Sometimes love has to be tough. It has to tell the truth, even when that truth is jarring, even when that truth is uncomfortable, even when that truth hurts. Because sometimes, to not be tough or even harsh with someone is to be unloving as we let them continue down the path of self-destruction.
It is such tough love that Jesus showed to a congregation in ancient Greece. To the congregation of believers in Laodicea he dictated a harsh letter through the Apostle John. But he rebuked his people out of love, to jar them out of their apathy and to help them overcome the temptations and struggles of their sinful nature that they might win the final victory in him.
And we do well to listen to this and apply these truths to ourselves and rejoice even in the tough love that Jesus gives us. For it is love for us that prompts him to make a divine intervention.
Let’s look at some seemingly harsh words to this body of Believers:
14 “Write this letter to the angel (leader) of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22 NLT
What's worse ignorance or apathy? (Webster defines apathy as lack of interest or concern, or lack of emotion or feeling.) Most of us have heard the ironic answer, "I don't know and I don't care." But Jesus gives a different answer to that question: Ignorance is better than apathy by far! Being cold to the gospel, ignorant, or even hostile to it is better than those who know the truth but are apathetic to it.
Laodicea was a wealthy well-known for three things: 1) for their finances, 2) for their fashion, and 3) for their pharmaceuticals. There was no doubt about it: the Laodiceans had been very blessed by God. Maybe too blessed. The health and wealth that God had given to them led to their complacency. They had all they needed: Enough money to live comfortably, fine clothes, good food, and good health. Life was good...or so they thought. But their wealth led them to be stingy toward God. They were growing more and more apathetic toward him and toward spiritual matters. And they were in danger of losing their faith (if they hadn't already).
But God loved them too much to let that happen. So he would intervene. With a divine intervention, Jesus rebuked them. Through John and through their pastor he showed them some tough love: " But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!.... you are wretched and miserable..." and those so proud of their wealth, their medical skills that could restore sight, and their fine and fashionable clothes, Jesus called, "poor, blind and naked."
Though they thought they were doing just fine -- great, really -- the Laodiceans were anything but. They were wretched in their apathy. Pitiful in their sin! They were impoverished, dirt poor, with no righteousness before God at all. Even though they thought they were doing pretty good, they made Jesus sick -- so sick he was ready to spit them out, literally, to vomit them up.
Wow! Harsh, huh? But why did he do it? He tells them: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." (Revelation 3:19 NIV) The most un-loving thing Jesus could do to them would have been to ignore the situation, leave things alone, and let them continue on their path. But in love, he couldn't do that. He had to intervene. He had to rebuke them and discipline them to lead them to repent and turn to him.
And we know that God loves us enough to the same for us. He will not leave us to our own destruction, but must intervene to rebuke and discipline us.
Notice that Jesus addressed the angel or pastor not the congregation. And while I am certainly not the pastor, I am the leader of this class. So I have to ask, have we lost our zeal for the gospel? Are we still hot? Enthusiastic about serving our Savior? Or have the blessings that he's given to us, the great wealth with which we've all been blessed (as even the poorest among us have so much more than most in this world), has that wealth distracted us from what's most important? Have the comforts and conveniences and pleasures of this life led us to treat our Bibles with apathy and neglect?
Have we lost our zeal to reach the lost? Have we lost the zeal to help others? Have we lost our desire to grow in our faith? Have we become complacent and apathetic in our Christian living thinking, 'I'm just fine. I've come a long way in my faith. I need not grow anymore. Now it's time for a break. Now it's me time.'? Have we lost our desire to grow, to serve, to love Jesus by loving others?"
If we have then we need to watch out! We don't need to let our lukewarm attitudes sicken Jesus to the point that he will spit us out of his mouth! Harsh? Maybe. But that's Jesus’ tough love. He still rebukes and disciplines those he loves. We have an ear! So hear what the Spirit says to us! Be earnest! Repent! Hear his voice! Listen to it and open the door!
And when we do, he will not abandon us. He will come in and will help us to overcome! Jesus will do an intervention.
Even though Jesus didn't offer a single word of praise for this sad congregation, the letter he had John write to them was not without comfort. It wasn't all quite as tough, but was full of gospel promise! In spite of their apathy, Jesus didn't spit them out, but continued to hold out his gracious offer...
So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.... If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Ironically, the Laodiceans, well-known for their finances, their fashion, and their pharmaceuticals, were poor before God, naked without his righteousness to cover them, and blind to their spiritual condition. But Jesus didn't just intervene to point out their condition. He also intervened to save them.
He also intervened on Calvary before God to become the solution that they and all us need.
He is the perfect substitute who took the place of every sinner in hell. He intervened by taking our apathy toward his Word on himself. He took our lackluster attitudes toward his sacrifice on himself on that cross. And so now, he is offering the Laodiceans true wealth: the gold of the gospel. He offered them the robes of his righteousness that would never go out of fashion. He offered them a salve that would give them spiritual sight and save their souls. And Jesus offers the same to us still!
Now he pleads with us, "Turn to me! Trust in the forgiveness I won for you! Listen to my Word! Listen to what the Spirit says of your sin and of my grace that he might heal your blindness with the salve of the Word, that you might see the truth clearly again! Don't lock me out! Let me in that we might dine together and share the close intimacy we once had! Let me restore your zeal for my Word and your zeal in serving me and others! Let my gospel fire you up again so you're not lukewarm any more, but hot!"
And finally, even to this lukewarm church that was close to being spit out, Jesus offered the promise of heaven with him: Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
After he overcame all sin by his sacrifice, Jesus was rewarded with his heavenly throne. And now, he rewards those who claim his victory through him. That victory is ours!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Is God Fair? Maybe Not, but He's Right...
How often have you heard about or maybe been personally involved in a situation that made you say, “That’s really unfair! This shouldn’t have happened to me or him or her.”?
When God Isn’t Fair
In a parable He shared with his disciples, Jesus seemed to suggest the very notion the Heavenly Father does not always deal with his children in a way that seem equitable. In Matthew 20, Jesus paints a picture of the Kingdom of God that looks and sounds so blatantly unjust that were it a reality today, most Christians would scream out at the injustice. The ACLU would probably get involved and sue. But, amazingly, Jesus used this as a picture of how God deals with His children.
Jesus tells the story of a farmer, who represents God. Needing to harvest a record setting crop in his vineyard, he goes into the marketplace and hires a crew of laborers. He promises them a fair day’s wage.
Later in the day, he realizes he’ll need more help. So he again goes to the marketplace and hires a few more men looking for work.
He does this several more times and hires his last crew with just an hour of harvesting remaining. But at the end of the day, the owner of the vineyard gave each worker the same pay, regardless of how long they worked.
In our world this seems extremely unfair. But, when we look at this story through the “glasses” of grace, instead of the unbending scales of justice, we begin to understand the difference between our thinking and God’s. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." (Isaiah 55:8) Jesus made the careful, firm argument that what is fair to man isn’t always right in the eyes of God.
You and I would say those who worked the hardest and longest should be paid or rewarded more. But Jesus saw it differently. Those ungrateful workers might have well been unemployed if not for the opportunity given them by the owner of the vineyard.
