The "germ" theory

You have heard of Listerine™, but have you heard of Dr. Joseph Lister? In the middle of the 19th century, a novel idea was circulating in medicine that ‘germs’ circulated in the air. Antiseptic practices we take for granted were unknown at the time. Many patients survived surgery only to die of what was called “ward fever.” No one knew exactly why but it was so common that surgery was a last resort. Lister decided to try using carbolic acid to cleanse wounds. He had a fine mist sprayed in his operating theatre. His post-surgery mortality rates fell dramatically!

Most doctors scoffed at the idea of ”germs” and it took a whole generation for germ theory to be accepted. In 1881, an American President, James Garfield, died after being shot from severe infections that developed because his physician scoffed at the idea of antiseptic practices and refused advice to cleanse the wounds with carbolic acid!

Scripture teaches us about the reality of the realm of the Spirit. We are promised the Presence of the Holy Spirit to live in us, to empower us, to keep and guide us. We are warned of the work of the Devil and his demons who work against good and God in this world. Ignoring this dimension of life leaves us vulnerable.

We need to live with an open heart and mind that welcomes God, the Holy Spirit. Learning to recognize His voice, knowing how to recognize the work of the evil one, allows us to experience victory over temptation. We gain the ability to “see” the unseen with discerning eyes. Paul says “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:11-14, NIV)

With God as my Father, Jesus as my Savior, and the Holy Spirit as my ever-present Advocate – I do not live in fear, nor should you, if you know Christ. However, have great respect for the power of Satan and his demons, and so should you. John says of Christians and the devil, “they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11, NLT) He refers to the Exodus story. The Israeli people who obediently responded in faith by putting the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts, escaped the death angel’s judgment. We receive Christ, by faith, and His sacrifice covers us.

Should we be superstitious, looking for demons at every sign of trouble, attributing every glad circumstance to direct divine intervention? That simply makes fools of us. We cannot pray away the results of our disobedience and/or foolishness. If we drive like a maniac, we cannot place responsibility for the crash on the Devil! If refuse to practice good financial management and diligence in our work, we should not expect God, our Father, to provide for us anyway!

Live in faith. Walk each day in obedience. Trust God. Resist the Devil.
As Martin Luther wrote,“And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us; We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.”

Here is a word from the Word. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11, NLT)

I hate my boss and just want to retire.

Labor Day is one of the oldest Federal holidays, created in 1894 under President Grover Cleveland. The Industrial Revolution had brought grueling, long days (12 hours) to workers and many worked 7 days a week. Even children went to hot, dangerous mills to work. Attempts to organize workers to gain better wages and working conditions were often met with violence and sometimes death. A day to celebrate workers was born. Labor Day has become the unofficial end of Summer for us.

Here’s an idea you may find jarring, if not radical.  

Your work matters to God! 

Whether you are a laborer, a teacher, a homemaker, or a pastor - God takes an interest in your life’s work. “Ah, Jerry, I work to pay the bills. That’s it.”  Yes, it is true that work is complicated by sin, greed, and injustice. Genesis tells us that our efforts will never produce all the results we desire.  The gardens we plant will develop weeds. The strategies we so carefully construct will be frustrated by unforeseen problems. Our boss will not always reward our effort. Others may claim the credit for the good we do. We might even have to work for lazy supervisors who make us to what they should be doing. But, still we work, not just to produce an income but, as the Word says, to please God!   

Christian, always keep this in mind- God knows, He sees, and His rewards and commendations are perfectly just.  If we have been diligent, we can anticipate standing before our Lord and hearing this: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" (Matthew 25:20-21, NIV)  And, that is not just about ‘church’ work.

If you often think like this – I hate my boss and just want to retire – I pray two things for you:  An understanding of your labor that allows you to find joy in the effort and a change in your boss! (Smile on that one)  Here is the truth. A person known to be a disciple of Christ who goes to work and fulfills her responsibilities well is a credit to the Kingdom! Other than outright hypocrisy, nothing else brings more disgrace on the Name of Christ than those who fail to do their work with excellence and diligence.  

In the Bible we are taught the value of working well. Though originally addressed to the slaves that had come to Christ and become part of the Church, the words still apply. Thankfully, slavery is gone in most place. The principle shows us how to work. "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free." (Ephesians 6:7-8, NLT)  Another passage repeats and emphasizes the same point: "Don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work." (Colossians 3:22-25, The Message)

Struggling to work with excellence? Finding it difficult to perform at a consistently high level?  Let me recommend a book that's been around a while. It's not a "Christian" title, but the principles in it are rooted in spiritual truth.  Stephen Covey wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change.  It is wisdom that will change your life if you take it to heart.  The Christian who weds this wisdom with the powerful encouragement of the Holy Spirit becomes a force for good. Really!

Take a second look at your work. Commit what you do and how you do it to Christ Jesus, prayerfully bringing Him to work with you.  Ask Him to help your life in the workplace to honor Him and side effect will be greater joy for you. I know it!  I hope you enjoy Labor Day today.

Father, the world in which we live frustrates us.

There is such an emphasis on leisure and pleasure,

There are so many unfair and unjust situations

That we are sometimes tempted to join with the

Complainers, slackers, and minimalists at work.

Help us to see that our work matters to You.

Teach to work at what we do wholeheartedly, and

Prosper the work of our hands.

We pray in Jesus' Name.

Amen

Shake the dust off your feet and move on

Have you ever shared the Gospel with someone repeatedly, only to have them laugh in your face?  Ever tried to serve someone only to have your efforts rejected over and over?  Did you know that God tells us to move on, to leave situations behind where people continue to resist the Gospel and refuse to hear the Word.  I can hear you asking -“Jerry, what about patience, endurance, and love?” I ponder that same question. How long do we continue to present Christ to those who mock Him, who resist us, who care nothing for the message we bring? How long do we try to serve those who throw it back in our face? There is no one simple answer, but there is a principle that Jesus taught, that is repeated in 3 of the Gospels and that we see in the ministry of Paul.

