Rest

We are not a very restful people. We are always focusing on self. We are always using guilt or fear to motivate--manipulate--people to make the decisions we want them to make. We somehow believe that the Holy Spirit needs our help to get people to make the right decisions. But can shame be the soil from which love grows? Is the Holy Spirit so inept that He needs human manipulation to touch the hearts of His people? As a teacher I am always challenged by Paul's statement to the church at Corinth: "What I said and preached had none of the attractiveness of the clever mind, but it was a demonstration of the power of the Spirit! Plainly God's purpose was that your faith should rest not upon man's cleverness but upon the power of God."
Paul tells us often that the source of all wisdom and understanding is a deeper understanding of Jesus. If we want people to do what is right, they must see and understand all that He is, all that He has done, all that He has promised to do for His people today and tomorrow. Why do you think that Paul starts almost all of his letters by emphasizing those truths? Before he ever talks about obedience, he gives tremendous insights into Jesus. He has forgiven all our sins, paid the debt for all our sins--past, present, and future--and defeated all our enemies, even death. When we understand those truths and why He has done so, it is love and not shame or guilt that motivates us to love Him back through obedience. We must teach God's people to rest in Him and His finished atoning work on the cross. We must love people where they are and trust the Spirit to use His Word to transform them. We must accept that God has us where He wants us to be for now. And that even now His Spirit is working in our lives to cause us to grow at His pace and in His grace. Those who truly rest, work the work of love. Those who are shamed into obedience, quit as soon as the feelings of guilt dissipate. Those who truly rest, endure, because they know that God will provide everything and everyone they need at the right place and the right time. Those who are manipulated by guilt live in fear because they believe that because of their failures God will not provide anything or anyone they need at the precise time that such is needed. Many of them even become slaves to man-made standards of righteousness, the enemy of genuine spiritual growth. They become followers of men and resist the power of God, the controlling, transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
It is time to become a people of rest--to lean on the One who promised all those who come to Him that He would give them rest by yoking His strength to theirs so that through Him, Who is their strength, they could do all things necessary to godliness. It is time to show people Jesus and to emphasize His great and continuous love for His children. Guilt produces shame. Shame produces fear. Fear produces doubt. Doubt produces despair. Despair produces resignation. Resignation causes one to just give up trying. Apathy becomes the disguise we wear when we are afraid to trust and when we think that our love is incapable of pleasing God. Rest. Love. Obey. Grow. Every act of obedience is an act of love. And Jesus will never, no never, not for a moment, not even once, leave you nor forsake you. And that's an eternal, everlasting promise.

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Politicians

The good politician recognizes that he is God's ordained agent and thus subject to God's laws and God's definition of leadership: "full-time servant-hood to those under his care." He knows he is not their superior, let alone their ruler. The dangerous politician sees himself as autonomous and thus his own standard for right and wrong, good and evil. He serves his self-interest and is incapable of acting for the common good of society, especially since often what is good for society is seen in a negative light by society. And thus, not good for his self-interest. The good politician never asks, "what does my party think is right" or "what do the majority of Americans think is right" or "what impact will this decision make on my popularity and my chances for re-election"? Those are "power" questions and destroy one's ability to act out of a loving servant's heart--a servant to God first, to those under his care next. What the good leader asks himself is "how will the One who has placed me in this position as decision-maker view my decision"? The bad politician is always checking to see which way the proverbial "wind is blowing." As much as he would like to think so, he is not in charge. He is the dupe of public opinion. The word for that is "spineless." Sadly, there are, it seems, always more bad politicians then there are good ones. Praise the Lord for the good ones. And remember: Thankfully, the hope and comfort of all Christians is the simple truth that "the heart of the king is in the hand of God."

Jesus Never Fails

When God doesn't answer our prayers--well, He always answers our prayers. Let's start over. When God doesn't answer our prayers the way we would like Him to, it's not that He's thinking:

"Oh, they need a little more disappointment in their lives."

" You know, Gabriel, I think a little more suffering in their lives will probably be good for them. They've had it pretty easy for some time now."

Nor does He not sense and feel--even have empathy for--our sadness and tears when His answer is not what we had hoped. He is the One who commands us to "weep with those who weep." He is the One who took on flesh that He might feel with us, not merely for us.

No, what He's thinking is: "What I have planned for them is the best; so much better than what they think they need. What I have planned for them is joy and a deepening sense of my presence and my love."

Jesus never fails.

The Body

Paul describes the church as a body. Each member is necessary; each member is vital to the church's ability to fulfill its mission: "Go into all the world and make disciples." "You will be witnesses of Me." (And it's "of" not merely "for.") In the church where God has placed you, you are needed. Encouragement, hospitality, exhortation, discipleship, discipline, giving of our resources are not independent acts. They require others. We desperately need each other and the gifts and "energy" we bring to the body. Christianity is a group project. In the church independence is counterfeit freedom. We are one body.

The Fear of the Lord

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

We live in a nation severely lacking in wisdom. On all levels. And the reason is obvious. What pleases God is irrelevant to most people--including many believers. And since all issues are spiritual issues, not political, I hope your trust is not in the government and its leaders--in men--for solutions to these issues. What is my responsibility then? To model Christ. To show the world that we never make decisions without asking ourselves "How will this decisions affect my relationship with God?" Unless we imitate the life of Christ on a daily basis, no one will ever know what wisdom looks like. What does wisdom add to the world: understanding, discernment, instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, equity, prudence, an increase in learning, discretion, wise counsel. We can't make anyone wise; that's a choice they make. But we can show our love for Him by demonstrating wisdom. We can be light in any darkness.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

The Test of Success

The proof of the character of Mordecai in the book of Esther comes at the very end. He had to pass the test of success. And he did. No matter how great a man he became in earthly affairs, he changed not at all in the desires of his heart. First, foremost, and forever, Mordecai loved God's people and desired to see them blessed of the Lord and celebrating His goodness to them. Nothing changed his character. He was "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." He knew times of great abasement and times of great exaltation, but either way, he was a servant of the Most High God.
How does your character match up to this splendid example of a believer in both word and deed? Are you a man of love and responsibility? A man of caution and compassion? A man of faithful duty to civil authorities? A man of uncompromising conviction and steadfastness regardless of circumstances? A man of prayer, supplication, and humility? A man of exhortation and trust? A man of praise and rejoicing? A man of unchanging character even in the good times? The key is having your heart where Mordecai had his. He was given completely to loving the things God loves: his family, God's honor, justice, God's people, the people he served in his position in the world.
Mordecai received the honor of men--you and I may not. But the honor of being faithful to God is all you need. And I think that Mordecai's greatest achievement, perhaps the ultimate test of his character, was that he passed along his heart to his "daughter," Esther. If my children develop a godly character, a heart just like mine, what will they be like? Where will their treasures be?

Death

Death. The word that haunts men. As a teacher of literature, it was always interesting to me how many writers down through the ages have written about death. Man is preoccupied with trying to explain it, with trying to find some way to soften its impact and their unknown fears. No so, however, with the child of God. He rests in the arms of the destroyer of death, His Savior. Like Paul, he can say, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die, gain . . . having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better." Death is a going home to be with Him, to at last see Him whom we have loved but have not seen.
And I love the ways in which that word "depart" was used in New Testament times. It was used by soldiers to take down the tent and move on--to depart. To sailors it meant to put up the sail--to depart. To the farmer it meant to unhook the oxen. To the jailor it meant to set the prisoner free. What a picture of death to us who know our Savior. We are going from a tent to a room in His house, from the battle to the place of rest. We are setting sail for home, our "new world." We can release the oxen, the toil in the harvest is done. We have not looked back. We can escape the prison of our earthly bodies to live in a heavenly one that He has prepared for us, immortal and incorruptible. The body we leave behind is merely the cocoon, the butterfly has gone--the transformation is complete.

Someday we will be like Him, "for we shall see Him as He is."

