Luke 17 is about faith. Have you ever thought about the faith of the mustard seed? It seems to me (this morning anyway) that the issue is not the size of your faith but the extent of your obedience. Jesus answers the request of the disciples that He, "increase" their faith with the mustard seed story and immediately begins talking about a servant and his master. The servant does what the master wants. The servant waits on the master, not the master the servant. The master is in control. If the master says, "do this" you had better do it. It's the master's responsibility to give the direction, it's the servants role to follow it.
Then in verses 11-19 Luke tells the story of the 10 lepers who came to Jesus for healing. Jesus told them to, "'go show yourselves to the priests' and as they went they were cleansed." As they went... or, as they obeyed. Then one, noticing that he had been healed returned to thank Jesus (the master). Jesus told him, "your faith has healed you."
It was in the obedience that the healing took place. Had the 10 not headed straight for the priest they would not have received the healing because they would not have been obedient!
So, my prayer today is this; Father, help me to obey. No matter what. Help me to recognize that You are the Master and I am Your servant. Help me to do everything You say. Then my faith will be proved by my obedience and it will not be in myself - for what servant can bring about anything apart from his master - but a tiny speck of faith reflected in obedience will result in great reward. And I will simply be doing what I have been told. Obeying orders.
Thoughts on the Bible, Church, life and living it to its full potential in Jesus Christ!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Focus Blinds you to Everything Else.
There is a lot of conversation about focus out there today in the church world. I was talking with my friend Terry Deaver from FBC August this morning and we talked about focus. This church focuses on this, that church focuses on that. What's the right focus? Where do we need to focus?
Then I came into the office and read in Luke 14 where Jesus is talking to the religious elite. Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath after asking this question, "is it permitted in the law to heal on the Sabbath?" They didn't answer Him so He healed a guy (He knew they didn't believe it was right for Him to heal on the Sabbath anyway). Then Jesus said, "which of you doesn't work on the Sabbath? If your son or a cow falls into a pit, don't you rush to get him out?"
Here's the thing about focus. When I wear my glasses I can see everything I turn my head to look at. But everything outside the lens is blurry. Focus determines what you're Blind to as much as it determines what you're focused on. Everything outside the scope of your focus exists, but you can't "see it" so it doesn't affect you, it doesn't get in. Which means, we have to be very careful about what we focus on!
Jesus was focused on people. Meeting needs. Compassion. Mercy. Grace. Forgiveness. Instruction. Relationship. The religious leaders where focused on themselves, so it was okay for them to work on the Sabbath, to save a son or cow (interesting pairing there I know!) because it affected them. But they were blind to the needs of others.
What are we, as a church, missing because of our focus? What are we blind to? What is going UNDONE because of what is getting done?
Post Script: I was gonna end there but just had this thought. When I wear my glasses I have to turn my head to change my focus. If I just move my eyes there is a point where things are blurry. When I wear my contacts no matter where my eyes go everything is in focus. We need to be spiritual contact wearers so that we can focus on whatever the need is, not just whatever we happen to be looking at. Pet projects, etc. Perhaps that is why it is good to have people in different areas of ministry. My friend Terry can focus on preaching and leading, while his worship guy focuses on worship, and the children's guy has his own focus. When they all come together they "see" most everything. Individually they may miss a lot. There needs to be a team approach to ministry. Anyone want to join the team?
Then I came into the office and read in Luke 14 where Jesus is talking to the religious elite. Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath after asking this question, "is it permitted in the law to heal on the Sabbath?" They didn't answer Him so He healed a guy (He knew they didn't believe it was right for Him to heal on the Sabbath anyway). Then Jesus said, "which of you doesn't work on the Sabbath? If your son or a cow falls into a pit, don't you rush to get him out?"
Here's the thing about focus. When I wear my glasses I can see everything I turn my head to look at. But everything outside the lens is blurry. Focus determines what you're Blind to as much as it determines what you're focused on. Everything outside the scope of your focus exists, but you can't "see it" so it doesn't affect you, it doesn't get in. Which means, we have to be very careful about what we focus on!
Jesus was focused on people. Meeting needs. Compassion. Mercy. Grace. Forgiveness. Instruction. Relationship. The religious leaders where focused on themselves, so it was okay for them to work on the Sabbath, to save a son or cow (interesting pairing there I know!) because it affected them. But they were blind to the needs of others.
What are we, as a church, missing because of our focus? What are we blind to? What is going UNDONE because of what is getting done?
Post Script: I was gonna end there but just had this thought. When I wear my glasses I have to turn my head to change my focus. If I just move my eyes there is a point where things are blurry. When I wear my contacts no matter where my eyes go everything is in focus. We need to be spiritual contact wearers so that we can focus on whatever the need is, not just whatever we happen to be looking at. Pet projects, etc. Perhaps that is why it is good to have people in different areas of ministry. My friend Terry can focus on preaching and leading, while his worship guy focuses on worship, and the children's guy has his own focus. When they all come together they "see" most everything. Individually they may miss a lot. There needs to be a team approach to ministry. Anyone want to join the team?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
In the Storm with Dad.
Here in Kansas we have these minor distractions to our day known as tornadoes. I've seen a few funnels form and driven through the aftermath of the storm. But I've never been in a tornado. We have, however, been sent to the storm cellar on more than one occasion. A couple times last season we were woken up in the middle of the night by the storm sirens. No time to think then or wonder if it's real or not, it's time to wake the kids up and hit the cellar. There have been a couple times when the younger kids would be really scared about what might happen and I've told them, "Daddy's not scared, so you don't need to be."
In Luke 8 Jesus' disciples are once again in a boat heading across the sea of Galilee. But this time they get caught in a storm. The waves are crashing over the boat, the wind is tossing the boat this way and that, up and down. The disciples have done everything they can to secure the boat... remember these were seasoned fishermen. Peter and Andrew, James and John, this was their business. No doubt they'd seen their share of storms on this sea. But tonight they are frightened. Tonight they decide this might be their last night.
And while they are all scared, Jesus is asleep in the stern (that's the back right?) on the seat the pilot would sit on. That's right. The seasoned fishermen are freaking out and Jesus is asleep. Sawing logs. The counting of sheep must have worked. He's out.
Have you ever been on a small boat in a storm? Have you ever tried to sleep on the water? It's not as easy as you think. Sea sickness doesn't go away just because you lay down and close your eyes (trust me on this!). And in a boat like they would have been on there was no where you could escape the water. So Jesus is asleep... in a storm... soaking wet.
Strange. Strange that Jesus can sleep through the storm and the bath. And strange that the disciples freak out. I have a couple of thoughts here. I think Jesus could sleep because He knew no matter what was happening around Him He was going to be okay. His time hadn't come. So He could be at peace to sleep so soundly that the water didn't bother Him because He knew He was in God's capable hands. And I wonder if the disciples were so concerned that they might die because at this point they still thought that just because Jesus was with them nothing bad could ever happen. When the storm came it surprised them! This shouldn't be happening! We're with Jesus!
Listen, God's got you in His hand. Find some peace in that. Relax IN the storm because whether God sees you through it or not you are still His. He's in control. And don't fool yourself into thinking no storm can come against you since you are with Jesus. It's not about avoiding the storms of this life, it's about growing through them. Coming to the point you realize, live or die, God's got this.
Once Jesus woke up, at the insistence of the disciples who were now certain of their death, He simply spoke and everything calmed down. The disciples were amazed that even the wind and waves obeyed Him, but hey, He's God in the flesh! When you're walking with Jesus, or boating with Him, you're gonna be okay - even in the midst of the storm. Look at Dad, if Dad ain't scared, you don't need to be either.
In Luke 8 Jesus' disciples are once again in a boat heading across the sea of Galilee. But this time they get caught in a storm. The waves are crashing over the boat, the wind is tossing the boat this way and that, up and down. The disciples have done everything they can to secure the boat... remember these were seasoned fishermen. Peter and Andrew, James and John, this was their business. No doubt they'd seen their share of storms on this sea. But tonight they are frightened. Tonight they decide this might be their last night.
And while they are all scared, Jesus is asleep in the stern (that's the back right?) on the seat the pilot would sit on. That's right. The seasoned fishermen are freaking out and Jesus is asleep. Sawing logs. The counting of sheep must have worked. He's out.
Have you ever been on a small boat in a storm? Have you ever tried to sleep on the water? It's not as easy as you think. Sea sickness doesn't go away just because you lay down and close your eyes (trust me on this!). And in a boat like they would have been on there was no where you could escape the water. So Jesus is asleep... in a storm... soaking wet.
Strange. Strange that Jesus can sleep through the storm and the bath. And strange that the disciples freak out. I have a couple of thoughts here. I think Jesus could sleep because He knew no matter what was happening around Him He was going to be okay. His time hadn't come. So He could be at peace to sleep so soundly that the water didn't bother Him because He knew He was in God's capable hands. And I wonder if the disciples were so concerned that they might die because at this point they still thought that just because Jesus was with them nothing bad could ever happen. When the storm came it surprised them! This shouldn't be happening! We're with Jesus!
Listen, God's got you in His hand. Find some peace in that. Relax IN the storm because whether God sees you through it or not you are still His. He's in control. And don't fool yourself into thinking no storm can come against you since you are with Jesus. It's not about avoiding the storms of this life, it's about growing through them. Coming to the point you realize, live or die, God's got this.
Once Jesus woke up, at the insistence of the disciples who were now certain of their death, He simply spoke and everything calmed down. The disciples were amazed that even the wind and waves obeyed Him, but hey, He's God in the flesh! When you're walking with Jesus, or boating with Him, you're gonna be okay - even in the midst of the storm. Look at Dad, if Dad ain't scared, you don't need to be either.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Jesus changes the rules...
The Jewish people were (and still are) governed by rules, don't touch, don't taste, don't look. And everything made you unclean. If you were unclean you couldn't enter the city, the Temple to worship or have contact with others who were clean or you would pass on your uncleanness to them. If you touched something unclean, you BECAME unclean and if you touched anyone else they caught the unclean bug too! So Jewish people were very careful about what they touched, where they walked, what they saw.
That was the order of things, it was like nature. This is the way things work. Storms come and go, the living die, disease, famine, poverty, disabilities, these things were all just a part of the natural order of things. That is, until Jesus came. Jesus worked contrary to nature. He changed the rules. Jesus calmed the storm. Healed the sick. Fed the hungry. Cured disease. Pulled coins from the mouth of fish and restored the disabled. It is clear that the "law" of nature obeyed Jesus, not the other way around, as with you and I.
So when Jesus is heading into town one day and meets a widowed mother who is leading the funeral procession of her only son to the tombs He has compassion. Instead of the customary, "don't worry because it won't you do you any good any how" He defied the law and customs and the fear of being unclean and walked right up to the open stretcher the body of the dead man laid on and touched it. Then He said, "get up." And the dead man did just that.
Jesus isn't afraid of being unclean because He makes all things new. Death isn't scary to Him, death is scared OF Him. Instead of becoming unclean Himself, Jesus made the unclean clean - He was like the spiritual Mr. Clean! There was no mess, no disaster, nothing that scared Jesus. So He walked right up to that death stretcher that represented the victory death had over the boy and He released him. Then Jesus called to the young man to operate in his new reality - life. "Get up!" You are no longer held by the things that kept you down! You are free to experience life like you never have before!
See, sin, uncertainly, fear, jealously, unforgiveness, anger, materialism, these things wrap around us like spiritual chains that hold us down and keep us from experiencing life. But Jesus has the power to release you from those chains and speak directly into your life and He says, GET UP! Live! Go back to your family and experience what Real Life is like!
What is keeping you down? Spiritually dead? It doesn't frighten Jesus. He's in the business of cleaning up messes! You can never be too dead for Jesus to work something incredible in your life. Just listen for His voice. Is He calling you? Respond to Him, he's already released you from the chains that hold you down and back through His death on the cross - get up and begin to operate in your new life!
That was the order of things, it was like nature. This is the way things work. Storms come and go, the living die, disease, famine, poverty, disabilities, these things were all just a part of the natural order of things. That is, until Jesus came. Jesus worked contrary to nature. He changed the rules. Jesus calmed the storm. Healed the sick. Fed the hungry. Cured disease. Pulled coins from the mouth of fish and restored the disabled. It is clear that the "law" of nature obeyed Jesus, not the other way around, as with you and I.
So when Jesus is heading into town one day and meets a widowed mother who is leading the funeral procession of her only son to the tombs He has compassion. Instead of the customary, "don't worry because it won't you do you any good any how" He defied the law and customs and the fear of being unclean and walked right up to the open stretcher the body of the dead man laid on and touched it. Then He said, "get up." And the dead man did just that.
Jesus isn't afraid of being unclean because He makes all things new. Death isn't scary to Him, death is scared OF Him. Instead of becoming unclean Himself, Jesus made the unclean clean - He was like the spiritual Mr. Clean! There was no mess, no disaster, nothing that scared Jesus. So He walked right up to that death stretcher that represented the victory death had over the boy and He released him. Then Jesus called to the young man to operate in his new reality - life. "Get up!" You are no longer held by the things that kept you down! You are free to experience life like you never have before!
See, sin, uncertainly, fear, jealously, unforgiveness, anger, materialism, these things wrap around us like spiritual chains that hold us down and keep us from experiencing life. But Jesus has the power to release you from those chains and speak directly into your life and He says, GET UP! Live! Go back to your family and experience what Real Life is like!
What is keeping you down? Spiritually dead? It doesn't frighten Jesus. He's in the business of cleaning up messes! You can never be too dead for Jesus to work something incredible in your life. Just listen for His voice. Is He calling you? Respond to Him, he's already released you from the chains that hold you down and back through His death on the cross - get up and begin to operate in your new life!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Did Jesus Make the Wrong Choices?
Have you ever noticed that when things are going well in some one's life we assume that God must be happy with them? If someone has a good job, nice home, lots of stuff, we think that they must be "living right" and that they just make God happy. Lots of religious television personalities will have you believe this. I actually heard a "wise" guy on TV encourage people to put their "seed" on a credit card if they couldn't afford to send cash to his ministry so that they wouldn't miss out on God's blessing in their lives - God save him, but shut his mouth right now.
We assume that if someone is successful they have God's favor and those who are not must be doing something wrong. If you would just do what God wants you to... Follow Him. Honor Him. Worship Him, then you can have the life you've always dreamed of because God is always looking for people to bless! When we seek God and do what He wants then life will be good.
Except if you believe that, you have to say that Jesus was not following God, that He somehow made the wrong decision. In Luke 6 Jesus picks out the 12 Apostles from among His disciples (followers). The text says that He, "prayed to God all night" and when He was done he chose the 12 guys - after getting God's approval. their names were, Peter & Andrew, James & John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the lesser), Simon (the zealot), Judas the son of James and Judas Iscariot. All 12 hand picked by Jesus after praying ALL night to His Father, God about who should be chosen.
Take a quick look at Jesus choosing ability. Peter denied Jesus publicly at His greatest hour of need. James and John tried to manipulate Him and use Him for their own glory and purpose. Thomas refused to believe Him and Judas betrayed Him. Oh, and they all abandoned Him.
So, if you believe that God blesses those who seek Him so that their lives get better, what are you gonna do with Jesus? Peter? Paul?
If you study the men and women of the Bible who were close to God and followed Jesus wholeheartedly you will find pain, poverty, betrayal, one catastrophe after another (take a look at Paul's life). And yet no one would ever argue that these people were not doing exactly what God wanted them to do.
Doing the will of God WILL NOT always make your life being better, nicer, easier, happier. Did Peter have Nike(TM) sandals? Did Paul wear a designer cloak? Did their lives get better as they followed Jesus or harder?