Is it their right to question his generosity? Weren’t they paid their promised wage? We would scream at the injustice, but we’d be wrong. This parable illustrates the major theme of Scriptures: God’s grace. Just like the workers waiting for work in the marketplace, we were all in a position of need. They were looking for a job, but we are looking for mercy.
The owner of the vineyard wasn’t concerned with how long the workers were unemployed—He only knew they needed a job. Similarly, God doesn’t see the amount of sin we carry. In His eyes, we are all sinners in need of salvation. We are all in need of grace.
The Heart of God Revealed At the Cross
Random tragedy and heartbreak seem to point to a God who is either detached from humanity or has no control over the world. However, the true heart of God is revealed at the spectacle that took place 2,000 years ago on a hill called Calvary.
First, God’s is very just. And from the Garden of Eden (where He gave Adam and Eve one simple instruction or law) to the present day (we wanted more rules so he gave us the Ten Commandments), all men have sinned and violated God’s law. This is sin. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23). No matter how small, this sin has a penalty—death, separation from God forever (Romans 6:23 says “the wages (payment) of sin is death”).
Yet, while the cross reveals God’s justice, it also reveals His great love. God sent His son, Jesus to take the punishment for man’s sin because man couldn’t possibly redeem himself. (2 Cor 5:21). This was the greatest act of love (John 3:16).
This was the greatest agony for the heart of a holy God wasn’t watching his Son beaten to a pulp and crucified; it was in the knowledge that His perfect Son would take on all the sin of mankind from the beginning of time to the end.
These actions seem to very fair. Why should Jesus have to pay for sins he didn’t commit? The crucifixion was the greatest injustice in the history of the world. And yet, it was allowed by God for the payment of our sin.
What Do We Deserve?
So in light of the cross, what really do we deserve? Anyone who has been redeemed (saved) by God can no longer view themselves as having been treated unfairly by God. The gift salvation through His son was both a gift we never deserved and yet a terrible injustice paid for our debts. The reality is that we are not owed anything by God. Instead we owe Him a debt of love we can never repay.
Grace gives us the proper perspective on life’s seeming injustices. As hard as it is to imagine, the most tragedy-struck Christian has tasted overwhelming amounts of God’s grace. More than any of us deserve.
So if we were to be completely honest, we wouldn’t want God to be fair. If He was, then He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to pay for our sins and we would be bound for a hopeless eternity. And He wouldn’t walk beside us daily, giving us strength. He wouldn’t extend His hand of forgiveness when we fail.
Instead, we should be glad we serve a God who is right.
Because we’re not getting what we deserve. Nobody who walks this earth is. Instead, we’re getting something far greater. His grace.
So, Is God Fair?
So, when we look at some of things that have happened in our lives or in lives of others, maybe we can’t say that God has been “fair” in our sense of the word. But, if we could even come close to seeing the ‘big picture”, He has always been right. And we shouldn’t blame God for the trials that we go through but we need to praise God for walking with us through those dark valleys and giving the grace to carry on.
Sadly, many Christians in America, walk around feeling as though they’ve been cheated. They ask questions like, “Why can’t I be healthy like others?” or “Why does God allow him or her to be married?” or “Why couldn’t have I been born into a wealthy family?”
Unfortunately, the church itself has become an unwitting accomplice in this unbiblical thought process. We’ve tried to market Christianity as the better alternative, where life will be more successful. And sometimes this may be true, but we must realize that Christianity is not about benefiting and taking and getting more of what we want out of a supernatural, vending-machine God. It’s about worshipping a God who has given us far more grace than we deserve. It’s about following the example of Jesus in sacrificing for the good of others.
We should view everything we’ve got in life as a gift from God, not complain when things don’t go our way.
Because thankfully, we don’t have a God who is fair, but a Heavenly Father who is always right.
When God Isn’t Fair
In a parable He shared with his disciples, Jesus seemed to suggest the very notion the Heavenly Father does not always deal with his children in a way that seem equitable. In Matthew 20, Jesus paints a picture of the Kingdom of God that looks and sounds so blatantly unjust that were it a reality today, most Christians would scream out at the injustice. The ACLU would probably get involved and sue. But, amazingly, Jesus used this as a picture of how God deals with His children.
Jesus tells the story of a farmer, who represents God. Needing to harvest a record setting crop in his vineyard, he goes into the marketplace and hires a crew of laborers. He promises them a fair day’s wage.
Later in the day, he realizes he’ll need more help. So he again goes to the marketplace and hires a few more men looking for work.
He does this several more times and hires his last crew with just an hour of harvesting remaining. But at the end of the day, the owner of the vineyard gave each worker the same pay, regardless of how long they worked.
In our world this seems extremely unfair. But, when we look at this story through the “glasses” of grace, instead of the unbending scales of justice, we begin to understand the difference between our thinking and God’s. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." (Isaiah 55:8) Jesus made the careful, firm argument that what is fair to man isn’t always right in the eyes of God.
You and I would say those who worked the hardest and longest should be paid or rewarded more. But Jesus saw it differently. Those ungrateful workers might have well been unemployed if not for the opportunity given them by the owner of the vineyard.
Is it their right to question his generosity? Weren’t they paid their promised wage? We would scream at the injustice, but we’d be wrong. This parable illustrates the major theme of Scriptures: God’s grace. Just like the workers waiting for work in the marketplace, we were all in a position of need. They were looking for a job, but we are looking for mercy.
The owner of the vineyard wasn’t concerned with how long the workers were unemployed—He only knew they needed a job. Similarly, God doesn’t see the amount of sin we carry. In His eyes, we are all sinners in need of salvation. We are all in need of grace.
The Heart of God Revealed At the Cross
Random tragedy and heartbreak seem to point to a God who is either detached from humanity or has no control over the world. However, the true heart of God is revealed at the spectacle that took place 2,000 years ago on a hill called Calvary.
First, God’s is very just. And from the Garden of Eden (where He gave Adam and Eve one simple instruction or law) to the present day (we wanted more rules so he gave us the Ten Commandments), all men have sinned and violated God’s law. This is sin. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23). No matter how small, this sin has a penalty—death, separation from God forever (Romans 6:23 says “the wages (payment) of sin is death”).
Yet, while the cross reveals God’s justice, it also reveals His great love. God sent His son, Jesus to take the punishment for man’s sin because man couldn’t possibly redeem himself. (2 Cor 5:21). This was the greatest act of love (John 3:16).
This was the greatest agony for the heart of a holy God wasn’t watching his Son beaten to a pulp and crucified; it was in the knowledge that His perfect Son would take on all the sin of mankind from the beginning of time to the end.
These actions seem to very fair. Why should Jesus have to pay for sins he didn’t commit? The crucifixion was the greatest injustice in the history of the world. And yet, it was allowed by God for the payment of our sin.
What Do We Deserve?
So in light of the cross, what really do we deserve? Anyone who has been redeemed (saved) by God can no longer view themselves as having been treated unfairly by God. The gift salvation through His son was both a gift we never deserved and yet a terrible injustice paid for our debts. The reality is that we are not owed anything by God. Instead we owe Him a debt of love we can never repay.
