Negative Leaders

There are some characteristics of leadership that we often overlook. Perhaps because on the surface those concepts seem to contradict the very essence of what we define as "leadership." One of these "overlooked" concepts is that leadership can be a negative trait. Yes, there are negative leaders--lots of them.
Fortunately, however, the negative leader is motivated by group approval. He "leads" the group wherever the group indicates that they want to go. He just hustles to get to the front of the line and yells, "follow me" the loudest.
In addition, the primary motivational tool of the negative leader is guilt. He manipulates peer pressure to get the dissenters to feel as if they are the ones who are wrong--odd. "Strange." "Unreasonable." "I mean," he smiles, "How can you do this to us? Your friends."
His third characteristic is that he nurtures an "us against them" mentality. He tries to identity--or create one if he has to--a common "enemy." He doesn't lead "forward": he leads "against." He's always drawing battle lines or finding new causes to champion.
The negative leader. Proud? Yes, even arrogant. Subtle? Yes, like a snake. Manipulative? Yes. An instigator? Definitely. But a leader, nonetheless. A powerful leader. After all, he leads a willing mob. Dangerous? Deadly. When you meet him, confront. Make him lead a retreat. The friends you save may be your own.

More and More

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

Paul prays that we would be constantly growing in truth and love. It is essential that our love be bound in truth and that our truth be saturated with love. Discerning love is a characteristic of a committed follower of Christ. And the disciple is never satisfied with the depth of his understanding of God's truth nor with the extravagance of his love for others. "More and more" is his daily prayer--experientially.
Why is such a continuous balanced growth essential--growth in love and truth? First, such growth gives one the insight to distinguish what things in this world are excellent, as God defines excellent. And being able to differentiate between what is excellent and what is not allows the growing disciple to pray for the right things with a thankful heart and to make the right choices with a heart permeated by God's peace. And then, secondly, being able to pray with confident thanksgiving and being able to choose the excellent enables the growing saint--holy one--to live a life of sincerity--devoid of hypocrisy--and a life that is blameless in the eyes of God and men--both saved and unsaved. Yes, right choices are the foundation for right living. (Imagine that!) And, thirdly, what are the supernatural consequences of right living--a transformed life. No, more than that--a life that is constantly being transformed. New creations in Christ are changed human beings and constantly changing human beings. All things are new, and life consists of the continual struggle of putting off the old and putting on the new by the regenerative, transformational power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Right choices leads to the disciple being "filled with the fruit of righteousness" which is only possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ. What is righteousness? What does it look like? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." That's God definition of the "fruit of righteousness." And even as I demonstrate those things today, God's purpose is that I become "more and more" transformed--more loving to all people, more joyous in the depths of my sorrows, more at peace in all circumstances, more patient with those in my life that remind me of myself, more kind--forgiving, more full of goodness, more unwaveringly faithful, more willing to stoop over gently and lift up the fallen, more dead to my selfish wants. That only happens as I obediently grow in love and truth through submission to the life of Christ that lives within me. And finally, what is the outcome of my "more and more" growth--of my right choices, righteous living, and transformed life? God's praise and glory. I will be empowered to live a life that leaves the perfume of His presence in all that I do and say. What astounding love that God can use a human being to glorify Himself every moment of their daily walk!
May we begin by joining Paul and interceding for those that we love that they may desire a "more and more" growth. And may we daily submit to the Spirit's control of our lives so that we may grow "more and more" and daily develop a deeper understanding of His truth and daily display a fuller demonstration of His love.

Daily.

More and more.

Decisions

One of the most dangerous things we can do in evaluating a man's ideas and our response to them is to decide their validity based on our opinion of the man. No man is immune from wrong assumptions, wrong reasoning, and thus wrong ideas. For example, just because I am a conservative Republican or a liberal Democrat that doesn't mean that all the ideas presented for my approval by Republicans or by Democrats are right ideas. No party of men has a corner on right. As a Christian I must start with the premise the idea is based on. No matter how legitimate the idea may seem in its final form, if it is based on error, I cannot support the idea. The ends do not justify the means as we well know, but often forget--or ignore.
And we must always remember that laws cannot change hearts. Unless I am in the business of being salt and light, all the legislation in the world will not change the culture in which I live.
Nothing is more dangerous than a Christian who refuses to evaluate the ideas of programs presented by his country's leaders against the teaching of Scripture. To give assent to wrong ideas is to be a participant in the carrrying out of those ideas. And it is not necessary to wait for everyone else--or anyone else--to do the right thing when I already know what is the right thing to do right now. And it is never a choice between the lesser of two evils. I am either supporting evil or righteousness. They cannot coexist. They are enemies--forever. Choose wisely.

