And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11 NIV).
Yesterday I began to write some devotionals that center our focus on the joy of Christmas. I must begin by confessing that I love Christmas. The decorations that abound in the neighborhoods and stores all give me great pleasure. I love the giving of gifts. In fact, right now I have my XM radio tuned to Christmas music and “Silver Bells” is playing being sung by Andy Williams! You remember the words I’m sure; they go like this:
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
What a great time of the year! About this time, you may be saying, “Sure, but …” and you fill in the blank with some negative experience you are enduring. Well, let me share a bit with you. You know that I had back surgery three weeks ago. I was pain free for the first day after surgery. However, after that I have not had a day that I was able to do anything without pain in my right leg; and, that’s what they were supposed to fix! The doctors have been very good to explain what is happening and that I will feel better soon. In the meantime they have prescribed various drugs to help get the pain under control. It seems that the nerve controlling the feeling in my right leg is now “decompressing” which causing the pain. I just wish it would hurry it up! And God says, I need your full attention a bit longer.
One of the drugs I have been prescribed has been called my “loopy pill.” It does strange things to me. Mary coined the phrase first because of the first night I took one of the capsules. It seems that the side effects are some disorientation, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. Well, I have dealt with the latter of those three, but the first two have shown themselves. The first night I took it, thirty minutes later I was standing in the middle of the den, walking in a circle, calling for Mary. She came from the bedroom immediately asked what was wrong. I am told that I replied, “I’m lost. I don’t know where to go.” It’s amusing now, however, I can assure you at that moment I was terrified.
Let me make my point quickly as I run out of space. The declaration of the angels was that a Savior had come. They had brought this good news to the shepherds first and it was news that would “cause great joy.” Here it is… please get this… God’s great gift of grace in Christ is good news! It is news that will bring joy! We gain that joy by immediately going to the source of joy. Like those shepherds, we leave everything and race to the Christ. Have you? Will you? So many have come under the influence of the “loopy pill” the world has seduced us into taking. We are lost! Let me bring you this great good news! Christ is born! Joy is yours! Accept his gift of grace now!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
"Joy to the World"
At a conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha, people were given helium-filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were more reserved in their worship than other traditions, they typically didn’t verbally express themselves. They would not say, "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Amen," or any of the other expressions heard in some churches. However, all through the service balloons ascended. However, tragically, when the service was over one-third of the balloons were unreleased. Whether because of embarrassment or that they were not filled with joy in their worship, we cannot know, however like so many people they needed to be able to release their balloons.
And, isn’t it that time of the year? As we prepare for Christmas, joy is a principle factor in all of the activities. Isaac Watts, one of the great Puritan Reformers, wrote the following Christmas carol in the early 1700’s. In the next few days we’ll look at some of the elements it declares. The first is JOY!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let Earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And Heav'n and Nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Perhaps, like me, you read these words and begin to hum along with familiar melody of this wonderful song. Now read the account from Luke’s gospel of the birth of Christ:
“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiance, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." (Luke 2:1-14 NLV).
F. E. Arn, pastor of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Pomeroy, Washington, wrote the following: “Joy is that which encompasses and transcends both happiness and sadness. Once endowed with joy, a person is not likely to lose it and in fact it grows with awareness of it. Joy is like the sun, always shining even when night falls or clouds cover it. Happiness is like the moon, waxing and waning. Happiness is a kiss, joy a golden wedding anniversary. Happiness is frequently shared but not always -- joy is always. Happiness is born in the mind, joy in the heart. Happiness comes from humans, joy from God. Happiness is exchanging Christmas gifts -- joy is awareness of what Christmas is all about.” Imagine this Christmas you’ve been given a balloon filled with helium – can you let it go? “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
And, isn’t it that time of the year? As we prepare for Christmas, joy is a principle factor in all of the activities. Isaac Watts, one of the great Puritan Reformers, wrote the following Christmas carol in the early 1700’s. In the next few days we’ll look at some of the elements it declares. The first is JOY!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let Earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And Heav'n and Nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Perhaps, like me, you read these words and begin to hum along with familiar melody of this wonderful song. Now read the account from Luke’s gospel of the birth of Christ:
“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiance, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." (Luke 2:1-14 NLV).
F. E. Arn, pastor of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Pomeroy, Washington, wrote the following: “Joy is that which encompasses and transcends both happiness and sadness. Once endowed with joy, a person is not likely to lose it and in fact it grows with awareness of it. Joy is like the sun, always shining even when night falls or clouds cover it. Happiness is like the moon, waxing and waning. Happiness is a kiss, joy a golden wedding anniversary. Happiness is frequently shared but not always -- joy is always. Happiness is born in the mind, joy in the heart. Happiness comes from humans, joy from God. Happiness is exchanging Christmas gifts -- joy is awareness of what Christmas is all about.” Imagine this Christmas you’ve been given a balloon filled with helium – can you let it go? “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
"History in the Making"
Certainly no one with any reasonable familiarity of current events could say that we are not living in an historic period. In almost every area of our lives we seem to make history on a daily basis. Just the recent events surrounding the mid-term elections serve to remind us that these are historic times. However, it is important for us to realize that as December, 2010 looms on the horizon, the most important event of history has already occurred. That is the birth of the Christ. When Luke wrote his gospel account to Theophilus, he explained it as follows:
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!’ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ‘Don't be frightened, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!’" (Luke 1:26-33, NLV).
Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.
For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England’s finest statesmen. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner.
On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby’s name? Abraham Lincoln.
If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I’m certain these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.” But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior.
And, it is still the biggest news! As you begin moving toward your celebration of Christmas this year, concentrate on the real meaning of the birth of Jesus in your life. Today, meditate on this one thought: What difference has the birth of Jesus made in my life? Then, praise Him for the blessings you have just remembered.
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!’ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ‘Don't be frightened, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!’" (Luke 1:26-33, NLV).
Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.
For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England’s finest statesmen. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner.
On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby’s name? Abraham Lincoln.
If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I’m certain these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.” But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior.
And, it is still the biggest news! As you begin moving toward your celebration of Christmas this year, concentrate on the real meaning of the birth of Jesus in your life. Today, meditate on this one thought: What difference has the birth of Jesus made in my life? Then, praise Him for the blessings you have just remembered.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
"Where's Your Bucket?"
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 NIV).
There are many examples from the natural world of God’s protective provisions. Perhaps you have traveled through San Juan Capistrano. For centuries these golden-breasted birds have spent their summers in the eaves of the old mission located there. They always arrive on March 19th and leave on October 23rd, never missing those dates. Not once have they varied over the years. Even leap year does not change the times of their coming and going. And the swallows invariably start out before daylight on their southern flight. Now, how would you explain this unusual phenomenon? Nature's guidance? Luck? Coincidence? Of course not! God has placed within them an instinct that tells them with uncanny accuracy when to head south and when to return. Their survival depends on this innate sense of timing. And, if He cares so much for these tiny little birds, consider how much more we mean to Him.
God’s protection is unlimited. This psalm of David explains five basic truths of this protection.
God is like “a rock” that can’t be moved by any who would harm us.
God is like “a fortress” or place of safety where the enemy can’t follow.
God is “a shield” that comes between us and harm.
God is “a horn of salvation” which was a symbol of might and power.
God is “a stronghold high above our enemies.”
Knowing these truths should bring encouragement to continue in our walk. I know from my own life that God is always right on time. Especially over the past few years I have wondered what God could possibly do to make some of my experience “work together for good.” And, often just about the time I was about to surrender to feelings of doubt and fear, God arrives and shows me His abundance of mercy and grace. You may be going through such a time in your life. Please remember that nothing is impossible for our heavenly Father. Nancy Spiegelberg has written a wonderful bit of verse:
Lord, I crawled across the barrenness
to you…
with my empty cup…
uncertain in asking
any small drop of refreshment.
If only I had known you
better…
I’d have come running…
with a bucket.
Do you have your bucket with you today?
There are many examples from the natural world of God’s protective provisions. Perhaps you have traveled through San Juan Capistrano. For centuries these golden-breasted birds have spent their summers in the eaves of the old mission located there. They always arrive on March 19th and leave on October 23rd, never missing those dates. Not once have they varied over the years. Even leap year does not change the times of their coming and going. And the swallows invariably start out before daylight on their southern flight. Now, how would you explain this unusual phenomenon? Nature's guidance? Luck? Coincidence? Of course not! God has placed within them an instinct that tells them with uncanny accuracy when to head south and when to return. Their survival depends on this innate sense of timing. And, if He cares so much for these tiny little birds, consider how much more we mean to Him.
God’s protection is unlimited. This psalm of David explains five basic truths of this protection.
God is like “a rock” that can’t be moved by any who would harm us.
God is like “a fortress” or place of safety where the enemy can’t follow.
God is “a shield” that comes between us and harm.
God is “a horn of salvation” which was a symbol of might and power.
God is “a stronghold high above our enemies.”
Knowing these truths should bring encouragement to continue in our walk. I know from my own life that God is always right on time. Especially over the past few years I have wondered what God could possibly do to make some of my experience “work together for good.” And, often just about the time I was about to surrender to feelings of doubt and fear, God arrives and shows me His abundance of mercy and grace. You may be going through such a time in your life. Please remember that nothing is impossible for our heavenly Father. Nancy Spiegelberg has written a wonderful bit of verse:
Lord, I crawled across the barrenness
to you…
with my empty cup…
uncertain in asking
any small drop of refreshment.
If only I had known you
better…
I’d have come running…
with a bucket.
Do you have your bucket with you today?
"Happy Birthday Faith and Logan!"
I love my children and grandchildren. Today is the seventh birthday of my grandchildren, Faith and Logan. They are such incredible gifts from God. The more I am able to be close to them the more I have learned of the grace of God. I recently read a snippet that expresses my thoughts about the experiences we have with our grandchildren by Angie Papadakis. She wrote, “A baby has a way of making a man out of his father and a boy out of his grandfather.” How true!