The Difference

"But Peter said to Him, 'Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.' And Jesus said to him, 'Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me.' But Peter kept saying insistently, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!' And they were all saying the same thing, too.' " (Mark 14:29-31)

"And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me." (II Peter 1:13-14)

We know the first story well, Peter--and the others--claiming that they would die for Christ before they would deny him. And they meant every word of it!!! Yet, Peter denied his Lord. He was too afraid to die for Him.

But at the end of his life, do you sense the great calmness with which he faces death for His Lord? There is no fear--or boasting. Death is coming--a martyr's death--but Peter is unafraid. He's just busy doing the Lord's work until God takes him home.

What made the difference? Peter learned a long time ago that the proper motivation, the energizing power in the disciple's life, was not how much he loved his Lord, but a deep reflection on how much his Lord loved him. No matter what he had done, no matter how deep his failure, Jesus loved him. "Lord, you know all things, and you know that I love you." And Jesus never doubted Peter's love for Him, even when he failed miserably to show it. "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Yes! Jesus loves me. Yes! Jesus loves me Yes! Jesus loves me; the Bible tells me so."

Nothing you can do will stop Him from loving you or cause Him to doubt that you love Him. That truth, once learned, leads to powerful, fearless discipleship.

Values

The disciple--the dedicated follower of Christ--must get his values and base his behavior on the Word of God. He or she must be a student of the Word--and of the whole counsel of God. It is the Word that God uses to sanctify His people, to empower us to take every thought captive to obedience. It is the light that guides us for each step that we take; the lamp for our feet on the path ahead. As we saturate our life with the Word, the Spirit fills us and takes control of our lives. Whenever our thinking becomes distracted and drawn away from reliance on the sword of the Spirit, we are in trouble. The battle is fought in the mind. We are either being transformed by the renewing of our mind through the Word, or we are being conformed to the culture in which we live. Conformity is the evidence that we have taken our lives off the altar of sacrifice and are following something other than Christ. Worshiping something other than Christ. As Jesus said, "The wise man obeys; the foolish man knows God's truth but does not obey. But it's the wise man's life that can withstand the inevitable storms."

"Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands, and moves toward the goal of true maturity."

The Struggle

The victorious Christian life is a constant struggle. We are aliens in a hostile world. We have a supernatural enemy who is constantly trying to attack God by attacking us. We have a sin nature that is in conflict with the Holy Spirit's desire to transform us into His likeness. We have a world that constantly bombards us with ideas meant to conform us to their image and thought processes. We are surrounded by needs, and our resources and abilities can never completely solve the problems. We live in bodies of flesh that tire and age and ache and get sick and have unquenchable appetites. We live a life of faith with no guarantee of the earthly outcome; and, often, no idea what the outcome actually was.
And yet, we have victory. We are "more than conquerors." Why? Because the God we serve is eternally faithful. The hostility of the world is evidence of our eternal citizenship. The attack of the enemy is proof that we are being faithful, that God has confidence in us to face the trial by relying on His faithfulness. Our sin nature will lose. "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound." The world's seduction causes us to be constantly renewing our minds through the power of the Spirit in teaching us His Word. The meeting of the needs of others keeps our selfishness at bay and our dependence on Him a necessity. They make us long for the day when He will return and all needs will be met, justice and righteousness will reign. Our aging bodies make us long for home, to seek to see His face, to rest in His arms, to gain immortal, incorruptible bodies like His. Our inability to control and see the outcomes of faith forces us to live lives of humility--and faith. What we see causes us to embrace what we know: "All things work for the good of those who are His children, loved by inescapable love."
Victory is never easy. The battle rages around us and in us. We are the battlefield. Each day we put on the armor He has supplied. Each day we follow our Captain into the conflict fully assured of victory because He has fought and won the battle for us.

"Not to the strong is the battle, not to the swift is the race, but to the true and the faithful victory is promised through grace."

Fight on.

Assignment

Did you complain about them today or pray for them? Who? The president and his family, the congressional leaders and their families. Which do you think would make the biggest difference? Oh, by the way. God doesn't suggest that you pray for your leaders. He commands it. "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

The Purpose

The purpose of Christianity is not based on what God is supposed to be doing for you but on what you should be doing to serve Him by serving others.

Never

The will of God never contradicts the Word of God.

Riches

As a single father I used to constantly remind my sons that I was the richest man in the world. After all, how could a father have anything more valuable than his sons' love? It was also important for them to know that--to know how much they meant to me (and still do.) If the choice was between wealth and being committed to my sons, it wasn't a choice. Give me my sons any and every day.
Today, believe it or not, I am still the richest man in the world--at least tied with some of you. I have two delightful sons, a lovely daughter-in-law, and two gorgeous granddaughters. But as rich as all that makes me, I have other riches as well. I have no fear of going hungry tomorrow. I have good friends that I can call on in time of need. I have good friends who help me even when I'm not in a "time of need." I have two sisters and their families who love my family and me and are faithfully serving our Lord. I have an incredible Mom who has always loved me, prays for my boys and me constantly, and in her late nineties is as faithful to her Savior as a Daniel or an Apostle John. She is a living encouragement to finish strong, to run the race with patience, to fight the good fight of faith until it's time to go home. I have been given by my God the spiritual gift of teaching to use to honor and glorify Him. I have a car that runs. I have Pepsi in the refrigerator. I have an eternal relationship with the eternal God of love.
I--and you--could go on and on. God has enriched us with so many things in so many ways. We are the richest people in the world--and our income is irrelevant. If we lost it all, we would still be just as rich. So, when you feel like complaining about your circumstances or about what you don't have, reflect on what you do have as a joint-heir with Christ. Spending the day rejoicing is much better than spending the day grumbling. I hope you enjoy your riches this holiday season. You don't need one gift to do so.

"Count your many blessings name then one by one." It will take you an eternity; so, you had best get started.

Christmas Imagination

As I meditate on the Christmas story, my imagination again gets carried away.
I wish I could have been the first magi who looked into the skies toward Jerusalem and saw the star. Can you imagine his excitement as he ran to tell the others. "The King has been born." And how did they know to look? Must have had a copy of the book of Daniel--and believed it.
And I wonder about the differences between the conversations between Mary and Joseph. First, when she told him she was with child and that the child had been conceived by the Holy Spirit--and he obviously did not believe her. Second, after the angel told him that her story was true, and he went to talk to her and started the conversation--I imagine--with "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you."
And I would have loved to have heard the conversation when she came to him and told him she was going to go visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth and that she would be gone for awhile. "Why?" "She's with child." I would have liked to have seen the look on his face at that moment.
I, also, wonder how long it took for the "light to go on" about Bethlehem. Can you imagine? "I can't believe it. You're about to give birth, and the stupid Romans tell us we have to go all the way to Bethlehem for some stupid census. Why is God letting them do this? Bethlehem. It makes no . . . Oh, Micah. 'But as for you Bethlehem . . .from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.' Duh."
And I would have loved to have watched him on that arduous journey as he pampered and gently cared for Mary. You don't really think the Lord would let a harsh, insensitive man be the earthly father of His Son, do you? (And don't think for a moment that Jesus wasn't saddened by the death of His earthly father when He was just a young man.)
And I wonder what they were thinking after Jesus was born. Were they thinking, "well, he looks just like every other baby. Nothing special. Did we misunderstand?" And then in clamored a bunch of smelly rag-tag shepherds giving each other high-fives and exclaiming, "the angels told us to come! Hope you don't mind. What a beautiful baby! What did you name Him? Jesus--Jehovah saves. Yes! Of course. Hey Joel, His name is Jesus!" And I don't doubt that everyone of them had to hold that baby. Don't worry. Those burly guys knew how to cradle a lamb in their arms. And I'm sure he smiled up at everyone of them. And they never forgot that smile.
Just imagining. It's a disease I have.