Answers

Being ready to give an answer is a skill that must be mastered by the consecrated Christian. Peter tells us to be always ready to answer every man with reasons for the hope that is in us. In fact, being ready--and able--to do so in a spirit of meekness and reverence is the evidence that Christ has been set apart as the Lord of our hearts.

How then does one get ready?

The first step is to be a student of the Word. To cry out with the psalmist, "Teach me, Lord, the way of Thy statues." Being a student--learning--requires diligence, thoroughness, and time. The key is to seek the approval of God, not men or denominations. The Holy spirit is the One who guides us into all truth. He is the final authority.
The second thing to do is to meditate on the Word. As Paul told the Colossians, "Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom." In other words, let the Word of Christ come to live in your heart and life. Let it be as essential to you as the air you breathe. Only the Word of God can change a man like Paul from "breathing out threatenings and slaughter" to proclaiming the inspired--God-breathed--Word of truth. It is no coincidence that the characteristics of someone filled with the Spirit are also the characteristics of someone in whom the Word of Christ dwells richly.
A third thing we must do is "season" our answer with grace and salt. With grace because without the grace of God acting on our lives, we would have no answer to give. With salt because only a true picture of God's holiness, righteousness, and justice will bring a man to true repentance and confession of sin. A man's understanding of his own sinfulness is dependent on his understanding of God's holiness. The way to Christ is simple, but it is not easy. It demands an abhorrence of our own sin and an amazement at the price God was willing to pay that we might have eternal life--saved by grace alone.
Study. Meditate. Season. This is the "recipe" for being ready always to give an answer. You can't cram for a spiritual examination, and someone's understanding of God rests on how well you answer.

Ready?

Examples

In Exodus God tells us of a whole generation of His people who died short of God's best. Tragically, they were all recipients of God's blessings. All of them were under the blood of the Passover Lamb. All of them were delivered from bondage in slavery and taken safely across the Red Sea. All of them were led by the pillar of fire and the cloud. All of them partook of the spiritual fountain that flowed from the Rock--Christ Jesus. But God was pleased with only two--two of millions. All the rest died in the wilderness. They lacked the faith to obey God and fell short of His best.

Paul says in I Corinthians that these people are our examples so that we should not follow in their footsteps and die in the wilderness. What then is it that caused them to be such failures despite such blessings? First, Paul tells us that they lusted after evil things. They wanted the "best of both worlds." They were "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." Second, they were idolaters. Their priorities were self-centered not God-centered. They worshiped their own wants and fears rather than God's character and the holiness required to please Him. Thirdly, they fell into sex sins. Sin is progressive, you know. In almost every list of sexual sins in the Bible you will find the sin of covetousness. When we begin to "want"--to lose our contentment with what God has given us and where He has placed us--our desires grow increasingly worse. Is it any wonder that in this age of rampant materialism and the quest for the "good life," that immorality is epidemic--deadly. Watch your "I wants." Fourthly, they tested God with unbelief. They doubted that God was good, that He would meet their daily needs. Again, they wanted more than God promised, and they wanted it now. If God didn't respond according to their expectations, He was evil and not good. Finally, since they weren't getting everything they wanted when they wanted it, they murmured against God. Murmuring is a sure sign of a rebellious spirit. God means what He says when He commands us to do all things "without murmuring--grumbling--and disputing."
Think of it. Two. The rest? Dead in the wilderness, never at rest in the place of God's best. A parade of failures: never to hear "well done, good and faithful servant."
The question is painfully obvious: which group will you be in? One of the two? Or one of the rest? A Christian who is going in spiritual circles, wandering in the wilderness of discontent, questioning God's goodness, and murmuring against His character? Or a Christian who knows the joy of victorious Christian living and fruit bearing? Please. Be content with who you are, who and what you have, what God has done and is doing for you, where God places you, and what He has promised you. Don't die in the wilderness.

