. But, faith is the only way to find our true home. “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” - Hebrews 11:8-10
________________________
"Father of the faithful, add my name to the roster of those who lived by Your Words.
Help my ears to be turned to you, to be eagerly anticipating Your directives.
Give me courage to move out from what I know, from what is comfortable, to pursue Your plan.
You know how much I love to know the whole route in advance.
Holy Spirit, reassure me with Your powerful Presence as I just GO, even when I don't KNOW the end.
May your Son, Jesus Christ, be honored by a life of faith I live today. Amen."
Abraham is the example used in Romans. "What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” (Romans 4:1-3, NLT) From his life of faith, however, we discover that a 'faith-full' life is consistent in word and actions!
Many disciples talk about faith, but live like atheists. They pray, but act as though God does not hear, or is not willing to act, or is incapable of doing what they ask. Abraham’s faith was a core value from which his life was formed. In Genesis 12:1 we read of a radical choice based on faith: The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.”
Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, teaches three ‘life of faith’ principles.
1. Faith is informed by God's voice.
It does not spring from self. Abraham heard from God before he did anything! Do you think that faith is hatching up an idea and then insisting that God bless it? Do you mistake faith for presumption because you think that you have the right to 'tell' God what to do for you? God does the telling, we do the living. God sets the agenda, we implement His plans. A heart of worship that is learning to listen to the Spirit and the Word is the fertile soil from which faith grows.
2. Faith leaves the familiar.
Abraham was compelled, by faith, to pack up and move out. He left comfort, safety, family, and friends behind to faithfully pursue God's plan. Sounds so easy when we say it like that, doesn't it? Sounds Almost adventurous, like getting on the cast of 'Survivor.' EXCEPT, that the Adventure doesn't end in 6 weeks. It's a life-long pilgrimage that only rests in Heaven. Faith will pull you out of religious traditions that no longer are useful in connecting you with God. Faith will lead you out of cultural norms that 'deaden' you to God's work. Faith may cause you to do the ridiculous, not because you're crazed and hearing voices, but because you're 'hearing His voice.'
3. Faith goes forward without knowing tomorrow.
Imagine stopping Abraham's caravan 50 miles out of Ur, his hometown.
"Abraham, where are you going?"
"Don't know, He didn't tell me. He just said, go."
"How will you know when you're there?"
"Don't know. He didn't tell me. He just said, go this way today."
Faith is risky. Living in faith we will certainly make mistakes. But, faith is the only way to find our true home. “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” - Hebrews 11:8-10
________________________
"Father of the faithful, add my name to the roster of those who lived by Your Words.
Help my ears to be turned to you, to be eagerly anticipating Your directives.
Give me courage to move out from what I know, from what is comfortable, to pursue Your plan.
You know how much I love to know the whole route in advance.
Holy Spirit, reassure me with Your powerful Presence as I just GO, even when I don't KNOW the end.
May your Son, Jesus Christ, be honored by a life of faith I live today. Amen."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A privileged son
Monday I visited my Mom’s home. When I arrived, I walked right in with a yell announcing my arrival! Going to the refrigerator, I looked for something to eat. I sat down at her computer and checked my email. I would not take such liberties if I visited most homes because I do not enjoy the familial ties that provide me with the privileges I enjoy at Mom’s house. Though it is not my home, I am her son and need not act as a guest while I am there.
The Scripture says, "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence." (Ephesians 3:12, NLT) In another passage, we are reminded that we are children with privileges. "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." (Romans 8:15-16, The Message)
\Do you enjoy that kind of relationship with your God?
Or, are you still cowering before a Deity that terrifies you, guilty and ashamed? Through Christ, we are forgiven the sins that previously caused us to feel only fear in the Father’s Presence! Now, we can and should live with a humble confidence, a daily conversation with the One who loves us most. What a privilege!
Is there something in your life that is stressing you, keeping you awake at night, making your head ache? Share it with the Father. With child-like faith go to Papa and ask His wisdom, His comfort, His resources for your need. Don’t be shy; be boldly confident. For example, on Monday, my left knee was causing me real pain. Every step I took, was a reminder of my aging body. In prayer that evening, I asked Papa to make it better! I asked Him to show me if there was something I was doing to contribute to my pain and to heal me. Tuesday, I awakened to find the pain gone. In simple faith, I thanked Him for that blessing. Like any good father, He may not do what you want Him to do, but He will do what is best for you. If He corrects you, it is because He loves you.
Rejoice with Him, too. Go often and give thanks for the joys of life.
Here’s a word from the Word. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:9-11, NLT)
Don’t live like an orphaned child today. Exercise the privileges given you through your adoption into the family of God, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
__________________
Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my life in vain.
I'm tempted then to murmur,
And of my lot complain.
But when I think of Jesus,
And all He's done for me,
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.
O Rock of Ages, hide Thou me.
No other refuge have I but Thee.
When life's dark vale I wander,
Far, far from Thee.
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.
Hide Thou Me
Harris, Thoro / Tolbert, L.R.
© 1926. Renewed 1953 Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
The Scripture says, "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence." (Ephesians 3:12, NLT) In another passage, we are reminded that we are children with privileges. "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." (Romans 8:15-16, The Message)
\Do you enjoy that kind of relationship with your God?
Or, are you still cowering before a Deity that terrifies you, guilty and ashamed? Through Christ, we are forgiven the sins that previously caused us to feel only fear in the Father’s Presence! Now, we can and should live with a humble confidence, a daily conversation with the One who loves us most. What a privilege!
Is there something in your life that is stressing you, keeping you awake at night, making your head ache? Share it with the Father. With child-like faith go to Papa and ask His wisdom, His comfort, His resources for your need. Don’t be shy; be boldly confident. For example, on Monday, my left knee was causing me real pain. Every step I took, was a reminder of my aging body. In prayer that evening, I asked Papa to make it better! I asked Him to show me if there was something I was doing to contribute to my pain and to heal me. Tuesday, I awakened to find the pain gone. In simple faith, I thanked Him for that blessing. Like any good father, He may not do what you want Him to do, but He will do what is best for you. If He corrects you, it is because He loves you.
Rejoice with Him, too. Go often and give thanks for the joys of life.