As I have been convalescing after back surgery, I have not been as sturdy as they have been accustomed to. I am restricted to what I can pick up. That has meant I am unable to catch them in my arms and scoop them up for a kiss and a twirl. Just the other day when we went over to their house to have our family thanksgiving together and watch a little football, Faith came up to me and gently snuggled up for a kiss. She said, “I know you will get better Grandpa. Then you can twirl me in the air.” I was incredibly humbled to think that she would even notice! Both Faith and Logan were gentle around me. Once Logan came and climbed into my lap to sit for a bit. He was very careful to sit still (an accomplishment for a very busy boy) and then slid off and went about his way. As I thought about our relationship, the following passage came to my mind:
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:1-4 NIV).
That highlighted verse jumped to my mind. After all, how will our children and grandchildren learn to praise the Lord except through us? It is an awesome privilege to be able to show our children the way to secure ourselves from any “strongholds” and “silence the foe and avenger.” There’s ample evidence based on interviews with children and grandparents that children need their grandparents and vice-versa. The study shows that the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is second in emotional power and influence only to the relationship between parents and children. Grandparents affect the lives of their grandchildren, for good or ill, simply because they exist. Unfortunately, a lot of grandparents ignore that fact, to the emotional deprivation of the young. Of the children studied, only five percent reported close, regular contact with at least one grandparent. The vast majority see their grandparents only infrequently, not because they live too far away, but because the grandparents have chosen to remain emotionally distant. These children appear to be hurt, angry, and very perceptive about their grandparents. One of them said, “I’m just a charm on grandma’s bracelet.”
Positive roles that grandparents play are caretaker, storyteller, family historian, mentor, wizard, and confidant, negotiator between child and parent, and model for the child’s own old age. When a child has a strong emotional tie to a grandparent, he enjoys a kind of immunity—he doesn’t have to perform for grandparents the way he must for his parents, peers and teacher. The love of grandparents comes with no behavioral strings attached. The emotional conflicts that often occur naturally between children and parents do not exist between grandparents and grandchildren. The challenge I have embraced is to be such a positive influence. I pray you will join me in that commitment. And, of course, I must end with Happy Birthday Faith and Logan!
As I have been convalescing after back surgery, I have not been as sturdy as they have been accustomed to. I am restricted to what I can pick up. That has meant I am unable to catch them in my arms and scoop them up for a kiss and a twirl. Just the other day when we went over to their house to have our family thanksgiving together and watch a little football, Faith came up to me and gently snuggled up for a kiss. She said, “I know you will get better Grandpa. Then you can twirl me in the air.” I was incredibly humbled to think that she would even notice! Both Faith and Logan were gentle around me. Once Logan came and climbed into my lap to sit for a bit. He was very careful to sit still (an accomplishment for a very busy boy) and then slid off and went about his way. As I thought about our relationship, the following passage came to my mind:
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:1-4 NIV).
That highlighted verse jumped to my mind. After all, how will our children and grandchildren learn to praise the Lord except through us? It is an awesome privilege to be able to show our children the way to secure ourselves from any “strongholds” and “silence the foe and avenger.” There’s ample evidence based on interviews with children and grandparents that children need their grandparents and vice-versa. The study shows that the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is second in emotional power and influence only to the relationship between parents and children. Grandparents affect the lives of their grandchildren, for good or ill, simply because they exist. Unfortunately, a lot of grandparents ignore that fact, to the emotional deprivation of the young. Of the children studied, only five percent reported close, regular contact with at least one grandparent. The vast majority see their grandparents only infrequently, not because they live too far away, but because the grandparents have chosen to remain emotionally distant. These children appear to be hurt, angry, and very perceptive about their grandparents. One of them said, “I’m just a charm on grandma’s bracelet.”
Positive roles that grandparents play are caretaker, storyteller, family historian, mentor, wizard, and confidant, negotiator between child and parent, and model for the child’s own old age. When a child has a strong emotional tie to a grandparent, he enjoys a kind of immunity—he doesn’t have to perform for grandparents the way he must for his parents, peers and teacher. The love of grandparents comes with no behavioral strings attached. The emotional conflicts that often occur naturally between children and parents do not exist between grandparents and grandchildren. The challenge I have embraced is to be such a positive influence. I pray you will join me in that commitment. And, of course, I must end with Happy Birthday Faith and Logan!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
"Wherever You Go, There You Are"
Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the book Man's Search For Meaning, was imprisoned by the Nazis in the Second World War because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and his parents were all killed in the holocaust. The Gestapo made him strip. He stood there totally naked. As they cut away his wedding band, Viktor said to himself. "You can take away my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can EVER take away from me -- and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!" Even under the most difficult of circumstances, happiness is a choice which transforms our tragedies into triumph. One of the ways that we may choose this happiness for our lives is in the practice of the principle that “wherever you go, there you are.” The following psalm of David speaks to this truth:
“Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others – it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” (Psalm 37:1-9, NLV).
We all tend to believe at one time or another that if we were somewhere else – on vacation, with another partner, in a different career, a different home, a different circumstance – somehow we’d be happier and more content. The truth is, if you have destructive mental habits – if you get annoyed and bothered easily, if you feel angry and frustrated a great deal of the time, or if you are constantly wishing things were different, these identical tendencies will follow you wherever you go. And, the opposite is also true. If you are generally a happy person who rarely gets annoyed and bothered, then you can move from place to place, from person to person, with very little negative impact.
That’s what David meant when he closed this paragraph of Psalm 37 by saying, “…those that trust in the Lord will possess the land.” Life is like driving an automobile. It must be driven from the inside, not the outside! As we learn to focus more on becoming more peaceful with where we are, rather than where we would rather be, then we begin to experience peace. An older man taught me a beautiful lesson one-day when I casually wished him a good day. He remarked, "They're all good days. It's what we put in them that changes them.”
What are you going to put into your day today? Remember, wherever you go, there you are!
“Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others – it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” (Psalm 37:1-9, NLV).
We all tend to believe at one time or another that if we were somewhere else – on vacation, with another partner, in a different career, a different home, a different circumstance – somehow we’d be happier and more content. The truth is, if you have destructive mental habits – if you get annoyed and bothered easily, if you feel angry and frustrated a great deal of the time, or if you are constantly wishing things were different, these identical tendencies will follow you wherever you go. And, the opposite is also true. If you are generally a happy person who rarely gets annoyed and bothered, then you can move from place to place, from person to person, with very little negative impact.
That’s what David meant when he closed this paragraph of Psalm 37 by saying, “…those that trust in the Lord will possess the land.” Life is like driving an automobile. It must be driven from the inside, not the outside! As we learn to focus more on becoming more peaceful with where we are, rather than where we would rather be, then we begin to experience peace. An older man taught me a beautiful lesson one-day when I casually wished him a good day. He remarked, "They're all good days. It's what we put in them that changes them.”
What are you going to put into your day today? Remember, wherever you go, there you are!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"Happy Thanksgiving!" (Part 3)
Happy Thanksgiving! “Yeah, right!” is the retort from those who are having a difficult time in life. You may be one of those people today. For you, the sun simply is not shining. What do you do when the sun doesn’t shine? Well, it has happened before!
In 1883, history records that in New England the Sun didn't rise! The people awoke to an eerie darkness. They went outside to do their chores in stony silence. No rooster crowed, no birds chirped, none of the usual sounds of a new day. At the very start, people began to gather in small groups to question what was happening, to wonder and discuss what was taking place. Slowly, people began to make their way to the churches. They say that by noon every church in New England was filled to overflowing with people on their knees crying out to God. There were cries for mercy, people begging for forgiveness and others confessing their sins. They say that there were few people who didn't pray the day the sun didn't rise. The churches were full late into the night.
As the next morning neared, great crowds began to gather on the hilltops and the high places near their homes and churches. People were staring toward the eastern horizon. Every eye was fixed on that point where the sky touched the land. Every eye watching, hoping to catch a glimmer of the first rays of the Sun. As the sun began to come up over the horizon, people began to shout and yell praise to God; they clapped, danced and rejoiced because the Sun shined on the land again. As if in one voice, they began to praise the Lord for the sunlight, the warmth and the joy of God's new day.
They had no idea that on the Island nation of Indonesia, the sleeping giant of a volcano, Krakatoa, had come to life. They had no idea that this great mountain exploded sent a huge cloud of dust and ash into the upper atmosphere. This black cloud would be carried around the world by the jet stream. It was said to cover whole regions, covering the sky from horizon to horizon. Few people had any idea that a volcano, half way around the world, could create such a cloud that could block out the Sun. Yet for most of those people that was the very first time they ever thanked God for the warmth and wonder of the Sun.
It may be that in the midst of your trials, you have found it next to impossible to thank God. Today, as you find yourself in the midst of a “holiday,” won’t you spend a moment and thank God. It may be that you will have difficulty thinking of anything to thank Him for. Begin with the life He has given you – not the quality of your life at the moment, just life itself. Then, let your mind wander a bit. Little by little, find yourself replacing the negative with the positive. You have much more than perhaps you at first thought to thank Him about. You have freedom. You have family. You have food and shelter. You have eternal life! You have much to be thankful about.
“Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLV). Happy Thanksgiving!
In 1883, history records that in New England the Sun didn't rise! The people awoke to an eerie darkness. They went outside to do their chores in stony silence. No rooster crowed, no birds chirped, none of the usual sounds of a new day. At the very start, people began to gather in small groups to question what was happening, to wonder and discuss what was taking place. Slowly, people began to make their way to the churches. They say that by noon every church in New England was filled to overflowing with people on their knees crying out to God. There were cries for mercy, people begging for forgiveness and others confessing their sins. They say that there were few people who didn't pray the day the sun didn't rise. The churches were full late into the night.
As the next morning neared, great crowds began to gather on the hilltops and the high places near their homes and churches. People were staring toward the eastern horizon. Every eye was fixed on that point where the sky touched the land. Every eye watching, hoping to catch a glimmer of the first rays of the Sun. As the sun began to come up over the horizon, people began to shout and yell praise to God; they clapped, danced and rejoiced because the Sun shined on the land again. As if in one voice, they began to praise the Lord for the sunlight, the warmth and the joy of God's new day.