There is all the difference in the world between a typical Christian and an exemplary Christian. They are as different as night and day, light and dark, life and death.

Random Thoughts

1. John says "By this we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren."
 
He did not say, "By this we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren in our denomination."
  
2. When I try to look into my future and find myself becoming overwhelmed with imagined "what ifs," I sing with the Psalmist: "For You are my hope, O Lord God: You are my trust." Resting.

3. "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

Key word: "Your"

We serve the God of generosity--He eagerly answers our prayer for joy and He eagerly upholds us with His right hand of omnipotent strength. 

The First Commandment

"If you then are risen with Christ, give your heart to the heavenly things, not to the passing things of earth."

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God."

"Thou will keep Him in perfect peace who mind is fixed on Thee."

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

Imitators

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."

To imitate God--to follow in His footsteps--is to walk in love, a love as sacrificial, as gracious and merciful, as the love He freely and undeservedly gave us on the cross. It requires through the empowering of the Holy Spirit a suppression of one attitude and the embracing of another. What I must suppress is the natural tendency to react in self-defense, to think that my feelings and my agenda are the ones that matter, to believe that how people react and treat me are paramount. Self-love is all that is--idolatry. No matter how people treat me, I am commanded to put away the resentment that always leads to bitterness. I am to die to myself and put away the wrath and anger and temper that always comes from the selfishness of self-defense. I must put away the clamor that comes from the self-assertiveness that shouts out "I am the one that matters here, not you. What I want will control the agenda of what happens in my life. And if I have to, I will slander you. I will make up lies to mock you and to destroy your agenda. Yes, I will act in a premeditated, malicious manner to hurt you if you have done anything that gets in the way of my happiness and my comfort and my self-aggrandizement."
Instead when I am hurt, mistreated, disrespected, lied about--maliciously, I must embrace the attitude that demonstrates the walk of love. I must respond with kindness, with a tender heart, with a forgiveness as full of grace and mercy and self-denial as the love displayed on the cross of Calvary for me. The grace of the cross is to be the standard by which I live my life in interactions with others. "Father, forgive them." It is that love, evidenced by the willing pouring out of myself for others, the spontaneous responding as a servant to the needs of others, the daily commitment to continue to do so until He takes me Home; it is that denial of myself that is a sweet smelling fragrant sacrifice of worship to my God and Savior.
How is that possible? I must daily bow my knees before the Father and plead with Him to make known to me--to teach me to fully comprehend--"the breadth and length and height and depth" of the love of Christ for me--the love that surpasses human knowledge.

I can only love others as deeply as I understand the unfathomable, immeasurable demonstration of His love for me freely given on Calvary in my behalf. I can only love Him as deeply as I love others.

Rotten Words

"Let no unwholesome--rotten--word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

"And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity"

How often does our Lord warn us of the danger of our words? Iniquity is the evil that I do without even thinking about it, the evil that I do naturally, when the flesh is controlling my life, and not the indwelling Spirit. And yet, such it is--way too often--with my words. They are "the world of iniquity." And still, we take the warnings so callously. How often do we say words that tear down, that are ungracious, that undermine, that profane the sacred as casually as if God could care less about what we say? He who calls Himself the Word desires that our speech be acceptable in His sight, reflect the mediation of our hearts on Him, are good for edification, and give grace to the listeners. And He also warns us that our words can break the heart of the Spirit--the Holy Spirit--who lives within us, the assurance of our completed redemption. Grief, you know, is a love word. As I meditate on His unspoken word--the revelation of His glory in the majesty of His creation; and as I meditate on His written Word, words that are blameless, sure, right, pure, clean, true, righteous altogether--the very thoughts of God that He has graciously shared with His people, then the words of my mouth will be acceptable in His sight--my Lord, my rock, my Redeemer. If so, then my words will restore the hurting soul, make wise the teachable spirit, bring joy to the sorrowful, enlighten the searching, warn His servants and keep them from presumptuous sins.
May the Spirit who lives within me control my thoughts and thus my words so that what I say reflects His holiness and His love for others, and not the rotten words that I too often speak in selfishness. in self-centered disregard for the hearts and minds and feelings of others, and in self-exultation in a vain attempt to impress others with my "freedom," my "spiritual" worldliness. May the Holy Spirit, my Hope of Glory, not be broken-hearted as He listens to the words of my mouth.

