SET AN EXAMPLE

 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

                As I was driving in to church this morning a State Trooper passed me. I had my cruise control set at 70, which is the speed limit. The trooper passed me easily, which means he was exceeding the posted speed limit. This is not the first time I have had that experience. It made me wonder what kind of an example that sets for other drivers. If the State Trooper can drive 5-10 miles over the speed limit, maybe it is okay for me to do the same.

                I use this illustration to point out that our actions are constantly setting an example for others. This is particularly true of adults for children. Children are great observers. This is the primary way that they learn. They are constantly watching what the adults in their lives are doing. Instinctively, they will begin to pattern their lives after the examples set by those around them. Many of these learned behaviors are just the normal activities of life, but not all. The way that children see adults respond toward one another will set the stage for how they will react in similar situations.

                As believers in Christ, we have a responsibility to set an example for those around us about how we are to live. Unfortunately, the church has not always done a good job of this. We often portray a negative or combative attitude. This can be seen within the church as well as the way some believers respond to the world around them. It is no wonder that many young adults today have walked away from the church. They have heard us preach one thing and live out something different.

                The Apostle Paul challenged Timothy to set an example for the believers in five specific ways. Paul was calling Timothy to lead the way in developing people who actually lived out their faith in their everyday lives. The challenge that Paul gave to Timothy is a good challenge for us as well as we examine our own life and what kind of example we are setting.

                We are to set an example in our speech. Words are powerful. They have the ability to build up or to tear down. Much of the rhetoric today is harsh at best and often abusive. This kind of talk used to be called mudslinging. Today, it is more like dropping bombs on one another. As followers of Christ, our speech should be radically different from the norm. As Paul put it in Colossians 4, 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. (Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV))

                We are to set an example in life. One of the complaints that I often hear about the church is that believers don’t live any differently from the rest of the world. We tend to pattern our lives after the current culture instead of after the principles of our faith. I don’t believe we should totally separate ourselves from our culture as some have done. But we should live in such a different way that unbelieving people would take notice. As Peter writes, Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:12 (NIV))

                We are to set an example in love. The word love has become a controversial word today. It is often used as a weapon against anyone who disagrees with a person. To confront someone with a wrong is seem as being unloving. All manner of lifestyle has been justified today by the word love. As followers of Christ, we need to recapture the true meaning of love. Much of what is trumpeted as love today is really selfishness and self-gratifying. The kind of love that we are called to by Christ is the exact opposite. We are called to demonstrate genuine love through living sacrificially. As Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35 (NIV))

                We are to set an example in faith. I don’t think Paul was talking about doctrine at this point. I think he was talking about trusting in God. Too often we live as if everything depends on us. We unintentionally leave God out of the picture. We have to intentionally focus on the reality that we are totally dependent upon God for our very life. Not only can we trust God to lead and guide us, we must. This is not optional for us as followers of Christ.

                We are to set an example in purity. The first impression that we get when we hear the word purity is sexual purity; being morally upright. That is no doubt in the mind of Paul, but I think he would take it farther. The word purity can be related to the word holy. To be holy is to be set apart for God’s service. Throughout the Old Testament the concept of being clean or being pure is hammered home. If we are going to develop in our walk with the Lord, if we are going to draw close to Him, then we need to be pure, holy, and clean. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV))

                Every day of our lives we are setting an example for those around us. The only real question is, what kind of an example are we being? As I read through the list above, I realize how often I fail to live up to this calling. Being an example in all of these areas is something I aspire to, but often fall short of. Rather than beating ourselves up, we need to turn back to Jesus. It is only as we abide in Him that we can truly live out our calling.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

 

THE MYTH OF INDEPENDENCE

 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NIV)

                One of the things Americans pride themselves in is their rugged individualism. We tend to believe that we can pull ourselves up with our own bootstraps. We don’t need anyone else to make it in life. We can make it on our own. All of this sounds good, but it is a myth.

                As we grow up, we strive to move from being dependent on others to being independent; making our own decisions. This is an important stage of our development. Unfortunately, many people get stuck at this stage and fail to move on to the next stage; interdependence. A truly mature person knows that they have limits and that they need others in their lives to fill in the gaps. None of us is a complete person in ourselves. We all need others to make us a truly whole person.

                Solomon highlighted this basic need in Ecclesiastes 4.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV) 

                Many people today are living very lonely lives because they have never understood their need for interdependence. They are surrounded by people, yet isolated at the same time. I had a taste of that experience when I went on a mission trip to the Philippines. I was assigned to work with a young Filipino pastor on a small island off the coast of Cebu. It took us almost a week to figure out how we were to work together. During that time, I was surrounded by people but felt utterly alone. It wasn’t until I really connected with the pastor that I was able to be an asset to him and he a support to me. We needed each other if our time together was going to be fruitful.

