Tell me the old, old story!

Most people enjoy telling others good news.  And if that news has anything to do with their grandchildren, well, they are sure to let others hear.  Usually, whatever we spend the most time talking about is what we are most interested in or have been most affected by.  Sometimes we tell stories of events that are important to us.  Long before written records, novels, or articles, oral tradition was all there was for passing along the history of a family or a nation.

The third chapter of the Old Testament book of Joshua tells of how the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land.  Some folks would say, "Big deal, the Jordan River is hardly more than a brook."  Granted, some times of the year it can be like that in places.  Without referencing several passages, let me just say that the Scriptures indicate that the river was very high, at flood levels.  We'll save any further discussion of this matter for another time.  Late in this chapter Joshua instructed the priests to gather 12 large stones (on for each of the tribes) and build a monument to the Lord for His provision.  Joshua also directed that when their descendants asked why the stones were piled to form a monument that parents and elders were to use that time to teach each generation about God's promises, and how He was always faithful to fulfill them.

The lesson to be gained from this passage is that it is important that we pass along to each generation our testimonies of God's provision and His acts of greatness which when tol will serve to bring glory to Him.  If you have children and/or grandchildren they would benefit by hearing the stories of God's people.

The old hymn says:

I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story
Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
          (I Love to Tell the Story by Hankey & Fischer)

Story telling has been an effective tool for teaching and inspiring for thousands of years, and it is still needed today.  Look for opportunities to tell how God has impacted your life.  It can make a big difference in the life of a loved one, a friend, co-worker, or family member.

How can I possibly do that?

OK, let me get my corny joke out of the way.  Do you know which person in the Bible had no mother or father?  It was Joshua, son of Nun.  (I pause as the hysterical laughter fades away)

Joshua is one of my favorite Biblical heroes.  What a man!  Joshua was one of  the 12 spies sent into Canaan to bring back intelligence reports on the people there prior to the invasion which God planned for the people of Israel to commence.  When the 12 returned to Moses with their reports, ten of the spies were filled with terror after seeing the "giants" living there who made them feel like mere grasshoppers.  But Joshua and Caleb both spoke of a land filled with milk and honey and proclaimed their faith that God would assure their victory as He promised.  Of course, the majority report swayed the people and they angered God with their disbelief.  Their punishment was to wander for 40 years in the wilderness until all the adult population at that time died.  Only Joshua and Caleb was allowed to live and enter into the Promised Land.

Moses was told by God that he would not be permitted to cross over the Jordan into Canaan because he had struck the rock in anger (Numbers 20:11).  Therefore, when it came time for the people of Israel to make that historic crossing into the land of promise it was Joshua who was chosen to lead them.  Can you imagine the burden placed upon him?  Not only did he have several hundred thousand people to care for, he had to lead them into an extensive campaign to conquer hundreds of cities.  Whoa!   

But Joshua trusted God!  As Joshua assumed command God came to him and said, "Moses my servant is dead.  Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them . . . I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses . . . No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:2-3, 5) 

Then the Lord encouraged Joshua with these words, "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (1:9).

This was the promise which sustained Joshua his entire life.  He believed what God told him, and He knew that if God made a promise, He would keep it!  God has made that same promise to all of us who are surrendered to do His will.  Obedience is the key to receiving what God promises.  Had Joshua failed to follow God's commands he would not have enjoyed the fulfillment of the promises.  God is faithful!  The question is, will we be strong and obey? 

A favorite hymn of mine is Be Strong in the Lord by Linda Johnson and Tom Fettke:

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;

Your mighty defender is always the same.

Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;

Victory is sure when you call on His name.

So put on the armour the Lord has provided;

And place your defense in His unfailing care.

Trust Him, for He will be with you in battle,

Lighting your path to avoid every snare.

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;

Your mighty Commander will vanquish the foe.

Fear not the battle, for the victory is always His;

He will protect you wherever you go.

Chorus:

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;

And be of good courage, for He is your guide.

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;

And rejoice, for the vict'ry is yours.

Are Christians being too harsh over the "Ground Zero" Mosque Issue?

We know that Christianity is a faith which leads the follower to seek new and deeper levels of love for our fellow man.  Why, even the Bible declares that "God is love."  Then, why are so many people of the Christian faith concerned, even dismayed by the plan to build a massive Islamic Center which will include a large Mosque (place of Islamic worship) within a couple of blocks of the site where the Twin Towers once stood?  And don't the Muslims have the right to use their property in that way if they wish.

The simple answer might be to say, "Yes, the Muslims have the right, by law, to build the Mosque.  President Obama declared that to be the case just last week, setting off a fire-storm of controvery over his remarks.  It is legal -- but, is it right?  Should it matter whether it is right or wrong?

Obviously, the Imam wanting to build the Islamic Center is seeking to make a point, and not the one he is claiming to be making.  He says that the intent is to provide a place for creating harmony and healing.  Either the Imam is ridiculously stupid, or he is yanking our collective chain.  The insensitivity of building a Muslim training facility so close to the place where Islamic terrorists brought horrific pain and suffering , to me, appears to be a "thumbing of the nose" by the Imam at the people of the United States.  Imagine if the Japanese had wanted to come to Hawaii in 1950 and build a Shrine right next to the U.S.S. Arizona memorial.  The American people would have been outraged by the audacity of such an act!  Likewise, we are justified to be greatly offended by this unethical, unfeeling, uncaring, act of deception and lies.

