"And someone came to Him and said, 'Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?' And He said to him, 'Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.' The he said to Him, 'Which ones?'" Matthew 19:16-17
You may recognize this passage as part of the famous exchange between Jesus and one who is referred to as the "rich young ruler." You are no doubt familiar with the fact that when given the ultimate answer to his question, that he needed to give up his earthly belongings and follow Christ, he declined and went away sad. This is most surely a cautionary tale for a variety of reasons. If we are more attached to earthly belongings, positions, social status, reputation and even relationships than we are to our Savior and the glories of heaven, we are a most sad and lost people indeed.
What caught my attention within this passage, however, was his second question. The Lord clearly tells him that he needs to obey the commandments, but he asks, "Which ones?" When you think about it, it is an astounding question. The young ruler obviously understood that eternal life was possible and he desired it. It is also evident that he understood that Jesus was, at minimum, a source of information about it. Why is it then, when given the answer, he responds in a way that seems to indicate, in his mind, that there was the opportunity to choose which of God's commands to follow in an effort to achieve his objective? Why would he not understand that they all must be followed?
Beloved, this is a problematic mindset that persists to this day. Most anyone who believes that God and heaven exist desires to make it their home. Unfortunately, most are not willing to do what is required to achieve it. Let me be careful to say that eternal life cannot be earned because it is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9); however, certain qualifications must be met to receive the gift. One must enter into a committed relationship with the Lord which should inspire obedience and good works. Many of us willingly obey the commands that suit us and just as willingly reject those that do not. It is as if we are not willing to submit ourselves to the whole counsel of God, but instead, treat His requirements as multiple choice or optional. Further, there are religious teachings and organizations built around this very concept. They embrace and celebrate sinful words, thoughts and deeds as if there is no condemnation for them at all. In effect, then, there are those conforming the word of God to their own preferences instead of the other way around.
Jesus went on to point out six of the ten commandments, all of which had to do with how others are to be treated. The young ruler remarked that he had followed the six commands supplied for the entirety of his life. When Jesus put that to the test by telling him to sacrifice his earthly good for the benefit of his neighbors in need and to follow him, thus storing his treasure in heaven, he proved that he was not keeping the commands at all. More importantly and tragically, he valued adherence to his own earthly priorities over the simple and specific path to the heaven he said he desired.
It is my prayer that none of us are asking the Lord "which ones" of his commands must we obey. Let us not "be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect," Romans 12:2.
Building Gods family,
Lee
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Friday, March 30, 2018
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Location, Location, Location 5/12/2016
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-28
Did you know that sand is a pretty good substance on which to build a house? In fact, according to the University of Minnesota Extension, "If the subsoil is coarse (sand, loamy sand), water drains through it rapidly (assuming there is no high water table). Coarse-textured soils are easily excavated and quite stable during both dry and wet conditions." Of course a firm and solid foundation of bedrock is a good place to build too. Considering this passage, however, there are two things most of us miss.
First, it is the location of the sand. Whenever we think sand, we think beach. When we think beach we think ocean. In reality, those in Israel were more familiar with the desert and something called wadies. A wadi is a dry riverbed. Though water does not consistently flow there, when the rare rains come, even if they occur miles away, they are subject to torrential flash flooding. These flood are responsible for killing more people in the wilderness than heat, thirst and animals combined. Because of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the sand lined wadis, they just don't make good places to build homes. Note the wording of a portion of the passage in the NIV (emphasis mine): "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Second, we get so caught up in houses, construction and materials, we miss the message that compares the way the houses withstand the sudden onset of potential calamity with hearing and acting on the word of God.
Beloved, it is a sure thing that problems, challenges, threats and storms will come our way. Nowhere in the bible is it promised that these things will not happen. It is actually implied that they will. Rains, winds and floods happen every day to this day. The difference in wisdom and foolishness and the difference in the outcome of the storms is found in the decision to adhere to the given word of God. It is important to note that hearing or being aware of what God has to say to us is not enough. Acting on the word or according to it is the critical piece. Our parents told us not to put anything into electrical sockets. We all heard it. Only those who heeded do not have stories of suffering to share (unless they are relating those of others).
Let us not subject ourselves to a great fall. We know the difference between good and bad and right and wrong. We know what God has said. Even if we do not agree, if our desire is to be contrary or if we are skeptical of the outcome, God is worthy of our trust. Let us be wise. Let us not build our lives in areas that are in harms way but let us elevate out of the river bottom and build on the Rock that is Jesus who sits on high where surely there is safety even in the storm.
Practically speaking,
Lee
Did you know that sand is a pretty good substance on which to build a house? In fact, according to the University of Minnesota Extension, "If the subsoil is coarse (sand, loamy sand), water drains through it rapidly (assuming there is no high water table). Coarse-textured soils are easily excavated and quite stable during both dry and wet conditions." Of course a firm and solid foundation of bedrock is a good place to build too. Considering this passage, however, there are two things most of us miss.
First, it is the location of the sand. Whenever we think sand, we think beach. When we think beach we think ocean. In reality, those in Israel were more familiar with the desert and something called wadies. A wadi is a dry riverbed. Though water does not consistently flow there, when the rare rains come, even if they occur miles away, they are subject to torrential flash flooding. These flood are responsible for killing more people in the wilderness than heat, thirst and animals combined. Because of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the sand lined wadis, they just don't make good places to build homes. Note the wording of a portion of the passage in the NIV (emphasis mine): "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Second, we get so caught up in houses, construction and materials, we miss the message that compares the way the houses withstand the sudden onset of potential calamity with hearing and acting on the word of God.
Beloved, it is a sure thing that problems, challenges, threats and storms will come our way. Nowhere in the bible is it promised that these things will not happen. It is actually implied that they will. Rains, winds and floods happen every day to this day. The difference in wisdom and foolishness and the difference in the outcome of the storms is found in the decision to adhere to the given word of God. It is important to note that hearing or being aware of what God has to say to us is not enough. Acting on the word or according to it is the critical piece. Our parents told us not to put anything into electrical sockets. We all heard it. Only those who heeded do not have stories of suffering to share (unless they are relating those of others).
Let us not subject ourselves to a great fall. We know the difference between good and bad and right and wrong. We know what God has said. Even if we do not agree, if our desire is to be contrary or if we are skeptical of the outcome, God is worthy of our trust. Let us be wise. Let us not build our lives in areas that are in harms way but let us elevate out of the river bottom and build on the Rock that is Jesus who sits on high where surely there is safety even in the storm.
Practically speaking,
Lee
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Worship: Not a Spectator Sport 3/12/2014
"Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you would hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts," Psalm 95:6-8
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you would hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts," Psalm 95:6-8
Last week, I ran into two different people, both former members of congregations that now "worship at home." Perhaps you know of someone or several someones who fit this description. Now, rather than going to the assembly on the Lord's day, they listen to the local Christian radio station, or watch one or more of the televangelists on cable, or do nothing at all. Of course our brothers and sisters say they still love God, still believe in Him and pray regularly but just do not currently "go to church."