They had no idea that on the Island nation of Indonesia, the sleeping giant of a volcano, Krakatoa, had come to life. They had no idea that this great mountain exploded sent a huge cloud of dust and ash into the upper atmosphere. This black cloud would be carried around the world by the jet stream. It was said to cover whole regions, covering the sky from horizon to horizon. Few people had any idea that a volcano, half way around the world, could create such a cloud that could block out the Sun. Yet for most of those people that was the very first time they ever thanked God for the warmth and wonder of the Sun.
It may be that in the midst of your trials, you have found it next to impossible to thank God. Today, as you find yourself in the midst of a “holiday,” won’t you spend a moment and thank God. It may be that you will have difficulty thinking of anything to thank Him for. Begin with the life He has given you – not the quality of your life at the moment, just life itself. Then, let your mind wander a bit. Little by little, find yourself replacing the negative with the positive. You have much more than perhaps you at first thought to thank Him about. You have freedom. You have family. You have food and shelter. You have eternal life! You have much to be thankful about.
“Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLV). Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
"Happy Thanksgiving!" (Part 2)
“Happy Thanksgiving!” becomes an empty greeting in the face of so many difficulties and trials. All of us have been faced with challenges and hardships that seemed to take away all hope and joy. There is a way to transcend the worries of the moment. While it is true that we must never lose our sense of “present tense,” we must also balance that with a knowledge that this moment is not all there is in life. We are destined for so much more in the gift of eternal life that awaits us through Christ.
Lavonn Brown, in his book, "The Other Half of of the Rainbow," wrote, “Every year thousands of people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps, passing the stations of the cross to stand at an outdoor crucifix. One tourist noticed a little trail that led beyond the cross. He fought through the rough thicket and, to his surprise, came upon another shrine, a shrine that symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The brush had grown up around it. Almost everyone had gone as far as the cross, but there they stopped. Far too many have gotten to the cross and have known the despair and the heart break. Far too few have moved beyond the cross to find the real message of Easter. That is the message of the empty tomb.”
Today’s reading comes from the psalms. It is a declaration of David in the midst of his flight from Saul. Perhaps it will speak to you as much as it did me.
“I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death had its hands around my throat; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: "Please, Lord, save me!" How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and then he saved me. Now I can rest again, for the Lord has been so good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth!” (Psalm 116:1-9, NLV).
That’s the balance! There is a sense in which we must live here and now, but we must not forget that we are destined for the then and there. Regardless of how bad this life may get at times, we have the promise of eternal life. A little boy was offered the opportunity to select a dog for his birthday present. At the pet store, he was shown a number of puppies. From them he picked one whose tail was wagging furiously. When he was asked why he selected that particular dog, the little boy said, "I wanted the one with the happy ending." There is a happy ending to our lives with Christ as our Savior. That makes the possibility of a “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. When this happens – when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die – then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-58, NLV).
So, today, start looking for the “happy ending!” And, then have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Lavonn Brown, in his book, "The Other Half of of the Rainbow," wrote, “Every year thousands of people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps, passing the stations of the cross to stand at an outdoor crucifix. One tourist noticed a little trail that led beyond the cross. He fought through the rough thicket and, to his surprise, came upon another shrine, a shrine that symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The brush had grown up around it. Almost everyone had gone as far as the cross, but there they stopped. Far too many have gotten to the cross and have known the despair and the heart break. Far too few have moved beyond the cross to find the real message of Easter. That is the message of the empty tomb.”
Today’s reading comes from the psalms. It is a declaration of David in the midst of his flight from Saul. Perhaps it will speak to you as much as it did me.
“I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death had its hands around my throat; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: "Please, Lord, save me!" How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and then he saved me. Now I can rest again, for the Lord has been so good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth!” (Psalm 116:1-9, NLV).
That’s the balance! There is a sense in which we must live here and now, but we must not forget that we are destined for the then and there. Regardless of how bad this life may get at times, we have the promise of eternal life. A little boy was offered the opportunity to select a dog for his birthday present. At the pet store, he was shown a number of puppies. From them he picked one whose tail was wagging furiously. When he was asked why he selected that particular dog, the little boy said, "I wanted the one with the happy ending." There is a happy ending to our lives with Christ as our Savior. That makes the possibility of a “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. When this happens – when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die – then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-58, NLV).
So, today, start looking for the “happy ending!” And, then have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Monday, November 22, 2010
"Happy Thanksgiving!" (Part 1)
As we approach this year’s celebration of Thanksgiving, let’s look at some of the gifts He has given us. In his book, In the Heavenlies, Dr. Harry Ironside tells the story of an attempted assassination of Queen Elizabeth I. “The woman who sought to do so dressed as a male page and secreted herself in the queen's boudoir awaiting the convenient moment to stab the queen to death. She did not realize that the queen's attendants would be very careful to search the rooms before Her Majesty was permitted to retire. They found the woman hidden among the gowns and brought her into the presence of the queen, taking from her the poignard she had hope to plant in the heart of the sovereign. She realized that, humanly speaking, her case was hopeless. She threw herself down on her knees and pleaded and begged the queen as a woman to have compassion on her, a woman, and to show her grace. Queen Elizabeth looked at her coldly and quietly said, ‘If I show you grace, what promise will you make for the future?’ The woman looked up and said, ‘Grace that hath conditions, grace that is fettered by precautions, is not grace at all.’ Queen Elizabeth caught it in a moment and said, ‘You are right. I pardon you of my grace.’ And they led her away, a free woman. History tells us that from that moment Queen Elizabeth had no more faithful, devoted servant than that woman who had intended to take her life.”
Of course, this is the central motivating factor in our service. God’s grace has been shown to us without reservation. God has given us the greatest of all gifts in the life of His Son, our Savior. There was nothing we did, or could have done, to deserve such grace. Yet, it has been given to us. David’s praise focuses on this work of God in redemption:
“That day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles. Exult in his holy name; O worshipers of the Lord, rejoice! Let all the earth tremble before him. The world is firmly established and cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations that the Lord is king. Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord! For he is coming to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:7-10, 30-34, NLV)
Just one of the many things we may be thankful about this year is His “faithful love.” Over forty years ago, as a young preacher, facing the delivery of my first sermon, I was given a Scripture that has been a point of strength through many difficulties. I was just twenty that year. The pastor of First Baptist Church of Bryan, Texas, H. Bailey Stone, Jr., had asked me to preach in his absence on a Wednesday night. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. Of course I had practiced, studied, and prepared for weeks prior to the night, but when the time came, I found myself frightened and unsure. One of the deacons met me at the church and prayed with me prior to going into the sanctuary. That certainly helped. But, just before I went into the sanctuary, he handed me a telegram from the pastor. It was brief, but powerful. It said: “Read Dt. 31:6 Love Bailey”. I still have that old yellow telegram. Though I no longer need to be reminded of the Scripture. I long ago memorized it and often recite it to myself. Perhaps it will help you today as we being to focus on the things we may be thankful about.
“Do not fear them, nor be in dread of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, KJV). His faithful love does endure forever! What greater gift can there be than this grace?
Of course, this is the central motivating factor in our service. God’s grace has been shown to us without reservation. God has given us the greatest of all gifts in the life of His Son, our Savior. There was nothing we did, or could have done, to deserve such grace. Yet, it has been given to us. David’s praise focuses on this work of God in redemption:
“That day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles. Exult in his holy name; O worshipers of the Lord, rejoice! Let all the earth tremble before him. The world is firmly established and cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations that the Lord is king. Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord! For he is coming to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:7-10, 30-34, NLV)
Just one of the many things we may be thankful about this year is His “faithful love.” Over forty years ago, as a young preacher, facing the delivery of my first sermon, I was given a Scripture that has been a point of strength through many difficulties. I was just twenty that year. The pastor of First Baptist Church of Bryan, Texas, H. Bailey Stone, Jr., had asked me to preach in his absence on a Wednesday night. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. Of course I had practiced, studied, and prepared for weeks prior to the night, but when the time came, I found myself frightened and unsure. One of the deacons met me at the church and prayed with me prior to going into the sanctuary. That certainly helped. But, just before I went into the sanctuary, he handed me a telegram from the pastor. It was brief, but powerful. It said: “Read Dt. 31:6 Love Bailey”. I still have that old yellow telegram. Though I no longer need to be reminded of the Scripture. I long ago memorized it and often recite it to myself. Perhaps it will help you today as we being to focus on the things we may be thankful about.
“Do not fear them, nor be in dread of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, KJV). His faithful love does endure forever! What greater gift can there be than this grace?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
"Christ, the Bearer of Our Burdens"
We completed our series in “Becoming a Believer” with the thought of allowing the Holy Spirit to bear our burdens. Perhaps you are one of those fortunate enough not to be under any burden in this difficult time. If so, then read the following and save it for future use. On the other hand, if you are facing trials and burdens today, these few words are written for you now. Margaret Bishback Powers has written one of the most beautiful and memorable works, “Footprints in the Sand.” It is so familiar, yet so true.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you".
David must have felt much the same way as the man in this story when he wrote Psalm 145. The key verse reads: “The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14, NIV). He found himself pursued like a common criminal for no reason other than the jealousy of King Saul. Living from cave to cave in the hills of the Judean desert, David found strength in the knowledge that God would lift him up and bear his burdens. That is the same promise we have today. David cites eleven reasons why God can be trusted to lift us up:
1. His greatness is unfathomable (145:3);
2. He does mighty acts across many generations (145:4);
3. He is full of glorious splendor and majesty (145:5);
4. He does wonderful and awesome works (145:5-6);
5. He is righteous (145:7);
6. He is gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving (145:8-9);
7. He rules over an everlasting kingdom (145:13);
8. He is the source of all our daily needs (145:15-16);
9. He is righteous and loving in all his dealings (145:17);
10. He remains near to those who call on him (145:18);
11. He hears our cries and saves us (145:19-20).
If you are bending under a burden and feel that you are about to fall, turn to God for help. He is ready to lift you up and bear your burden. As you meditate today, you might want to ask yourself whether you have a big God or a little God? A little girl listened attentively as her father read the family devotions. She seemed awed by her parents' talk of God's limitless power and mercy. "Daddy," she asked, placing her little hands on his knees, "how big is God." Her father thought for a moment and answered, "Honey, he is always just a little bigger than you need." His call is the same today, as it was thousands of years ago: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:29-30; NIV). How about it, won’t you crawl into His lap and rest today?