You ask, "well, aren't you afraid of destroying good will between major religions?  Afterall, aren't we all going to the same place?"  There has been been ill-will between those who are descendents of Ishmael (Abraham's son by Hagar, Sarai's handmaiden) and the descendents of Isaac (Abraham's beloved son by Sarai) for several thousands of years.  Don't think that things are going to suddenly improve because a Muslim born President tries to placate the Islamic nations.  They declared Jihad' against the Great Satan many years ago and they aern't ones who are given to forgiving and forgetting none too soon.  They are undoubtedly laughing among themselves at the utter futility and foolishness of our trying to buy friends.  That never works!

To be honest, I am much more concerned with the disrespectful way in which the people of our country have responded to the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus, and how His Sovereign Holiness demands justice for our sins.  As long as we remain unrepentant as a nation we invite the wrath of God upon us, and that will be far more destructive than all the Al-Queda terrorists ever to exist, or will exist in the future. 

Allah is not another name for God, but in reality is a name created by Satan, the Prince of this Earth who specializes in counterfeiting true religion and drawing people into a trap of false promises and deceitful hope.  There is no other name under heaven or earth by which all men must come unto God but Jesus!  He alone is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  It is His truth that will set the sinner free, and His sacrificial death that atoned for the sins of all mankind.   Mohammed's creation of diety is full of flaw, and short of sense.  The Quran is not a holy book that supercedes the Bible (Old and New Testaments) but instead is one man's frail attempt to make sense of what he did not understand.

I realize that it sounds like I am slamming Islam, and I guess in a way I am.  It isn't done with joy or with animosity, but rather out of a  attempt to persuade the reader to recognize that the Bible is second to no other book, and the God of Israel who came to this earth as a baby to provide the chance for eternal life, is the one and only way of salvation.  In order to demonstrate the truth and strength of the Gospel, there has to be a a piece by piece dismantling of false stories, logic, and beliefs.  This is done as an act of love for those who need to hear the truth . . . simliar to how a parent sometimes has to show a child the falicy of their thinking about certain matters.  May God use this feeble attempt to proclaim the truth of God's Word.

Sometimes it doesn't make sense (at least to some)!

Romans 12:17-21:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.  On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

OK, I can almost hear the snickering, and even hysterical laughter, from many of  those who might read this passage of Scripture.  It is one of those unnatural commands from our Lord which can be difficult to swallow.  Give aid to an enemy!  Why isn't that un-American?  Is it?  I don't think so . . . at least not when America is at its best. 

Consider the Second World War and its aftermath.  The United States stayed at peace as long as it could, but eventually we were drawn into a war that had to be fought in order to prevent world domination by the evil Axis.  But after the war, how did we respond to our enemies?  Did we seek to grind them under a boot of hatred and spite?  Obviously not!  The U.S. led the way in helping the vanquished nations to recover, rebuild, and live peacefully with the rest of the world.  It was a case of overcoming evil with good. 

As followers of Christ we should seek to live peacefully with all we encounter, but it is not always possible.  Some people (or nations) have to be "put in their place" when their actions threaten the innocent.  That is why, as a Christian, I believe that war is sometimes justified.  Our world is full of evil-doers who will push the rest of us until we have no choice but to push back, or be forced to give up the liberty which was bought by the blood of many and even our lives.  The war on terror, in particular Islamic extremists, is a modern day example.  I would be among the first to say to Osama bin Laden (or any other terrorist) that I wish for his heart to be changed by Jesus Christ and for us to be able to live in peace.  But, until that time at which we saw clear evidence of a changed heart, I would say that our nation (and our allies) would be justified in ridding the world of an evil man who shows no hesitation in seeking our destruction.  This is not a case of revenge but of preserving the peace by taking away an enemy's ability to work their evil. 

I know that there are those who would say that my reasoning makes no sense to them.  That's OK because I'm not threatened by other opinions.  I am even willing to listen honestly to the arguments of others.  But, I believe that in this case my thoughts are consistent with Scripture, and that is the only affirmation I really need. 

Just who do you think you are?

For the past couple weeks we have been examining the 12th chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans.  What a magnificent address concerning how the "righteous" should live.  By righteous, I mean those who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and have been made "right" with God through His atoning death.  We have been looking specifically at the passage beginning with verse 9, and now are ready to see what the latter portion of verse 16 has to say to us.  It reads: Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life has been a phenomenal best seller with over 30 million copies in circulation.  Warren begins with a simple, but profound sentence, "It's not about you!"  He then leads the reader through a 40-day adventure of discovering what the Bible says is our very purpose for existing.  Bottom line . . . we have been created for God's pleasure, and to truly please God we need to humble ourselves to become true servants of His.  That humble servanthood is made manifest in our actions and attitudes toward others. 

In the Apostle Paul's day, as in our own, most people are treated by others according to their social standing.  Rich people tend to be treated with greater respect than are poor folk.  Those on the top rungs of the social ladder receive preferential treatment over those on the lower rungs.  But Paul tells the Church that we aren't to follow this pattern.  We are to be radical in our approach to life and treat everyone equally.  And we aren't to think too highly of ourselves while we're at it. 

You know, when you honestly look at yourself in light of who God is and who we are, it changes our perspective about a lot of things.  In particular it will change how you see other people.  I recognize that some of God's choicest servants are those who have never had a thing materially.  I have also found that many of my most loyal friends through the years have been those who possessed no great social standing.  A number of years ago I served on staff of the Parkway Baptist Church in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.  Beth Whitman and her family were members of that church.  Beth, and her husband Kevin, were just plain country folks who struggled tremendously to make ends meet.  They certainly lacked the "polish" which characterized most of our church members.  But I have to say that I probably miss them as much as anybody else we left there when we went to our next church.  Beth worked in our church nursery when our sons were preschoolers and she loved them as much as anyone could possibly love another couple's children.  She was a genuine Christian - one that could easily be called "the salt of the earth."  Beth was killed by a drunk driver one afternoon.  I mourned her death as much as anyone I have had the privilege of serving as their Minister.  Beth had taught me the wisdom of Romans 12:16.