Here’s a word from the Word. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:9-11, NLT)
Don’t live like an orphaned child today. Exercise the privileges given you through your adoption into the family of God, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
__________________
Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my life in vain.
I'm tempted then to murmur,
And of my lot complain.
But when I think of Jesus,
And all He's done for me,
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.
O Rock of Ages, hide Thou me.
No other refuge have I but Thee.
When life's dark vale I wander,
Far, far from Thee.
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.
Hide Thou Me
Harris, Thoro / Tolbert, L.R.
© 1926. Renewed 1953 Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saved from myself
In a recent meeting with the leadership team of the church, my temper overcame good judgment and a good friend stepped in to save me from myself. “I don’t think we need to go there,” he said firmly! I can think of so many other occasions when good advice or even confrontation were important to cause reflection so that I would change course. I am thankful for those who bless me with their wisdom along the way. The One who is the best Savior is Jesus Christ.
My life was set for destruction, bound for Hell! Timothy Keller’s observation about how people ultimately arrive far from God is telling. “Hell is simply one’s freely chosen identity apart from God on a trajectory into infinity.” (Reason For God, 2009) We are born with a nature bent to serve ourselves. The more we pursue Self, the further we travel away from God. The end point of that road is Hell, the complete absence of God, who is Light and Love. As much as we might try to believe in our own powers of reformation and/or salvation, we cannot save ourselves from ourselves.
We all need Someone to step in and save us from ourselves. The hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing,” contains these lines:
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
There is the Gospel! C. S. Lewis speaks to the importance of responding in faith to the Lord today. “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others … but you are still distinct from it. You my even criticize yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then, there will be no ‘you’ left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine. It is not a question of God “sending us” to Hell. In each of us there is something growing, which will BE Hell unless it is nipped in the bud.” (as quoted in Reason for God)
When we were Hell-bound, fixed on our own destruction, our Divine Lover stepped in with an offer, held out the promise of changing the course of our lives. The Scripture says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, … but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, NIV) Ours is but to accept His offer – by faith. When we do, the trajectory spoken of by Keller is turned upward. Heaven is set in our hearts and we begin to live ‘in God,’ right here, walking with the Spirit in a way that ends in His glorious Presence.
Are you allowing Someone to save you from yourself?
Give up pride. Reject self-improvement which is at best a temporary thing and is really just self-delusion, learning not to see the Truth. By faith, respond and accept the offer of the Lord of Glory to ‘interpose His precious blood’ and set you on a new course – one that is filled with holiness and ends at the Throne of God.
________________
Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus - Mystery
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
And Christ will come again
Celebrate his death and rising.
Lift your eyes, proclaim his coming!
Celebrate his death and rising,
Lift your eyes, lift your eyes!
-Charlie Hall
My life was set for destruction, bound for Hell! Timothy Keller’s observation about how people ultimately arrive far from God is telling. “Hell is simply one’s freely chosen identity apart from God on a trajectory into infinity.” (Reason For God, 2009) We are born with a nature bent to serve ourselves. The more we pursue Self, the further we travel away from God. The end point of that road is Hell, the complete absence of God, who is Light and Love. As much as we might try to believe in our own powers of reformation and/or salvation, we cannot save ourselves from ourselves.
We all need Someone to step in and save us from ourselves. The hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing,” contains these lines:
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
There is the Gospel! C. S. Lewis speaks to the importance of responding in faith to the Lord today. “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others … but you are still distinct from it. You my even criticize yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then, there will be no ‘you’ left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine. It is not a question of God “sending us” to Hell. In each of us there is something growing, which will BE Hell unless it is nipped in the bud.” (as quoted in Reason for God)
When we were Hell-bound, fixed on our own destruction, our Divine Lover stepped in with an offer, held out the promise of changing the course of our lives. The Scripture says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, … but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, NIV) Ours is but to accept His offer – by faith. When we do, the trajectory spoken of by Keller is turned upward. Heaven is set in our hearts and we begin to live ‘in God,’ right here, walking with the Spirit in a way that ends in His glorious Presence.
Are you allowing Someone to save you from yourself?
Give up pride. Reject self-improvement which is at best a temporary thing and is really just self-delusion, learning not to see the Truth. By faith, respond and accept the offer of the Lord of Glory to ‘interpose His precious blood’ and set you on a new course – one that is filled with holiness and ends at the Throne of God.
________________
Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus - Mystery
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
And Christ will come again
Celebrate his death and rising.
Lift your eyes, proclaim his coming!
Celebrate his death and rising,
Lift your eyes, lift your eyes!
-Charlie Hall
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Off to Afghanistan?
Americans are impressed by more, big, and famous I regret that I spent too much of my life measuring my own ‘success’ as a pastor by the number of people I preached to on Sunday morning. But, I am not an oddity in that pursuit. Many measure their success by their level of compensation, their title, or by how many friends they have on Facebook. Success is often a numbers game, but on Sunday evening I met a man who completely re-defined the assumptions about what it means to live successfully. I’ll call him Dan.
God placed a love for the Afghan people in Dan’s heart 9 years ago. In an encounter with the Holy Spirit, he was deeply impressed, as a 26 year man, to take up the mission of bringing the Gospel to a land held in the grip of the most radical form of Islam. For the last 4 years, he and his wife, along with their three little girls, have lived in war zones of Afghanistan, quietly building friendships and praying for the spiritual darkness around them to be dispelled by the Light. It’s an exhausting assignment, full of sacrifice, and emotionally wearing. He’s been warned to flee numerous times, told that armed Taliban are standing outside of his home at night, and a close associate was gunned down in his car. None of the typical measures of success apply! Converts are few. Money is not a factor. His name cannot be published! Yet, he serves, and with great joy!
Don’t make a leap to a false conclusion. We need not all move to Afghanistan and live in mud homes to be good disciples who are ‘successful!’ We are all called, as disciples of Christ, to total obedience right here, right now. Our individual success is measured by how we respond to the Lord’s call, by our faithful embrace of the mission He gives to each one of us. My call is to lead and care for a congregation at a church in Washington, NJ. God will judge me a success if I am diligent, if I do that work for His glory. Circumstances beyond my control may lead to greater numbers of people in that church, but 200 or 2000 in the building are not His measure of success.