The fact is you can do exactly what God wants you to do and not have two cents to rub together. But let me ask you this... does it matter? If you're doing what God wants, does it matter that you are well paid or not? Would you keep doing what God wants if you never get a cent for it? Do you follow the Savior and purchaser of your soul because He's going to bless you for it? Or because He paid your price, He saved your life? Father, never let us confuse our standing in life with Your blessing.
Here's the point: Blessings in this life do not prove God is happy with you. God's favor with your life will be determined when you leave this stuff that moth and rust destroy and enter Real Life in eternity. Then we will see who is first on God's list and who is last.
BTW: Jesus did not make the wrong choice. He did exactly what God wanted Him to do and the result was painful. Just like Paul. Just like Peter. Just like so many others who did what God called them to, regardless of the outcome in this world. It's called spiritual maturity.
We assume that if someone is successful they have God's favor and those who are not must be doing something wrong. If you would just do what God wants you to... Follow Him. Honor Him. Worship Him, then you can have the life you've always dreamed of because God is always looking for people to bless! When we seek God and do what He wants then life will be good.
Except if you believe that, you have to say that Jesus was not following God, that He somehow made the wrong decision. In Luke 6 Jesus picks out the 12 Apostles from among His disciples (followers). The text says that He, "prayed to God all night" and when He was done he chose the 12 guys - after getting God's approval. their names were, Peter & Andrew, James & John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the lesser), Simon (the zealot), Judas the son of James and Judas Iscariot. All 12 hand picked by Jesus after praying ALL night to His Father, God about who should be chosen.
Take a quick look at Jesus choosing ability. Peter denied Jesus publicly at His greatest hour of need. James and John tried to manipulate Him and use Him for their own glory and purpose. Thomas refused to believe Him and Judas betrayed Him. Oh, and they all abandoned Him.
So, if you believe that God blesses those who seek Him so that their lives get better, what are you gonna do with Jesus? Peter? Paul?
If you study the men and women of the Bible who were close to God and followed Jesus wholeheartedly you will find pain, poverty, betrayal, one catastrophe after another (take a look at Paul's life). And yet no one would ever argue that these people were not doing exactly what God wanted them to do.
Doing the will of God WILL NOT always make your life being better, nicer, easier, happier. Did Peter have Nike(TM) sandals? Did Paul wear a designer cloak? Did their lives get better as they followed Jesus or harder?
The fact is you can do exactly what God wants you to do and not have two cents to rub together. But let me ask you this... does it matter? If you're doing what God wants, does it matter that you are well paid or not? Would you keep doing what God wants if you never get a cent for it? Do you follow the Savior and purchaser of your soul because He's going to bless you for it? Or because He paid your price, He saved your life? Father, never let us confuse our standing in life with Your blessing.
Here's the point: Blessings in this life do not prove God is happy with you. God's favor with your life will be determined when you leave this stuff that moth and rust destroy and enter Real Life in eternity. Then we will see who is first on God's list and who is last.
BTW: Jesus did not make the wrong choice. He did exactly what God wanted Him to do and the result was painful. Just like Paul. Just like Peter. Just like so many others who did what God called them to, regardless of the outcome in this world. It's called spiritual maturity.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Satan ain't no dummy...
Just because Satan still doesn't fully understand that he's already lost (beat down by Jesus on the cross and dealt the final blow when Jesus said "BOO" and then rose from the dead) doesn't mean that he's dumb. He's fighting a loosing battle but he's gonna inflict as many casualties as he can before he's done.
In fact, Satan is a crafty son-of-a-gun! He's very smart when it comes to you and I, the human condition he understands very well. That is why he chose the last day of Jesus' 40 day fast as the time to tempt Him. Satan knew that Jesus, in His human condition, would be the most vulnerable. Think about it, when you are hungry, do you sleep well? Do you process information well? Jesus is hungry and probably tired and simply put, physically drained.
Yesterday I went to the Y for my workout and felt terrible! I do the 5k on the treadmill and just about didn't make it through. Why? Well, I figured I only took in maybe 750 calories yesterday before the workout (in which I burned over 550) and I just didn't have enough fuel. I made it the whole 3.5miles, but only barely. Maybe you have the same hunger symptom my wife does... she starts to shake when she hasn't eaten for awhile - blood sugar thing I suppose (yes she's been tested for diabetes and doesn't have it). When were hungry our bodies don't work right, our brains don't work right (haven't you seen the commercials?), nothing works right.
So, physically speaking it was the perfect time for Satan to try and tempt Jesus! But what Satan didn't realize is that Jesus wasn't just fasting to keep His figure, He was fasting to get close to God, His Father. So while it was a good time physically, it was the wrong time spiritually, and Jesus puts the smack down on Satan, 1...2...3.
But look what it says in verse 13 of Luke 4, "[Satan] left Him until the next opportunity came."
Satan may not fully understand the spiritual side of things but he is persistent. He failed that time but that didn't mean he would just give up. Never think that just because you've beaten Satan's temptations, once or twice or 50 or 100 times that you won't ever give in... he will keep after you, testing you to find your weakest time. Trying here and there to figure out just how you work, when you are most vulnerable so he can spring his trap.
So when you pass the temptation don't get too smug, he will most definitely try again.
In fact, Satan is a crafty son-of-a-gun! He's very smart when it comes to you and I, the human condition he understands very well. That is why he chose the last day of Jesus' 40 day fast as the time to tempt Him. Satan knew that Jesus, in His human condition, would be the most vulnerable. Think about it, when you are hungry, do you sleep well? Do you process information well? Jesus is hungry and probably tired and simply put, physically drained.
Yesterday I went to the Y for my workout and felt terrible! I do the 5k on the treadmill and just about didn't make it through. Why? Well, I figured I only took in maybe 750 calories yesterday before the workout (in which I burned over 550) and I just didn't have enough fuel. I made it the whole 3.5miles, but only barely. Maybe you have the same hunger symptom my wife does... she starts to shake when she hasn't eaten for awhile - blood sugar thing I suppose (yes she's been tested for diabetes and doesn't have it). When were hungry our bodies don't work right, our brains don't work right (haven't you seen the commercials?), nothing works right.
So, physically speaking it was the perfect time for Satan to try and tempt Jesus! But what Satan didn't realize is that Jesus wasn't just fasting to keep His figure, He was fasting to get close to God, His Father. So while it was a good time physically, it was the wrong time spiritually, and Jesus puts the smack down on Satan, 1...2...3.
But look what it says in verse 13 of Luke 4, "[Satan] left Him until the next opportunity came."
Satan may not fully understand the spiritual side of things but he is persistent. He failed that time but that didn't mean he would just give up. Never think that just because you've beaten Satan's temptations, once or twice or 50 or 100 times that you won't ever give in... he will keep after you, testing you to find your weakest time. Trying here and there to figure out just how you work, when you are most vulnerable so he can spring his trap.
So when you pass the temptation don't get too smug, he will most definitely try again.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I don't want to just go back...
It was late in the evening... and since it makes for a romantic story I'll go with it, since I am a romantic myself.
Some dirty, stinky shepherds are huddled around a fire swapping stories and boasting about their skills with a sling. When suddenly (that means without warning so I wont be redundant and say "and without warning") there is a dude floating in the sky who is gleaming with the radiance of God's glory! Wow! Have you ever been in the middle of nowhere at night? I mean, no cities around. No street lights. Dark. Imagine the strain on your eyes when you are met with the radiance of God's glory on a black Bethlehem hillside night! Their fire must have seemed like a Bic lighter on a hot Kansas day!
And then the angel speaks, tells them the wonderful news of the birth of the Messiah and is joined by, "the armies of heaven"! Thousands...millions of angels all singing praises to God! I can't imagine the glory and fear and awe that surely accompanied this great sight!
And once the angels leave the shepherds figure they will go and see if what they just heard about is really true. Sure enough, they find Jesus just like the angels had said. The shepherds then go and, "tell everyone" what they had seen and heard and what the angels said about Jesus, that He was the Messiah.
But look what happens next... they prove the angels announcement. They tell anyone who would get close enough to them to listen. They go back to work.
Huh. Interesting. Here's my thought. Would I go back to work the day after millions of angels announced the birth of the Messiah to me? Would that announcement and my discovery of the baby change my life? Or would I just go back to work.
The birth of Jesus changed history. The shepherds SAW the promised Messiah - they met him face to face. They got all excited and told some people and then, back to the old grind-stone.
When I have a "come to Jesus moment" I want my life to be different. But the tug of the familiar, the consistency of the grind. The comfort of the continual. The promise of a pay-check are hard things to just walk away from. So, many of us meet Jesus and then go back to work. Unchanged. Unmoved. Unaffected by the presence of the Savior.
God, help me to be changed. Help me to overcome the rut, the comfortable, the confined and live for You. Abandoned to Your Will. Appropriated to Your Spirit. Accustomed to Your Call. Changed.
Some dirty, stinky shepherds are huddled around a fire swapping stories and boasting about their skills with a sling. When suddenly (that means without warning so I wont be redundant and say "and without warning") there is a dude floating in the sky who is gleaming with the radiance of God's glory! Wow! Have you ever been in the middle of nowhere at night? I mean, no cities around. No street lights. Dark. Imagine the strain on your eyes when you are met with the radiance of God's glory on a black Bethlehem hillside night! Their fire must have seemed like a Bic lighter on a hot Kansas day!
And then the angel speaks, tells them the wonderful news of the birth of the Messiah and is joined by, "the armies of heaven"! Thousands...millions of angels all singing praises to God! I can't imagine the glory and fear and awe that surely accompanied this great sight!
And once the angels leave the shepherds figure they will go and see if what they just heard about is really true. Sure enough, they find Jesus just like the angels had said. The shepherds then go and, "tell everyone" what they had seen and heard and what the angels said about Jesus, that He was the Messiah.
But look what happens next... they prove the angels announcement. They tell anyone who would get close enough to them to listen. They go back to work.
Huh. Interesting. Here's my thought. Would I go back to work the day after millions of angels announced the birth of the Messiah to me? Would that announcement and my discovery of the baby change my life? Or would I just go back to work.
The birth of Jesus changed history. The shepherds SAW the promised Messiah - they met him face to face. They got all excited and told some people and then, back to the old grind-stone.
When I have a "come to Jesus moment" I want my life to be different. But the tug of the familiar, the consistency of the grind. The comfort of the continual. The promise of a pay-check are hard things to just walk away from. So, many of us meet Jesus and then go back to work. Unchanged. Unmoved. Unaffected by the presence of the Savior.
God, help me to be changed. Help me to overcome the rut, the comfortable, the confined and live for You. Abandoned to Your Will. Appropriated to Your Spirit. Accustomed to Your Call. Changed.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Just wondering out loud... don't stone me.
Reading today in Mark 16 about the women's encounter with the angel in the empty tomb and I was struck by some (perhaps over-reaching) comparisons.
During Jesus life and ministry He spent a lot of His time teaching in the synagogues and the temple (when he was in Jerusalem). But He also spent a great deal of time teaching in the open air, on the hillside, across the pond (sea of Galilee) and walking along the road. Surely someone has done a study of the times when Jesus was teaching where so we can compare, you can comment and let me know where to find it.
Then Jesus spends some time on the cross during which He pays the price for all sin. Then His body spends some time in the tomb of Joseph until Sunday morning. But when the women come to anoint His body they meet instead an angel. This angel says, "He is not here!" He's risen just as He said He would (duh)! And when the women left they saw Him on the path, He walked on the road, He cooked on the shore, He appeared in the upper room behind a locked door.
Here's where I have the potential to get in trouble. How many people are going to the wrong place to find Jesus? I would venture that some are entering our churches every week expecting to find Jesus and instead all they get is some smelly remnants of where He used to be (the spice soaked linen that laid on the slab signifying where Jesus HAD been).
And when they are walking on the road, or chillin' at the lake or having a party in their house, where they don't expect to find Him... there He is!
The empty cross we honor because on that stick of wood our Savior was nailed and bled for our sin. But Jesus isn't there any longer. The empty tomb we honor because it proves what we already believed, death could not hold Him! But Jesus isn't there any longer.
Where is Jesus? Well, He certainly is in some churches, right where He's always been. But I think where He wants to be is on the road engaged in casual conversation that leads to the spiritual. He wants to be on the path in the garden where He is least expected. He wants to be the life of the party when you're relaxing with your friends. He wants to be on the shore, sharing a meal.
We often don't find Jesus where we expect and do find Him where we don't expect. But here's the kicker, Jesus is found whenever His people, who are called by His Name act like it. So, maybe we ought to stop acting like Him only on Sunday when were in "the tomb" (lovingly) and start acting like Him every day, in the world we live. So that He is found where ever we go by everyone we meet.
During Jesus life and ministry He spent a lot of His time teaching in the synagogues and the temple (when he was in Jerusalem). But He also spent a great deal of time teaching in the open air, on the hillside, across the pond (sea of Galilee) and walking along the road. Surely someone has done a study of the times when Jesus was teaching where so we can compare, you can comment and let me know where to find it.
Then Jesus spends some time on the cross during which He pays the price for all sin. Then His body spends some time in the tomb of Joseph until Sunday morning. But when the women come to anoint His body they meet instead an angel. This angel says, "He is not here!" He's risen just as He said He would (duh)! And when the women left they saw Him on the path, He walked on the road, He cooked on the shore, He appeared in the upper room behind a locked door.
Here's where I have the potential to get in trouble. How many people are going to the wrong place to find Jesus? I would venture that some are entering our churches every week expecting to find Jesus and instead all they get is some smelly remnants of where He used to be (the spice soaked linen that laid on the slab signifying where Jesus HAD been).
And when they are walking on the road, or chillin' at the lake or having a party in their house, where they don't expect to find Him... there He is!
The empty cross we honor because on that stick of wood our Savior was nailed and bled for our sin. But Jesus isn't there any longer. The empty tomb we honor because it proves what we already believed, death could not hold Him! But Jesus isn't there any longer.
Where is Jesus? Well, He certainly is in some churches, right where He's always been. But I think where He wants to be is on the road engaged in casual conversation that leads to the spiritual. He wants to be on the path in the garden where He is least expected. He wants to be the life of the party when you're relaxing with your friends. He wants to be on the shore, sharing a meal.
We often don't find Jesus where we expect and do find Him where we don't expect. But here's the kicker, Jesus is found whenever His people, who are called by His Name act like it. So, maybe we ought to stop acting like Him only on Sunday when were in "the tomb" (lovingly) and start acting like Him every day, in the world we live. So that He is found where ever we go by everyone we meet.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
What's your "One Thing"?
Do you remember that movie City Slickers? (I know, I'm on a movie roll right now!) I loved that movie! My family watched it a lot. Do you recall that famous line from Curly about the meaning of life?
Curly: do you know what the secret of life is?
Curly: This [holds up index finger]
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing, just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean (expletive) nothin'.
Mitch: But what is the "One Thing"?
Curly: That's what you have to figure out.
What's the one thing?
There was a guy who came running up to Jesus, fell on his knees and asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life" (Mark 10:17-23)
Sounds good, right? Genuine and honorable question. He obviously wanted to know. Look at him! He comes running up, assumes a position of humility and asks a great question, The question!
Jesus response is that he should obey the commands of God (10 commands). To which this guy says he has, since he was a child. So, he's not only inquisitive and wants to make sure he's doing the right thing, he is already DOING the right things. He must just want to make sure he's got all his spiritual bases covered.
Jesus surely is impressed with this young man and his devotion to God's Word and his desire to do whatever it takes to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father. So Jesus, wanting to make sure the guy is really ready for heaven, tells him to do just one more thing... Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, then you will be welcomed into heaven.
What's the one thing for you? The most important thing in your life? Jesus has a way of cutting through all the phony actions and speech and getting right to the heart of the issue. What is it that you can't live without? What is it that you wouldn't trade for Jesus? For this guy it was his stuff. His possessions. That was his "one thing." And because "stuff" was his one thing, Jesus couldn't be. Mark says he, "went away sad" because he had great wealth.