Are the words of my mouth "more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb?"

Such should be--must be--the testimony of God's servant. Anything less is an apathetic indifference to His sacrificial love for me and the Spirit's earnest desire to sanctify me and transform me into His image. We must love Him--and thus others--in word and in deed.

The Glory of God

The glory of God:

"Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.' "

Men and nations are always trying to erase that last phrase: "yet, He will by no means . . ." Oh, how they pine for a world without consequences--a world where "you reap what you sow" is not true. Such a world has never existed and never will. Read your history books. Read today's paper. Watch today's news.

And what if as a lover of God I get "caught up" in the consequences? Be a Daniel. Be an Esther. Make His compassion, grace, patience, lovingkindness, and forgiveness known. Change the world in His Name. "Do all to the glory of God."

Discernment

The ability to properly identify someone or something is an essential character trait. We call it discernment. All Christians should be discerning. In addition, all Christians should be discernible. In nature, identifying species is usually easy. For example, if an animal walks like a duck, eats like a duck, quacks like a duck, and enjoys being with other ducks, chances are it's a duck. Or if a tree produces apples, it's probably an apple tree. If it has acorns, it's probably an oak tree. You can always identify a tree by its fruit.
In the spiritual realm it's not such an easy task. The guidelines, however, are similar. One who is born of God develops the characteristics--the fruits--of God through the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in his life. That's why non-Christians look at you and me expecting to see evidence of the life of Christ in us. They have every right to do that. Do we walk "in love, as Christ has loved us?" Do we have an appetite for spiritual food? Is our speech "with grace, seasoned with salt," our "yes, yes; no, no?" Do we enjoy being around other Christians--"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together?" Are we producing the fruit of the Spirit? If the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives, these are the traits He'll produce.
Birth determines nature. If you're a duck, waddle, quack, and eat those minnows. If you're an apple tree, bring on the MacIntosh or the Red Delicious or the Winesap. But if you're a child of God, walk, talk, and hunger after spiritual food and fellowship with other Christians.

Don't be confused with a duck.

A Singing Heart

David, "a man after God's own heart," had a song for every situation:

sitting under the stars at night
struggling with depression
recalling God's work among His people age after age
prophesying about a suffering Savior and a ruling King
carrying for his father's sheep
on his knees in broken-hearted confession of his sins
crying out in prayer for God's deliverance
describing the righteous man and his blessings
observing the wonders of God's creation
seeing the mother bird gathering her young under the protection of her wings
standing on a rock in a high place
praising the greatest of God
encouraging the righteous to not be envious of the apparent prosperity of the wicked
seeing a thirsty deer panting at the water's edge
pleading with God to search out every aspect of his life
fleeing from the oppression of King Saul
wandering in the wilderness
considering God's care for him from his mother's womb to his old age
before and after the day of battle

Always a song, always seeing God's hand in everything around him, in every situation "great" or "small," in every memory, in every hope.

Do you have a singing heart? In all things at all times?

Are you a man or woman after God's own heart?

Confronting

When you see someone--a fellow Christian--continually and deliberately sinning, you need to confront that person in a spirit of love. Just be sure that you go in love. Unfortunately, often the sin of spiritual pride exhibited by those in the right does as much damage as the failure of those in the wrong.
There is a proper biblical reaction to sin seen in the life of another believer. First, you must pray, praising God for His righteousness--and His mercy. Then, you must confess your own sins and humble yourself before God. Finally, you must settle the sin-matter in your own life. As someone has said, "admitting your sin is never a substitute for quitting your sin."
So, when you feel that someone has reacted to you in anger and with bitterness, remember the times that you have reacted in the same way and confess your sin before God. When you are sure that someone has gossiped about you, remember the times that you have done the same--spreading rumors or being a ready ear to a gossip's tongue--and confess your own sin before God. If you react like the Pharisee--denouncing others and thanking God that you're "not like one of them"--then don't confront. God can't use you. There will be no mending of hearts, no confession of sin, no revival. Before you confront another about sin in his life, always begin by asking God to search your own heart and cleanse you from sin. If you haven't prayed, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," keep your spiritual arrogance to yourself and go home.
Pray. Confess. Quit sinning. Then approach your brother and sister in Christ. Set the example before you try to lead the way. And it is vital that you do so. Paul clearly warns us that unrepentant, continual sin in the body of Christ is contagious. Highly contagious. The purity of His people begins with the examining of our life. Then, comes the necessity of going to the brother or sister in Christ who is living in deliberate disobedience.