Grace gives us the proper perspective on life’s seeming injustices. As hard as it is to imagine, the most tragedy-struck Christian has tasted overwhelming amounts of God’s grace. More than any of us deserve.
So if we were to be completely honest, we wouldn’t want God to be fair. If He was, then He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to pay for our sins and we would be bound for a hopeless eternity. And He wouldn’t walk beside us daily, giving us strength. He wouldn’t extend His hand of forgiveness when we fail.
Instead, we should be glad we serve a God who is right.
Because we’re not getting what we deserve. Nobody who walks this earth is. Instead, we’re getting something far greater. His grace.
So, Is God Fair?
So, when we look at some of things that have happened in our lives or in lives of others, maybe we can’t say that God has been “fair” in our sense of the word. But, if we could even come close to seeing the ‘big picture”, He has always been right. And we shouldn’t blame God for the trials that we go through but we need to praise God for walking with us through those dark valleys and giving the grace to carry on.
Sadly, many Christians in America, walk around feeling as though they’ve been cheated. They ask questions like, “Why can’t I be healthy like others?” or “Why does God allow him or her to be married?” or “Why couldn’t have I been born into a wealthy family?”
Unfortunately, the church itself has become an unwitting accomplice in this unbiblical thought process. We’ve tried to market Christianity as the better alternative, where life will be more successful. And sometimes this may be true, but we must realize that Christianity is not about benefiting and taking and getting more of what we want out of a supernatural, vending-machine God. It’s about worshipping a God who has given us far more grace than we deserve. It’s about following the example of Jesus in sacrificing for the good of others.
We should view everything we’ve got in life as a gift from God, not complain when things don’t go our way.
Because thankfully, we don’t have a God who is fair, but a Heavenly Father who is always right.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
How to Break Free of “Religious” Rules Without Breaking Yourself
Read your Bible every day. Don't cuss. Attend worship services at church at least once each week. Don't drink alcohol. Volunteer for lots of service projects. Don't watch certain movies, etc., etc., etc.… The demands and pressures of trying to keep up with religious rules will only frustrate and burn you out - no matter how hard you try. The good news is that God doesn't require you to follow any rules; he invites you to pursue a relationship with Him. In the process, he'll empower you to live a faithful life that leads to real freedom.
Here's how you can break religious rules so you'll be free to pursue a close relationship with God:
Place your faith in God, not religion. Ask yourself honestly if your allegiance is simply to good moral habits and churchy routines, or if it's directly to God. Rather than placing your faith in believing and doing what's right and then relying on your own efforts to try to accomplish it, place your faith in God, trusting Him completely to lead you and empower you to follow where He leads you.
Realize that God doesn't think like you do. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8. Religious people are often disappointed when God doesn't act according to their assumptions about how He should and will act. Accept the fact that God may choose to act in ways that are radically different from what you expect or desire - but trust Him to do what's best, even when you don't understand why He's doing what He's doing. God's perspective is far greater than yours, and He often appears in unpredictable places.
Find the beauty in brokenness. Brokenness is our humble response to God's conviction of our sins. It also involves giving-up our personal rights and selfish interests to God. It means that we finally reach a point that we final realize that we CAN NOT fix things in our lives. Once broken, we find ourselves responding in humility and complete repentance. Sometimes religion urges you to try to fix the brokenness in your life, but God often calls you to accept the brokenness, because it's a powerful tool to draw you closer to Him. "I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, And what I do is put new spirit in them,” Isaiah 57:15 MSG. Brokenness has the power to mold your character into the unique shape God intended for it. As you face the reality of your own brokenness, don't feel guilty and ashamed for not measuring up and try to hide, avoid, deny, or despise your brokenness. Instead, invite God to use your brokenness to teach you beautiful lessons that will make you a stronger person.
Look beyond your appearance. Don't waste time or energy trying to keep up the appearance of a person who has it all together, as religion urges you to do. Ask God to give you the courage to accept yourself as you are and to be yourself openly and honestly in your relationships with Him and other people. Let the knowledge that God loves you completely - just as you are - motivate you to stop pretending and simply be yourself.
Invest in relationships over rules. All of the world's religions except for Christianity urge their followers to try to climb a stairway to heaven, striving to please God through their own efforts. But Jesus showed us that God is reaching down to us with His love, and that's the only way God and people can truly connect. Recognize that, even though you're flawed, you're also forgiven. Accept Jesus' invitation to live a life of freedom by pursuing a relationship with Him rather than trying to follow religious rules.
Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. (We may not like what we see) When you view yourself from God's perspective, you can clearly see how to live without having religion tell you.
Focus on friendship, and then service. Remember that, while God does often call you to service, you can't earn His love by serving others, and your relationship with Him can't be measured by your usefulness or fruitfulness. What God wants most from you is a close relationship with Him. Make it your top priority to simply spending time in prayer with God regularly, enjoying His presence and seeking His guidance. Doing so is never a waste of time. Let your service simply flow out of your love for God.
Just do what you can. Religion constantly pushes you to do more, but you can't ever keep up. By contrast, God calls you to simply do the best you can with the opportunities He gives you to grow as a person and serve other people. So release yourself from the pressure of religious agendas and make yourself available to God, just doing the best you can for Him each day and trusting that He'll use your efforts to accomplish His will.
Remember what God has done. Instead of congratulating yourself for what you've accomplished remember the many specific ways that God has been at work in your life. Always keep in mind that all of your own abilities are simply gifts from God. Thank God regularly for all that He has done for you. Remember your previous failures and mistakes so you can avoid repeating them and learn from them to make better choices moving forward. Thank God for how He is helping you grow.
Throw in the towel on religion. While religion tries to shrink God down to a size that people can understand and try to control, those efforts are futile. Break away from dependence on a religious organization to connect you to God, and rely on a direct relationship with God instead - one in which any religious organization is simply a tool for you to grow closer to God. Instead of trusting in religious assumptions and traditions, let Jesus be who the Bible says He is, and discover more about Him through a direct relationship with Him. Ask God to help you care about what He cares about, and just let the rest go. Remember that God is always with you, in you, and for you.
Here's how you can break religious rules so you'll be free to pursue a close relationship with God:
Place your faith in God, not religion. Ask yourself honestly if your allegiance is simply to good moral habits and churchy routines, or if it's directly to God. Rather than placing your faith in believing and doing what's right and then relying on your own efforts to try to accomplish it, place your faith in God, trusting Him completely to lead you and empower you to follow where He leads you.
Realize that God doesn't think like you do. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8. Religious people are often disappointed when God doesn't act according to their assumptions about how He should and will act. Accept the fact that God may choose to act in ways that are radically different from what you expect or desire - but trust Him to do what's best, even when you don't understand why He's doing what He's doing. God's perspective is far greater than yours, and He often appears in unpredictable places.
Find the beauty in brokenness. Brokenness is our humble response to God's conviction of our sins. It also involves giving-up our personal rights and selfish interests to God. It means that we finally reach a point that we final realize that we CAN NOT fix things in our lives. Once broken, we find ourselves responding in humility and complete repentance. Sometimes religion urges you to try to fix the brokenness in your life, but God often calls you to accept the brokenness, because it's a powerful tool to draw you closer to Him. "I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, And what I do is put new spirit in them,” Isaiah 57:15 MSG. Brokenness has the power to mold your character into the unique shape God intended for it. As you face the reality of your own brokenness, don't feel guilty and ashamed for not measuring up and try to hide, avoid, deny, or despise your brokenness. Instead, invite God to use your brokenness to teach you beautiful lessons that will make you a stronger person.