Can't we all just get along?

A videotape of the March 3, 1991, arrest and beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles was on every news broadcast and television talk show in America.  The debate carried on for months.  Then in 1992 the trial of the police officers involved resulted in each officer being acquitted of the charges.  This set off the horrendous Los Angeles riots which were reminiscent of the civil rights riots of the 1960's.  In the midst of the news reports about the riots Rodney King was interviewed and his plea to all involved was, "Can't we all just get along?"

Isn't it a shame that people just don't seem to know how to get along with one another?  Unfortunately, the church is not immune to fighting and fussing.  The number of church splits, angry business meetings, members leaving in a huff . . . all these give evidence of the spirit that is found in many congregations.  The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, the 12th chapter and 16th verse says, Live in harmony with one another.

Shouldn't the church be a place of tranquility and harmony?  Why wouldn't everyone get along?  The primary reason for disharmony in the church is that many members do not have a right relationship with God, and until we are right with Him we cannot be right with other people! 

Some church members have never had a true life-changing experience with Christ.  Just because you were baptized and became a church member does not mean that you had a genuine conversion experience.  I cannot begin to tell of the many people I have known through the years who came to realize that they were "lost" after decades of possessing a church membership.  Some had been caught up in an emotional moment, others "walked the aisle" because a friend was doing so, and still others had joined because they thought it was expected of them.  Whatever the reason, they had not accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, and thus, they were not in a right relationship with God.

A true conversion experience, however, is the first step in being "transformed" (see Romans 12:2) into a person who can live harmoniously with others.  The process can actually take years as it takes time to grow as a Christian to the point of surrendering our emotions as well as our wills to God.  Maintaining harmony, or being a "peacemaker" as described in Matthew 5:9, requires a person who has grown beyond having to have things their own way.  This person, by living humbly and lovingly, gains the trust and respect of others who will generally follow his lead simply because of who he is (a man of solid reputation).  Therefore, being a peacemaker doesn't mean that you are to be a milquetoast who is overrun by others, it simply means that you wisely lead by example and maintain a caring attitude toward everyone . . . including those who can be classified as "difficult."

Bottom line -- if we love others more than we love ourselves we will live in harmony with others.

Have a Heart!

Are you touched by events which affect other people?  Do their feelings mean much to you?  Romans 12:15 gives a simple command . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  What does this mean for the believer who reads these words?  In the simplest of terms it is an exhortation to avoid becoming cold-hearted. 

The Christian life is to marked by a love which seeks the best for others.  However, the person who becomes too wrapped up in their own needs and desires can become pretty unfeeling, essentially unaffected by emotions.  Though our relationship with the Lord, and ultimately with others, is not to be based upon feelings or emotions, it should include the ability to sense the feelings of others and respond accordingly.

It may seem a little funny that Paul would need to encourage his readers to rejoice with those who rejoice, but perhaps it is harder to rejoice with others than it is to feel their pain.  Too often the first response to the good fortune of others is to think, "Why couldn't that have been me?" or "I never get a break like that!"  Envy and jealousy can be real problems, even for the believer.  We tend to buy into the entitlement mentality of this world which leads us to expect, even demand that we get our "fair share."  A true Christian spirit, on the other hand, sees the blessings others receive and thanks God for His favor upon them.  Such a person is content because he/she recognizes and appreciates God's blessings for their own life.

The Christian is also to mourn with those who mourn.  Heartbreak and anguish is an all too common experience among human beings.  Life is filled with disappointments, loss, frustrations, letdowns, physical injury and illness . . . all manner of reasons to mourn.  Think for just a moment about all the songs which have been written in the midst of pain and sorrow.  Those songs usually gain popularity, at least in part, because almost everyone can share to some degree in what the songwriter has experienced.

How should we respond when we encounter the mourning (pain and suffering) of others?  One thing is to allow ourselves to be touched by their distress.  It can become pretty easy to "tune out" the cries of others and just look the other way.  Oh, there are a thousand reasons why we can't become involved, can't afford to let ourselves drop our guard.  But, Paul is saying to us, "See their pain and get involved.  Sometimes that simply means to let ourselves cry with them, or to listen quietly while they pour out their feelings.  Then, there are the times when we can, and should, meet some practical need. 

There is another thing we should also do -- pray for them!  I can just hear someone scoffing, "Oh sure, when you can't think of something better to do just pray."  Fact is, the most significant thing we can do for anyone, mourning or not, is to humble ourselves before a gracious Heavenly Father and ask that He pour out His blessing on the one who is experiencing troubling times.  Often, it is the midst of our praying for someone that the Lord reveals how He wants us to be His instrument for ministry to the one we are praying for. 

A final thought.  Your own experiences in life may qualify you as just the right person to minister to the hurting person you encounter.  Why does God allow His children to experience pain?  Ultimately to strengthen us (ever known a flower to grow without a little rain?), and  to prepare us for the chance to influence (minister to) others. 

In 2005 I suffered a spinal cord injury while undergoing neck surgery.  I woke to find that nothing on my left side worked at all.  I was paralyzed.  After a month of hospitalization and in-house rehab, and another couple of months of out-patient rehab I was able to walk again and function pretty well, though with pain and lingering nerve damage.  I would never wish to experience such an event, but my how it has opened the door to minister in ways I might never have been able to do otherwise.  Therefore, I can say that I don't regret what happened because I know that ultimately it was part of God's plan for my life.  