To be a success, disciple, there is a foundational question that demands your answer: what does the Lord ask of me? If you cannot answer that with any kind of certainty, you will be vulnerable to discontent and deception. You will chase meaning and purpose in ways that cannot ultimately provide them. Why? Because you will confuse ‘self-fulfillment’ with God’s approval! Much of what we label ‘success’ is just a way of making ourselves feel better about who we are and what we do. However, for the disciple of Christ, nothing can replace knowing that we are squarely in the center of the will of God. Dan is a man at peace with God and able to serve in a difficult assignment without much in the way of traditional rewards because he knows that he is doing what the Lord wants him to do at this time in his life!
Here’s a word from the Word. May the Spirit cause it to own you.
"Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” (Isaiah 49:1-3, NLT)
Are you His servant?
Will your thoughts, words, and actions today be framed by the desire to “bring Him glory?”
_______________
God placed a love for the Afghan people in Dan’s heart 9 years ago. In an encounter with the Holy Spirit, he was deeply impressed, as a 26 year man, to take up the mission of bringing the Gospel to a land held in the grip of the most radical form of Islam. For the last 4 years, he and his wife, along with their three little girls, have lived in war zones of Afghanistan, quietly building friendships and praying for the spiritual darkness around them to be dispelled by the Light. It’s an exhausting assignment, full of sacrifice, and emotionally wearing. He’s been warned to flee numerous times, told that armed Taliban are standing outside of his home at night, and a close associate was gunned down in his car. None of the typical measures of success apply! Converts are few. Money is not a factor. His name cannot be published! Yet, he serves, and with great joy!
Don’t make a leap to a false conclusion. We need not all move to Afghanistan and live in mud homes to be good disciples who are ‘successful!’ We are all called, as disciples of Christ, to total obedience right here, right now. Our individual success is measured by how we respond to the Lord’s call, by our faithful embrace of the mission He gives to each one of us. My call is to lead and care for a congregation at a church in Washington, NJ. God will judge me a success if I am diligent, if I do that work for His glory. Circumstances beyond my control may lead to greater numbers of people in that church, but 200 or 2000 in the building are not His measure of success.
To be a success, disciple, there is a foundational question that demands your answer: what does the Lord ask of me? If you cannot answer that with any kind of certainty, you will be vulnerable to discontent and deception. You will chase meaning and purpose in ways that cannot ultimately provide them. Why? Because you will confuse ‘self-fulfillment’ with God’s approval! Much of what we label ‘success’ is just a way of making ourselves feel better about who we are and what we do. However, for the disciple of Christ, nothing can replace knowing that we are squarely in the center of the will of God. Dan is a man at peace with God and able to serve in a difficult assignment without much in the way of traditional rewards because he knows that he is doing what the Lord wants him to do at this time in his life!
Here’s a word from the Word. May the Spirit cause it to own you.
"Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” (Isaiah 49:1-3, NLT)
Are you His servant?
Will your thoughts, words, and actions today be framed by the desire to “bring Him glory?”
_______________
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Marinade of your soul
Summertime means steaks, grilled to perfection, seasoned just right. T-bone's are not always affordable so a cheaper cut of meat sometimes finds its way onto the grill, but I have found a way to compensate. It's called marinade. A blend of wine or vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, perhaps onion, sometimes some lemon juice - is prepared and the meat is left to soak in it. A common cut of meat is tenderized and flavored by the marinade.
So, let me cut right to my point today. What the marinade that soaks your soul, that flavors your life? Anxiety and despair will always result from constant exposure to cable TV news. Greed and need will surely start to be part of your thoughts if you absorb each and every advertising circular that finds its way onto your dining room table. Many disciples are wondering why their souls are dry, why they are full of doubt, why they don't love worship or prayer, why their souls are cluttered with temptations like so much junk thrown around in a garage. They blame God for allowing them to wander alone, but the truth is, they pick up the flavors of the culture in which they choose to soak, day after day.
The Word says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV) That is one superb promise! Fill your mind and heart with praise, with worship, with appreciation for beauty, with gratitude - and reap the benefit of a life marked by peace! Practice love for others, real forgiveness, genuine concern for the poor and the weak and discover the richness of freedom from Self!
Disciple, if you want to live with the promise of the Spirit, check the marinade in which your soul soaks. Ask the practical questions:
What's playing into your head on your Ipod?
Who is influencing you with counsel?
What is creating the ambience in your home?
Take this wise and ancient counsel of the Word and make it your guide.
"How well God must like you-
you don't hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.
Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom."
(Psalm 1:1-3, The Message)
______________________
On God's holy Word I challenge you
To give to the Lord your life anew.
My friend, make your choice;
He waits for you
For this is the moment of truth.
Now walk with God
And He will be your dearest Friend
Where'er you go
In everything you do.
And may your life
Reflect His love to ev'ryone.
Now walk with God
And He will walk with you.
Now Walk With God
Skillings, Otis
© 1969 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
So, let me cut right to my point today. What the marinade that soaks your soul, that flavors your life? Anxiety and despair will always result from constant exposure to cable TV news. Greed and need will surely start to be part of your thoughts if you absorb each and every advertising circular that finds its way onto your dining room table. Many disciples are wondering why their souls are dry, why they are full of doubt, why they don't love worship or prayer, why their souls are cluttered with temptations like so much junk thrown around in a garage. They blame God for allowing them to wander alone, but the truth is, they pick up the flavors of the culture in which they choose to soak, day after day.
The Word says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV) That is one superb promise! Fill your mind and heart with praise, with worship, with appreciation for beauty, with gratitude - and reap the benefit of a life marked by peace! Practice love for others, real forgiveness, genuine concern for the poor and the weak and discover the richness of freedom from Self!
Disciple, if you want to live with the promise of the Spirit, check the marinade in which your soul soaks. Ask the practical questions:
What's playing into your head on your Ipod?
Who is influencing you with counsel?
What is creating the ambience in your home?
Take this wise and ancient counsel of the Word and make it your guide.
"How well God must like you-
you don't hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.
Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom."
(Psalm 1:1-3, The Message)
______________________
On God's holy Word I challenge you
To give to the Lord your life anew.