There are a variety of reasons why people pursue this avenue. Some disagree with the way things are done at their local congregation. Some have suffered hurt associated with someone who attends. Some have looked into the mirror of their lives and found themselves unfit, lacking the ability to forgive themselves despite believing that they have been forgiven by God. And some just flat out do not think it is necessary. There are many other reasons that people give for such a tragic departure.
Beloved, I will be the first to tell you that the work of the church is not primarily done inside the church building but outside. I would likewise say that worship is not confined to the church building in that we should all be in a constant state of worshiping our God. But I will say that the assembly is a necessary component of our relationship with God and with each other. Let me share with you just a few scriptures that bear this out.
- Acts 2:40-47-From its inception, the church (more accurately phrased "the assembly") has been about the people of God being and doing together
- Ephesians 4:11-16-We together form one body, made so by divine will for a divine and beneficial purpose
- John 10:14-16-Being identified as flock whose shepherd is Jesus, our togetherness is implicit
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-27-Each of us has a role in the body/assembly that we are gifted to fulfill and on which others depend
- Hebrews 10:24-26-The assembly is as much about others as it is about us and we should not forsake it
This is by no means an exhaustive list. The word of God consistently speaks of believers as a people, a body, a flock and a church that is designed to be together in word, thought, deed and most certainly in worship. While some televangelist have their uses, if a person is watching one, they are watching not just the preacher but those who are members of that congregation who have gathered together to worship. Worship is not about spectating, but participating.
May this be an encouragement to you and may you share it with those who you know that have forsaken the assembly.
One,
Lee
Monday, September 16, 2013
Would You Be Great? 9/16/2013
"The Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’" Judges 7:2.
These days we are our own biggest fans. Everything we have, we earned and therefore deserve. Many times we are even squeamish about accepting help from others when it is probably in our best interest to accept it. We are dyed in the wool "pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps" people. The interesting thing about this thinking is that it leaves no room for the recognition of God's grace in our lives.
Due to an amazing pattern of rebelliousness and idolatry, the people of Gideon's time were in need of someone to deliver them from their enemies. Rather than the biggest most powerful and ferocious person around, God chose Gideon, who, by his own admission was the least in his family, who were the weakest in the clan, which was of the smallest tribe (Judges 6:15). God was not looking for someone formidable, but was looking to express His own power through the meekness of an individual.
Beloved, far too often we fail to give God the glory. We are much too interested in our own fame, fortune and abilities. We are preoccupied with being well thought of, praised and deferred to by others. Interestingly enough, Jesus, in response to two of his apostles desiring to have preeminence over the others said, "...whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;" Matthew 20:26-27. Otherwise put, serving others in all humility rather than self is the path to greatness in the Lord.
When we give God the glory and allow Him to use us, His greatness will be seen through the greatness He has brought about in and through us.
Committed
Lee
These days we are our own biggest fans. Everything we have, we earned and therefore deserve. Many times we are even squeamish about accepting help from others when it is probably in our best interest to accept it. We are dyed in the wool "pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps" people. The interesting thing about this thinking is that it leaves no room for the recognition of God's grace in our lives.
Due to an amazing pattern of rebelliousness and idolatry, the people of Gideon's time were in need of someone to deliver them from their enemies. Rather than the biggest most powerful and ferocious person around, God chose Gideon, who, by his own admission was the least in his family, who were the weakest in the clan, which was of the smallest tribe (Judges 6:15). God was not looking for someone formidable, but was looking to express His own power through the meekness of an individual.
Beloved, far too often we fail to give God the glory. We are much too interested in our own fame, fortune and abilities. We are preoccupied with being well thought of, praised and deferred to by others. Interestingly enough, Jesus, in response to two of his apostles desiring to have preeminence over the others said, "...whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;" Matthew 20:26-27. Otherwise put, serving others in all humility rather than self is the path to greatness in the Lord.
When we give God the glory and allow Him to use us, His greatness will be seen through the greatness He has brought about in and through us.
Committed
Lee
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Alignment 9/4/2013
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;" 1 John 1:6
Let's face it. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian behaves like one should. If the estimated 247 million Christians in the US alone truly reflected the teachings of Jesus in word, thought and deed, Christianity would not be experiencing the decline that has been documented. Our children would not be leaving the church as they enter adulthood at the levels they are. And our country would not be in the state of moral degradation that it clearly is. But this is not about what others are or are not doing. This is about self examination.
Beloved, the questions about why things are as they are must begin with a long look in the mirror of Scripture. We as individuals must make an honest determination about how much the word and will of God exists in our lives. It is the easiest thing in the world to do to cast stones at others or point out the "motes of dust" in their eyes, but are we as quick to recognize deficiencies in our own lives? The Scripture says, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does," James 1:23-25.
It is beyond both our ability and our commission to "fix" the whole world. That is strictly within the purview of God. We can, however, do all within our ability to be in alignment with His will as reveled in His word in our own lives. It would be amazing how "fixed" the world would become if everyone focused on ensuring the orderliness of their own houses.
Committed,
Lee
Let's face it. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian behaves like one should. If the estimated 247 million Christians in the US alone truly reflected the teachings of Jesus in word, thought and deed, Christianity would not be experiencing the decline that has been documented. Our children would not be leaving the church as they enter adulthood at the levels they are. And our country would not be in the state of moral degradation that it clearly is. But this is not about what others are or are not doing. This is about self examination.
Beloved, the questions about why things are as they are must begin with a long look in the mirror of Scripture. We as individuals must make an honest determination about how much the word and will of God exists in our lives. It is the easiest thing in the world to do to cast stones at others or point out the "motes of dust" in their eyes, but are we as quick to recognize deficiencies in our own lives? The Scripture says, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does," James 1:23-25.
It is beyond both our ability and our commission to "fix" the whole world. That is strictly within the purview of God. We can, however, do all within our ability to be in alignment with His will as reveled in His word in our own lives. It would be amazing how "fixed" the world would become if everyone focused on ensuring the orderliness of their own houses.
Committed,
Lee
Friday, August 23, 2013
Follow Me 8/23/2013
"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philipians 4:9
In today's social media driven world, one of the things by which people are known and sometimes evaluated is by how many followers they have. Whether it is the number of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter, it says something about your fame and popularity (or lack thereof). For this reason, we are constantly invited to "friend," "like," or "follow" individuals, companies and institutions. The question, however, is why?
When you follow your favorite athlete, singer or actor, what is the benefit? You may be among the first to know about their next event. You may be a part of the "in crowd" that learns what happens to them before the news media blasts it all over the world. Mostly what you will get are their opinions (qualified or not) about other people and their circumstances. It is virtually an every day occurrence that someone is forced to apologize for something they said about someone else our of anger, retribution, jealousy or influence of substances via social media because so many are following them.
Beloved, the apostle Paul made an audacious yet qualified "follow" request 2000 years before it was the mainstream thing to do. He was able to do this for three very important reasons. First, he was personally commissioned by the Lord to do it (Acts 9:15). Second, the example he offered was one designed to benefit the follower (Galatians 2:20). And finally, the destination of the follow-ship he requested was not himself, but Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Let us be mindful of who we follow, why we follow them and most importantly, where we are allowing ourselves to be led. Jesus once famously said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit" Matthew 15:14b.
