Don’t Put Anyone in a Box

How many times have we judged someone because they are not like us? We look at their clothes, their jobs, their families, and how they act. When we are doing that, how do we see ourselves? I don’t know if you have ever seen one of those crazy mirrors at a circus that distort the image of the person looking, to make them look fatter or skinnier or some other image. I think we do that spiritually. We can look at ourselves, a sinner in need of God’s redemption, and somehow see someone who is almost perfect. We would never be so presumptuous as to think we were perfect. Have you thought about what God sees when He looks at us? If someone had a right to point out all our faults and weaknesses, it would surely be God... but He doesn’t. Why? Because He is less interested in identifying who you were and more interested in giving you the opportunity of being new and improved. As we talk about putting someone in a box, aren’t we guilty of doing that to God? Many of the Jews did that with who they thought their Messiah would be and so they didn’t recognize Jesus. They crucified Jesus because He didn’t fit in their box. There were many times in the Old Testament that the people had a very small box for God’s ability to protect them, or at least that is what their actions showed. King Solomon understood that God cannot be contained. We read in 2 Chronicles 2, “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?” When we go to church to worship God, He is not contained in that building. The building is actually more there for us to have a place to corporately worship Him. Worship is not about seeking what God can do for us but rather being equipped to go out and do God’s work. We have our work box, our home box, our church box, and so on. God cannot be contained. We need to go back and look at what box God is in. Any limiting walls we erect around God are foolish and unspiritual. O Holy Spirit, Convict our heart of the areas that we limit You in. I don’t want anything to stand between You and me. Amen

Better Than the Next Person

I sometimes hate watching boasting athletes, especially those that really aren’t that good, trying to lift themselves up as if the world couldn’t live without them. A trend that I see is, that if the player isn’t able to be superior based on skill, they will resort to deception. There has been such a rise of athletes faking being fouled; first in soccer, then in basketball, and now it is infiltrating football too. We have lost the self-respect of earning our victories and now have moved to winning no matter what. People want to boast, but not always in what is worth boasting about. I think there is a part of every person that boast a little. Oh, it doesn’t have to be really cruel. It might just be a little comment that indicates how well we did, sadly at the expense of putting someone else down. When we sit around the table to visit, somehow stories are told about what we did. Especially in guy circles, there gets to be a competition for who is the best. Even pastors can be guilty of this. When visiting with other pastors, somehow the conversation seems to get to how big is the congregation and what amazing things is the church doing. I rarely hear pastors talking about how God has transformed them and their church or the individual that has been transformed. If there are no stories of spiritual growth, that may indicate a church that is focused in the wrong place. We read in Galatians 6, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” I must see others through the eyes of Christ. I cannot save anyone from hell. I can only point them to what Jesus did for them on the cross. In Christ we are equal. God can take the worst person on death row or most respected person in the church and transform them, if they are willing. What counts is not what I have done or who I think I am, but rather that I have been made into a new creation. I cannot be a new creation unless I first surrender to God and receive his grace and mercy. The next time you’re tempted to lift yourself up, ask these questions - “Have I been faithful in lifting up Christ?” or “Who do I lift up most... myself or God?” Or “Do I walk in my sinful nature, or have I been made into a new creation?” Lord, help me to never boast except in what You have done for me on the cross. Put Your word in my heart that I might declare You. Amen