Lord

I'm always moved by two stories in John's gospel that are recorded back-to-back: the time when Jesus showed up to confront Thomas and the time right after that when Peter took the gang fishing and the Lord confronted him. I find it interesting that John tells us that Thomas was in that boat.
The Lord waited a week after the other disciples had told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, face to face, in that room--had seen His wounds, before He came to see him. I imagine things may have been a little awkward that week--Thomas implying that his friends were at best, hallucinating, at worst, liars. And then, there He stood, again, undeterred by a locked door. (If He wants in, you won't be able to lock Him out.) And His message, "Peace be with you." I love that our Savior sought out His doubting disciple. Always seeking the one. And don't you imagine there were a few echoes in that room? More than one exclamation, "My Lord and My God!" And a few big burly fishermen with a few tears in their eyes?

But then later, Peter says, "I am going fishing." And Thomas and Nathanael and James and John and a couple other guys said, "We're coming with you." Fished all night, nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. History repeating itself. And don't you think there was a bit of a smile on Jesus' face--a loving smile--when He called out, "Children"--the love--"haven't caught a single fish, have you?" The smile. Then, lots of fish! The grace. And John whispering in Peter's ear--he could be a little slow at times recognizing God's hand at work in his life (I can identify)--"it's the Lord." And Peter--impetuous for the very first time--puts on his clothes, dives into the sea, and swims to shore. And no-longer-doubting Thomas takes it all in. (Bet the Lord cooks a great breakfast by the way!)
Please don't think that the message to Peter is for him alone. Remember any times in your life when you may have failed Him? Convinced yourself that He couldn't--didn't, want to use you any more? Tried to go on with your life--maybe back to the old ways even--and wondered why things weren't going very well? Going horribly, actually. Well, it's time to get busy doing what He called you to do--fishing for men. And the sheep need feeding. Don't just tell Him that you love Him--show Him. After all:

Love = Obedience.

"My Lord and my God!"

"Lord, you know that I love you."

"Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I command you?"

"Feed My sheep" is a command for us all--regardless of our past mistakes and failures and denials. If the Lord didn't use failures, the broken, there would be no one to use. That truth makes a old grown man want to sing. And get busy feeding His sheep.

Shouts

You won't find God in the midst of your busyness. He prefers to shout in a still small voice. He delights in one-on-one conversations. He is the God of intimacy. Listen for Him to whisper your name. Shhhh. Be still. And know that He is God.

Spiritual Power

Spiritual Power:

A prudent heart--the ability to forsee evil coming and to prepare for it.

A diligent pursuit of knowledge and discretion--a mind that ponders--thoughtfully meditates--on the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovable and gracious, of good reputation, excellent, and worthy of praise.

A sensitivity to the fact that you live each moment in the presence of God--a deep reverence for His heart--a deep desire to never grieve--to never betray--His amazing grace and love by your actions.

Being constantly on guard against acts of selfishness and pride in deed and in word--careful in action, slow to speak.

The wisdom to seek the counsel of godly men and women--a recognition of your fallibility; of the necessity to not lean on your own understanding.

The spiritual skillfulness to apply knowledge correctly--to be Spirit led.

The humility to embrace the transforming power of sorrow in your life--to rest in the strength of the incomprehensible peace and joy that suffering instills in your life.

"Thy Word have I treasured in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." Where your heart is . . . you will have the right Master.

"Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." "My sheep know My voice and follow Me."

"The unfolding of Thy Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." I would see all things as He sees them.

"Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble." Earthquake proof. Whirlwind proof.

"The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever." Resting in the promised hope that all things work together for good--that His eternal love for you through Christ is inescapable.

