"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (Romans 12:3).
Every day, inside the visible church, there are those who reject this warning from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans. They don't mean to do it, but they give in to the temptation to elevate themselves above their brothers and sisters in Christ, and the result is that they separate themselves from the wise counsel of others and miss the joy of true Christian fellowship that comes along with accountability. Let me explain ...
In the twelfth chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul begins to apply the truth of the Gospel to the way we live together as the body of Christ. He begins in the first two verses by reminding us of the mercy of God in saving us from our sins, and then calls believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices of thanksgiving, no longer conforming to the patterns of this world, but being transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we know God's will and do it. Then he immediately turns to the relationship we have with each other as members of the one body of Christ.
The greatest hindrance to Christ-like love is pride in oneself. Paul certainly could have boasted, as he explains in other places. But he continually knows his own sin and his own weakness. As the Spirit works in us, these should be obvious to each of us. Apart from God, we are nothing. So Paul tells the believers not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, but rather, to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has given them. Any gift or ability that you or I or any believer has that glorifies God and builds up His body is a gift from God. How can you boast or brag about possessing a particular gift or ability when it comes from God? Yet, people seem to do that all the time!
Paul's illustration in verses 3-8 make the point that the body of Christ is like our physical body. He explains this further in I Corinthians 12. We NEED each other, so why do we tear each other down? Not everyone does the same thing, but each part is needed nonetheless. Jesus made it clear that in His body, the Church, the greatest ones would be the servants of all the others. Even those who are called to lead must do so by serving the body in love. When that happens, it a a beautiful picture painted by the very Spirit of God at work in His children. In families and churches where people have their minds on pleasing God and serving Jesus, pride is not an issue. It's not about US, it's about Jesus Christ! It's not about making a name for ourselves, but about making a name for our God!
When a congregation or individuals lose sight of that goal, SELF rears its ugly head and grace and mercy and forgiveness are left far behind. People become critical and are never happy with anything or anyone. Soon they become bitter and angry, and then gossip and slander are not far behind. Once in that frame of mind, they raise themselves up as judges of all things, claiming to do so because "God told me this," or "the Spirit spoke to me about that," or by using language that makes them appear more spiritual than those who are earnestly trying to live by God's Word and follow His commands.
The result is that relationships are broken, congregations are torn apart, and sheep are scattered because they have been thrown into confusion. "I thought the church was supposed to be a place where people loved each other and where there is patience and kindness." This doesn't mean that truth is not to be spoken. We can never sacrifice truth on the altar of "getting along." But Paul says it best when he says, "speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16).
There is no perfect congregation, and no perfect leaders and no perfect people! Each of us needs to show others the grace that we ourselves have received, and then use our gifts to build the body up, not tear it down. In doing so, God will be glorified and people will be drawn to the light!!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
"A day is like a thousand years ..."
"Do not forget this one thing dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (II Peter 3:8).
As he writes to the Church in the first century, Peter encourages believers to persevere in facing trials and in waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He assures them that God's judgment will come upon those who do not believe when Christ returns, and that believers will inherit what has been promised: "a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" (II Peter 3:13). He tells them that God's timetable is different than ours. To the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Today is Monday. Many people here in this country tend to dislike Mondays. Because many of us have the blessing of having one or two days to rest on the weekend, Monday is the day when people go back to work. Some people think they would be happy if they could work two days and be off five days. Of course, that wouldn't work financially. More importantly, it seems that people forget that God told us to work six days and rest on the seventh day. Work is an important part of our stewardship of what God has given us as His people. We are to carry out God's rule over all things and working for our daily bread brings glory to God. As He provides, we have enough to meet our own needs, and to share with others. That's what God intends. So, Mondays are a day ... one day ... but an important day because it is GOD's day. EVERY day is God's day!