                The New Testament continually stresses our interdependence. Paul likens believers to the human body. Each of us needs to play our role if the body is going to be healthy. Each of us also benefits from being a part of the whole. We cannot be all that God wants us to be on our own. It is only as we are connected with others that we can thrive. There are numerous passages, highlighted by the phrase “one another”, that stress our interdependence.

                Too many of us settle for casual, superficial relationships instead of risking actually getting to know others. Our society allows us to have innumerable “friends” without ever really developing a genuine friendship; a companion in life.

                Today in my devotions I read about a concept that prompted me to think about interdependence. The idea was having lingering relationships. What the author meant by this was having the kind of relationships where a person is comfortable to linger in others’ presence. To spend time together without an agenda or a program to follow. In our fast-paced world, we rarely take the time to linger; to engage with others at a leisurely pace. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone wants to share their story with others. But this can happen only by spending enough time together to open the door to share. Lingering relationships take time and intentionality; they don’t just happen. We have to make space in our lives for these relationships to grow.

                Interdependence is not giving up our autonomy or our freedom. It is experiencing our autonomy and our freedom at a much higher level. As it says in Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Allowing others into our lives actually helps us to grow and mature in ways that we never can on our own. Allowing others into our lives helps us refine our strengths and confront our weaknesses.

                The last line of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. The X factor for those of us who have placed our faith in Christ is that there is a bond between us that elevates our relationships to a higher level. That bond is Christ Himself. The more that we linger in our relationship with Christ, the better equipped we are to linger with one another. One of the signs of a healthy church is that after the service people linger. If the building empties five minutes after the service is over, there is a problem. It signals that the members are not really connecting with one another. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my pastoral ministry was turning the lights out on small clusters of people who have lingered in the building long after the service was ended.

                I have had a few lingering relationships in my life, but not nearly enough. How about you?

Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
Philippians 3:17 (NIV)

                It is common to ask children and young people the question, who do you want to be when you grow up? The answer is usually framed in some occupation, such as a doctor, an astronaut, a nurse, a baseball player. When we get into our high school and college years our answer to that question becomes more defined. We begin to set our sights on a particular career path. As we mature our answer tends to be refined with the phrase, I want to be a successful _________. What is common with all of these answers is that they focus on what we do and not on who we are as a person.

                When the Bible poses the question of who we are to be, it focuses not on our activity but on our character. A more biblical answer to the question, who do you want to be, would be, I want to be a person of integrity and godly character. Every decision that we make and every action that we take in life is shaping and molding us. Our actions are making us into a particular kind of person, regardless of our occupation.

                C.S. Lewis suggests that all of life is a process of molding us into the people we will be for all of eternity. Our decisions and actions will lead us to be either a more patient person or a more impatient one. The course we set in life will either make us more loving and gracious or more callous and demanding. Although we tend to focus on our outward actions, God focuses on what is going on in our soul.

                Many years ago, someone challenged me with this question. Who do you want to be when you are 80 years old? Then he followed up with this statement. Whoever you want to be when you are 80, you need to start becoming now. The patterns of life that you establish when you are young will ultimately shape who you are when you are old. Someone once stated it this way. There are really no crabby old people. There are just crabby people who get old. The patterns we establish in our lives matter.

                I was reminded of this just yesterday as I spoke with my father on the phone. My dad is currently in a nursing home recovering from the shock of my mom’s death. On that day, and the several days following, my dad shut down both physically and mentally. He told us last night that he can’t remember the events of those days. But now, three weeks later, he has rebounded and is back to his old self. He has always enjoyed talking with people and that hasn’t changed. He has engaged with the staff and the residents at the home. My brother tells me that they all love him there because he is positive and vibrant, even though he is 95. He has a determination to return to his home, which will happen this week. He has not only embraced the physical therapy sessions they offer him, but he takes regular walks up and down the halls on his own. He is thankful for all of the care he has been given and has freely expressed it. His character, forged over 95 years of living, is showing through.

                Paul set an example of what it means to live a godly life. He was serious about disciplining his life in order to shape and mold his character to conform to the image of Christ.

                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. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

                Because of the discipline Paul worked into his life, he was able to challenge others to follow his example. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) Paul also told Timothy to both model and pass on the godly pattern of life that Paul had demonstrated for him. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 (NIV)

                How we live our lives today will shape who we become tomorrow. The patterns we establish will either lead us toward a godly character or lead us away from one. The longer we continue in a particular pattern, the harder it will be to change; whether for good or bad. Who we really are is not demonstrated when we are in control and at our best. It is demonstrated when the pressure is on and our world seems to be upside down. It is then that our true character shines through.