What have you experienced that you could use to minister to someone else?  You may not know right now, but try to be sensitive to the needs of others and God will let you know!  

Say what?

Most people hear what much of the Bible says and think, "that's nice" or "I can go along with that."  Verses which are easy on the ears such as God is love or Love one another don't cause any real discomfort.  But, that isn't the case with everything we read.  Romans 12:14 is one of those verses that can be a bit hard to swallow.  It says (gulp), Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

You gotta be kidding, right?  God really doesn't expect us to bless those who persecute us, does he? 

One thing I have discovered about God's Word is that the Lord never took lightly what He led His servants to record.  Starting with Moses (he didn't bring down the "10 Suggestions" from Mt. Sinai you know) who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament (The Pentateuch) all the way to the Apostle John who recorded the Revelation while on the Isle of Patmos, God laid out a complete account of His purpose for mankind and His actions to assure that His sovereign will is done.

And so, Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse is a serious command from our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.  Well, what does it mean to "bless?"  According to Parson's Bible Dictionary "One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare." 

How is that possible?  How can someone possibly express good wishes for someone who has been persecuting them?  How could you possibly pray to God for that person's welfare?  That's just not natural!  You're right.  It isn't natural.  The "Natural Man" or the "Fleshly Man" as we are often known as in Scripture cannot do it -- at least not in his own power.  It is only something that can occur when the heart of the person who has been persecuted or harmed is filled more with the love of God than of hatred for the offender.

Several months ago I watched a documentary which showed the mother of a murdered child in her first encounter with her son's killer.  The cameras showed a young man in his 20's as he nervously awaited the encounter.  It was clear that he didn't know what to expect, and he certainly did not anticipate it happening the way it did. 

The mother, who had requested their meeting, sat across the table from the young man and addressed him quietly.  She described for the man how her life had changed since the slaying of her son.  She shared how terribly she missed the little boy and regreted that she would not have the joy of watching him grow up.  Then she said something that literally took away the breath of the man.  "I want you to know that I have forgiven you for what you did and I know that God loves you." 

Tears began to flow as what the woman was saying sank in.  The young man couldn't believe what he was hearing.  "How could you possibly say this?", he asked bewildered.  

"It's only because I know that Jesus has forgiven me that I can extend forgiveness to you." And she shared with the man how he could know the forgiveness of Christ as well. 

That's something that can only be explained as "a God-thing."  May your relationship with the Lord Jesus develop in such a way that you can face your persecutor or enemy in the eye and say, "God bless you!"    

Put love into action!

The past several posts have been dealing with how a Christian should live -- the characteristics or marks of a Christian.  We have been looking at Romans 12 and seen how love is really the central focus of a true Christian life.  Verse 13 continues in sharing yet another way a Christian should act toward others.  It says, Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.

Does it surprise you that this Bible passage tells us to share our resources with other Christians but does not particularly with unbelievers.  This verse is not intended to imply that we shouldn't be concerned with the physical needs of our non-Christian neighbors, but it is emphasizing the importance of church folks taking care of one another.  One of the major needs of a local church body is to develop the fellowship among its members.  In fact, the word fellowship (koinonia in Greek) means to invest yourself into the life of another believer, and one way to do that is to lend a hand when a brother or sister is facing difficult times.  In my opinion, if we don't take care of our "family" then we aren't very likely to be terribly concerned with those outside the family.  Thus, generosity toward the brethren demonstrates a giving spirit which will likely also manifest itself through gifts for the poor and needy general public.  And giving is a trait that is evidence of a Christ-like spirit, as the Bible tells us that generosity is a trait of our Lord.  John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave . . . .

Romans 12:13 also tells us to practice hospitality.  Why is that important?  Again, Christians are taught by God's Word to fellowship, or invest in the lives of one another.  How is one of the best ways to do that?  To spend time with one another, getting to know each other and developing a bond of trust and love.  What better way to do that than to invite fellow believers into your home, or to take a meal when a family has need, or to go to dinner with folks from the church.  One of my favorite things to do is to spend time with church folks over a meal (it is obvious that I do a little too much of that).  Mealtime is traditionally a time for sharing our thoughts and remembrances with family, and time spent this way with church family is also a valuable investment.

Be a giver of your time and put your love into action!

Plug into the power!

The past two posts have dealt with the first two phrases of Romans 12:12, Be joyful in hope and patient in affliction.  Let's look briefly at the third, and final, portion of this verse:  faithful in prayer.  This is not simply a pious-sounding "add on" to this passage, but is actually the key to understanding all that Paul is saying in this chapter.  You see, prayer is the source of power for living the Christian life.  It isn't our own willpower or personality that make the difference, it is the faith which is grown through prayer.

Prayer is not about us reciting pre-written, eloquent prose to God . . . the humble cry of the vilest offender is heard over the repetitious rattle of the arrogant or self-impressed.  Prayer is about opening the heart to our dearest friend, acknowledging Him for who He is (the Sovereign Lord of the Universe), and listening to His words of direction, comfort, admonition, love, or whatever else He desires for us to know at the moment.  This relationship building through prayer is what develops our faith in the Lord Jesus as our Father, Advocate to the throne, and Spiritual guide.