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you".
David must have felt much the same way as the man in this story when he wrote Psalm 145. The key verse reads: “The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14, NIV). He found himself pursued like a common criminal for no reason other than the jealousy of King Saul. Living from cave to cave in the hills of the Judean desert, David found strength in the knowledge that God would lift him up and bear his burdens. That is the same promise we have today. David cites eleven reasons why God can be trusted to lift us up:
1. His greatness is unfathomable (145:3);
2. He does mighty acts across many generations (145:4);
3. He is full of glorious splendor and majesty (145:5);
4. He does wonderful and awesome works (145:5-6);
5. He is righteous (145:7);
6. He is gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving (145:8-9);
7. He rules over an everlasting kingdom (145:13);
8. He is the source of all our daily needs (145:15-16);
9. He is righteous and loving in all his dealings (145:17);
10. He remains near to those who call on him (145:18);
11. He hears our cries and saves us (145:19-20).
If you are bending under a burden and feel that you are about to fall, turn to God for help. He is ready to lift you up and bear your burden. As you meditate today, you might want to ask yourself whether you have a big God or a little God? A little girl listened attentively as her father read the family devotions. She seemed awed by her parents' talk of God's limitless power and mercy. "Daddy," she asked, placing her little hands on his knees, "how big is God." Her father thought for a moment and answered, "Honey, he is always just a little bigger than you need." His call is the same today, as it was thousands of years ago: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:29-30; NIV). How about it, won’t you crawl into His lap and rest today?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
"Becoming a Disciple" (Part 4)
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV).
The third part of the process is surrendering to the direction of the Holy Spirit. We’ve already talked about hearing from God and the importance of walking in obedience, now we see the last of the steps. Each of them is progressively more difficult. To hear from God should be as natural as breathing for the believer. He has made it so with the countless revelations in nature, life, and the Scripture. Walking in obedience is a little more difficult, although there are so many opportunities to do that in our daily lives that God has made that possible as well. Think of each of the people you contact each day; a smile or a kind word is walking in obedience to God. The last, however, is tough. The natural man is bent toward rebellion, self-centeredness, and independence. To surrender to the direction of the Holy Spirit means that we fully give ourselves to Him. I love the way Jesus puts it:
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62 NIV).
Bruce Larson, in Believe and Belong, tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ: “For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the RCA Building on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a beautifully-proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerfully-built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under this burden. ‘Now that’s one way to live,’ I would point out to my companion, ‘trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.’ “On the other side of Fifth Avenue is Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and there behind the high altar is a little shrine of the boy Jesus, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort he is holding the world in one hand. My point was illustrated graphically. We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, “I give up, Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world.”
It is more difficult, but it is more fulfilling as well. Are you carrying the world on your shoulders, straining under the load? Become a real disciple and surrender to the Holy Spirit in your life!
The third part of the process is surrendering to the direction of the Holy Spirit. We’ve already talked about hearing from God and the importance of walking in obedience, now we see the last of the steps. Each of them is progressively more difficult. To hear from God should be as natural as breathing for the believer. He has made it so with the countless revelations in nature, life, and the Scripture. Walking in obedience is a little more difficult, although there are so many opportunities to do that in our daily lives that God has made that possible as well. Think of each of the people you contact each day; a smile or a kind word is walking in obedience to God. The last, however, is tough. The natural man is bent toward rebellion, self-centeredness, and independence. To surrender to the direction of the Holy Spirit means that we fully give ourselves to Him. I love the way Jesus puts it:
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62 NIV).
Bruce Larson, in Believe and Belong, tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ: “For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the RCA Building on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a beautifully-proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerfully-built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under this burden. ‘Now that’s one way to live,’ I would point out to my companion, ‘trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.’ “On the other side of Fifth Avenue is Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and there behind the high altar is a little shrine of the boy Jesus, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort he is holding the world in one hand. My point was illustrated graphically. We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, “I give up, Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world.”
It is more difficult, but it is more fulfilling as well. Are you carrying the world on your shoulders, straining under the load? Become a real disciple and surrender to the Holy Spirit in your life!
Friday, November 19, 2010
"Becoming a Disciple" (Part 3)
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV).
The second part of the process is walking in obedience to His direction. The first part of the process, hearing from God,” is relatively easy. Walking in obedience to His direction is a little harder walking in obedience to His direction. François Fénelon, who died in 1715, was a French Roman Catholic archbishop, theologian, poet and writer. In one of his essay he wrote:
It is not the multitude of hard duties; it is not constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice, to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us, to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to seek out duty in the present moment, to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God.
I have found it much easier to think and pray about what God wants me to do than actually doing it. I fear that many Christians are like that. We gain knowledge; we worship and praise; and we then turn away from what God has designed us to do as if we hadn’t known it at all. Perhaps it is that the task is daunting and overwhelms us with its enormity. Perhaps it is such a small thing that it goes forgotten or procrastinated until it no longer remains in our view. Any reason for being disobedient to walk in His direction is serious.
You may be a bit overwhelmed now. I certainly understand! However, the best advice I have ever heard comes from Oswald Chambers: One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.
You may be thinking how do I know what God’s direction is? Well, my first response would be, have you asked? If you have, then perhaps you simply didn’t hear the answer well. Being obedient to God’s direction is clearly shown to us in the Scripture. We could spend a great deal of time going through passage in the Gospels like the Sermon on the Mount, or the last instructions of Jesus, but let me summarize it all for you… Love God with all you heart, mind, and soul; and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s God’s direction. That may mean nothing more than a bright smile for those around you. It may mean much more as God calls to you to restoration of broken relationships. God is speaking. Take the first step. The others will follow. Be obedient to His direction.
The second part of the process is walking in obedience to His direction. The first part of the process, hearing from God,” is relatively easy. Walking in obedience to His direction is a little harder walking in obedience to His direction. François Fénelon, who died in 1715, was a French Roman Catholic archbishop, theologian, poet and writer. In one of his essay he wrote:
It is not the multitude of hard duties; it is not constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice, to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us, to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to seek out duty in the present moment, to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God.
I have found it much easier to think and pray about what God wants me to do than actually doing it. I fear that many Christians are like that. We gain knowledge; we worship and praise; and we then turn away from what God has designed us to do as if we hadn’t known it at all. Perhaps it is that the task is daunting and overwhelms us with its enormity. Perhaps it is such a small thing that it goes forgotten or procrastinated until it no longer remains in our view. Any reason for being disobedient to walk in His direction is serious.
You may be a bit overwhelmed now. I certainly understand! However, the best advice I have ever heard comes from Oswald Chambers: One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.
You may be thinking how do I know what God’s direction is? Well, my first response would be, have you asked? If you have, then perhaps you simply didn’t hear the answer well. Being obedient to God’s direction is clearly shown to us in the Scripture. We could spend a great deal of time going through passage in the Gospels like the Sermon on the Mount, or the last instructions of Jesus, but let me summarize it all for you… Love God with all you heart, mind, and soul; and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s God’s direction. That may mean nothing more than a bright smile for those around you. It may mean much more as God calls to you to restoration of broken relationships. God is speaking. Take the first step. The others will follow. Be obedient to His direction.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
"Becoming a Disciple" (Part 2)
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV).
First a few more basics and then we’ll look at some of the means of becoming a disciple. Remember, when we talk about disciple-making, we need to recognize that it is a process that takes time. One of the reasons people don’t become disciples is because they fall out of the process. The very definition of disciple demands that it occur over time. Also, we should recognize a person becomes a believer when they believe. “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.” (cf. Romans 10:9). Salvation comes to those who believe by faith. Discipleship comes as you begin the process of hearing from God, walking in obedience to His direction, and surrendering to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
So let’s begin. First, hear from God. The easiest way to accomplish this part of the process is through a consistent plan of daily Scripture reading. I know some of you are already thinking you are too busy, but I have found that to be a very weal argument. There are so many tools that are available for use in a daily reading of the Bible no one can claim that as an excuse. Who doesn’t have fifteen minutes sometime during the day to read or listen to the Scripture read? God speaks through the Bible; however, God also speaks through worship. I would hope that some of your weekly worship is done collectively through your local church. However, if the only worship you have each week is that one or two hours, you will not develop as fast or fully as you could otherwise. Use Christian praise as you drive in your car. Develop an eye for seeing the hand of God in your surroundings. Pray throughout your day. Even a brief expression of gratitude toward God is vital.
I love the old story of an old farmer who frequently described his Christian experience by saying, “Well, I’m not making much progress, but I’m established!” One spring when he was hauling some logs, his wagon wheels sank down to the axles in mud. Try as he would, he couldn’t get the wagon out. Defeated, he sat atop the logs, viewing the dismal situation. Soon a neighbor who had always felt uncomfortable with the farmer’s worn out testimony came along and greeted him, “Well, Brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well-established!”
God calls us to more than an initial experience of salvation. Read the Scripture daily. Worship daily. Pray daily. Sound too easy? It gets a little more difficult… stay tuned!
First a few more basics and then we’ll look at some of the means of becoming a disciple. Remember, when we talk about disciple-making, we need to recognize that it is a process that takes time. One of the reasons people don’t become disciples is because they fall out of the process. The very definition of disciple demands that it occur over time. Also, we should recognize a person becomes a believer when they believe. “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.” (cf. Romans 10:9). Salvation comes to those who believe by faith. Discipleship comes as you begin the process of hearing from God, walking in obedience to His direction, and surrendering to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
So let’s begin. First, hear from God. The easiest way to accomplish this part of the process is through a consistent plan of daily Scripture reading. I know some of you are already thinking you are too busy, but I have found that to be a very weal argument. There are so many tools that are available for use in a daily reading of the Bible no one can claim that as an excuse. Who doesn’t have fifteen minutes sometime during the day to read or listen to the Scripture read? God speaks through the Bible; however, God also speaks through worship. I would hope that some of your weekly worship is done collectively through your local church. However, if the only worship you have each week is that one or two hours, you will not develop as fast or fully as you could otherwise. Use Christian praise as you drive in your car. Develop an eye for seeing the hand of God in your surroundings. Pray throughout your day. Even a brief expression of gratitude toward God is vital.