Building Blocks

If I were planting a garden, there are certain steps that should be taken. If I just got vegetable seeds and threw them into the weeds, I would not have much hope for produce. First, we have to work up the ground to make sure the weeds are not growing and that the soil is in a condition to grow these seeds. After a while, the weeds find a way to start growing again. We need to find the best way to control the weeds and what the optimal conditions are for the seeds we planted. Then the vegetable plants begin to bear fruit and now provide rewards for the Sower. In some ways, short of the harvest, these are some of the basic steps, or the building blocks, to having a great garden. What about our own walk of faith. I ran across the following quote, “God formed us. Sin deformed us. The Bible informs us. But Jesus transforms us.” God made the seeds, and He made the people. He formed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and He created us in our mother’s womb. God is the Creator of all things. Each person is unique, with specific gifts and abilities and a group of people that they are part of. God created us to use these gifts to plant the seeds of hope in their hearts. Even though God has done amazing things, the Devil is working hard to undo it all. In the garden it might be fungus and disease and drought. In life, it is sin. Through sin and the work of Satan, our relationship with God is imperfect and strained. You were created in the image of God, but Satan has been instrumental in my temptations and falling away from God. The Good News is that God has a better way. Unlike the ads on the internet that give you some information about their product and then try to suck you into following them, God’s word gives us the whole truth. It informs us about the mercy and grace of God and the work of Jesus on the cross. As you see the plants bear fruit, we go from a person, diseased by sin, to a marvelous creation, bearing spiritual fruit. As seeds become fruitful plants, we are transformed from a flawed individual with no eternal hope to a flawed individual that has been renewed in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. All this is done that we might perform as we were created to do. Lord, may our lives be a living testimony to who You are. May our lives declare Your praises all of our days. Amen

Do You Know Your Worth?

It is fascinating how people see themselves. I have met far too many people that think they are the answer to all the world's problems. You don’t have to ask them what they think of themselves because they will usually tell you. Then, on the other side, I have known people that are very humble and unassuming. They have impacted the world in ways that most of us could only dream of and yet when asked, they usually say, “I didn’t do anything that everybody else wouldn’t do.” Where do we find our self-identity? Many look for it in their job and their success. Some find it in their financial status and the “toys” they’ve accumulated. Some identify themselves by the friends they have or who they know. Are they all right? Are they all wrong? I think too many people are looking for the world to validate who they are and praise them for what they have done. I ran across an interesting quote, “Ponder how valuable your soul must be for Satan to tirelessly pursue it, and the King to lay down His own life for it.” Take some time to soak in the depth of that statement. The Devil and His dominions can only be in one place at a time and yet they may very well be choosing you to attack because you are a great threat to hell. The Devil doesn’t need you to hate God, just not live for Him. He can’t push you into the abyss, but he can distract you so that you don’t see God reaching His hand down to rescue you. You are valuable enough for the Devil to target you. Even greater than that is the King over all creation believed that you were worth dying for. Your worth is directly connected to what the one who oversees you finds beneficial. You may be looked down on by your fellow workers, but if the boss sees value in you, your co-worker's thoughts are meaningless. The Devil, the world, and our sinful nature keep telling us that spiritual things are holding us back. Jesus says that if you are a believer, you are so important to Him that he is preparing a place for you in heaven. Which of those two opinions really matter? If you said the Devil, then your faith is in the wrong person... for you will never succeed without Christ. If you said Jesus, then never forget how much you are loved. Father, when I am tempted to throw in the towel, remind me of who I am and whose I am. Amen

Memory Lapses

As I went to a study early this morning, I was following a slower vehicle. I was thankful that the driver didn’t turn down the road I normally took. Relieved, I joyfully headed down the road till I remembered that part of the road was under construction. I have been so used to going that way that I am on auto pilot. By the time I realized my mistake, it would have taken too long to back-track. I know my memory isn’t what it used to be, but I know better. The study that we had was talking about the glory of God. It focused on Moses in the wilderness when God spoke with him. One time, after an amazing interaction with God, he returned from the mountain with his face shining so bright that the Israelites couldn’t look at him. I think about the 10 plagues that God brought on Egypt so that Pharaoh would let the people go into the wilderness to worship God. I think about the sea being parted and several million walking through on dry ground, but the waters returned to drown the Egyptian army that was in chase. They saw manna, bread from heaven, every day. They saw bitter water turned sweet. They won impossible victories. Their shoes and clothing didn’t wear out. They saw the presence of God on Mount Sinai as the 10 commandments were given. They saw wicked Israelites destroyed. The list goes on. I started off looking at my memory. Then I looked at the memory of the Israelites. After all they saw, even though there may have been months between miracles, they still forgot about God. How could they know God and see His work as they did and yet not believe? Then I have to ask about us as well. How is our memory? Instead of remembering the many times God has answered our prayers, somehow, we only seem to remember the times they weren’t answered the way that we wanted. We may have seen the hand of God at work but have quickly forgotten. We may have heard the testimony of others that we trust that testify to what God has done, but we quickly forget. We read God’s word and can see how these words are validated by many historical events recorded in other places and yet we forget God’s word too. Is it a sickness? In a way. It is our own sinful self and sin that pulls us down. Let us not forget there is only one God! Serve Him. Lord, help us to remember You, Your word, Your promises, and Your grace and mercy, for without it, we would be lost. Amen