                One day we will all stand before the throne of God and have to give an accounting of our life. Who do you want to be then? Whoever you hope to be on that day, you need to start being that person today. None of us knows how much time we have to shape our character for eternity. Therefore, what we do today really matters. When all of our achievements have been stripped away, what will be left will be our character.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:1-2 (NIV)

 

TERMINAL

 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.

Psalm 103:15-16 (NIV)

                On March 13, Suanne and I visited my older brother, Paul, and his wife, Denise. Paul was battling with pancreatic cancer and had just completed three chemotherapy treatments. We had a great dinner with them and spent the night at their house. A week later I talked to my brother on the phone and he told me that the doctors had informed him that his situation had become terminal and he was going on Hospice. On March 30, Paul lost his battle with cancer and went home to be with the Lord.

                Terminal; it is one of the most chilling words we can hear. Terminal, end of the story, lights out, game over. There is no return from terminal. It is the final period at the end of our life.

                Most of us don’t think about dying, until we are faced with the death of a loved one or close friend. Then for a time we think about what it means to be terminal. Yet, we are all terminal. We just don’t know what the time table is. For my brother, the time table was made very clear, although it ended up being much shorter than any of us expected. The clock is running for all of us and one day our time will run out.

                We live in a society that “plays” with death. We trivialize it through graphic movies that turn death into entertainment. We anesthetize ourselves against death through video games that make death seem reversable. Just reboot and start the game over. Most people spend their entire lives running away from death. Many people are looking for the “fountain of youth” that will keep death at bade indefinitely. But all of our efforts to ignore death, or trivialize it, or redefine it fail miserably. Death will always win in the end. The statistics are against us; 100% of people will die.

                The Bible is very clear that death is a reality. Death is the consequence of sin in our world. It entered our world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden and ate of the forbidden fruit. From that time on humanity has had to live with the fact that we are all terminal.

                But the Bible also tells us that we don’t have to run away from death. Unlike the fantasy world often created by us, the Bible offers us a genuine reboot. The truth of this promise rests in the events surrounding what we call Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, death met its match. Jesus conquered death and raised from the death. By His death on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sin. By His resurrection He makes it possible for us to have eternal life.

                In John 11 we read of story of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha after the death of Lazarus, their brother. In the midst of Martha’s grief, Jesus offers her hope. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NIV) Jesus assured her that even though a person will face physical death, it is not the end of the story. Through Jesus, there is life that transcends death. Jesus made good on His promise when on Easter Sunday He rose from the dead.

                Later the Apostle Peter affirmed the promise that Jesus made. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) The resurrection of Jesus changed everything. No longer is physical death the end of the story. No longer do we have to live under the diagnosis of being terminal. Through Jesus we can enter into eternal life.

                The Apostle Paul made it clear that for those who place their faith and trust in Jesus, death is not the end of the story. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

                Jesus has parted the curtain of death and showed us what comes next. For all who trust in Him, what’s next is an eternal home with Jesus. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6 (NIV)

                In one very real sense, we are all terminal. As the Psalmist has said, our lives are like the grass of the field that is here today and gone tomorrow. But we are not hopeless. Although our physical life has a shelf-life our eternal life does not. As it tells us in John 3:16, "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. John 3:16 (NIV)

                When the doctor told my brother that his situation was terminal he accepted it with grace. The doctor asked him why he was so calm. He responded, because I believe in Jesus. For those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus, death is only the birth canal into eternal life.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

 

 

 

EXPANDING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL

 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

                My wife and I recently took a trip to North Carolina to visit my parents. Several times along the way I saw a small sign attached to a power poll that simply said “Jesus saves”. I understand the intent of this signs, but I had to wonder if most people do. In our secular culture today, the idea that Jesus saves seems to be passe and meaningless. Most people don’t feel any need to be saved. They rightly ask, what do I need to be saved from? To just state that Jesus saves leaves the Gospel hanging in a vacuum.

                If the Gospel is good news, and it is, then what makes it good news? I think the Gospel needs to be understood in three parts, which are outlined in the Great Commission. We are saved from something. We are saved to something. We are saved for something.

                The first component of the Gospel is the hardest to communicate today. The Gospel holds up a mirror and shows us that we are slaves to sin. The problem is that most people today don’t believe in sin. Sin is an archaic word that has been disregarded by our society in general. In a world that negates the idea of any ultimate authority, let alone God, sin become irrelevant. Today, people don’t sin, they make bad choices.