But there's more to that than just a few words. Every day is God's day because God is at work in every day! I shared in my message on Sunday that I have read this verse many times and have usually focused on the part that says "a thousand years are like a day." That is an amazing truth. God sees everything in His time and what seems like a long time to us is like a day to God. He is not in a hurry. In fact, Peter says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). God's purpose is wrapped up in salvation, in bringing those who are His sheep safely into the fold. Jesus promised that not one of His sheep would be lost.
With that in mind, that God is being patient and His timing is always right, it is important to understand the other part of verse 8: "... a day is like a thousand years." This also, is an amazing statement. Think about this, a day, one twenty-four period, is like a THOUSAND YEARS to God!! How many things go on in a thousand years? How many changes take place in a thousand years? How many details are there in a thousand years?? That's how God sees each day. He sees your life and mine and every person in every place around the world. He sees YOU, and He knows what is going on in your life. He CARES what is going on in your life, and He is walking with you through every minute of the day.
Remember that, when you feel as though one day doesn't matter, or that one day is overlooked by God. "One day is like a thousand years!" Use it for the Lord, and know that He is at work in every moment. Find joy in each day as you live it with Him and for Him! And the next time you tell someone to "Have a great day!" ... have one yourself!
As he writes to the Church in the first century, Peter encourages believers to persevere in facing trials and in waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He assures them that God's judgment will come upon those who do not believe when Christ returns, and that believers will inherit what has been promised: "a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" (II Peter 3:13). He tells them that God's timetable is different than ours. To the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Today is Monday. Many people here in this country tend to dislike Mondays. Because many of us have the blessing of having one or two days to rest on the weekend, Monday is the day when people go back to work. Some people think they would be happy if they could work two days and be off five days. Of course, that wouldn't work financially. More importantly, it seems that people forget that God told us to work six days and rest on the seventh day. Work is an important part of our stewardship of what God has given us as His people. We are to carry out God's rule over all things and working for our daily bread brings glory to God. As He provides, we have enough to meet our own needs, and to share with others. That's what God intends. So, Mondays are a day ... one day ... but an important day because it is GOD's day. EVERY day is God's day!
But there's more to that than just a few words. Every day is God's day because God is at work in every day! I shared in my message on Sunday that I have read this verse many times and have usually focused on the part that says "a thousand years are like a day." That is an amazing truth. God sees everything in His time and what seems like a long time to us is like a day to God. He is not in a hurry. In fact, Peter says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). God's purpose is wrapped up in salvation, in bringing those who are His sheep safely into the fold. Jesus promised that not one of His sheep would be lost.
With that in mind, that God is being patient and His timing is always right, it is important to understand the other part of verse 8: "... a day is like a thousand years." This also, is an amazing statement. Think about this, a day, one twenty-four period, is like a THOUSAND YEARS to God!! How many things go on in a thousand years? How many changes take place in a thousand years? How many details are there in a thousand years?? That's how God sees each day. He sees your life and mine and every person in every place around the world. He sees YOU, and He knows what is going on in your life. He CARES what is going on in your life, and He is walking with you through every minute of the day.
Remember that, when you feel as though one day doesn't matter, or that one day is overlooked by God. "One day is like a thousand years!" Use it for the Lord, and know that He is at work in every moment. Find joy in each day as you live it with Him and for Him! And the next time you tell someone to "Have a great day!" ... have one yourself!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ..."
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." - Matthew 23:37-39
During the recent presidential debate and this week's vice presidential debate the topic of the relationship between Israel and the United States came up. As usual, the conversation centered around Israel's defense and protection against her neighbors, specifically, Iran, who have vowed to destroy Israel. Iran is not alone in expressing their hatred of Israel, yet few ask, "Why?" Just as a youtube video was blamed for the anti-American hatred expressed by thousands of Muslims in various countries, Israel's existence as a nation on land claimed by Arab countries is the reason given for the hatred of the Jews.
God gives us the true reason in His Word, the Bible. God chose Abraham, and He passed on His promises through Isaac (not Ishmael), and then Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel. The miraculous existence of the nation of Israel is a thorn in the side not only of the Muslim nations, but to other nations in the world who are pawns in a larger battle of which they are totally and utterly ignorant - the battle between God and Satan. Only by reading and understanding this battle as God reveals it in the Bible can you understand the struggle in the Middle East and what it has to do with every human being alive on planet earth!
