Perspective That Only Time Can Bring

I am afraid that we fail to grasp fully the significance of the events of life when they are happening. Only after some time has passed and we have the opportunity to view those events in their context of related events in our life do we come to fully appreciate the role those circumstances play in shaping who we are.

I have recently thought about how differently I view certain difficulties now that I can relate them to my entire life context. What at one point may have seemed pointless and painful has proved instead to be necessary and beneficial. God has a way of revealing things to us in stages, illustrated in the way in which He healed the blind man of Bethsaida:weird-tree

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:22-25)

In a couple of different ways, Jesus put off the man’s healing, creating drama in the story. He led the man out of town, away from the crowd, no chance of using the man and his condition to promote Himself. His first touch (a gross one at that) only partially did the job; the man did not fully regain his vision until after Jesus touched him the second time.

He works that way in our lives sometimes too. We ask for His help, His deliverance, His provision and He seems to delay the answer, separating us from our request by the distance of time. Then we wonder if what we see is really an answer to our prayer. After all, He is perfectly capable of fixing our problem in one fell swoop, so apparently what we see is either our imagination, rationalization, or just blind chance and coincidence. What we are really seeing is our own circumstantial equivalent of men who look like trees walking around.

All the while, God is revealing Himself to us, bit by bit, stage by stage, so as to build drama and test our faith and our resolve. Eventually He places His final touch on our need and we are able to see more clearly. We see that the difficulty that we went through was instrumental in teaching us about God and His purposes and ways in our lives.

Don’t be so quick to curse your hardships and suffering. Don’t be hasty in assuming God has not our will not answer your prayer and meet your need. Hang in there. Give God time and space to work. You will marvel at what He accomplishes in your life.

Maintaining Spiritual Momentum

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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God,
which is in you through the laying on of my hands… 2 Timothy 1:6

In my teen days, we used to sing a song at church that began with the line, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” Since I want my life to be “on fire” with the power of the Holy Spirit bearing His fruit in and through me, I need to tend the fire that He has started.

First, the fire needs to be fed.  To keep the fire going, I have to introduce a new log every now and then. The same thing is true in my life spiritually. I cannot continue to burn brightly with what God fed me last week.  I need God’s Word to address MY LIFE on a daily basis.  I need an intentional plan for studying, meditating on, and applying God’s Word.

Also, the fire needs to be fanned. As a flame starts to dwindle, I can blow on the red-hot embers and once again the flames rise. In my spiritual life, I need the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit to blow in my life. I need to start everyday asking Him to control every thought, word, attitude, and action in my life. I need to ask Him to bear His fruit in my life. I need what only the Holy Spirit can do in my life. I need His filling, His empowerment, His activity or else my fire for God suffocates.

Then finally, the fire needs to be freshened. I can freshen a fire by stirring it around a bit, moving the logs, creating some breathing room. Spiritually, I need fresh challenges and experiences if I am to grow.  I need to be stirred on a regular basis. Granted, these freshening experiences are not always pleasant – after all, you freshen a fire with a pointed thing called a poker. Who among us really enjoys being poked and prodded?  The poker freshens the fire by stirring the fuel closer to the red-hot center of the fire. When God uses His poker to stir my life, He usually draws me closer to Him, the blazing center of spiritual vitality and fire.

So . . . what does your fire need? Fuel? Fanning? Freshening?

 

 

Heart’s Desire

Baseball players are notoriously superstitious. Players on a good run will not shave, change socks, routine, pre-game meals . . . you name it. Players on a bad run will change any and everything about their game in hopes that “luck” will come their way.

Lest we think too harshly of superstitious athletes and too highly of ourselves, we might be wise to consider if the faintest hint of superstition drives our Christian service. Think of it this way: why do you do the good things you do? Because you hope the principle of karma is true and that good things will come your way? Because you think as long as you are doing good things that God will do good things to you, but if you stop doing good things so will He? Where in that is GRACE?

John Piper, writing about heaven, posed this question (my paraphrase): if you could have all that heaven offers – reunion with loved ones, perfect healing, paradise, no more sin, but NO JESUS . . . would you still want to go? Seriously, if heaven were still all it is advertised to be, save the presence of Jesus, would you still long for it? The answer to that question diagnoses the condition of our hearts.