Committed,
Lee
In today's social media driven world, one of the things by which people are known and sometimes evaluated is by how many followers they have. Whether it is the number of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter, it says something about your fame and popularity (or lack thereof). For this reason, we are constantly invited to "friend," "like," or "follow" individuals, companies and institutions. The question, however, is why?
When you follow your favorite athlete, singer or actor, what is the benefit? You may be among the first to know about their next event. You may be a part of the "in crowd" that learns what happens to them before the news media blasts it all over the world. Mostly what you will get are their opinions (qualified or not) about other people and their circumstances. It is virtually an every day occurrence that someone is forced to apologize for something they said about someone else our of anger, retribution, jealousy or influence of substances via social media because so many are following them.
Beloved, the apostle Paul made an audacious yet qualified "follow" request 2000 years before it was the mainstream thing to do. He was able to do this for three very important reasons. First, he was personally commissioned by the Lord to do it (Acts 9:15). Second, the example he offered was one designed to benefit the follower (Galatians 2:20). And finally, the destination of the follow-ship he requested was not himself, but Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Let us be mindful of who we follow, why we follow them and most importantly, where we are allowing ourselves to be led. Jesus once famously said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit" Matthew 15:14b.
Committed,
Lee
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Listen For the Cross Examination 8/6/2013
"In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines." Proverbs 18:17 (NIV)
Imagine the conversation between Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. He was clearly very skilled in making the argument that the things God told her could be otherwise interpreted. In fact, he told her that she would "not surely die" if she partook of the forbidden fruit. One of the things that made his words so effective at introducing doubt was her own desire. We are told that the fruit appealed to Eve's eye, looked delicious for eating and according to the Serpent, had the additional benefit of giving her at least one attribute of God. She therefore ate and introduced disastrous consequences that all of humanity still experiences today. It is submitted for your consideration that we are predisposed to entertain assertions such as those offered by the Serpent because of our own desires. It is written that, "each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" James 1:17.
Beloved, we ought to praise God for the advocate He has given us in Jesus (1 John 2:1). We can think of him not just as a lawyer who argues our case before God against the accusations of Satan, but one who has also already served our sentence and paid our debt, thereby releasing us from condemnation. You see Satan tried the same thing with Jesus that he did with Eve, however, he completely and utterly failed when the Lord refused him and answered him with the Word of God. He was unwilling to turn rocks into bread after a 40 day fast because it is the Word that sustains. He refused to throw himself toward the ground from dizzying heights to prove God would save him because he was unwilling to put God to the test. And he refused to accept the keys to the world from Satan for the "small" price of bowing down to him because he was only willing to worship God. Jesus knew better and did better because he sought the will of God and not his own.
Today there are many alternative views of what is good, bad, right and wrong. There are many who will tell you of different ways to achieve enlightenment, receive salvation, gain "heaven" and even reincarnate. To some these things are convincing as evidenced by the tremendous number of adherents to these different philosophies. Let us, however, wait for the cross examination. There is more to know than what they say. May the Lord help us to overcome our own desires and seek His.
Committed,
Lee
Imagine the conversation between Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. He was clearly very skilled in making the argument that the things God told her could be otherwise interpreted. In fact, he told her that she would "not surely die" if she partook of the forbidden fruit. One of the things that made his words so effective at introducing doubt was her own desire. We are told that the fruit appealed to Eve's eye, looked delicious for eating and according to the Serpent, had the additional benefit of giving her at least one attribute of God. She therefore ate and introduced disastrous consequences that all of humanity still experiences today. It is submitted for your consideration that we are predisposed to entertain assertions such as those offered by the Serpent because of our own desires. It is written that, "each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" James 1:17.
Beloved, we ought to praise God for the advocate He has given us in Jesus (1 John 2:1). We can think of him not just as a lawyer who argues our case before God against the accusations of Satan, but one who has also already served our sentence and paid our debt, thereby releasing us from condemnation. You see Satan tried the same thing with Jesus that he did with Eve, however, he completely and utterly failed when the Lord refused him and answered him with the Word of God. He was unwilling to turn rocks into bread after a 40 day fast because it is the Word that sustains. He refused to throw himself toward the ground from dizzying heights to prove God would save him because he was unwilling to put God to the test. And he refused to accept the keys to the world from Satan for the "small" price of bowing down to him because he was only willing to worship God. Jesus knew better and did better because he sought the will of God and not his own.
Today there are many alternative views of what is good, bad, right and wrong. There are many who will tell you of different ways to achieve enlightenment, receive salvation, gain "heaven" and even reincarnate. To some these things are convincing as evidenced by the tremendous number of adherents to these different philosophies. Let us, however, wait for the cross examination. There is more to know than what they say. May the Lord help us to overcome our own desires and seek His.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, August 5, 2013
The Message to the Messenger 8/5/2013
“'Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.'" Ezekiel 3:17-18
Every now and then I run across a Bible passage that makes my blood run cold. Ezekiel 3:17-21 is just such an example. The prophet Ezekiel was being sent by God to the rebellious people of Israel to deliver a warning from Him. One of the reasons he was being sent was so that the people would know that a prophet, and by extension, God Himself was among them. In turn, the message he was sent to deliver was designed to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways and return to the previously established covenant relationship lest they die.
The message God gave Ezekiel to deliver was a critical one, however, before he was given a word to speak, God impressed upon him the importance of carrying out the assigned task. In short, He told his prophet that if anyone perished (due to their own iniquity) without him having delivered the assigned message, he would bear responsibility.
Beloved, the reason this passage caused a chill to run down my spine is due to the realization that we have been given the same charge and bear that same responsibility. Those of us who call upon the name of Jesus are the messengers of God. We are sent to all nations to bear witness to the love of the Lord and to deliver His message (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to fill our mouths with His word and warn the stubborn, obstinate and unrighteous about the dangers associated with pursuing their current course. We are charged with nothing less than attempting to literally save the lives of the lost. Our failure to speak up and speak out condemns to death the people we refuse to warn just as if we failed to take the keys from an inebriated person attempting to get behind the wheel of a car. It is not our fault that the person is drunk, but we would bear responsibility for refusing to intercede if that person tragically died or worse, caused the death of someone else. Chilling indeed.
Let us not view our Christian lives simply as "going to Church," attending bible studies, participating in pot luck dinners and fellowshipping with those of like faith. Let us instead act as fire marshals engaged in literal fire prevention and fire fighters engaged in literal rescue of those in danger of being lost in the fire.
Committed,
Lee
Every now and then I run across a Bible passage that makes my blood run cold. Ezekiel 3:17-21 is just such an example. The prophet Ezekiel was being sent by God to the rebellious people of Israel to deliver a warning from Him. One of the reasons he was being sent was so that the people would know that a prophet, and by extension, God Himself was among them. In turn, the message he was sent to deliver was designed to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways and return to the previously established covenant relationship lest they die.