In the verses above, Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders of the Jews. These men should have recognized who Jesus was and received His teaching, but instead, they wanted to kill Him. In Matthew 23 Jesus confronted them with their sin against God, but they didn't want to hear it. So Jesus spoke of the future destruction that would come upon them - UNTIL His return. The very city of Jerusalem has been the center of fighting and war for centuries. It continues to be a stumbling block for any Mideast peace today. Muslims claim it as their holy city, as do Jews and Christians. But God has a plan for Jerusalem.
Zechariah gives two pictures of future battles surrounding Jerusalem. In Chapter 12 God says that He will make Jerusalem an immovable obstacle to all who come against her, and He will bring salvation to Judah and Jerusalem and all living there. But in Chapter 14 Zechariah describes a gathering of the nations against Jerusalem and a horrible siege of the city that will bring death and destruction to many, until the Lord Jesus Himself intervenes. Both of these will happen. The Bible describes two times when Jerusalem will be surrounded by the armies of the nations. Chapter 12 may describe the battle at the end of the millennium, the thousand-year reign of Jesus over all the earth (see Revelation 20:7-10), while Chapter 14 may describe the battle of Armageddon, mentioned in Revelation 16:16 and 19:11-21.
However we understand these prophecies, Jerusalem WILL BE DELIVERED from her enemies and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will finally acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). At that time, all who have believed in Him will be enter His kingdom together and will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Then all people who have ever lived will be gathered before the throne of God (Revelation 20:11-15), and the books will be opened, and those who have believed in Jesus will live forever in the presence of God in a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21-22), while the rest will face eternal judgment in hell.
As we watch world events today, these things are unfolding just as God has promised. The rest is soon to occur. The only safety from the coming wrath of God is faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who can destroy the body but who cannot kill the soul, but rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Praise God that He has provided an escape through the cross of Jesus Christ and that those who trust in Jesus are forgiven and have received the gift of eternal life. If you believe, you need not fear as you watch these things unfold. There will be difficult times and many trials. Some, even today, are being put to death for their faith in Jesus, and that persecution will increase in future days. Be ready. Stand firm. Trust in the Lord Jesus and He will strengthen you by His Word and Spirit. His Word will come to pass - ALL of it! But in the end - Jesus will reign!
Let these words be your comfort today: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory" (Romans 8:17).
During the recent presidential debate and this week's vice presidential debate the topic of the relationship between Israel and the United States came up. As usual, the conversation centered around Israel's defense and protection against her neighbors, specifically, Iran, who have vowed to destroy Israel. Iran is not alone in expressing their hatred of Israel, yet few ask, "Why?" Just as a youtube video was blamed for the anti-American hatred expressed by thousands of Muslims in various countries, Israel's existence as a nation on land claimed by Arab countries is the reason given for the hatred of the Jews.
God gives us the true reason in His Word, the Bible. God chose Abraham, and He passed on His promises through Isaac (not Ishmael), and then Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel. The miraculous existence of the nation of Israel is a thorn in the side not only of the Muslim nations, but to other nations in the world who are pawns in a larger battle of which they are totally and utterly ignorant - the battle between God and Satan. Only by reading and understanding this battle as God reveals it in the Bible can you understand the struggle in the Middle East and what it has to do with every human being alive on planet earth!
In the verses above, Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders of the Jews. These men should have recognized who Jesus was and received His teaching, but instead, they wanted to kill Him. In Matthew 23 Jesus confronted them with their sin against God, but they didn't want to hear it. So Jesus spoke of the future destruction that would come upon them - UNTIL His return. The very city of Jerusalem has been the center of fighting and war for centuries. It continues to be a stumbling block for any Mideast peace today. Muslims claim it as their holy city, as do Jews and Christians. But God has a plan for Jerusalem.
