WHEN SATAN ATTACKS

 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

               Murphy’s Law says this: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time." There is truth imbedded in that statement, especially when it comes to our spiritual journey. Satan is a master at throwing a monkey wrench into our plans at just the wrong time. Not every mishap is a direct act of Satan, but he knows how to use our missteps against us. There are times though when Satan definitely orchestrates things to cause the most damage to us as we seek to walk faithfully with the Lord.

               In the early 2000’s our church was on the rise. We were regularly topping 400 in average attendance in three Sunday worship services. Our Easter and Christmas service attendance was well over 500. We knew that it was time to make some strategic changes in order to break through the 400 barrier and move to the next level of ministry impact.

               With that in mind, we brought in an expert in church growth who met with our leaders and our congregation for a weekend of strategic planning. Two issues rose to the top that were keeping us from making further progress. We needed more space and we needed to expand our staff. The church embraced these recommendations and quickly moved forward. We started a building program to expand our facilities and we hired more staff. Then the bottom dropped out. The 2007-2008 financial crisis hit and derailed our plans.

               The global financial crisis was not directly related to our decisions, but Satan used it to attack our church. By that time there was nothing we could do about the building project; it was a done deal. As our income took a major hit, we found ourselves with a financial dilemma. As the crisis lingered our situation got worse. In the end we had to let one of our staff go. The outcome of that was that we lost people in the process, which only made the situation worse.

               In addition to the external issues, some internal issues arose that further destabilized our church. The result of those issues caused further exodus of people and staff. When the dust finally settled, we had dropped back to a church of about 250. People were discouraged and disoriented, including the senior pastor, me. It took several years to begin to rebuild a sense of direction and purpose.

               I share this now because the church I am currently serving is in the process of selecting a new senior pastor. Over the past 1 ½ years we have worked hard to heal wounds and to seek God’s direction for the church. Many good and encouraging things have happened during that time. We believe that God has brought us to the place where we can confidently move forward. Now is the time that we need to be on our guard. Satan would like nothing better than to sabotage the process. He wants to rekindle old hurts and open wounds that we have worked so hard to heal.

               Peter warned us that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Satan is always looking for a weak spot from which to attack. He wants to use circumstances and people to not just muddy the waters, but to stop positive progress. Now is the time to put on the full armor of God. We cannot afford to be complacent. We need to actively resist Satan.

               In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us that if we are going to be able to take our stand against Satan’s attacks, we need to be fully equipped.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

               We need to be fully aware of who our real enemy is, and it is not the culture or the people around us. We also need to be intentional about equipping ourselves with the resources that God has made available to us. In addition to this, we need to be confident in the power of God at work in us. As James says, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8a (NIV)

               Satan wants to distract us and discourage us. He does that by getting our eyes off of Jesus and onto the things going on around us. Like Peter, walking on the water, when we take our eyes off of Jesus we begin to sink. But when we stay focused on Jesus, we can resist the attacks of Satan. Remember, You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

 

 

HIGH EXPECTATIONS, EXTRAVAGANT GRACE

 Matthew 5:48 (NIV)

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

               I just finished the first half of a woodworking project. It is a corner cupboard. It turned out okay, but it is not perfect. There are a few things that did not come out the way I wanted them to do. I have been doing woodworking for many years now, but I am still trying to perfect my workmanship. I expect perfection, but I have to give myself grace.

               The same is true in our walk with Christ. We should all have high expectations. In fact, Jesus set the bar very high. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set an almost impossible standard for his followers. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (NIV) Jesus was making the point that righteousness is far more than a person’s outward actions. It also includes what’s going on inside of a person. At the end of that chapter, Jesus says that his followers must be perfect. WOW!

               Striving for perfection as a follower of Jesus is a real challenge. The reality is that we often fall far short of that goal. We are not alone in this. Paul struggled with not living up to such a high standard.

Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

               There are those who say that Paul was describing his life before he became a believer, but I don’t agree. Paul was expressing the struggle we all safe, if we are honest with ourselves. In our heart, we really do want to live a righteous life, but our actions do not always match up. We would like to be perfect, but we fall far short of the goal. That is where grace comes in.

               John addresses this in his first letter. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)

               Jesus set a high standard knowing that we would not measure up. He gave us a way to bridge the gap. When we admit our failure and turn toward Him, He applies His righteousness to our account. He cleanses us from our sin and brings us back on track.

               We have a part to play in this. It is not automatic. Jesus expects us to put in the effort, to strive toward the goal of perfection. But He is there to help us move in the right direction. I think that is what Paul was getting at when he wrote these words. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

               I know what it is to beat myself up over my failure to be perfect. That is not where Jesus wants me or you to live. Instead, He calls us to bring our imperfection to Him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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 easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

               We should have high expectations of ourselves as we stive to be like Jesus. But we also need to tap into God’s extravagant grace. Jesus is not wringing His hands over our failures. He knows all about us, and He continues to extend His arms of love and grace in our direction.

Psalms 103:13-18 (NIV)
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

CHILDISH OR CHILD-LIKE

 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

               Birthdays are often a time for reflection. As we mark another year of life, we stop to think about where we have been and where we are headed. Today is that day for me.