Look beyond your appearance. Don't waste time or energy trying to keep up the appearance of a person who has it all together, as religion urges you to do. Ask God to give you the courage to accept yourself as you are and to be yourself openly and honestly in your relationships with Him and other people. Let the knowledge that God loves you completely - just as you are - motivate you to stop pretending and simply be yourself.
Invest in relationships over rules. All of the world's religions except for Christianity urge their followers to try to climb a stairway to heaven, striving to please God through their own efforts. But Jesus showed us that God is reaching down to us with His love, and that's the only way God and people can truly connect. Recognize that, even though you're flawed, you're also forgiven. Accept Jesus' invitation to live a life of freedom by pursuing a relationship with Him rather than trying to follow religious rules.
Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. (We may not like what we see) When you view yourself from God's perspective, you can clearly see how to live without having religion tell you.
Focus on friendship, and then service. Remember that, while God does often call you to service, you can't earn His love by serving others, and your relationship with Him can't be measured by your usefulness or fruitfulness. What God wants most from you is a close relationship with Him. Make it your top priority to simply spending time in prayer with God regularly, enjoying His presence and seeking His guidance. Doing so is never a waste of time. Let your service simply flow out of your love for God.
Just do what you can. Religion constantly pushes you to do more, but you can't ever keep up. By contrast, God calls you to simply do the best you can with the opportunities He gives you to grow as a person and serve other people. So release yourself from the pressure of religious agendas and make yourself available to God, just doing the best you can for Him each day and trusting that He'll use your efforts to accomplish His will.
Remember what God has done. Instead of congratulating yourself for what you've accomplished remember the many specific ways that God has been at work in your life. Always keep in mind that all of your own abilities are simply gifts from God. Thank God regularly for all that He has done for you. Remember your previous failures and mistakes so you can avoid repeating them and learn from them to make better choices moving forward. Thank God for how He is helping you grow.
Throw in the towel on religion. While religion tries to shrink God down to a size that people can understand and try to control, those efforts are futile. Break away from dependence on a religious organization to connect you to God, and rely on a direct relationship with God instead - one in which any religious organization is simply a tool for you to grow closer to God. Instead of trusting in religious assumptions and traditions, let Jesus be who the Bible says He is, and discover more about Him through a direct relationship with Him. Ask God to help you care about what He cares about, and just let the rest go. Remember that God is always with you, in you, and for you.
Monday, July 5, 2010
How to Study the Bible
The Bible is a peculiar book. Words written long ago in different languages by, whom some would call, very peculiar people. Deeds, or you might even say miracles, done in a time so long ago that we can only read about. Events recorded in a far-off land. Advice offered to a foreign people. This is a peculiar book.
It's surprising that anyone reads it. It's too old.
Some of its writings date back five thousand years. It's too bizarre. The book speaks of incredible floods, fires, earthquakes, and people with supernatural abilities. It's too radical. The Bible calls for undying devotion to a carpenter who called himself God's Son.
Logic says this book shouldn't survive. Too old, too bizarre, too radical.
The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. (Many still do!) Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over it the grave has been dug and the “funeral” has begun, but somehow the Bible never stays in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has thrived. It is the single most popular book in all of history. It has been the best selling book in the world for years!
There is no way on earth to explain it. Which perhaps is the only explanation. The answer - “no way on earth”? The Bible's durability is not found on earth; it is found in heaven. For the millions who have tested its claims and claimed its promises there is but one answer - the Bible is God's book and God's voice.
As we read it, we would be wise to give some thought to two questions. What is the purpose of the Bible? and How do I study the Bible? Time spent reflecting on these two issues will greatly enhance our Bible study.
What is the purpose of the Bible? Let the Bible itself answer that question.
You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:15-16).
Look how the Message states this scripture: There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
The purpose of the Bible? Salvation. God's highest passion is to get his children home. His book, the Bible, describes his plan of salvation. The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim God's plan and passion to save his children.
That is the reason this book has endured through the centuries. It dares to tackle the toughest questions about life: Where do I go after I die? Is there a God? What do I do with my fears? The Bible offers answers to these crucial questions. It is the treasure map that leads us to God's highest treasure, eternal life.
But how do we use the Bible? Countless copies of Scripture sit unread on bookshelves, coffee tables, nightstands and even on the back seat of our cars simply because people don't know how to read it. What can we do to make the Bible real in our lives?
The clearest answer is found in the words of Jesus. "Ask," he promised, "and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7).
The first step in understanding the Bible is asking God to help us. We should read prayerfully. If anyone understands God's Word it is because of God and not the reader.
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything ..........” (John 14:26).
Before reading the Bible, pray. Invite God to speak to you. Don't go to Scripture looking for your idea, go searching for his.
Not only should we read the Bible prayerfully, we should read it carefully. Seek and you will find, is the pledge. The Bible is not a newspaper to be skimmed but rather a mine to be worked. “Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:4, 5).
Any worthy find requires effort. The Bible is no exception. To understand the Bible you don't have to be brilliant, but you must be willing to roll up your sleeves and search.
Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2: 15).
Here's a practical point. Study the Bible a bit at a time. Hunger is not satisfied by eating twenty-one meals in one sitting once a week. The body needs a steady diet to remain strong. So does the soul. When God sent food to his people in the wilderness, he didn't provide loaves already made. Instead, he sent them manna in the shape of thin flakes, like frost ... on the desert ground (see Exodus 16:14). God gave manna in limited portions.
God sends spiritual food the same way. He opens the heavens with just enough nutrients for today's hunger. "A command here, a command there. A rule here, a rule there. A little lesson here, a little lesson there." (Isaiah 28:10 NCV).
Don't be discouraged if your reading reaps a small harvest. Some days a lesser portion is all that is needed. What is important is to search every day for that day's message. A steady diet of God's Word over a lifetime builds a healthy soul and mind.
It’s somewhat like the little girl who returned from her first day at school. Her mom asked, "Did you learn anything?" "Apparently not enough," the girl responded. "I have to go back tomorrow and the next day and the next ... "
Such is the case with learning. And such is the case with Bible study. Understanding comes little by little over a lifetime.
There is a third step in understanding the Bible.
After the asking and seeking comes the knocking. After you ask and search, then knock.
“Knock and the door will be opened to you”. (Matthew 7:7). To knock is to stand at God's door. To make yourself available. To climb the steps, cross the porch, stand at the doorway, and volunteer. Knocking goes beyond just thinking - it goes to act of doing – of obeying!
To knock is to ask, What can I do? How can I obey? Where can I go?
It's one thing to know what to do. It's another to do it. But for those who do it, those who choose to obey, a special reward awaits them.
But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. (James 1:25 NCV).
