DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL MUSCLE MEMORY

 

Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I like to watch football and baseball. I am constantly amazed at the skill of those who play the game well. A quarterback steps back to pass. He is surrounded by defensive players all trying to tackle him. Just before they get to him, he sends a perfect spiral down the field to a wide receiver who extends his arms and pulls in the pass. It seems effortless at times. The bases are loaded. The game is on the line. A player steps to the plate and awaits the pitcher’s first offering. It is close but just outside. He refuses to swing. The next pitch comes in a little low, but right over the edge of the plate. He swings and connects, sending the ball flying over the fence for a grand slam.

When we watch these amazing athletes, we are tempted to think that they just have natural talent that allows them to do what they do. Although natural talent plays a part, it is only the starting point. The ability for these athletes to perform at such a high level is the product of hours and hours of practice. The quarterback spends hours throwing balls to his receivers in order to refine his throw. The hitter spends hours in the batting cage perfecting his swing. They are developing what is called muscle memory, which allows them to perform under pressure without having to think about the mechanics of what they are doing.

As followers of Christ, we can learn an important lesson from these amazing athletes. If we want to perform well under pressure, we need to develop spiritual muscle memory. We need to practice the components of godly living when we are not being put to the test. The more we consciously practice living as Jesus would have us live, the less we will have to think about how to respond when the pressure is on.  

Throughout church history, people have used spiritual disciplines to shape their lives, just as athletes use practice to train for the game. The goal is to so infuse our lives with godly character that we will naturally respond in a godly way. If we have not practiced spiritual skills in advance, when the pressure is on, we will fail.

Paul set an example for the people of Philippi when he told them to observe what he did and then practice those things for themselves. We too can learn from watching others who have performed well spiritually and follow their example. But just knowing what to do is not enough. We have to practice those skills over and over until they become a part of our life.

Spiritual muscle memory comes as we intentionally practice character building activities in our life. As we make the effort, over and over again, to live like Jesus, our character and life will be shaped. Our actions will conform to those things we practice the most.

Paul makes the point that just as physical training is a benefit to us, so spiritual training is of even more benefit. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

Paul fleshes out some of the training exercises that we should include in our daily lives. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV) Each of these practices can develop our spiritual muscles so that we respond appropriately in any situation.

A key area where we need to develop spiritual muscle memory is in prayer.  Too often for us prayer is an afterthought. We pray when we feel challenged or when we are facing a difficult situation. But we have not made prayer a regular part of our daily life. Paul calls us to make the practice of prayer a regular part of our daily lives. 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. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) If we are to develop spiritual muscle memory in prayer, we have to pray often, pray broadly, and pray intentionally on a regular basis. We cannot wait for the crisis to come before we pray. Prayer needs to be an integral part of our daily life, so that we can draw upon it when the crisis comes.

Prayer is just one example of a spiritual discipline that needs to be a part of our spiritual training regimen. There are many other spiritual skills that we need to develop as we progress on our spiritual journey: service, solitude, giving, fasting, study, etc. The key is practice, practice, practice. The more that we actually, intentionally practice the skills of godly living, the more they will become a natural part of our life. We will develop spiritual muscle memory so that when the time comes, we will respond in the right way, without having to think about the mechanics of what we are doing.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE?

 

Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

What does it mean for us to love God and love others? The concept of love is a real mixed bag. We all know that we use the word love in many different ways. We might say, I love my car, I love my dog, I love my job, I love ice cream, I love my children, I love my spouse. In each case we mean something very different by the word love.

Infortunately today, the word love is most often equated with sexual desire. A catch phrase today for some people is, no one has the right to tell me who I can love. What is really meant by that is no one has the right to tell me who I can love sexually. This is very unfortunate and also misleading.

This really comes into play when we talk about loving God. Many men find it hard to talk about loving God because of how the word love is used today. Yet we are commanded to love God with all that we are.

I read a book years ago called Why Men Hate the Church or something like that. One of the reasons is that much of the language we use in church makes men very uncomfortable. It is often very feminine language that most men cannot identify with. That is especially true when we talk about loving God.

So, what does it mean to love God, and from there to love others?

The first step is to expand our understanding of the word love. In English we have only one word; love. In Greek, and other languages as well, there are multiple words that describe what we call love.

In its simplest form, love is an expression of appreciation or liking. To say that I love any object, such as my car or ice cream, is to say that I appreciate and value those things. Even this has some breadth to it. When I say that I love ice cream, I really mean that I really like the taste of ice cream. But to say that I love my house is to mean that I appreciate the sense of warmth and security I get from my place of dwelling.

