Wrestling With Your Faith

"Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.  When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.  Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Gen 32:24-26

Jacob was facing the daunting task of being confronted by the brother whose birthright and blessing he had stolen and from whom he then escaped.  In the ensuing time period, he had prospered mightily under adverse conditions.  Having fulfilled his obligations and built his family, it  was now time for him to find a place of his own.  To do so, it was necessary to cross the territory of his estranged brother and he was fearful.  Having isolated himself, he was accosted by an unnamed and unidentified angel (Ho 12:4) with whom he wrestled and won.

Beloved, there are many quiet moments we endure before facing daunting tasks or situations.  These situations can challenge our faith mightily.  We ask both ourselves and God, "Why am I in this situation?  Why is this happening?"  We are often unsure of what to do and even what is real.  At some point, we must come to a decision about whether we are going to trust God or go it alone.

There are a variety of opinions surrounding the meaning of Jacob's wrestling match.  For our purposes here, it is submitted to you that it is not unusual to contend with our faith but as with Jacob, we should ever seek the blessings associated with it.  This is a stark reminder that the Lord is always aware of our plights because He is ever with us.  If we would but stay in the fight, we will prevail against doubt, despondency and faithlessness, and we will be blessed.

The very next morning: "Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." Gen 33:4

Increasing in faith,

Lee

One Thing

"Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, 'One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property."  Mark 10:20-21

Most every Christian is familiar with the story of the rich young ruler.  Famously, he approached Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus directed the man's attention toward six of the Ten Commandments.  Parenthetically, each of them had to do with how we are required to treat others.  The young man assured Jesus that he had obeyed all of those commandments since he was a child.  Then Jesus, with love and compassion for him, uttered the words, "One thing you lack."

Fully embraced and understood, those words are jarring, shocking and terrifying.  Before reading further, close your eyes and meditate on them and what you think they mean.

***

Imagine going through your life and doing the very best you can to serve and please God.  Imagine feeling that you had done everything that you knew how to do to adhere to being the type of person the Creator of the universe made and desires you to be.  Imagine feeling really good about it and being ready to take the next step to secure your eternity. You've attended worship faithfully, prayed and studied daily, sacrificially given of your means, been morally upright and shared the gospel with others. Now imagine having it revealed that there is "one thing you lack." 

Beloved, it is critical that we are cognizant of any such "one thing" that may exist in our lives.  This means that we must constantly take inventory of anything that could cause us to turn away from God, despite our best efforts to live lives that honor Him.  For the rich young ruler, it was his unwillingness to give up his vast and valuable earthly possessions that cost him the heaven that he had modeled his life to obtain and specifically requested.   

What can be required of you by the Lord that you would refuse?  Do not be quick with your answer.  Recall, for example, that Abraham was asked to sacrifice his promised son.  Would any of us do that?  And let us not simply focus on things we may be asked to do on the spot.  The implications are far greater when we consider the things that do not please God that are a part of our daily lives, despite our Christian claims.  These are things to which we might have become blind or we may be fully aware of but unwilling to cease.  Do not let "one thing you lack" keep you from the place that has been prepared for you. 

Remember this also: despite claiming to keep all of the commandments all his life, his decision to not share his wealth for the benefit of others showed the truth about his claims.  We are rarely as pious as we might think. 

In pursuit of a transformed life, 

Lee

Your Little 1/28/2018

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”  John 6:9

There is a very famous passage of Scripture in which Jesus feeds more than 5000 people.  To be sure, much has been written and preached about this event, and rightly so.  There are lessons about Jesus' love, compassion and deity.  There are lessons about his apostles' lack of understanding and faith.  There are even lessons about a crowd who largely missed the significance and point of the whole exercise.  Little is said, however, about a young boy and his lunch.

Consider the fact that though virtually nothing is known about him, it can be surmised that he was relatively poor due to the contents of his meal but that he was prepared because he had it.  Though we do not know what his day or life consisted of, he showed up with food among thousands who either had none at all or an amount insufficient for their needs.

Consider also that he was wiling to share.  We know nothing about how the actual exchange took place, but it can be said with a high degree of confidence that Jesus would not take a child's lunch from him by force.  We can therefore surmise that the young man was willing to not just share, but to give all he had.

Finally, it was with this boy's lunch that Jesus indeed and in fact, fed the multitude.  Further, not only where the people filled but there was an abundance that was leftover. 