The message God gave Ezekiel to deliver was a critical one, however, before he was given a word to speak, God impressed upon him the importance of carrying out the assigned task. In short, He told his prophet that if anyone perished (due to their own iniquity) without him having delivered the assigned message, he would bear responsibility.
Beloved, the reason this passage caused a chill to run down my spine is due to the realization that we have been given the same charge and bear that same responsibility. Those of us who call upon the name of Jesus are the messengers of God. We are sent to all nations to bear witness to the love of the Lord and to deliver His message (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to fill our mouths with His word and warn the stubborn, obstinate and unrighteous about the dangers associated with pursuing their current course. We are charged with nothing less than attempting to literally save the lives of the lost. Our failure to speak up and speak out condemns to death the people we refuse to warn just as if we failed to take the keys from an inebriated person attempting to get behind the wheel of a car. It is not our fault that the person is drunk, but we would bear responsibility for refusing to intercede if that person tragically died or worse, caused the death of someone else. Chilling indeed.
Let us not view our Christian lives simply as "going to Church," attending bible studies, participating in pot luck dinners and fellowshipping with those of like faith. Let us instead act as fire marshals engaged in literal fire prevention and fire fighters engaged in literal rescue of those in danger of being lost in the fire.
Committed,
Lee
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Unglamorous Work of God 5/30/2013
"Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, 'My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?' So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean." 2 Kings 5:13-14
There was once a man named Naaman who was a great soldier that had distinguished himself in battle. Unfortunately, he had leprosy. Through the course of time and events he found himself being instructed by the prophet Elisha through a messenger to wash in the Jordan river 7 times in order that he might be cured of his condition. Naaman was initially very angry. He expected that Elisha would come out to him and do something miraculous. Further, he thought there were much better and cleaner rivers than the Jordan in which to be cleansed. The bible tells us he left Elisha's door in a rage.
This passage came to mind at last evening's bible study while talking to one of our faithful and hard working members. He and his wife had just returned from leading a small group to tornado ravaged Oklahoma in order to lend a helping hand to those in need. He related that a lot of the work they did involved clearing brush, picking up trash, dismantling and stacking wood from blown down fences and various other "unglamorous" (my word, not his) activities. This brother has many talents and thought he might be doing more things like fixing roofs, installing windows or perhaps even doing some electrical work.
Through the course of our conversation, he came to realize that his and the other's willingness to pack up, drive hundreds of miles without so much as a plan for a place to lay their heads just to help perfect strangers in a time of need was the very definition of loving God with our whole selves and loving others as we love ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). Further, the help that was rendered was critically needed by those who received it. They helped older people who could not have done what they did by themselves. They even did work on a home for a person who was not there. He was not there because he was in another state receiving a bone marrow transplant due to his cancerous condition. Their time, effort, energy and sacrifice was appreciated by all they assisted and, I believe, God is pleased.
Beloved, let us not diminish in our own minds the value of service and obedience to God. Not everyone is going to be in a position to pull someone out of a burning building, lift a heavy object from off of a trapped individual, administer CPR to someone whose life is endangered or come to the aid of a car accident victim. Doing good is not about the "wow factor." It is about love and the vast majority of good done for others is quiet, small and ordinary. God works this way so much in our lives, we not only take it for granted but we fail to see His actions for the everyday miracles they are. Ask a severe asthmatic about the value of simply being able to breathe.
Naaman expected something big and flashy from God, but He delivered in the smallest, most quiet way. Having him wash in the dirty Jordan, rather than the famous clear, cold and pure rivers of Damascus, Naaman was made whole, just as the people of Oklahoma will be, one small act of love and kindness at a time.
Blessings to all who do the work of God.
Committed,
Lee
There was once a man named Naaman who was a great soldier that had distinguished himself in battle. Unfortunately, he had leprosy. Through the course of time and events he found himself being instructed by the prophet Elisha through a messenger to wash in the Jordan river 7 times in order that he might be cured of his condition. Naaman was initially very angry. He expected that Elisha would come out to him and do something miraculous. Further, he thought there were much better and cleaner rivers than the Jordan in which to be cleansed. The bible tells us he left Elisha's door in a rage.
This passage came to mind at last evening's bible study while talking to one of our faithful and hard working members. He and his wife had just returned from leading a small group to tornado ravaged Oklahoma in order to lend a helping hand to those in need. He related that a lot of the work they did involved clearing brush, picking up trash, dismantling and stacking wood from blown down fences and various other "unglamorous" (my word, not his) activities. This brother has many talents and thought he might be doing more things like fixing roofs, installing windows or perhaps even doing some electrical work.
Through the course of our conversation, he came to realize that his and the other's willingness to pack up, drive hundreds of miles without so much as a plan for a place to lay their heads just to help perfect strangers in a time of need was the very definition of loving God with our whole selves and loving others as we love ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). Further, the help that was rendered was critically needed by those who received it. They helped older people who could not have done what they did by themselves. They even did work on a home for a person who was not there. He was not there because he was in another state receiving a bone marrow transplant due to his cancerous condition. Their time, effort, energy and sacrifice was appreciated by all they assisted and, I believe, God is pleased.
Beloved, let us not diminish in our own minds the value of service and obedience to God. Not everyone is going to be in a position to pull someone out of a burning building, lift a heavy object from off of a trapped individual, administer CPR to someone whose life is endangered or come to the aid of a car accident victim. Doing good is not about the "wow factor." It is about love and the vast majority of good done for others is quiet, small and ordinary. God works this way so much in our lives, we not only take it for granted but we fail to see His actions for the everyday miracles they are. Ask a severe asthmatic about the value of simply being able to breathe.
Naaman expected something big and flashy from God, but He delivered in the smallest, most quiet way. Having him wash in the dirty Jordan, rather than the famous clear, cold and pure rivers of Damascus, Naaman was made whole, just as the people of Oklahoma will be, one small act of love and kindness at a time.
Blessings to all who do the work of God.
Committed,
Lee
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Be Careful How You Treat God's Leaders 4/25/2013
“Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses. He is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?” Num 12:6-8
This passage may seem familiar to some of you in that I referenced it in yesterday's posting. I'm keeping it in front of us today because it is central to another point discussed in last Sunday evening's bible study. The extracted lesson was that we should be careful how we treat God's chosen leaders.
Moses' brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, were upset that he had married a Cushite (a person of African descent) and began to not only speak against him but advance themselves, saying that the Lord had spoken through them as well. God heard this and immediately called the three of them together. During the conversation, God outlined His relationship with Moses and made it crystal clear that Miriam and Aaron had made a grave error. Their mistake was so significant that Miriam was struck with leprosy on the spot.
It is no secret that I serve God by serving His people in the capacity of minister (which literally means servant). However, the point here is not as self serving as you might think. God has given us everything we need to spiritually succeed in life. Among the gifts he provides are leaders whose roles are to equip, support, serve and care for His people. There are three important things the bible teaches us about our appointed leaders. First, Jesus told those who aspired to lead that they, "must be the very last and the servant of all," Mark 9:35. Second, it is written, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly," James 3:1. Lastly, leadership of God's people is seen throughout the bible as a dangerous and life threatening calling. They must face not only threats from non-believers, but more often than not, those who are believers but disagree with the message and/or the individual. How many times were the apostles jailed and beaten? How many lost their lives through terrible forms of death? How many prophets were killed by God's own?