To be faithful in prayer means to live your life in a constant attitude of prayer.  No, that doesn't mean that you stay on your knees with folded hands all day long.  Obviously, that isn't possible if you have a life outside a monastery.  A "constant attitude of prayer" means that you live with a constant awareness of God's presence and you naturally converse with Him, much as you would a best friend or spouse.  Now granted, if you walk around all day talking to the Lord out loud there will be many who will think you have a screw loose.  That's not what I'm talking about when I refer to an attitude of prayer.  Here is an example of what I mean:  Each day we face dozens, if not hundreds of decisions.  Most of those decisions are pretty much automatic - things you really don't have to think about and honestly, aren't that important.  However, most days we are faced with decisions that are pretty important, and some are potentially life-changing.  For one who lives in a constant attitude of prayer it will be natural to take a moment, silently breath a prayer for guidance, and act upon what they believe the Lord is telling them to do, or to not make that decision until they know what He wants. 

Being faithful in prayer also means to be regular and committed to having a special time of prayer and fellowship with God each day.  The constant attitude of prayer will not occur unless there is a daily, significiant connection with the Lord.  Most people refer to this as having a quiet time . . . a period of Bible study, intecessory prayer, and stillness before the Lord.  It is through the quiet time that relationship is built and faith is bolstered, opening us to receive power to start the day.  Then, as we face the challenges of the day our attitude of prayer serves as a continuing conduit of power.

It is that power boost that enables us to love sincerely, hate evil and cling to good, be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honor others above ourselves, stay filled with zeal and spiritual fervor as we serve the Lord, be joyful in hope, and patient in our trials (verses 9-12).  Stay plugged into the power source which strengthens you to do all things and face anything this world can throw at you. 

When things get tough!

I'm picking up with our examination of Romans 12 by focusing on the second exhortation delivered in the 12th verse.  Last time we considered Paul's encouragement to remain joy-filled as the result of our hope in Christ Jesus.  Today we find the Apostle telling us to be patient in affliction.  Essentially he is saying "don't get carried away when tough times come your way."  And tough times will certainly pass your way sometime during your life.  A pastor I worked with years ago told me, "Ken, if you haven't had any storms to come your way so far, you better hang on, because your time is coming."  He was correct!  Life is filled with difficult circumstances and difficult people.

As a minister as well as being a student of life . . . an observer of what goes on around me . . . I have seen many people respond to some of the harshest realities of life -- the death of a spouse, a child, or a parent.  The discovery that a son or daughter is addicted to illegal drugs.  The devastation of learning that a spouse has been unfaithful.  You find out much about a person by how they respond to adversity and sorrow.  Some people become so upset they literally cannot think straight or make reasonable decisions, while others face the same kinds of situations with a strength of character and the ability to minister to others even though their own hearts must be breaking.  Where does one find such strength?

I would immediately assure you that it is not based upon the personal power of the person, but is the result of the indwelling presence of God's Spirit in that person's life.  Every Christian, every true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, has the Holy Spirit of God living in them.  This is the promise of God's Word in numerous passages - that God's indwelling presence is permanent for the true believer, and the power of the Holy Spirit is available to any believer to face and overcome every obstacle, every sorrow that might come our way.

Whenever the tough times arrive the Lord Jesus wants us to meet those challenges head on and come out victorious.  It doesn't mean that all the problems will go away (some never do), but we should never underestimate what God can do simply to bring glory and honor to himself.  What should you do when trouble comes:  pray for guidance, ask for the power to stand up the attacks on your body or spirit, look for ways to minister to someone else who is hurting.  One of the most therapeutic things we can do is to lay aside our own hurt so as to minister to someone else who needs a caring, loving friend.

Seek to draw closer to the Lord each day and try to look at life's challenges as opportunities rather than problems.  With a new heart comes a new attitude which can make all the difference in the world.

There's reason for hope!

I am continuing today with an examination of Romans 12 and how it teaches us to behave as a Christian.  Verse 12 gives three actions or attitudes consistent with the Christlike life.  Let's briefly look at the first.  Paul exhorts the reader to live rejoicing in hope.

Hope is such a precious possession.  To live without hope must be the most pitiful existence.  My mother had a severe stroke over four years ago.  She has had to live in a nursing home ever since dragging herself around in a wheelchair by one foot due to a paralyzed right side, unable to speak or read because that portion of her brain which allows for such activity was obviously damaged severely by the stroke.  After all this time it is evident that there is no hope for recovery.  And yet there is hope, and that is what calls for rejoicing.

In 1 Peter 3:15 the former fisherman who was chosen by Jesus to give leadership to the Apostles was writing to a group of Christians dispersed by intense persecution, and he says: always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.  What is that "defense" which explains why there is hope?  It is simple . . . I believe that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh,  died on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of myself and all mankind, rose three days later from the grave proving His power over death and hell, ascended to heaven, and will return one day to take to heaven all who have believed to live with Him eternally.  My hope lies in that promise!

Some would say that this hope is based upon foolishness.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in his first epistle (letter):  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21b).  It is so tragic that most of the world has no real hope about what will happen to them when they draw their last breath.  Then, there are those who hope to return as a cow or a tree or simply a wisp of wind.  Only Christianity offers the hope of eternal life based upon the merciful and gracious act of a holy God!

Is that your hope?  If not, it can be yours by simply trusting that Christ alone is our reason for hope, and receiving the gift of eternal life which He freely offers.  Do this and know the joy that comes through possessing true hope! 

Give it all you got!

Servanthood could be considered the ultimate hallmark of the Christian life.  Jesus' life was all about service.  He even said . . .the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . (Matthew 20:28)  If Christlikeness is our goal then living a life of service has to be a priority for us.