When we turn from objects to people, the word love takes on different meanings. At a very basic level love expresses the positive relationships that can exist within a family unit. Parents love their children and children love their parents. It is the natural connection that occurs because we are related to one another in that special bond of family. In many cases this kind of love is extended to aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. This love is what holds a family together. It is a sense of place and belonging, which we all desire. In many ways, it shapes our identity.

When we move outside of the family, love takes on a different meaning. In this sense, love is the expression of genuine friendship. It is more than mere acquaintance. When two or more people connect with one another on a deeper level, a bond of love is formed that has nothing to do with sexuality. Many men who have served in the military have experienced this kind of love for their fellow soldiers. There is a deep bond of shared experiences and shared values that sets this relationship apart from others.

Of course, there is also sexual or intimate love. Unfortunately, this level of love has taken center stage as the only real meaning of love. God created men and women to be connected in the most profound way through sexual and intimate love. This is a love that binds two people together in a unique way. It is the foundation for family. This love goes beyond just sexuality. It is a deep commitment to honor, serve, and care for one another above others. It is intended to be exclusive. It is the glue that binds a man and a woman together for a lifetime. This kind of love goes beyond feelings, although feelings are an integral part of it. When we isolate out the sexual component of this kind of love as the most important part we devalue it. This love, when experienced genuinely, is the closest to sacred love.

That brings us to the highest level of love; love for God or sacred love. This love is not physical, as the other loves are. It is spiritual. It encompasses most of the aspects of the other loves but takes them to a much higher level. To love God is to acknowledge who He is as the Creator and Sustainer of all that is. It is to give Him His rightful place on the throne of our lives. It is to celebrate His value, worth, and perfection. It is to Hold God in the highest regard, above all others. It also means to draw near to God in an intimate, close relationship where He can speak into our lives and shape who we become. To love God is to value what He values. It is to seek His glory and honor. To love God is to trust Him with our very life. To love God is to serve Him with all that we are and have.

When we sing or speak about loving God we are expressing our allegiance to Him. We are expressing our commitment to live in relationship with Him.

When we genuinely love someone, we are willing to sacrifice for them. We are willing to go out of our way to please them. We are willing to help them in whatever way we can. We are willing to stand with them through thick and thin. Genuine love is not about what we can get from the other person, but experiencing the pure joy of sharing life with them. That is the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated for us. It is the kind of love that He desires from us.

John 15:9-13 (NIV)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

 

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

When I say the word name, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For most of us, our first thought is about what we call someone. My name is Dave. We see a name as an identifier.

Last Sunday at our church we sang a song about the name of Jesus. It made we wonder what people were thinking as they sang that song.

For many people the name of Jesus is just that, his name, his moniker. For some people the name Jesus is like a magic incantation that we use at the end of their prayers to get God to act on our behalf. But the truth is that the name of Jesus is far more than just an identifier or a period at the end of a prayer.

In the Bible names were taken very seriously. A person’s name shaped their life. God often changed a person’s name to reflect a new direction. Abram became Abraham. Jacob became Isreal. Jesus gave Simon the name Peter to reflect the role he would play in the early church. The name of Jesus is significant; it represents the entirety of who He is.

The name of Jesus represents his identity as the Son of God. When we call of the name of Jesus, we are accepting who he is and giving our allegiance to him. As Jesus said in John 10:30 (NIV), “I and the Father are one.”

Peter emphasized this quality of Jesus’ name in his first sermon in Jerusalem when he called the people to call on the name of Jesus to be saved. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38 (NIV)

The name of Jesus represents his character. We often say that a person has a good name, meaning that they are trustworthy. When we believe in the name of Jesus, we are affirming his character and worth. The writer of Hebrews touches on this when he referred to Jesus as our great High Priest. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

The name of Jesus also represents his authority. When we send an ambassador to another country they act under the authority of or in the name of the US. This is what Paul is referring to in 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV). We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. When we invoke the name of Jesus was tapping into His authority.

The name of Jesus also represents his power. To call on Jesus’ name is to tap into his power. When Peter and John met the crippled man at the gate of the Temple, they called on the power of Jesus to heal him. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:6 (NIV)

When we sing about the name of Jesus, we are acknowledging something far more than just the name, Jesus. We are acknowledging who He is. We are calling upon his power and authority to act in our world in our time. The name of Jesus can unleash all the power of God into our lives and into our world. It should never be used lightly or flippantly.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.