Liberation

Devotion to Him begins to grow and mature when I embrace the liberating truth that I am the least important person in my life.

The Finite and the Infinite

Being a man--finite in every way--I cannot go back and change any yesterday. Nor can I see into the eternal future to see the end of all things. I am also finite in my wisdom, finite in my understanding, finite in my righteousness, finite in my compassion, and finite in my love. Consequently, when I look at events in the sphere of my time on earth, often, I do not understand the whys. But I know the One who is infinite and sees and knows all things--past, present, and future. I know the One who is infinite in wisdom, infinite in understanding, infinite in wisdom, infinite in righteousness, infinite in compassion, and infinite in love. And I have found that He can take what man means for evil and turn it into good. As Infinite Goodness who suffered more evil at the hands of man than He? And what eternal goodness did He bring from that evil! And I have found that He is the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulations. Yes, all--if we will just admit that we are finite and cannot--dare not--trust our finite eyes and finite conclusions. I have found--and continue to find--that there is no sorrow greater than His comfort. So that even when I spend a day weeping with those who weep and find myself devoid of understanding, I can still rejoice in Who He is--the infinite One who does all things well. And I can recommit myself to be a doer of good at every opportunity that the Light might shine in contrast to the great darkness.

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red, and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."

He, too, weeps with those who weep--while His infinite love binds the brokenhearted and sustains the fainting soul who will come to Him for rest. I pray that those in sorrow will seek His tear-stained face. "Those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true."

Reflections on a Tragedy

Perhaps this is not the right time, but . . . I don't believe that I will ever in my lifetime think of the slaughter of those beautiful little children and not have to fight back tears--and, undoubtedly--lose the battle. Yet, I ask you. Would not every aborted fetus in the briefest of time be just as beautiful, just as precious, just as full of life and hope as the little ones murdered in that classroom? There is no argument to convince me otherwise. Just the slightest bit of imagination and the simplest logic says that it is undeniably so. And yet, do we shed a tear for them? No, not a one. In fact, we give our hearty approval to those who not only condone such acts but actively and vigorously support them. And some who do so claim to be disciples of the One who said lovingly, "Let the little children come to Me. For of such is the kingdom of God." The One who warned that before you dare to offend one child, you should tie a boulder around your neck and jump into the sea. Our apathy toward that daily tragedy brings tears to my heart as well.

Whatever

"Whether, therefore, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Whatever God has called you to do, exhibit an unwavering work ethic, a blameless integrity, and a deep aversion to mediocrity.

An Examination

Periodic self-examination is essential for the Christian as he walks in the fear of the Lord. The one who loves the Lord is desirous of a good name. And I don't mean by that a good reputation. There is a difference; at least, there can be. A good reputation can be a forgery, counterfeit. A good name is a life of integrity, a life in which the Holy Spirit is being allowed to work out His nature in the choices and behavior of the believer. It is not a life that reflects human will power and man-made righteousness, but a life that reflects the dominance of the fruit of the Spirit on a daily, consistent basis.
So, how should I examine myself to be sure that I am living in the fear of the Lord? Well, first you must cast aside the wrong criteria. You must not expect to find a sinless life. Having not yet been glorified, you will find plenty of sin. If your examination leads you to believe that you have arrived spiritually--especially compared to everyone else--you need to retake the test. But first, take off the blindfold of spiritual pride. If self-examination doesn't humble you, the subsequent hard fall will.
In addition, you shouldn't judge where you are spiritually by the circumstances in which you find yourself. To use that as your criteria is to be in danger of finding yourself in the camp of Job's friends. And we all know what God thought of them! "They have not spoken what is right about Me." They would have gotten a zero on the self-examination--not that they would have been humble enough to take it.
Also, if the results of your self-examination lead you to think that you're spiritually bright, that there's nothing else God can teach you, then you must have written the test yourself. It surely wasn't the Holy Spirit's test. The spiritually wise man will only be impressed by how many blanks he left on the test.
Okay, then what should I look for when I start examining my walk with God? How will I know that the Holy Spirit is doing His work in me? Let me mention just a couple things for starters. First, if the Holy Spirit is doing His work in me, I will find joy in the midst of sorrow. When "sorrows like sea billows roll," then "peace like a river" will flood my soul. When I look at the darkest hours of my life, I will find the Light of the World shining there in my heart and in my walk. And I will be amazed and humbled that it was so.
Second, I will find patience and not anger as the controlling attitude in my dealings with others and with my circumstances. Who is more patient with men and their behavior than God? Who is more patient with my snail's pace spiritual growth than the Holy Spirit? And the evidence of true patience, God's patience, is a lack of fear concerning the future. He will finish the work He has begun in the lives of those I love, those I love only a fraction as much as He loves. He will--because He alone can--make the crooked straight. And He has promised that He will do that for those who patiently trust Him. And even more amazingly, He will finish the work in my life as well. It's incredible what He can do with a ball of clay, a clump of mud.
Finally, when I take the test and discover how little I really know, my response will not be "what's the use." Nor will my response be, "I give up." No, my response will be "teach me Lord, search me Lord, and reveal the wicked ways in me that by Your Spirit I might learn to love you more." The blank spaces on my exam will create in me a deepening desire to know Him more, to lay open to Him a teachable spirit that I might more fully walk in the light as He is in the light--more fully sense His presence in my daily life.
We need to examine ourselves to see how far we have to go to be like Him. We need to examine ourselves that we might humbly submit ourselves to the work the Holy Spirit is trying to do in us and through us. The right examination taken the right way will find us amazed at how far He's taken us to this point--especially considering what He had to work with. The right examination taken the right way will find us patiently trusting daily in His will and unafraid of any future because we know that all the crooked places will be made straight, all the sorrows will bring eternal joy, and when He's finally finished, "we will be like Him for we will see Him as He is." One day, by His amazing grace, we will pass the test--and never have to take it again.

Knowing the Ending

One of the great truths--or at least it should be--that Christians rest in is that we know the ending to the story, and every story in between. God wins, He does good for His people, you reap what you sow. I don't know why we often act as if those were not true. If I really believe those truths, it will have a profound effect on my daily walk. For example, I will always wait patiently for God to do His perfect work at the right time and in the right way. I will never lose confidence in His goodness, never lose patience with His call for me to wait, never change my manner of living to try to adjust the circumstances to my liking right now. I will not like Abraham and Naomi flee the place of promise because of fear that He cannot provide. I will not like Moses take things in my own hands and start slaying Egyptians one at a time. I will not like Peter stop fellowshipping with one group in order to avoid the criticism of another group. I will not like Paul consider Mark useless because he failed. And the list goes on. We must be saints of endurance, patience, and hope. We must live as if we actually believe that our God is always working to accomplish His purpose and that He knows exactly when and how something will be accomplished so that it glorifies Him. In the Christian life it is not "he who hesitates is lost" but "he who waits on the Lord will soar like an eagle."

Purging

All of us, if we are really God's children--abiding in the True Vine, experience pruning--purging, editing. The word itself has a tendency to scare us. Perhaps we visualize God coming after us with a huge pair of pruning shears to whack away indiscriminately at our lives. In short, we are afraid to trust God with our lives. For isn't that all fear really is--a lack of confidence in an all-wise, all-powerful, all-loving God?"
It's true that God sometimes "edits" from our lives things that are in and of themselves "good." To illustrate that necessity, Christ told His disciples that if their eyes or hands offend them, they should cut them off. In other words, if their point of view or their attitude toward Christian service would keep them from being what God wanted them to be, those perceptions and attitudes would have to go. As someone has said, pruning is simply "God doing away with some of me in order to produce more of Him."
You see, God is more interested in what I am--my relationship to Him--than in what I do for Him. He won't stop editing the chapters in my life until there's more of the life of God in me than there is of me. Then, He will be able to do through me, the things that He Himself would do.
All He asks is, "Trust Me."

The Reasons

One of the reasons He came:
"Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

For you--a Savior, Christ the Lord. Good news of a great joy!

