Feb 28

2 Corinthians 2:  ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? (NIV)

 

The other night I bbq'd chicken and wow, what a pleasing aroma.  I can remember feeling like everything was "just right" at that moment.  One of my favorite things about Christmas is all the smells - the Christmas tree, cookies baking, and candles burning.  Years ago, I can remember when Reja and I were dating the incredible smell of her unique perfume and how content I felt in her presence.  How awesome is it that God feels that same way about us (like we're chicken slowly roasting...). 

 

Somehow it inspires me to live differently as I view my life as an aroma to God.  There are times I'm sure when the locker room is a better smell than my actions and attitudes.  I pray, however, that as I grow into spiritual maturity, my life is smelling more pleasing to God more of the time.  May my life's song sing to You!

Words

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  - James 3:1-2 (NIV)

Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. - James 3:1-2 (Message)

I find these Bible verses difficult to understand completely.  I think I understand verse two as it discusses that words "bridle the whole body" or "in perfect control of life".  Although I think the Message's language is extremely strong.  The following verses 3-12 here in James discuss how something small like a bridle on a horse or a ship's rudder can control a large thing.  He also discusses how a small flame can cause a raging forest fire.  From these examples I can reason who important words coming from such a small thing as our tongue are extremely important.

James goes on to point out that what comes out of the mouth show what is inside the heart.  So, what I am further reasoning here is that if a person can control their words, then that is a very self-disciplined person (one of the fruits of the Spirit), able to control what comes out of their heart and if that person is a righteous person, then no impure or unclean thing would be in their words.  May I continue to work diligently at this effort, not to control my speech, but more importantly to have a pure heart so my speech only shows the love and compassion of Jesus for others in my heart.

The first verse in these texts is such a strong warning for teachers that I find myself suddenly nervous about being a teacher.  The following of the verse on words to this warning for teachers shows me how serious God considers false teachers.  "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Jesus says in Matthew 18:6.  2 Peter 2 speaks about false prophets and teachers and the language is very strong and I fear over whether I have ever taught an improper Bible doctrine.

Interestingly, I find the verse demeanor a little forgiving also.  "Teachers are held to the strictest standards.  And none of us is perfectly qualified."  This is the 'ol I know you're not perfect, but you better be trying to be talk.  There is forgiveness in it, but at the same time there is a high expectation for the work.

I find this to be very convicting and challenging.  First, my words need to reflect my heart and my heart needs to be refined daily, hourly, even minute-by-minute to the calling of Jesus, my Lord.  Second, my teachings need to be taken sincerely and with an utmost care for the words that are spoken.  This calling and use of a gift should be seen as a divine appointment.

Feb 27 Addendum

Reja built a Facebook site for our Sunday School class and I've challenged the kids to log onto it daily for a devotion and have copied my daily Blog to it.  I had to kick Ryan in the butt to log on and other than Luke Hambleton, its not getting much traffic.  Anyway, that's why today post reads the way it does.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/505149282913375/members/

Feb 27

James 3:2  For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. (AMP)

 

When asked about his dedication to Christ, former President Jimmy Carter, pointed to those working around him and referred the inquirer to them stating that his actions bore better witness than his words about himself.  How about me?  Would those who know me, see my life, my reactions to others, my language as reflecting a vibrant relationship with Christ?  How about you?  Would your friends say that you are the same person Monday - Saturday that you parade on Sundays and maybe Wednesday nights? 

 

As a young father I knew I had to control my language for what comes out of a fathers mouth (and heart!) will almost always come out of his children.  I had allowed the behavior of others (in this case coworkers - it seems Air Force people are competing with the Navy for the foul language award) to influence me.  So I began to work hard to control my language and even let my kids help hold be accountable by charging me a quarter for bad words.  In so doing, I made myself a "slave to the law" relying on my own strength to change what had become a bad habit.  After several years, however, I had to learn that habits are hard to break, but all things are possible with God.  Freeing myself from the law, I began to focus on yielding my tongue to God.  He changed my language and showed my in my own life the value of yielding to His control as conquering a bad habit was quite straightforward to God. 

 

Taking that to the next level, I've got to give God my attitudes.  Bad language is bad enough, but Jesus is just as concerned about what is in our hearts - what motivates our behavior.  In fact, what James is really talking about is how we treat people.  Do we respond to them in ways other than how Christ would respond.  I noticed that as I yield to Christ, he not only has conquered bad habits, but has really changed my character allowing me to look at people different from me with real, genuine concern where I used to look upon them with judgment.  I'm not perfect yet in this regard, but I do recognize and genuinely feel a change. 

 

How about you?  Is Christ in charge, or do you just attend church for the social benefits and run your life as you see fit?  Are you so desperate for friends that you would allow your language and very morals be compromised in the name of companionship?  Are you allowing Christ to control your very attitudes, thoughts, and therefore your words and language or do you simply give "lip service" to Jesus (see what I did there?)? 

 

 

Pretending?

The greatest among you will be your servant.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. - Matthew 23:11-12

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14

I find that these Bible texts really addresses my core, my heart.  The why am I doing what I'm doing.  I find myself reminded of Jesus' comment regarding the church in Laodicea in Revelations 3:15-16, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  Here Jesus says to me that it is more important for me to be who I am in my heart on the inside and not to pretend to love Him if I don't.  Be cold or be hot, but don't pretend to be something I'm not. (I'm a poet and don't know it.)

This matches what I am reading in the parable in Luke above, the Pharisee stood there accepted by the church and able to pray at the altar.  He prayed about himself, what he had done.  But the tax collector, he wouldn't even approach the altar because the church didn't want his kind in there and I suspect he felt a sense of shame for his sin, and he pleads for God's mercy.  The Pharisee is pretending, a hypocrite, but the tax collector is real.  Jesus wants the real within me.  If I'm not real, I need to find that impure motive and bring it out and address it.  I need to be like the tax collector, knowing that I am a sinner and pleading for God's mercy.