The 12th chapter of Romans, which we are continuing to examine, is all about service.  It begins in verse one with:

Therefore, I urge you , brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship.  (12:1, NIV)

In the New King James the last phrase in verse one reads, which is your reasonable service.  This verse is simply saying that based upon the mercy God has shown us it is only reasonable that we respond to Him ready to serve as He directs.  The Apostle Paul often refers to himself as the "slave" or "bondservant" of Christ, relegating himself to a position of complete submission before the Lord.  Considering how Jesus had saved him from the sins he had committed and restored him to a right relationship with God, Paul had no qualms about giving his life completely to Him, even if it meant death.

I pick up today with verse 11 of the 12th chapter in my recent series of posts on living like a Christian.  Verses 9 through 21 are a string of exhortations by Paul to believers giving them various actions and attitudes which are consistent with a life lived in service of the Lord.  Verse 11 tells us:

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (NIV)

The first part of this verse is sometimes translated "don't be slothful" or "be diligent".  It gives the idea that Christians are to be industrious, not wasting time on pursuits that really don't accomplish much and don't bring glory to God.  I think that most of us would have to admit that many of our activities aren't profitable uses of our time.  One main thing comes to mind (or should I say numbs it) . . . television.  The "idiot box" as it is sometimes refered to can be a total waste of time.  Oh, there are some good things to watch (when you search hard for it) but most of the programming is a waste, if not even harmful.  Today, the internet rivals the television in this category.  However, it can be used for good! 

One of the reasons I write this blog is to hopefully capture the minds of other, if just for a moment, in order to encourage a deeper level of thought (and maybe commitment).  Writing also "redeems the time" for me.

Paul goes on to exhort believers to keep your spiritual fervor.  This word "fervor" or "fervent" pictures the boiling or bubbling of water or metals.  It is referring to an intensity or a glow.  A Christian's life should be lived with an intensity for serving God.  Our lives should glow with a zeal for obeying and serving the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One who through His mercy gave us eternal life.  Our lives can be lived doing a lot of things, but the greatest pursuit we can engage in is to bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Quite literally, that is what we were created for!

Can you put me before yourself?

The 12th chapter of Paul's epistle (letter) to the Roman church includes a passage on how to behave as a Christian, in other words, how to be "Christlike" which should be the goal of every believer.  In previous posts we have looked at the two exhortations in verse 9:
     1.  Love must be sincere, and
     2.  Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.

Now we move to the third behavior Paul says should be lived out in our lives.  Romans 12:10 says, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. 

Most people would go along, at least somewhat, with the first part of this verse.  Brotherly love sounds pretty appealing and people generally would like to get along with everyone.  The city of Philadelphia even calls itself the City of Brotherly Love (the Greek word philio means "love" in a brotherly sort of way).  Now, just how "devoted" to brotherly love people truly are is another question.  And when you add the second part of the verse to it a vast majority of folks would either look at you with a blank stare, or perhaps respond with a giggle or a snort . . . "Yea, sure.  I'll put you and your needs ahead of my own."

Christianity, if anything, is truly a radical approach to living, because we are called out to live our lives in the way Jesus modeled for us.  Think about it!  Jesus never worried with owning property or accumulating wealth. It wasn't a priority to make a comfortable living for Himself.  He wouldn't bother with eating or resting when someone came to Him with a real need.  He washed the feet of His followers like a slave would have done his master.  He sacrificed His life so that others could know abundant and eternal life.  Jesus came to serve, not to be served!  And so the Apostle Paul teaches the church to devotedly love one another -- to extend grace to one another as Christ has extended it to us, and to honor one another above ourselves -- to be more concerned with bringing recognition and praise to our brother or sister than that which we receive.

Can you imagine what our world would be like if people fulfilled this exhortation . . . if even just the Church would do it?  If we sought the best for our fellow man, and stopped worrying with who gets credit for the good that is done, the world would be a much better place!  Washington D.C. would certainly be different!  But it will never happen until we become obedient to the Lord.  What most people misunderstand about Christianity is that when we are commanded by God's Word to "give something up" it simply opens the door to bountiful blessings!  God will not bless disobedience, but He will pour out an abundance on those who live out their faith in obedience.   In this case God is telling us that giving up the desire to rise above our neighbor will actually raise us all to a new level.

Allow me to let you in on something I have been learning over time . . . the more I choose to live as a servant the sweeter life becomes.  A person with a true servant's heart doesn't worry about what he doesn't have, and as a result he is never dissatisfied or feels unappreciated.  He simply lives each day with gratitude toward a gracious Lord and is thankful for one more chance to serve.

It Has Become So Mixed Up!

Does the world seem upside-down . . . twisted and perverted?  It sure does to me!  And I know why.  We have come to love the wrong things!

Romans 12:9b (the second part of that verse) says this:  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  (NIV)  That is God's strong exhortation to us all, but we have obviously failed to heed what He says.  It isn't like this is the only time He tries to teach His people about this.  In Psalm 52 David is speaking about one who betrayed him to an enemy when he says, You love evil more than good, and he goes on to describe the judgment that awaits such a person.  The prophet Isaiah decried the actions of his people by saying, Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness . . . Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Oh how we have allowed deception to creep in and blot out the light of truth!  The people of our nation (and the world), even many who call themselves Christian, have abandoned what God says is good and taken residence in the slums of evil.  Joe Wright, Pastor of the Central Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas, was asked to pray an invocation at the Kansas State House on January 24, 1996.  His prayer (actually written by Bob Russell of Louisville) caused quite a stir and even was featured several times by radio commentator Paul Harvey.  At the conclusion of the prayer several house members walked out in protest.  Here is the prayer:
     Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance.  We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call good evil,' but that's exactly what we have done.  We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.  We confess that, we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism; we have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism; we have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle; we have exploited the poor ad called it the lottery; we have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation; we have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; we have killed our unborn and called it choice; we have shot abortionists and called it justifiable; we have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem; we have abused power and called it political savvy; we have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition; we have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; we have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.  Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.  Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You to govern this great state of Kansas.  Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will.