               There have been many thoughts going through my mind the past week or so. As I can see the end of my current ministry as an interim pastor fast approaching, I have given much thought to what is next. I have also taken stock of my life up to this point. I am pleased with some of the things that are on my personal resume, and not pleased with some others. Above all, I have thought about where I am on my faith journey.

               When Jesus was teaching His disciples about what it means to be a follower of His, He told them that they needed to become like little children. On one occasion the disciples were discussing who was going to be the greatest in the coming kingdom. Jesus responded to them by introducing a radical idea to about what it means to be great.

Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV)
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

               Jesus’ words contrast to the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Jesus said that we are to be like little children and Paul tells us to put away childish things. This seems to be a contradiction, but it is not. There is difference a between being childish and child-like.

               One of the things I have come to grips with is that I still have some childish ideas rolling around in my head. A person who is childish is self-focused. They think more about themselves than about others. They tend to be demanding and impatient. Their focus tends to be on what makes them happy. As I look in the mirror, I can still see the vestiges of these things in my life. Although I have matured in years, there are times when I still think childish things and act in childish ways.

               On the other hand, to be child-like is very different. A person who is child-like is willing to trust others. He or she is humble, knowing that they can learn from those around them. A child-like person doesn’t over-think things. They tend to take each circumstance or each day as it comes.     

               Children are naturally spontaneous and creative. They use their imaginations. Children naturally want to learn, although not always in the way we want to teach them. Children love to explore and experience new things. As a person grows up something happens to these qualities in the majority of us. We become less spontaneous and more calculated. We become less creative and confine ourselves to coloring within the lines. We become less imaginative and start to conform to the current norm. We stop exploring and settle for the status quo.

               As we mature, some of us discover these child-like qualities all over again, but in a new way. We stop worrying about what others think and start expanding our world again. We stop feeling like we must conform and begin exploring life in new ways. I think this is what Jesus was talking about in a way.

               When we become followers of Jesus, our eyes are opened and we begin to experience life in new ways. We stop conforming to the world as the Holy Spirit begins to transform us from the inside out. That is what Paul was getting at in Romans 12:1-3.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

               Moving from being childish to being child-like doesn’t just happen automatically. It takes intentional effort on our part. As Paul said, we need to put away childish things. All of us have some childish things in our lives, vestiges of our old life. Part of maturing is recognizing these things and then taking steps to put them aside. We never want to lose a child-like spirit, but we do want to jettison childishness from our lives.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

TIME TO SLOW DOWN

 Psalms 46:10 (NIV)

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

               I had an experience this morning that reawakened an old memory. I returned from a week of vacation last night and this morning I re-entered my work schedule. As I was driving into my office, I thought back to my experience of returning from a mission trip to Ukraine.

               For twelve years I led a mission trip to Ukraine each August. When we arrived in our sister village it was like stepping back 100 years in time. Everything slowed down to a walking pace. There were few cars in our village. The people who lived there moved at what to us seemed like a very leisurely pace. They were not in a hurry. They had the time to sit on a bench in their courtyard and talk. At the end of each day, after we had run our day-camp for the children of the village, we would take a walk out into the adjoining fields. It was refreshing to have the freedom to experience the countryside. We got used to living at a walking pace. Then, when our time in the village was over, we would make our way back to Kiev, board an airplane and head home. Every time we landed back in the States, I felt like someone had pushed the fast forward button on life. We instantly went from a walking pace to a running pace. For a few days it was disorienting.

               Coming back from my vacation I felt a little of that old disorientation. For the past week I had the privilege of sleeping in past 6:00 AM and having a leisurely breakfast at 9:00 AM. Then, as we spent time with my Dad, we were able to really slow down. We played some games, went out to eat, attended a couple of family events. Even on our drive home we took our time, stopping to see some friends and stopping at a couple of interesting places along the way. Then this morning I re-entered the traffic that was not content to drive the speed limit but was compelled to push, push, push well beyond it. Everyone (almost) seemed to be in a big hurry. I felt swept along.

               Many people live hurried lives. They fill every minute with some activity. They race from one obligation to another. And when they don’t have an obligation, they schedule something to fill the time. It is rare for people to build down-time into their life. Dr. Richard Swenson masterfully talked about this in his book “The Overload Syndrome.” He made the point that most of us have no margin on our lives. When unexpected things happen to us, they cause an overload that can cause us to crash and burn.

               I heard a speaker recently who made an interesting point. He said, in order to be excellent at something we have to be willing to be average at most things. Every time we say yes to one thing we are saying no to a number of other things. If we are going to have some margin in our lives, we need to be willing to say no to a great number of things. The idea that we have to be busy all of the time is a fallacy that will run us ragged, sap our energy, and actually hinder us from thriving in life.

               I have been reading two books lately that have raised the issue of slowing down. In both books, the authors make the point that hurry and busyness are often a smokescreen that keep us from dealing with the real issues in our lives. If we can fill every minute with busyness, then we don’t have to stop and examine what is going in under the surface. In order for us to be truly healthy emotionally, spiritually, and physically we need to learn to slow down.