Why do I pray?  Why do I teach that class?  Why do I give to God?  Why do I support that missionary?  Why do I do a devotional?  What is my motive, my purpose, behind these actions?  Am I real in my heart as to the purpose of these things?  Or, is it a show.  Oh may I not be a hypocrite, cursed as these Pharisees were in Matthew by the Son of God!

But let me be real for a moment with a few more questions.  Why do I love my wife?  Is it because my heart desires her, yearns for her, wants to know her more closely than anyone else I know, values her above all other created persons, and my heart hurts when we're apart?  Why do I love my kids?  Why do I want them to be successful?  Is it so I can walk proudly?  Or is it so they can have a blessed life and be whomever God called them to be?  ...  What is my reality?  Jesus is calling me to His reality of genuine love and a genuine life.

Jesus further said in Revalation 3:17, "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."  What a destruction wealth in physical things can be, but if I relate this back to Luke, what a destruction a wealth in the knowledge of how to act in a churchly manner can be!  Jesus confronts me and says "You are a sinner!"  And Paul acknowledges saying, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 15).  I cannot forget my place as a fellow sinner with every person created.  I cannot forget my need for life support through God's mercy and grace.

From this position I should always be able to see His compassion for me and His desire for me to be compassionate to others.  From there, my heart can be real, my motive is real, my purpose is His purpose, and my place is kneeling under His throne knowing that I have nothing else.  My life must be Jesus the Christ, or it is nothing.

Feb 26

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor. (AMP)

 

An important reminder that we are here to serve everyone, not be served.  We are all sinners (Rom 3:23) before a high and holy God, therefore we are all the same - lost.  It doesn't matter how seemingly big or small the sin, the result is the same.  As Christians, we are to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15).  Our example is Christ who on the very night he was to be tried and handed over for crucifixion, made his last act before that event an act of humble service - he washed the feet of the disciples to remove the physical dirt right before he went to the cross to remove the spiritual dirt.  How then can we be proud of anything we can do?  Our accomplishments have no eternal significance, they will all pass away.  The only thing of real eternal value we can do is to commit our lives to Christ, become like Him, and share Him with others. 

Worry

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?   Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;  and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:25-34

Sometimes, when I read the Bible text and then read Tony's writing I lose the relevance between the two.  Today is one of those days. 

The Scripture text is about not worrying and trusting in our Heavenly Father to meet our needs.  I find it striking that Jesus took significant time and conversation on the matter.  This tells me that this one aspect of living is very important and something we should listen to carefully.  The phrase "do not worry" is used four times.  Jesus is telling me that my Heavenly Father is capable of meeting my needs; He can be trusted.  Wringing my hands and letting my job (my earthly way of providing food and clothing) weigh me down and dominate my personality, to take my optimism for my future, to obstruct my ability to serve Him, or to rob me of my joy for living is not how I'm supposed to live.

My job is to seek Him first, not second or third or later, but first and let God meet those physical needs.  I'm not supposed to seek my job first, success first, a clean house and yard first, a nice car or truck first, the best clothes first, the finest foods and drink first, or the best family first.  I am to seek God first and His righteousness, that is, the way He determines I should live.  This lines up completely for me in how Jesus lived.  He sought God first, then He was only concerned with the spiritual condition of others, and He let God supply His physical needs.

My cousin Anthony once told me, "Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you very far."  I always remember worry in this context.

...... Back to the writings now ......

I really like this statement by Tony, "I know that when a young man feels no one really cares about him and his life has no value, it's easy for him not to care about anyone else.  Then ... someone else's life doesn't seem like that big of a deal."  I think this isn't limited to just young men but to everyone. 

The defining attribute of Emmaus is showing people a glimpse of how much God loves them and the people of God love them.  This is what changes lives.  This is what allows for a person to value their own life and the lives of others.  They will not call a sin, a sin, and accept it in their life and their need to be forgiven until they know this.  They will not show compassion for others until they know this.  They will not connect into their church or community until they know this.

The value we place on all of the "others" in this world and the compassion we show to them must be the defining attribute of us Christians.  All of our work should be rooted in our compassion to show them how much God loves them and has extended an invitation to know Him.  If we do anything that does not have a way to lead to this tip of the spear of compassion, it is idle busyness for our own satisfaction.  

Performing Christian service with no compassion for others is "like sitting in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you very far."  May this not be the definition of our service or our church's service to those Jesus died for.

Feb 25

Matthew 6:25-26  Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? (AMP)

 

Easy to read.  Hard to live.  We want to be in control and when it comes to life, death, and health, we really have little control.  Yet, we spend a great deal of time trying to modify those things we have little control over.  Listen next time you ask for prayer requests - 95% of them deal with health issues.  We are encouraged to trust God and control those things we CAN control - our actions, decisions, attitudes, etc. 

February 24, 2014

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV)

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (Message)

This weekend working the Emmaus Walk, there was the widest array of social class of pilgrims I've ever seen on a walk.  But I can honestly say that each person had a platform, an influence that was theirs.  One such young man, a man who is a part of a program called Celebrate Recovery, sang a solo a cappella that was inspirational.  He used who he is, what he has experienced including his mistakes, to leave an influence on the group.

Here in 1 Corinthians, the Scripture is deliberately instructing us that our calling to Christ and to His work has absolutely nothing to do with our physical class, or body, or education, or abilities.  It even suggest that God picks those with less to do more so those with more can look past the physical and see the spiritual power behind it.  I specifically like how the NKJV version of verse 29 says that this is done so "that no flesh should glory in His presence." 

When I teach, do I think I can do so because I have experience or because I have that ability?  If so, I need to be corrected and make sure I know I can do it because God has given me wisdom to interpret His Scripture, courage to accept an invitation to the work, and a voice to speak with.  And I need to be thankful that God has provided an opportunity and considers me worthy to do it.  May no part of my flesh seek glory in His presence or in His work.