The secret of life is Jesus. Just that one thing. A relationship with The One and only Savior of mankind. There may be nine other things in your life that are important to you but if The One thing you can't live without isn't Jesus you're gonna have problems. Figure that out for yourself and you'll be just fine.
Curly: do you know what the secret of life is?
Curly: This [holds up index finger]
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing, just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean (expletive) nothin'.
Mitch: But what is the "One Thing"?
Curly: That's what you have to figure out.
What's the one thing?
There was a guy who came running up to Jesus, fell on his knees and asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life" (Mark 10:17-23)
Sounds good, right? Genuine and honorable question. He obviously wanted to know. Look at him! He comes running up, assumes a position of humility and asks a great question, The question!
Jesus response is that he should obey the commands of God (10 commands). To which this guy says he has, since he was a child. So, he's not only inquisitive and wants to make sure he's doing the right thing, he is already DOING the right things. He must just want to make sure he's got all his spiritual bases covered.
Jesus surely is impressed with this young man and his devotion to God's Word and his desire to do whatever it takes to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father. So Jesus, wanting to make sure the guy is really ready for heaven, tells him to do just one more thing... Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, then you will be welcomed into heaven.
What's the one thing for you? The most important thing in your life? Jesus has a way of cutting through all the phony actions and speech and getting right to the heart of the issue. What is it that you can't live without? What is it that you wouldn't trade for Jesus? For this guy it was his stuff. His possessions. That was his "one thing." And because "stuff" was his one thing, Jesus couldn't be. Mark says he, "went away sad" because he had great wealth.
The secret of life is Jesus. Just that one thing. A relationship with The One and only Savior of mankind. There may be nine other things in your life that are important to you but if The One thing you can't live without isn't Jesus you're gonna have problems. Figure that out for yourself and you'll be just fine.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Length x width x height = no big deal
I like The Matrix movies. There, I said it. I confess. I love the whole plugged into the matrix or not plugged in. But I really love the mental acrobatics the characters have to work through. Learning that when they're jumping off a building, they're not really jumping off a building. Hopping off the curb is no different from stepping off the empire state!
But most of us don't see the world that way do we... Try this; take a 2x4 and lay it on the ground and see if you can walk across it. Easy, wasn't it. Now put that same 2x4, let's say, 20 feet in the air and try it again. What's the matter? Chicken? Same board. What's changed? Your focus has changed. When the board was on the ground you were able to focus on balancing because you weren't worried about falling off. When you're 20 feet up your focus is NOT on the board, it's on the ground and what will happen when you hit it!
But those same mental acrobatics are not something God struggles with. In Mark 9 Jesus steps into a situation where people are focused on the wrong thing. A father is bringing Jesus his son (we don't know his age but could assume he is in his middle to late teens) who is possessed by a demon. The demon attempts to kill the boy by sending him into convulsions near fire or water so that the boy is always in danger of dying while he's having one of these seizures. The father tells Jesus that some of His disciples had already tried to cast the demon out but they couldn't do it... the boys father is loosing hope. Jesus, His disciples, were probably the mans final hope. But it wasn't looking good. He'd hit another dead end. The doctors, spiritualists, fakers, they all failed and it looked like Jesus would too.
But once Jesus gets to the scene he asks this question, "how long has he been like this?" to which the father replies, "since he was a small boy." Now the crowd is really concerned! the disciples couldn't cast out the demon AND it has possessed the boy since he was a child! It's looking hopeless!
Here's what we need to understand about God. He is not limited. The man could have been possessed for 5 min or 50 years - it wouldn't matter for Jesus! Our God functions outside our finite reality! The size of the problem, debt, hole you've dug doesn't scare God. When you own it all, control it all, created it all, little things like how long or high or much or deep don't bother you. For Jesus, it's just as easy to say, "your sins are forgiven" as it is to say, "take up your mat and walk."
So the next time you start thinking that your situation is too big. Your problem too complex. Your relationship too broken. The hole you've dug, too deep. Remember this. God is God. There is none like Him. His power, infinite. His resources, boundless. His Grace, always sufficient. His mercy, never ending. His strength, limitless. His love... Higher. Deeper. Longer. Wider. You can never - no matter what, get in too deep, be too far gone, be too lost for God. Your "rock bottom" is God's starting line. Your ocean, God's puddle. Your mountain, God's stepping stone.
But most of us don't see the world that way do we... Try this; take a 2x4 and lay it on the ground and see if you can walk across it. Easy, wasn't it. Now put that same 2x4, let's say, 20 feet in the air and try it again. What's the matter? Chicken? Same board. What's changed? Your focus has changed. When the board was on the ground you were able to focus on balancing because you weren't worried about falling off. When you're 20 feet up your focus is NOT on the board, it's on the ground and what will happen when you hit it!
But those same mental acrobatics are not something God struggles with. In Mark 9 Jesus steps into a situation where people are focused on the wrong thing. A father is bringing Jesus his son (we don't know his age but could assume he is in his middle to late teens) who is possessed by a demon. The demon attempts to kill the boy by sending him into convulsions near fire or water so that the boy is always in danger of dying while he's having one of these seizures. The father tells Jesus that some of His disciples had already tried to cast the demon out but they couldn't do it... the boys father is loosing hope. Jesus, His disciples, were probably the mans final hope. But it wasn't looking good. He'd hit another dead end. The doctors, spiritualists, fakers, they all failed and it looked like Jesus would too.
But once Jesus gets to the scene he asks this question, "how long has he been like this?" to which the father replies, "since he was a small boy." Now the crowd is really concerned! the disciples couldn't cast out the demon AND it has possessed the boy since he was a child! It's looking hopeless!
Here's what we need to understand about God. He is not limited. The man could have been possessed for 5 min or 50 years - it wouldn't matter for Jesus! Our God functions outside our finite reality! The size of the problem, debt, hole you've dug doesn't scare God. When you own it all, control it all, created it all, little things like how long or high or much or deep don't bother you. For Jesus, it's just as easy to say, "your sins are forgiven" as it is to say, "take up your mat and walk."
So the next time you start thinking that your situation is too big. Your problem too complex. Your relationship too broken. The hole you've dug, too deep. Remember this. God is God. There is none like Him. His power, infinite. His resources, boundless. His Grace, always sufficient. His mercy, never ending. His strength, limitless. His love... Higher. Deeper. Longer. Wider. You can never - no matter what, get in too deep, be too far gone, be too lost for God. Your "rock bottom" is God's starting line. Your ocean, God's puddle. Your mountain, God's stepping stone.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Going hungry in a bread store...
Do you know any plumbers? Electricians? Chefs? I've heard it said that a plumbers pipes are always clogged. The thinking is that people in these professions work all day on other people's problems they don't want to deal with the same stuff at home. So, who does an electrician call when he needs a new light? Who does the cooking in the home of a chef?
In Mark 8 there is the story of how Jesus fed the 4,000 men (+ women and children). Now, it's important to remember that Jesus has already fed the 5,000 so this is a slightly smaller miracle. Just as in the first case Jesus asks the disciples about feeding the people and immediately the disciples start thinking in human terms. It would take a year's wages to feed this many people, they said of feeding the 5,000. This time they say they can't supply this need because they are too far away from any town. There's no where to get enough food. The first time it was about money, this time the money may have been there (Judas kept the money and he was a penny pincher!) but they claim they can't feed them because of geography, we're just too far from any town. The disciples have the baker with them but are going hungry.
Once again Jesus takes what they have (a few loaves of bread and a couple fish) and performs a miracle of multiplication so that everyone eats and they have leftovers.
Why didn't they simply say, "well, Jesus, you fed the 5,000 with just a few loaves, we'll find what we can and You pray and we'll feed the people - just like before." Instead they immediately look to human means to meet the need.
It seems to me that if you're friends with the Life Giver, Bread Maker, Water Walker, Storm Calmer and Disease Healer why look anywhere else!
So it's confession time for me... I'm terrible at this! I tend to look for human means to meet spiritual needs; church growth, leadership, finances, resources, instead of immediately going to the Church Grower, Servant Leader, Land Owner, People Maker!
The moral is this, Jesus is all we need. He's the answer to every problem, the supply for every need.
In Mark 8 there is the story of how Jesus fed the 4,000 men (+ women and children). Now, it's important to remember that Jesus has already fed the 5,000 so this is a slightly smaller miracle. Just as in the first case Jesus asks the disciples about feeding the people and immediately the disciples start thinking in human terms. It would take a year's wages to feed this many people, they said of feeding the 5,000. This time they say they can't supply this need because they are too far away from any town. There's no where to get enough food. The first time it was about money, this time the money may have been there (Judas kept the money and he was a penny pincher!) but they claim they can't feed them because of geography, we're just too far from any town. The disciples have the baker with them but are going hungry.
Once again Jesus takes what they have (a few loaves of bread and a couple fish) and performs a miracle of multiplication so that everyone eats and they have leftovers.
Why didn't they simply say, "well, Jesus, you fed the 5,000 with just a few loaves, we'll find what we can and You pray and we'll feed the people - just like before." Instead they immediately look to human means to meet the need.
It seems to me that if you're friends with the Life Giver, Bread Maker, Water Walker, Storm Calmer and Disease Healer why look anywhere else!
So it's confession time for me... I'm terrible at this! I tend to look for human means to meet spiritual needs; church growth, leadership, finances, resources, instead of immediately going to the Church Grower, Servant Leader, Land Owner, People Maker!
The moral is this, Jesus is all we need. He's the answer to every problem, the supply for every need.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Computer Art and Faith
Do you remember those computer generated posters or books that had that "hidden" 3d image? They were huge when I was growing up in the 80's and I remember that my sister got a poster one time. I tried and tried but never could see the hidden image. I later got a book of these pictures and as I recall, I gave it away or threw it away. I was convinced that it was a conspiracy. No one really knew what picture was supposed to be there they just waited for someone else to say, "it's a ship" and everyone after them would agree and claim they saw it. I never did.
In Mark 5 there is the story of a demon possessed strong man that Jesus heals. No one could control him and every time they tried to capture him with shackles and chains he broke free. He wandered through graveyards yelling and beating people up and cutting himself. Oh yea, and he didn't like to wear clothes! Surely it was a crazy sight seeing someone get beat up by a screaming naked man, bloody from all the cuts.
But when he meets Jesus everything changes. When the town's people come out to find out what all the commotion is about they see the man dressed (for the first time), sitting at the feet of Jesus calmly having a conversation. The text says he was, "in his right mind." You'd think that Jesus would be hoisted up on their shoulders and carried around to cheers! He just saved this town, no more screaming crazy man in the tombs. The women could move about with freedom without covering their eyes. Parents could let their children play without worry. Men could be men and not get beat up anymore. I mean, this was GREAT news!
So why did the people do the exact opposite? Instead of welcoming Jesus, giving Him the key to the city and creating a holiday in His honor, they ask Him to leave! Crazy! It seems they were more concerned with the loss of income and food. You see, Jesus allowed the evil spirits that inhabited this man (and there were many) to take possession of the minds/actions of a herd of pigs, about 2,000 of them and they promptly ran off a cliff and drowned in the lake! So when the people heard the story the thing that stood out was not the crazy man who had been set free (and likewise the whole town) but the loss of the pigs. The income they generated! The food they provided! Who was going to reimburse the farmer? What were they gonna eat? Who was gonna pay!
Just like those 3d art images that I could never see, I only see what's on the surface, the numbers, the offerings, the relationship problems, the hurt feelings, the programs, etc. And I don't see what is most important. Jesus is changing lives. It may only be one life at a time, but isn't that worth it?
God, help me to see what's truly important - I don't want to be side tracked by what's on the surface, I want to see what You see.
In Mark 5 there is the story of a demon possessed strong man that Jesus heals. No one could control him and every time they tried to capture him with shackles and chains he broke free. He wandered through graveyards yelling and beating people up and cutting himself. Oh yea, and he didn't like to wear clothes! Surely it was a crazy sight seeing someone get beat up by a screaming naked man, bloody from all the cuts.
But when he meets Jesus everything changes. When the town's people come out to find out what all the commotion is about they see the man dressed (for the first time), sitting at the feet of Jesus calmly having a conversation. The text says he was, "in his right mind." You'd think that Jesus would be hoisted up on their shoulders and carried around to cheers! He just saved this town, no more screaming crazy man in the tombs. The women could move about with freedom without covering their eyes. Parents could let their children play without worry. Men could be men and not get beat up anymore. I mean, this was GREAT news!
So why did the people do the exact opposite? Instead of welcoming Jesus, giving Him the key to the city and creating a holiday in His honor, they ask Him to leave! Crazy! It seems they were more concerned with the loss of income and food. You see, Jesus allowed the evil spirits that inhabited this man (and there were many) to take possession of the minds/actions of a herd of pigs, about 2,000 of them and they promptly ran off a cliff and drowned in the lake! So when the people heard the story the thing that stood out was not the crazy man who had been set free (and likewise the whole town) but the loss of the pigs. The income they generated! The food they provided! Who was going to reimburse the farmer? What were they gonna eat? Who was gonna pay!
Just like those 3d art images that I could never see, I only see what's on the surface, the numbers, the offerings, the relationship problems, the hurt feelings, the programs, etc. And I don't see what is most important. Jesus is changing lives. It may only be one life at a time, but isn't that worth it?
God, help me to see what's truly important - I don't want to be side tracked by what's on the surface, I want to see what You see.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Light's other quality...
What do you know about light? Some guy named Edison discovered it, harnessed it and produced it. It works by creating an enclosed area for a positive and neutral current to connect and burn, it closes the electrical loop. It is a contained shock. A fire waiting to happen. But light does something else. The lighthouse warned of impending danger. The bug zapper drew the pests to their demise so we could enjoy the outdoors, which we lit up, a little longer. Somebody with a bubbly personality we say, "lights up" a room. Light is pretty useful.
Do you leave a light on when you leave the house? When I was a child and would go away to church camp each year my Mom would deep clean my room. She often moved the furnishings, bed, dresser, nightstand. Cleaned the carpets, put on fresh clean bedding, dusted and straightened. Then she would turn on the light on my nightstand. It was a small bulb, low watts, soft light. I remember how excited I always was when I came home and that light was on.
Before "light" when the sun went down people went to bed. Which means they had to work hard while the sun was up and sleep hard when the sun went down. But since the invention of the light bulb people have been able to stay up. Light creates a place to gather. To share ideas. To enjoy company, read a book. Light enables me to see what would otherwise be unseen and I think it welcomes others to see as well. A light in the window is an inviting scene.
In Mark 4:21-24 Jesus says that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead they put it on a stand for all to see. Of course Jesus was talking about a candle light - but the reference works now too. The purpose of light is to see. Why turn on a light and then cover it up? Surely your mom had many talks with you (as mine did) about turning off a light when you leave a room. There's no point for the light to be on in an empty room.
In another place Jesus calls believers the "light of the world." Here's my question, shouldn't light gather? Illuminate? Create a place to gather? If we are to be the light of the world then we should be drawing others, like moth to flame (or bug zapper). Our light should be a place to gather, safe, warm, understanding.
Can you think of ways in which the church, you and I, can be a light that draws others? I'd love to hear your ideas!
Do you leave a light on when you leave the house? When I was a child and would go away to church camp each year my Mom would deep clean my room. She often moved the furnishings, bed, dresser, nightstand. Cleaned the carpets, put on fresh clean bedding, dusted and straightened. Then she would turn on the light on my nightstand. It was a small bulb, low watts, soft light. I remember how excited I always was when I came home and that light was on.
Before "light" when the sun went down people went to bed. Which means they had to work hard while the sun was up and sleep hard when the sun went down. But since the invention of the light bulb people have been able to stay up. Light creates a place to gather. To share ideas. To enjoy company, read a book. Light enables me to see what would otherwise be unseen and I think it welcomes others to see as well. A light in the window is an inviting scene.