One of the reasons He came:
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost at all. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

He came to save sinners. And if he can save you and me, He can save anyone. And He is patiently working in the hearts of those we love to bring them to Him. And for such love we give Him our praise and thanks--forever.

One of the reasons He came:
"That My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

His joy: "For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne in heaven."

He came that those who pursue the illusive phantom of happiness, in a world full of great sorrows and disappointments, can find a joy that flows in the midst of the deepest tribulations--and triumphs. 

 One of the reasons He came:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

He came to seek. His grace is available to all who will repent and believe. He loves every pro-abortion politician, every woman who had an abortion, every radical Muslim, every atheist, every gay person, everyone--just as much as He loves me. "But God commended His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The heart of God calls me to fervent prayer that all those who need His grace may respond to His seeking, loving heart. That's why He came.

 One of the reasons He came:

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell on Him, and by His scourging we are healed."

The piercing, the crushing, the chastening, the scourging were all meant for us. He was wounded for me. He was wounded for you.

"Wounded for me, wounded for me, there on the cross He was wounded for me. Gone my transgressions, and now I am free, all because Jesus was wounded for me."

One of the reasons He came:

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses , but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need."

He came that those who believe in Him can in their most difficult struggles and deepest sorrows be overwhelmed by His grace and mercy knowing that He understands exactly what they are feeling and His spontaneous response is "Let Me help! Please!"--not "I am so tired of putting up with your weaknesses."

 One of the reasons He came:

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die."
"I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also"

He came that He might spend forever with you. Believe in Him and live eternal life.

 One of the reasons He came:

"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost."

Spiritually thirsty? Hungering and thirsting for righteousness? He came that you might pray, "Nothing in my hands I bring; only to Thy cross I cling." And then to find yourself clothed in the righteousness of Christ--your life hidden in Him. Forever. Satisfied.

 One of the reasons He came:

"MY peace I give to you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Have a troubled, fearful heart? He came for you. Let His love cast out your fear and calm your troubled soul.

 One of the reasons He came:

"Come to Me, all who work to exhaustion, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is kindly and my load is light."

Is your soul exhausted? Are you in need of the kindness of a gentle, humble God. Yes, humble, not judgmental. Do you long for God's power and God's wisdom to permeate your soul and give you rest? He came for you. Draw nigh to Him.

 One of the reasons He came:

"To bring good news to the afflicted; to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners"

In need of grace--a healing restoration and freeing of your soul? He came for you!

 One of the reasons He came:

"Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Need the ashes of your life transformed into a beautiful lei to adorn your neck? Need the sorrows of your life transformed into a life overflowing with gladness? Need your fainting spirit transformed into a spirit filled with praise? He came for you. He longs to take you, the weak struggling sapling, and transform you into a mighty oak of righteousness--an undeniable proof of His presence in the world and in the life of His own possessions. Come to Him. Rest--sink your roots deep--into His transforming power.

"And he shall be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, and in whatsoever he does, he prospers."

 One of the reasons He came:

 "A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish."

Our Savior came to gently mend the bruised and to gently keep the winds of adversity from extinguishing the dimming wick. Bruised and faltering? He came for you. Rest in His gentleness.

 One of the reasons He came:

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."

Christmas

Christmas: God became man in order to redeem man from his sins. A man did not become God. As mediator it was necessary that He be both: fully man and fully God. And then, as man, He lived a sinless life. That sinless life makes it possible for Him to save us. When He died on the cross, it was not to pay the wages of His sin for He had none, but to pay the wages for our sins. Christianity is not God condemning man. Man, born into sin, is condemned already. The message is not, "if you don't believe, you will go to Hell." You are already going to Hell. The message is that God because of His love for mankind sent His Son into the world to become a man, live a sinless life, die as a substitute for sin, and provide a pardon, forgiveness for sin, and entrance into His presence forever. There was nothing you could do to earn eternal life. There is nothing you can do to add to the efficacy of Christ's death for your sins. You need a Savior. Jesus is the only one. You must accept His gift, a gift of His infinite grace to those who believe.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." The God who cannot lie swears that it is so.

Unfinished Business

I think one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible is Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Aren't you thankful that God isn't finished with you yet? I would hate to think that I was a final copy. So would most of my friends!
And you know, God isn't finished with the other guy yet either. Do you keep that in mind when you look at the lives of other Christians? Can I give you three biblical principles dealing with evaluating others? Thanks, I knew you wouldn't mind.
First, show mercy. "Be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful." God never misses an opportunity to show mercy. We can all be thankful for that. And we should do the same when forming an opinion of others.
Next, pattern yourself after those who demonstrate unconditional love and a forgiving heart when they look at another Christian's life. "The disciple is not above his Master." The times they've "failed us" allow us to show them the unconditional love of Christ. "Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you." And how has He forgiven us? Freely, fully, and without remembrance.
Finally, evaluate your own shortcomings--your own share of the problem. Get the telephone pole out of your own eye before you attempt major surgery on the splinter in someone else's eye. When God gives us discernment--we're not very spiritually bright on our own--it's so we'll pray for a brother in Christ, not judge him.
Remember, God's the one making the final copy, not you. He might like the way He's expressing Himself through the other person's life just fine. His growth might be right on schedule. And besides, if He has a little revision planned for tomorrow, it's probably in our life not theirs.

Cast

Always hold on to this truth with both hands--tightly. Jesus cares from the depths of His eternal heart of love. "Cast ALL your cares on Him because He cares for you." To not do so is to put yourself in the path of "the roaring lion seeking to devour you." And that "lion" is no match for the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Cast! ALL!!

Remember

When you think your sin is so great that God can't forgive you, remember the murderous, blasphemous, arrogant Pharisee who became the Apostle Paul.
When you think your sin won't find you out, remember the funerals of Achan, Ananias, and Sapphira--the footsteps are at the door.
When you think it doesn't matter if you bring someone to Jesus, remember that Andrew brought only his brother Peter and a little boy with a few loaves and some fish.
When you think that you know more about yourself than God does and that you're strong enough to handle anything in your own strength, remember the tears of Peter when he heard the rooster crow and looked into the face of His Savior.
When you think that becoming what God wants you to be will be easy, remember the bones of the thousands of Israelites who died in the wilderness short of God's best.
When you are so afraid of the enemy that any hope of victory seems impossible, remember the sword of the Lord and of Gideon--blow those trumpets, break those pitchers, and shout.
When you're discouraged by the prosperity of the wicked, remember Jezebel being shoved from her window--it's payday someday.
When the looming walls of difficult circumstances block your view from the pit to the palace, remember Joseph's words, "Man meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."
When the lure of the things of the world and its false sense of security dazzles your vision, remember Lot in his cave and Gehazi white with his leprosy.
When the sorrows of life seem overwhelming, remember that He turns ashes into beauty, weeping into singing, and one day, the "Man of Sorrows" will wipe all tears from your eyes.
When you are exhausted by the challenges of life, remember He will provide all the strength you need to do all the things He has called you to do for this day.

Remember!

Schemers

Planning is an extremely important step in every area of our lives. But problems arrive when our planning becomes scheming.
What's the difference between a planner and a schemer? The planner stamps across his outline for his life "If the will of God be so, I will do such and such." He gives up all rights to himself. He seeks God's will and allows God to bless in any way He chooses--to change any or all of his own plans. The schemer, on the other hand, simply says, "God, this is what I'm going to do." Then, forging ahead, he waits expectantly--and impatiently--for God's blessing on his life.
Jacob, for example, was a schemer; he lived a blessing-centered life. Instead of obeying God and trusting Him to fulfill His promises, Jacob went after the blessing himself, using his own plans--schemes. Jacob wanted God's blessing; he just didn't want God to be in control of his life. And you know what? God blessed him. By the time he left his Uncle Laban's house, he was rich in family and goods.
Jacob, however, despised those blessings. Fearing his brother Esau--doubting God's promise of protection--he sent all his blessings ahead of him--including the wives and kids--hoping that Esau would take them instead of killing him. A schemer always ends up despising the blessings God gives him.
Which are you? It's easy to tell. Make a list of all the things you want out of life. Then, put a check by everything you would give up willingly if God asked you to do so. The ones you don't have a check mark by are the "blessings" that will keep you from finding peace and contentment in life--the pearls you'll cast at the feet of Esau's horsemen thundering over the hill.