Beloved, as believers, we have confidence that the Lord can do all things.  We believe that miracles are available and do happen through the power of God.  We also believe that God is fully capable of performing these things with zero assistance from us.  That said, Jesus chose to work in partnership with the youngster.  He took what the boy was willing to share and miraculously multiplied it for the benefit of many.  It is important that we not miss this very important lesson because too often, we feel as if our little is not enough.  We often feel impotent in the face of so many needs and so much pain in the world.  At times we feel this so strongly that we fail to offer the resources, knowledge, skills and abilities we do have, shrug our shoulders and walk away.  Suppose a little boy with his lunch box refused to open it.

Let us be mindful that Jesus never asked us to save the universe.  What he asks of us is that we love others as he has loved us, that we treat others the way we would like to be treated, that with humility, we esteem others more than ourselves and that we lead lives that produce fruit.  Our circle of acquaintances and those with whom we come into contact is limited, but the power of Christ is not.  Let us bring our little and let Jesus do great things with it.

Building God's family,

Lee

Encouragement for Troubled Times 9/2/2014

"For son treats father contemptuously,
Daughter rises up against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me." Micah 7:6-7

There is no one that needs me to tell them that we are enduring tough times. The news is filled the heinous crimes ideological extremists are perpetrating against humanity in general and Christians specifically in the Middle East. Planes full of innocents have been shot down in the Ukraine by one government that wants to overtake another. And in the bread basket of our own country, riots reminiscent of some of America's most turbulent times are playing out right before our eyes.

Times like these can seem so hopeless. One wonders what is the source of all of this conflict and more to the point, what is the solution? Why does it seem that war is so easily engaged while attaining peace is among the most difficult endeavors known to man.

Conflict is older than humanity itself. Though it may seem simplistic to the non-believer, Satan rebelled against God before we were created. Soon after we were created, humanity was influenced by Satan to also rebel against God. Not long after this, a man took the life of his brother and we have been warring against one another ever since.

Though we must deal with the conflict that exist between us, starting with that between ourselves and members of our own households, it is important to know that the struggle is larger than any of us. It is written that, "...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places," Ephesians 6:12. The age old battle between good and evil continues and we have become part of it. We are not, however, without recourse.

Beloved, though there are many things from the word of God that can be offered for our instruction and consolation, think on these three things:

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:13-17

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-7

"‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" Matthew 22:37-39

One,

Lee

Faithful Under Fire 3/10/2014

"Then the Lord struck the child that Uriah's widow bore to David, so that he was very sick.  David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.  The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, 'Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!'  But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, 'Is the child dead?' And they said, 'He is dead.'  So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped." 2 Sam 12:15-20

Despite being "a man after God's own heart," David was very human with all of the flaws and weaknesses that can be found in any human being.  He famously sinned with Bathsheba, impregnated her and had her husband killed when he refused to go into her during a weekend pass designed to cover David's tracks.  Despite his contrition and repentance and God's forgiveness, there were consequences for his actions.  One of the consequences unfortunately involved the death of the child. David then experienced a depth of sorrow that every parent dreads.  The illness and expected passing of his baby made him inconsolable.

Beloved, I pray that you will never know such loss, particularly as a result of your own sin. Nevertheless, we all, at some point in our lives, have known or will know despair.  If we haven't yet, we will someday experience pain that is unimaginable.  Despite the best efforts of others to comfort us, there seems to be no word that can be spoken, no medicine that can be taken and no prayer that can be prayed that will deliver us from our sorrow.  This is a normal part of our human existence.  The key is to remain faithful despite these trials and tribulations.

When there was nothing more to be said or done, David cleaned himself up and went to worship. What we learn from him is that despite his sin, punishment and pain, he never lost contact with the God who made Him.  He remained prayerful throughout his ordeal.  Through fasting, he sacrificed to the Lord hoping to find favor.  And when he found that God's judgment was final, he worshiped him.  He never broke faith with God nor lost faith in Him despite having the worst experience of his life.  When his servants asked why he despaired so when the child was still alive but recovered so quickly upon his death, he shared concerning his child, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me," 2 Samuel 12:23. Even this was an amazing display of faith in the Father.  When storms come, let us all be sure to do likewise.