What a promise. Happiness comes to those who do what they read! It's the same with medicine. If you only read the label but ignore the pills, it won't help. It's the same with food. If you only read the recipe but never cook, you won't be fed. And it's the same with the Bible. If you only read the words but never obey, you'll never know the joy God has promised. Ask. Search. Knock. Simple, isn't it? Why don't you give it a try? If you do, you'll see why the Bible is the most remarkable book in history.
(This lesson was inspired from the introduction to Max Lucado’s “The Inspirational Bible”. New Century Version)
For prayer requests, comments or to be included in our email ministry, email us at: whosoever@cottagehillbaptist.org
Check out our “blog” at: http://thewhosoevers.blogspot.com/
It's surprising that anyone reads it. It's too old.
Some of its writings date back five thousand years. It's too bizarre. The book speaks of incredible floods, fires, earthquakes, and people with supernatural abilities. It's too radical. The Bible calls for undying devotion to a carpenter who called himself God's Son.
Logic says this book shouldn't survive. Too old, too bizarre, too radical.
The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. (Many still do!) Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over it the grave has been dug and the “funeral” has begun, but somehow the Bible never stays in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has thrived. It is the single most popular book in all of history. It has been the best selling book in the world for years!
There is no way on earth to explain it. Which perhaps is the only explanation. The answer - “no way on earth”? The Bible's durability is not found on earth; it is found in heaven. For the millions who have tested its claims and claimed its promises there is but one answer - the Bible is God's book and God's voice.
As we read it, we would be wise to give some thought to two questions. What is the purpose of the Bible? and How do I study the Bible? Time spent reflecting on these two issues will greatly enhance our Bible study.
What is the purpose of the Bible? Let the Bible itself answer that question.
You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:15-16).
Look how the Message states this scripture: There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
The purpose of the Bible? Salvation. God's highest passion is to get his children home. His book, the Bible, describes his plan of salvation. The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim God's plan and passion to save his children.
That is the reason this book has endured through the centuries. It dares to tackle the toughest questions about life: Where do I go after I die? Is there a God? What do I do with my fears? The Bible offers answers to these crucial questions. It is the treasure map that leads us to God's highest treasure, eternal life.
But how do we use the Bible? Countless copies of Scripture sit unread on bookshelves, coffee tables, nightstands and even on the back seat of our cars simply because people don't know how to read it. What can we do to make the Bible real in our lives?
The clearest answer is found in the words of Jesus. "Ask," he promised, "and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7).
The first step in understanding the Bible is asking God to help us. We should read prayerfully. If anyone understands God's Word it is because of God and not the reader.
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything ..........” (John 14:26).
Before reading the Bible, pray. Invite God to speak to you. Don't go to Scripture looking for your idea, go searching for his.
Not only should we read the Bible prayerfully, we should read it carefully. Seek and you will find, is the pledge. The Bible is not a newspaper to be skimmed but rather a mine to be worked. “Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:4, 5).
Any worthy find requires effort. The Bible is no exception. To understand the Bible you don't have to be brilliant, but you must be willing to roll up your sleeves and search.
Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2: 15).
Here's a practical point. Study the Bible a bit at a time. Hunger is not satisfied by eating twenty-one meals in one sitting once a week. The body needs a steady diet to remain strong. So does the soul. When God sent food to his people in the wilderness, he didn't provide loaves already made. Instead, he sent them manna in the shape of thin flakes, like frost ... on the desert ground (see Exodus 16:14). God gave manna in limited portions.
God sends spiritual food the same way. He opens the heavens with just enough nutrients for today's hunger. "A command here, a command there. A rule here, a rule there. A little lesson here, a little lesson there." (Isaiah 28:10 NCV).
Don't be discouraged if your reading reaps a small harvest. Some days a lesser portion is all that is needed. What is important is to search every day for that day's message. A steady diet of God's Word over a lifetime builds a healthy soul and mind.
It’s somewhat like the little girl who returned from her first day at school. Her mom asked, "Did you learn anything?" "Apparently not enough," the girl responded. "I have to go back tomorrow and the next day and the next ... "
Such is the case with learning. And such is the case with Bible study. Understanding comes little by little over a lifetime.
There is a third step in understanding the Bible.
After the asking and seeking comes the knocking. After you ask and search, then knock.
“Knock and the door will be opened to you”. (Matthew 7:7). To knock is to stand at God's door. To make yourself available. To climb the steps, cross the porch, stand at the doorway, and volunteer. Knocking goes beyond just thinking - it goes to act of doing – of obeying!
To knock is to ask, What can I do? How can I obey? Where can I go?
It's one thing to know what to do. It's another to do it. But for those who do it, those who choose to obey, a special reward awaits them.
But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. (James 1:25 NCV).
What a promise. Happiness comes to those who do what they read! It's the same with medicine. If you only read the label but ignore the pills, it won't help. It's the same with food. If you only read the recipe but never cook, you won't be fed. And it's the same with the Bible. If you only read the words but never obey, you'll never know the joy God has promised. Ask. Search. Knock. Simple, isn't it? Why don't you give it a try? If you do, you'll see why the Bible is the most remarkable book in history.
(This lesson was inspired from the introduction to Max Lucado’s “The Inspirational Bible”. New Century Version)
For prayer requests, comments or to be included in our email ministry, email us at: whosoever@cottagehillbaptist.org
Check out our “blog” at: http://thewhosoevers.blogspot.com/
Monday, June 21, 2010
How to Discover Your True Identity
Today's culture constantly tells you that you have the freedom to become anyone you want to be if you just try hard enough. But no matter how much you may work to create the persona you want, you'll still end up frustrated and confused. The only way to discover who you really are is to seek a relationship with the One who made you: God. When you find your true identity in Him, you'll find that it's better than any other choice.
Here's how you can discover the person God made you to be:
Look beyond cultural images to the image of God in you. Don't settle for simply taking on a particular image that appeals to you - cool, sexy, glamorous, tough, bohemian, cosmopolitan, or something else. Realize that cultural images alone are superficial. Behind their appeal is a God-given longing to be everything God wants you to be. Recognize that the urge you feel take on a cultural certain image is really a desire to grow. You already have within you the best image of all, since God created you in His image. Focus on discovering more about what God's image looks like in you, and how you can express it more in your life.
Move beyond appearances to truth. Even though the culture tells you that it's enough to simply appear good, God calls you to actually be good. Going to church on a weekend and then going home and living an unfaithful life for the rest of the week isn't okay. Following God's guidance in some ways (such as giving to charity and being a good friend to others) but not in other ways (such as lying and gossiping) isn't enough. Invite God to take control of every area of your life - from your work to your romantic relationships - and to transform you from the inside out. Then you'll have the power to live with integrity and grow into a truly good person - not just someone who tries hard to act the part.
Break free of feelings. When you don't know who you really are, you become a slave to your feelings, constantly reacting to them and becoming confused when they change. Turning to God - rather than your feelings - for your sense of identity will give you a solid foundation that remains the same no matter how changing circumstances affect your feelings. When you trust God, you'll experience lasting peace that will guard your heart and mind in any situation.
Stop seeing church as a movie. Don't just consume your church's worship service like you would a movie, enjoying the emotional experience of it and then just moving on. Instead, invite God to encounter you in church and change your life as a result of that encounter. Open yourself up to all the possibilities of how God may choose to change you as you worship Him in church. Listen for God speaking to you, and act when He leads you.