Dreams

We all have our dreams--no matter our age. Oh, sometimes we have different names for them: hopes, aspirations, objectives, and when we really want to take them seriously--goals. But they're all just our dreams--for us and for those we love.
And dreams are not necessarily bad things; in fact, they are usually good things. They keep us positive in our view of the future. They can motivate us to do our best, to make sacrifices for the good of others. They can build within us an endurance, a determination to keep going through difficult times. Even "castles built in the air" can cause us to keep our feet on the ground, pursuing better things through hard work and perseverance. Dreams can be a very positive influence in our lives.
Yet, dreams can be a hindrance as well. If our dreams are outside the known will of God, they are deadly. Such dreams cause us to make decisions that break the hearts of those we are called to love unconditionally. Dreams that are individual and do not take into account the needs of others can cause us to do the same thing. Failure to fulfill our dreams, as realistic or unrealistic as they were, can lead to an apathy that smothers the dreamer in self-pity and bitterness. We, often, find ourselves blaming others--or even God--for such failures, for such feelings of incompleteness. We even have a tendency at times to think that realistic dreams are actually not dreams at all.
But the greatest danger comes when they are fulfilled. Why? Nothing we accomplish can ever bring us full contentment or satisfaction. No matter how completely we fulfill our dreams, they can leave us feeling empty, terribly incomplete. The only way to find fulfillment is to make God the center of our life and obedience the love that drives our every choice--good times or bad. For when we trust in the Lord with all our hearts, our dreams become secondary and pleasing Him becomes all that really matters. What He has "dreamed up" for us becomes the resting place for our soul because we know that that "dream" has eternal worth and consequences.
Any dream that does not have at its center "if the will of God be so" will end up being a dreadful nightmare.

Grace

"But even though we were dead in our sins God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, gave us life together with Christ--it is, remember, by grace and not by achievement that you are saved--and has lifted us right out of the old life to take our place with Him in Christ Jesus in the Heavens. Thus He shows for all time the tremendous generosity of the grace and kindness He has expressed toward us in Christ Jesus. It was nothing you could or did achieve--it was God's gift of grace which saved you. No one can pride himself upon earning the love of God. The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us." Phillips

The prayer of faith: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. I am blind, and I cannot see. I know you died for sinners, and I am a sinner. Save me. I'm helpless."

"My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed; I trust the Everlasting One, His wounds for me shall plead. I need no other argument, I need no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me."

Entering a New Year

As a New Year approaches, we are always encouraged to make a number of resolutions to improve ourselves in the year ahead. For me, that resolve lasts about a month. Well, okay, a week. Okay, the resolve is gone about five seconds after it leaves my lips. I have never found human resolve as a reliable source of change. At least, this human's resolve.
Consequently, what I do as each New Year approaches is write down a list of prayer requests for the adventure ahead. I find it much easier to trust in God's faithfulness, God's wisdom, God's lovingkindness, and God's ability to glorify Himself in all things--make His presence visible in the world--than to trust in my human will power. So, here are my requests for 2013;

I pray that all those I know and love will by the end of 2013 have a deeper understanding of God's truth and a growing spontaneous love for all those around them. Yes, Lord, all.

I pray that my sons--Brad and Ben, and my daughter-in-law Jaime, and my two granddaughters Moira and Evie, will be more fully committed to following Jesus in all they do. I pray that they will be motivated by a fuller understanding of His grace and mercy to follow Him no matter what the cost. I have no greater joy than to know that my family is in love with Him and being obedient to His truth--which love always is.

I pray that they will know how unconditionally I love them--no matter what.

I pray that my family and their families--Mom, my sisters and their families--will be immersed in His grace and peace no matter what the new year brings.

I pray that everyone that God brings into my life will know by my life how much they are loved by God, how delightful it is to serve Him, and how important is their every choice. All 100 of them--not just the 99.

I pray that even now God is preparing a ministry for me after my ministry of one is complete and Mom is taken Home to be with Him.

I pray that I will never take for granted the beauty of each day.

I pray that I will rest in His promises: "Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand. No ill can harm me; no fear alarm me, for He keeps both day and night. Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand."

I pray that He will return even before 2013 gets here. And, if not, that there will never be a day in 2013 when I am not eagerly anticipating His return and using the gifts He has given me to glorify Him.

Thanks for letting me share my heart. Have you made your list yet?

Worship

I believe we have a misconception today as to the substance of worship. We have a tendency to place it in a box called "praise and worship," or, if you will, our music. And, often, in how we feel during the singing of the music. Such a viewpoint puts us in great danger. First, because it's a much too narrow definition of worship. Worship is the offering of sacrifices to God from an obedient heart. And the New Testament gives us at least three sacrifices we are to give Him as a sweet aroma of devotion to Him. And yes, one of them is the sacrifice of our lips lifting songs of praise to Him. Such an act is dynamic because it pleases Him and instructs and encourages others, not to mention how it speaks to our hearts. But true worship in song is dependent on the heart attitude I bring to the "altar" and not merely the feeling I get from singing. I'm afraid that at times the feeling I get from singing is entertainment based, not adoration driven, not worship. The prophet Amos told the children of Israel that they had become so absorbed in a culture of music--music that they claimed was just like the songs of David--that they had become so absorbed in that "spiritual" music, that they had drifted too far away from God to even be brought to repentance--to even be restored to a relationship with Him. Their psalms and all the emotions they felt while singing them were not drawing them closer to God but instead seriously undermining their relationship with Him. For if I bring the right heart attitude to a church service, the type of music is irrelevant. Any song can be a sacrifice of praise from a heart of devotion. But if I don't bring a heart of worship with me, if I come to get that "worship feeling," it's the music I love not Him. I want to do something that appeals to me, that pleases me, and not something that pleases His heart.
A second sacrifice God wants from me is the sacrifice of my stuff. He wants me to worship Him with my money. And it matters not at all how much of it I have. Again, it is not how much I give but the heart behind the giving. A widow's mite can be a greater act of worship than a millionaire's giving of his thousands. And a millionaire's giving of His thousands can be a greater act of worship than a widow's mite. It all depends on the devotion to God behind the giving. If I worship God in order to impress men with the extent of my giving, I'm really worshiping myself. If I worship God in expectation that He must then give back to me, I'm again really worshiping myself and my needs--and wants. It's not a sacrifice of adoration I'm giving Him but an "investment" in my desires. The heart of adoration goes to a church service with the same attitude as the churches of Macedonia. "I can't wait until they take the offering! What a joy it will be to give to Him and His work!" And the churches of Macedonia were the poorest people Paul knew. They gave joyfully out of their "deep poverty."
The real issue is that both of those sacrifices--praise and my money--rests on the making of the third one mentioned in the New Testament. "I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice." The churches in Macedonia were so eager to give because they had "first given themselves to God." You see, they understood that there were not moments in their lives when they could worship God, but every moment in their lives were to be acts of worship to God. Having given all that they were to God, all that they had was His as well. Having given all that they were to God, there was a constant song in their heart just waiting for the opportunity to get out and to be lifted in adoration and praise to Him.
True worship is all-inclusive and resides in the heart. It is not just singing as marvelous an act of worship as that can be. But nothing is more deadly to my relationship with God than an external, sham worship. I bring a heart of devotion with me when I go to church or the music is meaningless and the offering a burden no matter how emotional I feel when I'm done singing or how empty my wallet is when I leave. It is the attitude of my heart alone that determines whether I'm worshiping God or practicing idolatry and worshiping myself. True worship is impossible until every aspect of my life is completely His.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart I pray . . . grant my desire to magnify Thy name . . . Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine; fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine; take all my will, my passions, self and pride; I now surrender, Lord, in me abide."