But I need to know that I can be used, failures and all, to have an influence on others for His sake.  Whatever the platform God presents to me, I need to be certain to use it, and not let my fleshly doubts get the glory and keep me from using it.  But that He should get the glory through my courage to stand and proclaim His good news.

February 22, 2014

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

"I wish I had learned more about failure when I was young - how to handle it and appreciate it.  ...  Failure happens regularly ... it's part of everyone's experience.  ...  FAILURE ISN'T A PART OF YOUR IDENTITY; IT'S SIMPLY A PART OF YOUR JOURNEY." - Tony Dungy

God's timing with this lesson today is amazing.  I believe I needed to have this today.

I find a tremendous amount of confidence in that BOLD statement.  Confidence I don't think I have ever felt before.  I wish so very much that someone could have explained this to me when I was young.  I have carried all my failures with me for so long and they have become part of my identity, something there were never supposed to be.  Why do I not think I can lead or do something great?  It's because I can see my past failures, they are right there in my hand.  Who would want me to lead?  Don't they see these failures? 

When we are driving and we hit a pothole, we don't stop and take a picture of the pothole and put it in our car, we keep on driving.  What we do is we remember where that pothole is and the next time we are on that road we are careful to drive around it.  Failures are supposed to be left behind.  They are steps in our journey.  Who we are is whomever God has made us to be.  He must be our identity.

February 21, 2014

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. - Proverbs 27:17

"We get to choose what type of teammate we want to be. ... Be intentional in finding ways to bring out the best in those you are in contact with on a regular basis." - Tony Dungy

Jim Hammond.  His name stands out to me because he is this type of person.  He emits joyous, infectious emotion and elevates those around him.  I want to be like that and it is very difficult for me.  It simply doesn't feel natural to me.  I pray that I'll find a way, that God will show me a way to be more like that.  I want to become a natural encourager and a person who lifts those around me.

On another side of this verse as it relates to marriage.  Why is it that when our wife, who is our close friend, is that teammate who "sharpens" us we men bristle at it and even react negatively in a strong manner?  I pray that I'm over this in my life and I am very sensitive to my reaction and how I accept it, but for so long I had such a hard time accepting that.  And I know I'm not the only one, I've talked to many men who have similar problems with their wives.  I have learned that my wife only does this because she loves me and wants the best for me.  I have no idea why that was so hard to accept for so long.

Feb 24

1 Corinthians 1: ²⁷ [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. (AMP)

 

Tony Dungy's devotion hit me harder than most today.  I really like this particular sentence: "...I thought about the many people who had built into my life,..."  He went on to highlight the "opportunity to to speak about the Lord to millions..." and then highlighted one such individual, a middle school principal.  The word "built" implies planning, resourcing, and extended labor with an intentional commitment to completion, quality, and a stake in the final outcome.  This takes a commitment of resources including the most precious, resource, time.  I tend to view programs at work and projects around the house this way, but not my relationships with people.  

 

In fairness to myself, I've spent quite a bit of time teaching Sunday School, working with the youth at Church, other groups, projects, and programs at church as well as Emmaus and Chrysalis.  I tend to focus, however, on the program, project, or effort rather than the people.  Intellectually I know that God commands us into relationships, not programs, but I don't approach life with that intentionality.  So often, my approach is one of "hey, I'm gonna be there and do my thing with whoever shows" rather than focusing on building into the lives of individuals. 

 

I wonder if this isn't a trap by Satan.  If you look at our church today, our focus is on programs and budgets and we count the numbers in church as a measure of success.  If this had been Jesus' priority, he would have scurried around the countryside trying to baptize as many as he could.  His ministry would have been more than 3 years, and he might have waited until today to leverage mass media and telecommunication to reach the entire world.  Instead, he lived with great intentionality into the lives of just 12 men.  Obviously he preached and ministered to thousands of others, but with the exception of a few occasions the vast majority of the Gospels are dedicated to Him relating in a real, intentional, and personal way to one or a few people at a time.

 

Lord change my worldview from a focus on building things to building people, yet not me, but YOU who is in me.  I pray for Your devine inspiration in my roles at church to encourage us to always seek Your will in all we do and to keep a laser-like focus on building and relating to people rather than programs and budgets. 

Feb 20

2 Peter 3: ⁹ The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. (AMP)

 

Grumpy.  Really grumpy and I'm not sure exactly why.  I could blame it on countless frustrations at work or drama at church or the fact that the stupid little dog chewed yet another hole in my couch, but that really doesn't explain my internal rage.  I'm just really inexplicably mad at the world right now.  I could quite easily take the stupid little dog out in the backyard and shoot her and that's just not me. 

 

Praise God that He is steady and unchanging.  He is slow to anger and doesn't desire to "take anyone in the backyard and shoot them."  My own anger shows how broken, fallen, and unlike God I am.  I'm thankful that God doesn't have the same attitude about me that I have about everything right now. 

 

It's not clear to me why I'm so grumpy, but I know the source of joy, contentment, and fulfillment is God.  I know at least in my head that when I'm out of sorts, I need to draw closer to God.  My rage, however, wants to simply lash out in anger at everything and everyone that is on my nerves.  I know God doesn't condone that behavior and am thankful that I'm returning to the habit of daily devotions.  Perhaps just beating the snot out of the keyboard this morning as I pour out this confession will somehow begin the breaking of this negative attitude.  It's clear that I need to yield more completely to a Holy and loving God. 

 

Lord my attitude today reveals that I am not who you need me to be.  I'm not looking at others with a loving heart.  I'm not anxiously anticipating how you will work in, around, and through me today.  In reality, I don't want you to.  I know that this weekend's Emmaus experience is one I need greatly, but to be honest, I'd rather just stay home and sit and stew in my own negative juices.  From your perspective, I must look like a stupid little dog that isn't worth the powder it would take to blow away.  Forgive me.  Please don't allow me to sit in this cesspool of negativity.  Thank you that in your divine omnipotence, you know I am worth salvaging.  