Studying God’s Word

I love to get together with some of the faithful people in our church to study God’s word. We have been going through the Catechism and looking at many of the verses that are tied to each meaning that is given. I love it when we have conversations about God’s word and not just being told information. Anyway, I love that time of fellowship and being able to dig into God’s word. I have had questions asked that I had never thought about before, so it forces me to dig in just a little deeper. Reading, and more importantly, studying God’s word is so fundamental to the Christian walk. When just reading, and not wrestling, we can be persuaded by people around us. We always need to be open to what others say, but if we don’t have a solid foundation in knowledge, we will be attracted to what the crowd says or what sounds good to us. God doesn’t give His word to sound good, but to instruct us and prepare us to serve. There are times that standing on what God’s word says may cause friction and division to those that think differently. There are different circumstances that may determine how we approach God’s word. I believe the Bible studies are a good place to dig deeper and understand the foundation of good theology and explaining meanings of texts and words. Church is a good place to teach that foundation too, but because there may be some people that are searching that may not familiar with Christian “words and concepts”, I believe that it should be a little more user friendly, always being available to answer any questions. I go to a fairly conservative men’s study, which is wonderful, but I believe we should be trying to find what is beneficial to everyone. Every time someone tries to push a denominational explosive topic, it almost always ends in division and people leaving bitter. I’m not saying that these topics should be banned, but that we don’t need to dig into them as deeply in that setting. I have had many wonderful one on one conversations with different men. When addressing the unbeliever, we should be sharing what we believe about God and His word, not what they should believe. The Spirit is to convict their hearts, not us. Holy Spirit, not only do we need to learn more from You, but teach us also how we might share with others. Amen

Absolute Control

I found out today, in church, that a Christian singer, who has an amazing gift of music and testimony, was doing an outdoor concert in a neighboring town. The weather did not look good, with storms working their way to us. We took our umbrellas, towels, and an extra set of clothes. I wasn’t looking forward to what might happen. When we arrived, I believe that there were many people lifting the concert in prayer. I know that I, and I am guessing others too, were not praying for our comfort, but for the gospel to be proclaimed. I knew God could stop the storm, but if it was for selfish reasons, for my comfort, I wasn’t as worried if God would answer. I did however believer that if God had brought this singer, He would also take care of the details. Having been on a music ministry team, I have seen God do that over and over again. Long story short, the winds picked up, there was some amazing lightning, and the thunder seemed to always rumble as he was in between songs, but not one drop fell where we were. The most amazing strike was when the lightning branched out across the sky, but it was both vertical and horizontal and looked much like a fishing net. I suppose one might say that we were all being called to be fishers of men. As the songs testified to a powerful and gracious God, I was saddened to think how many more could have come. I wasn’t in charge, but I think that when we are sponsoring someone, we are disappointed that others don’t show, but then when someone else is sponsoring someone, we find ourselves too busy. Imagine the amazing worship we miss out on. The day had started heating up, and I remember thinking how hard it was going to be to play guitar when perspiring and dehydrated. The reality was that the temperature and cloudiness made things extremely comfortable... maybe even a little on the cool side. Why do we ever doubt God? He heals the sick, casts out evil spirits, and calms the storm. What are we worried about? Ourselves? Whether we are going in the mission fields or proclaiming the gospel in our own neighborhood, what should we be concerned about? We need to weep for the souls dying without hope. Father, Your desire is that none be lost and yet there are so many unbelievers. Use us to plant seeds of truth. Amen

Where Is God?