I love the old story of an old farmer who frequently described his Christian experience by saying, “Well, I’m not making much progress, but I’m established!” One spring when he was hauling some logs, his wagon wheels sank down to the axles in mud. Try as he would, he couldn’t get the wagon out. Defeated, he sat atop the logs, viewing the dismal situation. Soon a neighbor who had always felt uncomfortable with the farmer’s worn out testimony came along and greeted him, “Well, Brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well-established!”
God calls us to more than an initial experience of salvation. Read the Scripture daily. Worship daily. Pray daily. Sound too easy? It gets a little more difficult… stay tuned!
Monday, November 15, 2010
"Becoming a Disciple" (Part 1)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).
At the end of our series The Land of the Living I decided that it would be instructive to spend a little time talking about being a disciple of Christ. In our reading today Jesus said we were to "go and make disciples of all nations". Perhaps the first question we should ask is “What is a disciple?” The definition of disciple is that of a "learner". It occurs frequently in the New Testament. The meaning applies to one who professes to have learned certain principles from another and maintains them on that other's authority. It also speaks about following in the exact steps of the teacher. So, a disciple is one who has set on a path to learn the person of Jesus Christ and allow His life to be their life both from example and teaching of another who is a disciple.
I believe there is a difference in the words "disciple" and "believer". You can claim to be a believer without really being a disciple. That’s not the ideal situation, nor is it what God desires for us. However, it is certainly possible; most of the time this happens through ignorance. Some people have simply not been given the right information; or any information at all. As incredible as that sounds, it is a pattern in many churches today. There are lots of educational programs and seminars; however, they often fail to produce disciples. They may produce well educated students, sometimes teachers; but, they do not produce disciples.
In order to move from the place of learning to disciple an individual becomes committed to growing like Christ and applying that growth in actions. Jesus told us to make disciples! Ultimately that's what a believer is, but it is more than just an acknowledgement of Christ. The disciple wants to be like Christ! We should certainly be concerned about a person becoming a Christian, but we should be equally concerned that they commit their life to discovering and applying the truths of God's Word to their life.
This week we will look at what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Please consider, have you surrendered your life fully to Christ? Ask yourself, am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?
At the end of our series The Land of the Living I decided that it would be instructive to spend a little time talking about being a disciple of Christ. In our reading today Jesus said we were to "go and make disciples of all nations". Perhaps the first question we should ask is “What is a disciple?” The definition of disciple is that of a "learner". It occurs frequently in the New Testament. The meaning applies to one who professes to have learned certain principles from another and maintains them on that other's authority. It also speaks about following in the exact steps of the teacher. So, a disciple is one who has set on a path to learn the person of Jesus Christ and allow His life to be their life both from example and teaching of another who is a disciple.
I believe there is a difference in the words "disciple" and "believer". You can claim to be a believer without really being a disciple. That’s not the ideal situation, nor is it what God desires for us. However, it is certainly possible; most of the time this happens through ignorance. Some people have simply not been given the right information; or any information at all. As incredible as that sounds, it is a pattern in many churches today. There are lots of educational programs and seminars; however, they often fail to produce disciples. They may produce well educated students, sometimes teachers; but, they do not produce disciples.
In order to move from the place of learning to disciple an individual becomes committed to growing like Christ and applying that growth in actions. Jesus told us to make disciples! Ultimately that's what a believer is, but it is more than just an acknowledgement of Christ. The disciple wants to be like Christ! We should certainly be concerned about a person becoming a Christian, but we should be equally concerned that they commit their life to discovering and applying the truths of God's Word to their life.
This week we will look at what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Please consider, have you surrendered your life fully to Christ? Ask yourself, am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
"The Land of the Living"
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
Today is the last in our little series of being in the land of the living. There are two things that are important. First, good works are both expected and natural for the Christian. Jesus often talked about bearing good fruit. He likened the true disciple to a good tree producing good fruit. In fact, he asked can “thistles produce grapes?” He also talked about fresh water only coming from a spring. He never denied that good works were expected. He declared them to be natural. Our problem today is that we try to force people to do good things through manipulation. Often it is unintentional; however, it still draws us away from the center of who we are. Grapes are “produced” by a vine; fresh water is “produced” by the spring. Good works are produced by the presence of Christ living within us. That’s the “law” of nature God has established. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to plant an oak tree and expect it to give us apples? In the same way God has created each of us uniquely designed for a part of His ministry. When we are operating within that call, those gifts, and that mandate, we will do great things for God. Hidden in this principle is the danger of putting people in positions they are neither gifted nor suited for simply because we needed to do so to complete an organizational chart. Therefore we are to center ourselves in Christ and He will shine through us. That allows us to stop doing good things and do God things!
Second, it is never too late to live in the Light. No matter what you have done, or not done, the grace of God is sufficient to forgive you and cleanse you from every sin. Paul simply says, “Wake up.” I believe it his way of helping us understand that the detours we take along the way, some conscious and some not, are merely that. They are detours for the child of God. Some will have consequences that are difficult to bear, however all will be forgiven and we will be allowed back in the center of our journey. The great tragedy is those who don’t know any better. They have been deceived with good words. They have not been taught with God words. The heart of discipleship is in showing people the Scripture so that they may hear directly from God concerning their life. Just one quick example… everyone ought to share the gospel with others. No one can argue that is a principle of Scripture. However, that doesn’t mean that we all are to be a part of a particular program designed to accomplish that. The tool must never become our focus. Christ is our focus. Take the Light of Christ everywhere you go and it will force the darkness away. In your home, at work, in your church, the places you go for recreation, everywhere is a place that can use the Light. Live in the Light. That places you in the land of the living!
Today is the last in our little series of being in the land of the living. There are two things that are important. First, good works are both expected and natural for the Christian. Jesus often talked about bearing good fruit. He likened the true disciple to a good tree producing good fruit. In fact, he asked can “thistles produce grapes?” He also talked about fresh water only coming from a spring. He never denied that good works were expected. He declared them to be natural. Our problem today is that we try to force people to do good things through manipulation. Often it is unintentional; however, it still draws us away from the center of who we are. Grapes are “produced” by a vine; fresh water is “produced” by the spring. Good works are produced by the presence of Christ living within us. That’s the “law” of nature God has established. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to plant an oak tree and expect it to give us apples? In the same way God has created each of us uniquely designed for a part of His ministry. When we are operating within that call, those gifts, and that mandate, we will do great things for God. Hidden in this principle is the danger of putting people in positions they are neither gifted nor suited for simply because we needed to do so to complete an organizational chart. Therefore we are to center ourselves in Christ and He will shine through us. That allows us to stop doing good things and do God things!
Second, it is never too late to live in the Light. No matter what you have done, or not done, the grace of God is sufficient to forgive you and cleanse you from every sin. Paul simply says, “Wake up.” I believe it his way of helping us understand that the detours we take along the way, some conscious and some not, are merely that. They are detours for the child of God. Some will have consequences that are difficult to bear, however all will be forgiven and we will be allowed back in the center of our journey. The great tragedy is those who don’t know any better. They have been deceived with good words. They have not been taught with God words. The heart of discipleship is in showing people the Scripture so that they may hear directly from God concerning their life. Just one quick example… everyone ought to share the gospel with others. No one can argue that is a principle of Scripture. However, that doesn’t mean that we all are to be a part of a particular program designed to accomplish that. The tool must never become our focus. Christ is our focus. Take the Light of Christ everywhere you go and it will force the darkness away. In your home, at work, in your church, the places you go for recreation, everywhere is a place that can use the Light. Live in the Light. That places you in the land of the living!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
"The Land of the Living" (Part 5)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
Today I want us to look at one phrase in the reading today: what pleases the Lord. To truly understand this we need one passage from the Old Testament:
The Lord says, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:20-24 NIV).
The Apostle Paul understood the history of his people very well. Israel’s religious leadership was very good about developing and keeping laws. Yet when it came to the real work of ministry they fell woefully short. That’s the danger Paul warns about. We can get so busy doing things that we forget why we do them. We become classic hypocrites. I have read the Queen Mary was the largest ship to cross the oceans when it was launched in 1936. Through four decades and a World War she served until she was retired, anchored as a floating hotel and museum in Long Beach, California.
During the conversion, her three massive smokestacks were taken off to be scraped down and repainted. But on the dock they crumbled. Nothing was left of the 3/4 inch steel plate from which the stacks had been formed. All that remained were more than thirty coasts of paint that had been applied over the years. The steel had rusted away.
When Jesus called the Pharisees "Whitewashed tombs," He meant they had no substance, only an exterior appearance.
If we continue to paint our facade with good works done out of a sense of guilt, we will soon be lost to the image of religion without any base of spiritual presence. It’s nearly Thanksgiving. Soon the stores will begin displaying their “live” Christmas trees. I say “live” only to distinguish them from the man-made artificial trees that may also be purchased. Watch this… they were once alive; and, they look and smell as if they were still alive. But they are dead merely waiting for that proof to be shown. We can become like that as well. I’m not talking about your new birth being reversed/ I’m talking about the process of producing good fruit. That can only happen if you are alive. That necessitates remaining rooted in the love and grace of God. Forget about answering the “what” questions and answer the “why” questions. Root yourself deeply in the Lord. Allow the love He has for you and you for Him to display itself in every good work!
Today I want us to look at one phrase in the reading today: what pleases the Lord. To truly understand this we need one passage from the Old Testament:
The Lord says, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:20-24 NIV).