How I pray that the people of this nation, this entire world, would one day fall upon our knees and confess our sins, individual and corporate, and beg the God of all creation to forgive and to heal.  Then, and only then, will we see things reversed and the Word of God revered for what it truly is.  Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me!

Make It Real!

Over the next several posts I want to think about what the 12th chapter of Romans says about living as a Christian.  I begin with the first part of verse 9 -- Love must be sincere (NIV). 

Have you ever noticed how kids seem to be able to sense when someone is a fake or if they are for real?  And when they sense that a person (particularly an adult) is sincere in their love and caring that child grabs hold of them and loves them right back!  At our church we have a child care ministry that services over 100 families (about 125 kids).  Most do not attend our church, though we hope to bring more of the unchurched families into our fellowship.  Occasionally I will go to where the children are and spend a little time interacting with them.  Sometimes it is playing ball with them in the gym or playfully call the boys by the girls' names and girls by the boys' names (they think Bro. Ken is so mixed up sometimes).  There is rarely a time when many of the children don't rush up and want a hug.  Why?  Because they sense that I care about them.  They believe I am sincere.

What is sincere love?  Perhaps the best description in the Bible is found in 1 Corinthians 13.  It is a lengthy passage so I won't print it here, but I encourage you to read it.  As you do, think also of where it is found in 1 Corinthians.  Chapters 12 and 14 both speak to spiritual gifts, that is, the God-given abilities which motivate us and enable us to minister.  And lo and behold, right in the middle of that writing about these gifts is a whole chapter on LOVE.  The Apostle Paul was telling the early church that all of these spiritual gifts are wonderful, but until they are used in love they are pretty much useless.  Love is the indicator that the use of these gifts are sincerely used to glorify God rather than ourselves.  And guess what . . . Romans 12:9 follows right on the heels of a passage about serving God with spiritual gifts (verses 3-8).

The New King James translates Romans 12:9 -- Let love be without hypocrisy.  Love isn't really love unless it is expressed with the desire to bless and edify another person.  If an action is taken with a self-serving motive then it isn't an act of love.  Let me encourage you to love those around you . . .  and let's be real!

Why Aren't We Different?

Well, I took a little time away from my blog to go on a mission trip to Wise, Virginia.  After that was a few days of scrambling to prepare for a few days off (which I am now enjoying).  I hope to take time to write several posts during these days.

Something which concerns me greatly, and I believe to be a tremendous hindrance to the effective work of God's Kingdom, is the un-Christian behavior of so many of those who call themselves Christian.  Numerous scientific surveys agree with what I have observed -- most Christians (church members) live no differently from those who do not claim belief in Christ and are not interested in being a part of the Church.  The divorce rate among church members is virtually the same as that of the unchurched.  Teens raised in the church are as sexually active as those not raised in the church.  Strife and ill-will among church members have robbed most churches of their effectiveness.  This is so tragic!  It is shameful!  And, it is so terribly harmful to the cause of Christ!  

Why is this happening?  I see two primary reasons.  First, our church membership rolls are filled with people who have never had a true salvation experience and are just as lost now as they were before joining a church. 

You may be thinking, "Ken, that sounds pretty harsh and very judgmental."  The truth is sometimes very harsh, and the "judge not" crowd are theologically uninformed.  I am not alone in this assessment of today's Church.  A number of years ago Billy Graham, the great evangelist for God for our generation, proclaimed that he believed that at least 80% of the membership in Christian churches are "lost" (without a saving relationship with Christ).  Eighty percent!  How could he make such a statement?  Isn't that being judgmental?  Graham could make such a statement simply by looking at the lifestyles of most church members.  They do not reflect the kind of lives the Bible says is consistent with those who are indwelled by God's Holy Spirit.  Read what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Galatia:
     Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery (drug abuse), hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like:  of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of god.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  (5:19-23)

Those who practice such things (verses 19-21) will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Whether you are a church member or not, if these works of the flesh (evil deeds) are a way of life (practice) for you then you are giving evidence of an unredeemed, unforgiven spirit.  Church membership is not the equivalent of salvation.  Salvation is the result of confessing our sin to the Lord, trusting that what He did on the cross of Calvary was the only sufficient sacrifice for our sin, and committing to follow Jesus as our Lord. 

The conclusion:  those who do not demonstrate the reality of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives act like they do because they do not have a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ!  A church member who doesn't act any differently from those who don't claim to be Christian is in all likelihood just as lost. 

A second reason why so many church members don't act differently is that many, though being saved, they have really never grown much in their spiritual lives.  As Paul would say, these believers are still taking only spiritual milk and have never moved on to the meat!  They believe, but have never sought to grow in the spiritual disciplines which are required for developing a "Christ-like" lifestyle.  Such believers usually are weak and often cave in to the pressures to conform to this world rather than to stand firmly in the standards set forth by Jesus.  Romans 12:2 exhorts the believer . . . And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

What about you?  Does your life reflect a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus?  Are you truly different from those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior?  If not, a life-changing relationship awaits you if only you will follow the One who created you and has a significant purpose for your life.

Are you qualified?