There are times that life gets tough and we get so focused on the obstacles in front of us that we, sadly, forget to seek God’s leading. It often isn’t until we stop and ask God for help that our focus begins to change. We might not even notice the answers until a while after we have passed the situation. We can get frustrated asking where God is in the midst of everything going on. Other times, there may be fear and emptiness and so we think we stand alone. What should we do? I recall so many times in my past, when I had to see a doctor to get stitches or have a dental procedure done, that the numbing agent didn’t seem to work on me. There were many procedures that I questioned my tolerance since everyone else seemed to face these procedures with limited pain. Why didn’t that medicine seem to fail me so often. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I discovered that the medicine took longer to become effective in my system. I asked the dentist to give me a shot at least 20 minutes before working on my teeth. I had to sit and wait patiently until it took effect. Did I want to have to wait? Absolutely not. Did I want to proceed without the pain medication working? Definitely not! When I waited patiently on the medication, it brought relief that I didn’t even know was possible. Likewise with the Holy Spirit. We want God to do for us as we wish. Problem is my will is often not God’s will. I remember the disciples arguing about who was greatest and who would sit in a position of prominence in God’s kingdom. Matthew 20, “Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." ... Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink (suffer)?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." Even the denied disciples couldn’t persuade Jesus to give them what their selfish hearts wanted. God will not forget you. Be patient and stay actively faithful as You wait. Father, I don’t like the feeling that You are not present, but I am even more concerned about not walking by Your will. Amen

Lifting Up our Voice

Out of all the ways that we can express ourselves, music might very well be the most powerful form. Music and songs can cross all languages and cultures. It is amazing how it can express sorrow, joy, excitement, tension, anger, pondering and so much more. Words are limited by language, but it seems music supersedes them all. I was listening to a talent show, loving the variety of people and talents. Apparently, when the judges take a break, a microphone is passed around the audience for people just to spontaneously sing whatever is on their heart. Usually, it is just a fun activity, but there really isn’t an expectation of anything brilliant. Why? If they had the talent, surely they would already be on the stage performing. On this particular evening, an eleven-year-old girl got a hold of the microphone and started to sing, “Amazing Grace”. There are a lot of song selections that we might expect from a young woman, buy most of us would not have chosen that particular song. It is obvious that she must have had a good upbringing in the Christian faith. Back to the young woman. From her mouth came a beautiful song filled with passion and style. She was invited from the audience to the stage, where she sang that hymn so beautifully. Does music fill your day? Are you singing in the shower, or has that just become something you have to do? Showers for many are that avenue through which they can express their heart. Is there music on in the car that fills your life with amazing expressions? Do you sing when you are doing chores or basic activities around the house? I believe that the world would truly be a more dismal place if music wasn’t allowed to flourish. We need the old hymns, the classical music, jazz, and contemporary sounds for they are all an expression of the heart. It is also good to find the lyrics to better understand the presentation. Some of the great hymns make so much more sense when we read it without having to cater to a specific rhythm or meter. When you get to church on Sunday, look up the hymns ahead of time and take some time to really become familiar with them. Let the power of the words lead you before the music brings it all together. In Psalm 111, “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” Amen

Pointing to Jesus

We read from Daniel and heard about King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king that was ruling over God’s people. He had a dream which concerned him, so he went to his wisemen, magicians, etc. to find the answer. What complicated things was that he wanted them not only to give the meaning, but to tell him what the dream was. As they couldn’t answer, the kings was going to have all of them killed. When Daniel heard of the dilemma, he asked the king to give him time to seek God’s direction. Daniel asked Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to seek God with him. The next day, Daniel was able to give the king the answers he sought, but Daniel was very clear about the source. Daniel told the king he was going to inquire of God and then told the king that God had been the source of the answers. Then I look at the world around me and see so many that are willing to take credit for things they didn’t do and try to succeed on the backs of others. We need to give credit where credit is due. Martin Luther, when talking about the Third Article of the Apostles Creed wrote, "I know that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Christ my Lord or come to Him". There is no misunderstanding who Luther was giving credit to. We may be able to work at sharpening our gifts and abilities, but all we have is a gift from God. The great athlete may have worked hard, but to core of who he is is from God. The genius may have studied and worked to get to where she was, but it is still God’s gift to her. Even more, we see that in our walk with God. We cannot believe unless the Holy Spirit draws us to God. We are told to ask God for wisdom and that He will give us generously... God’s gift. The fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control... all God’s gift to us. So, what is left for us to boast about? We can only truly boast about our God, for He is worthy of all praise, and honor, and glory, and power. It is sometimes hard to be both grateful and give credit to God. When someone says they liked the sermon, I honestly say, if it was truly good, it was only because I listened to God, not my own work. Lord, help us to be able to do amazing things in Your name, but in all that takes place, we want to give You the glory and praise. Amen