In Mark 4:21-24 Jesus says that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead they put it on a stand for all to see. Of course Jesus was talking about a candle light - but the reference works now too. The purpose of light is to see. Why turn on a light and then cover it up? Surely your mom had many talks with you (as mine did) about turning off a light when you leave a room. There's no point for the light to be on in an empty room.
In another place Jesus calls believers the "light of the world." Here's my question, shouldn't light gather? Illuminate? Create a place to gather? If we are to be the light of the world then we should be drawing others, like moth to flame (or bug zapper). Our light should be a place to gather, safe, warm, understanding.
Can you think of ways in which the church, you and I, can be a light that draws others? I'd love to hear your ideas!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
I'm percolating a thought... dangerous
Why are we so willing to excuse the past while being unwilling to deviate from it?
The religious leaders complained that the disciples were "working" by rubbing heads of wheat in their hands and eating it while walking through a wheat field. Jesus reminds them that King David actually went into the "house of God" and took the consecrated bread from the alter and ate it! So, the religious leaders had excused the acts of David while still enforcing the law of not working on the sabbath. They excused one act of lawlessness while upholding another law.
So I'm pondering and percolating this strange thing. Are there areas where we have excused the behaviors of certain people in the past, while at the same time holding others as law breakers in the present?
Not sure where this is going, maybe nowhere... help me out if you have a thought. Just seems strange to me. I think there might be a principle or an application here somewhere just not sure what it is, beyond the one plainly stated by Jesus - the law exists for people not people for the law...
behind the obvious, veiled perhaps...
The religious leaders complained that the disciples were "working" by rubbing heads of wheat in their hands and eating it while walking through a wheat field. Jesus reminds them that King David actually went into the "house of God" and took the consecrated bread from the alter and ate it! So, the religious leaders had excused the acts of David while still enforcing the law of not working on the sabbath. They excused one act of lawlessness while upholding another law.
So I'm pondering and percolating this strange thing. Are there areas where we have excused the behaviors of certain people in the past, while at the same time holding others as law breakers in the present?
Not sure where this is going, maybe nowhere... help me out if you have a thought. Just seems strange to me. I think there might be a principle or an application here somewhere just not sure what it is, beyond the one plainly stated by Jesus - the law exists for people not people for the law...
behind the obvious, veiled perhaps...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Spirtual Espionage...
Reading Mark 1 today and I see something I've never noticed in all the times I have read it. And since I love a good action adventure flick... this intrigued me!
Jesus' ministry is just beginning, hasn't even called all the disciples to follow Him yet but He goes to the Synagogue in Capernaum (where they've been staying) and begins to teach the people. While Jesus is teaching and reading from the scrolls no doubt, a guy stands up in the crowd and shouts at Jesus, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!"
Pretty strange to have a dude stand up in church and begin to shout at you (though it has happened to me before!) but what makes this story so interesting is that in verse 23 the man is identified as, "a man... who was possessed by an evil spirit". Imagine! Having church and a guy stands up, demon possessed and begins to shout!
But here's where it gets really interesting to me! Didn't the people there know the guy? Wasn't he someones father, or brother, or husband? Wasn't he uncle Ben's best friends cousin? How did a demon possessed man get into church that day?!
And then I started thinking... if a demon possessed guy could waltz into church with Jesus, what's to keep them from coming into any church service? Who's to say that we don't have covert agents working for Satan infiltrating our services all around the world? Which begs the question, Why? Why would Satan care what goes on in church? And before you say something like, "the demon possessed couldn't possibly get through the doors of my church because (add whatever super theological argument you've got here)." Think for a minute. Satan is the master mind behind every evil, sinful, wrong thing that is done...correct? And you're gonna tell me that everyone in your church always and forever does the right thing all the time? You've had no affairs, divorces, offenses, etc. in your church? Come one now... it is Satan that can "look" like an angel of light.
Perhaps the same thing that is true about the angels in 1 Peter 1 is true about all spiritual beings, "they long to understand prophecy and the Word." Maybe there is spiritual espionage going on because Satan wants to know where to hit the church (where the weak links are) and find out if we know something spiritual that he hasn't figured out yet...
Maybe there are double agents, and war rooms, covert operations and black ops happening all time!
Perhaps this is why the disciples warned us to, watch ourselves, our doctrine, our friends, our lives, our relationship with our Savior, watch yourself or you may also be tempted...
Jesus' ministry is just beginning, hasn't even called all the disciples to follow Him yet but He goes to the Synagogue in Capernaum (where they've been staying) and begins to teach the people. While Jesus is teaching and reading from the scrolls no doubt, a guy stands up in the crowd and shouts at Jesus, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!"
Pretty strange to have a dude stand up in church and begin to shout at you (though it has happened to me before!) but what makes this story so interesting is that in verse 23 the man is identified as, "a man... who was possessed by an evil spirit". Imagine! Having church and a guy stands up, demon possessed and begins to shout!
But here's where it gets really interesting to me! Didn't the people there know the guy? Wasn't he someones father, or brother, or husband? Wasn't he uncle Ben's best friends cousin? How did a demon possessed man get into church that day?!
And then I started thinking... if a demon possessed guy could waltz into church with Jesus, what's to keep them from coming into any church service? Who's to say that we don't have covert agents working for Satan infiltrating our services all around the world? Which begs the question, Why? Why would Satan care what goes on in church? And before you say something like, "the demon possessed couldn't possibly get through the doors of my church because (add whatever super theological argument you've got here)." Think for a minute. Satan is the master mind behind every evil, sinful, wrong thing that is done...correct? And you're gonna tell me that everyone in your church always and forever does the right thing all the time? You've had no affairs, divorces, offenses, etc. in your church? Come one now... it is Satan that can "look" like an angel of light.
Perhaps the same thing that is true about the angels in 1 Peter 1 is true about all spiritual beings, "they long to understand prophecy and the Word." Maybe there is spiritual espionage going on because Satan wants to know where to hit the church (where the weak links are) and find out if we know something spiritual that he hasn't figured out yet...
Maybe there are double agents, and war rooms, covert operations and black ops happening all time!
Perhaps this is why the disciples warned us to, watch ourselves, our doctrine, our friends, our lives, our relationship with our Savior, watch yourself or you may also be tempted...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Direction Motivation
Matthew 28:19-20 gives the marching order for the church from her captain, Jesus Christ. Jesus laid out the battle plan for the church to make a beachhead for inroads into the communities in which it exists.
Jesus said the job of the church was to:
1. Make Disciples. The word disciple means "learner" the 12 disciples were learners of Jesus, they were His students. Judas was one of those, though he didn't learn very well. We are to help people want to learn more about Jesus.
2. Baptize. Once a person becomes a learner they should learn about baptism and, if true learners, they will want to be baptized in obedience to Jesus. A learner wants to follow and obey his teacher.
3. Teach the new disciples the commands of Jesus. Baptism is not the graduation ceremony for the disciple (learner) it is the initiation into a new way of life. A new life that must be taught and caught. The church is to teach, those who follow, the whole counsel of God.
At Real Life we do a good job of creating an atmosphere and environment for making disciples and most of those respond in obedience to immersion. But I think we have failed in the "teach the new disciples God's commands" department. So I will talking and thinking about a way to remedy that situation.
I think it will begin with a greater push for Life Groups. That means we'll need people willing to host and lead these small home groups where we can facilitate the third part of our directive. I'm open to ideas and dialogue on this issue so if you've got a thought, please share it!
Jesus said the job of the church was to:
1. Make Disciples. The word disciple means "learner" the 12 disciples were learners of Jesus, they were His students. Judas was one of those, though he didn't learn very well. We are to help people want to learn more about Jesus.
2. Baptize. Once a person becomes a learner they should learn about baptism and, if true learners, they will want to be baptized in obedience to Jesus. A learner wants to follow and obey his teacher.
3. Teach the new disciples the commands of Jesus. Baptism is not the graduation ceremony for the disciple (learner) it is the initiation into a new way of life. A new life that must be taught and caught. The church is to teach, those who follow, the whole counsel of God.
At Real Life we do a good job of creating an atmosphere and environment for making disciples and most of those respond in obedience to immersion. But I think we have failed in the "teach the new disciples God's commands" department. So I will talking and thinking about a way to remedy that situation.
I think it will begin with a greater push for Life Groups. That means we'll need people willing to host and lead these small home groups where we can facilitate the third part of our directive. I'm open to ideas and dialogue on this issue so if you've got a thought, please share it!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Take Heed!
If you didn't see it yet, you can now:
Email, blog, tweet, facebook and buzz these posts!
So if you like what you read don't be afraid to share it with others in your own social network! Just click on one of the links at the bottom of each post and share away!
(see, right over there ---> )
Email, blog, tweet, facebook and buzz these posts!
So if you like what you read don't be afraid to share it with others in your own social network! Just click on one of the links at the bottom of each post and share away!
(see, right over there ---> )
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The pebble problem.
Have you ever heard it said of someone that they were, "too big for their britches"? I'd like to put a new spin on that from the life of the Apostle Peter.
In Matthew 16:16-18 Jesus is talking with the disciples about who other's thought Jesus really was. Everybody had a different idea about but Jesus asks Peter directly, "who do you believe I am?" And Peter responds, "you are the Christ (means chosen one of God), the Son of the Living God." This was obvious the right answer because Jesus tells Peter that he should consider himself blessed, since "this was revealed not by men, but by my Father in heaven." In other words, God revealed this to you Peter, you ought to be happy about that.
Here's where the problem starts. Peter gets an "atta-boy" from Jesus. You're catching on Peter! You're growing up Peter! In fact, this is where Peter gets his new name. The name he was born with was Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter right here after this key truth is revealed, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Way to go, Simon, your name is now going to be Peter - which most language people believe means, "stone" or "pebble".
So let's recap. Peter makes a great spiritual statement about who Jesus was - the Son of The God. Peter gets a pat on the back and a new name (Peter). Then something happens...
Jesus goes on to tell the rest of the disciples, who were all standing right there, that on the truth of Peter's statement Jesus would build His church. And that's just what happened! The church today is built on the foundational belief that the historical Jesus IS, WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE the Son of the LIVING God and the Savior o fall who believe in Him! Which is pretty cool. But right after that Jesus starts talking about Him impending death on the cross. At which point Peter (the pebble) takes Jesus aside and scolds Him, (like a child) saying (in his best big man voice), "this will never happen Lord," you're talking crazy! Why, I'd die before I'd let anyone harm you, after all, I'm a boulder - the guy who came up with the truth on which your church will be founded! (okay, okay, I know I took some liberties there with the text, but you get what I'm saying, right?!)
Did you see how Peter is given a truth from God, claims responsibility for it and in just a few moments goes from a little pebble to scolding Jesus like he was a big boulder? I think a lot of us do that still in our lives. We are given a few pats on the back. A few Atta-boys. And pretty soon we've gone from a little pebble who just wanted to serve and be involved and help however we could... to a boulder that is telling others what to do and bossing them around, etc. I see it all the time. The problem for many leaders with giving people pebble responsibilities is that they soon start acting like boulders, immovable, planted, sturdy.
I always try to look for leaders who have no problem being pebbles. Those are the ones who can roll with the flow. Who will help build the wall, knowing they can't do it themselves, instead of standing on the sidelines telling everyone else how it should be done.
If you read the rest of the story after Peter reprimands Jesus (I still can't believe he did that!) Jesus says, "get behind me Satan!" Wow! Peter goes from a pebble, to a boulder (in his own mind) to a grain of sand as he is called down by Christ.
When you get too big for your britches, the fall is often long and hard. Believe me, I know.
In Matthew 16:16-18 Jesus is talking with the disciples about who other's thought Jesus really was. Everybody had a different idea about but Jesus asks Peter directly, "who do you believe I am?" And Peter responds, "you are the Christ (means chosen one of God), the Son of the Living God." This was obvious the right answer because Jesus tells Peter that he should consider himself blessed, since "this was revealed not by men, but by my Father in heaven." In other words, God revealed this to you Peter, you ought to be happy about that.
Here's where the problem starts. Peter gets an "atta-boy" from Jesus. You're catching on Peter! You're growing up Peter! In fact, this is where Peter gets his new name. The name he was born with was Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter right here after this key truth is revealed, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Way to go, Simon, your name is now going to be Peter - which most language people believe means, "stone" or "pebble".
So let's recap. Peter makes a great spiritual statement about who Jesus was - the Son of The God. Peter gets a pat on the back and a new name (Peter). Then something happens...
Jesus goes on to tell the rest of the disciples, who were all standing right there, that on the truth of Peter's statement Jesus would build His church. And that's just what happened! The church today is built on the foundational belief that the historical Jesus IS, WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE the Son of the LIVING God and the Savior o fall who believe in Him! Which is pretty cool. But right after that Jesus starts talking about Him impending death on the cross. At which point Peter (the pebble) takes Jesus aside and scolds Him, (like a child) saying (in his best big man voice), "this will never happen Lord," you're talking crazy! Why, I'd die before I'd let anyone harm you, after all, I'm a boulder - the guy who came up with the truth on which your church will be founded! (okay, okay, I know I took some liberties there with the text, but you get what I'm saying, right?!)
Did you see how Peter is given a truth from God, claims responsibility for it and in just a few moments goes from a little pebble to scolding Jesus like he was a big boulder? I think a lot of us do that still in our lives. We are given a few pats on the back. A few Atta-boys. And pretty soon we've gone from a little pebble who just wanted to serve and be involved and help however we could... to a boulder that is telling others what to do and bossing them around, etc. I see it all the time. The problem for many leaders with giving people pebble responsibilities is that they soon start acting like boulders, immovable, planted, sturdy.
I always try to look for leaders who have no problem being pebbles. Those are the ones who can roll with the flow. Who will help build the wall, knowing they can't do it themselves, instead of standing on the sidelines telling everyone else how it should be done.
If you read the rest of the story after Peter reprimands Jesus (I still can't believe he did that!) Jesus says, "get behind me Satan!" Wow! Peter goes from a pebble, to a boulder (in his own mind) to a grain of sand as he is called down by Christ.
When you get too big for your britches, the fall is often long and hard. Believe me, I know.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Are you stuck IN a trial or ON a trial?
I wonder how many opportunities I've missed in my life because I was too focused on the trial I was going through to see anything else. You may not know this but we (almost all of us) base decisions on what HAS been instead of what COULD be. What I mean is this. If you've been hurt in a relationship you are less likely to jump into another one because you will expect to be hurt again. So you're past experience may keep you from a future opportunity. I think we do that even "in the moment."
Matthew quotes Jesus as saying to the disciples, "you WILL stand trial...BECAUSE you are my followers, BUT this will be your OPPORTUNITY to tell...unbelievers about me." Jesus knew that His disciples would be punished and face trials for no other reason then their faith in Him. But, He also knew that the trials they faced would provide OPPORTUNITIES they might not otherwise have to share their faith.
You and I don't face judge and jury trials like the kind Jesus is talking about, but we do face hardships and temptations (we call them trials). In every trial we face there is opportunity. But these are so opposite from each other that we tend only focus on one or the other at a time. Like when Jesus said, "you can't serve two masters..." here, we tend to not see two sides.
Trials are difficult, opportunities exciting. Trials exhaust us, opportunities infuse us with energy. Trials take from us what we have, opportunities give us more. But when we focus on the trial we tend to forget about the opportunity! But don't lose hope! When we intentionally learn to focus on the opportunities, the trials begin to fade into the background.
I want to be more opportunity focused and less trial conscious. Let's face it, we could all benefit from that. I feel like we at Real Life are going through a "season of trials" - but I'm also beginning to see the many opportunities that exist, solely because of the trials! Let's take advantage of the OPPORTUNITIES for the glory of God and let Him worry about the trials!