View holiness accurately. Realize that holiness isn't about trying to achieve perfection, which is futile no matter how hard you may try. Holiness is about wholeness - growing into a relationship with God that allows you to be at peace with Him, yourself, and other people. Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, that relationship is possible right now, with all of your imperfections. If you trust Jesus, He will help constantly transform you, empowering you to grow more into the person God intends you to become. So let the fact that you can count on God to help you become more holy give you the confidence you need to pursue holiness. Unlike the culture's message that holiness is beyond your grasp, the reality is that you can become more holy every day. Keep in mind that each step away from holiness will cause you to lose more of your sense of self, but each step toward holiness will bring you closer to becoming who you really are - the person God meant you to be.
Recognize that you become like whatever you worship. When you derive your sense of self from a cultural image communicated through the media, you're essentially worshipping it, and that image will come to control you - turning you into a poor imitation of who you were meant to be. But when you worship Jesus, you will grow more and more like Him, freeing you to discover the wonderful person God made you to become.
Deal wisely with your desires. Regularly confess the ways in which you let your desires pull you into sin that makes you walk away from your true self. Humbly ask God to help you avoid desires that don't reflect His will for you and strengthen your desires for what He wants for your life. When considering a particular desire, ask yourself: "Is this desire moving me toward greater commitment to Jesus or farther away from Him?" Test the worthiness of your desires by examining whether or not they reflect a respect of God's image in yourself and others. Test the fruitfulness of your desires by considering whether or not they will help you make the world a better place and bring glory to God in the process.
Keep growing. Even though you can't completely become the person God wants you to become until you're raised in glory with Jesus in His new creation, you can continue to grow each day you're alive. Rejoice when you notice how Jesus is helping you mature, and let your gratitude motivate you to keep learning and growing more each day.
Here's how you can discover the person God made you to be:
Look beyond cultural images to the image of God in you. Don't settle for simply taking on a particular image that appeals to you - cool, sexy, glamorous, tough, bohemian, cosmopolitan, or something else. Realize that cultural images alone are superficial. Behind their appeal is a God-given longing to be everything God wants you to be. Recognize that the urge you feel take on a cultural certain image is really a desire to grow. You already have within you the best image of all, since God created you in His image. Focus on discovering more about what God's image looks like in you, and how you can express it more in your life.
Move beyond appearances to truth. Even though the culture tells you that it's enough to simply appear good, God calls you to actually be good. Going to church on a weekend and then going home and living an unfaithful life for the rest of the week isn't okay. Following God's guidance in some ways (such as giving to charity and being a good friend to others) but not in other ways (such as lying and gossiping) isn't enough. Invite God to take control of every area of your life - from your work to your romantic relationships - and to transform you from the inside out. Then you'll have the power to live with integrity and grow into a truly good person - not just someone who tries hard to act the part.
Break free of feelings. When you don't know who you really are, you become a slave to your feelings, constantly reacting to them and becoming confused when they change. Turning to God - rather than your feelings - for your sense of identity will give you a solid foundation that remains the same no matter how changing circumstances affect your feelings. When you trust God, you'll experience lasting peace that will guard your heart and mind in any situation.
Stop seeing church as a movie. Don't just consume your church's worship service like you would a movie, enjoying the emotional experience of it and then just moving on. Instead, invite God to encounter you in church and change your life as a result of that encounter. Open yourself up to all the possibilities of how God may choose to change you as you worship Him in church. Listen for God speaking to you, and act when He leads you.
View holiness accurately. Realize that holiness isn't about trying to achieve perfection, which is futile no matter how hard you may try. Holiness is about wholeness - growing into a relationship with God that allows you to be at peace with Him, yourself, and other people. Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, that relationship is possible right now, with all of your imperfections. If you trust Jesus, He will help constantly transform you, empowering you to grow more into the person God intends you to become. So let the fact that you can count on God to help you become more holy give you the confidence you need to pursue holiness. Unlike the culture's message that holiness is beyond your grasp, the reality is that you can become more holy every day. Keep in mind that each step away from holiness will cause you to lose more of your sense of self, but each step toward holiness will bring you closer to becoming who you really are - the person God meant you to be.
Recognize that you become like whatever you worship. When you derive your sense of self from a cultural image communicated through the media, you're essentially worshipping it, and that image will come to control you - turning you into a poor imitation of who you were meant to be. But when you worship Jesus, you will grow more and more like Him, freeing you to discover the wonderful person God made you to become.
Deal wisely with your desires. Regularly confess the ways in which you let your desires pull you into sin that makes you walk away from your true self. Humbly ask God to help you avoid desires that don't reflect His will for you and strengthen your desires for what He wants for your life. When considering a particular desire, ask yourself: "Is this desire moving me toward greater commitment to Jesus or farther away from Him?" Test the worthiness of your desires by examining whether or not they reflect a respect of God's image in yourself and others. Test the fruitfulness of your desires by considering whether or not they will help you make the world a better place and bring glory to God in the process.
Keep growing. Even though you can't completely become the person God wants you to become until you're raised in glory with Jesus in His new creation, you can continue to grow each day you're alive. Rejoice when you notice how Jesus is helping you mature, and let your gratitude motivate you to keep learning and growing more each day.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I Am Not An Accident
In Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life” – he makes a profound statement. He says,
“You are not an accident. … Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it.”
Jeremiah learns this fact first hand when he hears God say: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Now most of us may not be prophets – but the first part of this verse applies to all of us. God says, “I knew you before.....”. He has set us apart – He has made us special. You are not an accident.
The voice of God comes to announce our extraordinary worth. This worth is inseparably linked to the fact that we were made by God and for God. Our worth to God started before we were born. We have invaluable worth because we were born in the mind of God. We were valuable to God before the world began — because we were already on His mind and in His imagination. This fact is something that can never change or ever be taken away from us. It is the something we can never lose.
David wrote: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalms 139:14
God prescribed every single detail of my creation. He deliberately chose my race, my gender, the color of my hair, the color of my skin, the color of my eyes – but guess what – He has done the same for you. You see – I am not an accident – and neither are you.
Can you imagine what Jeremiah must have felt when he heard God say: "Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Here at this moment Jeremiah hears the voice of God – the Creator of the Universe – He who put the stars in place – He who formed the world and all that we know – from the telescopic to the microscopic – and God speaks to Jeremiah and says: “Jeremiah – you are special. You have been on my mind a long, long, long time.”
How would you feel to hear God say this? Maybe like the writer of Psalm 8: “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Psalms 8:4 MSG
In other words – how important are we – that God should even pay attention to us? Yet He does! He says we are very important.
The theme of our value before God can be found throughout the Bible.
In Ephesians chapter two Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and says: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10
Christians are God’s workmanship – created in Christ Jesus – for the purpose of performing good works – which God prepared for us from the foundation world. Not only has God created each and every one of us unique – He has a purpose for our lives. I am not an accident – I have infinite value – because of who I am in Christ.