Zechariah gives two pictures of future battles surrounding Jerusalem. In Chapter 12 God says that He will make Jerusalem an immovable obstacle to all who come against her, and He will bring salvation to Judah and Jerusalem and all living there. But in Chapter 14 Zechariah describes a gathering of the nations against Jerusalem and a horrible siege of the city that will bring death and destruction to many, until the Lord Jesus Himself intervenes. Both of these will happen. The Bible describes two times when Jerusalem will be surrounded by the armies of the nations. Chapter 12 may describe the battle at the end of the millennium, the thousand-year reign of Jesus over all the earth (see Revelation 20:7-10), while Chapter 14 may describe the battle of Armageddon, mentioned in Revelation 16:16 and 19:11-21.
However we understand these prophecies, Jerusalem WILL BE DELIVERED from her enemies and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will finally acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). At that time, all who have believed in Him will be enter His kingdom together and will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Then all people who have ever lived will be gathered before the throne of God (Revelation 20:11-15), and the books will be opened, and those who have believed in Jesus will live forever in the presence of God in a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21-22), while the rest will face eternal judgment in hell.
As we watch world events today, these things are unfolding just as God has promised. The rest is soon to occur. The only safety from the coming wrath of God is faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who can destroy the body but who cannot kill the soul, but rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Praise God that He has provided an escape through the cross of Jesus Christ and that those who trust in Jesus are forgiven and have received the gift of eternal life. If you believe, you need not fear as you watch these things unfold. There will be difficult times and many trials. Some, even today, are being put to death for their faith in Jesus, and that persecution will increase in future days. Be ready. Stand firm. Trust in the Lord Jesus and He will strengthen you by His Word and Spirit. His Word will come to pass - ALL of it! But in the end - Jesus will reign!
Let these words be your comfort today: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory" (Romans 8:17).
Thursday, October 11, 2012
"A close election ..."
"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and His name the only name" - Zechariah 14:9
It appears that we are going to have another close election in the United States, unless something changes in the next few weeks. It's not unexpected. The United States is, in many ways, a divided country, with some wanting more government involvement and others wanting less. There are arguments on both sides. Those who know the God "who sets the rulers in place" (Acts 17:26), are called to be good citizens and to exercise the freedom to vote. We do so, however, knowing that we already have a King who is ruling over all the nations of the world: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, our Savior.
Far too many people forget this truth as they get all excited about the coming election in the United States, or see what is going on in other nations around the world. I have shared before that the word translated, "church," literally means, "called-out ones." Those who believe in Jesus Christ have been made part of God's people, chosen by Him before the world began (Ephesians 1:4), born again by the Spirit of God (John 1:13), and sent into the world as ambassadors of His kingdom (II Corinthians 5:20). Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ God is calling out some "from every people, tribe, nation and tongue" to be followers of Jesus Christ.
There is only one true religion in the world today because there is only one true God. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God who has revealed Himself in His Word: ONE God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus explains the "oneness" of the Father and the Son in John 17:21-24 and promises to send His Spirit to make His children "one" in Him. This is what the true Church is about. God has determined who will rule over the earth, and it is He, Himself who will rule. There was no election, no decision made by sinful men who live in open rebellion against Him. God's vote is the only one that counts.
Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:24-28 about the present reign of Jesus Christ from His throne in heaven and what will happen in the future when He "hands over the kingdom to God the Father." While our knowledge of all these things is limited to what God reveals to us, He has told us clearly that HE is in control, that He is sovereign, "reigns over" all the rulers and nations of the world. God already knows the outcome of the election and so He tells His people to vote, based on the information HE gives us in His Word, in order that the outcome will be what He has determined. We are part of His plan to bring to pass the events that lead to His final conclusion. We are not to vote based on what WE want, but on what GOD wants. Some have said they don't like our choices, but as Christians we know that God is not surprised by our choices. There is no perfect candidate - except Jesus ... and thank God, HE is already ruling at the Father's right hand!