Matthew quotes Jesus as saying to the disciples, "you WILL stand trial...BECAUSE you are my followers, BUT this will be your OPPORTUNITY to tell...unbelievers about me." Jesus knew that His disciples would be punished and face trials for no other reason then their faith in Him. But, He also knew that the trials they faced would provide OPPORTUNITIES they might not otherwise have to share their faith.
You and I don't face judge and jury trials like the kind Jesus is talking about, but we do face hardships and temptations (we call them trials). In every trial we face there is opportunity. But these are so opposite from each other that we tend only focus on one or the other at a time. Like when Jesus said, "you can't serve two masters..." here, we tend to not see two sides.
Trials are difficult, opportunities exciting. Trials exhaust us, opportunities infuse us with energy. Trials take from us what we have, opportunities give us more. But when we focus on the trial we tend to forget about the opportunity! But don't lose hope! When we intentionally learn to focus on the opportunities, the trials begin to fade into the background.
I want to be more opportunity focused and less trial conscious. Let's face it, we could all benefit from that. I feel like we at Real Life are going through a "season of trials" - but I'm also beginning to see the many opportunities that exist, solely because of the trials! Let's take advantage of the OPPORTUNITIES for the glory of God and let Him worry about the trials!
Monday, July 12, 2010
character flaw...
I have this flaw in my character. If I decide to do something, let's say, exercise and lose some weight, and tell other people about it I am less likely to actually do it. But, if I don't say anything to anybody I am more likely to begin such a program. It's almost like just have the conversation gets me out of actually doing the thing I'm talking about! Stinks.
Jesus healed a man with leprosy in Matthew 8:1-3 but tells the man NOT to tell anyone. Instead he is to go show himself to the priest and offer the required sacrifice for being cleansed of leprosy (perhaps a thank or wave offering) and this action will be a public testimony that he had been cleansed.
Perhaps Jesus knew this guy had the same character flaw I do! Look at what might have happened. He is cleansed and runs through town telling everyone Jesus healed him. But, since he didn't go to the priest, he has no proof that he had leprosy and had been healed. And, he may have told a few people, been all excited and then went back to work, forgetting about it. By going to the priest he gets a record of his healing (because the priest would have had a record that he had leprosy and needed to be sent out of the community according to the law), he has the opportunity to offer a "thank you" sacrifice to God (according to the law) and everyone in the Temple would have seen it - a public testimony!
So, I'm exercising and trying not to talk about it too much. The public testimony comes when others notice the physical change in me and ask me what's up or tell me I look better. Then I can tell them what I am doing.
Maybe spiritually we ought to make those lifestyle changes first (instead of just talking about it) and then let people "see" it in our lives and ask, "what is different?" Then we can tell them, I've been cleansed. You've seen the proof.
Jesus healed a man with leprosy in Matthew 8:1-3 but tells the man NOT to tell anyone. Instead he is to go show himself to the priest and offer the required sacrifice for being cleansed of leprosy (perhaps a thank or wave offering) and this action will be a public testimony that he had been cleansed.
Perhaps Jesus knew this guy had the same character flaw I do! Look at what might have happened. He is cleansed and runs through town telling everyone Jesus healed him. But, since he didn't go to the priest, he has no proof that he had leprosy and had been healed. And, he may have told a few people, been all excited and then went back to work, forgetting about it. By going to the priest he gets a record of his healing (because the priest would have had a record that he had leprosy and needed to be sent out of the community according to the law), he has the opportunity to offer a "thank you" sacrifice to God (according to the law) and everyone in the Temple would have seen it - a public testimony!
So, I'm exercising and trying not to talk about it too much. The public testimony comes when others notice the physical change in me and ask me what's up or tell me I look better. Then I can tell them what I am doing.
Maybe spiritually we ought to make those lifestyle changes first (instead of just talking about it) and then let people "see" it in our lives and ask, "what is different?" Then we can tell them, I've been cleansed. You've seen the proof.
Friday, July 9, 2010
God may have other plans... are you ready?
Every big thing in our lives certainly takes center stage in our thoughts and dreams. Marriage, the birth of your children, first job, etc. We've got it all worked out don't we.
I read a line in Matthew 1:18 the other day that got me thinking. Here's how it goes, "Mary was engaged, but before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin..."
One little sentence packed full of so many dreams and ambitions and interruptions and then a complete turn around...
Mary was engaged... Statement of fact. Her and Joseph were gonna get hitched. Surely she was dreaming about the wedding, their life, the children that would come. Joseph was a strong young man. Perhaps handsome. Maybe she considered herself lucky to have such a man. Well, one with a career any way. Everything was going great and moving, just as she dreamed it toward her ultimate marriage...
But before the marriage took place... something interrupted her dreams. Before she could get to that thing that had monopolized her thoughts for weeks, months, maybe even years, it all came crashing down. Surely you know what that's like. You've had unfulfilled dreams. Maybe it was while you were preparing to walk down the aisle when he or she bailed and left you standing there stunned. You found out your unborn child had a disability of some kind. Before you could really get your life going, something happened. You can relate to Mary.
While she was still a virgin... believe it or not this is my favorite part of this sentence! There is so much hope and faith and wonder tied up in this lost statement! Listen, if she was still a virgin then nothing that happened next should have happened! A virgin can't be pregnant. There was not way! How could the Savior of the universe be born to a virgin?! The only answer is God.
What is your obstacle to God birthing something wonderful in you? If a virgin girl can become the mother of His Son I can't see anything standing in His way! And while you go about making your life plans, completely incapable of accomplishing His will on your own, He is at work to bring about something incredible in your life! Something you can't possibly imagine!
So make your plans, but be ready, because God just may interrupt your life when you least expect and birth something incredible in you too.
I read a line in Matthew 1:18 the other day that got me thinking. Here's how it goes, "Mary was engaged, but before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin..."
One little sentence packed full of so many dreams and ambitions and interruptions and then a complete turn around...
Mary was engaged... Statement of fact. Her and Joseph were gonna get hitched. Surely she was dreaming about the wedding, their life, the children that would come. Joseph was a strong young man. Perhaps handsome. Maybe she considered herself lucky to have such a man. Well, one with a career any way. Everything was going great and moving, just as she dreamed it toward her ultimate marriage...
But before the marriage took place... something interrupted her dreams. Before she could get to that thing that had monopolized her thoughts for weeks, months, maybe even years, it all came crashing down. Surely you know what that's like. You've had unfulfilled dreams. Maybe it was while you were preparing to walk down the aisle when he or she bailed and left you standing there stunned. You found out your unborn child had a disability of some kind. Before you could really get your life going, something happened. You can relate to Mary.
While she was still a virgin... believe it or not this is my favorite part of this sentence! There is so much hope and faith and wonder tied up in this lost statement! Listen, if she was still a virgin then nothing that happened next should have happened! A virgin can't be pregnant. There was not way! How could the Savior of the universe be born to a virgin?! The only answer is God.
What is your obstacle to God birthing something wonderful in you? If a virgin girl can become the mother of His Son I can't see anything standing in His way! And while you go about making your life plans, completely incapable of accomplishing His will on your own, He is at work to bring about something incredible in your life! Something you can't possibly imagine!
So make your plans, but be ready, because God just may interrupt your life when you least expect and birth something incredible in you too.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wait for the numbers.
Just a quick one today, but more to come! Lots of good stuff in Matthew 1 and 2!
Sometimes it is really hard to see how God could possibly be working in our lives (surely it's not just me). One thing after another happens and we seem to have no control and nothing is working right and we think God could not possibly be involved in our chaos.
While reading about all that happened to Joseph and Mary prior to and immediately after the birth of Jesus I am sure that they simply could not see the picture God had created for their lives. Just a bunch of random dots on one of God's activity pages. Then in Matthew 2:18 you read a prophecy from Jer 31:15 about death and mourning and weeping and Matthew says it was a prophecy about Herod killing all the baby boys while searching for Jesus.
Who would have thought or could have predicted that Jeremiah was talking about this event!? The readers in Jeremiah's day probably didn't even recognize that as a prophecy, but Matthew, through the Spirit saw it.
Here's my conclusion and then I've got to run; It's easier to connect the dots once they've been numbered. When you look at what God is doing all you may see is a random bunch of dots on a smudged piece of paper... wait for the numbers, then be amazed at how God has orchestrated the events of your life to reveal a beautiful picture you can not now see.
Sometimes it is really hard to see how God could possibly be working in our lives (surely it's not just me). One thing after another happens and we seem to have no control and nothing is working right and we think God could not possibly be involved in our chaos.
While reading about all that happened to Joseph and Mary prior to and immediately after the birth of Jesus I am sure that they simply could not see the picture God had created for their lives. Just a bunch of random dots on one of God's activity pages. Then in Matthew 2:18 you read a prophecy from Jer 31:15 about death and mourning and weeping and Matthew says it was a prophecy about Herod killing all the baby boys while searching for Jesus.
Who would have thought or could have predicted that Jeremiah was talking about this event!? The readers in Jeremiah's day probably didn't even recognize that as a prophecy, but Matthew, through the Spirit saw it.
Here's my conclusion and then I've got to run; It's easier to connect the dots once they've been numbered. When you look at what God is doing all you may see is a random bunch of dots on a smudged piece of paper... wait for the numbers, then be amazed at how God has orchestrated the events of your life to reveal a beautiful picture you can not now see.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The POINT of prophecy.
I've been a little "off" lately in my blogging - no comments allowed.
Church life and ministry are often a blessing and often, nearly more than I think I can handle. The last few weeks have been some of the worst in my 15 years of ministry. Satan is certainly at work in the lives of people, relationships, marriages, etc. And we, by giving into our "desires" allow Satan to have victories that decay our spirit and tear down the Kingdom.
That being said, my Bible reading has been in the last book of the Bible and the most difficult to understand, Revelation. (if you comment and say you've got it figured out and it's easy to understand I just might call you a liar.)
But there have been some incredible passages in this letter that twists and turns and repeats and crosses stories. One of them I cam across today in Revelation 19.
John is in the midst of a bunch of symbolism here with animals and people representing a bunch of different things. It seems like there is prophecy within prophecy here - kind of a Matrix moment when your in the story your in... like when you look in a mirror that's reflected in another mirror and your image goes on and on. But in the midst of all this stuff the angel says something incredible to John.
It comes in verse 10 of chapter 19 and the angel says, "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." wow.
In the middle of the most prophetic book in the Bible with stuff happening all over the place the angel cuts right to the heart of it all! The point! The reason! The effort all finds it's purpose in focusing every one's attention on Jesus.
There are lots of people who claim to be prophetic or prophets today. Some of them may be legitimate but I fear most are phonies. How do you know? If they add anything to the ultimate prophecy found in the Words of the Bible they are fakes. There is no new prophecy. It begins and ends with Jesus.
But the point today is as strong as it was for John and as clear as it was to the angel. It's all about Jesus. There is no point in prophecy unless it points clearly to Christ.
So, I want to be more clear in my preaching so that people see Jesus. I want to be more honest in my life so that people see Jesus. I want to be more careful with my words so that people hear Jesus. I want to preach Jesus with laser accuracy so there is no doubt. No question. No mistaking who is the One who takes away sin and gives life. He is the only One that brings life change. Let's cut through the junk and be clear.
Church life and ministry are often a blessing and often, nearly more than I think I can handle. The last few weeks have been some of the worst in my 15 years of ministry. Satan is certainly at work in the lives of people, relationships, marriages, etc. And we, by giving into our "desires" allow Satan to have victories that decay our spirit and tear down the Kingdom.
That being said, my Bible reading has been in the last book of the Bible and the most difficult to understand, Revelation. (if you comment and say you've got it figured out and it's easy to understand I just might call you a liar.)
But there have been some incredible passages in this letter that twists and turns and repeats and crosses stories. One of them I cam across today in Revelation 19.
John is in the midst of a bunch of symbolism here with animals and people representing a bunch of different things. It seems like there is prophecy within prophecy here - kind of a Matrix moment when your in the story your in... like when you look in a mirror that's reflected in another mirror and your image goes on and on. But in the midst of all this stuff the angel says something incredible to John.
It comes in verse 10 of chapter 19 and the angel says, "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." wow.
In the middle of the most prophetic book in the Bible with stuff happening all over the place the angel cuts right to the heart of it all! The point! The reason! The effort all finds it's purpose in focusing every one's attention on Jesus.
There are lots of people who claim to be prophetic or prophets today. Some of them may be legitimate but I fear most are phonies. How do you know? If they add anything to the ultimate prophecy found in the Words of the Bible they are fakes. There is no new prophecy. It begins and ends with Jesus.
But the point today is as strong as it was for John and as clear as it was to the angel. It's all about Jesus. There is no point in prophecy unless it points clearly to Christ.
So, I want to be more clear in my preaching so that people see Jesus. I want to be more honest in my life so that people see Jesus. I want to be more careful with my words so that people hear Jesus. I want to preach Jesus with laser accuracy so there is no doubt. No question. No mistaking who is the One who takes away sin and gives life. He is the only One that brings life change. Let's cut through the junk and be clear.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Does the Church need another CSI moment with Jesus?
I began my reading today in the book of revelation. Difficult read. So many things that quite frankly, without the benefit of "being there" we have a real disadvantage in understanding. Now, there will be those who tell you they have it figured out. Anyone who says that I pretty much walk away from. You could read 100 commentaries and each author will say "this is what it means" and no two commentaries will be the same. So, who's right?
But in reading the first 3 chapters this am I'm wondering if the Church again is in need of a CSI moment with Jesus. CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigator and you can totally see Jesus playing that role in his letters to the 7 churches. He's investigated them. He knows them. He's uncovered every stone and looked around every corner.
In most of the churches He's found the good and bad. Where's He's found bad He rebukes and calls to repentance and where He's found good He encourages. Some of the churches have nothing good going on but only the church in Smyrna seems to be doing everything right. Perhaps because they are being persecuted and even killed for their faith.
What would happen in your church, in my church, if we had a CSI moment? If we really looked at our church as Christ might to see the good and the bad. What do you think our letter would look like? Would it resemble Smyrna or maybe (and more likely) Laodicea.
But in reading the first 3 chapters this am I'm wondering if the Church again is in need of a CSI moment with Jesus. CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigator and you can totally see Jesus playing that role in his letters to the 7 churches. He's investigated them. He knows them. He's uncovered every stone and looked around every corner.
In most of the churches He's found the good and bad. Where's He's found bad He rebukes and calls to repentance and where He's found good He encourages. Some of the churches have nothing good going on but only the church in Smyrna seems to be doing everything right. Perhaps because they are being persecuted and even killed for their faith.
What would happen in your church, in my church, if we had a CSI moment? If we really looked at our church as Christ might to see the good and the bad. What do you think our letter would look like? Would it resemble Smyrna or maybe (and more likely) Laodicea.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
What's love got to do with it?
Reading through 1,2 and 3 John today. One over-riding thought; love. Here's how I would break down these letters.
- If you've got love, you've got Jesus.
- If you've got Jesus, you've got the Father, God.
- If you've got God, you will obey His commands.
- His commands are that you love
Rinse and repeat steps 1-4.
In contrast:
- If you don't have love, you ain't got Jesus.
- If you don't have Jesus, you ain't got God.
- If you don't have God, you ain't got a prayer.
Those who love others are obeying God's command and have the Son and the Spirit. Those who teach false doctrines (specifically that Jesus did not come in a human body) do not have love, or God or the Son or the Spirit. Don't listen to them. Don't support them. Don't encourage them.
But, love all believers. Your love proves you have the Father, Son and Spirit just like your deeds prove your faith (see James).
I want to prove my connection with God so I want to obey Him so I choose to love. Help me Father to love.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Finding a sandbar.
My family and I recently got back home and back to work after a quick vacation down to the Gulf Coast. Namely, Padre Island. We got about 4 hours of solid swimming in the warm ocean waters (no oil) and a good seaweed bath.
