There has always been an effort to identify followers of Jesus by external actions and behaviors. It comes with the territory from Jesus “you love me if you keep my commandments.” It seems pretty clear. It never really is.
The Corinthian church had an issue that Paul addressed. They began to measure their devotion to Christ by the manifestation of specific spiritual gifts among their fellowship, specifically speaking in tongues. If you don’t speak in tongues then you don’t have it. You’re not spiritual etc. Followed by “anything you can do I can do better…” you know the song. We try to measure the depth or existence of a relationship by external evidence. It causes us problems because we are measuring with the wrong instrument.
A “Christian” is such because of who they know and not what they know or do or anything else. The measurement is do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Any answer other than yes is NO. A simple test. My example would be the thief on the cross whom Jesus told “today you will be with me in paradise.” The question is personal and intimate and therefore hard to quantify.
The “what they do” question is a measurement of maturity and possibly commitment. People claim Jesus as Savior before they claim him as Lord. One can be saved and not do much as evidence. The process of transformation has begun but not progressed much. Does that mean they are not Christians if they don’t act how we think they should? Of course not; they just may not have matured much if at all. This measuring stick is often used as a weapon when one has felt wronged by another. “A true (underline true) Christian would not act that way (with lots of self righteous tone whatever that is).” When in fact, they may. We are in a transformation, maturing process. It is ongoing and not complete yet. That is where grace must play a part, allowing Christians to not be perfect as we are not perfect. It’s a hard thing to do to allow them the same grace as we would desire for ourselves. Loving your neighbor and all of that is not easy, getting the board out of our own eye before the splinter in our neighbors.
Personal responsibility seems to be the focus. How do I respond to Jesus and his commands and do I trust him? I have more than enough to keep me busy following Him. I don’t need to take on measurement duties for others. Am I allowing him to transform my very being into His likeness today?
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
I fell I'm in the middle...
in the middle of everything. Now I know that is a gross overstatement, but sometimes you just get in between the beginning and the end of things and well frankly it is dull in the middle.
Dull in that the excitement of the “new” has worn off and now life and its processes have become routine. The end is still a way off and now all there is to do is keep doing what you have been doing and wait. That is what I mean by “in the middle.”
In the middle time stands still and it seems you are going to be there forever. You stand at a crossroads (good name) and the three directions before you look very similar. I think of a four-way stop in the desert each direction has sand, scrub brush and road. Which way to go? Each looks the same dull, similar scenery. That’s what you see. That’s not what is.
Change is inevitable. Soon the ending will come and with it excitement and the satisfaction of the completion of a job. Hopefully well done but completed none the less. In the coming days I will share in wedding vow renewal ceremony at Tybee. This couple has been married 20 years and wanted to remember but also look forward. Their youngest child will be graduating high school in 2011. They will be empty nesters looking at each other wondering what to do. Which course will they take? Sometimes marriage is dull in the middle but it will change. Life changes it never stays the same.
Our spiritual life is no different. Sometimes life seems dull and boring. God is quiet and we are “in a funk” as a friend said this week. Then I read these words the next day by Chuck Swindoll in an e-mail called “Waiting and Listening.” Read what he said.
In my four-and-a-half decades of pastoral ministry, I have had many, many occasions to wait on God. I still do today. Sometimes it drives me nuts! But honestly, I would have it no other way.
It requires a sensitive eye to watch the movement of God in your life. All He may do is turn your attention in another direction. But that may be all you need. As you wait and watch, also listen to Him with a sensitive ear in the pages of Holy Scripture. Pore over a favorite passage in His Word.
Quietly give attention to His presence, and He will give you direction when it’s time.
Great advice from one who has been there more than once. You can read this at http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83445441b53ef0133f23b13a9970b
Dull in that the excitement of the “new” has worn off and now life and its processes have become routine. The end is still a way off and now all there is to do is keep doing what you have been doing and wait. That is what I mean by “in the middle.”
In the middle time stands still and it seems you are going to be there forever. You stand at a crossroads (good name) and the three directions before you look very similar. I think of a four-way stop in the desert each direction has sand, scrub brush and road. Which way to go? Each looks the same dull, similar scenery. That’s what you see. That’s not what is.