               When God gave the people of Israel the ten commandments, He instructed them to take time to stop once a week. He called it sabbath. They were to do all of their work for six days, then on the seventh day they were to rest. God expanded this concept to include everyone in the community as well as the animals and ultimately the land itself. God did not design humanity to run at full speed seven days a week, 24 hours a day. God called for time to stop and reflect. To give their body, mind, and spirit time to rest.

               In our 24/7 culture we have lost our bearings. We wonder why we are exhausted all of the time. We wonder why our health continues to deteriorate even though we try to eat healthy and exercise. We wonder why our relationships are superficial and often fractured. It is time to slow down.

               The Psalmist penned God’s word to us in Psalm 46:10. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." If we are going to reorient our lives and get them back into balance, it will begin by being still before the Lord. We need to stop and listen to the One who created us and who loves us. The One who promised us life to the full, not a full to overflowing life. We need to stop and let God renew our soul. We need to stop trying to be God and let God be God.

               Life is busy and fast paced, there is not escaping that reality. But we do not have to live at an exhausting pace. It is okay to slow down. It is okay to say no. It is okay to take the time to do nothing for a while. Too often we let the world tell us what we should do. We need to be still before God and allow Him to tell us what He designed us to do. Near the end of Jesus’ life, He prayed and told God He had accomplished everything the Father had commanded Him to do. Jesus did not heal every sick person. He did not feed every hungry person. He did not cast out every demon. But Jesus did do everything the Father had called Him to do.

               Too often we fall into the trap of thinking we have to do everything. We fill every waking moment with activity because we are afraid of being still. Unconsciously, we are trying to outdo Jesus. What has God gifted you to do? What has the Father called you to do? If you will do those things, it will be enough. There will be time to be still and know God and know yourself.

               One of my favorite passages of scripture is Hebrews 12:1-3. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. There is much to glean from these three verses, but let me point out just a couple of thoughts.

               We are called to run our race, not someone else’s race. Too often I have tried to run a race that was not mine. It never goes very well. Each of us needs to ask God to show us the race that is marked out for us.

               We are to take our lead from Jesus. Jesus lived a full life, but not a frantic life. Jesus freely gave Himself away to others, yet was willing to pull away and spend time alone with the Father.

               When we follow Jesus’ example, we can live full lives without becoming weary and giving up. Those times when we feel like we want to give up are usually the times we have taken on more than we should. So we need to be willing to throw off everything that entangles us, even good things, so that we can run our race with godly perseverance.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14 (NIV)
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.

JESUS’ UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD

 Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

               Recently I was reminded of the biblical truth that God uses the weak things of the world to confound the strong. On the surface, this doesn’t look possible. It seems that those who are strong, from a worldly point of view, are the ones who win. If I may be bold, it seems like the bullies are the ones who get what they want and the rest of us just have to accept it. But I was reminded that God has a different economy and that those who play by His rules will ultimately win.

               The Bible Project is doing a year-long, intensive study in the Sermon on the Mount. The first part of their study has been focused on the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes, Jesus turned the world upside-down. He told the marinized, the powerless, and the forgotten that in God’s world they are the winners. This was true not because they were going to turn the tables on the bullies of their day. Instead, as they began to live out Kingdom values, they would transform their world. The first step to this radical transformation was to recognize their need and to turn to the only one who could meet that need.

               The Apostle John put it this way. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:16-21 (NIV)

               Those who refuse to acknowledge who Jesus is and turn toward Him will continue to live in darkness. But those who turn toward Jesus in faith will live a new life in the light of God. Their entire world will be transformed. They will be given a strength that comes, not from themselves, but from God. This new strength will actually give them the upper hand in the world. It doesn’t mean that they will not have troubles, but that they will face those troubles with confidence and courage. As Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

               Paul picked up on this idea in his letter to the church at Corinth. They were struggling with the idea of power and influence. They were tempted to fall back into the old power struggles of their old life. Paul reminded them that the Kingdom of God works differently. God’s power is revealed not in our human strength, but in our human weakness.

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

               There is no doubt that we are in a spiritual battle, with very physical manifestations. But we cannot give in to the temptation to fight fire with fire, so to speak. We have been called to wage a very different kind of battle, one that relies totally on the power of God. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he again had to address the issue of power.

               By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 (NIV)

               When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, those listening must have felt that what Jesus said was unrealistic and too good to be true. Yet the early church turned its world upside-down and eventually transformed the culture of the day. It seems like the things of the world are winning the day today. The words of Jesus seem unrealistic in our caustic and combative world. But as I was reminded recently, God often uses the weak to confound the strong. He stands against the proud and the arrogant and He will bring them down.

               Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control. The truly meek person understands that their strength comes from God. They can stand firm even in difficult situations and trust God to empower them. When we play by Jesus’ rules, we too can turn our world upside-down.

               But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
               Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16-18 (NIV)

WHEN YOU FEEL INVISIBLE

 John 10:3

    The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

                I do not presume that everyone has had this experience, but it is one that many of us can relate to. It is the feeling of being invisible, unseen, unacknowledged. I have experienced this feeling in several different ways throughout my life.