  • When Jesus is the longing of our heart, nowhere without Him could be heaven.
  • When Jesus is the longing of our heart, no activity without Him could be satisfactory.
  • When Jesus is the longing of our heart, no day without Him could be sunny.
  • When Jesus is the longing of our heart, no job without Him could be rewarding.
  • When Jesus is the longing of our heart, no life without Him could be fulfilling.

Written by a King who had it all . . . but was on the lam from his own son:

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land
where there is no water – Psalm 63:1

May HE be our heart’s desire.

Time to Stop Choosing Sides in Church

One thing we did when playing ball at school or in the neighborhood as kids always causes awkward and uncomfortable moments: choosing sides. I hated being the team “captain” and having to choose whom I wanted on my team. Invariably, someone would get their feelings hurt because a captain chose them after someone they thought was not as good a player. The strategy was not always to choose the best player, but to choose one’s closest friends. I always felt sorry, too, for the last person chosen.

As uncomfortable as that was for a childhood activity, it is equally uncomfortable, and infinitely more abominable in God’s eyes when we do it in church. You know the scenario: something doesn’t go someone’s way and that someone sets about recruiting people to be on his “side.” It is even more shameful when done by one in lay or pastoral leadership.

Our role as leaders is to equip the church to function efficiently and effectively as a cohesive body. Gathering “our people” to support our cause creates an “us against them” lose-lose situation. It’s not just leaders that stir up trouble, however, lay people often fall into the same trap. Emails, phone calls, secret meetings to plan strategy are worldly ways of conducting heavenly business.

In Proverbs 6:16-19, God tells us that there are 7 things that God finds abominable. The 7th item on the list is one who sows discord among the brothers. It is OK to disagree; in fact, disagreements usually prove beneficial as ideas are exchanged and insights shared. Not every one has to agree with everything all the time – that is an unreasonable expectation. The problem comes when we employ fleshly means to come to a spiritual conclusion. According to 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 God considers such behavior as immature and childish as choosing sides on the ball field.  It’s one thing to have a childlike faith, it’s something else altogether to act childish.

The Bible gives us both reactive and proactive instructions relating to divisions in church. First, in a reactive way, we are told to notice and avoid those who cause division (Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10-11). Then, in a proactive, prescriptive way, God tells us to seek unity not in a person, but in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3). Rather than rallying people to our side, we should make sure we are on God’s side and we should seek to know and do God’s desire rather than any individual.

Let’s stop choosing up sides and recognize that God has chosen us to be on HIS SIDE. Let’s quit trying to win people over to our favor and work feverishly to promote the kingdom of God.

 

Quiet time exercise:  read the Scriptures linked above and ask God to help you see those who cause division for what they are and to show you how you can help bring about unity of the Spirit.

 

 

What Comes Out When You Are Squeezed?

ketchup bottleWe have a local BBQ establishment in town that leaves me flummoxed every time I go. Several bottles of sauce sit on the table: spicy, mild, sweet, mustard-based. In my southern upbringing, if there is a bright red squirt bottle on the table, it contains ketchup, but at this establishment, the bright red squirt bottle contains spicy BBQ sauce. I like the spicy sauce on my BBQ, but I prefer not to eat it on my fries. Never mind the additional bottle on the table clearly wearing a Hunts® ketchup label, I am a creature of habit who always reaches for the red bottle and squirts a pile of spicy BBQ sauce for French fry dipping!

The moral of the story is that no matter what something may look like on the outside, when you squeeze it, whatever is on the inside comes out. That truth applies not only to squirt bottles, but also to people. Read what Jesus had to say about it:

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. – Luke 6:45

Listen to a person long enough and you will get a good x-ray into their heart. The person who snipes at others with cutting, sarcastic, bitter comments belies a heart clogged with bitterness and guilt. A heart under the influence of the Holy Spirit, speaks love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23) Those who listen to us, will get a clear picture of where we are spiritually as well.