I am a Sinner

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

In this reference, the writer is describing that the Lord is not slow in coming again.  He said He would come again, yet some wonder when and why He hasn't come already.  So the writer explains that time as we understand it is not the same to God (v8) and follows with this verse. 

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise," in fact, the Lord has already kept every promise.  We may not be aware of it yet regarding prophecies, but trust me, they have all been fulfilled.  But even better, His promise of bringing a redeemer, a Savior, a Christ, or a deliverer has already been fulfilled and if we believe it He is not slow in bringing us redemption, reconciliation, salvation, or deliverance from who we are and what we've done. 

Most people focus on  what they've done or what others have done.  I find in reading about Jesus that He did not do that.  He focused on the simple concept that everyone He was in contact with was a sinner.  The size or quantity of the sins didn't seem to matter, although I get an idea that He was more contradictory to the church leaders over their idea of being cleaner than others than of the most vile sins of the common people.

We should never lose the focus of being able to stand in front of a mirror and say out loud, "I am a sinner!"  Can I say this to myself?  "I am a sinner!"  "I am a sinner!"  "I am a sinner!"  It is difficult to say to yourself at first without crying.  But then, you accept it.  And once you do you immediately see how precious Jesus, your Savior is to you, and like Jacob who wouldn't let go of God, you won't let go of Jesus.  Good thing is, you don't have to, God is "not slow in keeping His promise ... instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Faith Wide Open

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”  Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! - Acts 5:27-29

I find some interesting things in this text.  The first and foremost the inspirational courage and spirit of Peter and the apostles with him who would stand before this council and have no hesitation about declaring their actions or their intentions with absolutely no fear of them as men.  They had just watched this same group conspire and rig the system so that Jesus would be tortured and crucified, yet they are unfazed, full of the Holy Spirit and empowered to do God's will.

The next thing I find interesting is what the council says.  They say "you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching".  This confirms that the apostles were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do, "Go and make disciples."  I believe that when we have a clear direction from God we have an inspired purpose.  And when we have an inspired purpose we are confident and able to be more dependent upon God for the resources.

They also said to the apostles that they were "determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."  They are obviously talking about the blood of Jesus who they had crucified.  Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I read into this that they are very uneasy about the whole event.  Their conscience is not clear and they are struggling to settle into their role of what was done.  So, they've commanded these followers of Jesus to not speak of it hoping it will go away, but they are continually confronted with growing crowds of believers and with a new faith that does away with them.  So they are guilty and threatened.  Then to make matters worse, they flog these apostles and send them out and the apostles celebrate that they have been considered worthy by God to suffer in the name of Jesus and they proclaim His name and teach with even more authority! 

This is inspirational to me and very convicting.  I long for the day and time when the Holy Spirit might rule so well over me; when I might see all the world as just a field for planting God's truth; when I might have so little regard for my own well-being that I would be able to celebrate suffering for Jesus' sake.  Even last night in a meeting to discuss the homeless in our community I had radical ideas, but refused to put them out to the group believing that the group assembled just couldn't handle them.  I would do well to just live "wide open" spiritually and let people thing what they want to think, as these apostles lived.

Feb 19

Acts 5: ²⁷ So they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning, ²⁸ Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this ^[a]Man’s blood upon us. ²⁹ Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men. (AMP)

 

It is clear to me that Peter was so compelled to be a witness for Christ that he could simply not contain himself.  This wasn't an issue of rebelling against the council and the high priest, this was about the gospel message bursting forth from a transformed disciple of Christ.  Peter wasn't known for his courage, he was the one who feared for his own safety and denied Christ.  Yet after that event and the resurrection, Peter had a new found boldness.  The difference was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.  I have that same spirit, yet I lack this boldness and zeal.  Perhaps I'm serving exactly where God wants me and he doesn't need me to have that kind of courage.  Conversely, perhaps I'm still struggling for control and am failing to allow the Spirit to become an all consuming fire driving passion and boldness. 

 

Lord may I step aside and allow your Spirit to work in and through me to transform me into the person you need me to be. 

How You Faithing It?

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. - Acts 20:22-24

It seems to me that we have a mistaken view regarding the conclusion of faith.  Most people seem to believe that you either have it or you don't.  You either believe in God and in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ or you don't.  While there is truth in that thinking, I believe that this step of faith is only the beginning in a person's faith journey and God has no intention of keeping you there. 

My experience is that faith has to be built with most people.  It's shaky at first, but after relying on it some you gain some confidence in it.  You hear other people's testimony about how their faith brought them through difficult times and your faith grows some more.  Then after relying on it and it alone for a life decision you gain some great confidence and trust.  Once you've had to rely on faith alone, be prepared to have to do it again.  And so it goes.  Your faith is hopefully ever increasing.

Unfortunately we do not consistently rely on our faith.  We get comfortable in our faith and start believing in ourselves too much.  We justify what we want and what we see and allow the lies of Satan to tell us we did those faith things ourself or it was just coincidence.  And our faith falls as we lose confidence and trust in it.

I believe that God will consistently work for His children to put them in situations and circumstances to ever increase their faith.  He will not let you sit still where you are to stagnate.  With each wrong road I believe God puts a turning lane and road sign all along that wrong road waiting on us to take it.  After each victory of faith I believe God will provide yet another level we can yet believe and another miracle to prove His Lordship.   

Paul had great faith and yet God kept him in a position of continually having to rely upon it.  God did not get him to a great level of faith and let him go sit atop a mountain as a wise hermit.  He didn't hole up in a monastery to study and write never talking to others.  He didn't settle down into a town and preach to the same 50 people every week hoping they'd get out and do something.  God led him to new places, new people, and new worldly dangers.  And Paul went, knowing the dangers, aware of the risks, but relying upon faith in God and God alone with each trip, each conversation, each message to the people.