                When I was a boy at school, I often felt invisible to my classmates. I often felt like an outsider looking in. When I got to jr. high I intentionally tried to be invisible to certain people, i.e. the class bullies. At the same time, I felt invisible to the students who coursed around me. In high school, I was actively involved in choir. Each year our school would put on a musical. Each year I would audition and each year I would be placed in the choir. Both my older and younger brothers had been given speaking roles at different times. This made me feel even more invisible when I was denied the same experience.

                There have been many times in ministry when I have felt invisible. When I have watched colleagues of mine recognized for their ministry efforts, I often felt left out. Out of curiosity, I recently looked up how old Rick Warren and Max Lucado are. They are both my age. When I look at what they have accomplished, I think, what happened to me?

                There have been many times when I have attended a gathering of pastors and ministry leaders when I have felt invisible in the crowd. I have never been the kind of person who can command a room. I have often found myself hanging out on the fringes of the crowd, sometimes even hiding in the shadows.

                Why do I bring all of this up? It was prompted by a TV show we have been watching lately called MONK. It is the story of a brilliant detective who is plagued by countless obsessions and a low self-esteem. Recently, the episode we watched had several flashbacks to when Mr. Monk was in jr. high. As I watched his experience, I found myself transported back to my own experience.

                You can write off my ramblings as venting or complaining or even feeling sorry for myself, and you may be right. But that does not negate the genuine feeling of being invisible. It is a real experience and many people live in those feelings every day of their lives.

                The danger for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus is that we may begin to feel that we are invisible to God. God seems to care about other people, but we feel left out. If you have ever felt that way, welcome to the club. It is essential that we recognize our feeling of invisibility and counter it with the reality of our relationship with Christ. We are never invisible to Him. We are never insignificant to Him. And what we do in His name is always noticed by Him, whether or not anyone else pays attention.

                One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 139. David may have been feeling invisible when he wrote this psalm, but he took his feelings and aligned them with the reality of who God is.

Psalm 139:1-12

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

O Lord, you have searched me

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O Lord. 

You hem me in--behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain. 

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast. 

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

                 When we feel invisible, we need to come back to this Psalm and be reminded that we are never invisible to God. God is watching with keen interest what is going on in our lives. God is watching with love and compassion, desiring for us to experience His unbounded care. God is watching and He delights in us.

                Years ago, I made a conscious choice to let go of the comparison game. I decided that all that really mattered was what God thinks about me. I do not have to compete with others to feel valued and appreciated, because the creator of the universe has shown His light of love into my life. In the end, the only opinion that will really matter is His.

Matthew 25:21

    "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

      

CAN I BE HONEST?

 Psalms 6:3 (NIV)

My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?

               If you were angry at God, would you tell him? If you were frustrated with God, would you express your feelings honestly?

               I have been reading Tim Keller’s book on prayer and this morning I read a section about intercession. Most often, much of the content of our prayers falls into this category. We ask God for things we need or want. We pray for others, asking for healing or a job or the reconciliation of a relationship. All of these things are acceptable. Jesus invites us to make our requests to God.

               Keller points out that there is an aspect of intercession that we often omit; complaint. Not only are we uncomfortable with complaining to God, we feel it is inappropriate. We have been taught to pray in the most positive terms possible, even when we feel anything but positive. We are afraid God will be angry with us if we express our doubts, frustrations, and anger. Yet, God already knows all about these feelings. Still, we find it hard to express them directly to God, even though we might verbalize them to others.

               In the book of Psalms, there are at least 42 Psalms of lament. King David, in particular, was not afraid to express his deepest emotions to God in prayer. What we often miss as we read the Psalms is that they were intended to be used in public worship. These were not just the private musing of David and others. These were to be sung as a corporate act of worship.

               The Psalms can teach us much about expressing our emotions honestly before God. The first thing that we must grasp is that it is okay! God is not threatened by our complaints. God is not put off when we express anger or frustration. God’s love for us is not diminished in any way when we are openly honest with Him. We know that in a human relationship, trying to hide our anger or frustration is destructive. As hard as it is at times to be honest with our emotions, it is the only way to really deal with them. Once they are out in the open, we can address the root cause and move forward. What is true in our relationships with others is true in our relationship with God.

               Not only is it okay for us to express our emotions before God, He invites us to do just that. God wants us to be honest with Him about how we feel, even if those emotions are negative. By expressing our deep emotions to God, we open the door for God to answer our complaints. In the process, we can gain a better understanding of why we feel the way we do. We can begin to put our emotions into perspective. In the vast majority of lament Psalms the author ends with a new or clearer understanding of who God is and that He can be trusted.

               Somewhere along the line I was taught that the only question that God will not answer is the question why. I think that this is only partially true. Some of the ultimate questions, such as why God allowed a certain tragedy to occur, will probably remain a mystery to us. But on the other hand, there are many occasions when God is more than ready to answer our why questions. When we ask why we feel a certain way or act in a certain way, God will lead us to understand more about who we are and the motives that are hidden even from us. Not only will God give us a better understanding of ourselves, He will also give us a deeper understanding of who He is.

               In 2 Corinthians, Paul relates his struggle with what he called his thorn in the flesh. Three times he prayed and asked God to take it away, but God did not. Then, in an implied why question, God revealed to Paul that He would give Paul the strength and the grace to endure his affliction. God had not abandoned Paul, but was calling Paul to a deeper level of trust and reliance upon God.