It was so cool to be out in the water and I had this crazy idea of getting out as far as I could and then letting the waves carry me back to shore. I even got Trevor (my oldest son) to go with me. I thought we could swim out and then get on the tube and just float back to the beach. If you've never swam in the ocean you aren't aware that once you get out so far the water actually carries you farther from shore, not closer! After a few moments of panic we got it figured out and made it back in.
After a few minutes of recovery we headed back out. This time were were just going out to neck deep to jump over and swim through the waves as they came in. But this time we found a sandbar that jutted out from the coast line another 20 or 30 feet so we got a quite a distance from the shore but were still standing up at about neck deep. It was really fun! Until we found one of the sides of the sandbar and started to slip down. On either side of this sandbar the water was well above our heads. After the swim out to sea and back we were pretty tired but still wanted to play. After all, Trevor had never swam in the ocean and I had only done it in the cold waters off Oregon.
Having that sandbar to stand on allowed us to feel like we were way out in the ocean waters but still have the comfort of a relatively sure foundation. As long as we stayed on that sand we were okay. 1 Peter 5:10 says this, After you have suffered a little while, the Lord will restore, support and strengthen you and He will place you on a firm foundation." In the ocean as in life there are lots of times when we get in over our heads. Maybe it's the job, relationships or just a mixture of all that life can throw at you. We call it stress and it can be overwhelming and exhausting. But our God knows what is going on in our lives. He is aware when we can't take it anymore and need to rest.
He provides the firm foundation. You can't get out of the ocean of your life, but you can find a place to rest. A place to stand. A place to keep your head above the water. A place to regain your strength. Find some balance. And have your faith restored.
Thank You God for allowing us to enjoy the excitement of life, even with it's troubles and struggles. And for placing the sandbars right where we need them.
Remember, God may not take you out of your situation but He can deliver you through it.
It was so cool to be out in the water and I had this crazy idea of getting out as far as I could and then letting the waves carry me back to shore. I even got Trevor (my oldest son) to go with me. I thought we could swim out and then get on the tube and just float back to the beach. If you've never swam in the ocean you aren't aware that once you get out so far the water actually carries you farther from shore, not closer! After a few moments of panic we got it figured out and made it back in.
After a few minutes of recovery we headed back out. This time were were just going out to neck deep to jump over and swim through the waves as they came in. But this time we found a sandbar that jutted out from the coast line another 20 or 30 feet so we got a quite a distance from the shore but were still standing up at about neck deep. It was really fun! Until we found one of the sides of the sandbar and started to slip down. On either side of this sandbar the water was well above our heads. After the swim out to sea and back we were pretty tired but still wanted to play. After all, Trevor had never swam in the ocean and I had only done it in the cold waters off Oregon.
Having that sandbar to stand on allowed us to feel like we were way out in the ocean waters but still have the comfort of a relatively sure foundation. As long as we stayed on that sand we were okay. 1 Peter 5:10 says this, After you have suffered a little while, the Lord will restore, support and strengthen you and He will place you on a firm foundation." In the ocean as in life there are lots of times when we get in over our heads. Maybe it's the job, relationships or just a mixture of all that life can throw at you. We call it stress and it can be overwhelming and exhausting. But our God knows what is going on in our lives. He is aware when we can't take it anymore and need to rest.
He provides the firm foundation. You can't get out of the ocean of your life, but you can find a place to rest. A place to stand. A place to keep your head above the water. A place to regain your strength. Find some balance. And have your faith restored.
Thank You God for allowing us to enjoy the excitement of life, even with it's troubles and struggles. And for placing the sandbars right where we need them.
Remember, God may not take you out of your situation but He can deliver you through it.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Can I have some more suffering please?
I have yet to meet a believer in Jesus who actually wakes up in the morning and says, "today is going to be a great day! I get to suffer for Jesus!" Nope, never heard it. But I have heard lots of these prayers, "God, keep me healthy and happy today, keep me from suffering and help me to have a good day." That's the prayer of the average believer, including me all too often.
We Christians tend to think that if we are suffering something must be wrong in our relationship with God. If I'm suffering I must need to pray more. Go to more church services or read my Bible longer. If things are going well for me then God must be happy with me. If they are going poorly He must be angry.
It's silly really (that rhymed and I didn't even try!). Over and over in God's Word He promises suffering. Do everything right as a believer and you WILL suffer. Maybe you lose your job. Your marriage falls apart. Your car breaks down. Your body breaks down. These don't mean that God is mad at you or that you aren't living like you should be in Christ. They are simply personal illustrations of sin's work in the world we live in. They prove Satan is active and on the prowl.
But let's be honest. We don't like to suffer. I want everything in my life to be perfect. Peter makes a great point in 1 Peter 4:15. He is talking about suffering for the sake of Christ and then in 15 says, "if you suffer it should NOT be because you did something wrong" (murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into other's lives). Peter knows us doesn't he! He knows that we complain and whine even when we suffer for doing wrong! How many of you whine and fuss when you're given a ticket for speeding? You did something wrong and were punished for it. That's called a consequence NOT suffering!
If you (or I) screw up and have to suffer (the consequence) that is not a reason to find any joy - we are getting what we deserve. But if I suffer because I'm a Christian that is a completely different story. I have been called names because of my faith. I have been left out. I have suffered financially (though light and momentary troubles all).
Don't ever think that just because you believe in Jesus that nothing bad will ever happen to you. If that's the case there is one of two things happening. 1. you are so "bad" as a christian that Satan doesn't need to mess with you, or 2. you're in heaven.
Suffering is part of the Christian life. Quit trying to run from suffering and pray your way out of it. God isn't going to deliver you from the very things that will ultimately strengthen and grow your faith and trust in Him. Live. Fight. Struggle through it with all His strength that so powerfully works in you. Suffer knowing that your faith will find increase and you will not be disappointed.
We Christians tend to think that if we are suffering something must be wrong in our relationship with God. If I'm suffering I must need to pray more. Go to more church services or read my Bible longer. If things are going well for me then God must be happy with me. If they are going poorly He must be angry.
It's silly really (that rhymed and I didn't even try!). Over and over in God's Word He promises suffering. Do everything right as a believer and you WILL suffer. Maybe you lose your job. Your marriage falls apart. Your car breaks down. Your body breaks down. These don't mean that God is mad at you or that you aren't living like you should be in Christ. They are simply personal illustrations of sin's work in the world we live in. They prove Satan is active and on the prowl.
But let's be honest. We don't like to suffer. I want everything in my life to be perfect. Peter makes a great point in 1 Peter 4:15. He is talking about suffering for the sake of Christ and then in 15 says, "if you suffer it should NOT be because you did something wrong" (murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into other's lives). Peter knows us doesn't he! He knows that we complain and whine even when we suffer for doing wrong! How many of you whine and fuss when you're given a ticket for speeding? You did something wrong and were punished for it. That's called a consequence NOT suffering!
If you (or I) screw up and have to suffer (the consequence) that is not a reason to find any joy - we are getting what we deserve. But if I suffer because I'm a Christian that is a completely different story. I have been called names because of my faith. I have been left out. I have suffered financially (though light and momentary troubles all).
Don't ever think that just because you believe in Jesus that nothing bad will ever happen to you. If that's the case there is one of two things happening. 1. you are so "bad" as a christian that Satan doesn't need to mess with you, or 2. you're in heaven.
Suffering is part of the Christian life. Quit trying to run from suffering and pray your way out of it. God isn't going to deliver you from the very things that will ultimately strengthen and grow your faith and trust in Him. Live. Fight. Struggle through it with all His strength that so powerfully works in you. Suffer knowing that your faith will find increase and you will not be disappointed.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Let it grow...
I am not a patient person. Prayed for it. Somewhat desire it. Don't have it. I'm the J.G. Wentworth poster child... I want it NOW! Whether it is personal or church related I don't like to wait.
The book of James tells us that our reward for a life lived for Christ doesn't come until "the end." Hard truth for the patiently challenged.
Another area I struggle with is plants. I love plants. But you have to be patient with plants, just like faith and exercise or lots of other things (I learned the hard way that cooking something at a higher temp for a shorter period of time does NOT yeild the desired results!). I have a tendency to think that if I over do it with the water and care and sun then I'll get the results I want sooner. But that's not true. I end up killing it with care! When what I should do is just let it grow. But I don't like to wait! (Did I say that already?)
That is certainly true of pain and struggle in my life. I want it over quick! Okay God, teach me the lesson and let's move on. Let's get it over with. No need to dwell on it any longer... (I'm impatiently writing this right now!) It's my human nature to want to get this over with and move on to the next thing. But, my plants need to develop deep roots so they can get to water when I inevitably forget to water them, or when these 100 degree days hit in Kansas. They need some sun, but too much is a bad thing as well. In my spiritual life I need the same things. I need to have deep roots of faith to withstand the dry spells. I need to be able to hold up in the heat of temptations.
In order to do this I must learn the spiritual discipline of, "letting it grow." That's what James 1:4 says. Let it Grow. When pain and trouble and struggles come don't seek to get it over with quickly and get to better times. See God working in those difficulties and let it grow. These times in your life develop spiritual endurance and faith to meet all of life's challenges. So, let it grow. Let your faith grow, deep and strong.
Give yourself time to learn the lesson. To make it a habit. To get to the next level and stay there. Let it grow.
The book of James tells us that our reward for a life lived for Christ doesn't come until "the end." Hard truth for the patiently challenged.
Another area I struggle with is plants. I love plants. But you have to be patient with plants, just like faith and exercise or lots of other things (I learned the hard way that cooking something at a higher temp for a shorter period of time does NOT yeild the desired results!). I have a tendency to think that if I over do it with the water and care and sun then I'll get the results I want sooner. But that's not true. I end up killing it with care! When what I should do is just let it grow. But I don't like to wait! (Did I say that already?)
That is certainly true of pain and struggle in my life. I want it over quick! Okay God, teach me the lesson and let's move on. Let's get it over with. No need to dwell on it any longer... (I'm impatiently writing this right now!) It's my human nature to want to get this over with and move on to the next thing. But, my plants need to develop deep roots so they can get to water when I inevitably forget to water them, or when these 100 degree days hit in Kansas. They need some sun, but too much is a bad thing as well. In my spiritual life I need the same things. I need to have deep roots of faith to withstand the dry spells. I need to be able to hold up in the heat of temptations.
In order to do this I must learn the spiritual discipline of, "letting it grow." That's what James 1:4 says. Let it Grow. When pain and trouble and struggles come don't seek to get it over with quickly and get to better times. See God working in those difficulties and let it grow. These times in your life develop spiritual endurance and faith to meet all of life's challenges. So, let it grow. Let your faith grow, deep and strong.
Give yourself time to learn the lesson. To make it a habit. To get to the next level and stay there. Let it grow.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Relational God.
In Hebrews 8:10-12 I read something that is just amazing.
Have you ever thought about the implications of God's statement, "I will be your God and you will be my people"? Or how about "Everyone will know me from the least to the greatest"? or this one, "I will forgive their wickedness and never again remember this sins"?
Powerful. Life changing. Encouraging.
God could have stopped with, "I will be your God." As God, He could demand worship and tribute and obedience. But that's not what He chose. He simply wants to be our exclusive God. It's where the, "no other gods before me" comes in. He wants to be OUR God, even though He could force His ownership over us He desires us to choose Him as our only God.
And it doesn't matter if you're somebody or nobody. President or Pee-on. Everybody can know Him and be equal. There are no positions or titles with God. The manager of a QT doesn't brag about it while sitting in the oval office! There is God and then everyone else. No matter what your background, baggage, battles, bumps or bruises everyone is equal under God.
And if that wasn't enough, He wants US to be His people! Not just to worship Him as God but He wants to recognize us as His own! And part of that is His promise to "forgive our wickedness" and "never remember our sins"!
God wants us. Not just our service. Or money. Or time. Not our excuses. Just us. You and me. He wants to be our God and He wants us to be His people. He wants relationship.
Have you ever thought about the implications of God's statement, "I will be your God and you will be my people"? Or how about "Everyone will know me from the least to the greatest"? or this one, "I will forgive their wickedness and never again remember this sins"?
Powerful. Life changing. Encouraging.
God could have stopped with, "I will be your God." As God, He could demand worship and tribute and obedience. But that's not what He chose. He simply wants to be our exclusive God. It's where the, "no other gods before me" comes in. He wants to be OUR God, even though He could force His ownership over us He desires us to choose Him as our only God.
And it doesn't matter if you're somebody or nobody. President or Pee-on. Everybody can know Him and be equal. There are no positions or titles with God. The manager of a QT doesn't brag about it while sitting in the oval office! There is God and then everyone else. No matter what your background, baggage, battles, bumps or bruises everyone is equal under God.
And if that wasn't enough, He wants US to be His people! Not just to worship Him as God but He wants to recognize us as His own! And part of that is His promise to "forgive our wickedness" and "never remember our sins"!
God wants us. Not just our service. Or money. Or time. Not our excuses. Just us. You and me. He wants to be our God and He wants us to be His people. He wants relationship.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Jesus is all right with me.
Reading in Hebrews 4,5 and 6 this am. Struck by Jesus life and faithfulness.
I don't recall the statistics but the majority of children who inherit wealth squander it away. They didn't have to earn it so it doesn't mean as much to them (that's what I hear anyway). But those parents who force their children to be responsible with money and teach them to work hard and earn their own way before they get inheritance dollars do much better with it.
It seems to me that God could have just had Jesus appear on earth as a human (He is God after all) in his 20's or something. Live a few months or so in the lap of luxury, since His Dad literally owns everything, and then die a quick and pain free death. He would have not sinned so He would be the "perfect" sacrifice the law required. And He would be human and shed His blood. Law fulfilled.
But that's not the way God does things. Jesus experienced everything that we experience in our lives. From birth to death He was completely human. He experienced loss, temptation, anger, frustration, fear, ridicule, slander, out-right-lies and finally the pain of a long and agonizing death. And even through all that He never sinned.
Jesus was not only the perfect sacrifice but He becomes our perfect example. Had Jesus not lived and died as He did we could complain to God that He doesn't know what we're going through down here (which is stupid because, once again, He's God - He knows it all!) and so we should be exempted from some of our sins. And Satan could complain that He had it too easy and would have failed it He experienced life as it really is.
Instead God, in His perfect wisdom and understanding, allowed His Son to suffer so that we and Satan are without excuse. There is nothing we can point to as a loop hole or way out. Jesus went through all this so that He would rule well, judge justly and win the battle handily.
Thanks Jesus, you're all right with me.
I don't recall the statistics but the majority of children who inherit wealth squander it away. They didn't have to earn it so it doesn't mean as much to them (that's what I hear anyway). But those parents who force their children to be responsible with money and teach them to work hard and earn their own way before they get inheritance dollars do much better with it.
It seems to me that God could have just had Jesus appear on earth as a human (He is God after all) in his 20's or something. Live a few months or so in the lap of luxury, since His Dad literally owns everything, and then die a quick and pain free death. He would have not sinned so He would be the "perfect" sacrifice the law required. And He would be human and shed His blood. Law fulfilled.
But that's not the way God does things. Jesus experienced everything that we experience in our lives. From birth to death He was completely human. He experienced loss, temptation, anger, frustration, fear, ridicule, slander, out-right-lies and finally the pain of a long and agonizing death. And even through all that He never sinned.
Jesus was not only the perfect sacrifice but He becomes our perfect example. Had Jesus not lived and died as He did we could complain to God that He doesn't know what we're going through down here (which is stupid because, once again, He's God - He knows it all!) and so we should be exempted from some of our sins. And Satan could complain that He had it too easy and would have failed it He experienced life as it really is.