Jesus taught on our value when He spoke three parables in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. In the fifteenth chapter of Luke, Jesus spoke about a lost sheep – a lost coin –– and a lost son. Let’s look at these stories. Jesus said: "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ’Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” Luke 15:4-7 (MSG)
Jesus went on to say: "Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ’Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God." Luke 15:8-10 (MSG)
And in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son that ends with the father telling the older son: “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!”
In American we place great value on youth, beauty, athletic ability, intelligence, education, wealth and fame. But we need to notice that the Bible places more value is on relationship than anything else. The shepherd has lost HIS sheep. The woman had lost HER coin. The father has lost HIS son. The loss was great because of the relationship that existed. God says you have great value because: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.”
God knows me – I have great value – I am not an accident.
Most of us have known someone that was developmentally disabled and mentally challenged. (I believe that ALL of us at CHBC knows someone like this!) People – who for the most part – would never be able to care for themselves. People that would never be able to contribute anything to society – they are totally dependent on others to take care of them. They would never have a relationship with other people except for their family and their caretakers. They will never earn an income. Of what value are they? According to the Scripture they are of immense value to God. The Bible says: "...every living soul belongs to me....” Ezekiel 18:4
They are as much a part of his creation as the teachers, doctors and nurses who take care for them. Their worth to society is the very fact that they dependent on society. They are God’s gift to us. God is teaching us the value of taking care of people who can never return the favor in any way. And yet, those who work with them can tell you that they receive a great deal from these people. God is showing us the value of human life when life is all these individuals have.
Today if you watch any of the CSI type TV shows, you know the importance of DNA. Do you ever wonder if there is such a thing as spiritual DNA? The Bible says: “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)
We have great value because we were created in the image of God. Each of us have been created in His image. Your life finds meaning only in a relationship with the God in whose image you were created. He has a purpose and plan for your life that is different from every other person who was ever created. God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
You are so important to him that, as Jesus said, “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7
Do you beat yourself up because you are not pretty enough – tall enough – smart enough – thin enough? Do you cut yourself down because you feel you are lacking abilities? Remember what God said: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
God has made you – who you are. Before He formed you – in your mother’s womb – He knew you.
Folks – no matter what your situation is or was – you are not an accident – God has had you on His mind for a long, long, long time.
“You are not an accident. … Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it.”
Jeremiah learns this fact first hand when he hears God say: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Now most of us may not be prophets – but the first part of this verse applies to all of us. God says, “I knew you before.....”. He has set us apart – He has made us special. You are not an accident.
The voice of God comes to announce our extraordinary worth. This worth is inseparably linked to the fact that we were made by God and for God. Our worth to God started before we were born. We have invaluable worth because we were born in the mind of God. We were valuable to God before the world began — because we were already on His mind and in His imagination. This fact is something that can never change or ever be taken away from us. It is the something we can never lose.
David wrote: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalms 139:14
God prescribed every single detail of my creation. He deliberately chose my race, my gender, the color of my hair, the color of my skin, the color of my eyes – but guess what – He has done the same for you. You see – I am not an accident – and neither are you.
Can you imagine what Jeremiah must have felt when he heard God say: "Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Here at this moment Jeremiah hears the voice of God – the Creator of the Universe – He who put the stars in place – He who formed the world and all that we know – from the telescopic to the microscopic – and God speaks to Jeremiah and says: “Jeremiah – you are special. You have been on my mind a long, long, long time.”
How would you feel to hear God say this? Maybe like the writer of Psalm 8: “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Psalms 8:4 MSG
In other words – how important are we – that God should even pay attention to us? Yet He does! He says we are very important.
The theme of our value before God can be found throughout the Bible.
In Ephesians chapter two Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and says: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10
Christians are God’s workmanship – created in Christ Jesus – for the purpose of performing good works – which God prepared for us from the foundation world. Not only has God created each and every one of us unique – He has a purpose for our lives. I am not an accident – I have infinite value – because of who I am in Christ.
Jesus taught on our value when He spoke three parables in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. In the fifteenth chapter of Luke, Jesus spoke about a lost sheep – a lost coin –– and a lost son. Let’s look at these stories. Jesus said: "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ’Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” Luke 15:4-7 (MSG)
Jesus went on to say: "Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ’Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God." Luke 15:8-10 (MSG)
And in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son that ends with the father telling the older son: “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!”
In American we place great value on youth, beauty, athletic ability, intelligence, education, wealth and fame. But we need to notice that the Bible places more value is on relationship than anything else. The shepherd has lost HIS sheep. The woman had lost HER coin. The father has lost HIS son. The loss was great because of the relationship that existed. God says you have great value because: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.”
God knows me – I have great value – I am not an accident.
Most of us have known someone that was developmentally disabled and mentally challenged. (I believe that ALL of us at CHBC knows someone like this!) People – who for the most part – would never be able to care for themselves. People that would never be able to contribute anything to society – they are totally dependent on others to take care of them. They would never have a relationship with other people except for their family and their caretakers. They will never earn an income. Of what value are they? According to the Scripture they are of immense value to God. The Bible says: "...every living soul belongs to me....” Ezekiel 18:4
They are as much a part of his creation as the teachers, doctors and nurses who take care for them. Their worth to society is the very fact that they dependent on society. They are God’s gift to us. God is teaching us the value of taking care of people who can never return the favor in any way. And yet, those who work with them can tell you that they receive a great deal from these people. God is showing us the value of human life when life is all these individuals have.
Today if you watch any of the CSI type TV shows, you know the importance of DNA. Do you ever wonder if there is such a thing as spiritual DNA? The Bible says: “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)
We have great value because we were created in the image of God. Each of us have been created in His image. Your life finds meaning only in a relationship with the God in whose image you were created. He has a purpose and plan for your life that is different from every other person who was ever created. God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
You are so important to him that, as Jesus said, “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7
Do you beat yourself up because you are not pretty enough – tall enough – smart enough – thin enough? Do you cut yourself down because you feel you are lacking abilities? Remember what God said: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
God has made you – who you are. Before He formed you – in your mother’s womb – He knew you.
Folks – no matter what your situation is or was – you are not an accident – God has had you on His mind for a long, long, long time.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sawdust and Planks
If you're like most people, when you have a problem with someone else, you focus on what that person did wrong. You think the problem would get better if the other person would change. Yet read what Jesus said:
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5).
Jesus said we must first focus on our own shortcoming, on changes we need to make. This is not to say that those around us don't have faults, bad habits and sins. They do. But despite that, God wants us to focus first on our part.
Evaluate yourself: Do you use any of these excuses?
Do you use any of the following excuses for focusing on others? Rate yourself from 0 to 10 on each one. As you read, substitute "he," "she," "his" "her" or "their" where appropriate.
"0" means, "I never think (or say) this."
"10" means, "I think (or say) this a lot."
"It is all his/her/their fault." My score (0-10): ____
It probably is not! It is extremely rare that one person is all right and one person is all wrong. Honestly confront your own faults, even if you think you are only one percent wrong and the other person is ninety-nine percent wrong.
"Sure, I get angry, but it's only because of how he treats me." My score (0-10): ____
When you say this, you are excusing your own sins by blaming them on the other person. Adam blamed his wife when God confronted him for sinning (Genesis 3:11-12), but God did not accept his excuse (Genesis 3:17-19). Nor will God accept your excuses.