               When we have the courage to honestly express our emotions to God, we open the door for God to do a work in our lives that goes far deeper than the presenting issues. God is in the process of shaping our character so that we might be transformed into the image of Christ. That journey often leads us through some dark valleys where it is hard for us to see the light. As we openly express what we are feeling, we invite God to shine His light into our situation. Like Paul, God is calling us to learn to trust Him at a much deeper level.

               On Sunday, we sung the hymn, It Is Well with My Soul. It is a powerful and challenging hymn that encourages us to rest in the loving arms of Jesus even when our world seems to be in chaos. But before we can truly rest in Jesus’ loving arms, we need to be honest with ourselves and with God that from our perspective it does not feel like it is well with my soul.

               In the book of Job, Job openly complains to God about his situation. God never let’s Job in on the secret behind why all this was happening to him. But in the end, God calls Job a righteous person. Job was honest with God and God honored him for it.

               Job and the Psalms teach us that God wants us to honestly express our emotions to Him. By releasing our anger and frustration to God we open the door for God to replace them with His peace and assurance.

Psalms 42:11 (NIV)
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 

IS GOD AN EGOTIST?

 Psalms 103:1 (NIV)

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

               In my devotions I have been reading Tim Kellers book on prayer. Today, I read about the role of praise to God in our prayers. Keller makes the point that our prayers should begin with praise of God, in order to put everything else into perspective.

               Praise and worship of God is at the center of our faith. We gather on Sundays to give God praise. It is at the very core of what it means to be a community of faith. 50 times in the Psalms we are either commanded or encouraged to praise God. Keller raises the question, why should we praise God? Does God need our praise? Is God an egotist?

               To answer that question, Keller turns to C.S. Lewis for help. Lewis struggled with the idea of praise and worship when he first became a believer. As he put it, we look down on the person who is constantly looking for the praise of others, the person who needs accolades to feel good about themselves. If this is an undesirable characteristic among people, why are we commanded to give praise to God?

               As Lewis contemplated this question, he realized that he had missed on important component of praise. Generally, in life, we praise those things that we value the most. We also praise those things that bring us pleasure. We praise a beautiful sunset. We praise a masterful piece of art. We praise a stirring piece of music. We praise a well-played performance. We also praise the people we love and the things we love. Praise comes naturally to us. It is our normal response to things that move us in some way. We can’t help it.

               But there is another aspect that takes praise even deeper. Our praise actually heightens and completes our experience. Our satisfaction and delight are increased when we genuinely praise something. Suanne and I had the privilege of seeing a Broadway production of Aladdin recently. That was several weeks ago, yet even last night I praised the performance to our son. In a way, our praise allows us to enter back into the experience.

               I experienced the flip side of this years ago as I drove to a meeting in northern Minnesota. I was driving at night out in the country. It was very dark. Then the sky erupted with the northern lights. It was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen. Yet there was no one with me. I wanted to share the experience, to describe it, to praise it, yet I could not. It was so frustrating.

               Lewis and Keller make the point that God invites us to praise Him, not because He needs it, but because we do. Our experience of God is enhanced by praise. Our appreciation of God is deepened through praise. Our love for God is expanded in praise. Our commitment to God is solidified in praise. The more we understand who God is and what He has done for us, our natural response is to give Him praise.

               One of the reasons we may have trouble with giving praise to God is that we have been programmed to find fault rather than give praise. We hear far more criticism in our everyday lives than praise. Excellence is expected as the norm. Anything less is called out. Even within the church we are hesitant to give praise. I knew a man who refused to praise his children because he felt it fostered pride. I really struggled with that as a child. Somehow, I got the idea in my head that to receive praise for something that I had done was prideful and therefore wrong. Jesus’ statements in the Sermon on the Mount about the Pharisees seeking the praise of men haunted me. (Matthew 6:1-18) I often hid my talents under a basket, rather than let them shine, because I was afraid God would be displeased and I would lose my reward. When I did let them shine, I felt guilty.

               God has called us to praise Him for our own benefit. When we genuinely praise God, we can also praise other things with genuineness. When we recognize God as the author of all that is good and right and praiseworthy in the world, then responding in praise is the correct response. We can fully enter into and enjoy the experiences of life without fear or regret.

               God is the ultimate master artist, inventor, creator, designer, musician. When we praise the things He has created, we give Him glory. We can both praise the “performance” and celebrate the author of the play. Praise is a gift that God has given to us so that we might more fully experience the good gifts He has given to us. God deserves our praise because there is nothing greater than Him.

Psalms 103:2 (NIV)
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--

 

FINISHING WELL

 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NIV)

No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

               In my devotions I have been working my way through 1&2 Chronicles. One of the things that stood out to me as I came to the end of 2 Chronicles is how many kings of Judah started their reign well, following the Lord, but ended poorly.

               One example is King Joash. He became the king of Judah at the age of seven. He reigned for 40 years. For the first half of his reign, he was guided by Jehoiada the priest. Under the watchful eye of Jehoiada, Joash restored the Temple and genuine worship to God. But after Jehoiada died, Joash began listening to other voices. He turned away from the Lord and did evil in God’s sight.