May that be the moment by moment prayer of my heart.

Childhood

     As the Christian matures, he is called to become like a child.  Often, I have heard people try to narrow down that childlikeness to one single trait, but I think it is a broader truth than that.  Here is a list of some of the attributes of children that I believe are evidences of spiritual maturity:

Total faith in the goodness of the ones who love them.  A child doesn't doubt Mom or Dad's love.
A willing dependency on those same people for the meeting of their needs, a complete confidence--worry free--that Daddy will take care of them.  A child doesn't worry about where their next meal is coming from or if they'll have clothes to wear.
A ready spirit of forgiveness.  A child is always quick to forgive and to be your "best friend for ever and a day."
A spontaneous compassion for those who get hurt or even appear to be hurt.  My oldest granddaughter played soccer a couple of years ago and the one fascinating thing about watching those little girls play was what would happen if someone slipped and fell or got hit hard by the ball.  Whenever something like that happened the game just stopped.  And it didn't matter on whose team the "hurt" player played.  Everyone instantly crowded around the fallen player to make sure she was fine.  Hugs all around as well.
A joy in what they do.  No matter how simple the task, to a child it's the most wonderful thing in the world.
An awe of the natural world.  Children stop and gaze intently at whatever they encounter in nature.  They are fascinated.
An insatiable curiosity to learn.  We all know what their favorite question is:  "Why?"
Being unafraid and unashamed to ask for help.  A child never hesitates to seek someone who can help them with a problem--big or small.
Honest communication.  A child always tells you exactly what he or she is thinking.
Sensitivity to pleasing those who love them.  My youngest son at the age of five had to be convinced that the reason his mother left us was not because she was unhappy with him, not because he had done anything wrong.  He was sure that if there was a problem, he must have done something to displease her.
A love for creating.  Children love to make things.  And they could care less if they color within the lines.  And they love to display their masterpieces anywhere they can.  All of them.   Thus, the invention of the refrigerator magnet.
Being unafraid to show love.  Children are not ashamed to cling to Mom and Dad.  Not afraid to say "I love you" in any situation or social setting.

Jesus said that those who wish to be great in the kingdom of heaven must become like a little child at heart.

The Marathon

     The Christian life is a marathon.  And we often find ourselves gasping for air, limping along on a strained hamstring, or perhaps, even wondering if we missed the marker and have somehow gotten off the course.  What's the solution?  First, we are "surrounded" by the "been there, done that" crowd.  It's called the "cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12.  They are not people who are watching us run.  They are the examples we have in Scripture--Hebrews 11--of those who ran the race by faith--to the end.  You can read all about them in Hebrews 11 and the Old Testament--and you should.  People just like us, running the race, getting tired, making "wrong turns," getting tired, getting hurt, getting tired, feeling all alone on the course, getting tired.  Do you know what they all found out?  His faithfulness is new every morning.  Walk with God and one day you'll look around and you'll be with Him in glory.  Go down to Egypt and lie out of fear, He'll find a way to turn it into a blessing.  Laugh to yourself about the absurdity of His promises, He'll fulfill them anyway.  Think you're all alone?  He'll take your hand and whisper, "Looking for Me?  Been here all the time.  Just lean on Me until you catch your breath, renew your strength.  They found that tired, wounded, or confused, He delighted in them.  No one was cheering louder for them than He was.  And do you know what truth kept them going no matter what their circumstances, no matter how steep the hill on the race home?  The marathon of life is nothing compared to the victory lap.  Keep running.  You'll never forget the hug the Coach will give you when you limp across the finish line.

Approval

What keeps men and women from Christ: Pride. I'm too smart to believe that. I'm religious enough. I'm good enough. If God won't accept me as I am I don't want to worship a God like that. Or in other words--God needs to earn my approval, I don't need to do anything to gain His.

His Plan

Matthew's Christmas story begins "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ." And what a book it is. Can you imagine the shock on Matthew's Jewish readers when they saw the names of women in the list? First time ever. And what a list: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bath-sheba. And the men on the list weren't saints either. The lesson: The God who is love has a plan of redemption. And He can use anyone to bring it to fulfillment--no matter their failures, their family background (Ruth was a Moabite, you know. And you know where they came from. Think Lot in a cave.), their doubts, their rebellions (Manasseh was evil personified)--whatever. He would provide salvation. He would so love the world. He would so love you--and me.

Measurements

     We live in a time when success is measured by results, even in Christian circles.  If we can't see God working--and measure it--we assume that He is not working and that we are failures.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  There are several reasons why result-oriented ministry is misguided.  First, Christianity is a marathon not a momentary burst of energy.  I will probably never know where the people that I am ministering to now will be spiritually thirty years from now.  How then can I measure my impact in the present tense.  Second, no matter what needs I am trying to meet in my ministry, when I am gone, the needs will still be there.  In addition, God does not measure success by results but by faithfulness.  The results are in the hands of His Spirit and the power of the Word, not the ability of the one ministering.  And the timing is His as well.  For the glory is His and His alone.  We use man-made measuring sticks to pat ourselves on the back.  And to give others a reason to applaud us as well.  And the visible signs of success may be misleading.  People conform to the behavior that will gain them acceptability and praise; thus, their behavior changes as soon as they move to another group where the measurements are different.
     Don't be discouraged if it appears that you are not making an impact on people's lives.  Just continue to be faithful, continue to love those God has called you to minister to, and trust Him.  He blesses right choices not man-made standards of achievements.  And when you can see Him working, remember ALL the glory is His.

The Message

The message of Christianity is that God because of His love for mankind sent His Son into the world to become a man, live a sinless life, die as a substitute for sin, and provide a pardon, forgiveness for sin, entrance into His presence forever. There is nothing you can do to earn forgiveness and eternal life. There is nothing you can add to the efficacy of Christ's death for your sins. You must accept it as the gift of God that it is, a gift of His infinite grace to those who believe.

Rope Holders

     Acts 9:25--referring to the Apostle Paul's escape from those who wanted to kill him in Damascus--states that they "let him down by the wall in a basket."  Did you ever wonder who "they" were?  Who were those rope holders?  After all, what would the early church have done without those rope holders, without Paul?
     And what do we know about them?  Not much.  We don't even know their names.  Talk about a bunch of nobodies.  No earthly recognition would ever be theirs.
     Why did they do it?  Who was Paul to them?  They hadn't known him very long; yet, they risked their lives to help him escape.  They saw a need in a time of great danger, and they acted, with little regard for the cost.  There could only have been one motivation:  love.  And not necessarily for Paul.  No, love for Christ was the motivation.  Whatever their sacrifice cost them, the price was nothing compared to the debt of love they owed their Savior.
     How long did they hold the rope?  Until the job was done.  Can you imagine the fix Paul would have been in if they had decided to quit when he was halfway down the wall?  I also have a sneaky suspicion that they didn't stand around and argue about how to let the rope down or who was going to stand where.  They just put their shoulders and hands to the task.  No complainers or "glory-hogs" in that bunch.  And they didn't have the slightest idea what Paul would one day become.  His ministry didn't actually start for another decade.  Some of them may have died never knowing.
     God still needs rope holders.  The people behind the scenes who aren't afraid of the dirty work, even if they never get any recognition or earthly reward.  Simple men and women content to be unknown and so full of the love of Christ that they automatically respond to the needs, both great and small, of those around them.  And they don't quit until the job is done.
     Would you like to be a rope holder?  All you need to do is find someone with a need.  There may be one or two people like that around.  Then, help them with their "basket" and their "wall."  Is it worth it?  Well, every person that Paul's life touched could trace his "lifeline" back to the end of that rope.  If you've been blessed by his epistles, one of those lives is yours.  Fairly important basket, don't you think?  Vital spiritual occupation this rope holding stuff.  Care to join in?  Grad a needy hand--and don't let go.