My friend, make your choice;
He waits for you
For this is the moment of truth.
Now walk with God
And He will be your dearest Friend
Where'er you go
In everything you do.
And may your life
Reflect His love to ev'ryone.
Now walk with God
And He will walk with you.
Now Walk With God
Skillings, Otis
© 1969 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, July 23, 2010
Yeah, I know, but…
Some of you will remember the country song by Tom T. Hall that said, "Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. Me and Jesus, got it all worked out. Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about." The song talks about a man who worked out the sins in his life without a preacher or a church involved. It plays right into our cultural sense of 'me-ism,' in which we learn to think that everything is about ourselves, even knowing and serving God.
We know we should live differently, but often don't because we somehow convince ourselves that our situation is unique, because we think our status gives us special privileges, or because we think that the consequences that others suffer just will not happen to us. People that seek my counsel are often 'amazed' at what is happening to them as their health deteriorates, their marriage falls apart, or their kids go wild. Even as they acknowledge the decisions that got them where they are today, they excuse themselves with the old line, "Yeah, I know, but...."
Thinking that the rules apply to everyone except ourselves is a human trait that has a long heritage!
"Yeah, I know I was speeding, but...."
"Yeah, I know I oughta quit smoking, but...."
"Yeah, I know I'm flirting with disaster, but..."
"Yeah, I know I should get my spiritual life together, but..."
In that upside-down view of life, our personal comfort, our happiness, our sense of well-being trumps everything else. Nothing is as important as doing what we want to do. After all, what a Friend we have in Jesus with Whom we have it all worked out. (So, we think!)
Here's what the Lord says. "You must not have any other god but me." (Exodus 20:3, NLT) That includes self! I look into the mirror often and tell myself, "There is one God, and you are not Him!" I do not get to write the guidelines for myself, God already did that.
James writes about people who brag and boast about their plans, who mistakenly believe that they are a god. He says, "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17, NLT)
Jesus says, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Matthew 10:39, NLT) Without faith, without eyes that are open to the things of the Spirit, that statement makes no sense at all. "Give up your life?" You mean, don't make choices based on what's best in this moment, what feels good, what leads to making the most money, what feeds myself? That's exactly what He means! Our obedience allows us to find life to the full, to enjoy God's affirmation, and day to day intimacy with Him. It takes real faith to accept that and do what He says rather than what Self demands.
So you can say, "Yeah, I know, but...." and give yourself an exemption. People do it all the time - and, they pay the price for their choices.
Here's a passage that merits meditation. It talks about the Believer on the Day when he stands before Christ to give an account. I don't think that "Yeah, I know, but..." will mean all that much before His piercing, insightful, loving gaze, do you?
"Anyone who builds on that foundation (the salvation provided by Christ Jesus) may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. . . . Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. . . . Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (1 Corinthians 3:12-23, NLT)
_______________________________________________
Oh that with yonder sacred throng,
we at His feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown Him, Lord of all!
-public domain
We know we should live differently, but often don't because we somehow convince ourselves that our situation is unique, because we think our status gives us special privileges, or because we think that the consequences that others suffer just will not happen to us. People that seek my counsel are often 'amazed' at what is happening to them as their health deteriorates, their marriage falls apart, or their kids go wild. Even as they acknowledge the decisions that got them where they are today, they excuse themselves with the old line, "Yeah, I know, but...."
Thinking that the rules apply to everyone except ourselves is a human trait that has a long heritage!
"Yeah, I know I was speeding, but...."
"Yeah, I know I oughta quit smoking, but...."
"Yeah, I know I'm flirting with disaster, but..."
"Yeah, I know I should get my spiritual life together, but..."
In that upside-down view of life, our personal comfort, our happiness, our sense of well-being trumps everything else. Nothing is as important as doing what we want to do. After all, what a Friend we have in Jesus with Whom we have it all worked out. (So, we think!)
Here's what the Lord says. "You must not have any other god but me." (Exodus 20:3, NLT) That includes self! I look into the mirror often and tell myself, "There is one God, and you are not Him!" I do not get to write the guidelines for myself, God already did that.
James writes about people who brag and boast about their plans, who mistakenly believe that they are a god. He says, "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17, NLT)
Jesus says, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Matthew 10:39, NLT) Without faith, without eyes that are open to the things of the Spirit, that statement makes no sense at all. "Give up your life?" You mean, don't make choices based on what's best in this moment, what feels good, what leads to making the most money, what feeds myself? That's exactly what He means! Our obedience allows us to find life to the full, to enjoy God's affirmation, and day to day intimacy with Him. It takes real faith to accept that and do what He says rather than what Self demands.
So you can say, "Yeah, I know, but...." and give yourself an exemption. People do it all the time - and, they pay the price for their choices.
Here's a passage that merits meditation. It talks about the Believer on the Day when he stands before Christ to give an account. I don't think that "Yeah, I know, but..." will mean all that much before His piercing, insightful, loving gaze, do you?
"Anyone who builds on that foundation (the salvation provided by Christ Jesus) may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. . . . Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. . . . Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (1 Corinthians 3:12-23, NLT)
_______________________________________________
Oh that with yonder sacred throng,
we at His feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown Him, Lord of all!
-public domain
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The favorite little word
Monuments are everywhere. Names of the great are attached to buildings, bridges, airports, and roadways. Companies bear the name of their founders. Let’s face it. Everybody wants to be somebody. I don’t know that I want anything named for me, but I do have a persistent desire to leave a mark on my world, to have lived in a way that means something to at least a few people. That’s not all bad. Self-esteem can be healthy when kept in the right place.
Healthy self-esteem subtly morphs into pride and from that root grows some bad stuff!
Hypocrisy grows out of the prideful desire to look better than we actually are.
Vanity springs from that root, too. Somehow we think we can impress others with the right clothes, titles, or car.
Exclusivity, the desire to be part of the ‘in’ group is another fruit of pride. Howard Schultz, who grew Starbucks® into a huge company, did so in part by turning the act of buying an expensive cup of coffee with an exotic name into a way of being on the inside! He acknowledged that it took some effort to learn the special language that is required to order coffee in his shops, but once mastered by the individual, there was a sense of belonging to an exclusive group.