Beloved, it is not about elevating the man of God but appreciating the gift of God. It is not about putting anyone on a pedestal, but respecting the call and the called of God. It is not about whether or not he is "just a man" or "just like anyone else" but that God has equipped and positioned that particular leader by His will for your benefit. Despite the fact that King Saul was after David's life, David did not lay a hand on him when he could have because Saul was God's anointed.
In a display of true compassionate servant leadership, it was Moses who appealed to God on Miriam's behalf that she be cured of the leprosy she brought on herself by her mistreatment of him. Further, it was Moses who sought mercy for the people when God wanted to destroy them all for the heinous sins. Let us love and respect those who have dedicated their lives to serving God by loving and respecting us.
Committed,
Lee
This passage may seem familiar to some of you in that I referenced it in yesterday's posting. I'm keeping it in front of us today because it is central to another point discussed in last Sunday evening's bible study. The extracted lesson was that we should be careful how we treat God's chosen leaders.
Moses' brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, were upset that he had married a Cushite (a person of African descent) and began to not only speak against him but advance themselves, saying that the Lord had spoken through them as well. God heard this and immediately called the three of them together. During the conversation, God outlined His relationship with Moses and made it crystal clear that Miriam and Aaron had made a grave error. Their mistake was so significant that Miriam was struck with leprosy on the spot.
It is no secret that I serve God by serving His people in the capacity of minister (which literally means servant). However, the point here is not as self serving as you might think. God has given us everything we need to spiritually succeed in life. Among the gifts he provides are leaders whose roles are to equip, support, serve and care for His people. There are three important things the bible teaches us about our appointed leaders. First, Jesus told those who aspired to lead that they, "must be the very last and the servant of all," Mark 9:35. Second, it is written, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly," James 3:1. Lastly, leadership of God's people is seen throughout the bible as a dangerous and life threatening calling. They must face not only threats from non-believers, but more often than not, those who are believers but disagree with the message and/or the individual. How many times were the apostles jailed and beaten? How many lost their lives through terrible forms of death? How many prophets were killed by God's own?
Beloved, it is not about elevating the man of God but appreciating the gift of God. It is not about putting anyone on a pedestal, but respecting the call and the called of God. It is not about whether or not he is "just a man" or "just like anyone else" but that God has equipped and positioned that particular leader by His will for your benefit. Despite the fact that King Saul was after David's life, David did not lay a hand on him when he could have because Saul was God's anointed.
In a display of true compassionate servant leadership, it was Moses who appealed to God on Miriam's behalf that she be cured of the leprosy she brought on herself by her mistreatment of him. Further, it was Moses who sought mercy for the people when God wanted to destroy them all for the heinous sins. Let us love and respect those who have dedicated their lives to serving God by loving and respecting us.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, March 11, 2013
Don't Major in Minor 3/11/2013
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Rom 14:19
Unfortunately, it is human nature to be critical of one another. When we see the way someone is dressed, how they do a certain thing or how they interact with others, our minds often go to the way we would do it as opposed to what we are witnessing. Further, we can become judgmental of individuals who do not do as we would do. This can lead to discord, damaged relationships and dis-fellowship.
As Jews and Gentiles began to come together in Christianity, there were numerous differences between them. Gentiles, for instance, had no problem eating all sorts of meat without regard to its origin or previous use in sacrificial ceremonies. Jews, on the other hand, avoided meat in an effort to remain ceremonially clean as thousands of years of heritage taught them. Paul made the case that God had long since given his permission to eat all kinds of food, but that those who knew this should not be critical of those who held on to their heritage and in so doing, served God in their way.
For this reason beloved, we must do all we can to seek peace and unity in our common faith. In some worship services it is common to wear suits, ties, dresses and hats, while in others, it is "come as you are." Some have the service arrayed in one order while others another. Some have praise teams while others have a single song leader. As long as we are adhering to the apostle's doctrine (the essentials of the Christian faith) and accomplishing God's good, we should be more tolerant of minor differences and not divide over "disputable matters." Even Jesus was criticized for being a friend of winebibbers, prostitutes and tax collectors. His goal was to seek and save the lost. This should also be our goal and there is more than one way to reach it. Let us seek to build one another up for the Christian task and avoid tearing each other down to the delight of the Enemy.
Committed,
Lee
Unfortunately, it is human nature to be critical of one another. When we see the way someone is dressed, how they do a certain thing or how they interact with others, our minds often go to the way we would do it as opposed to what we are witnessing. Further, we can become judgmental of individuals who do not do as we would do. This can lead to discord, damaged relationships and dis-fellowship.
As Jews and Gentiles began to come together in Christianity, there were numerous differences between them. Gentiles, for instance, had no problem eating all sorts of meat without regard to its origin or previous use in sacrificial ceremonies. Jews, on the other hand, avoided meat in an effort to remain ceremonially clean as thousands of years of heritage taught them. Paul made the case that God had long since given his permission to eat all kinds of food, but that those who knew this should not be critical of those who held on to their heritage and in so doing, served God in their way.
For this reason beloved, we must do all we can to seek peace and unity in our common faith. In some worship services it is common to wear suits, ties, dresses and hats, while in others, it is "come as you are." Some have the service arrayed in one order while others another. Some have praise teams while others have a single song leader. As long as we are adhering to the apostle's doctrine (the essentials of the Christian faith) and accomplishing God's good, we should be more tolerant of minor differences and not divide over "disputable matters." Even Jesus was criticized for being a friend of winebibbers, prostitutes and tax collectors. His goal was to seek and save the lost. This should also be our goal and there is more than one way to reach it. Let us seek to build one another up for the Christian task and avoid tearing each other down to the delight of the Enemy.
Committed,
Lee
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Patient Living 3/5/2013
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus," Titus 2:11-13
There was once a specific incident that occurred while preparing to go to worship when I was a kid. Mom made sure my sister and I were bathed, fed, dressed and combed. The instruction was as it always was: "Now sit there and wait for your father and I to get dressed, and whatever you do, don't get dirty." Back in those days, people wore their Sunday best and they made sure that their children grew up knowing that it was important to be your best and present your best before the Lord.
On this occasion, I was a bit restless. I had a new toy truck I wanted to play with and besides, it always took mom and dad forever to get ready. I grabbed the truck and headed for the door. My sister said, "Boy you heard what Mom said! You better not go out there 'cause you're gonna get dirty and then you're gonna get it." "Shut up," I replied and went my way. You can just about guess what happened. I went out there as carefully as I could but came back in with dirt on the knees of my suit pants. Suffice it to say that Mom was not happy, punishment ensued and I was not at my best for the Lord.