The Apostle Paul understood the history of his people very well. Israel’s religious leadership was very good about developing and keeping laws. Yet when it came to the real work of ministry they fell woefully short. That’s the danger Paul warns about. We can get so busy doing things that we forget why we do them. We become classic hypocrites. I have read the Queen Mary was the largest ship to cross the oceans when it was launched in 1936. Through four decades and a World War she served until she was retired, anchored as a floating hotel and museum in Long Beach, California.
During the conversion, her three massive smokestacks were taken off to be scraped down and repainted. But on the dock they crumbled. Nothing was left of the 3/4 inch steel plate from which the stacks had been formed. All that remained were more than thirty coasts of paint that had been applied over the years. The steel had rusted away.
When Jesus called the Pharisees "Whitewashed tombs," He meant they had no substance, only an exterior appearance.
If we continue to paint our facade with good works done out of a sense of guilt, we will soon be lost to the image of religion without any base of spiritual presence. It’s nearly Thanksgiving. Soon the stores will begin displaying their “live” Christmas trees. I say “live” only to distinguish them from the man-made artificial trees that may also be purchased. Watch this… they were once alive; and, they look and smell as if they were still alive. But they are dead merely waiting for that proof to be shown. We can become like that as well. I’m not talking about your new birth being reversed/ I’m talking about the process of producing good fruit. That can only happen if you are alive. That necessitates remaining rooted in the love and grace of God. Forget about answering the “what” questions and answer the “why” questions. Root yourself deeply in the Lord. Allow the love He has for you and you for Him to display itself in every good work!
Friday, November 12, 2010
"The Land of the Living" (Part 4)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
The Land of the Living… is an interesting idiom. It means to be awake or alert. I certainly know that feeling of not quite being fully awake because of my experiences over the past few days since surgery. I was in the hospital overnight after surgery and was told early the next morning that I was doing so well that I could be discharged by noon. One of the last things to be done in order for me to be released was reviewing all the things that needed to be done once I arrived at home. There were certain medications to take at precise intervals; positions that I could rest in; and, how often I should walk and move about for maximum healing in a minimum of days. I must admit that I really felt good after surgery. In fact, I was walking as soon as they took the various IV’s and monitors off. I thought, “This is a snap so far!” Mary drove me home and got me settled in with everything I might need. I was doing so well that I thought I really didn’t need to take all of those narcotics they sent me home with. I know… you’re thinking that was dumb. And, it was. My youngest brother texted me and warned me not to act like “John Wayne.” That is to say I needed to take the medicine and do what the doctors said without trying to be the hero. Since he has just gone through a knee replacement, I should’ve listened to that advice!
The rest of Friday was pretty good. I didn’t sleep well as the pain began to build from the surgical wound. Saturday began with a high level of pain and it built from there! It was about as awful as it could have been. Believe me when I say that I started taking the prescribed doses and have continued taking them since! Today might be the first day that I would say I have rejoined “the land of the living.”
So here’s the deal. Paul tells his readers to live as children of the Light and produce the fruit of living in the Light: “goodness, righteousness, and truth.” At first glance it would be easy for us to turn that into a checklist of things to do. That’s the subtle deception of the devil. He wants us to believe that the product is the process. He wants us to believe that is we practice goodness, righteousness, or truth that means we are children of the Light. It is a very important distinction to draw. Act of goodness, righteousness, and truth do not produce life. They are the result of being in the Light. I’ve really just touched the fringe of this principle today. Tomorrow we’ll look more closely. Let me close today, however, by reminding you of what Jesus told the young man when asked, “What must I do to inherit the kingdom of God?” (cf. Mark 10:17-31). The young man boldly claimed that he had kept all the commandments from his earliest recollection. He went on to say that there must be more to be done. Jesus’ answer is so revealing: “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (verse 21, New Living Translation). It is a clear challenge to stop trying to DO something to gain eternal life and BE something.
There are no John Wayne’s in the Body of Christ. That is, there are no loners who know how to do it on their own. There are only followers who know how to do it in Christ! That is the essence of grace. It is the heart of the gospel. Today make a commitment to be a follower of Christ. I know, you now saying “tell me how.” Listen… if you will commit yourself to being a follower of Christ, He’ll tell you how! You will then be alert, awake, and in the land of the living!
The Land of the Living… is an interesting idiom. It means to be awake or alert. I certainly know that feeling of not quite being fully awake because of my experiences over the past few days since surgery. I was in the hospital overnight after surgery and was told early the next morning that I was doing so well that I could be discharged by noon. One of the last things to be done in order for me to be released was reviewing all the things that needed to be done once I arrived at home. There were certain medications to take at precise intervals; positions that I could rest in; and, how often I should walk and move about for maximum healing in a minimum of days. I must admit that I really felt good after surgery. In fact, I was walking as soon as they took the various IV’s and monitors off. I thought, “This is a snap so far!” Mary drove me home and got me settled in with everything I might need. I was doing so well that I thought I really didn’t need to take all of those narcotics they sent me home with. I know… you’re thinking that was dumb. And, it was. My youngest brother texted me and warned me not to act like “John Wayne.” That is to say I needed to take the medicine and do what the doctors said without trying to be the hero. Since he has just gone through a knee replacement, I should’ve listened to that advice!
The rest of Friday was pretty good. I didn’t sleep well as the pain began to build from the surgical wound. Saturday began with a high level of pain and it built from there! It was about as awful as it could have been. Believe me when I say that I started taking the prescribed doses and have continued taking them since! Today might be the first day that I would say I have rejoined “the land of the living.”
So here’s the deal. Paul tells his readers to live as children of the Light and produce the fruit of living in the Light: “goodness, righteousness, and truth.” At first glance it would be easy for us to turn that into a checklist of things to do. That’s the subtle deception of the devil. He wants us to believe that the product is the process. He wants us to believe that is we practice goodness, righteousness, or truth that means we are children of the Light. It is a very important distinction to draw. Act of goodness, righteousness, and truth do not produce life. They are the result of being in the Light. I’ve really just touched the fringe of this principle today. Tomorrow we’ll look more closely. Let me close today, however, by reminding you of what Jesus told the young man when asked, “What must I do to inherit the kingdom of God?” (cf. Mark 10:17-31). The young man boldly claimed that he had kept all the commandments from his earliest recollection. He went on to say that there must be more to be done. Jesus’ answer is so revealing: “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (verse 21, New Living Translation). It is a clear challenge to stop trying to DO something to gain eternal life and BE something.
There are no John Wayne’s in the Body of Christ. That is, there are no loners who know how to do it on their own. There are only followers who know how to do it in Christ! That is the essence of grace. It is the heart of the gospel. Today make a commitment to be a follower of Christ. I know, you now saying “tell me how.” Listen… if you will commit yourself to being a follower of Christ, He’ll tell you how! You will then be alert, awake, and in the land of the living!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
"The Land of the Living" (Part 3)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
The “empty words” that the apostle warned his readers about come in many forms. Today I want to look at a general understanding as we follow the Lord. Remember that some of these concepts were brought into clarity for me by my recent experience with back surgery. I won’t share a lot of the details of the experience, but suffice it to say that I have had lots of advice on how best to recuperate! Some of it has been good, some not so good. I have found the key is in measuring it all by the standard of the doctor’s orders.
Yesterday I wrote that guilt and shame were two of those empty words for children of God. I want to emphasize that I am not saying that the Christian does not sin. Clearly the bible tells us differently. What I am saying is that our sin has been atoned for in the work of Christ and grace is available for all in Christ. Let’s deal with the shame. Satan loves to keep us in our past looking at ourselves. If we continue to think about our past failures, it will wear us down spiritually, and the next thing the enemy aims at is getting the picture of ourselves distorted. He wants us to look at our past failures so much that we begin to see ourselves as failures! Anybody who has been thinking about their past sins for long will begin to see themselves as dirty sinners and failures. The complete opposite of what they really are under the new station God has granted in salvation. We are not failures because Christ has not failed.
Shame and guilt are based upon deception. These are empty words which are the opposite of truth. You need to stop thinking about your past failures. Are you ignoring them? No! You are ignoring a lie, not the sin, because the sin has been dealt with and washed away. Therefore, you are meditating on something that no longer exists! If your sins are in the depths of the sea, then why are you still thinking about them? You need to stop focusing on the problem (which has been dealt with), and begin to praise God for the solution to the problem, and think about how you have been washed clean from those failures! Instead of meditating on a lie, begin to meditate on the truth in God's Word concerning your past failures.
The “empty words” that the apostle warned his readers about come in many forms. Today I want to look at a general understanding as we follow the Lord. Remember that some of these concepts were brought into clarity for me by my recent experience with back surgery. I won’t share a lot of the details of the experience, but suffice it to say that I have had lots of advice on how best to recuperate! Some of it has been good, some not so good. I have found the key is in measuring it all by the standard of the doctor’s orders.
Yesterday I wrote that guilt and shame were two of those empty words for children of God. I want to emphasize that I am not saying that the Christian does not sin. Clearly the bible tells us differently. What I am saying is that our sin has been atoned for in the work of Christ and grace is available for all in Christ. Let’s deal with the shame. Satan loves to keep us in our past looking at ourselves. If we continue to think about our past failures, it will wear us down spiritually, and the next thing the enemy aims at is getting the picture of ourselves distorted. He wants us to look at our past failures so much that we begin to see ourselves as failures! Anybody who has been thinking about their past sins for long will begin to see themselves as dirty sinners and failures. The complete opposite of what they really are under the new station God has granted in salvation. We are not failures because Christ has not failed.
Shame and guilt are based upon deception. These are empty words which are the opposite of truth. You need to stop thinking about your past failures. Are you ignoring them? No! You are ignoring a lie, not the sin, because the sin has been dealt with and washed away. Therefore, you are meditating on something that no longer exists! If your sins are in the depths of the sea, then why are you still thinking about them? You need to stop focusing on the problem (which has been dealt with), and begin to praise God for the solution to the problem, and think about how you have been washed clean from those failures! Instead of meditating on a lie, begin to meditate on the truth in God's Word concerning your past failures.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
"The Land of the Liviing" (Part 2)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
The Land of the Living is just as it sounds on the surface. It is dwelling in a place of life! I suppose I have thought a little more about that than I have in the past. Perhaps it is a natural result of facing a physical challenge serious enough to call for surgery; or it may just be that it was time for me to begin to ponder this great truth of God’s grace. You’d think that having preached through Ephesians several times in different churches I would have already gotten this one. However, as is often the case, God surprises me over and over again as I yield myself to His message in the Scripture.