Spiritual Power

Discipline

God's discipline--and He disciplines all of His children--is always preceded by a long, long, long patient wait accompanied by His Spirit's wooing through the Word. And when He disciplines, His purpose is to draw His child back to fellowship with Him so that he or she will escape further discipline. And so that they--His children--will produce more fruit--become more like Him. Know one of His children in rebellion--passive or active? Be as patient in prayer as He is in wooing. And if the discipline comes, pray for a repentant heart--humbly. Remember the times His patient love disciplined you. And transformed your life so that you could bear more fruit in His image. And remember that He disciplines all His children--all. Humbly remember who's probably next.

Harvest

Sowers. Waterers. Reapers. We never know which we will be. But all three are necessary for the harvest. And we can't be any of them if we don't share the truth about who He is--the Savior of the world. The only Savior. "Neither is there salvation in any other. There is no other name given among men whereby you must be saved."

Gifts

Sometimes we use the word "gifts" interchangeably with the idea of "talents." He or she's a gifted actor or actress, a beautiful singer, a dynamic leader, a great athlete. And using those talents is important. God doesn't give us those abilities so that we will hide them away. He has blessed us with those talents so that we can find joy in the doing of them. And so we can honor Him through their use--use them in such a way that we make His presence obvious to all around us. Use them with excellence! God doesn't have much sympathy for those who bury their talents instead of investing them in His kingdom--no matter what excuse they make up for not using them.
But there is another gift that we often overlook. God tells us that our labor, that which He has called us to do, is a gift from Him. My "job" is His gift to me to enjoy. For me, that means that teaching English 12 at Worthington Christian High School is a gift God has given me so that my life might be full and complete in Him. It is not an accidental calling, a "something to do" while I'm waiting to go Home, but a "something" to enjoy and to invest my energies in because I will one day be going Home. He expects me to glorify Him in that labor. He expects me to personally find His presence in those walls and to make His presence known to the students who enter my classroom. And the same is true for you whatever "labor" God has called you to, whatever labor He has given to you as a token of His love. And what a difference it would make if we would just wake up every morning and remind ourselves of that truth wherever our calling takes us or if we are called to "labor" all day in our home. Tomorrow when I wake up, it will not be just to go to school and teach but to immerse myself in the gift that God has given me as a co-laborer with Him--a labor of joy, of love; a labor that has no tolerance for mediocrity.
Will you join me tomorrow morning as we begin another day basking in the gift of the labor bestowed on us by God's love and wisdom?

The Reason

In case you forgot: the reason God blesses you is so that you will with a heart full of thanksgiving remember your calling to be a blessing to others.

One Necessary Thing

The most important thing--the one necessary thing--God wants me to give up for Him is authority over my own life and decisions. That is the starting point of discipleship. If I do not do that on a daily basis--"early will I seek Thee"--I will loathe whatever cross He asks me to bear this day. And following Him will be out of the question. "Have Thine own way, Lord. Have Thine own way. Hold o'er my being absolute sway." Absolute.

"No man can serve two masters." And if I am honest in my appraisal, I know of no master more unworthy--more frightening--to follow than the one I see in the mirror each morning.

Majestic in Holiness

Majestic in holiness
Sovereign
Awesome in praises
Working wonders
Living among His people
In His lovingkindness and in His strength He leads and He guides them
He speaks to His people and they know His voice
Personal-He calls His own by name
Creator of all things
Savior
Judge
Our Shield and Defender
The Lord of Hosts--The God of Battle
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
He hears and answers our prayers

Our Father

"Let everything that has breath, Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!"

God's Will for My Life

God's will for my life will never be thwarted by "impossibilities."
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by my impatience with His timing.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by my "yeah, right" laughter as I hide behind the tent flaps.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by my stupidity.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by the evil intentions of others.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by my fear of Esau's horsemen thundering over the hill.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by my perceived lack of the necessary resources to meet a "too big" need.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by the walls of an emperor's prison.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by the betrayal of a Demas.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted by a "rose bush" full of thorns in the flesh.
God's will for my life will never be thwarted.

His mercies are new every morning. His grace is omnipotently sufficient. His faithfulness never falters--not even for a moment.

Jesus never fails.

Faithful

Joseph was a faithful son. Joseph was a faithful slave. Joseph was a faithful prisoner. Joseph was a faithful prime minister. Joseph on his death bed was a faithful witness to the promises of God. I think I see a pattern there.

Being faithful: recognizing that since you live each moment in the presence of God that obedience is the only option wherever you may find yourself on the journey into His eternal presence. Age has nothing to do with it.