Just as the Hebrew children were about to go into the furnace and said "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)  I believe that Paul shared this level of faith.  Yes, he might be thrown into prison and tortured but the Christ he served is able to deliver him from it, and if He doesn't deliver him from it, he still will serve Christ as He directs.

Feb 18

Acts 20: ²² And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit and obligated and compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there ²³ Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy). (AMP)

 

I wonder how often we miss God's call when we perceive danger or personal risk and then rationalize by thinking that God loves me and wouldn't call me to something that costly.  Clearly Paul either had an irrationally low amount of fear or uncommon faith.  While I may not be called to bear the physical torture and death Paul did, I am called to represent Christ everywhere I go and with everyone with whom I come in contact.  I wonder if my coworkers would say that I am clearly a Christian and their lives are enriched by knowing me or not? 

 

I also find that the dialogue in today's church fails to acknowledge God's ultimate victory.  The other day, for instance I heard someone say that a person had "lost their battle with cancer."  My Dad had cancer and I've always viewed his death as ultimate victory over a terrible disease.  He is clearly not suffering and he didn't have to put up with years of torment by ingesting poisons in hopes of killing cancer cells.  Instead, a merciful God granted him a shortened battle and ultimate victory over this world.  We are not people of this world.  While here, we have a mission to "store up treasures in heaven."  I've always believed that if the streets are paved with gold, treasure as we understand it on earth has no purpose in Heaven.  Instead the treasures scripture refers to are the souls of others with whom God calls us to share the Good News of Christ.  I wonder when God holds me accountable some day if he finds my witness bold and declarative or shy and retreating?  To hide behind my own salvation with the attitude of "I've got mine, you all are on your own" is the ultimate in dereliction of duty.

 

Lord let me face today with courage and joy knowing that you hold my future and ultimately it is with you.  May I live with the certainty that there is nothing that these in this world can do to endanger that victory you have already won.   

Equal Ground

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:26-28

The idea expressed by this verse is that God sees everyone as who they are apart from their physical body.  Therefore, no person has a title, possession, gender, ethnicity or color.  They have a spirit, a soul, their own essence or "heart" as it is commonly referred as in Scripture.  I believe this is all that God sees in each of us when He looks upon us.  The more I read about what Jesus did and what He said the more convinced I am that His singular focus was each person's relational condition to God and nothing else.  We would do well to follow in His focus and be sensitive to His Spirit in us to listen and feel what He tells us regarding those around us so that we might know how to minister to them.

I remember learning this nursery rhyme when I was a child:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

I always thought this simple message in a children's nursery rhyme was profound.  We are all His children.  We are all precious in His sight.  He loves us all as His children.  Three very significant concepts that most adults have a hard time accepting. 

Reverend Siglar says, "We are all beggars at the foot of the Cross."  And as other ministers have said, "The ground is level at Calvary."  No single person stands even a hair taller or shorter than another; no single person has any more significance than another; no single person looks any more appealing than another; no single person is any closer or farther away than another; but all are on equal ground before God with His open invitation to join Him and accept His love.  The only distinguishing difference among people is that some accept the invitation and some reject it.

Feb 17

Galatians 3: ²⁶ For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. ²⁷ For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. ²⁸ There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (AMP)

 

It's so refreshing to work with many of the adults at Chrysalis.  Often when working with youth, I hear adults say things like "kids these days" or "I hope they're listening."  I'm guilty of it myself.  So often at Chrysalis, however, I hear adults praying over youth who have just given a talk saying, "Thank you God.  I needed to hear that."  It's refreshing when people are hungry for His word and are open to the fact that he may inspire young people to deliver a message of hope, joy, or conviction. 

 

Lord may I always be open to Your message revealing Your will, Your ways, and Your purpose regardless of the source.  May I not discount anyone because of their apparent difference from me.  I pray that I might always be humble knowing that at the core I'm a sinner in desperate need of a savior who can not only wash my sins away, but may keep me from sinning further.  God please overwhelm me with your holy presence such that my only desire is to honor you.  May your presence be so consuming that I look upon everyone with the love you have for them rather than the judgement of this world.

In the Body

God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. – Romans 8:3

Why did He have to come in the flesh? 

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t. – Romans 7:18

Because our flesh is weak and it is impossible to be saved or reconciled to God in the flesh, Jesus had to come as we are.

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood.  For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.  Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. – Hebrews 2:14-15

The flesh allowed Him to die.  Just as it will allow all of us to die.  The flesh cannot save.

We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.  Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.  Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. – Hebrews 2:16-17

Jesus was more than just flesh, He was our Holy Priest, making the highest sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. But by being in the flesh and not sinning, He could offer what we can’t, a sinless body.  He could offer the perfect sacrifice, one that could be acceptable to God and therefore death would no longer be an eternal separation from God.

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.  He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.  - Hebrews 7:26

That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.  But you have given me a body to offer.” – Hebrews 10:5

And by sacrificing His sinless flesh, “God did what the Law could not do” and “declared an end to sin’s control over us”, specifically sin’s control over our eternal destiny.

February 14, 2014

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. - Ephesians 5:3-5

I find these verses striking.  For one, you could read verse 5 and argue that someone could lose their salvation.  Although I don't believe that theology I am aware that some do.  I believe you have to take into account verse 6 and 7 if you are reading this passage in this way.  Two, I believe the writer hits the nail on the head when he says that "such a person is an idolater".  I have about convinced myself that any sin is a form of idolatry.  Jesus said (Matthew 22:37) the most important commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  All sin, as best as I can tell, violates that. 