Let me remind you of some of the contrasts of this life in our reading. Paul says it is a life in the light instead of darkness; a life of fruitful deeds of righteousness; and a life that is fully awake and alert. There are lots of things we can say about these things, however, as I promised yesterday, I want to look at the “how” before we do anything else. The Apostle Paul says we should not be deceived with “empty words.” Certainly the opposite could be said. We ought to be listening to words that are full, brimming with faith, hope, and love. These are the real words of grace. That’s where I want us to begin our little journey. How do you recognize words of deception and thus avoid them?
In Jesus’ day, these words were spoken by the Pharisees. The entire twenty-third chapter of Matthew is Jesus’ description of their empty words. He ends the description by saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV). Steve Brown may have captured the application best when he said, I fear too often the church has become an organization of guilty people with a guilty preacher standing in the pulpit telling guilty people they should feel more guilty.
Let me be VERY clear. There is no reason for guilt as a child of God. If you have come under the blood of Jesus through faith, your sins are forgiven! Of course, you will find those times in your life when you have wandered off the path of righteousness, but his grace and forgiveness have already been provided. Our only need is to appropriate that grace and live life as people who are alive! We can get so entangled with each step we can easily forget what that looks like. The Pharisees knew the right words, the right works, and the right ways but they didn’t have life. Grace is not about doing as much as it is about being. When you get the being part of life right, you’ll get the doing much better.
I’m almost out of space for today’s devotional. Let me summarize with this: Words of shame and guilt are of the devil, deceptive and empty; words of forgiveness and grace. Far too many believers feel dirty, worthless and ashamed of themselves. As a result, they feel unclean and therefore unworthy to approach God and have the living and intimate relationship that He wants to have with them! Shame prevents us from intimacy with God because it makes us feel unworthy and distant from Him. That’s not what Christ gave His life for! Stay tuned tomorrow for more on this tragic deception from our enemy. Today, let go of your past and give it to the Lord.
The Land of the Living is just as it sounds on the surface. It is dwelling in a place of life! I suppose I have thought a little more about that than I have in the past. Perhaps it is a natural result of facing a physical challenge serious enough to call for surgery; or it may just be that it was time for me to begin to ponder this great truth of God’s grace. You’d think that having preached through Ephesians several times in different churches I would have already gotten this one. However, as is often the case, God surprises me over and over again as I yield myself to His message in the Scripture.
Let me remind you of some of the contrasts of this life in our reading. Paul says it is a life in the light instead of darkness; a life of fruitful deeds of righteousness; and a life that is fully awake and alert. There are lots of things we can say about these things, however, as I promised yesterday, I want to look at the “how” before we do anything else. The Apostle Paul says we should not be deceived with “empty words.” Certainly the opposite could be said. We ought to be listening to words that are full, brimming with faith, hope, and love. These are the real words of grace. That’s where I want us to begin our little journey. How do you recognize words of deception and thus avoid them?
In Jesus’ day, these words were spoken by the Pharisees. The entire twenty-third chapter of Matthew is Jesus’ description of their empty words. He ends the description by saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV). Steve Brown may have captured the application best when he said, I fear too often the church has become an organization of guilty people with a guilty preacher standing in the pulpit telling guilty people they should feel more guilty.
Let me be VERY clear. There is no reason for guilt as a child of God. If you have come under the blood of Jesus through faith, your sins are forgiven! Of course, you will find those times in your life when you have wandered off the path of righteousness, but his grace and forgiveness have already been provided. Our only need is to appropriate that grace and live life as people who are alive! We can get so entangled with each step we can easily forget what that looks like. The Pharisees knew the right words, the right works, and the right ways but they didn’t have life. Grace is not about doing as much as it is about being. When you get the being part of life right, you’ll get the doing much better.
I’m almost out of space for today’s devotional. Let me summarize with this: Words of shame and guilt are of the devil, deceptive and empty; words of forgiveness and grace. Far too many believers feel dirty, worthless and ashamed of themselves. As a result, they feel unclean and therefore unworthy to approach God and have the living and intimate relationship that He wants to have with them! Shame prevents us from intimacy with God because it makes us feel unworthy and distant from Him. That’s not what Christ gave His life for! Stay tuned tomorrow for more on this tragic deception from our enemy. Today, let go of your past and give it to the Lord.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
"The Land of the Living" (Part 1)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
As I mentioned yesterday, today’s Morning Devotional will begin a series that I have been thinking about for some time, but came into sharp focus while I was going through all the steps to back surgery. I am not going to bore you with the minutiae of that experience; however, I do want to focus your attention on some of the incredible truths Paul gives us in our reading today that were sharpened for me in that experience.
So let me begin with some overview. If you have had any surgery in your life, you know as soon as you receive your anesthesia you are completely “in the dark.” You are artificially placed in a state where you can neither feel nor think for yourself. It was amazing how many more tubes were in my body after the surgery than before! And, I’m told there were others that were removed prior to being awakened! Paul begins this paragraph with a sense of urgency for all Christians to “walk in the Light.” I have paralleled this statement with the words in our title, Land of the Living.” Walking in the light is living in the land of the living.
Think about it. When you are placed under anesthesia some things happen very quickly. I remember being rolled into the surgical suite and several people introduced themselves to me, telling me what their function was going to be during the surgery. One would administer the anesthesia, another would monitor vital signs, another would assist the surgeon… all the while a plastic mask was being placed over my mouth and nose and sending me into “la-la land” (the doctor’s words, not mine)! If there was more said to me after that point I sure don’t remember them. The next thing I remember was being awakened by three orderlies pulling me from the gurney to the bed. I could tell you that hurt, but truthfully I didn’t feel anything for some time yet. Here’s the point. As a believer in Christ, we no longer walk in darkness. For the most part, we know what’s happening and have a choice about it.
When the room went dark, I had no choice about anything they did to me. Fortunately the hospital and staff have the greatest of history and reputation, so it was easy to trust myself to them. But, do you want to grant that same level of trust to the one who controls this world? Not me. Satan only has my worst in mind. To give him any control over my life would be disastrous. And, the good news is that I don’t have to give him that power. As a child of God I can walk in the light, the land of the living. I can yield my life to the One who has conquered darkness and death to bring light and life to the world. We’ll talk about the how of that in subsequent days. However, today please listen to the Spirit as He calls to you to a life of righteousness, godliness, and truth.
As I mentioned yesterday, today’s Morning Devotional will begin a series that I have been thinking about for some time, but came into sharp focus while I was going through all the steps to back surgery. I am not going to bore you with the minutiae of that experience; however, I do want to focus your attention on some of the incredible truths Paul gives us in our reading today that were sharpened for me in that experience.
So let me begin with some overview. If you have had any surgery in your life, you know as soon as you receive your anesthesia you are completely “in the dark.” You are artificially placed in a state where you can neither feel nor think for yourself. It was amazing how many more tubes were in my body after the surgery than before! And, I’m told there were others that were removed prior to being awakened! Paul begins this paragraph with a sense of urgency for all Christians to “walk in the Light.” I have paralleled this statement with the words in our title, Land of the Living.” Walking in the light is living in the land of the living.
Think about it. When you are placed under anesthesia some things happen very quickly. I remember being rolled into the surgical suite and several people introduced themselves to me, telling me what their function was going to be during the surgery. One would administer the anesthesia, another would monitor vital signs, another would assist the surgeon… all the while a plastic mask was being placed over my mouth and nose and sending me into “la-la land” (the doctor’s words, not mine)! If there was more said to me after that point I sure don’t remember them. The next thing I remember was being awakened by three orderlies pulling me from the gurney to the bed. I could tell you that hurt, but truthfully I didn’t feel anything for some time yet. Here’s the point. As a believer in Christ, we no longer walk in darkness. For the most part, we know what’s happening and have a choice about it.
When the room went dark, I had no choice about anything they did to me. Fortunately the hospital and staff have the greatest of history and reputation, so it was easy to trust myself to them. But, do you want to grant that same level of trust to the one who controls this world? Not me. Satan only has my worst in mind. To give him any control over my life would be disastrous. And, the good news is that I don’t have to give him that power. As a child of God I can walk in the light, the land of the living. I can yield my life to the One who has conquered darkness and death to bring light and life to the world. We’ll talk about the how of that in subsequent days. However, today please listen to the Spirit as He calls to you to a life of righteousness, godliness, and truth.
Monday, November 8, 2010
"Frozen Solid"
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power...." (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV).
I read about a ship discovered over a century ago among the icebergs of the Arctic Ocean. In it was the captain, frozen as he was making his last entry in the log-book. The crew was also discovered, some in their hammocks and some in the cabin, all frozen to death. The last date in the log-book showed that for thirteen years that vessel had been moving among the icebergs, "a drifting sepulcher manned by a frozen crew."
Someone suggested that there are some churches in a similar condition. Today's Scripture talks about people who have a form of godliness but without its power. Certainly there are some churches and religions like that too. They have an outward form of godliness but are frozen in that, while they have the outward trappings of religion, they are out of touch with God and reality. When Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen has jokingly been rendered as: "Many are cold and a few are frozen."
In the last few years we have seen a great increase in some of the worst kind of violence and terrorism worldwide committed by radical Muslims, all in the name of Allah. Let us not kid ourselves, their relentless goal is to kill “infidels,” namely: Christians and Jews; and also to rule the world with their religious-political ideology. At the same time, at least in North America, we are seeing an ever-increasing amount of "Christian bashing." Would-be opponents of the Christian faith are doing all in their power to destroy the very principles upon which western civilization has been built. The only answer to combat evil is the gospel of Christ and unless we the church, and we Christians wake up, I am afraid we will be witnessing an ever-increasing amount of violence and terrorism around the world.