               Paul must have been thinking about the history of the kings of Judah when he penned the words in 1 Corinthians 9.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

               Paul knew all too well that it was possible to run a good race and stumble at the end. He challenged the Corinthians to keep their focus and to not give up the race. Paul set the example by the way he lived his life. He was not cocky or complacent. He was determined to run the race to the very end, to the best of his ability.

               One of the sad aspects of the church in America today is how many prominent Christian leaders have failed near the end of their race. Many of them had long, successful ministries. Many people were blessed by them and many came into the Kingdom through them. Yet, at some point they took their eyes off of the goal and failed to finish strong. Like Joash, they began listening to the wrong voices and the outcome was spiritual failure.

               I know that through Christ we can never fall out of God’s grace. But we can forfeit the prize and hinder the cause of Christ by our actions, if we are not careful. Satan is always on the lookout for new ways to trip us up. He knows where we are weak and vulnerable even better than we do. Nothing gives him more pleasure than to cause a believer to stumble and fall. Therefore, we need to always be on our guard. None of us are exempt from or immune to temptation. Daily we need to be aware of what is going on within us, not just what is going one around us. Often Satan uses external circumstances to blind us to his spiritual attacks. Peter reminds us that we must be vigilant at all times.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

               Paul often used running a race as an illustration for the Christ life. As I look back over my life and my ministry, I realize that it has been a series of races embedded in one long spiritual marathon. I have run some of those races well and others not so well. Each race matters. I still have some races to run before me. My greatest desire is to run them in such a way that at the end I will not be disqualified for the prize.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

COMING TO GRIPS WITH LEGALISM

 Romans 2:1 (NIV)

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

               I am a recovering legalist. I say recovering because I am keenly aware that I have not conquered this flaw in my life. I was reminded of this as I drove into my office this morning.

               I have a 45-minute commute between my home and the church where I am serving currently. Often those are the most frustrating 45 minutes of my day. When I get on the freeway, I pull into the righthand lane and set my cruise control at 70 mph. Before long someone comes whizzing by me at a speed considerably greater than the speed limit. This does not happen once, but multiple times on my commute. Not only do I encounter people exceeding the speed limit, but I also have noticed an alarming number of people who are using their cell phones while they are speeding past me, even though it is against the law. We have had some bad weather lately; fog, snow, rain, low visibility. On one commute during these conditions, I counted over 20 cars without their headlights on. All these things, and a few more, cause me to be frustrated. I often make audible comments to my fellow commuters, which of course they cannot hear.

               One day God tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me that I was being a legalist. Have you never exceeded the speed limit? Have you never been distracted while you were driving? Have you never cut someone off unintentionally? Have you never failed to yield to another driver? Have you never forgotten to turn on your headlights? The obvious answer to all of these questions is no.

               I grew up a legalist. No one formally taught me to be a legalist, I just picked it up on my own. Somehow, I fell into the trap of works righteousness. I felt that I had to keep all the rules for God to accept me. I worked hard to be a rule keeper and routinely beat myself up when I failed. But I did something else as well. I started applying the rules, as I saw them, to others. I began judging others by how well they kept the rules.

               I have worked hard to break free from this trap. I have learned to accept God’s grace and recognize that there is nothing I can do to earn it. I have become more gracious with others when they see theological issues differently than I do. I have learned to extend grace to others more freely. But I still have a long way to go. My daily commute is a daily reminder that I have not arrived.

               Paul addressed this same issue with some of the people in the church at Rome. In Romans 1, Paul outlined the state of his fallen world. He painted a pretty bleak picture. There were those in the church who were probably applauding Paul’s words. They were standing in line to be some of the first to cast stones at those evil doers. Then Paul turned the tables on them. He challenged them to look in the mirror. What right did they have to judge others when they were doing the same things? I don’t think that Paul was saying that they were engaged in the evil acts he had just outlined, but that they were sinning in other ways. They were really no different. They had missed the point that no one can earn God’s favor by keeping the Law. It is totally a free gift of His grace.

Romans 2:2-4 (NIV)
Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

               There is no doubt that God is concerned about sin. But it is not my job to be the accuser of others. I have enough sin of my own to account for. Praise God that He is gracious and that if we come to Him in genuine repentance, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

               God has been teaching me to be less judgmental and more gracious toward others. I have made significant progress, but I have not arrived. I am reminded every time I get on the freeway.

Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

 

WHAT’S YOUR DESTINATION

 Hebrews 11:8-10 (NIV)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

               I have been rereading Tim Keller’s book on prayer. Early in the book he talks about prayer as an act of pilgrimage, seeking after God. I was struck by the idea of a pilgrimage. It is not a part of my faith tradition, but I am familiar with the concept. I looked up pilgrimage on the internet and found this definition from the encyclopedia Britannica.

Pilgrimage, a journey undertaken for a religious motive. Although some pilgrims have wandered continuously with no fixed destination, pilgrims more commonly seek a specific place that has been sanctified by association with a divinity or other holy personage. The institution of pilgrimage is evident in all world religions and was also important in the pagan religions of ancient Greece and Rome.