Regardless of what others do, you need to respond in a Christ-like manner. Paul wrote, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil" (Romans 12:17). He went on to write, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
"I am so angry that I could just___________." My score (0-10): ____
The Bible says that you must overcome your anger and not use it as an excuse to sin. Paul wrote, "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27). If you do not accept your bad temper as a personal problem, you will always find reasons to be mad at others, since everyone is imperfect. You need to:
Confess that you have an anger problem.
Ask forgiveness from God and from others.
Learn how to react to aggravations or disappointments lovingly.
"I need to confront them about their sin." My score (0-10): ____
Yes, sometimes we need to confront others' sins. But this may be rarer than we think. Look again at Matthew 7:3-5 and you will see three elements:
First, you must take the plank out of your own eye.
Then you can see clearly.
Once you see clearly, you can lovingly help remove the speck from someone else's eye.
If you try to remove the speck from the other person's eye without first taking the plank out of your eye, you cannot see clearly and will hurt the other person. Paul made a similar point in Galatians 6:1 when he wrote, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently."
"She hurt me and I want her to suffer." My score (0-10): ____
You may feel that you have suffered grievous wounds and desire revenge. But the Bible warns that it is God who avenges, not us (Psalm 94:1). Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) and remember how much Jesus taught about forgiveness. Paul writes, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15. And Peter says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9.
"He will take advantage of me if I just focus on my own issues." My score (0-10): ____
That is possible, but it is not likely. The most common result is just the opposite: The changes you make usually inspire others to change too.
Hints to help you take the beam out of your own eye
Pray to change. Although we can easily see the other person's faults, we often are blind to our own role. For most of us, it is HARD to shift the focus from others to ourselves. Ask God to help you see clearly.
Ask, "Did I contribute to the problem?" Think about the last few days. Have your actions helped set the stage for the current problem? As you become aware of how your emotions, actions and words affect others, you likely will discover that you contribute to problems more than you realize.
Spend some quiet time with God, asking Him to show you your part of a problem.
You also could ask someone who seems upset, "Have I offended you?" Or, "You seem upset. Have I done something wrong?" If you do this, listen carefully without getting into an argument.
Ask yourself, "How can I help in this conversation?" Listen to the other person (You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19). Seek to truly understand his or her opinions and emotions. When you understand where the other person is coming from, look for ways to minister to him or her as you talk.
Speak courteously and respectfully. God wants us to speak with love and courtesy, whatever the circumstances. Our words should be chosen “prayerfully”!. Even if you need to take strong actions, control your anger. “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (Proverbs 29:11).
Stay balanced
Although it's important to focus on changing yourself, it's possible to take this principle to unhealthy extremes.
Do not blame yourself for all the problems in a relationship. Even though you need to concentrate on changes you need to make, do not blame yourself for everything wrong in your relationships. Of course there are things you need to work on. On the other hand, you are not the only one with problems. It is reasonable to be aware that others have faults; just do not concentrate on them.
Sometimes you really need to talk about problems. You need to talk about problems from time to time. The key is to do it God's way--with courtesy and respect.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5).
Jesus said we must first focus on our own shortcoming, on changes we need to make. This is not to say that those around us don't have faults, bad habits and sins. They do. But despite that, God wants us to focus first on our part.
Evaluate yourself: Do you use any of these excuses?
Do you use any of the following excuses for focusing on others? Rate yourself from 0 to 10 on each one. As you read, substitute "he," "she," "his" "her" or "their" where appropriate.
"0" means, "I never think (or say) this."
"10" means, "I think (or say) this a lot."
"It is all his/her/their fault." My score (0-10): ____
It probably is not! It is extremely rare that one person is all right and one person is all wrong. Honestly confront your own faults, even if you think you are only one percent wrong and the other person is ninety-nine percent wrong.
"Sure, I get angry, but it's only because of how he treats me." My score (0-10): ____
When you say this, you are excusing your own sins by blaming them on the other person. Adam blamed his wife when God confronted him for sinning (Genesis 3:11-12), but God did not accept his excuse (Genesis 3:17-19). Nor will God accept your excuses.
Regardless of what others do, you need to respond in a Christ-like manner. Paul wrote, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil" (Romans 12:17). He went on to write, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
"I am so angry that I could just___________." My score (0-10): ____
The Bible says that you must overcome your anger and not use it as an excuse to sin. Paul wrote, "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27). If you do not accept your bad temper as a personal problem, you will always find reasons to be mad at others, since everyone is imperfect. You need to:
Confess that you have an anger problem.
Ask forgiveness from God and from others.
Learn how to react to aggravations or disappointments lovingly.
"I need to confront them about their sin." My score (0-10): ____
Yes, sometimes we need to confront others' sins. But this may be rarer than we think. Look again at Matthew 7:3-5 and you will see three elements:
First, you must take the plank out of your own eye.
Then you can see clearly.
Once you see clearly, you can lovingly help remove the speck from someone else's eye.
If you try to remove the speck from the other person's eye without first taking the plank out of your eye, you cannot see clearly and will hurt the other person. Paul made a similar point in Galatians 6:1 when he wrote, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently."
"She hurt me and I want her to suffer." My score (0-10): ____
You may feel that you have suffered grievous wounds and desire revenge. But the Bible warns that it is God who avenges, not us (Psalm 94:1). Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) and remember how much Jesus taught about forgiveness. Paul writes, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15. And Peter says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9.
"He will take advantage of me if I just focus on my own issues." My score (0-10): ____
That is possible, but it is not likely. The most common result is just the opposite: The changes you make usually inspire others to change too.
Hints to help you take the beam out of your own eye
Pray to change. Although we can easily see the other person's faults, we often are blind to our own role. For most of us, it is HARD to shift the focus from others to ourselves. Ask God to help you see clearly.
Ask, "Did I contribute to the problem?" Think about the last few days. Have your actions helped set the stage for the current problem? As you become aware of how your emotions, actions and words affect others, you likely will discover that you contribute to problems more than you realize.
Spend some quiet time with God, asking Him to show you your part of a problem.
You also could ask someone who seems upset, "Have I offended you?" Or, "You seem upset. Have I done something wrong?" If you do this, listen carefully without getting into an argument.
Ask yourself, "How can I help in this conversation?" Listen to the other person (You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19). Seek to truly understand his or her opinions and emotions. When you understand where the other person is coming from, look for ways to minister to him or her as you talk.
Speak courteously and respectfully. God wants us to speak with love and courtesy, whatever the circumstances. Our words should be chosen “prayerfully”!. Even if you need to take strong actions, control your anger. “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (Proverbs 29:11).
Stay balanced
Although it's important to focus on changing yourself, it's possible to take this principle to unhealthy extremes.
Do not blame yourself for all the problems in a relationship. Even though you need to concentrate on changes you need to make, do not blame yourself for everything wrong in your relationships. Of course there are things you need to work on. On the other hand, you are not the only one with problems. It is reasonable to be aware that others have faults; just do not concentrate on them.
Sometimes you really need to talk about problems. You need to talk about problems from time to time. The key is to do it God's way--with courtesy and respect.
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