Instead God, in His perfect wisdom and understanding, allowed His Son to suffer so that we and Satan are without excuse. There is nothing we can point to as a loop hole or way out. Jesus went through all this so that He would rule well, judge justly and win the battle handily.
Thanks Jesus, you're all right with me.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Healthy Reminder
I have never heard of someone who did something wrong say they intended for it to happen. You know, husband or wife has an affair and they all say, "I never meant for this to happen!" Or a teenager goes to far and gets pregnant and they say, "I didn't mean for it to go this far!" You hurt someone and say, "I didn't MEAN to hurt you, that was not my intention."
Things happen. You may not have "thought" it would go that far or end up like it did but you certainly allowed it to. I don't get into the office on Monday morning and say, "I think I'd like to really do a poor job on my message this Sunday." But sometimes I allow other things to take my focus and I end up doing less than my best (thanks to God for using me even then!).
The writer of Hebrews gives us some sound advice to avoid these types of situations in our spiritual lives. He (or she) says, "make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God."
Now, you are probably saying something like, "but I believe! My heart's not evil! I will never turn away!" We've heard that before. I think Peter said the same thing. You may not now think you would ever turn away. That's why you could say, "I didn't mean for this to happen." Right now you say you believe, but later you may say, "I never meant for it to go this far."
What's the answer? The writer starts out verse 12 saying, "be careful" and then it says, "Make sure." I recall Paul telling Timothy to, "watch your life and conduct." No one intends on moving away from God, but it happens all the time.
So be careful and make sure you evaluate yourself to see that you are not on a slippery slope. Are you spending time with other believers? Are you regular in church attendance? Are you serving and giving regularly at the church? How long has it been since you read your bible or prayed? Be careful. Make sure your own heart is not evil and unbelieving turning you away from the Living God.
Things happen. You may not have "thought" it would go that far or end up like it did but you certainly allowed it to. I don't get into the office on Monday morning and say, "I think I'd like to really do a poor job on my message this Sunday." But sometimes I allow other things to take my focus and I end up doing less than my best (thanks to God for using me even then!).
The writer of Hebrews gives us some sound advice to avoid these types of situations in our spiritual lives. He (or she) says, "make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God."
Now, you are probably saying something like, "but I believe! My heart's not evil! I will never turn away!" We've heard that before. I think Peter said the same thing. You may not now think you would ever turn away. That's why you could say, "I didn't mean for this to happen." Right now you say you believe, but later you may say, "I never meant for it to go this far."
What's the answer? The writer starts out verse 12 saying, "be careful" and then it says, "Make sure." I recall Paul telling Timothy to, "watch your life and conduct." No one intends on moving away from God, but it happens all the time.
So be careful and make sure you evaluate yourself to see that you are not on a slippery slope. Are you spending time with other believers? Are you regular in church attendance? Are you serving and giving regularly at the church? How long has it been since you read your bible or prayed? Be careful. Make sure your own heart is not evil and unbelieving turning you away from the Living God.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Making Christianity Attractive
As a child my Mom had a million phrases she would stick around the house or throw out at times she deemed "appropriate." Your mom probably had them too. Above the sink in the kitchen she had this little bit of wisdom, "if you're not happy with what you have, how could you be happier with more?" and more than once I heard this, all to familiar, quip, "you catch more flies with honey."
It seems to me that maybe over the years the church lost sight of that last one. In fact, I think the church as a whole may have gone the opposite direction entirely. Making the church difficult to get into and belong to made being a member a rite-of-passage. You knew those who were members had "earned" their membership. I would even say that some churches went so far as to consciously make their fellowships unattractive to outsiders so that only those who, truly wanted to be saved, would dare join them.
Then, we were able to look at those on the outside and ridicule their faithless lives and talk about how upright and holy we were because we were a part of this thing called church. We not only made church unattractive we often made Christ unattractive as well. We acted like Christ on Sunday or at Bible study, etc. but in the bank on Friday or at the cafe on Wednesday we could be found cursing about the work week or telling off-color jokes to those around us.
Paul's instruction in Titus 2 paints a different picture of church. He is talking about slaves/servants who have become believers in Jesus Christ and how they ought to live. He says they must "not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God attractive in every way."
I think Paul's instruction could be directed at us too. We, as believers in Jesus should live so that we are proved "trustworthy." We shouldn't act like those who are not believers, but instead live differently so that we might "make the teaching about God attractive in every way."
It seems to me that our goal should be to minimize the obstacles to faith - not increase them! Our lives should make our God and Savior Jesus Christ attractive and our churches should be places of welcome and comfort for road weary travelers. If God's goal is that everyone be saved and come to a knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (and it is see 1 Tim 2:4) then we should use more honey.
It seems to me that maybe over the years the church lost sight of that last one. In fact, I think the church as a whole may have gone the opposite direction entirely. Making the church difficult to get into and belong to made being a member a rite-of-passage. You knew those who were members had "earned" their membership. I would even say that some churches went so far as to consciously make their fellowships unattractive to outsiders so that only those who, truly wanted to be saved, would dare join them.
Then, we were able to look at those on the outside and ridicule their faithless lives and talk about how upright and holy we were because we were a part of this thing called church. We not only made church unattractive we often made Christ unattractive as well. We acted like Christ on Sunday or at Bible study, etc. but in the bank on Friday or at the cafe on Wednesday we could be found cursing about the work week or telling off-color jokes to those around us.
Paul's instruction in Titus 2 paints a different picture of church. He is talking about slaves/servants who have become believers in Jesus Christ and how they ought to live. He says they must "not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God attractive in every way."
I think Paul's instruction could be directed at us too. We, as believers in Jesus should live so that we are proved "trustworthy." We shouldn't act like those who are not believers, but instead live differently so that we might "make the teaching about God attractive in every way."
It seems to me that our goal should be to minimize the obstacles to faith - not increase them! Our lives should make our God and Savior Jesus Christ attractive and our churches should be places of welcome and comfort for road weary travelers. If God's goal is that everyone be saved and come to a knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (and it is see 1 Tim 2:4) then we should use more honey.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Has Christianity become a wast of time?
Okay, recognize that I'm being a little sarcastic here, but it's for good reason. I hear a lot of sermons and preachers and others talk about a lot of stuff and sometimes I wonder... is this really necessary? In the confines of worship, are there some things that become a waste of time?
Paul tells Timothy not to let people, "waste time in endless discussion of myths and {spiritual pedigrees}... which don't help people live a life of faith in God." I like that 'cause that's what we're about at Real Life. Everyday living for Jesus. How are we as Christ followers supposed to act? Think? Serve? Love? Worship? Pray? Study?
We want to help people live a life of faith in God. That's it. Doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or how much money you have (or don't) what counts is that your are living your life based on faith in God. Acting out that faith in everyday life - work, school, home, church, grocery store, lake. You and I ought to be Christians first, wherever we go. That takes understanding how to live a life of faith.
I don't want to know how many verses you can quote or times you go to church during the week or even how much you've given or done for the church. What does the rest of your life look like? If you serve and love and give at church and hate and curse and act immorally everywhere else you've failed.
Show me how you live a life of faith in God.
Paul tells Timothy not to let people, "waste time in endless discussion of myths and {spiritual pedigrees}... which don't help people live a life of faith in God." I like that 'cause that's what we're about at Real Life. Everyday living for Jesus. How are we as Christ followers supposed to act? Think? Serve? Love? Worship? Pray? Study?
We want to help people live a life of faith in God. That's it. Doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or how much money you have (or don't) what counts is that your are living your life based on faith in God. Acting out that faith in everyday life - work, school, home, church, grocery store, lake. You and I ought to be Christians first, wherever we go. That takes understanding how to live a life of faith.
I don't want to know how many verses you can quote or times you go to church during the week or even how much you've given or done for the church. What does the rest of your life look like? If you serve and love and give at church and hate and curse and act immorally everywhere else you've failed.
Show me how you live a life of faith in God.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
If you could do anything...
How many times I've been asked that question over the years. Teachers used to use it to get you to think about what you wanted to do as a career... then they would hit you with, "well you better work harder on your grades!" Parent's asked the question. Even Sunday School teachers and youth workers.
If you could anything with your life what would it be?
I read this yesterday in 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12 and was just struck by the implications of this passage. "May [God] give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do." Isn't that incredible?!
What would you do? Go on a mission trip? Share your faith? Enter into the ministry on some level? Spend more time serving others? Give generously? Foster parent? Mentor? Leader? What is the Holy Spirit birthing in you?
The God of the universe (who has unlimited power and resources and grace) is behind you! If your faith prompts you - He wants to support you! It IS incredible! God, with all He has to do, is so interested in your dreams and ambitions that He wants to make sure you have what is needed to accomplish what has been planted in you.
All that is left is for you to confirm where His Spirit is leading you and walk in faith.
If you could anything with your life what would it be?
I read this yesterday in 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12 and was just struck by the implications of this passage. "May [God] give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do." Isn't that incredible?!
What would you do? Go on a mission trip? Share your faith? Enter into the ministry on some level? Spend more time serving others? Give generously? Foster parent? Mentor? Leader? What is the Holy Spirit birthing in you?
The God of the universe (who has unlimited power and resources and grace) is behind you! If your faith prompts you - He wants to support you! It IS incredible! God, with all He has to do, is so interested in your dreams and ambitions that He wants to make sure you have what is needed to accomplish what has been planted in you.
All that is left is for you to confirm where His Spirit is leading you and walk in faith.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Of babies and end times...
Give me a minute... I've got to climb up on my soapbox!
-In 1989 Benny Hinn predicted the end of the nation after a woman is elected president, "within the next few years." Never happened.
-In 2000 Jack VanImpe commented that Christ would return in 2004... then 2007... now 2012 or 2018.
-In 2000 Hal Lindsey said the battle of Armageddon will take place in 2000 - guess I missed it. Was that on TV?
-In 2002 Pat Robertson predicted Detroit and San Francisco would be hit by terrorist attacks.
-John Wesley predicted 1836 as the year Christ would return.
-Harold Camping said it would be 1994.
-Mary Stewart Relfe said it would happen in 1997.
(taken from www.newjerusalemcommunity.net/?c=154&a=1936)
Here's what the Bible says, You may be wondering among yourselves, "How can we tell the difference, whether it was God who spoke or not?" Here's how: If what the prophet spoke in God's name doesn't happen, then obviously God wasn't behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him (Deuteronomy 18:21,22 the Message).
I chose the Message because it puts this passage so plainly. And I think that is how Paul was feeling in 2 Thessalonians. Apparently some false prophets or prophet wanna-bee's came to town telling everybody that Jesus had already come back the second time or was about to. So people quit their jobs and sold their homes and waited. And waited. And waited. Paul basically says, get off your butt and get back to work! This is the context for the statement, if a man won't work (because he's waiting for Christ to come back and mooching off his friends) then don't let him eat. Paul then points to his own lifestyle saying that he worked tirelessly while he was with them.
We live in the now and not yet. I believe some day Jesus will come back. But I don't know when it will be. The Dr. gave Andi and I a date for when each of our children would be born. We knew when it was getting close so we packed the hospital bag and made our preparations. But I still went to work. She still went to work. Not one of our children were born on the day the Dr. said - but it didn't matter because we were ready. We'd made the necessary preparations.
Instead of worrying about when Christ will come back we Christians ought to simply get our bags packed and then get to work telling our friends, family, neighbors to be ready too! Go to work and tell them about Jesus. Go to school ready to tell those who ask you about your Savior.
So. If anyone has made a prediction about when Christ will come back and they say they "heard it from God" or had a "revelation" or any other such thing attributed to God and it doesn't come true then DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM ANY LONGER. You heard me right. Turn off Pat Robertson and Jack and anyone else who "got their calculations wrong."
Whew, I'm winded. That was a long climb down...
-In 1989 Benny Hinn predicted the end of the nation after a woman is elected president, "within the next few years." Never happened.
-In 2000 Jack VanImpe commented that Christ would return in 2004... then 2007... now 2012 or 2018.
-In 2000 Hal Lindsey said the battle of Armageddon will take place in 2000 - guess I missed it. Was that on TV?
-In 2002 Pat Robertson predicted Detroit and San Francisco would be hit by terrorist attacks.
-John Wesley predicted 1836 as the year Christ would return.
-Harold Camping said it would be 1994.
-Mary Stewart Relfe said it would happen in 1997.
(taken from www.newjerusalemcommunity.net/?c=154&a=1936)
Here's what the Bible says, You may be wondering among yourselves, "How can we tell the difference, whether it was God who spoke or not?" Here's how: If what the prophet spoke in God's name doesn't happen, then obviously God wasn't behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him (Deuteronomy 18:21,22 the Message).
I chose the Message because it puts this passage so plainly. And I think that is how Paul was feeling in 2 Thessalonians. Apparently some false prophets or prophet wanna-bee's came to town telling everybody that Jesus had already come back the second time or was about to. So people quit their jobs and sold their homes and waited. And waited. And waited. Paul basically says, get off your butt and get back to work! This is the context for the statement, if a man won't work (because he's waiting for Christ to come back and mooching off his friends) then don't let him eat. Paul then points to his own lifestyle saying that he worked tirelessly while he was with them.
We live in the now and not yet. I believe some day Jesus will come back. But I don't know when it will be. The Dr. gave Andi and I a date for when each of our children would be born. We knew when it was getting close so we packed the hospital bag and made our preparations. But I still went to work. She still went to work. Not one of our children were born on the day the Dr. said - but it didn't matter because we were ready. We'd made the necessary preparations.
Instead of worrying about when Christ will come back we Christians ought to simply get our bags packed and then get to work telling our friends, family, neighbors to be ready too! Go to work and tell them about Jesus. Go to school ready to tell those who ask you about your Savior.
So. If anyone has made a prediction about when Christ will come back and they say they "heard it from God" or had a "revelation" or any other such thing attributed to God and it doesn't come true then DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM ANY LONGER. You heard me right. Turn off Pat Robertson and Jack and anyone else who "got their calculations wrong."
Whew, I'm winded. That was a long climb down...
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Rest...
I don't know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed my extended weekend. It was truly a time of rest for me and my family. I have been preaching every weekend for over a year. That gets really tiring. I don't remember who said it, but their statement was that preaching one message is the emotional equivalent of an 8 hour work day. And I believe it! In addition to all the other duties of a preacher.
And it's been a busy few months for me. We've got a guy in the hospital I'm trying to spend time with. A dear old friend from my previous church is dying and I get to spend some time with him and his wife every week. Not to mention the growth Real Life has experienced means more work too!
So it was good to rest. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 says, "God will provide rest." And I'm glad He did. The family had a great time at the River farm on Fall river and got to just chill and be together. Stay in a camper and swim in the river and explore with the kids. It was great and just what Andi and I needed. It makes me look forward to our family trip to the Gulf Coast later this month and a break from preaching for a few weeks. I love to do it - but even the stuff you love you need a break from once in awhile.
So thank you God for rest. Rest from the everyday. Rest from the "work" even if it's Your work. It makes us look forward that much more to the rest you will provide when Jesus comes again. What a rest that will be! I want to be rested up for that!
And it's been a busy few months for me. We've got a guy in the hospital I'm trying to spend time with. A dear old friend from my previous church is dying and I get to spend some time with him and his wife every week. Not to mention the growth Real Life has experienced means more work too!
So it was good to rest. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 says, "God will provide rest." And I'm glad He did. The family had a great time at the River farm on Fall river and got to just chill and be together. Stay in a camper and swim in the river and explore with the kids. It was great and just what Andi and I needed. It makes me look forward to our family trip to the Gulf Coast later this month and a break from preaching for a few weeks. I love to do it - but even the stuff you love you need a break from once in awhile.
So thank you God for rest. Rest from the everyday. Rest from the "work" even if it's Your work. It makes us look forward that much more to the rest you will provide when Jesus comes again. What a rest that will be! I want to be rested up for that!