There will come a time, as Zechariah writes, that "The LORD will be king over the whole earth!" The God who created this world by the power of His Word, who called Abraham and made His covenant of grace with him, and who promised to send the Savior, always keeps His promises. As He sent Jesus once to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, so Jesus is coming again to gather His elect and then to bring judgment on those who reject His reign. You have a choice - but it's not who is going to rule! Your choice is whether you will acknowledge the reign of Jesus Christ and come to the Father through faith in Him to find forgiveness and to receive the promise of eternal life in His kingdom ... OR, whether you will reject Him and face His judgment, only to spend eternity in the realm of spiritual darkness and death.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31)
It appears that we are going to have another close election in the United States, unless something changes in the next few weeks. It's not unexpected. The United States is, in many ways, a divided country, with some wanting more government involvement and others wanting less. There are arguments on both sides. Those who know the God "who sets the rulers in place" (Acts 17:26), are called to be good citizens and to exercise the freedom to vote. We do so, however, knowing that we already have a King who is ruling over all the nations of the world: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, our Savior.
Far too many people forget this truth as they get all excited about the coming election in the United States, or see what is going on in other nations around the world. I have shared before that the word translated, "church," literally means, "called-out ones." Those who believe in Jesus Christ have been made part of God's people, chosen by Him before the world began (Ephesians 1:4), born again by the Spirit of God (John 1:13), and sent into the world as ambassadors of His kingdom (II Corinthians 5:20). Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ God is calling out some "from every people, tribe, nation and tongue" to be followers of Jesus Christ.
There is only one true religion in the world today because there is only one true God. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God who has revealed Himself in His Word: ONE God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus explains the "oneness" of the Father and the Son in John 17:21-24 and promises to send His Spirit to make His children "one" in Him. This is what the true Church is about. God has determined who will rule over the earth, and it is He, Himself who will rule. There was no election, no decision made by sinful men who live in open rebellion against Him. God's vote is the only one that counts.
Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:24-28 about the present reign of Jesus Christ from His throne in heaven and what will happen in the future when He "hands over the kingdom to God the Father." While our knowledge of all these things is limited to what God reveals to us, He has told us clearly that HE is in control, that He is sovereign, "reigns over" all the rulers and nations of the world. God already knows the outcome of the election and so He tells His people to vote, based on the information HE gives us in His Word, in order that the outcome will be what He has determined. We are part of His plan to bring to pass the events that lead to His final conclusion. We are not to vote based on what WE want, but on what GOD wants. Some have said they don't like our choices, but as Christians we know that God is not surprised by our choices. There is no perfect candidate - except Jesus ... and thank God, HE is already ruling at the Father's right hand!
There will come a time, as Zechariah writes, that "The LORD will be king over the whole earth!" The God who created this world by the power of His Word, who called Abraham and made His covenant of grace with him, and who promised to send the Savior, always keeps His promises. As He sent Jesus once to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, so Jesus is coming again to gather His elect and then to bring judgment on those who reject His reign. You have a choice - but it's not who is going to rule! Your choice is whether you will acknowledge the reign of Jesus Christ and come to the Father through faith in Him to find forgiveness and to receive the promise of eternal life in His kingdom ... OR, whether you will reject Him and face His judgment, only to spend eternity in the realm of spiritual darkness and death.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
"Passion ..."
"Passion" ... I have been looking at that word on a church sign down the road for the past few weeks (the sign on the building we used to be in). Actually, the sign says, PASSION. So, I read that as saying, "Passion" - period. But passion for what? Maybe you have to go inside to find out. But what does it mean to have passion - a passion that honors God?
What do you do when you have a day when your "passion," your zeal for life seems to have run out? As a pastor, that's not supposed to happen to me - so people think. But it does; and it usually happens when I'm dealing with people! That may like a dangerous admission, but it's true. People have a way of draining the life out of you. It happens at home, it happens at work, it happens at church ... Everybody has their struggles, everybody has their frustrations, everybody has their disappointments. It's called "LIFE!"
