Prospering under the blessing of God

“Entry level position” is not a description that many want attached to a job offer! A common misconception, especially among the young, is that some training or a college degree will qualify them to begin a career making great money and carrying significant responsibility. In the real world, a person gains experience and proves his ability starting at the bottom of the ladder. I remember well my first church position. Though I was officially the ‘youth minister,’ the senior pastor regarded me mostly as a ‘go-fer’ and janitor! There was not a whole lot of fulfillment to be found in mopping the church’s bathrooms or picking up his mail from the post office, but it was my ‘entry level position.’  As I was faithful, the Lord saw fit to give me greater responsibility and with that came greater fulfillment.

Jesus told a teaching story about a king who prepared to journey to a far country. Prior to leaving, he distributed money to his servants for their management on his behalf.  When he returned he called each one in for accounting. The first reported, "Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’ “ ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward." (Luke 19:16-17, NLT) The next servant to come in likewise reported a five times gain. He was commended and rewarded for his diligence.

The story takes a turn with the next servant. “The third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ This man foolishly blames his failure to act on the king! His excuses earned him this rebuke. “You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Jesus is not teaching us that God is mean or unjust! We need to know that God seeks a return from our lives. If we waste time, refuse to use the spiritual gifts He invests in us, or ignore today’s opportunities supposedly as we wait for our big break in life, we will be held accountable. No excuse will stand before His scrutiny.

The final principle is most shocking to those of us who grew up in an entitlement society. God asks no more of us than we can produce, but He expects no less than our personal best. Failing that, we will lose even our entry level position. Take a look.  “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ “ ‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’ “ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away." (Luke 19:20-26, NLT)

Do you want to prosper under the blessings of God? Be faithful, right where you are today.

Here’s a word from the Word. Live it and enjoy the blessings of our Father, who is good, gracious, and just. "The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  … From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:42-44; 48, NIV)

Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true.

Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true.

There's a race that I must run,

There are victories to be won,

Ev'ry hour, by Your pow'r
Keep me true.

-      Public Domain

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall

The young man boasted of his prowess on the basketball court. I smiled. He was not as good as he claimed. How did I know? The week before he was cut from the team! But, somehow he had forgotten that, preferring to believe in his own reality. This refusal of the facts is a common malady among us, so common that Jesus talked about the foolishness of trying to take the splinter out of another’s eye with a post in our  own!

A common criticism of Christians is that we are hypocrites, ready to point out the sins and failures of others, but unable to see the holes in our own robes of righteousness. Spiritual pride is a terrible disease of the soul, isn’t it? I know it grips me from time to time. I hear myself ranting about ‘those people who do those things,’ and feel the rebuke of the Holy Spirit. We need not apologize for holiness. But, Christians cannot point others in the right direction, they must lead them! Paul invited those to whom he preached to follow in his footsteps. “Follow me as I follow Christ,” he said. I want to say that and I know that such a statement in the absence of humility and authenticity is the height of arrogance.

But, when we are obediently walking with Christ, when we are broken before Him, yielded to His will, and responsive to the Spirit; a beautiful wholeness of life emerges in us and from us. It is not born of our own religiosity, but created by the Spirit who lives in us, by faith. This undeniable reality will draw others to Him. Last year, I attended a talk given by Timothy Keller, pastor of a flourishing church in Manhattan. He used a phrase that has stayed with me. True Christians have a “contextualized Biblical Gospel” that shapes their daily lives. They will not allow the Gospel of Christ to exist only on Sundays, or in their private quiet times of prayer. They drag it out from behind the pulpit into to the street where it confronts the evil that enslaves. This Gospel lives in our checkbook, speaks to our relationships, and shapes our political view.

This kind of Gospel will not allow us to be hypocritical! It is, by the power of the Spirit, a transformational experience, working powerfully from the inside out. Jesus said it is like a seed that germinates and pushed to the surface, growing until it bears fruit.

Here is the word from the Word. It challenges us to live authentically, starting with knowing ourselves.

"Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like." (James 1:22-24, NLT)

"But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world." (James 1:24-27, The Message)

________________

Be Thou my vision

O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me

Save that Thou art

Thou my best thought

By day or by night

Waking or sleeping

Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom

Be Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee

And Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father

I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling

And I with Thee one

Riches I heed not

Nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance

Now and always

Thou and Thou only

Be first in my heart

High King of heaven

My treasure Thou art

High King of heaven

When vict'ry is won

May I reach heaven's joys

O bright heaven's Sun

Heart of my own heart

Whatever befall

Still be my vision

O Ruler of all

Be Thou My Vision
© Public Domain

Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne

What do you want?