Beloved, God has given us all we need to have the desire and motivation to lead righteous lives. We have been equipped with knowledge, instruction and wisdom. We have been given a choice as to whether to obey or not. And we have been given promises and assurances backed up by every day provision and answered prayers that if we would just wait on the Lord, the rewards would be everlasting. Let us not be like those who become restless and impatient. Let us not be disobedient and rebellious toward our heavenly Father. He will do what He said He would. We must be loving enough to obey and faithful enough to look forward with great anticipation to His deliverance.
Committed,
Lee
There was once a specific incident that occurred while preparing to go to worship when I was a kid. Mom made sure my sister and I were bathed, fed, dressed and combed. The instruction was as it always was: "Now sit there and wait for your father and I to get dressed, and whatever you do, don't get dirty." Back in those days, people wore their Sunday best and they made sure that their children grew up knowing that it was important to be your best and present your best before the Lord.
On this occasion, I was a bit restless. I had a new toy truck I wanted to play with and besides, it always took mom and dad forever to get ready. I grabbed the truck and headed for the door. My sister said, "Boy you heard what Mom said! You better not go out there 'cause you're gonna get dirty and then you're gonna get it." "Shut up," I replied and went my way. You can just about guess what happened. I went out there as carefully as I could but came back in with dirt on the knees of my suit pants. Suffice it to say that Mom was not happy, punishment ensued and I was not at my best for the Lord.
Beloved, God has given us all we need to have the desire and motivation to lead righteous lives. We have been equipped with knowledge, instruction and wisdom. We have been given a choice as to whether to obey or not. And we have been given promises and assurances backed up by every day provision and answered prayers that if we would just wait on the Lord, the rewards would be everlasting. Let us not be like those who become restless and impatient. Let us not be disobedient and rebellious toward our heavenly Father. He will do what He said He would. We must be loving enough to obey and faithful enough to look forward with great anticipation to His deliverance.
Committed,
Lee
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Letter to my Younger Self 1/10/13
"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Prov 8:10-11
Beloved, Ellyn Spragins, editor-at-large for Fortune Small Business weekly, posed the question to 40 successful women: "If you could send a letter back through time to your younger self, what would the letter say?" The concept of "Letters To My Younger Self" was born. I have been peripherally aware of this book for some time but was recently reminded of it. It has inspired me to craft a spiritual version not so much to my younger self (which is pointless in and of itself) but written in this style for the benefit of anyone who may care to read it and avail themselves of the information it contains, particularly those who are young in Christ.
Beloved, Ellyn Spragins, editor-at-large for Fortune Small Business weekly, posed the question to 40 successful women: "If you could send a letter back through time to your younger self, what would the letter say?" The concept of "Letters To My Younger Self" was born. I have been peripherally aware of this book for some time but was recently reminded of it. It has inspired me to craft a spiritual version not so much to my younger self (which is pointless in and of itself) but written in this style for the benefit of anyone who may care to read it and avail themselves of the information it contains, particularly those who are young in Christ.
***
Dear Lee,
You were raised in a family that believed in the power and presence of God. You were taught that Jesus, through overwhelming love for you and all mankind, voluntarily died for your sins so that you could one day go to heaven. You didn't really understand what all of that meant or how it worked. You just went to church when Dad said it was time to go. You began to get a better understanding of all of this about the time you were 17 and for a time, became very devout. You were baptized of your own accord. You were in church every Sunday, participated in all of the activities, studied your bible and generally behaved yourself. You even managed to tell others about Christ and they began coming to worship. By the time you finished your first year of college, however, you had all but lost interest. Yes, you still claimed to be a Christian, but you were not living the Christian life. This is what I would like to talk to you about.
You have come to know God though not nearly as well as you eventually will. Hopefully you will get to know Him even more than I do now as I sit here and type this. You had a great start and a wonderful foundation. The path had been laid out for you. But you allowed spiritual immaturity to win the day. You allowed the offerings of the world to distract you from what you knew to be right. Not so suddenly, chasing girls became a priority in your life. Working long hours at a job that paid little to buy things you did not need stole your time. You folded up and placed in a closeted trunk the knowledge, joy, spiritual fulfillment, righteousness, obedience and strong love for the Lord like so many winter sweaters come spring.
I want to remind you that you are wonderfully and individually made by the Creator of the universe. He knows every hair on your head and every desire of your heart. He provides for you, protects you and preserves you through some of the huge messes you make for yourself. And He loves you with everything that He is. All he asks is that you love Him in return. That means being obedient to the things He has laid out for you. Just like with Dad, these things are for your own good and not just "because I said so." Like Dad, he wants you to have a happy, successful, safe and productive life. His ways are designed to guide you to this. Beyond Dad, he desires to behold you face to face, to wrap His loving arms around you and to welcome you into an eternity filled with His light, his love and His presence. He has done everything to make this a possibility, including sacrificing His own son.
I won't kid you. The girls can be appealing to a guy your age. Let's face it, they are appealing to guys of all ages. God made us that way. But he made us to be honorable and holy in all of our interactions. Stuff can be appealing too. But remember the rich young ruler who met Jesus had all kinds of stuff and that stuff kept him out of heaven. Time? Well you never know how much you have. Take a look at the obituaries. No one there thought that their time would be up at the moment that it was. Every moment you have should be lived with the goal of pleasing the One who has made you His son and an heir.
Let me close by saying this: You are going to make mistakes and bad decisions and believe it or not, that is ok. Everyone but Jesus has. My encouragement to you is to stay on the path that God has laid out for you. It is a path that leads home. It leads to the one true God who formed you in the womb. There may be stumbles and distractions along the way, but when you trip, get up, dust yourself off and keep moving forward. When you get distracted, look to the hills from whence cometh your help. And lastly remember this which will become your favorite scripture in all of the bible: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Never leave God, His will or His way. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Who knows, you might even make a fine preacher one day.
Committed,
Lee
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Commitment 1/8/2013
“'Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.' The people said to Joshua, 'We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice.'” Joshua 24:23-24
At the O'Fallon Church of Christ, we have decided on the theme "Commitment" as our goal and guide in 2013. The inspiration and launching pad for our journey (in part) is the following:
Joshua, in the midst of his farewell speech to the people of Israel, took time to remind first the elders, then the people themselves of their history and all that God had done for them. He reminded them that God had done miraculous things for them and among them despite their proclivity towards serving other Gods. He famously offered, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15). In response to this, the people committed themselves to the Lord.
Beloved commitment is an interesting thing. Most simply put, it involves heartfelt belief, a decision to act or behave based on that belief and the action itself. As it relates to our spiritual lives, we have a professed belief in God. Most who know us know this about us. It easy to believe but what is belief without the proper decision? James famously said in 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder." Any decision to follow God based on our belief, must be backed up by action, otherwise it is just talk. Herein lies commitment.
Joshua issued a challenge to the people of his time to make good their claims by putting away the idols that were even then in their midst and living their lives according to His commands. The people did indeed keep their commitment and "served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who out lived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel" Josh 24:31. Let us do as they did. Let us commit ourselves to our heavenly Father and let it be seen in our words, thoughts and deeds.