Still, God gives us some much needed instruction for days and times when our passion for HIM and for serving others seems to have run out. It's found in Romans 12:9-21. I won't quote the whole passage, but I encourage you to read it - more than once, and to make these verses part of your foundation for living.
Paul writes, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Love for God and for others comes from the work of God's Spirit when we focus on serving Christ. One of my grandchildren didn't want to pick up some things at our house recently, and their reasoning went like this: "I didn't get it out." My immediate response was: "Jesus didn't sin, but He went to the cross for you." Now, that may have been more direct than I needed to be at that moment, but it made the point. We are servants of Jesus Christ. When people seem hard to love or even to tolerate, we need to remember God's grace to us and we need to be "grace-givers."
True "passion" must arise out of our desire to please God, loving Him because He first loved us. Anything less is selfishness. At the end of these verses, in verse 21, Paul writes, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." There is a lot of evil in the world and it is easy to get drawn into the devil's scheme to make us angry at others and even to hate (strongly dislike) others. If our zeal for God is lacking, our zeal for loving others will be lacking, too. We can't afford to let that happen. We are called to be the "light of the world," and if we don't shine Christ's light, the rest of the world will remain in the darkness.
When you feel like your passion for pleasing God is at low tide, read these words, be encouraged by Jesus' example, who loved you and gave Himself for you. As His disciple, you are called to do likewise!
What do you do when you have a day when your "passion," your zeal for life seems to have run out? As a pastor, that's not supposed to happen to me - so people think. But it does; and it usually happens when I'm dealing with people! That may like a dangerous admission, but it's true. People have a way of draining the life out of you. It happens at home, it happens at work, it happens at church ... Everybody has their struggles, everybody has their frustrations, everybody has their disappointments. It's called "LIFE!"
Still, God gives us some much needed instruction for days and times when our passion for HIM and for serving others seems to have run out. It's found in Romans 12:9-21. I won't quote the whole passage, but I encourage you to read it - more than once, and to make these verses part of your foundation for living.
Paul writes, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Love for God and for others comes from the work of God's Spirit when we focus on serving Christ. One of my grandchildren didn't want to pick up some things at our house recently, and their reasoning went like this: "I didn't get it out." My immediate response was: "Jesus didn't sin, but He went to the cross for you." Now, that may have been more direct than I needed to be at that moment, but it made the point. We are servants of Jesus Christ. When people seem hard to love or even to tolerate, we need to remember God's grace to us and we need to be "grace-givers."
True "passion" must arise out of our desire to please God, loving Him because He first loved us. Anything less is selfishness. At the end of these verses, in verse 21, Paul writes, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." There is a lot of evil in the world and it is easy to get drawn into the devil's scheme to make us angry at others and even to hate (strongly dislike) others. If our zeal for God is lacking, our zeal for loving others will be lacking, too. We can't afford to let that happen. We are called to be the "light of the world," and if we don't shine Christ's light, the rest of the world will remain in the darkness.
When you feel like your passion for pleasing God is at low tide, read these words, be encouraged by Jesus' example, who loved you and gave Himself for you. As His disciple, you are called to do likewise!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
"Stop the complaining!!!"
My grandchildren have been told that they should not say the words, but I have to confess that there are moments when I want to shout the words ... they are two little words that mean, "Close your mouth!" You know the words I mean. There is a saying that goes like this, "It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Sometimes people just don't know when to be quiet, and it is often when they are complaining. People who complain often complain about the smallest of things in their own lives, while totally ignoring the larger trials others face. It is like the man who complained that he had no shoes, until he met a man who had no feet.
Complaining is an annoying habit for some, and a destructive symptom of a deeper unhappiness for others. It arises from a heart that is overwhelmed by life or depressed by present circumstances, and a mind that is set on the things of this world and self-centered living. The instant response to anything that doesn't happen the way you want it ... complain! A trial comes your way ... complain! Someone does something you don't like ... complain! For some reason, people seem to think that life should be easy, that there should be no problems. Where do people get these ideas?