It’s Not Mine

As I was pondering who I am in light of my Father, I come to a very quick realization that I am less in control of things than I would like to think. As a matter of fact, until I come to the realization that all I have and do is a gift given to me, I then will look at life differently. I couldn’t help thinking of a hymn called, “This World Is Not My Own”. While I may have some reservations with it, the first verse came to mind, “This world is not my home I'm just a-passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore”. Even though, on one level, we know this world is temporary, we seem to live as if this world is everything. There is the priority of the world, which appeals to my sinful nature, and there is the reality of God’s word. In 1 Peter 1:8-9 we read, “Though you have not seen [Christ], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” This has implications on how I live my life now and the assurance of an eternity in Heaven. I was struck by a quote I read today that said, “Your life is not your own: it belongs to God. To "be yourself" is to be and do what God wants you to be and do, knowing that God created you for a mission and knows you and your mission better than you do.” The reason God’s word tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom is because until we understand that we belong to God, our hope of Heaven is just that... a hope, and not a reality. We want to call our own shots because we want to be ourselves, but as rightly stated above, we are truly ourselves when we have become the person God has designed and called us to be. We are created in the image of God, and we are most ourselves when we best reflect that. Since that image has been tarnished by sin, God alone knows what our true identity in Him is. On this side of heaven, we are most like who God created us to be when we are walking according to God’s call for us, carrying out “our mission”. Since God knows what that is and what it will take to accomplish, we are most like ourselves when we do God’s will. Father, it is when we try to find ourselves in the world that we get lost. It is only when we lose ourselves in You that we are truly found. Amen

You Get As You Give What You Get

I had a Bible School teacher that had so many little teaching quips, like the one above. We have a tendency to choose our actions based on what we will get back and not always what might be best for us. There are many people that are much more excited about helping others if they get recognition for what they do. We have that worldly desire to want a payoff in everything we do... something that makes us feel it was worth the effort. I know of people that dig into God’s word because they want to appear smart or be able to win debates that might come up about their faith. They might be able to debate well, but it doesn’t always mean they are where they should be. I ran across the following quote - “The ultimate goal of theology isn't knowledge, but worship. If our learning and knowledge of God do not lead to the joyful praise of God, we have failed. We learn only that we might laud, which is to say that theology without doxology is idolatry. The only theology worth studying is a theology that can be sung!” It is not about the level of knowledge we have. It doesn’t matter what books we have read and if we can use “really big words”. It does matter where that learning has taken you. I think the above quote challenges us when we are studying God’s word. I know of many people that are so focused on completing their daily reading that they often check off chapters that they have read, but don’t express a change of the depth of their faith. I am struck by the depth and simplicity of the phrase, “theology without doxology is idolatry”. Theology is the study of God, doxology is praising God, and idolatry is replacing God with a false belief. The purpose of God’s word is to deepen our faith and desire to know and serve Him. If this knowledge doesn’t lead us to worship God fully, then the knowledge becomes our god. I think that it is great that people want to read through the Bible, even if it to be done within the year. Knowledge is a foundation. When our desire to accomplish so many chapters a day leave us with no time to ponder things, our goals must be rethought. What you get from God, you are to give, and He will get you more. Father, tune my heart to You and Your word that I might never long for knowledge over worshiping and praising You. Amen

Why Should We Be Praising God?