The more a person is in the grip of pride the more ways he will find to express a simple one letter word that has become his favorite little word– “I.” His world will increasing shrink down to revolve around his comfort, his concerns, his reputation, his preferences, his emotions, and his agenda. An exaggerated sense of self-importance takes hold that can slide into grandiose behaviors, of which he is completely unaware. His life becomes a monologue. It’s an ugly way to live; tragic, lonely, and paradoxically – what the proud man desires most is denied him by his own pride. Self-absorption is the surest way to become a forgotten person!
So, how do we defeat pride? The Word shows us the prime example.
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names." (Philippians 2:5-9, NLT) Jesus became involved with our need, fully human, and served! He was no demi-god, dabbling in our world. He humbled himself to become one of us, setting aside His glory for our sake.
John Ortberg writes that “the oldest Christological heresy—docetism—arose because people could not absorb the notion that God might enter into vulnerability and suffering. John says it is the spirit of antichrist that denies that Jesus came kata sarx—"in the flesh." Jesus was no Superman. He did not defy his enemies, hands on his hips, bullets bouncing harmlessly off his chest. The whip drew real blood, the thorns pressed real flesh, the nails caused mind-numbing pain, the cross led to actual death. And through it all, he bore with people, forgave them, loved them to the end.” - LeadershipJournal.net 1/2007 Curing Grandiosity
Are you willing to set aside your ‘glory?’
Will you become the person that God desires you to be by serving?
Don’t look around while you’re serving, wondering who’s watching and what they think. Just serve for Christ’s sake. Don’t calculate the potential for reward or recognition, just serve for Heaven’s reward.
Let me leave you pondering a story Jesus told at a wedding where the guests were competing to sit at the best tables.
“When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody, ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.’ Red-faced, you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.
“When you’re invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front.’ That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” (Luke 14:8-11, The Message)
__________________
Make me a servant,
Humble and meek.
Lord, let me lift up
Those who are weak;
And may the pray'r
Of my heart always be.
Make me a servant.
Make me a servant.
Make me a servant today.
Make Me A Servant
Willard, Kelly
© 1982 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company) / Willing Heart Music (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by The Copyright Company])
CCLI License No. 810055
Healthy self-esteem subtly morphs into pride and from that root grows some bad stuff!
Hypocrisy grows out of the prideful desire to look better than we actually are.
Vanity springs from that root, too. Somehow we think we can impress others with the right clothes, titles, or car.
Exclusivity, the desire to be part of the ‘in’ group is another fruit of pride. Howard Schultz, who grew Starbucks® into a huge company, did so in part by turning the act of buying an expensive cup of coffee with an exotic name into a way of being on the inside! He acknowledged that it took some effort to learn the special language that is required to order coffee in his shops, but once mastered by the individual, there was a sense of belonging to an exclusive group.
The more a person is in the grip of pride the more ways he will find to express a simple one letter word that has become his favorite little word– “I.” His world will increasing shrink down to revolve around his comfort, his concerns, his reputation, his preferences, his emotions, and his agenda. An exaggerated sense of self-importance takes hold that can slide into grandiose behaviors, of which he is completely unaware. His life becomes a monologue. It’s an ugly way to live; tragic, lonely, and paradoxically – what the proud man desires most is denied him by his own pride. Self-absorption is the surest way to become a forgotten person!
So, how do we defeat pride? The Word shows us the prime example.
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names." (Philippians 2:5-9, NLT) Jesus became involved with our need, fully human, and served! He was no demi-god, dabbling in our world. He humbled himself to become one of us, setting aside His glory for our sake.
John Ortberg writes that “the oldest Christological heresy—docetism—arose because people could not absorb the notion that God might enter into vulnerability and suffering. John says it is the spirit of antichrist that denies that Jesus came kata sarx—"in the flesh." Jesus was no Superman. He did not defy his enemies, hands on his hips, bullets bouncing harmlessly off his chest. The whip drew real blood, the thorns pressed real flesh, the nails caused mind-numbing pain, the cross led to actual death. And through it all, he bore with people, forgave them, loved them to the end.” - LeadershipJournal.net 1/2007 Curing Grandiosity
Are you willing to set aside your ‘glory?’
Will you become the person that God desires you to be by serving?
Don’t look around while you’re serving, wondering who’s watching and what they think. Just serve for Christ’s sake. Don’t calculate the potential for reward or recognition, just serve for Heaven’s reward.
Let me leave you pondering a story Jesus told at a wedding where the guests were competing to sit at the best tables.
“When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody, ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.’ Red-faced, you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.
“When you’re invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front.’ That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” (Luke 14:8-11, The Message)
__________________
Make me a servant,
Humble and meek.
Lord, let me lift up
Those who are weak;
And may the pray'r
Of my heart always be.
Make me a servant.
Make me a servant.
Make me a servant today.
Make Me A Servant
Willard, Kelly
© 1982 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company) / Willing Heart Music (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by The Copyright Company])
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Beautiful Life
He was dressed in his military uniform, neatly pressed, carefully presented. But, there was a big problem; I was looking at a corpse! Oh, I could see from his features who he was. Yet, there was no sparkle of laughter, no warmth of relationship. His spirit was gone, leaving a shell. The appearance was intact but the essence of the man himself was missing. The vibrant, fun-loving guy described by the friends was nowhere in sight inside that coffin! The life that made him beautiful was gone!
Disciple, are you ALIVE in Christ?
Is the Holy Spirit active in you, making your life a thing of beauty?
There are those who claim to be “Christian” who are not. They are dressed in religious habits, neatly prepared with Biblical theology, and carefully presented with morality, but dead none-the-less! Their lives are missing the essence of being truly Christian. One night, a very moral man, a religious leader, came to Jesus. Nicodemus knew that something was missing in his sought after relationship with God. He was among those still dead. Jesus told him, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." (John 3:5-6, NLT) Let me paraphrase Jesus’ words: Your Daddy and Momma gave you one kind of life, but the Spirit of God will give you real and lasting life. You can have a life that is made beautiful, not of your own doing, by God’s Spirit living in you. You need not go through some esoteric ritual, join some mind-bending cult, or go on a vision quest in some far-away land to find this life. Jesus said that “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23, NIV)
He is invited to come through faith in Christ Jesus. He remains as we respond to His prompting, deal with our sinfulness, and breathe His breath in worship and prayer. Where the Spirit lives, there is an attractive, nearly indescribable, but very real, quality of life. Are you alive?