Our culture's massive entertainment industry drives the following messages in almost every venue it can fit the message into: homosexuality is okay and normal (even encouraged), teasing and flirting with sexual intent  is expected and normal (and encouraged), and sex is okay anytime two people agree on it (there are no consequences).  There is no Biblical basis for any of these.  But these are shoved into my face on every mode of entertainment, even sports and politics.  Our church seems to do very little in its rebuttal to this attack and invasion.

Contrary to when I was a teenager when the girls said "no" to the pressure of their boyfriends, today's boys have to be strong enough to say "no".  While I would consider this to be very difficult for our young men, I believe it puts them in the right leadership role.  Of course, I hope they find a girlfriend who has the same values that I hope my boys have. 

It is difficult to be a failed person.  It is difficult to have fought for so long through so much only to find out that you can crack apart.  No one likes to fumble and no one likes to lose.   Through God's grace and mercy, and my extraordinary wife, my hope is that I might be more than who I could settle on being, and I can only hope that my boys are much stronger and wiser and can be much, much, more than I.  

Feb 14

Ephesians 5: ³ But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [^[a]of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people).(AMP)

 

One of the most important messages we as fathers and church leaders can get out to the youth of today is the responsibility to protect the marital bed and their future spouses NOW.  The past doesn't matter to God where repentance is real, so is forgiveness.  I fear this message is being drowned out by a media-rich environment that drives an expectation of promiscuity and a church that has bought into a lie that bold proclamation of scripture and high expectations might drive away some people.  Its time as a father and a church leader to take a bold and courageous stand to love people, but expect that dedication to a sinful lifestyle is inconsistent with a walk with Christ.  

 

Lord let me proclaim your love and high expectations first to my bride, then to my own children- your unique blessings to me, then to those you've placed in my life.

 

 

Honor your parents

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. - Exodus 20:12

This is certainly a difficult thing to do for me with regards to my father.  Hopefully I do honor my mother and am grateful for the difficult things she had to do as a single mom just to get us through high school and out of the house. 

I know that when I was in the 10th grade her moving us to Arizona from her lifelong home in Mississippi was a very difficult thing for her to do.  When I asked her why we were moving she said that she just wanted to be able to not have to borrow money from her mom each month to make it and survive.  Turns out she was having to borrow around $200 a month just to pay bills.  My cousin Joe's dad and I had asked if I could stay in MS and live with them and not move.  She said no; the family has to stay together.  I'm sure that was tough for her and I know she cried herself to sleep more than a few nights before we moved.

It's memories like that of my mom that make this "honor your father" thing so hard to do.  He left her when my sister was 6, I was 2, and my brother was 1.  Both of my parents were working as teachers at the time. ...  My dad told my brother and me once when I was in the 4th grade that we could leave and he didn't care if we ever came back.  We didn't.  ...  I needed running shoes for track when I was in 6th grade so I asked my mom if we could get some.  She said she didn't have  the money for them, but I might could call my dad and ask.  So, I did.  Two days later there was a pair of shoes stuffed in our mailbox.  He didn't bother to pick me up, take me to a shoe store and let me try some on and pick a pair.  He just went and bought a pair and stuffed them in the mailbox.  ...  He never once attended a football, basketball, baseball, or track game or meet in my life for myself, my brother or sister.  He lived less than 5 miles from all the events. 

As a kid, what do you do with memories like these?  How do you pick up your pieces, glue yourself back together and honor your father?  I would love to be able to settle it by saying "I don't care", but as Andy Stanley points out, we were made to care and we can't not care no matter how we try to fool our self.  Going back to yesterday's devotion, my job is to set the table, prepare the table, and send him an invitation "in spite of" who he is for Christ sake.  Then it's up to love to conquer all.  Is that honoring my earthly father?  I'm not sure, but I am sure it honors my Heavenly Father.

Love the Sinner

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8

Love covers over all wrongs. - Proverbs 10:12b

[Love] keeps no record of wrongs. - 1 Corinthians 13:5b

Today's devotion can best be summed up by "Love the sinner, hate the sin."  But it is mostly about loving the sinner.  This is a very difficult thing to do for us.  But I think Andy Stanley did the best job of any message I've ever heard on this topic in his Future Family series in the fourth video message.  I'll try to sum up the thoughts as they relate to this topic.

The verses used were 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."  The idea is that God reconciled us "in spite of" us.  God restored friendly relations with us.  He cleared the table, prepared the table, and gave us an invitation and the only thing that can keep us from being at the table is us.  We must choose to accept the invitation and sit at the table or to turn it down. 

For those of us who choose to sit at the table, we have been given "the ministry of reconciliation".  We must tell the world "that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them".  This is our witness to others, but there is more, God "has committed us the message of reconciliation".  2 Corinthians 5:20 follow on this explaining that "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."  That is, if we are carrying the message of reconciliation, we must do so as an ambassador of Christ where God is making His appeal through our actions.

So, if God is willing to clear the table, prepare the table, and send us an invitation to us who have sinned against him, "in spite of" us, we must also be willing to clear the table, prepare the table, and send an invitation to others who have sinned against us, "in spite of" them, for His sake.  It's a long sentence but I think it is accurately stating why and how we are to love others.

Healing

Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray.  ...  Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.  If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:13-16

There is another aspect of these verses that came to me a year or so ago.  "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.  If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."  There is a direct connection between healing and forgiveness.  Jesus also addresses this when He heals a paraplegic man as recorded in Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5.  He tells the man, "Your sins are forgiven" and the man is healed.  Once questioned on whether He can forgive a man's sins, Jesus asks, "Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?"  In essence, Jesus is saying that the two are the same.

There are a lot of rabbits to chase in these verses.  But the one that was revealed to me was that we need to be healed from our sins, not our physical infirmities.  People do not see their spiritual condition until they are praying to God and He reveals it to them slowly, or a man of God delivering a message of God shows it to them.  I have to be healed from my sins.  I have to be healed from the sins people commit against me.  Jesus came to forgive sins and He heals us; we depend upon Him and nothing else.