Psalm 68 begins, “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.” The psalmist is acknowledging the power and authority that God has over the enemy. Even though it is speaking of a physical enemy that is coming against them, we face three distinct enemies today. They are the Devil, the world, and our own sinful nature. For believers, we know that God triumphed over the Devil when He rose from the grave. The Devil has no power over Him. We know that the world’s control is drawing us into sin and selfish desires, but again, we know there is forgiveness and that God rescues those that call out to Him faith. My own sinful nature may be the toughest enemy to conquer, but again, Jesus paid the price for our sin, fulfilled the requirements of the law, and restored us in God’s sight. May all wickedness perish before God our Father. Verse 3 encourages us to walk in the confidence of a victorious God... “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” It doesn’t matter how strong the enemy is because our God is stronger. We are called to rejoice before God. It is not just the attitude of the heart, but a real expression of our gratitude and worship because with God, I have everything I need. Verses 4-5, “Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the Lord — and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Look at what He did for them in the wilderness.... “When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain... you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.” If God could lead His people through the desert for 40 years, imagine what He can do in your life, if you’ll let Him. The psalm closes, “Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord... Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” Lord, we praise You, for You are worthy. Amen

Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers?

I think that most believers, at one time or another, have wondered that. The first and most obvious one might come from not having faith. Jesus does say in Luke 17:6, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.” However, in James 1:6 it says, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” It is not the amount of faith, but that the faith is genuine. When someone, who has had no prayer life with God, prays that God would get them out of a tough jam, it is desperation, not faith. There are also times that we pray for selfish gain, like praying that our team wins at sports. (If both teams pray the same thing, one will get a "No".) We might pray for our failure to prepare, such as praying for a good grade, when we know we didn’t study. Others come before God with bargaining. God if You will only do this for me, then I will do such and such. Do you think that God really needs what we have to offer. If our faith is conditional, that really isn’t faith at all. Maybe what I am lifting up to God will have a negative effect, such as praying to win the lottery or some other prize. We either get so focused on the prize that we forget God or that we begin to think of God as One that is there for my wants. This is where praying can often be connected to the phrase “not my will but Yours be done”. Lord, I have confidence about what You can do, but I also am aware of my inability to ask for the best or correct thing. We have to understand that sometimes God, knowing all things, understands that our prayer might be better answered in another way. For example, if there is a believer who has been fighting with a disease, knowing that believers will go to heaven, is one’s passing in that situation, not a blessing? I must also note that God can completely heal that person of all health issues, should He choose. God also knows future events, so that taking a believer today, could spare them suffering in the future. So, pray with confidence, but also trust God’s judgement. Lord, help us to have unwavering faith, but trusts You fully. Put Your desire on our hearts and answer according to Your will. Amen

Christianity. More Than a Name

The word Christianity is sometimes thrown around very loosely. What does it mean? For some, the term includes a belief system that may take on worldly priorities that either are not mentioned in the Bible or are explicitly condemned in the Bible. For others, Christianity is very strict and rules oriented. For many others, it lies somewhere in between. Technically, the word indicates one who is a Christ-bearer, a follower of the teachings that Jesus gave us, and one who is an ambassador for God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So, how do we determine if someone truly is a Christian? A simple answer is those who might ask the question, before acting, “What would Jesus Do?” The problem with defining if someone is Christian, is that they must know who Christ is and what He would actually do. We must approach our study, not looking for how the Bible agrees with us, but with prayer and searching to seek what God wants us to do. The Biblically illiterate would most likely struggle with seeking what Jesus would do unless they are attentive around those who are walking by faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. C.S. Lewis had an interesting quote about Christianity that might shed some light on this discussion. “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” I think there are those that claim to be believers just by hearing, and this is possible if the Holy Spirit is leading. C.S. Lewis understands that many have faith looking and studying the word of God or the lives of those that profess to be believers. This is a form of discipleship, disciplining or patterning our lives after one who is faithful. Lewis takes it another step further. Just as the sun exposes the world to its light, so, Christianity helps us see the world from God’s perspective. Instead of getting even when someone wrongs us, we would seek forgiveness or reconciliation. Instead of pride and selfishness, we respond with humility and service. When we look at others, we are not to look at the outward appearance but seek to know the heart and the needs of others. Christianity doesn’t rejoice when someone is punished or suffers, but rather, we seek healing and restoration. Father, help me to see the world as a true Christian, through Your eyes. Help me to treat others as You would do. Amen

Shoes (Part 2)