                Yet the Bible is very clear that sin is a reality. Coming to grips with the reality of sin is the first step in understanding the good news of the Gospel. It is similar to receiving a diagnosis of cancer. Until I know about the cancer, I will not do anything about it. But once I know, I can take action. Sin is spiritual cancer. Most people feel its affects but don’t take them seriously or understand what they point to. In one way or another, we are all slaves to sin. Sin dominates our lives. It shapes the way we view ourselves and one another. It shapes our actions, and yet does this so subtly that we do not recognize its influence.

                The effects of sin are all around us; broken relationships, anger, bitterness, strife, war, abuse. All of these things are signs that we live in a broken world that has lost its bearings. God created the world to operate in a certain way according to His design. When we disregard God’s design and try to live our lives differently, we face the consequences and that is what sin does and is. Sin is rebellion against God’s design. As Paul writes in Romans 3:23-24, …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

                The good news of the Gospel is that we can be saved from our sin. We can be saved from our selfish, self-destructive lifestyle. We can be saved from our open rebellion against God. We can be saved from the brokenness of our world. The good news is that there is a cure for this spiritual cancer. Recognizing that sin has the upper hand in our life and desiring to be free from its tyranny is the first step to receiving the Gospel.

                But the Gospel doesn’t leave us in a vacuum. We are saved to something. This something is first a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Gospel reconnects us with our creator in an intimate and personal way. The Bible tells us that we literally become God’s children. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 (NIV) Our new relationship with God comes with enormous benefits both now and in the future. We have access to the resources of God to help us face all of the challenges of this life. In addition we have a heavenly inheritance that we will enjoy for all of eternity.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:3-7 (NIV)

                But there is something else we have been saved to and that is a community of faith. The Bible calls this the Body our Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) We are not left to figure out this new life in Christ all alone. Instead, we are incorporated into a genuine community. A community committed to Christ and moving in the same direction. As a part of this community, we gain a genuine sense of belonging. At its best, we are embraced, supported, and encouraged by one another. Unfortunately, we don’t always live up to the ideal, but even in our flawed state we can experience the benefits of belonging.

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.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

                There is a third aspect of why the Gospel is good news. We are saved for something. When we place our faith in Christ and become incorporated into His body, we gain a new sense of purpose in life. We are saved to fulfill God’s plan and purpose in the world. Most people want to be part of something that really matters. We don’t want our lives to be wasted on meaningless things. God offers us the opportunity to be a part of something that not only matters for now, but also for all of eternity.

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.
Acts 1:8 (NIV)

                We have been invited to partner with Jesus to change our world. There are many different ways that we can accomplish this task, but they all point back to calling people into a relationship with Jesus.

                The Gospel is really good news. The Gospel calls us out of our slavery to sin and into a relationship with Jesus. The Gospel invites us to be a part of a community that spans both time and distance. The Gospel offers us the chance to live a life that will matter for both the present and the future.

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)

 

DON’T WORRY

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

                In 1988, Bobby McFerrin came out with a song titled. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The first stanza of that song is pretty profound.

Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry be happy
Don't worry be happy now

                The tune was catchy and many people found themselves singing it to themselves. Don’t worry, be happy. It sounds good, but most of us have a hard time actually doing it. Worry is a common malady among us humans. Animals don’t worry, but people do.

                There is much in our world today that could cause us to worry. The political divide in our country is just one example. There is global unrest, natural disasters, and the persistent threat of another global pandemic.  It would be nice to move to a Caribbean Island, camp out on the beach, and forget about the rest of the world, but that isn’t going to happen. Daily we are faced with the trouble and turmoil all around us. So what are we to do?

                Rather than trying to escape from the things that cause us anxiety, we need to take positive steps to address our worry. Jesus addressed the issue of worry in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)

                Jesus gives us some insights into dealing with worry. To make His point, He highlights our obsession with food and clothes. Most of us, fortunately, are not worried about having clothes to wear or food to eat, although many in our world are. For most of us the obsession we have is having the “right” clothes and eating the “right” food. Many people are slaves to the latest fashion trends. If they don’t have whatever the trend setters declare is the latest fashion, they are depressed and anxious. For others, food has ceased to be a source of fuel for their body, but an obsession with being sophisticated, trendy, or politically correct regarding what they eat. Both of these obsessions lead people to look down on others who don’t follow the latest fashion or who don’t eat according to the “rules.”  