Our spiritual condition is what matters and nothing else.  Jesus will heal us of this or that if it causes our belief in Him to be improved and it's not just a sideshow of His power.  How many more will believe in Him because of the miracle and our great testimonies of Jesus?  While I think that is the real question behind any healing, I also know He listens intently and sincerely to His children and He is ready to ease our suffering.  As a sinful man and a father I have compassion for my children, how much more a perfect Father has for His children!

Yet I long to have the friend relationship with Him.  The one where we are always together and I can say to Him, as I would say to anyone "Hand me that screwdriver", "Heal them" knowing He will or that He will answer the thought in truth.  This is the way I think Paul and Peter walked in Acts and that is the way I want to walk.

Prayer

Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray.  ...  Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.  If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:13-16

"Do we actually believe that we can be effective in prayer?" Dungy asks.  This question certainly gets right to the heart of us.  Prayer, as simple as the definition is (talking to God), can be complicated for people.  Follow this thinking: Yes, I believe that prayer is talking to God and yes I definitely have a peace after sincerely praying, but isn't God going to do what God is going to do no matter what my prayer is, and if He already knows my needs isn't He either going to help me in some way or not as He sees fit no matter what my prayer is?  I think a lot of people get lost in these type of thoughts.

The Bible says that the "prayers of a righteous man availeth much".    Moses prayed and God parted the Red Sea.  This was done just for the Hebrews.  God could have prevented the Egyptians from getting to them in a million different ways and not have parted the sea, but He wanted them to see His power and to not fear anyone or anything but Him and He wanted them to know that they could depend upon Him in their time of need.  Daniel prayed and God closed the mouths of lions.  Daniel prayed and angels were sent to him and the devil warred against them as they sought to deliver God's message to him.  Peter prayed and Tabitha came back from the dead.  Each one a man praying to the same God.

I prayed in the delivery room when Reed was being born.  The doctor was ready to go for the C-section as the baby's heart rate was slowing and Julie's blood pressure was rising really high.  Reed was stuck in the birth canal and they couldn't pull him out.  People were everywhere in the room running in and out.  As I just finished my prayer, the doctor looked at me and said they were going to have to take him quickly.  I replied, "Try one more time".  God saw that Reed was delivered.

Jack had a fever of 103, then 104, then 105.  105!  I thought this was a cheap thermometer error so we checked it with another one - 105.  Julie called the ER, they said to watch it closely and to try to cool him.  I didn't know people could have high fevers like that.  We watched him closely and took his temperature every few minutes.  Finally it settled down to 104.  We were both tired and had to sleep.  But what if in our sleep it spiked?  Very unsettling to parents.  I prayed.  The next morning, no fever.  How do you go from having a super high fever to no fever?  God took it from him.

I believe that if you want to be good at praying, you need to pray.  For me, I have to take a few deep breaths, settle my mind and body to avoid thoughts that are not focused on my being in the presence of God.  Open my heart to input, then start praying, just talking to God.  There are many methods on how to pray, but as a father all I want from my boys is for them to put everything aside and just talk to me and listen to me so we can draw closer together.  I believe this is exactly what God desires from us in prayer.

Feb 11

James 5: ¹³ Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God]. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name. ¹⁵ And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. (AMP)

 

I'm hugely undisciplined in prayer.  My prayers are usually short, self-centered, and needy.  I do thank God continually for my wife and my children and revel daily in the blessings they are to me.  I can clearly remember thinking when my kids were little that it was too bad they had to grow up as they seemed so perfect at that time.  Somehow God has had me grow with them and I appreciate every day with them as the best yet.  I also thank God for special people in my life who have become like family. 

 

Unfortunately, like my miserably weak prayer life, my appreciation for (probably all) of them ends with a short prayer of thanksgiving.  I've got to learn to pray for actionable ways to show my appreciation both to God and others.  While I think the worlds pressure to "just don't stand there, do something" poses a high risk of taking action outside of God's will, clearly we can't simply "don't just do something, stand there."  I need to have God teach me how to follow prayers of thanksgiving with an unmistakable message of what to do to better appreciate and minister to others. 

 

Perhaps like prayer, action guided by God's vision is a discipline.  For my prayer life to be effective and outwardly focused, I've got to journal.  I've got to write down prayer requests and stay focused upon them or my mind wanders and I lose track, then I simply quit and go on about my day.  Perhaps I need to be in constant prayer for just a few and pray for actionable plans that God needs to accomplish both in and through me. 

 

Finally, I end with a few questions.  Last night I asked Mom why it was necessary or advantageous for many people to join in prayer.  Do numbers praying or the length or "earnestness" of prayer somehow change God's mind?  I don't think so, but scripture seems to leave the door open to that possibility.  I think a number of people praying together provides an opportunity for them to become like-minded and aligned with God's will.  Additionally, the old testament likens the prayers of the saints to a "sweet aroma" unto God, so perhaps the prayers of many are an act of worship to our high and holy God.  Still, I wonder why God says "where two or three are gathered together, there I am also."  I know God lives in me and is therefore constantly with me.  So what does it mean to join in corporate prayer?  Can't one single prayer, muttered under ones breath get the message to heaven?  Perhaps the discipline of prayer is a tool God uses to force us to "be still and know..." 

Tabitha

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. - Acts 9:36

I think this is an awesome testimony for Tabitha.  All we know about her is that she was "always," not sometimes, not when it was convenient, not just when she felt like it, but "always doing good and helping the poor".  That is an incredible testimony.  I have a long way to go for it to be said of me anything more than that when it was convenient I sometimes did good or occasionally helped the poor.  I find this very convicting.

Unfortunately, the in very next verse says she died and the story of Tabitha becomes her coming back to life as Peter comes to her house and prays for her.  I don't want to take away from her testimony, since that's what I want to focus on, but this is Peter, not Jesus, who is with her when she comes back to life.  Obviously Peter does this in the name of Jesus and through His Power alone, but I find it amazing.  Contrary to many theologians and preachers of today, I believe this is still possible in today's world.  There just aren't any men or women following Jesus that closely.