Yesterday, I spoke of the significance of shoes in the Bible. There were still a couple more I wanted to address. They are on opposite ends of their meaning. The first was one of a servant’s heart. Jesus, when he saw John the Baptist, asked John to baptize him. John basically said that it was Jesus that should be doing the baptizing. John makes this even more clear when he says that he (John) wasn’t worthy to even untie Jesus’ sandals. There was a clear recognition of who Jesus was and understanding of how we compare. John basically said that he wasn’t even worthy to do the most basic servant's job when it came to Jesus. Do we have that same understanding today? Do we see Jesus as an equal or a friend instead of recognizing that He is God? By faith, and through the grace of God, we have certain privileges, but they are given by God and not ours for convenience. When we pray, we are to pray with confidence, for with God all things are possible. However, when we start to assume that God owes us or that if He doesn’t answer our prayer as we wish that He is being unfair, our relationship is out of step with Him. Our relationship is not for our benefit, although through faith we are promised eternity. Our relationship is to serve our God and bring Him glory. Everything else is icing on the cake. The other account of sandals is found in Ephesians chapter 6. As it speaks of putting on the armor of God, it says, “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”. It fits in with the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples. An army that is barefoot going across a rough terrain will be slowed down. To have the feet fitted with readiness is to be able to travel wherever we are called to go. I think sometimes our churches can feel too comfortable that they forget that we are called to take the Gospel (good news of Jesus) to all people. Sometimes, it is not comfortable, but part of the full armor of God is being able bring hope to all people. If our concept of living our faith is just going to church on Sunday, then we truly are not prepared. Whether in prisons, homeless shelters, rich, substance abusers, we must go! Father, prepare us to go wherever You are calling us to be. Even if it is outside our comfort zone, use us for Your glory. Amen

If the Shoe Fits

I remember when I was younger, a shoe was a shoe. You had shoes and boots. Then there were different types of boots and shoes. It didn’t really matter. I usually found something that was the right size and fairly cheap, and that was that. Now my feet have changed and are not in as good a shape. Shopping is now about what fits, what gives the right support, if it is breathable, and comfortable for walking. This makes the shoes much more expensive, but with the wrong shoes, I probably wouldn’t be able to walk that well. For others, they are looking for hiking shoes, running shoes, walking shoes, lounging shoes, etc. What does God’s word say about shoes? Moses, when he met God at the burning bush, was told to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. It appears in the culture that the removal of a shoe is a sign of relinquishing one’s claim. God may have been “forcing” Moses to acknowledge that God owned this land. It also could be symbolic of a servant, which is what Moses (and all believers) was before God. In another account, when Boaz wanted to marry the widow Ruth, by law, had to get permission from the one who was legally bound to marry her, in order to make sure her husbands name and land was upheld. The claim to marry Ruth was illustrated, as the first in line removed his sandals, thus relinquishing his claim. I tried to tell my dad, who was my pastor, that I should be allowed to go to church barefoot since it was technically holy ground, but that never worked. It was worth a try. For those that are fashion conscious, this next example will horrify you. When the children of God went through the wilderness for 40 years, God made sure that their clothes and sandals didn’t wear out. There were no new fashion trends. It does, however, show Gods provision for His people. In another account, it was the servant that washed feet. He would remove their sandals and wash the dust from their feet. Jesus sets an example for us as he washes the feet of his disciples...that he came to serve and not be served. It was an act of humility, love, and spiritual cleansing. We are called to serve one another. Who knew how powerful shoes could be in revealing Godly character and just in fulfilling legal requirements. Lord, whether or not we understand the use of shoes in Your word, we acknowledge that You are Lord and we are Your servants. Amen