“Look at that car! I want it!”  The Lexus commercial did what it was made for – created a desire in my heart. Throughout the day there will be dozens of ‘wants’ that come into my mind. Some will pass quickly, others will linger. Some will descend into temptation that I will resist. Others will go beyond just being desire and I will start to act to satisfy the need. Each one will require some level of evaluation: is this a real need, something I should seek? 

Luke tells the story of a blind beggar who heard the noise of a crowd coming up the road. Inquiring about the stir, he learned that Jesus was passing by. The man started a commotion, shouting out the name of Jesus. The people in the crowd tried to shut him up, but he yelled even louder, until Jesus heard him and asked that the man be brought to him. He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God." (Luke 18:41-43, NIV)  This man knew his greatest need and boldly asked. Imagine if he had said, “Lord, I want two coins so I can buy supper tonight.” Or, “Lord, I want a better spot along this road where more people will give me money.”  But, he did not ask for those things. There was no waiting, no waffling, no wondering.  He wanted his sight: “I want to see!”

Do you know your greatest need?
Is your life a prayer shaped by faith and pursuing a deep relationship with your Father?
Or are you spending all your time praying for stuff, asking for temporary relief from problems, or mumbling unfocused prayers unrelated to what is most important in your life?

Oh, that our prayers would have the same focus, the same intensity that we see in the prayer of that blind beggar! “Lord, I want to see!”  Jesus warned about letting our communication with Him slip into ‘babbling like the pagans.’  “They think they will be heard,” He said, “because of their many words.” He follows that by reminding us that God knows our needs before we even ask. What a revelation! What power we release in this world and in us when we use prayer to align our emotions, will, and actions with the will of God. Yes, we can and we should pray about our daily bread. But, even more, we should ask boldly to be used of God, to be filled with the Spirit, to see with Heaven’s eyes.

Don’t be a whiney child of God, wasting vast amounts of prayer time complaining about aches and pains, fighting with the Lord about your disappointments, or asking Him for trinkets. Pray big! Ask Him for the nations. Ask Him for courage to give your life away. Ask Him to make you a partner in the Kingdom work; saving the world from sin!

Here’s a word from the Word. May it create faith in us.
"You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.

… So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.

Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life." (James 4:4-8, The Message)

______________________________

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand!

- public domain

"License, registration, please."

Driving on a wide open country road, at mid-day, in bright sunshine, while mentally working through church stuff, I became unaware of just how fast I was traveling. Then, too late I saw the police cruiser parked on the side of the road. Glancing down, I knew that I was about to hear those dreaded words, “Sir, may I see your license and registration.”  As I passed him, he swung around behind me.  About a mile down the road, on came the lights signaling me to pull over. Ten minutes later, after a pleasant conversation, I drove away relieved.  Strictly speaking, I deserved a ticket, but the police officer chose to show mercy.

This is the story of my life. The evidence was stacked against me. There was no case to plead. I was guilty! Too many times to recount, I have become aware of my sin and failure too late, only after my conscience is bruised and my fellowship with the Father elusive. But, He is merciful. The Bible says "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 2:4-5, NIV) What relief, what joy floods my mind when I go to my Savior and make my confession. I regret my failures, despise the fact that too many times my words and/or actions create a dark stain on the family name of my Father. I do not minimize nor excuse my refusal of His guidance around sin. But, I will not run from His gaze, I will not try to conceal my guilt. Instead, I pray David’s prayer: "Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you." (Psalm 51:9-12, NLT)

Some say that accepting God’s mercy encourages more sin. “Cheap grace,” they call it. That is not my experience! My merciful Father pulls me closer to His side. His love makes me even more desirous of doing His will, of living in a way that causes others to seek Him. Are you pushing the limits, living disobediently, carelessly disregarding the Spirit’s call? There will come a moment of realization of your sin. What then? Will you accept His mercy and grace and make a full confession?  You will find grace and forgiveness.  Or will you excuse, justify yourself, or hide from His gaze? If so, guilt will increase, making you a slave to sin.

Here’s a word from the Word. Learn it, love it, live it.

"He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
(Psalm 103:9-14, NIV)

_____________________

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no power no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

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Stuart Townend

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