When He sent the apostles out on Kingdom missions, He said “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:8-11, NIV)  Did they ever actually do it? Yes!

"The influential religious women and the leaders of the city … incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium." (Acts 13:50-51, NLT)

In another parable, Jesus tells us not to “throw pearls before pigs.”  Awfully strong language, isn’t it?   Let’s get one thing out of the way. Jesus is not teaching us to be petty or vindictive! He is not telling us to throw a tantrum when we feel disrespected or when others are rude. That would be totally in conflict with the command to love others sacrificially, to be selfless servants.

We are to be led and empowered by the Spirit. If we have given ourselves prayerfully to someone in our family or to a region or even to a church in service and they care nothing for the things of God, the Spirit may whisper to us, “You’re finished here. Move on.” We do not have to make a grand production or call down the fire of judgment on their heads. Instead, we obediently pick up the pieces, thank God for the opportunity, trust Him for the results, and leave, shaking off the dust, without remorse or regret.  Let me underscore the fact that this has nothing to do with being personally offended!  If we are hurt and decide, “Well, I’ll show them” and walk off in a huff, we have missed the point.  If our desire is to find fertile soil for the Gospel, to use the finite resources of time and energy for the greatest good, and we are led of the Spirit, then we go. God will give us wisdom to know the difference between “I quit!” and “It’s time to go.”  

Samuel Wells writes about serving people who avoid the Gospel, who resist God’s work, who refuse accountability making excuse after excuse for not living as they should, becoming disciples of Christ. He takes Jesus’ teaching and writes these wise words.

“Don’t carry that dust everywhere you go, embittering relationships, souring friendships, sapping energy, leaking hope.
Shake the dust off your feet.

Don’t take out your anger on people when you have no idea what’s making them be so bafflingly indifferent.
Shake the dust off your feet.

Don’t judge them -- that’s God’s job, not yours, and only God knows why they’re so distracted or so passive or so frustrating or so silent.
Shake the dust off your feet.

Don’t go on a self-righteous rant that assumes you’re a perfect embodiment of the gospel and anyone who doesn’t repent and be baptized this instant must be stupid.
Shake the dust off your feet. Shake, shake, shake.”

Now let me change the focus to you and me and our attitude towards Christ. Are we meeting Him with apathy? Are we indifferent about worship? Are we more interested in chasing happiness than the pursuit of the Eternal?  Let’s realize that He, too, despite His abundant love, will ‘move on.’ The word from the Word comes from His letter to the Laodicean Christians. He couples a warning with promise.  May these words awaken us to follow Him today.  "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. … Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:15-16 18-20, NIV)

_____________

Lord, I want You to be welcomed in my life.
Forgive me for the times when I rush on to my own agenda,

When I ignore Your invitation, when I offer up half-hearted prayers,

When I persist in sin, despite the Spirit’s conviction.

Lead me to Your heart.  
Let’s sit down to dinner and become best of friends,

Jesus, this I pray . Amen

Knowing how to LIVE, not merely to exist!

The Bible app on the IPad (YouVersion) allows me to set a timer for the Word to be read to me as I lay down to sleep.  I love hearing the ‘ancient words, ever true’ and they wrap themselves around me, filling my mind.  My most recent choice has been the Psalms and last night in the dark the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd… He leads me” were the last words to enter my consciousness before I slept. 

And, I rested in those eternal Words!  From childhood my mind has been shaped around the knowledge that God is present, that He has a purpose for me, that His will is more important than mine, that the best life is found in Him, that eternal life can be owned now through faith in Christ.  Where did that knowledge come from?  The Bible!  I am blessed to know how to live, not merely to exist.

Does the Scripture fill your mind?  I am not talking about knowing how to parse every word, dive into the ‘original’ languages, or know every footnote of history that gives Scripture a context.  While those things are certainly of merit, it is important to get the wisdom and God-centered worldview of the text into our minds. We need a reference point outside of ourselves, an external source of Wisdom.  "The Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose speech is corrupt." (Proverbs 2:3-12, NLT)

It is not just knowing the words that matters to me.  I want to align my will with the truth revealed.  Here’s the song of Psalm 119 - "I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it. " (Psalm 119:11-16, The Message)  Countless times in my life, just as I start to speak or act, some phrase from the Scripture comes to the forefront of my mind and the correction saves me from living in a way that would lead to regret.  The Spirit uses the text to lead me away from those impulses that would bring short-term satisfaction but long-term regrets! 

Invest time in reading the Bible!  Don’t just start at Genesis and hope for the best.  For the novice that can be daunting and discouraging. Instead, begin with the Gospels. Soak your mind in the stories of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Include a Psalm each day to close your reading. Graduate to the letters of the New Testament, understanding the principles of Christian living.  Make sure you read from a modern language text.  The New Living Translation is a good daily reader.  The Message (often quoted here in CWTW) is a paraphrase of the Bible that can help you to absorb the truth, but use it as a supplement, not a primary source.  Get into a good Bible study, led by a person who is solid in faith.  Avoid the ones where the Bible is treated like literature instead of Truth.  Be cautious about a teacher who makes much of lesser themes.

Become a person full of the Word. 

Here is a word from the Word. May it be your prayerful choice today and every day.
"God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. 
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— 
my whole life one long, obedient response. 

Guide me down the road of your commandments; 
I love traveling this freeway! 

Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. 
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. 
Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good. 
See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways! "  Amen
(Psalm 119:33-40, The Message)