Here’s a word from the Word. It’s one of my favorite passages, rich in promise. Take time to digest it, accept what the Lord says, and let the beautiful life begin.
"Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." (Romans 8:10-16, NLT)
_______________
Heavenly Dad, (Abba!) I love You and
thank you for the gift of life.
Breathe Your holy breath in me.
Make my words and actions beautiful for Your own glory.
As Your life pulses through this mortal body
in that mysterious way of which Jesus spoke,
may I catch sight of Heaven and Hope!
Come, Holy Spirit!
Produce the evidence of Your Life in me:
The abundant fruit spoken of by the Word:
"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)
As You live in me, cause me to
love, laugh, and make Your Presence
known in the world,
one truly ‘born of the Spirit.’
Amen.
Disciple, are you ALIVE in Christ?
Is the Holy Spirit active in you, making your life a thing of beauty?
There are those who claim to be “Christian” who are not. They are dressed in religious habits, neatly prepared with Biblical theology, and carefully presented with morality, but dead none-the-less! Their lives are missing the essence of being truly Christian. One night, a very moral man, a religious leader, came to Jesus. Nicodemus knew that something was missing in his sought after relationship with God. He was among those still dead. Jesus told him, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." (John 3:5-6, NLT) Let me paraphrase Jesus’ words: Your Daddy and Momma gave you one kind of life, but the Spirit of God will give you real and lasting life. You can have a life that is made beautiful, not of your own doing, by God’s Spirit living in you. You need not go through some esoteric ritual, join some mind-bending cult, or go on a vision quest in some far-away land to find this life. Jesus said that “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23, NIV)
He is invited to come through faith in Christ Jesus. He remains as we respond to His prompting, deal with our sinfulness, and breathe His breath in worship and prayer. Where the Spirit lives, there is an attractive, nearly indescribable, but very real, quality of life. Are you alive?
Here’s a word from the Word. It’s one of my favorite passages, rich in promise. Take time to digest it, accept what the Lord says, and let the beautiful life begin.
"Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." (Romans 8:10-16, NLT)
_______________
Heavenly Dad, (Abba!) I love You and
thank you for the gift of life.
Breathe Your holy breath in me.
Make my words and actions beautiful for Your own glory.
As Your life pulses through this mortal body
in that mysterious way of which Jesus spoke,
may I catch sight of Heaven and Hope!
Come, Holy Spirit!
Produce the evidence of Your Life in me:
The abundant fruit spoken of by the Word:
"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)
As You live in me, cause me to
love, laugh, and make Your Presence
known in the world,
one truly ‘born of the Spirit.’
Amen.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Beautiful Liar
Magicians fascinate me, not because I think they can really make people float on air or cause the Statue of Liberty to disappear with a wave of their hands, but because they convince me to suspend my reasonable mind for a few moments. With ‘hands that are faster than the eye,’ tactics designed to divert attention, wires, and boxes that have secret compartments; the modern magician makes us believe a lie, if only for a moment. We want to think, somehow, that they have defied the limits of time, space, and gravity! That’s entertainment.
The Devil is a magician, too, who draws the willing into a lie! While we like to think that evil’s approach will always be obvious, that alarm bells will sound in our mind when we wander into spiritually dangerous territory, that is simply not true. The devil is a beautiful liar. In the Genesis story, he approaches Eve urging her to disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit with a promise: “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5, NIV) He did not tell her that she would also begin to die, that she would lose intimacy with her Creator, and that she would become subject to pain and suffering. Why, after all these millennia, are we not wise to his schemes?
He is still a beautiful liar. The Bible says that he "masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV) He works to make selfishness appear sophisticated, to recast marital infidelity into a sweet affair, to make addiction to work into admirable diligence, to make truthfulness the characteristic of the naïve in a world. He even works his magic on sincere Christians, when allowed. He turns their desire for the Living God into a ugly parody of faith called religion, based not on life in the Spirit, but on rigid rules that attempt to control behavior by fear. Only after we have entered into his conspiracy and compromised ourselves does he drop the act and reveal his diabolical intent to destroy us.
Temptation to do evil is more easily defeated than we might think. Part of the lie is convincing us that we are powerless, that the attraction is irresistible, that the ‘devil made me do it!’ No, we choose to cooperate with the liar, to believe his whispered seductions that appeal to our base nature. If we live in Truth, if we are relentlessly authentic, temptation loses much of its luster. We see the sequins for what they are, the smoke and mirrors become obvious under the bright Light of the Gospel of Christ.
The human tragedy is summed up in these words: "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. …Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." (Romans 1:25, 28, NIV) But, God did not abandon humanity in that hopeless condition! He intervened with the gift of His Son, showing us the Way back home, calling us to reject the beautiful liar.
Disciple, will you live in the Truth today?
Will you pray for a discerning heart and mind that God, the Holy Spirit, offers to you?
Will you love the light of Christ?
Here’s a word from the Word. Own it as you read it.
"The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.
Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans 13:12-15, NLT)
___________
Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life.
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.
One Pure And Holy Passion
Altrogge, Mark
Word Music Group, Inc.
© 1988 PDI Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
The Devil is a magician, too, who draws the willing into a lie! While we like to think that evil’s approach will always be obvious, that alarm bells will sound in our mind when we wander into spiritually dangerous territory, that is simply not true. The devil is a beautiful liar. In the Genesis story, he approaches Eve urging her to disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit with a promise: “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5, NIV) He did not tell her that she would also begin to die, that she would lose intimacy with her Creator, and that she would become subject to pain and suffering. Why, after all these millennia, are we not wise to his schemes?
He is still a beautiful liar. The Bible says that he "masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV) He works to make selfishness appear sophisticated, to recast marital infidelity into a sweet affair, to make addiction to work into admirable diligence, to make truthfulness the characteristic of the naïve in a world. He even works his magic on sincere Christians, when allowed. He turns their desire for the Living God into a ugly parody of faith called religion, based not on life in the Spirit, but on rigid rules that attempt to control behavior by fear. Only after we have entered into his conspiracy and compromised ourselves does he drop the act and reveal his diabolical intent to destroy us.