Counting the Cost

As I look at God’s house, there are always things that can be done. We have some projects that could cost quite a bit. It would be foolish to begin to work on a big project without knowing where the funding is coming from or being certain that God has called us to accomplish the task. If we get part way through, it will not be beneficial, plus we would be down whatever was already paid in. Jesus calls us to count the cost, but not for a building project, but for our commitment to serving Him. There are many that want to go to church on Sunday, feel good about themselves, and then go back to the way they were. People want to see the church grow and do better financially, but expect someone else to do that. “It is the pastor’s job”, they say. Maybe they expect the council or church board to come up with a program accomplishing the goal. When counting the cost to be a disciple, we are not talking about how much we are going to give to the Lord, although that is an important part of our worship. Are we trying to figure out how to fit God into our life, or are we seeking how God wants us to fit into His? How much time are spending truly seeking God’s direction for you? When you read the Bible or have a time of devotions, is the purpose to check something off the list, or is there a deep desire to seek God and grow in faith? Do we see prayer as a means of just praying a list, or is it a time of great intimacy with God as we worship and praise His Holy name? Does serving God consume a large amount or our time, money, and talents, or is it a hit and miss. When Jesus talks about counting the cost, it may be very radical. We read in Luke 14:25-27, “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” When it talks about hating mother, father, child, etc., it is calling us to put such a high priority on serving God that everything else becomes a distant second. Are you willing to pay the cost? Father, I want to grow in my walk with You. I want everything in my life to glorify Your holy name. Teach me Your ways. Amen

Can We Find God Through Reasoning?

There have been many people that have found the truth through a deep investigation into the existence of God. Most of those enquiries have been motivated by trying to disprove the existence of God and the inaccuracy of the Bible. As I write this, the words of an old praise song, grounded in God’s word, comes to mind. “Not by might. Not by power. But by my Spirit saith the Lord”. It is the Spirit of God that draws us to the Lord. All our efforts cannot overcome the great demand of the law. I was reading a quote this evening that said, “For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” With all his efforts to find the truth, sifting through all the foolishness of the world, he finds that he is no further ahead than the ones who trusted in God alone. Our search for the truth will always take us to the same place... the feet of God. If I was visiting London and ended up at Buckingham Palace, I would never dream of telling the guards that I have come to visit the king. How foolish to think that a simple man like me would have something to offer the king. Likewise, if we are desiring to grow in our faith, we are not in a position to demand anything from God. If I showed God a list of my accomplishments as proof that He needed to do for me what I ask, He would look at me with love in His eyes and say, “My dear child, I am not here to meet all your earthly desires. I have set you free to live your faith out fully”. However, when I come before God with a deep desire to know and follow Him, it is there that I experience His presence. I don’t believe anyone has experienced true intimacy with God through human reasoning, although reasoning that is submitted to the Holy Spirit teaches us all that we need to know. Experiencing this intimacy isn’t necessarily a warm fuzzy feeling, but an unwavering faith that believes God will do what He promises, even in the midst of a storm. Many relationships end because the feelings deceive us, but God’s word will never fail. Trust in Him. Father, even when I don’t feel Your presence, help me to believe all that You have promised. Your word and promises never fail. Amen

How Does Faith Act?

I have had people call me on the phone to try to get me to buy a particular service or item. Even when I got my last car, they tried to sell a special maintenance package. I never know whether it is worth getting. What I do know is, that when someone tries to sell me something, I always like to ask if they have purchased it for themselves too. When I hear a definite pause in the conversation, it pretty much tells me that they want me to buy something that they themselves don’t want. If we have faith in something, we will react accordingly. I recently heard a quote from C.S. Lewis that said, “To have Faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice.” It is impossible to believe deeply about something and not have it change the way you think and act. Faith isn’t just trusting God to do something or to obey what he has said. Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” If faith really believes that God is who He says He is, then I must believe Him for what I can explain and for what goes beyond my comprehension. Faith isn’t just believing what you can test and prove, but it trusts God in all things. Faith is filled with boldness and humility. When I pray or act out my faith, it is simply being obedient to what God has called me to do. I can’t take credit for answered prayers and living out my faith is tied to love and obedience, of which I have nothing to boast. Faith is also knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt. I don’t wonder if God created the world, sent His son to be our Savior, and will return again to take believers home with Him. Faith gives me absolute confidence. Even in prayer, I have no question of God’s ability to answer prayers, but I also know that I need to trust God to make the right answer. Faith doesn’t need the world’s approval, for pleasing God is enough for me. Lastly, faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. I cannot believe by my own reason or strength. It is the Holy Spirit that calls and enlightens us. Faith is grounded in the knowledge of Christ. Father God, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and stir faith in our hearts. Teach us to trust in You no matter what the circumstances. Amen