One,

Lee

Beware of Conditional Faith 1/9/2014

"The Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.' Then Satan answered the Lord, 'Does Job fear God for nothing?  Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.'”  Job 1:8-11

We are all familiar with the massive suffering experienced by Job.  It is a biblical truth that God gave His consent for Satan to afflict him.  The reason why this was allowed makes for a very long, complex and potentially controversial discussion and is not the focus of today's message.  Instead, let us consider how suffering that is not specifically brought about by our own sin affects our relationship with God.

It is easy to praise and worship God when things are great.  When we are comfortable, fed, reasonably prosperous and happy, we give God all the praise.  But what about when we are afflicted, fired, hungry, suffering from the pain of a broken relationship or death of a loved one?  Are we so quick to praise God then?  Do we lift our hands and hearts to Him come what may?

Beloved we must be aware of the dangers associated with a conditional faith. God is not a slot machine, a genie or some mythical magical creature whose sole reason for existing is to make our lives warm and fuzzy.  He is the Sovereign Lord and Creator of all things.  Sovereign means that He is the absolute authority and owes explanation to no one.  And if we had to put a label on Him for the purposes of this discussion, He is a parent.  And as a parent, He provides for all of our needs and so many of our wants.  But He also says "no," provides discipline, tests us and sometimes puts us in the uncomfortable position of having to grow and mature in our faith in Him through difficult circumstances and situations.  We can all remember tough lessons learned while growing up that gave us a greater appreciation for our parents and the perspectives they constantly tried to instill in us.

Job remained faithful while enduring the most crippling losses imaginable. And he did so without fully understanding why these things were happening.  His attitude was exemplified by the statement, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord,” Job 1:21.  From this example, we must all ask ourselves if our faith is based on comfort and things or our relationship with our Father.  Further, can our faith withstand tough times? Surely they will come.  Be encouraged to remain with God regardless of ever changing circumstances.  And also remember that Job's end was vastly better than his beginning.

One,

Lee

Confidence in the Face of Challenges 2/23/2013

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

It was after the passing of Moses that leadership of the people of Israel was charged to Joshua. Imagine how daunting a task it was to cross over into a land promised to them over 400 years before. The land was filled with people who were pretty attached to it and the Hebrews had been directed by God to remove them. Speaking of the Hebrews, Joshua also had the responsibility of leading them knowing that they had proved themselves to be unfaithful stiff-necked grumblers who, at times, seemed as though they would do anything but what God commanded.

Nevertheless, God both encouraged Joshua and promised to be with him when he said, “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go," Josh 1:7-8

Beloved, the same God that was with Joshua is with each of us today. We all face daunting tasks, trials, tribulations, discomforts and challenges. These things are as certain, as it has ben said, as death and taxes. Knowing that God is with us should give us all of the encouragement we need to persevere on our journey to the land He has promised us. Let us be sure to adhere to His word, not turning to the left or right from it, and look forward to success.

Committed,

Lee

Something Greater is on the Way 9/20/2013

"And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." Romans 8:23

I do not know about you but I am the type of person that always tries to have something to which to look forward. I remember how excited I would get as a kid when Christmas was around the corner or the time for the cross-country family vacation to Disney was near. I am sure I drove my parents to distraction talking about it. Interestingly enough, whenever something tough would happen, I would always think to myself that it did not matter because something big and good was coming. I am not the least bit ashamed to say that I still plan big things and still use the thought of them to get me through the tough times. Though trips and holidays are still a part of that thinking, over the years I have discovered something much greater.

Beloved, though we as Christians may not regularly think of it this way, there are unimaginably great things in store for us in the Lord. It is of first importance to know that through the agency of Jesus, we have been made members of the family of God. Evidence of this is that we have been given the Spirit as earnest in anticipation of receiving the full reward promised by God (Ephesians 1:13-14). As members of the family, we, through the grace of God, become entitled to big things including the ultimate excursion of all time! We need to know that our accommodations are even now being prepared and that at the proper time, we will be collected by our Savior (John 14:2-4). We can take heart that free transportation has already been arranged (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Lastly, what awaits can scarcely be described but we have surely been told about some of what we can expect (Revelation 21:1-7; 10-27; 22:1-5).

My encouragement to you today and all days is to keep an eye toward heaven and always keep your hand firmly clasped to His. Though the trials and tribulations of life come and go, let us all take heart that whatever circumstances in which we may find ourselves today do not represent the end. Something greater is on the way.