Committed,
Lee
At the O'Fallon Church of Christ, we have decided on the theme "Commitment" as our goal and guide in 2013. The inspiration and launching pad for our journey (in part) is the following:
Joshua, in the midst of his farewell speech to the people of Israel, took time to remind first the elders, then the people themselves of their history and all that God had done for them. He reminded them that God had done miraculous things for them and among them despite their proclivity towards serving other Gods. He famously offered, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15). In response to this, the people committed themselves to the Lord.
Beloved commitment is an interesting thing. Most simply put, it involves heartfelt belief, a decision to act or behave based on that belief and the action itself. As it relates to our spiritual lives, we have a professed belief in God. Most who know us know this about us. It easy to believe but what is belief without the proper decision? James famously said in 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder." Any decision to follow God based on our belief, must be backed up by action, otherwise it is just talk. Herein lies commitment.
Joshua issued a challenge to the people of his time to make good their claims by putting away the idols that were even then in their midst and living their lives according to His commands. The people did indeed keep their commitment and "served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who out lived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel" Josh 24:31. Let us do as they did. Let us commit ourselves to our heavenly Father and let it be seen in our words, thoughts and deeds.
Committed,
Lee
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Living By Faith 12/13/2012
"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." Heb 11:13
One of my most fond memories growing up was going on family vacations. More to the point, it was the anticipation of going on family vacations. Once Dad would announce that we were going to Disney or Six Flags or wherever it happened to be that year, the excitement was immediately established and continued to build over time until the day came. I remember talking about it...a lot! I told all my friends and teachers, my sister and I chattered with one another constantly and I'm sure I bugged my dad quite a bit about the details, timing and what all we were going to do when we got there. And of course my behavior was extra good because I in no way wanted to jeopardize that which was to come. I enjoyed that feeling so much that I've built it into my own parenting.
Beloved this is the way we ought to feel about heaven. More to the point, we should literally vibrate with the excitement associated with one day meeting the Lord face to face. The Old Testament saints did not have the same advantages that we have today. The coming of the savior was still in their future. As we wait for the second coming, imagine what it must have been like for them to look for the first AND, ultimately, the second. Nevertheless, they lived faithful lives, anticipating that great day that remains yet in all of our futures. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses' parents, Moses, Rahab and so many others served God through faith. In other words, faith provided the "substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen" Heb 11:1. They are thus memorialized in the "faith hall of fame."
If they had enough love for and faith in God to live godly lives in anticipation of their great reward, should we not much more? Be encouraged my friends.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
One of my most fond memories growing up was going on family vacations. More to the point, it was the anticipation of going on family vacations. Once Dad would announce that we were going to Disney or Six Flags or wherever it happened to be that year, the excitement was immediately established and continued to build over time until the day came. I remember talking about it...a lot! I told all my friends and teachers, my sister and I chattered with one another constantly and I'm sure I bugged my dad quite a bit about the details, timing and what all we were going to do when we got there. And of course my behavior was extra good because I in no way wanted to jeopardize that which was to come. I enjoyed that feeling so much that I've built it into my own parenting.
Beloved this is the way we ought to feel about heaven. More to the point, we should literally vibrate with the excitement associated with one day meeting the Lord face to face. The Old Testament saints did not have the same advantages that we have today. The coming of the savior was still in their future. As we wait for the second coming, imagine what it must have been like for them to look for the first AND, ultimately, the second. Nevertheless, they lived faithful lives, anticipating that great day that remains yet in all of our futures. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses' parents, Moses, Rahab and so many others served God through faith. In other words, faith provided the "substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen" Heb 11:1. They are thus memorialized in the "faith hall of fame."
If they had enough love for and faith in God to live godly lives in anticipation of their great reward, should we not much more? Be encouraged my friends.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Acting Childish 10/30/2012
"But Jesus called for them, saying, 'Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.'" Luke 18:16-17
By this time, Jesus had become quite famous. Everywhere he went he attracted both detractors and the hopeful. In this case, worried and distraught parents were bringing their children to him to be blessed and healed. Unfortunately, it was Jesus' own disciples that took on the role of security guards (rather than facilitators) when they began to rebuke the parents for presumably wasting the Savior's time. Jesus used this opportunity as an object lesson for all.
Children are so wide eyed as they experience the world. There's is a faith that is so fundamental that they are not even aware of alternative explanations or perspectives. Their entire point of view is a combination of their own experience and what they have been told by loving parents. Based on these two things, they just accept. Watch small children as they interact with others like themselves on the playground or in the play room and you will see love and sharing. It is also at this stage of life when they are the most obedient and have not yet learned to talk back or premeditatedly misbehave. And finally, they are completely dependent upon their parents for everything from the basics of food, water, clothing and shelter to education, health care, affection and love. It is all a little one needs.
Beloved, when Jesus mentions receiving the kingdom of God like a child, he is talking about nothing less than these things. As adults and followers of Christ, we must shed our rebellion and faithlessness and understand that he provides for every one of our needs. We must love the Lord with the nearly blind faith and absoluteness of a child. All other alternatives must seem otherworldly. To do less than this endangers our ability to gain the heaven we all seek. If there is any area in which a grown, hard working, responsible adult should be childish, this is most certainly it.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
By this time, Jesus had become quite famous. Everywhere he went he attracted both detractors and the hopeful. In this case, worried and distraught parents were bringing their children to him to be blessed and healed. Unfortunately, it was Jesus' own disciples that took on the role of security guards (rather than facilitators) when they began to rebuke the parents for presumably wasting the Savior's time. Jesus used this opportunity as an object lesson for all.
Children are so wide eyed as they experience the world. There's is a faith that is so fundamental that they are not even aware of alternative explanations or perspectives. Their entire point of view is a combination of their own experience and what they have been told by loving parents. Based on these two things, they just accept. Watch small children as they interact with others like themselves on the playground or in the play room and you will see love and sharing. It is also at this stage of life when they are the most obedient and have not yet learned to talk back or premeditatedly misbehave. And finally, they are completely dependent upon their parents for everything from the basics of food, water, clothing and shelter to education, health care, affection and love. It is all a little one needs.
Beloved, when Jesus mentions receiving the kingdom of God like a child, he is talking about nothing less than these things. As adults and followers of Christ, we must shed our rebellion and faithlessness and understand that he provides for every one of our needs. We must love the Lord with the nearly blind faith and absoluteness of a child. All other alternatives must seem otherworldly. To do less than this endangers our ability to gain the heaven we all seek. If there is any area in which a grown, hard working, responsible adult should be childish, this is most certainly it.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Friday, September 28, 2012
Your "Golden" Calf 9/28/2012
"Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Ex 32:1
As Christians, we have the potential to become distracted and to develop spiritual amnesia more quickly than we think. We can be bull headed, impatient and greedy. During the course of the 40 days Moses was on the mountain communing with God, the Hebrews evidently forgot the most amazing site every seen by anyone: the parting of the Red Sea. Because they were exposed to so many gods in Egypt, they were not satisfied with the one true and living God, but manufactured a facsimile of Him made of gold and credited it with their deliverance.