               All kinds of people take pilgrimages for a variety of reasons. Muslims make a concerted effort to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Many Roman Catholics make a pilgrimage to Rome. Many Christians make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in an effort to get closer to the places where Jesus walked. Other religions encourage pilgrimages as well.

               The problem with all of these different pilgrimages is that they fall short of the goal. It is not that they are bad, necessarily, just that they are short-sighted. The writer of Hebrews talks about a very different kind of pilgrimage. He first refers to Abraham, who in faith obeyed God and followed Him to a land he did not know. Then he expands this idea to include a broader scope of people.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NIV)
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

               Paul and Peter both pick up on this idea of the ultimate pilgrimage. Peter challenges us to live as aliens ands stranger in this world, refusing to settle down and make our home here. We have been called to something far higher and far greater.

1 Peter 2:9-11 (NIV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

               Paul challenges us to focus on the kingdom to come rather than the kingdom of this world.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

               A friend of mine recently reminded me of song we used to sing quite often, This World is not My Home. “This world is not my home, I just passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” We are on a journey to a specific destination, where we will be with Christ in His glory.

               Many people use the idea of being on a journey to describe our lives. It is a powerful image, but it is possible to be on a journey that takes us nowhere. A pilgrimage is different. It has a specific destination in mind. For those of us who are followers of Jesus, that destination is Christ’s presence in Heaven.

               I know how easy it is to forget that we are on pilgrimage and that this world is not our home. It is easy for us to get discouraged along the way. It is tempting to give up the rigors of a pilgrimage and settle for an easier path. But we need to keep our eyes on the goal. Again, Paul addressed this challenge in his letter to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

               I am intrigued by the idea of being on pilgrimage. It challenges me to see the hardships of life as a part of the adventure. It gives me the energy to keep moving forward. It challenges me not to give up and settle for something less. For those of us who are followers of Jesus, our entire life is a pilgrimage toward an eternal goal.

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  

               Everyone has a story to tell. Although we may not admit it, most of us want the chance to tell our story. When we get the chance, we don’t always tell our entire life story, but we do share significant events (and sometimes less significant events) from our life story. Back in 2007 I had emergency surgery. I have often recounted the circumstances around that event.

               As a part of my role as the interim pastor at the church I am serving, I formed a Transition Team. As we were getting to know one another, I invited each member of the team to share their faith story. It was fascinating to see all of the different ways that God had been at work in these people’s lives. Sharing our stories drew us together and allowed us to proceed with greater confidence and cooperation. There were so many things in our stories that we shared with one another. It was a great bonding experience.

               I recently finished rereading Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. I was encouraged and challenged by the way that Warren outlined what it means to live our lives as genuine followers of Jesus. Near the end of the book, Warren stressed the importance of sharing our faith stories with others. I immediately thought of my experience with the Transition Team. Then I realized that I have never shared my faith story with my children and their spouses as a whole story. I had shared many parts of my story, but I had never put it all together for them. So, I sat down and wrote out a three-page summary of my faith journey and sent it to each of them.

               I think I am in good company. The Apostle Paul often shared his faith story. At least three times the story of Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus is recounted. Paul also was willing to share the journey he was on after he became a follower of Jesus. Many people have been blessed by reading and relating to Paul’s faith journey.

               In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul, in his defense of his authority as an Apostle, recounted the trials he had endured for the cause of Christ.  

2 Corinthians 11:22-29 (NIV)
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

               Paul was not afraid to tell his story to anyone who would listen. I know that unlike Paul, we are often reluctant to tell our faith story. We think that it might offend people, or they might laugh at us, or they might reject us. Satan uses fear to keep us silent. But we need to have the courage to speak up when the opportunity arises. As Paul says in Colossians 4:5-6, Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. We don’t have to tell our entire story, but we can find ways to share how our faith has influenced our lives.

               I would encourage you to take the time to write out your story and then share it with someone who can give you feedback. Then refine your story so that you can draw from it when the opportunity arises. You don’t have to have the gift of evangelism to share your story. You just need the courage to share it with others. So, what’s your story? How has God shaped and influenced your life?

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

  

A HIGH CALLING

 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)

               If you are a fan of Downton Abby or have read any English Country novels, you will be familiar with the social structure of the early 20^th century. There was a distinct hierarchy that existed. At the top were the landed gentry. Under the gentry were the people of business and merchants. This was followed by those “in service” to the gentry. Finally, there were the common people; farmers, clerks, day laborers. Those “in service” were more secure than the common people, but had less freedom than those above them. It was a trade off in a time when security was valued more than position. There was an interesting twist to this situation. Those who were “in service” often gained a certain amount of status by who they served. Within this class of people, there was a hierarchy based on which family they served. It was a privilege to serve one of the “better” families.

               In America, we pretty much did away with this rigid hierarchical system. We have fostered rugged individualism and making our own way. We pride ourselves in being self-made people, not bound by our class. Therefore, the idea of being “in service” is seen as a negative thing rather a benefit. We all want to be our own boss, even if we have to work for someone else.