                Jesus makes it clear that when we are anxious about food and clothing, for whatever reason, we are focused on the wrong thing. Jesus tells us that our worry is really a lack of faith in God’s goodness. What is important is not what we wear or what we eat, but our value as people made in the image of God. God loves us beyond measure. Our value is not based on what we wear or eat, but on who we are in Christ.

                There are many other things that cause us to worry besides food and clothes. But the same principle applies. When we allow those things to consume our energy, we are failing to trust God. This does not mean that we stick our head in the sand or that we don’t take things seriously. It means that we take our concerns to the one person who can do something about them.

                Paul zeros in on a positive plan for dealing with worry in our lives. Instead of denying our anxiety, we need to express it to God in prayer. Prayer becomes a release valve for the anxiety that builds up inside of us. If we read through the Psalms, we see David doing this time and time again. But David didn’t just complain to God. He also affirmed his trust in God. And that is what Paul is telling us to do. Express your worry, but then claim God’s promise to be with you. The peace of God comes when we fully trust God to deal with the trials of life.

                Jesus said the same thing at the end of his instructions on worry.

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)

                Instead of being consumed by worry, Jesus tells us to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. When we seek God’s kingdom first, He puts all the rest of the things in life into proper perspective.

                Jesus is telling us to not let worry over the “what if’s” of life rob us of the energy we need for today. God’s grace is always sufficient for the day. God will give us what we need when we need it, not before. Worry clouds our future and robs us of the joy God wants us to experience today.

                Bobby McFerrin was right when he said that worry only doubles the burden we carry. But instead of trying to produce an artificial happiness, we can tap into the peace of Christ that assures us that God knows what we need, and that He will provide it at the right time.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Luke 12:22-23 (NIV)

 

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

                I had the privilege of attending a conference for pastors and ministry leaders this past week. The conference was titled ReCourage and it was intended to encourage those who are serving on the front lines of ministry. I can say that they accomplished their goal. I came away refreshed and encouraged.

                Genuine encouragement has become a rare commodity in our world. Most people are feeling pushed to do more with less. Companies are down-sizing and then asking their employees to pick up the slack. The pressure to perform is constant and unrelenting. According to the CDC, 51% of young people feel discouraged and depressed.  

                This has been a discouraging time for the church as well. The pandemic has taken its toll on churches. Church attendance has dropped by some 20%. Many people who stopped attending church during the pandemic have yet to come back, if they ever will. Church finances have taken a hit as well. Many churches have seen a dramatic decline in their finances, which has been the cause of much belt tightening and added pressure. Although the pandemic was not the cause on many of the stresses churches face, it tended to exaggerate them.

                As individual believers in Christ, it is easy for us to become discouraged when we look at all that is going on in our world. The moral climate of our world seems to continue to spiral downward. The level of global conflict continues to increase. And additionally, we are facing more and more natural disasters. It feels like our world is falling apart.

                One of the things stressed at the conference that I attended was that our hope is not found in our circumstances but in our Lord and Savior. When we focus on our circumstances, we get discouraged. But when we focus on Christ and what He has done for us, we can be encouraged. This is not pie-in-the-sky or putting our head in the sand. It is realizing and embracing the truth that there is more to life than what we can see. God is still on the throne. Our salvation is secure. We are deeply loved by God. God has not abandoned us.

                The Bible challenges us to encourage one another as a part of the Body of Christ. I know from personal experience that the times I feel the most discouraged is when I am isolated from others. When a person feels like they have to face the challenges of life alone, discouragement sets in. But when we pull together, we can see hope. The writer to the Hebrews puts it this way.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

                We can encourage one another because we know that this life is not the end of the story. As Peter says, we can look forward to an inheritance, kept for us in heaven, that will never spoil or fade. Jesus promised that He is preparing a place of rest for us, and one day He will come and take us home. But we can also be encouraged because we don’t have to face the challenges of life alone. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to be with us constantly. He has also given us one another, the church, the body of Christ. God has demonstrated His love for us through His church. We belong. We have a place that matters. We are significant. We have purpose and meaning, not just for some time in the future, but for right now. We can be encouraged because we can make a difference for all of eternity. All that the world accomplishes apart from God will fade away. But whatever is done for God will last forever.

                We all need to be encouraged on a regular basis. The challenges of life can easily drain our emotional resources if we are not careful. That is why the Bible tells us to encourage one another daily. Just like we need daily food and rest, we also need daily encouragement. The word encourage means to be filled with courage and that is exactly what we need today. We need to be filled with courage that comes from God to face whatever the world throws our way. Whatever it is, we can stand firm because we know in whom we trust, and He is faithful.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)