People get these ideas because they have too much or because they want too much. Incredibly, the more people have, the more they complain. Such is the nature of man controlled by the sinful nature. The sinful nature wants its way and will not rest until it gets it. But that is NOT how those who know God, who have been born again by His Spirit and who rest in Christ are called to live! As he writes to the believers in Philippi, Paul explains that "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). He presents Jesus as the example of "selflessness" in chapter 2, verses 1-11. Jesus "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, ... and He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (verses 7-8).
Paul then encourages the Philippians to obey God's Word, living as saved people because God is at work IN them (verses 12-13). After saying all this, Paul concludes by saying, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life" (Philippians 2:14-16). When you know God and you understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in this world, there is no place for complaining. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." You and I are temporarily here on the earth to SERVE, not to be served. This life is not all about YOU! I know the world wants you to believe it is, but it isn't. It's about GOD, and you are HERE for HIM!!
Complaining makes your God look small. When you claim to be a Christian and you complain, you are really questioning God, who promises "to work all things together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). God calls us to be His witnesses, and sometimes the best way to be His witnesses is to BE QUIET and to stop before you give in to the temptation to complain. When something doesn't go your way, when someone does something you don't like, when you are called to face suffering or you are just having a bad day ... replace the desire to complain with REJOICING. That's what the whole letter to the Philippians is about.
Paul says in verses 17-18: "Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you, too, should be glad and rejoice with me." Paul was IN PRISON! But he didn't want the Philippians to be ashamed of him or to question God's faithfulness. Rather, what had happened to him had really served to advance the gospel because through his testimony the whole palace guard had come to know Christ, and because of his chains, most of his brothers in the Lord were encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly (Philippians 1:12-14). PAUL was the one in prison, but he was telling the Philippians that THEY should not complain, but rather, be glad and rejoice with him!!
That's how you deal with the temptation to complain - you entrust yourself to the God who loves you and to the Savior who gave His life for you and you rejoice in Him, testifying to the world that your God is able and He is with you. The next time you feel like complaining, just ........... .......! God IS good - ALL the time! Shine like a star amidst the darkness of this world and let YOUR life be poured out as a living sacrifice for the One who gave His all for you!!
Complaining is an annoying habit for some, and a destructive symptom of a deeper unhappiness for others. It arises from a heart that is overwhelmed by life or depressed by present circumstances, and a mind that is set on the things of this world and self-centered living. The instant response to anything that doesn't happen the way you want it ... complain! A trial comes your way ... complain! Someone does something you don't like ... complain! For some reason, people seem to think that life should be easy, that there should be no problems. Where do people get these ideas?
People get these ideas because they have too much or because they want too much. Incredibly, the more people have, the more they complain. Such is the nature of man controlled by the sinful nature. The sinful nature wants its way and will not rest until it gets it. But that is NOT how those who know God, who have been born again by His Spirit and who rest in Christ are called to live! As he writes to the believers in Philippi, Paul explains that "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). He presents Jesus as the example of "selflessness" in chapter 2, verses 1-11. Jesus "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, ... and He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (verses 7-8).
Paul then encourages the Philippians to obey God's Word, living as saved people because God is at work IN them (verses 12-13). After saying all this, Paul concludes by saying, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life" (Philippians 2:14-16). When you know God and you understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in this world, there is no place for complaining. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." You and I are temporarily here on the earth to SERVE, not to be served. This life is not all about YOU! I know the world wants you to believe it is, but it isn't. It's about GOD, and you are HERE for HIM!!
Complaining makes your God look small. When you claim to be a Christian and you complain, you are really questioning God, who promises "to work all things together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). God calls us to be His witnesses, and sometimes the best way to be His witnesses is to BE QUIET and to stop before you give in to the temptation to complain. When something doesn't go your way, when someone does something you don't like, when you are called to face suffering or you are just having a bad day ... replace the desire to complain with REJOICING. That's what the whole letter to the Philippians is about.