Committed,


Lee

He Lives! 4/2/2013

"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;  and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Cor 15:16-17

During the time that Jesus walked the earth, there was no one who did not believe that he existed.  He could be seen, heard and touched.  In fact, he became quite famous among many and infamous among some.  He was a healing balm to the poor, needy and seeking but a thorn to the self righteous religious leaders of the time.  The issue was not whether he lived, but whether he was who he said he was, the very son of God.  Further, there was a particular group of people that were staunch opponents to the belief that resurrection was possible.  This doctrine was used to chip away at his credibility both before and after his resurrection.

Beloved, there is a defense against this teaching.  It is absolutely foundational to the Christian faith that, as Paul wrote, "that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep" 1 Cor 15:3b-6.  We can see that there were many witnesses and to this day, much weight is given to eyewitness testimony, particular when many agree.

Nevertheless, the thinking, belief and teaching of a long gone sect has not only survived to this day, but grown.  It seems that people are more cynical than ever about the truth concerning our savior.  Further, even believers have co-opted his teaching to be more in step with ever changing societal norms than the bedrock principles on which they were established.  Now, more than ever, we must know, believe and conduct ourselves in a manner in keeping with he fact not only did he live, die and live again, but that he lives even now.  Our faith is not in vain.  Our sins need not condemn us.  As Jesus was resurrected, so will all be who give him headship over our lives.

Committed,

Lee

Simple Evangelism 2/21/2013

"He answered them, 'I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?'” John 9:27

Jesus had just healed a man who had been blind from birth.  Then, as now, Jesus was very controversial and in some circles, very unpopular.  The religious leaders at the time called the healed man before them and interrogated him about the healing.  When they asked how it was done, he replied that mud Jesus put on his eyes, told him to wash and could now see.  They asked who Jesus was.  The man replied that he was a prophet.  Doubting his story and more importantly the righteousness and claims of Jesus, they brought his parents in who verified that he was their son and that he had been born blind.  Still trying to get to the bottom of it, they asked the formerly blind man again how this thing came to be.  He provided the perfect answer: "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see," (v 27).

Beloved, many faithful Christians are afraid of the word and the concept of evangelism.  When it is uttered, few will take up the charge, many will turn away and most will go about their lives as if they've never heard it.  There are a variety of reasons for this, the biggest of which is fear.  This fear is evidenced by statements such as, "I don't know what to say," "I don't know enough Bible," or "They might reject me." It is time for us to be honest with ourselves.  Which of the things that occur in our lives that we consider among the best things to happen to us would we not shout about from the rooftops?  Whether a promotion, graduation, engagement, marriage, child birth or even the acquisition of a new car, we cannot wait to tell others and in some situations even take out ads in the media.  There is no fear in these situations, quite the opposite in fact.  What, then, is the best thing that has ever happened to you?  I hope that Jesus is the answer.  Will we not share him with even one person?

The easiest, least stressful and most natural way to share Jesus is to do as the blind man did.  Simply talk about the difference he has made in your life.  You are a Christian for a reason. Just be willing to talk about those reasons.  Some will receive you and some will not.  Some will follow you and some will not.  Our love for the Lord should drive our behavior.  Part of this behavior is to become more familiar with his word, more confident in your abilities and not fearful at all.  This will make us more apt to both defend the faith and to do what Jesus did; seek and save the lost.

Committed,

Lee

Absolute Confidence in God 2/19/2013

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?"  Psa 27:1

What a joy it is to have absolute faith and confidence in God, even in the presence of trial, tribulation and danger.  Far too often, we, as Peter did when walking on the water toward Jesus, take our eyes off of him and find ourselves being overtaken by our circumstances.  The Psalmist shares with us that this need not ever be.

Beloved, as we continue to pursue spiritual maturity and completeness in God, we should always be mindful that earthly life is not the destination nor the pinnacle of our existence.  The Bible records,      "What is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away," James 4:14.  There is no comparison between the time we spend going about our busy lives day to day and the reality of eternity.  When one considers that God made all things, that He has a plan and that plan involves you, it becomes easier to trust Him and to look forward to receiving the promises He has made to us.  With this perspective, the relative small things (and even the big ones) that can sometimes tie us into knots fade into insignificance because we know something of the great things we have in store and we rely on Him who is over, around and through all things.  With this thinking, our confidence and absolute faith in God grows.  Familiar passages such as, "no weapon formed against me shall prosper," "nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus," "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me," and "we have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind" all take on new meaning and relevance.

Let us model David's confidence, conviction and joy in all that we do.  We serve the same God and He is amazing.

Committed,

Lee