Let us remember the words of Edmund Burke spoken over two centuries ago: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." More importantly, let us heed God's Word that says, "'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This is not a call to more works, but works that matter. I’ve done some thinking as I’ve convalesced after surgery. We will begin a series soon titled “The Land of the Living.” It will be about living your life where you are under grace so that your part of the world has an opportunity to see God’s different way.
I read about a ship discovered over a century ago among the icebergs of the Arctic Ocean. In it was the captain, frozen as he was making his last entry in the log-book. The crew was also discovered, some in their hammocks and some in the cabin, all frozen to death. The last date in the log-book showed that for thirteen years that vessel had been moving among the icebergs, "a drifting sepulcher manned by a frozen crew."
Someone suggested that there are some churches in a similar condition. Today's Scripture talks about people who have a form of godliness but without its power. Certainly there are some churches and religions like that too. They have an outward form of godliness but are frozen in that, while they have the outward trappings of religion, they are out of touch with God and reality. When Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen has jokingly been rendered as: "Many are cold and a few are frozen."
In the last few years we have seen a great increase in some of the worst kind of violence and terrorism worldwide committed by radical Muslims, all in the name of Allah. Let us not kid ourselves, their relentless goal is to kill “infidels,” namely: Christians and Jews; and also to rule the world with their religious-political ideology. At the same time, at least in North America, we are seeing an ever-increasing amount of "Christian bashing." Would-be opponents of the Christian faith are doing all in their power to destroy the very principles upon which western civilization has been built. The only answer to combat evil is the gospel of Christ and unless we the church, and we Christians wake up, I am afraid we will be witnessing an ever-increasing amount of violence and terrorism around the world.
Let us remember the words of Edmund Burke spoken over two centuries ago: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." More importantly, let us heed God's Word that says, "'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This is not a call to more works, but works that matter. I’ve done some thinking as I’ve convalesced after surgery. We will begin a series soon titled “The Land of the Living.” It will be about living your life where you are under grace so that your part of the world has an opportunity to see God’s different way.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
"Surgery Day"
Jesus said, "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34 NASB).
Today is surgery day. You may be receiving this devotional with some others for the coming days as I prepare to be out for a few days, but if you read this devotional on Thursday, November 4th, I will be in surgery by late afternoon. I have been told by the doctor that it is a relatively minor procedure to repair and correct a lateral herniated disk in my lower back. That was reassuring. I had read as much information about the procedure as I could find. That was reassuring. I have seen a video of the procedure. That was reassuring (well, sort of). I know the reputation of the hospital. That is reassuring. I have heard from many people who have had this procedure and herald the results as wonderful. That is reassuring. However, after all of that it really comes down to whether I trust my heavenly Father to do best by me and for His glory. And I do… THAT is what reassures me most!
In today’s reading Jesus makes two observations about the troubles we anticipate: First, tomorrow will care of itself. We can’t know how things will work out for us tomorrow. We can certainly envision our future, both good and bad. Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Our imagination works extremely well, giving us plenty to worry about, but we just can’t know what resources, what help, what deliverance will come our way at the moment those things are needed, which isn’t now. Second, each day has its full quota of trouble. Jeremiah wrote, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans may include a fair amount of pain and suffering, but God has His reasons, and for those who are His, it will always turn out for their good, and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). In the meantime, God promises to give us, for the particular moment, and for the particular trial, whatever resources we will need to deal with it. What He does NOT promise is the power to face now what doesn’t even yet exist (and may never materialize).
Remember this: Worry is not a weapon against the enemy; worry is a weapon of the enemy! Mark Twain, in his folksy way, hit the nail on the head when he quipped, “In my life I have known many troubles – most of them never happened!” Be like the infant taken to the doctor for his vaccinations: he coos and giggles all the way there. Not knowing what’s in store, he can enjoy the moment and not fret the future. Oh when the needle pricks, he’ll cry hard enough – it’s okay to cry when it hurts. But it’s not okay, and highly unnecessary, to cry ahead of time. I am looking forward to being back, “live” so-to-speak, soon. I ask for your prayers. And, I trust in my Father in heaven! I encourage you to do the same as you face your days.
Today is surgery day. You may be receiving this devotional with some others for the coming days as I prepare to be out for a few days, but if you read this devotional on Thursday, November 4th, I will be in surgery by late afternoon. I have been told by the doctor that it is a relatively minor procedure to repair and correct a lateral herniated disk in my lower back. That was reassuring. I had read as much information about the procedure as I could find. That was reassuring. I have seen a video of the procedure. That was reassuring (well, sort of). I know the reputation of the hospital. That is reassuring. I have heard from many people who have had this procedure and herald the results as wonderful. That is reassuring. However, after all of that it really comes down to whether I trust my heavenly Father to do best by me and for His glory. And I do… THAT is what reassures me most!
In today’s reading Jesus makes two observations about the troubles we anticipate: First, tomorrow will care of itself. We can’t know how things will work out for us tomorrow. We can certainly envision our future, both good and bad. Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Our imagination works extremely well, giving us plenty to worry about, but we just can’t know what resources, what help, what deliverance will come our way at the moment those things are needed, which isn’t now. Second, each day has its full quota of trouble. Jeremiah wrote, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans may include a fair amount of pain and suffering, but God has His reasons, and for those who are His, it will always turn out for their good, and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). In the meantime, God promises to give us, for the particular moment, and for the particular trial, whatever resources we will need to deal with it. What He does NOT promise is the power to face now what doesn’t even yet exist (and may never materialize).
Remember this: Worry is not a weapon against the enemy; worry is a weapon of the enemy! Mark Twain, in his folksy way, hit the nail on the head when he quipped, “In my life I have known many troubles – most of them never happened!” Be like the infant taken to the doctor for his vaccinations: he coos and giggles all the way there. Not knowing what’s in store, he can enjoy the moment and not fret the future. Oh when the needle pricks, he’ll cry hard enough – it’s okay to cry when it hurts. But it’s not okay, and highly unnecessary, to cry ahead of time. I am looking forward to being back, “live” so-to-speak, soon. I ask for your prayers. And, I trust in my Father in heaven! I encourage you to do the same as you face your days.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
"Confirned or On Standby?"
Jesus said, "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father." His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:26-33 NASB).
Bill Hybels tells a great story that illustrates an important truth. He wrote of his experience waiting in an airport to board a plane:
Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say; will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?
Knowing that you have a “confirmed ticket” is essential to a believer. After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity.
The great tragedy is no one needs not to be sure. Jesus has overcome the world. He has defeated death. The root of uncertainty is in where we place our faith. If your faith is in your ability, position, or works you will never have certainty. There will always be room for improvement. To be sure, you must place your faith completely and totally in the One who has already gone before us conquering sin and death forever. You must place your faith in Jesus who has made the final sacrifice for all our sin. Have you done that? You can. Do it right now and confirm your ticket!
Bill Hybels tells a great story that illustrates an important truth. He wrote of his experience waiting in an airport to board a plane:
Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say; will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?
Knowing that you have a “confirmed ticket” is essential to a believer. After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity.
The great tragedy is no one needs not to be sure. Jesus has overcome the world. He has defeated death. The root of uncertainty is in where we place our faith. If your faith is in your ability, position, or works you will never have certainty. There will always be room for improvement. To be sure, you must place your faith completely and totally in the One who has already gone before us conquering sin and death forever. You must place your faith in Jesus who has made the final sacrifice for all our sin. Have you done that? You can. Do it right now and confirm your ticket!
Monday, November 1, 2010
"The Tripod" (Part 5)
At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:22-30 NASB).
I want you to picture the tripod one last time as we look at the essentials of the Christian life. There are three legs that rise about ten feet to a platform. On that platform is a swivel mounted seat. It makes for a very comfortable place above the normal line of sight as you watch for wild game to move about their trails. As I thought about that, two interesting points struck me.
First, there must be a way to get to the seat. On the tripod there are welded “steps” on one of the legs. Without getting too “process” oriented, let me just say there are some things that you can and should do. You should be in the habit of prayer and meditation. This is the means of communication to and from God. There’s no “right” way to do this. In fact, anyway is the right way. Prayer is conversation with God. Reading the Scripture is conversation with God. One is more our talking to Him; the other is more Him talking to us. The key is doing it! Of course here are other things to be done to help in your “climb” up. But they are merely steps to the goal.
Second, the goal is to sit in the seat. What good is the tripod if it doesn’t lead you to sit down in the seat? Imagine how silly it would be to set up the tripod and never climb up and sit down! God’s invitation to us has always been to come and sit in His lap. Remember how Jesus put it:
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30 NASB).
Well, that’s the short version of how to live an abundant life! It is a journey. You will never arrive unless you begin. Have you begun the journey? Have you stumbled and quit? Come on, join me and climb on up into the tripod!
I want you to picture the tripod one last time as we look at the essentials of the Christian life. There are three legs that rise about ten feet to a platform. On that platform is a swivel mounted seat. It makes for a very comfortable place above the normal line of sight as you watch for wild game to move about their trails. As I thought about that, two interesting points struck me.
First, there must be a way to get to the seat. On the tripod there are welded “steps” on one of the legs. Without getting too “process” oriented, let me just say there are some things that you can and should do. You should be in the habit of prayer and meditation. This is the means of communication to and from God. There’s no “right” way to do this. In fact, anyway is the right way. Prayer is conversation with God. Reading the Scripture is conversation with God. One is more our talking to Him; the other is more Him talking to us. The key is doing it! Of course here are other things to be done to help in your “climb” up. But they are merely steps to the goal.
Second, the goal is to sit in the seat. What good is the tripod if it doesn’t lead you to sit down in the seat? Imagine how silly it would be to set up the tripod and never climb up and sit down! God’s invitation to us has always been to come and sit in His lap. Remember how Jesus put it:
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30 NASB).
Well, that’s the short version of how to live an abundant life! It is a journey. You will never arrive unless you begin. Have you begun the journey? Have you stumbled and quit? Come on, join me and climb on up into the tripod!
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