Paul says in verses 17-18: "Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you, too, should be glad and rejoice with me." Paul was IN PRISON! But he didn't want the Philippians to be ashamed of him or to question God's faithfulness. Rather, what had happened to him had really served to advance the gospel because through his testimony the whole palace guard had come to know Christ, and because of his chains, most of his brothers in the Lord were encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly (Philippians 1:12-14). PAUL was the one in prison, but he was telling the Philippians that THEY should not complain, but rather, be glad and rejoice with him!!
That's how you deal with the temptation to complain - you entrust yourself to the God who loves you and to the Savior who gave His life for you and you rejoice in Him, testifying to the world that your God is able and He is with you. The next time you feel like complaining, just ........... .......! God IS good - ALL the time! Shine like a star amidst the darkness of this world and let YOUR life be poured out as a living sacrifice for the One who gave His all for you!!
Monday, October 8, 2012
"For God's glory!!"
For the past few days I've been writing about end times and the details of God's Word regarding the return of Jesus and the events leading up to it. There is so much more to say. But I am looking at the recent posts and how many people are reading which posts, and I am finding that more people are reading certain posts than others. My goal is not just to write, but to have people read these posts - not because I am writing them, but because they help you to understand what God says and how it applies to your lives and to the world around us. While a long discussion of end times may do that in some ways, I have decided to take a break and to try to make this more of a daily devotional. My goal is God's glory, and that should be your goal, too. Someone has said, "God is most glorified by us when we are most satisfied in Him." So how satisfied ARE you in God?
A verse that comes to my mind often is Psalm 73:25: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." Who of us can say that with complete honesty? "Earth has nothing I desire besides YOU, O God!" We desire a lot things, don't we? And most of them have to do with "earth," with things in this world. Is that wrong? Can't you desire/want things? The question is, WHY do you want things? Why do you want the things you want? What do you want to do with them? The answer will determine your goals - the reason you live. And that's where the Bible is clear about what SHOULD be the goal of those who know the true God. Your goal and mine should be the same as GOD's goal for us! If you desire God more than anything else, then living to please Him will be your number one priority.
And God tells us how to please Him: by fulfilling the purpose for which He made us and for which He saved us in Christ, and for which He gave us His Spirit, so that we could think as He thinks. Why then, did God create us? For what purpose did He send Jesus to suffer and die in our place to redeem us and to make us His adopted children? Why did God come to live in us by His Spirit? For His glory!! The entire Bible points to God's glory as the reason for creation in the first place. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). If God made the heavens to glorify Him, surely He also made man to glorify Him!
Because of sin, however, all people live for self in one way or another. Even when people do things for others, it is often for self-centered reasons such as wanting to feel good or for others to see or even to earn some "points" with God. Sin makes it impossible to glorify God. God is glorified only when you and I recognize Him for who He is, in ALL His glory, and proclaim His greatness and majesty to the world. We do that only when we live our lives for HIM and not for ourselves. One passage of Scripture points this out in the clearest possible way - pointing to God's purpose in creation and in redemption through Christ. The passage is Ephesians 1:3-14.
I want to encourage you to read these verses ... then read them again and then pray, and then read them again! Let God's Word soak in; even memorize some of these verses, or the whole passage. Pay close attention to verses 6, 12 and 14. Verses 4-5 explain, "For He chose us in Him (Jesus Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - (verse 6): to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves."
Again in verses 11-12: "In Him (Jesus) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might BE for the praise of His glory!" Did you hear that? "In order that we might BE for the praise of His glory!" God made us to EXIST for His glory, and in Christ, He restores us to His original purpose. If you believe in Jesus and are born again by His Spirit, you must have this as the goal of your life; no longer living for self, but for the God who created you for His glory in the first place!
And finally, verses 13-14: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory."
Are you living for His glory? I'll talk tomorrow about some specific areas of life where people seem to have a hard time living for God's glory in our culture and throughout the world today. For now, read Psalm 73:25 and the surrounding verses, and Ephesians 1:3-14. Let God speak to you and then DO it - for HIS glory!!
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