               In Jesus day, being a servant meant that you were at the bottom of the social scale. There were different levels of being a servant, from a slave to a household servant, but it meant that you had no status in society. No one aspired to be a servant. It was not something a person would choose; it was just their lot in life. Then Jesus came along and turned the system upside down.

               Jesus said, if you want to be great, be a servant. He not only said it, he lived it. Paul tells us that Jesus intentionally set aside His glory to become a servant.

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV)

               Jesus had every right to pull rank and to demand that others serve Him. Instead, he chose to take on the role of a servant. Then He called His followers to do the same thing. One day His disciples got into an argument about who was the greatest among them. When Jesus became aware of this, He instructed them to take a different path. He reminded them that seeking to be in charge of others was the way of the world. The way of the Kingdom was different. If they wanted to be great in His Kingdom, then they needed to learn to be servants.

               In many ways, we have forgotten Jesus’ command for us to be servants. We have allowed the values of the world to infiltrate the church and reestablish a worldly hierarchy. But, in doing so, we have lost our impact on the world. We are not demonstrating Kingdom living. We are mimicking worldly living. It is time for us all to learn what it means to be a servant to all.

               Being a servant in the Kingdom of Jesus is a high calling. It doesn’t mean that we demean our life or give up our positions in life. It means that we approach everything we do with a servant’s heart. Instead of expecting others to serve us, we need to look for ways to serve them. This can be accomplished in big and small ways. What matters is not so much what we do, but why we do it.

               When I was a boy, I would go the mall with my mom and Aunt. As we walked through a store, if there was an item on the floor, my mom would say, Dave, would you please pick that up and put it back on the shelf. To this day, I cannot walk through a store without picking up items off the floor and replacing them in their proper place. My mom was teaching me to be a servant and it has stuck with me. Having a servant’s heart is being willing to do what needs to be done even when it is mundane. It is easy to do the big things that bring the praise of others. It is harder to consistently do the little things that bring no praise. But that is what it means to be a servant. For, remember that we are servants of the King of Kings. Could there be any greater position to have?

               When Paul was writing to slaves in the early church, he challenged them to look at their position from a very different angle.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 6:5-8 (NIV)

               These people had no choice about their position in life, but they had every choice about how they would do their work. Paul reminded them that ultimately, they were working for Christ and not their earthly master. It was Christ who would reward them if they were faithful in their work. We need to be reminded of the same thing. No matter what our position in life may be, we can either work for the praise of people or for the praise of the Lord. If we will serve wholeheartedly for the glory of God, we will be rewarded.

               Living a life “in service” for Christ is a high calling. Every day we have opportunities to serve Christ through the way we serve others. Being a servant is a conscious choice we must make every day. It is a choice that will shape how others see us and how Jesus sees us. If we really want to be great, then we need to embrace the high calling of being a servant.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

 

YOU BET YOUR LIFE

 Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

               Back in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s there was a comedy quiz show, hosted by Groucho Marx, called “You Bet Your Life.” Contestants were asked a series of questions interspersed with comic interactions with Groucho. The show was rebooted by Jay Leno in 2021. The show was just for fun, but the idea of betting your life is not.

               It is hard to watch TV now without being bombarded with ads for on-line betting. Each ad promises big wins to those who sign up. They even offer you free bets, after you have invested a certain amount of money. What they don’t tell you is that most of the people who bet are going to lose. That’s the way it works. Interestingly, there have been more ads that are cautioning people about the danger of on-line betting. One of them shows a cartoon of a man betting on-line, and it asks the questions, what can you lose? As the man continues to bet, things begin disappearing from the scene until he has lost everything.

               There are thousands of people who will never sign up for on-line betting yet are betting their lives every day. They are betting that they can live however they want with no consequences. Satan has sold people a bill of goods that promises them amazing wins, but he hides the reality behind his promises. Satan has convinced many people that they don’t have to live by God’s standards, so they bet on the lie that they will never be held accountable for the way they live their lives. It is a bet that they will ultimately lose. It is also a bet that many lose on a regular basis.

               Because of living as if there are no consequences, people lose their health, their jobs, their families, their self-respect, and their reputation. For many, these experiences break them and they seek to change the way they are living. For many others, these experiences only harden them and they double down on doing their own thing. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. There is no way that we can avoid the consequences of our sinful actions unless we repent and turn our lives over to God. Living a self-centered life comes at a cost. Living a life without God comes at a cost. No matter what a person’s life looks like in the present, there will come a day when the bill must be paid.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

               In one way or another, we are all betting our life on something. Some are betting on there being no God and no consequences. Some are betting on doing enough good that God will accept them. Some are betting on the saving work of Jesus Christ. We must all decide upon what we are willing to bet our life.

               The philosopher Pascal summarized the wager we all make in the following way.

If we wager that God exists and God does exist, then we will receive infinite happiness.

If we wager that God exists and He does not exist, then we lose out on some finite happiness.

If we wager that God does not exist and He does not, then we gain some finite happiness.

If we wager that God does not exist and He does exist, then we lose all happiness for eternity.

 

               There are many who have objected to this simplified approach, but the basic idea still stands. What will you bet your life on? Jesus put it another, more profound way.

Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

               I’m betting my life on what Jesus said and promised. How about you?

Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.