Admittedly, more than once over the past 35 years or so I have found myself asking the Lord, "Why in the world did you choose me for this role (vocational ministry - I have served on the staff of five Baptist churches)?"  My dashing good looks?  Hardly.  My remarkably keen intellect?  Duh, no!  My oratorical prowess?  That ain't it.

I'm sure that the fellows whom Jesus selected to be the Apostles, the foundational stones of the Christian Church, must have asked themselves the same question.  Essentially there was nothing about this unlikely bunch which could have been seen as qualifications for such a critical purpose.  Truth be known, nothing about any of these men qualified them to be Apostles except God's own sovereign purpose. 

On the subject of our qualifications for serving God John MacArthur states, "So there are no intrinsically qualified people.  God Himself must save sinners, sanctify them, and then transform them from unqualified into instruments He can use" (from his book Twelve Ordinary Men).  You may look upon yourself as being a worthless nobody with nothing to offer the Lord, but worthless nobodies are just the kind of people God uses because that is all He has to work with.

Why does God choose to accomplish His purposes this way?  "God chooses the humble, the lowly, the meek, and the weak so that there's never any question about the source of power when their lives changed the world.  It's not the man; it's the truth of God and the power of God in the man...The power is in the Word - the truth that we preach - no in us" (MacArthur).

We don't need to think too highly of ourselves, and at the same time we must not underestimate the power of God.  The lesson behind today's post is this:  Spend time with the Lord, absorb all that He wants to teach you, know the source of your power, and perhaps you will be the kind of nobody God wants to use to fulfill His divine purpose.

When is foolishness actually the wise thing?

In my last post I wrote of how God loves to use the "nobodys" of this world to accomplish His kingdom's work.  Just looking at who Jesus chose to be the Apostles -- the foundational leadership of the newly formed Church -- should say something quite remarkable about who God uses.

These men, and the message they proclaimed faithfully in the first century A.D., were looked upon by the religious establishment of the day as being nothing more than mere fools.  And yet, that is just exactly how God wanted it.  He despised the sacrimonious hypocricy of Israel's religious leaders and He mocked their spiritual ineptness by choosing men of lowly position to become heroes of the faith. 

In the first chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church we see how God chose what would appear foolish to those who thumb their noses at Him as the message of His redemption, and He chose those who would be perceived as fools to be His messengers . . .
     "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those wo are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (my emphasis)  For it is written:  'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'
     Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the widom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified:  a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."  (I Corinthians 1:18-25)

So why does God do it this way?  John MacArthur, in his book Twelve Ordinary Men says this about God's purpose:  "God chooses the humble, the lowly, the meek, and the weak so that there's never any question about the source of power when their lives change the world.  It's not the man; it's the truth of God and the power of God in the man.  The power is in the Word -- the truth that we preach -- not in us...God's favorite instruments are nobodies, so that no man can boast before God.  In other words, God chooses whom He chooses in order that He might receive the glory."

I have always loved to hear the testimonies of histories great men of God because they all share one common theme - "It has never been about me or my abilities, but it has always been about the power of God and the Gospel message!"  Men such as Billy Graham, W.A. Criswell, Adrian Rogers, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody and Charles Spurgeon would all say that they could never understand why God chose them to become preachers of His Word because they knew they had nothing of great value to offer, and each would proclaim "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:31).

Which would you choose -- the wisdom of the world or the foolishness of God?

Are you too small?

Very often common people (such as myself) think of themselves as being "too much, too little, too late" to be used by God to accomplish much.  They look at who they are and lament that they will never amount to much in God's kingdom work.  Such thinking is a grave mistake.

If you look at the men Jesus chose to become the very foundation of the church you will notice that none of them were exceptional people.  On the contrary, they were as common, as ordinary, as anyone could possibly be.

I am currently reading John MacArthur's book Twelve Ordinary Men which is a study of the lives of the men Jesus called to be His "inner circle" who would spend a relatively short, but intensive time (about 18 months) hearing Jesus teach and observing His actions.  MacArthur says of the twelve:
     "they were perfectly ordinary men in every way.  Not one of them was renowned for scholarship or great erudition.  They had no track record as orators or theologians.  In fact, they were outsiders as far as the religious establishment of Jesus' day was concerned.  They were not outstanding because of any natural talents or intellectual abilities.  On the contrary, they were all too prone to mistakes, misstatements, wrong attitudes, lapses of faith, and bitter failure -- no one more so than the leader of the group, Peter.  Even Jesus remarked that they were slow learners and somewhat spiritually dense (Luke 24:25)."

Sound like anyone you know?  I have to admit that MacArthur could have easily been describing me.  He goes on to say of the Apostles:  "Yet with all their faults and character flaws -- as remarkably ordinary as they were -- these men carried on a ministry after Jesus' ascension that left an indelible impact on the world."

Why would God choose to use such unlikely characters to entrust the very future of His redemptive ministry among mankind?  It's really simple.  If He had called upon great men to do this work they may have tried to depend upon their own intellect and skill (just like the Pharisees and other religious leaders tried to do) and God would not have received the glory and praise He deserves.  Doing what He did through the kind of people He chose assured that His work  was done in his power and not man's!

How does that reality affect how you think of yourself?  Does it give you hope that God can do something significant through you?  As the old saying goes, "He isn't looking for your ability, just your availablity."  God can do whatever He wants without our help, but He has chosen to give us the wonderful privilege of serving Him and being used as instruments for His glory.  So don't think you are too small to do anything great for God's kingdom.  Realize that acknowledging your lack of power is the beginning of being filled with His power to do "God-sized" tasks!