Friday, May 28, 2010
This is NOT what you thought it was...
As a pastor I get to hear all about what people are going through and struggling with in their lives. As a by-product of that I hear how they are getting through those difficult times. I can almost guarantee that at some point in your life and struggles you've either told someone, or been told, to remember this verse...
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
You may have that on your fridge or taped to the mirror in your bathroom. No doubt, you've used that passage to help you through many difficult times. You lost your job. Your car broke down. Your 401K tanked. But have you ever read Philippians 4:10-12? the verses that come right before this beloved scripture text completely define and limit it.
The context of this verse has nothing to do with being able to "get through" rough patches in your life. It was not intended to be used when your dog died, or you had a flat tire on vacation. But we most often use this passage to help us "weather" the storm until we reach solid ground. Until our ship comes back in.
Paul says that he has learned the secret to being content with WHATEVER was going on in his life BY realizing he could ENDURE through Christ's strength.
Now, I'm no Greek scholar, don't know it and can't pronounce more that 5 words, but as near as I can tell the literal translation of verse 13 is this; "individually strong in the Strength" ("the" obviously referring to Christ's).
Paul experienced times of much and little. Full and empty. Having nothing and having enough. the secret is not about getting through; it's about ENDURING in SPITE OF.
Our prayer should not always be, "God get me out of this situation and bless me (rich, happy, full, satisfied)." But, "God, help me to rely on your strength in the situation I'm in (through it, while I'm here). Then, whether your are skinny or fat, rich or poor, happy or sad, lonely or livin' large, you'll be living, individually strong (regardless of your current situation) in Christ's strength.
And that is the goal of the Christian life. Living your life, through Christ, no matter what.
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
You may have that on your fridge or taped to the mirror in your bathroom. No doubt, you've used that passage to help you through many difficult times. You lost your job. Your car broke down. Your 401K tanked. But have you ever read Philippians 4:10-12? the verses that come right before this beloved scripture text completely define and limit it.
The context of this verse has nothing to do with being able to "get through" rough patches in your life. It was not intended to be used when your dog died, or you had a flat tire on vacation. But we most often use this passage to help us "weather" the storm until we reach solid ground. Until our ship comes back in.
Paul says that he has learned the secret to being content with WHATEVER was going on in his life BY realizing he could ENDURE through Christ's strength.
Now, I'm no Greek scholar, don't know it and can't pronounce more that 5 words, but as near as I can tell the literal translation of verse 13 is this; "individually strong in the Strength" ("the" obviously referring to Christ's).
Paul experienced times of much and little. Full and empty. Having nothing and having enough. the secret is not about getting through; it's about ENDURING in SPITE OF.
Our prayer should not always be, "God get me out of this situation and bless me (rich, happy, full, satisfied)." But, "God, help me to rely on your strength in the situation I'm in (through it, while I'm here). Then, whether your are skinny or fat, rich or poor, happy or sad, lonely or livin' large, you'll be living, individually strong (regardless of your current situation) in Christ's strength.
And that is the goal of the Christian life. Living your life, through Christ, no matter what.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
When it comes from Him, It gets done.
Have you ever had the DESIRE to do something but lacked the POWER. Maybe that came in the form of know-how. Time. Required tools. I have the desire to do things but often I lack the power in the form of ability or financial resources. I was just telling Andi yesterday, I would love to spend my evenings working in the yard. I have that desire. But I lack the power. We don't have the money to spend on plants, grass, fertilizer or any of the other hundred projects I would like to do. So the desire is there but the power to actually accomplish the desire is lacking.
My power may be limited but God's is not. Money is never and will never be an issue for God. God has unlimited and uncountable resources. Time is not an issue for the timeless. There is nothing He can not do. He is perfectly Holy and perfectly capable to do anything and everything He desires.
And guess what. God is working in YOU, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases Him. Isn't that incredible?! God first gives the desire. The thought. The DREAM. The vision. He begins to birth the impossible in your heart the minute you receive the Holy Spirit. Things you never thought you'd do, He's preparing you for. Dreams you never dreamed before, He's planting in you. Like a seed in the ground God is planting His desires in your heart.
But he doesn't just give you the desire... No, that's just the beginning of God's involvement.
He gives you the power to carry it out! You don't have to rely on your own strength! Your own ingenuity! Your own resources! Your own abilities! God gives you both the desire and the power!
He doesn't just say, "here's what I want you to do. Now DO IT!" He says, "Here's what I want you to do and here's what you need to accomplish it!
The Bible says that, He who began a good work in you is faithful to see it to completion. Stop relying on your own abilities and ingenuity and finances! If God's given you the desire, He's gonna give you the power!
All He asks is that you "work hard to show the result of your salvation - obedience." When I work at obeying He grows the desire and supplies the power.
My power may be limited but God's is not. Money is never and will never be an issue for God. God has unlimited and uncountable resources. Time is not an issue for the timeless. There is nothing He can not do. He is perfectly Holy and perfectly capable to do anything and everything He desires.
And guess what. God is working in YOU, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases Him. Isn't that incredible?! God first gives the desire. The thought. The DREAM. The vision. He begins to birth the impossible in your heart the minute you receive the Holy Spirit. Things you never thought you'd do, He's preparing you for. Dreams you never dreamed before, He's planting in you. Like a seed in the ground God is planting His desires in your heart.
But he doesn't just give you the desire... No, that's just the beginning of God's involvement.
He gives you the power to carry it out! You don't have to rely on your own strength! Your own ingenuity! Your own resources! Your own abilities! God gives you both the desire and the power!
He doesn't just say, "here's what I want you to do. Now DO IT!" He says, "Here's what I want you to do and here's what you need to accomplish it!
The Bible says that, He who began a good work in you is faithful to see it to completion. Stop relying on your own abilities and ingenuity and finances! If God's given you the desire, He's gonna give you the power!
All He asks is that you "work hard to show the result of your salvation - obedience." When I work at obeying He grows the desire and supplies the power.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Mission Impossible...
Ephesians 5 took me captive today only two words into the chapter. I wasn't ready for it. You know, like when your kid sneaks up on your while your napping on the couch and jumps! Took me by surprise and wouldn't let me go.
The chapter starts with this two word statement, "imitate God."
I know, Right! Crazy! Impossible! Out-of-your-mind! No way, no how! It's like standing at the entrance to the Empire State building and someone says, "jump!" Playing one on five with the 2010 Celtics (go C's!) and people expecting you to win! It would be easier to say, "hey mountain, go through yourself in the ocean!"
It's times like this I wish I could be plugged into the Matrix - at least I could have a hope of figuring out how to "bend the rules" of the computer generated world. Man, I wish I would have studied my Jedi handbook more thoroughly!
To imitate God seems like an incredibly difficult task! How could Paul ask, or expect that we would be able to do this? Let's start the list and see where we get.
The chapter starts with this two word statement, "imitate God."
I know, Right! Crazy! Impossible! Out-of-your-mind! No way, no how! It's like standing at the entrance to the Empire State building and someone says, "jump!" Playing one on five with the 2010 Celtics (go C's!) and people expecting you to win! It would be easier to say, "hey mountain, go through yourself in the ocean!"
It's times like this I wish I could be plugged into the Matrix - at least I could have a hope of figuring out how to "bend the rules" of the computer generated world. Man, I wish I would have studied my Jedi handbook more thoroughly!
To imitate God seems like an incredibly difficult task! How could Paul ask, or expect that we would be able to do this? Let's start the list and see where we get.
- Create everything out of nothing. Piece-of-cake.
- Play in the mud and come up with a perfectly balanced and working man. Child's play.
- Come up with Ten laws that would perfectly control the civilized world. Simple.
- Send your only son to die the worst death imaginable for people who don't even care...
And all the while, love. Forgive. Extend mercy. Show grace.
I can't do it. Can't be done. It's impossible.
Thank goodness Paul didn't stop with those two words. How do we imitate God?
- Love. Love even before you are loved. Love first. Love those who don't love you yet. Love even those who you think hate you. Love those who do hate you.
- No sexual immorality (tough, but doable). No impurity (hard, not impossible). No Greed (only mildly difficult). Obscene stories (done). No foolish talk (does he know I am a Landreth?). No coarse jokes (nearly eradicated).
Instead - be thankful to God. Thankful He is God, and I am not. Thankful that getting an A on my imitating God performance is not required. Thankful that He gave the Holy Spirit to help with the process. Thankful that when I am weak and fail, He is strong and prevails - He set the standard and He lifts me up to meet it.
What a challenge. What a calling. What a task. What a God. What am I waiting for...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
It's MY life.
Growing up in a preachers home was okay, no big deal to me and my brother and sisters, it was all we knew. But there was one thing that drove me crazy. No matter where I went there were people who knew that I was a PK (preacher's kid) and even if they didn't really know my dad or go to our church they were quick to inspect every single thing I did or said.
Fortunately for my family (and God) I was a pretty good kid. Never really got in too much trouble, I wasn't immoral (you know the reputation PKs had!).
Then I went off to college. 1700 miles from mom and dad. And even though people knew them where I was I felt like I was finally on my own - my own person. I was just another student. So, I did some stupid things. Still nothing too terrible, but I certainly stepped it up a notch from my high school days.
It seems to me that I just wanted to define MY life. You know, it's like those commercials for that place that will give you a cash pay out in exchange for your monthly payouts from different things. Their commercials have people screaming out their windows, "It's MY money and I want it NOW!" The college years are a time for us to scream, "it's MY life and I want to live it NOW!"
So, we exercise our new found freedom. Maybe you started smoking. You know, cause your parents didn't want you to - but you weren't gonna let them control you anymore. Or maybe it was drinking (before you turned 21 - stupid by the way) or using drugs. I showed who was in control of MY life by swearing a bunch (only for a while).
Maybe you have noticed by now though, that those things you thought were an exercise in your new found freedom have become your master. You have to smoke. You have to have another hit... or another drink. You have to use foul language to express yourself - you can't help it.
Paul says in Galatians 5 that we ought instead to make ourselves slaves to God through the Holy Spirit. That way what we get is greater love, knowledge, better relationships.
Let me ask you. Has your "exercise in freedom" helped you love better? (can second hand smoke and cancer be considered love?). Has your addiction to drugs given you greater knowledge about anything other than which store has the best deals on junk food (munchies). Have your addictions helped build... or destroy... your relationships?
It's MY life - I guess that means I can destroy it, or make it as good as possible. It's up to me.
Fortunately for my family (and God) I was a pretty good kid. Never really got in too much trouble, I wasn't immoral (you know the reputation PKs had!).
Then I went off to college. 1700 miles from mom and dad. And even though people knew them where I was I felt like I was finally on my own - my own person. I was just another student. So, I did some stupid things. Still nothing too terrible, but I certainly stepped it up a notch from my high school days.
It seems to me that I just wanted to define MY life. You know, it's like those commercials for that place that will give you a cash pay out in exchange for your monthly payouts from different things. Their commercials have people screaming out their windows, "It's MY money and I want it NOW!" The college years are a time for us to scream, "it's MY life and I want to live it NOW!"
So, we exercise our new found freedom. Maybe you started smoking. You know, cause your parents didn't want you to - but you weren't gonna let them control you anymore. Or maybe it was drinking (before you turned 21 - stupid by the way) or using drugs. I showed who was in control of MY life by swearing a bunch (only for a while).
Maybe you have noticed by now though, that those things you thought were an exercise in your new found freedom have become your master. You have to smoke. You have to have another hit... or another drink. You have to use foul language to express yourself - you can't help it.
Paul says in Galatians 5 that we ought instead to make ourselves slaves to God through the Holy Spirit. That way what we get is greater love, knowledge, better relationships.
Let me ask you. Has your "exercise in freedom" helped you love better? (can second hand smoke and cancer be considered love?). Has your addiction to drugs given you greater knowledge about anything other than which store has the best deals on junk food (munchies). Have your addictions helped build... or destroy... your relationships?
It's MY life - I guess that means I can destroy it, or make it as good as possible. It's up to me.
Monday, May 24, 2010
got out my list...
Just reading some more in Galatians 2 where Paul opposes Peter to his face and in front of a crowd! Wow. That's some intestinal fortitude on Paul's part. But I wonder how Peter felt? He surely knew he was in the wrong before Paul even said a word - then to have Paul point it out so openly... Man, I feel for him.
Truth is, I don't take criticism well. I want to. I know how I ought to feel about it, but that doesn't help me in the moment. I take everything so intensely personal - especially where the church is concerned. Even from my wife I have a hard time hearing (and responding appropriately) to criticism.
We're never told how Peter took it... maybe he got all up in Paul's grill... but probably not. I guess I need to add that to my list of things the Holy Spirit needs to help me work on. He'll do that you know. He wants to make you more like Christ - so He'll help you work on those small (and big) character flaws so that more and more you and I reflect the character of Christ. Who gave His life.
Just so you know, my list is getting really heavy.
Truth is, I don't take criticism well. I want to. I know how I ought to feel about it, but that doesn't help me in the moment. I take everything so intensely personal - especially where the church is concerned. Even from my wife I have a hard time hearing (and responding appropriately) to criticism.
We're never told how Peter took it... maybe he got all up in Paul's grill... but probably not. I guess I need to add that to my list of things the Holy Spirit needs to help me work on. He'll do that you know. He wants to make you more like Christ - so He'll help you work on those small (and big) character flaws so that more and more you and I reflect the character of Christ. Who gave His life.
Just so you know, my list is getting really heavy.
Motivation for Ministry
Back at the office this morning and finishing up 2 Corinthians. In chapter 9 Paul is talking a lot about this financial gift that the church in Corinth was supposed to be preparing for the believers in Jerusalem who were in the midst of a famine (if I remember correctly).
If you've been reading along in 1 & 2 Corinthians you know that the church, once they heard of the situation in Jerusalem began talking about ways they could help and they decided that they would take up a collection to help their brothers and sisters in Christ in Jerusalem. Paul urged them to take a collection every week - presumably on Sunday when they had come together for corporate worship. He wanted them to do this so they wouldn't forget and so that when he got there the collection would already be completed - it would not fall to him to make it happen.
In chp 9:13 Paul then reminds the Corinthians why they were giving this gift - what their motivation was. Once the gift was sent to Jerusalem the believers there would "give glory to God." And that my friends, is always the motivation!
What do you do in the church? Clean? Make coffee? Teach children? Play an instrument? Pray? Are you in to technical stuff or like greeting people? Maybe you like it behind-the-scenes where no one sees you but does sees your hard work? Or maybe you get to be the preacher? Whatever your role in the church there is only one worthy motivation - that God would be glorified through the things you do.
How is God glorified? When the lost are found and the blind see. When those who don't know Him find a connection to Him.
Who knows, your work may lead to someone to connect with Jesus - that my friends, is all the motivation we need.
If you've been reading along in 1 & 2 Corinthians you know that the church, once they heard of the situation in Jerusalem began talking about ways they could help and they decided that they would take up a collection to help their brothers and sisters in Christ in Jerusalem. Paul urged them to take a collection every week - presumably on Sunday when they had come together for corporate worship. He wanted them to do this so they wouldn't forget and so that when he got there the collection would already be completed - it would not fall to him to make it happen.
In chp 9:13 Paul then reminds the Corinthians why they were giving this gift - what their motivation was. Once the gift was sent to Jerusalem the believers there would "give glory to God." And that my friends, is always the motivation!
What do you do in the church? Clean? Make coffee? Teach children? Play an instrument? Pray? Are you in to technical stuff or like greeting people? Maybe you like it behind-the-scenes where no one sees you but does sees your hard work? Or maybe you get to be the preacher? Whatever your role in the church there is only one worthy motivation - that God would be glorified through the things you do.
How is God glorified? When the lost are found and the blind see. When those who don't know Him find a connection to Him.
Who knows, your work may lead to someone to connect with Jesus - that my friends, is all the motivation we need.
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