Opiate

I think atheism is an opiate. I mean, if I don't have to worry about standing before a holy God and giving an account for my choices, I can live any way I please. No worries.

Christmas Riches

God has enriched us with so many things in so many ways. We are the richest people in the world--and our income is irrelevant. If we lost it all, we would still be just as rich. When you think about complaining about your circumstances or about what you don't have, reflect on what you do have as a joint-heir with Christ. Spending the day rejoicing is much better than spending the day grumbling. I hope you enjoy your riches this Christmas season. And you don't need one gift to do so.

Neighbors

Neighbor: This word has nothing to do with ethnicity, political viewpoint, economic standing, geography, gender, religion, spirituality, or anything else. A neighbor is anyone with a need whom the Lord brings across your path that you have the resources to help. And it doesn't matter if they are grateful for the help or not. Or if they even have the slightest idea that you were the one who helped. In fact, it may be better if they don't know. Jesus said that there are two great commandments, and that they are really just the same commandment presented from two different vantage points. He said the second one is "like the first one." In other words "you should love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself" are the same act of obedience. "Do for others the exact same thing you would want them to do for you if you were in that situation." The world may deny our Savior and despise our faith, but they should never be able to doubt our love. For Him. And thus for them as our neighbors.

Your Christmas Gifts

Your Christmas gifts:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."
"But to any that received Him, to them gave He the right to become sons of God, even to those who believe on His name."
"And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  I and My Father are one."
"My peace I give to you, not as the world gives give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let if be fearful."

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us through Christ every possible spiritual benefit as citizens of Heaven!  For consider what He has done--before the foundation of the world He chose us to become, in Christ, His holy and blameless children living within His constant care.  He planned, in His purpose of love, that we should be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ--that we might learn to praise that glorious generosity of His which has made us welcome in the everlasting love He bears toward the Beloved.  It is through Him, at the cost of His own blood, that we are redeemed, freely forgiven through that full and generous grace which has overflowed into our lives and opened our eyes to the truth.  For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this:  He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him.  And here is the staggering thing--that in all which will one day belong to Him we have been promised a share (since we were long ago destined for this by the One who achieves His purposes by His sovereign will), so that we as the first to put our confidence in Christ, may bring praise to His glory!  And you too trusted Him, when you had heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  And after you gave your confidence to Him you were, so to speak, stamped with the promised Holy Spirit as a guarantee of your purchase, until the day when God completes the redemption of what He has paid for as His own; and that again will be to the praise of His glory."

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Discipleship

Discipleship: the process by which one becomes more and more like Jesus, one day at a time.
"The Son of Man came not to be ministered to but to minister to others."
"Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. . . Let each esteem others better than themselves." He poured Himself out for others. He became a servant. He was obedient to the death.
Discipleship begins when in every situation I spontaneously put the other person and their needs above my own. The importance of such a life is that it radiates His sacrificial love and it radiates my confidence that He will meet my needs out of the riches of His glory.
The important thing for me to remember is that it is a process. I have a long way to go, but it is the attitude of my heart that matters. God doesn't look at the outside but at the intents of my heart. The disciple's theme song: "I would be like Jesus."

Starters

     The world is full of "starters."  We all know people who are always starting new projects.  The post office would be rich if we had to mail every letter that we started but failed to finish.  How many billions of times a year to people start diets?  In addition, all of us are members of the FSA--Future Starters of America.  "I'm going to start getting up earlier in the morning."  "I'm going to start my longer assignments earlier this year so that I don't have to do them all in one night."  "I'm going to start having daily devotions tomorrow."  "I'm going to start serving God as soon as . . ."
     Satan probably thinks a great deal of "starters."  They use their "starting" to soothe their consciences, to hide their apathy, to seek to impress men, to deceive themselves into thinking that they are obedient to God.  The Devil has them right where He wants them.
     Our Savior is a finisher.  "He loved them unto the end."  "I have glorified Thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which Thou gave Me to do."  "It is finished!"  "He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ."  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending."
     Satan hates finishers.  They are unstoppable--unconquerable--victorious to the end.
     A "starter" is really just a quitter who hides the inevitable end with empty promises or with brief exertions of energy and direction.  "Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world and is departed."
     A finisher is one who follows in the footsteps of His Savior--to the end.  "Though none go with me, still I must follow."  "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith."
     The question is obvious:  which will I be?  A starter or a finisher?  Remember Satan doesn't mind good intentions--as long as they're just for starters.

My Resources

We have two major responsibilities when it comes to our resources. From the very first church counsel in Jerusalem, the church established two goals: to preach the gospel to everyone and to remember to help the poor. Paul also tells us that if we are not meeting the needs of our family that we have denied the faith. We are worse than an infidel. And that includes our extended family--widows, widowers, single moms and so on. The problem we have is that we often use our resources to meet all of our families wants, way beyond their needs, while the poor in our churches, our communities, and around the world are desperate for our help. Could it be that people in America and around the world doubt the message of God's love because they've never seen it in action?

Invigorating Faith

    "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandments concerning his bones."
     "And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying 'God will surely visit you, and you will carry my bones from here.'  So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."
     The book of Genesis that had such a promising start--"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"--ends "in a coffin in Egypt."  At first glance that appears to be a depressing conclusion.  But it's not.  For invigorating faith is displayed in Joseph's buried bones.
     And it is only fitting that it should be so.  No one in Scripture more consistently displayed an absolute confidence in the goodness of God--the essence of faith--than Joseph.  For faith is not confidence in a religious system or in one's personal sense of commitment and holiness, but rather, confidence in the unchanging character and promises of God.
      True faith rests on three immutable facts about God.  First, that He is able.  Second, that He is willing.  Third, that He is sovereign.  To complain about events or circumstances is to question God's sovereign rights, His wisdom, and His love.  It is the opposite of faith; it is unbelief.  "The fool has said in his heart that there is no God."  Oh, we never say it out loud, just in the murmurings in our hearts.  How often do we play the fool, the practical atheist, by doubting the goodness of God?
     This man, Joseph, was not such a complainer; although, from a human perspective, he had every reason to be.  Why not rebel against a God who allowed you to be sold by your brothers, enslaved in Egypt, and convicted of a crime you didn't commit?  Why not?  Because Joseph believed that regardless of what the circumstances seemed to be, God was working behind the scenes doing good.  All of Joseph's experiences screamed that God was a liar.  Yet, Joseph remained faithful.  He believed that even if man meant it for evil, that God meant it for good.  He believed it; and consequently, he lived it everyday in every circumstance.  He was a reliable son, a faithful slave, a resister of temptation no matter what the cost, and a model prisoner.
     Yet, all these acts of faith were surpassed by Joseph's deathbed command that when the children of Israel left Egypt, they were to take his bones with them.  What was so encouraging about Joseph's request?  First, it was a clear statement to Israel that God never forgets a promise.  No matter what you see around you.  No matter what you are experiencing.  Trust Him.  Second, Joseph's commandment concerning his bones was a clear proclamation that he was not an Egyptian but an Israelite--a child of God.  Dead or alive his inheritance was with the people of God.  He would rather be remembered as God's servant than the prime minister of Egypt.  I have often wondered how Joseph's testimony influenced a young man like Moses who "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God."  And that last aspect of Joseph's faith is perhaps his greatest legacy.  The faithfulness of Joseph has been an encouragement and exhortation to countless Christians down through the ages.  May each of us so live in pit or prison or palace that others will say of us:  his life and death radiated his confidence in the eternal truth that God is good, that His love endures forever.