Back to reflecting upon Tabitha, I find myself going to this verse.  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life (Philippians 2:14-16a).  I think the reflection of the widows in the story of Tabitha is that she was like a star in the sky to them.  She shined brightly.

I don't think it was just her works that the people appreciated, but her true compassion that led to her works.  I say this, having lived in this world, because I know that you have to have a real compassion for people to make them things requiring your time and energy just for their need.  Otherwise you'll stop and you can't do it "always."  And if some of the poor then are like some of them now, you have to have a real compassion to "always ... help the poor."  They can be very difficult to help at times.

I want to have a testimony like hers one day and I want to shine like stars in the sky to the lost in this world.  It is imperative for me to find where I can be doing good and helping others.  I pray today that God would impress upon me where that ministry opportunity is and what's my purpose for it.

Feb 10

1 Corinthians 10: ²³ All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. ²⁴ Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].  (AMP)

 

Tony does a good job on this one.  I think the best summary is that we are to constantly be focused on others rather than self.  When every decision is driven by the "what's in it for me" attitude, we end up in sin, but worse mis-represent Christ to a lost world.  He came to serve, not be served.  I note that he was intentional about withdrawing at times to commune with His Father, but once re-charged, he was back to serving.  Having recently been reminded of my own shortcomings in this area, this is clearly a growth area for me and my family. 

 

Lord I pray that I would be focused more on others needs and less on myself. 

Feb 8

James 1: ² Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. ³ Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.⁴ But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (AMP)

 

Perhaps the most stressing situations to me are interpersonal conflict.  The worst is when I'm caught in pitched battle between two people or parties and am derided by both sides.  This is exactly the situation I found myself in for about 5 years in the late '90's.  It took constant prayer just to get myself up and in the truck to go to work.  The personal attacks included attacks on my faith as yet another example of being weak minded.  It was hard to feel joy during this time.  I decided at that point that the verse is one more focused on the intellectual exercise of perseverance.  I was to focus on the fact that in the end God would win, I needed to be clearly on His side, and in the interim I was to endure with a positive witness for him.  I don't think I was all that successful, in fact its the only time in my life that I had to go to mediation to solve a squabble. 

 

Since that time, I went on to a senior leadership position at Eglin.  One of the ring leaders when through a divorce, left government service, and moved out of the area.  The other retired, got a high paying consulting job for a while, but is back in government service and we are actually collaborating on numerous high visibility initiatives.  I'm not claiming wordly success because of anything I did, I just testify to God's faithfulness during what seemed like an endless time of trial.  I testify to the songs that remind us "there may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning" and "great is thy faithfulness - morning by morning new mercies I see.  All I have needed, thy hand hath provided..." 

 

 

 

Perseverance

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

Dungy comments in today’s devotion, “Consider that you may be planted exactly where God intended for you to be in order to grow your faith in Him, even though the rain and wind are blowing so hard it may have clouded the broader, bigger, better vision He had set before you earlier.  …  God never wastes what you are going through for Him.  He will use it to grow you more into the person He wants you to be.  …  It’s not about what you can get out of where you are, but what you can put into and do by enduring right where He has planted you.”

I really don’t know how to fabricate joy out of a trial.  There is stress, intense emotion, deep lows, and somehow I’m supposed to consider it joy.  This reminds of the verse that says something about God disciplining those He loves so be happy when disciplined.  It is just proof that God loves me.  Love hurts sometimes.

In any type of physical training, the effort of push or pull against weight produces muscle and fitness.  It is the struggle against the object that produces results.  Similarly, the testing of faith in trials produces perseverance, a characteristic of God.  My Bible says that God is long-suffering, a quality that I am so glad is His, for my sake!

James says in the verse that if we allow the testing to produce perseverance, the finished work helps us to be mature.  I’m not sure what is meant by not lacking, maybe being a full person, well put together in our emotional and spiritual condition?  Maybe perseverance is such a character builder, that it completes character.  I need to research that verse I think. 

Die and Live

We were buried with Him . . . that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . even so we also should walk in newness of life —Romans 6:4

Oswald Chambers says, "No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a 'white funeral'-the burial of the old life.  If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a 'white funeral,' a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ.  Nothing can defeat a life like this.  It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him."

I am reminded of the movie Castaway where Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) says, "I couldn't even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over nothing.  And that's when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow, that I had to stay alive.  Somehow. I had to keep breathing.  Even though there was no reason to hope. ... I know what I have to do now.  I gotta keep breathing.  Because tomorrow the sun will rise.  Who knows what the tide could bring?"  There is no way that any of us can kill ourselves in a way that is acceptable to those around us or to God.  So, we, like this movie character, have power over nothing.  If I am to die, God needs to kill me in a way He sees fit.  If I am to live, He has to do the living.  

Oswald continues, "Have you really come to your last days?  You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them?  You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement.  Death means you stop being.  You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. ... It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death.  It is dying— being “baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3)."  

We can't be a "new creature" if we are the same person.  The hard reality is, no matter how hard we make a humanly change within ourselves, we are going to hurt someone God created and loves.  The new life, the new creature, has to be made by the Creator.  Somehow I have to quit living and God has to be the only life.  I can be no more.  "This is the will of God, your sanctification ..." (1 Thessalonians 4:3).  

This is a difficult theological concept to practice.  I know how to say all the church sayings regarding this on how to live, but how really do you die and bury yourself and keep physically living?  "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).  Paul understood this and he craved that everyone would know Jesus, despite of himself.  How can we ever reach such a goal of Christ living through us?  It seems so impossible, but then "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26b).

Like Chuck, we gotta keep breathing because the Son did rise.  We have a hope.  And who know what the tide will bring tomorrow?  Jesus says, it will be a new life!