It begins with this moment. Faithful is not something you become some day; it's what you are called to be right now. This day.

Faithful. That's a one word epitaph I could live with--and die for.

The Right Questions

I confess. I have been holding back writing about this--I'm not sure exactly why--but the Spirit keeps impressing this on my heart. So . . .

Over the years--much more in recent years but not exclusively in that time period--I've seen and read a lot of studies and articles about why people are leaving the church. There are a variety of complaints, many of them legitimate, I'm sure. After all, a vast majority of the people who attend church are humans. It's rather easy to find fault with them--so I've heard. And in every church there exists a number of people at all the stages of spiritual maturity and discernment. Frustrating at times, eh? And sometimes, to be honest, we may mistake the mature for the immature and visa-versa. "Except you become like a little child . . ." Yes, everyone has their issues and complaints explaining why they have left the fellowship of God's people for "greener pastures on the other side of the fence."
But I think we miss the real issue and fail to ask them the right questions. The simple truth is this: they have not "just" left the church, they have rejected the sacrificial love of God's Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Having at one time, at least mentally, assented to the truth of their need for a Savior and of God's loving sacrifice on their behalf, they now mingle among the priests and the soldiers at the foot of the cross and join the taunts--"fraud. Your death is a waste. You can't save anyone. I despise your love." As the writer of Hebrews says, they have 'trampled under foot" His precious blood, and they have "insulted the spirit of grace" that He offers. Like Judas they have kissed the Son, but in their heart of hearts sold Him out for whatever the thirty pieces of silver are that the world and the devil have used to buy their betrayal--the fragile acceptance and fleeting friendship of the world, the soap bubbles of man's foolish wisdom, the enslaving "freedom" of a life lived the way they want to live it, pursuing the pleasures they believe will satisfy. They put His sacrificial love for them to an open shame.

If we really love them--and I suppose on the surface those words above don't seem very loving--we will ask them these questions:

Why do you now believe that you don't need a Savior? Are you that good?
Why do you now mock the sacrificial love of God for you--love that God has made clear to you?
When you stand one day in His presence--the Lamb that was slain not just for you but in your place--what excuse will you make for having insulted His love? Do you actually believe that pointing your finger at a Christian and blaming him or her for your Judas-like behavior will appease Him--the Lion of the Tribe of Judah? How much grace do you think your "thirty pieces of silver" will buy you?
Why do you hate Jesus? And apathy--indifference--is the deepest hatred.

Believe it or not, I ask these things weeping over those of you that I know and love who have become enemies of the cross--those of you who have made a god out of your "appetites," who glory in your shame, who have set your minds on the emptiness that the world has offered you in place of His love and care and forgiveness. Unless you humble yourself before Him and repent your "end is destruction."

But you can repent. Between my third and fourth year at college I was one of those arrogant, insulting enemies. But God in His grace drew me back to Him. I pray He is drawing you back too. Surrender and embrace His full forgiveness. Trust me, a broken heart--and I have had others since--is the fountain of inexpressible joy. Inexpressible.

I love you.

But, oh, how He loves you! Look again at the cross where eternal love died in your place for all your sins. Get up out of the pig pen and come back home. For all of us who love you--beginning with the Father and His angels--it will be party time.

I promise that until you come home or until the Lord calls me home, I will weep for you before His throne.

Security

 Security:

"The steadfast in mind Thou wilt keep in peaceful peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God is Lord, we have an everlasting Rock."

The Rock of the steadfast mind: "God is Lord."
The life of the steadfast mind: Kept in peaceful, perfect, unassailable peace.
The heart of the steadfast mind: I will trust in the Lord forever.

We stand on the steadfast, faithful, immovable, immutable, omnipotent Everlasting Rock. "And the peace of God which is beyond human comprehension will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus."

"And so, stand firm! Let nothing move you as you busy yourselves in the Lord's work. Be sure that nothing you do for Him is ever lost or ever wasted."



If you remember that the Creator Redeemer is on the throne, you will:

be able to be obedient in the time of suffering
trust Him in the darkness
rest in the joy that He will never despise a broken heart
be silent before Him
live by the faith that pleases Him
be amazed at what He can accomplish through the life of one faithful, humble servant.