Racism

     In God's eyes there have always only two "races" of people:  His people and those who are not His people.  There has never been any other distinction.  And it has been the calling of His people to lovingly bring the non-believers into God's family.  And it has been the calling of God's people to love each other unconditionally without favoritism of any kind.
     Yet, history is full of people in the name of God doing wicked things to other "races" and to other Christians.  How many Jewish people have been slaughtered in the name of Christ?  The leader of the Reformation, Martin Luther, was vehemently anti-Semitic.  (I wonder what he would have thought when Hitler quoted him in defense of his actions against the Jewish people.)   Africans and African-Americans have been enslaved, abused, and treated as inferiors uncountable times by those who claimed the name of Christ.  The Pilgrims fled England not because they were persecuted by non-believers but because they were persecuted by other Protestants who claimed to be Christians.  I wonder how many missionaries have viewed the people to whom God has sent them as inferior human beings.  Even today, though both children are Christians, there are some parents who would be enraged if their sons or daughters dated outside of their "race."  Even today, too often, Christians maintain that in America there exists a Caucasian church, a Hispanic church, and an African-American church, and many in each group consider the other groups to be somehow practicing an inferior "brand" of Christianity.  I would guess that even today if a poor man and a rich man came to our church services, we would hover around the one and not the other.  And I think you know which one we would welcome with open arms.
     The truth for believers is that God hates favoritism of any kind.  Jesus was criticized because He chose to accept all men, regardless of their standing in society, regardless of their ethnicity--Jewish, Gentile, or even Samaritans.  James writes that favoritism stems from evil motives and immature hearts.  In fact,  James tells us that favoritism displayed by Christians is blasphemy.  It is through our actions telling a lie about God's character.  The God who so loves the world is seen as an elitist or a bigot or anti-Semitic or whatever else our arrogance displays.  Our Savior tells us that in His family there is neither Jew nor Gentile, educated nor barbarian, male nor female, bond nor free, but everyone is of equal status in Christ.  We are all one in Him.  The God who sees no difference between  men because of the color of their skin, the size of their bank account, the ethnicity of their family tree, the depth of their education, or the nation where they were born is presented to the world as the God of discrimination, and yes, even the God who hates.  We have violated the second commandment.  We have built a false image of God and named in Jehovah.  It is high time we tore the image down.

Lost Opportunity

     We have lost touch today with a tremendous resource:  our elders, the aged.  Throughout Scripture God emphasizes the wisdom to be gained from listening to those with the "white hair," those who have grown old in physical years and spiritual maturity. God Himself goes by the name "Ancient of Days."  There is much to be gained from spending time with those who have already been "there."
     Perhaps the problem is that we don't understand them.  We think that because their bodies can no longer do the things we can do in our younger bodies that the person inside the body is somehow incapable of telling us how to live.  The truth is that in those bodies are people full of the wisdom of experience and faith.  I believe that the older their bodies become, the more complete their souls become as they near going home time.  They know all about bodies and what they can and can't do.  And what they should and shouldn't do.  And where they should and shouldn't go.  They, more than anyone else, know the relationship that should exist between the body and the soul.
     Another problem we have is their stories.  They are always telling us tales we have heard before.  That, of course, is natural.  The longer someone lives, the more of his or her life is made up of memories.  They have more of a past than they do a future.  What we should ask ourselves when they start into a story we have heard before is, "Why, with all that they've experienced and learned from life, does this story stand out in their minds.  What is the truth they learned from this experience that is so important to them that they want to share it with us again and again?"  If in all the years of their living, these are the moments they remember and treasure the most, there must be a great truth for us to hold on to from those stories, don't you think?  It's a moment that abides in their soul and spirit.  This, they keep trying to tell us who are so dull of hearing, is important.  So important that I'll never forget it.
     A third problem is that we forget who we are. We are the treasures, the gifts God has given to our parents and the elderly.  We are also the "arrows in their quivers" that God has given them to "shoot at the world" with all its hopes and troubles.  They aim us at the same targets they themselves were called to hit.  They know where the bulls eye is.  How often we forget that the commandment "Honor your father and your mother" is followed by a period in the Bible, not a phrase that begins with "unless."  The same is true of the commandment to "respect your elders."
     I don't know where it is we've gone wrong, even in our churches.  (After all, how many Sunday school classes have the elderly mixed in with the rest of the age groups?  Does your church have any?)  God has given us a "treasure" in the wisdom and godliness of those who have been walking with Him a lot longer than most of us have.  They have been "there"; they have found Him "there"; and they deeply desire to teach us of Him and of "there."  Next time you find yourself in the presence of the elderly, you would be wise to stop a moment, listen, and become a little wiser yourself.  How often in life do you get a chance to do that?

The Books

     I've heard some pastors teach a curious notion about eternity.  Perhaps it's because we think we have to motivate Christians by something other than love.  Even though, God constantly tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.  Anyway, the notion is that God is going to spend part of eternity playing "videos" for the rest of the world so that they will know what horrible sinners we were.  Do you actually think that God is going to waste eternity doing that?  Why would He fill eternity and Heaven with tales of our sinfulness?  There won't be anyone there who isn't convinced already that he or she has no right to be there except for the grace of God.  And certainly no other human beings will need to know nor will they have a say in whether we receive a reward.  That's God's business; we won't be voting on who deserves what.  Only arrogance would think so.  And I don't know what it is that makes us think that God will want to fill His heaven with pictures of my sins or anyone else's.
     And there's certainly no biblical evidence to support such claims.  Paul tells us that the judgment seat for saints is the "bema" seat.  It's a place where rewards are handed out to those who have "run well" the race that was set before them.  He also tells us that it's a place where our deeds are tested by fire, and those made of the wood, hay, and stubble of our human will power will go up in flames.  Those that remain will be "given" as a reward.  We will either get rewards or we will not.  The sadness will be having nothing to give to Him in gratitude for His love and grace and empowerment to serve.  And some will have no reward.  They will reach heaven a little singed around the edges--a hint of smoke on their garments.  But each of us will be giving account of ourselves--not anyone else.  No one will need or want to know the details.  They will all be focused on His face and His glory.  "The Lamb is all the glory in Immanuel's land."
     And one more thing.  God has a lot higher opinion of you than you do.  Gideon hiding from the enemy, waiting until nightfall to tear down the idols, playing the fleece game was called by God "a mighty man of valor."  David was a premeditated murderer, an adulterer, a man who didn't do so well with most of his kids, a man who had bouts with depression and despair--and a man after God's own heart.  Would you have put that on David's "report card"?  God says that Moses was "faithful to Him who appointed him, just like His Son."  Yes, that same Moses who killed a man, hid in the desert, told God he wasn't going back to Egypt, and struck the rock twice.  God's report:  faithful like My Son.  And God says that Abraham waited patiently for God to fulfill His promise of an heir.  Is "waited patiently" what you would say reading the account of Hagar and Ismael?  Well, that's what God has written in His books.  We are so apt to doubt His love for us; His never-ending mercy.  (And we do it in our critique of others too!)
     God is keeping the books.  And He's the God who knows we are but dust.  He knows that the thoughts and intents of our hearts--to please Him--often get messed up by our humanity.  And He is gracious and merciful in our judgment, just as He was in our redemption.  And He won't waste a second of eternity showing the rest of His children our sins--or theirs.  In fact, when we see the book He kept on us, we probably won't recognize who He's talking about.  We never knew anyone with that name who was that faithful.
  Please rest in His love.  And let that love motivate you to serve Him with every fiber of your being.  Love Him because He first loved you--and will never stop loving you even when--especially when--you stand in His eternal presence.  "Perfect love casts out fear."

The Key

It is relatively easy to "give my life" to serving God if I rationalize it as something that can be put off to some future time. The key to anyone giving his or her life to God is to give it to Him today, each day, one day at a time.

The Final Lesson

The men at the Tower of Babel claimed that they would make sure that God didn't scatter them over the whole earth. Guess what? Every rebellion against God fails. That's the final lesson of eternity: "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."