Temptation to do evil is more easily defeated than we might think. Part of the lie is convincing us that we are powerless, that the attraction is irresistible, that the ‘devil made me do it!’ No, we choose to cooperate with the liar, to believe his whispered seductions that appeal to our base nature. If we live in Truth, if we are relentlessly authentic, temptation loses much of its luster. We see the sequins for what they are, the smoke and mirrors become obvious under the bright Light of the Gospel of Christ.
The human tragedy is summed up in these words: "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. …Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." (Romans 1:25, 28, NIV) But, God did not abandon humanity in that hopeless condition! He intervened with the gift of His Son, showing us the Way back home, calling us to reject the beautiful liar.
Disciple, will you live in the Truth today?
Will you pray for a discerning heart and mind that God, the Holy Spirit, offers to you?
Will you love the light of Christ?
Here’s a word from the Word. Own it as you read it.
"The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.
Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans 13:12-15, NLT)
___________
Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life.
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.
One Pure And Holy Passion
Altrogge, Mark
Word Music Group, Inc.
© 1988 PDI Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, July 16, 2010
The All-seeing Eyes of the Lord
It seemed to me that my motives were in question. Anger welled up in me, surging almost uncontrollably, and as it did, reality receded! What I saw, what I heard, even my thought processes, became skewed by my need to assert myself in an effort to overcome the situation. For a moment, I forgot Who I serve and Who is my security! The issue became ‘me’ for a few moments instead of Him. Does that ever happen to you? Do you lose sight of what’s really going on because you’re feeling besieged, or alone, or unloved, or without support?
Later, as I prayed about my actions in that angry moment, I felt both regret and comfort. I regretted acting the part of a fool and hurting others in a moment of insecurity. I was comforted by the knowledge that in God’s strength, I can stand, and that I need not allow my feelings to rule over me. I searched the Scripture and read this passage in the book of Romans. "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. … For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. … So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:8-10, 12, NIV)
Do you see the core truth of those words? The ultimate commendation or criticism comes, not from a spouse, boss, or peer but from Christ Jesus. If our lives are lived to please Him, our need for the plaudits or approval of others is relegated to a secondary place. We must frequently remind ourselves that when we appear before the Lord to give account for our choices, that He will see each and every decision in the full context of our lives. What an amazingly comforting fact.
As human beings we judge the words and actions of others within a very limited time frame. We do not always know or understand the subconscious issues, the fatigue or frustration, the past experiences that are in play in the mind of another. We rise in indignation and wonder “How could he act like that?” “What’s the matter with him?” God knows! His insight is deep. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13, NIV)
So today, I am coming ‘round to ask myself the most important question: “Jerry, is your life focused on pleasing Christ?”
Disciple, would you ask it of yourself today? Others may criticize when we have done our best. Our work may be overlooked, even ignored. Our offer of love may be spurned. Our failures may be held up for all to see by those who hold us in contempt. Our successes may be corrupted by selfishness that we hope we have concealed. Yet, in each and every situation, it is the commendation or judgment of Christ that matters most; and His evaluation is always perfect because He sees the full context of it all!
Take this word from the Word with you today.
"So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, NIV)
"Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, The Message)
Later, as I prayed about my actions in that angry moment, I felt both regret and comfort. I regretted acting the part of a fool and hurting others in a moment of insecurity. I was comforted by the knowledge that in God’s strength, I can stand, and that I need not allow my feelings to rule over me. I searched the Scripture and read this passage in the book of Romans. "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. … For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. … So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:8-10, 12, NIV)
Do you see the core truth of those words? The ultimate commendation or criticism comes, not from a spouse, boss, or peer but from Christ Jesus. If our lives are lived to please Him, our need for the plaudits or approval of others is relegated to a secondary place. We must frequently remind ourselves that when we appear before the Lord to give account for our choices, that He will see each and every decision in the full context of our lives. What an amazingly comforting fact.
As human beings we judge the words and actions of others within a very limited time frame. We do not always know or understand the subconscious issues, the fatigue or frustration, the past experiences that are in play in the mind of another. We rise in indignation and wonder “How could he act like that?” “What’s the matter with him?” God knows! His insight is deep. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13, NIV)
So today, I am coming ‘round to ask myself the most important question: “Jerry, is your life focused on pleasing Christ?”
Disciple, would you ask it of yourself today? Others may criticize when we have done our best. Our work may be overlooked, even ignored. Our offer of love may be spurned. Our failures may be held up for all to see by those who hold us in contempt. Our successes may be corrupted by selfishness that we hope we have concealed. Yet, in each and every situation, it is the commendation or judgment of Christ that matters most; and His evaluation is always perfect because He sees the full context of it all!
Take this word from the Word with you today.
"So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, NIV)
"Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, The Message)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
As the World Turns
Values and ideas are ever changing. How humanity understands the world we live in is much different today than it was even 50 years ago, and radically different than it was 500 years ago. New issues arise that challenge us to adapt, that demand evaluation and then, acceptance or rejection. I am now of an age where change comes with much more effort, when the easiest choice for me is to defend the status quo. There was a time when I relished a good debate. Now, I find most of those kinds of arguments tiresome and I am prone to dismiss every new idea as just another fad that will soon pass. In fact, many radical notions have a short shelf life, but some will take root and unless I want the world to pass me by, I must keep thinking, choosing, growing.
Disciple, are you finding yourself troubled by change?
Is it hard to make sense of a world where technology is turning life upside down?
Are you feeling like a homeless person who drifts invisibly through a city unloved?
I do not want to encourage you to look back with rose tinted glasses to the ‘good old days.’ Yesterday’s gone. But, we must not be so enamored with relevance and being ‘cool,’ that we forget the unchanging truths which give us a home and a solid foundation for our lives. What keeps us steady in an ever changing world are the anchor points that do not change, that remain true across cultural lines and from generation to generation. Jeremiah, the prophet to a people who had thrown away their heritage, says "This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV)
The Scripture is clear that God is immutable, not changing, not shifting His ways to meet our expectations. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NIV)
Jesus Christ is the Savior, "the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)
Three standards for our behavior never go out of style. "These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)
Here’s a word from the Word. It speaks majestically to the nature of our God. May it be an anchor point for your soul.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)
Disciple, are you finding yourself troubled by change?