Beloved, this tragedy still happens daily. Yahweh, the sustainer of our souls and the source of our provision delivers us daily. However, if He does not perform according to our schedule or meet our momentary wants (vs. needs), we resort to other means and credit ourselves if and when it works out. As it was for the Hebrews, this continues to be a recipe for disaster. Any god that we must manufacture is no god at all, especially if it is ourselves. Trust in the one true God.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
As Christians, we have the potential to become distracted and to develop spiritual amnesia more quickly than we think. We can be bull headed, impatient and greedy. During the course of the 40 days Moses was on the mountain communing with God, the Hebrews evidently forgot the most amazing site every seen by anyone: the parting of the Red Sea. Because they were exposed to so many gods in Egypt, they were not satisfied with the one true and living God, but manufactured a facsimile of Him made of gold and credited it with their deliverance.
Beloved, this tragedy still happens daily. Yahweh, the sustainer of our souls and the source of our provision delivers us daily. However, if He does not perform according to our schedule or meet our momentary wants (vs. needs), we resort to other means and credit ourselves if and when it works out. As it was for the Hebrews, this continues to be a recipe for disaster. Any god that we must manufacture is no god at all, especially if it is ourselves. Trust in the one true God.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Follow the Light 9/20/2012
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Ps 119:105
Beloved, it is not unusual for us to lose our way from time to time. Seasons, events and circumstances can conspire to draw our attention away from the direction we are traveling. Friends, family and earthly responsibilities can cause us to divert into the weeds, brush and dark forests of life.
We must remember that we have a guide for our journey. Though our attention is inevitably diverted, it is important to know that our path has been laid out and well lit for us. It is none other than our heavenly Father that has carved out a way home for those who would follow him. There is no need for us to blaze our own trail. He has lovingly provided for us.
If you temporarily lose your way, consult the map of His word. Even in the darkest night, His light can be seen. Follow it to find your way home. Follow it to find Him.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Is God Your Final Answer? 9/12/2012
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor 15:58
It seems that there are always a million things competing for our attention. This is not an idle pursuit. Billions are invested to influence you to do something, be something, purchase something or think something. Whether it is the choice of dog food you make or the political stance you take, there has likely been an outside influence that has played a role in your final decision. Further, even if you have made a final decision, the pursuit continues to get you to change your mind yet again, this time in someone elses favor.
Beloved, the choice that God has placed before us has been with us since the beginning of humanity. He provided paradise but gave us a choice as to whether we would stay or go. In fact, He gave us the ability to choose or reject Him. If you have chosen God, you have chosen the very best. His evidence is apparent, His love is obvious and His promises are certain. If you have chosen Him, do not let the competing voices of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life distract you from your best and final decision. The world through Satan can be an awfully enticing place with many things to offer that look, feel, smell and taste good. But as the old saying goes, "Not everything that is good to you is good for you."
We have every reason to choose God, remain with God, be obedient to God and be steadfast in God. Perhaps the best reason is that in love, through Christ, He has already given us the victory, 1 Cor 15:57. Anything else is a losing proposition.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
It seems that there are always a million things competing for our attention. This is not an idle pursuit. Billions are invested to influence you to do something, be something, purchase something or think something. Whether it is the choice of dog food you make or the political stance you take, there has likely been an outside influence that has played a role in your final decision. Further, even if you have made a final decision, the pursuit continues to get you to change your mind yet again, this time in someone elses favor.
Beloved, the choice that God has placed before us has been with us since the beginning of humanity. He provided paradise but gave us a choice as to whether we would stay or go. In fact, He gave us the ability to choose or reject Him. If you have chosen God, you have chosen the very best. His evidence is apparent, His love is obvious and His promises are certain. If you have chosen Him, do not let the competing voices of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life distract you from your best and final decision. The world through Satan can be an awfully enticing place with many things to offer that look, feel, smell and taste good. But as the old saying goes, "Not everything that is good to you is good for you."
We have every reason to choose God, remain with God, be obedient to God and be steadfast in God. Perhaps the best reason is that in love, through Christ, He has already given us the victory, 1 Cor 15:57. Anything else is a losing proposition.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Friday, August 24, 2012
BFF 8/24/2012
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 (NIV)
During study, I ran across this scripture. It reminded me so much of my childhood. More specifically, it reminded me of bible school and the songs we used to sing. "What A Friend We Have in Jesus," along with "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "If You're Happy and You Know It" were ingrained in us at a very early age. Admittedly, it was a vague concept back then. Now it is in much sharper view.
Think about the concept of friendship. What types of things are typically associated with it? Surely we must be able to trust, rely upon, confide in and share vulnerabilities with our friends. We enjoy sharing time, triumphs and tragedies with them. If we have a felt need, our friends are typically the first people to whom we go.
Now think of what it must be like to have a friend in Jesus...from Jesus' point of view. He is the creator of all that exists. He willingly took on human flesh and came to dwell with those who would ultimately reject him and play a role in taking his life. It was worth it to him to do so due to his unsurpassed love for us. Whereas we were once slaves to sin and Satan, he redeemed us with his own blood and made us free. Now rather than being slaves, he has accepted us as friends. He who is the ultimate Power, Love and Creator is a close, warm and personal friend. He has invited us to become his friends.
Beloved, our relationship with Jesus should supersede all others. When we think about how we treat and feel about our BFFs (Best Friends Forever), we must think about who our true forever best friend is, what he has done for us and how he made forever possible. Those thoughts should have an impact on everything we think, say and do. We show our friendship to him by obeying his commands. He showed his for us through his ultimate sacrifice. He said, "No man has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13. Indeed, what a friend we have in Jesus.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
During study, I ran across this scripture. It reminded me so much of my childhood. More specifically, it reminded me of bible school and the songs we used to sing. "What A Friend We Have in Jesus," along with "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "If You're Happy and You Know It" were ingrained in us at a very early age. Admittedly, it was a vague concept back then. Now it is in much sharper view.
Think about the concept of friendship. What types of things are typically associated with it? Surely we must be able to trust, rely upon, confide in and share vulnerabilities with our friends. We enjoy sharing time, triumphs and tragedies with them. If we have a felt need, our friends are typically the first people to whom we go.
Now think of what it must be like to have a friend in Jesus...from Jesus' point of view. He is the creator of all that exists. He willingly took on human flesh and came to dwell with those who would ultimately reject him and play a role in taking his life. It was worth it to him to do so due to his unsurpassed love for us. Whereas we were once slaves to sin and Satan, he redeemed us with his own blood and made us free. Now rather than being slaves, he has accepted us as friends. He who is the ultimate Power, Love and Creator is a close, warm and personal friend. He has invited us to become his friends.
Beloved, our relationship with Jesus should supersede all others. When we think about how we treat and feel about our BFFs (Best Friends Forever), we must think about who our true forever best friend is, what he has done for us and how he made forever possible. Those thoughts should have an impact on everything we think, say and do. We show our friendship to him by obeying his commands. He showed his for us through his ultimate sacrifice. He said, "No man has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13. Indeed, what a friend we have in Jesus.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
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