We need to heed Solomon’s advice to guard our hearts since it is the wellspring of all of life’s issues. (Proverbs 4:23) How can we keep our hearts clean? Is there a cleansing tool to help us with this most noble pursuit? Yes: God’s Word. (Psalm 119:9)

I cannot overemphasize our need to bathe ourselves in Scripture. Read it, meditate on it, memorize it, post it where we will see it often. We cannot hide the effects, positively or negatively, of the place of God’s Word in our lives. All people need to do is listen to us talk.

The only way to change what comes out is to change what is inside. Let’s clean out the ketchup and be filled with the Holy Spirit as He implants God’s Word in our lives.

My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

My daughter challenged me to the ALS Ice Bucket challenge.  I gladly accepted in honor of Mr Alton Stone, whose daughter and son-in-law – Cindy and Steve Shaw – are dear friends of ours.  While the general public knows little about ALS, research continues to help treat, heal, and hopefully eradicate this deadly disease.  Some of that research involves controversial embryonic stem cell research, and in some places those cells are harvested from aborted embryos. I am deeply devoted to the protection of the unborn, and the ramifications opened by that kind of research troubles me greatly.

For my part, I feel the need to help make the public more aware of the difficulty of this dreaded disease and also raise awareness for organizations that are continuing to aid families and support research in the highest ethical order.  I encourage you to check out the following websites for more information.

 

Team Gleason

Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission

 

 

Expectations and Disappointments

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Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. – John 2:23-25

Expectations. We all have them. Disappointments. We all have them. We expect things out of other people and they let us down. Others expect things out of us and we let them down. We can all relate to the feeling we get when realize that suddenly a person or group of people no longer care about us as much as they once claimed to have cared. They had expectations of how they thought you would be and you did not live up to those expectations. So, at best they tolerate you, at worst they cast you aside. We have all felt that pain.

Prior to the verses above, Jesus had done some miraculous things. He had turned water into wine. He had run the money-hungry charlatans out of the temple. He had performed many signs and wonders and His fame was beginning to spread. In addition, His following was beginning to grow. Jesus was fast becoming the fashionable, popular cultural icon of His day. People were flocking to Him, following Him, becoming His disciples, but He wasn’t caught up in His own celebrity. He didn’t become dependent – emotionally, physically, spiritually – on His followers. He didn’t need their affirmation. In fact, we see that because He knew human nature, He was cautious with them. He knew that only a precious few of those who now followed Him would be there at the bitter end. Most would just go back to their daily life, leaving behind the zeal they once had for this “revolution.” Others would become His enemies. Offended by His teachings, they would change sides and try to silence Him. He knew what they were on the inside and knew that He could not depend on their support.

Let me draw out a couple of applications. First, we must be careful how much stake we put in the approval and affirmation of others. Let’s face it, there are only a very few people in this world – some family members and some close friends – who are going to love us unconditionally. There is really only One – Jesus – whose affirmation matters and interestingly His affirmation is the easiest to come by. Try reading Romans 8:28-39 and see how affirmed you feel. WOW, I love those verses.

Last application. If you were standing in that crowd implied in John 2:23-25, and knowing that Jesus knew what was in your heart, would you be one on whom He could depend? Are you faithful to Him? Or, are you quick to return to the everyday routine of your life, leaving behind the revolution He wants to bring about in you and around you? I am sure you are like me . . . some days are better than others. Some days you are more revolutionary, other days you are more routine. Thankfully, He knows our heart, knows what we are made of. He does not DEPEND on us, but He still DESIRES us. He still wants a relationship with us. Praise be to Him for His unconditional love and acceptance.

Are You Spiritually Dehydrated?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the human body is more than 60% water, and the average person loses 3-4 quarts of water a day just through breathing, and other bodily functions. Strenuous activity and illness can increase one’s daily amount of water loss. If that water is not sufficiently replaced, the mind and body do not function properly. As a means of self-preservation, God created us with the ability to thirst – to crave water. Unfortunately, many substitute soft drinks and other not as beneficial fluids and do not drink enough water to rectify the effects of under hydration.