Is it hard to make sense of a world where technology is turning life upside down?
Are you feeling like a homeless person who drifts invisibly through a city unloved?
I do not want to encourage you to look back with rose tinted glasses to the ‘good old days.’ Yesterday’s gone. But, we must not be so enamored with relevance and being ‘cool,’ that we forget the unchanging truths which give us a home and a solid foundation for our lives. What keeps us steady in an ever changing world are the anchor points that do not change, that remain true across cultural lines and from generation to generation. Jeremiah, the prophet to a people who had thrown away their heritage, says "This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV)
The Scripture is clear that God is immutable, not changing, not shifting His ways to meet our expectations. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NIV)
Jesus Christ is the Savior, "the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)
Three standards for our behavior never go out of style. "These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)
Here’s a word from the Word. It speaks majestically to the nature of our God. May it be an anchor point for your soul.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Heart and Mouth Aligned
Ever hear of a guy named Ferdinand Waldo Demara? His life was a fraud. He 'borrowed' credentials, stealing many identities. In his life, he pretended to be, among other things, a deputy sheriff, a counselor, an engineer, and a ship's surgeon! He was a smart man, able to learn quickly, and wily enough to avoid detection in many of his jobs until his pride would get the best of him. Then, he would seek publicity, which inevitably led to his exposure as a fake.
Some people who would be Christian are like Demara! They want to be a loving, whole person; full of joy, generous, pure, and holy. However, they are unwilling to embrace Christ as Lord, so they just copy the actions of some Christian. They learn to act and talk like someone who impresses them. But, their hearts are not really transformed by the Spirit of God. Pious words are just a veneer that covers a heart still in the grip of the sinful nature.
When how we act and what we say don’t line up, it creates pain – in us and for those around us. Eventually, James tells us, a ‘double-minded man becomes unstable in all his ways!’ He no longer knows where pretense ends and reality begins for his whole life becomes a lie. There is another way, the way of wholeness. The Bible says, "It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:10, NIV) In other words, a person right with God has heart and mouth aligned, belief and action unified. They will not be imposters, simply acting like a Christian, nor will they delude themselves with the lie that being a Christ-follower is just a matter of knowing a few right things about theology.
The Word teaches us that integrity is the key to becoming a whole person spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. When we believe God’s promises and act on them, we are ‘saved!’ We become Christians with a transformational experience that starts in the heart, that changes our most basic ways of thinking; and continues with our mouth, our external life, both words and actions brought under the Lord’s mastery. Jesus calls it being 'born again of the Spirit.' Paul calls it 'renewal.' "Jesus Christ," he writes, "saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5, NLT)
Are you attempting, by morality or discipline or even fakery, to be what and who only God, the Holy Spirit, can make you?
Are you putting on layer upon layer of morality and religion, in an attempt to be a Christian, a person who enjoys a relationship with God and who holds the promise of eternal life?
Are you filled with right beliefs that are not applied to your actions?
Are you able to do theology, but keep it disconnected from how you live?
Then, you're an imposter- perhaps a well-intentioned one, but a fake all the same. You are creating pain and problems for yourself and discrediting the Gospel of Christ.
If that describes you, do not stay there for another moment. Invite the Spirit to begin a truly transformational work and become authentic – no more than you are, no less than God purposes you to be. Your life will become a thing of true beauty. Your mind will be at peace. The world around you will be influenced by your real faith! “Believe and speak!”
Here is a word from the Word that points the way to wholeness. "Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!” (Romans 10:9-10, The Message)
Praise God! Amen.
________________
Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life.
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.
One Pure And Holy Passion
Altrogge, Mark
© 1988 PDI Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Some people who would be Christian are like Demara! They want to be a loving, whole person; full of joy, generous, pure, and holy. However, they are unwilling to embrace Christ as Lord, so they just copy the actions of some Christian. They learn to act and talk like someone who impresses them. But, their hearts are not really transformed by the Spirit of God. Pious words are just a veneer that covers a heart still in the grip of the sinful nature.
When how we act and what we say don’t line up, it creates pain – in us and for those around us. Eventually, James tells us, a ‘double-minded man becomes unstable in all his ways!’ He no longer knows where pretense ends and reality begins for his whole life becomes a lie. There is another way, the way of wholeness. The Bible says, "It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:10, NIV) In other words, a person right with God has heart and mouth aligned, belief and action unified. They will not be imposters, simply acting like a Christian, nor will they delude themselves with the lie that being a Christ-follower is just a matter of knowing a few right things about theology.
The Word teaches us that integrity is the key to becoming a whole person spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. When we believe God’s promises and act on them, we are ‘saved!’ We become Christians with a transformational experience that starts in the heart, that changes our most basic ways of thinking; and continues with our mouth, our external life, both words and actions brought under the Lord’s mastery. Jesus calls it being 'born again of the Spirit.' Paul calls it 'renewal.' "Jesus Christ," he writes, "saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5, NLT)
Are you attempting, by morality or discipline or even fakery, to be what and who only God, the Holy Spirit, can make you?
Are you putting on layer upon layer of morality and religion, in an attempt to be a Christian, a person who enjoys a relationship with God and who holds the promise of eternal life?
Are you filled with right beliefs that are not applied to your actions?
Are you able to do theology, but keep it disconnected from how you live?
Then, you're an imposter- perhaps a well-intentioned one, but a fake all the same. You are creating pain and problems for yourself and discrediting the Gospel of Christ.
If that describes you, do not stay there for another moment. Invite the Spirit to begin a truly transformational work and become authentic – no more than you are, no less than God purposes you to be. Your life will become a thing of true beauty. Your mind will be at peace. The world around you will be influenced by your real faith! “Believe and speak!”
Here is a word from the Word that points the way to wholeness. "Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!” (Romans 10:9-10, The Message)
Praise God! Amen.
________________
Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life.
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.
One Pure And Holy Passion
Altrogge, Mark
© 1988 PDI Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
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