We can see the same symptoms appear in our lives in the spiritual realm as well. Dissatisfaction is a clear sign of spiritual dehydration. We grow weak, desperate, clamoring for something, but seemingly never satisfied. Yes, this can (and all to often does) happen to those of us in a relationship with Jesus. The problem is that we are looking to the wrong sources to satisfy us, when we are designed to find satisfaction in Christ alone. Consider the words of Jesus:

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:14

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” – John 7:37

What are some substitutes that others look to for satisfaction? Relationships? Money? Circumstances? Possessions? Church? People?   When we sip from any cup of life for satisfaction other than our relationship with Jesus, we will remain chronically dehydrated spiritually.

Spend time with Jesus daily. Drink often and deeply from the fountain of His Word. Set your mind on Him, thinking of Him often throughout the day, bringing your thoughts captive to Him. When the temptation to dissatisfaction comes your way, remind yourself of who you are in Him and what is in store for you in this life and the life to come all because of Him. Come to understand with the Apostle Paul that to live is Christ (Philippians 1:20-21). Remember that all things in life pale in importance when compared to the value and presence of Jesus in your life.

 

 

Blah, Blah, Blah

I have a custom that I engage many days; I read a chapter in the book of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. For instance, today reading is Proverbs 18. That chapter has no less than 10 verses that caution us about the use of words. Below are just a few with my emphasis added.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom of wisdom is a flowing brook. – vs. 4

In other words, whatever is deep down in our heart usually springs up through our mouths. Let’s hope it springs up words of wisdom into a flowing brook.


A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. – vs. 7

How many people have been brought down more by what they said than what they did? How many of us have experienced the problems our mouths can produce?

He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. – vs. 13

God gave us TWO ears and ONE mouth. Could it be He expects is to listen twice as much as we speak?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. – vs. 21

Sweet fruit or sour, we all wind up eating our words.

 

However, one that struck me most this morning was verse 2:

A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart. 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were so intent on saying what you wanted to say that you weren’t listening to what others were saying? For those of you who have never done that (or who are two prideful to admit it), take it from one with experience . . . it can lead to some embarrassing situations. In his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey sets out this principle in Habit #5 – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood.

Our words are powerful . . . oh, that God would help us learn to use our powers for good and not for evil.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt . . . Colossians 4:6a

 

God, help us with our words. Help us to say the right things, the right way, and at the right time. And while you are helping us, Lord, help us to know when not to say anything.

How to Be a Hall of Fame Disciple

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Former Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Greg Maddux recently received induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. A couple of quotes during his acceptance speech indicate the kind of focused worth ethic that earned him the nickname “Mad Dog.” Referring to his daily approach to the game Maddux said

I never gave a thought to the Hall of Fame as I was going through my career. My goal as a baseball player was very simple: All I wanted to do was try to get better for my next start.

Greg played parts of his last two seasons with the San Diego Padres. Even after winning more than 300 games and 4 Cy Young Awards (as the top pitcher yearly in his league), at the end of his stellar career, Maddux related that his pitching coach in San Diego taught him how to throw a change-up a different way. Imagine that… a coach who had a modest career of his own at best teaching a hall of famer how to pitch. To hammer home an important life lesson, Maddux commented:

Just goes to show that you no matter how old you are, you’re still looking to get better.

Get better for my next start. Looking to get better. These two statements should typify a follower of Jesus. Am I doing all I can to walk more closely with Jesus today than I did yesterday? Am I intentionally pursuing Christlikeness on a daily basis? Do I realize how much I still have to grow and that I have not arrived at perfection?

How do we engage this constant growth process? The Word of God and prayer are the two tools God has given us for that purpose.

We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (HCSB)

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (HCSB)

If a hall of famer like Greg Maddux recognized the key to success in his sport was intentional daily improvement, how much more should we see the eternal importance of daily getting better and growing closer to Jesus? Establish the habit of getting better every day by gazing into God’s Word and allowing Him to transform you through His Word’s power. You will find yourself one day in Jesus’ hall of fame of disciples.

 

Greg Maddux speech quotes courtesy of Chicago Tribune online.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-greg-maddux-speech-20140727-story.html#page=1