Change is inevitable. Soon the ending will come and with it excitement and the satisfaction of the completion of a job. Hopefully well done but completed none the less. In the coming days I will share in wedding vow renewal ceremony at Tybee. This couple has been married 20 years and wanted to remember but also look forward. Their youngest child will be graduating high school in 2011. They will be empty nesters looking at each other wondering what to do. Which course will they take? Sometimes marriage is dull in the middle but it will change. Life changes it never stays the same.
Our spiritual life is no different. Sometimes life seems dull and boring. God is quiet and we are “in a funk” as a friend said this week. Then I read these words the next day by Chuck Swindoll in an e-mail called “Waiting and Listening.” Read what he said.
In my four-and-a-half decades of pastoral ministry, I have had many, many occasions to wait on God. I still do today. Sometimes it drives me nuts! But honestly, I would have it no other way.
It requires a sensitive eye to watch the movement of God in your life. All He may do is turn your attention in another direction. But that may be all you need. As you wait and watch, also listen to Him with a sensitive ear in the pages of Holy Scripture. Pore over a favorite passage in His Word.
Quietly give attention to His presence, and He will give you direction when it’s time.
Great advice from one who has been there more than once. You can read this at http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83445441b53ef0133f23b13a9970b
Friday, August 13, 2010
This is where I am...
It is my habit to read a book at a time beginning to end no skipping here and there. I am now in Luke as I read I came to the temptation of Christ. Several aspects of the story were revealed to me in a new way.
The first is the timing. Jesus has just officially begun his ministry with His baptism, a marvelous event where God himself affirms his son. What son does not beam when his Dad proclaims his love and pride? (Memo to me and other Dad’s: Tell your kids you are proud of them and they have what it takes in your eyes).
Jesus is then led by God’s spirit into the desert for 40 days of fasting and temptation. God did that.
Jesus endures the 40 days of tempting and testing and is hungry. So here comes the evil one with these three final tests.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]"
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'[b]"
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]"
I noticed that evil tempts him to test what he already has. "If you are the Son of God [He is the son of God], tell this stone to become bread [God will supply his needs] the word of God Jesus answers.
The devil says "I will give you all their authority and splendor…7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." He already had all authority and splendor. The world was made through Him by Him for Him. It was already His.
The devil says "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
Matthew and Mark tell us angels attended to his needs following this exchange. Just what evil said they would do just not how he said they would do it.
Did you see that? He is tempted to test what he already has. Evil does that tempts us to act in one way against what we already have. Evil says you are alone! Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” “I am with you always.” Evil says you won’t have enough food, cloths, money, etc. God says “I will supply all you needs.” In both instances we already have what we need in writing.
What was the last ah ha from God’s word? When was it? Can’t remember? Then read some more!
The first is the timing. Jesus has just officially begun his ministry with His baptism, a marvelous event where God himself affirms his son. What son does not beam when his Dad proclaims his love and pride? (Memo to me and other Dad’s: Tell your kids you are proud of them and they have what it takes in your eyes).
Jesus is then led by God’s spirit into the desert for 40 days of fasting and temptation. God did that.
Jesus endures the 40 days of tempting and testing and is hungry. So here comes the evil one with these three final tests.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]"
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'[b]"
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]"
I noticed that evil tempts him to test what he already has. "If you are the Son of God [He is the son of God], tell this stone to become bread [God will supply his needs] the word of God Jesus answers.
The devil says "I will give you all their authority and splendor…7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." He already had all authority and splendor. The world was made through Him by Him for Him. It was already His.
The devil says "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
Matthew and Mark tell us angels attended to his needs following this exchange. Just what evil said they would do just not how he said they would do it.
Did you see that? He is tempted to test what he already has. Evil does that tempts us to act in one way against what we already have. Evil says you are alone! Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” “I am with you always.” Evil says you won’t have enough food, cloths, money, etc. God says “I will supply all you needs.” In both instances we already have what we need in writing.
What was the last ah ha from God’s word? When was it? Can’t remember? Then read some more!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Our Problem Is Sin
Fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Romans 12:2 MSG
Real change is an inside job. You might alter things a day or two with money or systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be, the matter of the heart.
Allow me to get specific. Our problem is sin. Not finances. Not budgets...Our problem is sin. We are in rebellion against our Creator. we are separated from our Father. We are cut off from the source of life. A new president [congress] or policy won't fix that. It can only be solved by God.
That's why the Bible uses drastic terms like conversion, repentance, and lost and found. Society may renovate, but only God re-creates. ~ Max Lucado When God Whispers Your Name [brackets mine]
It seems appropriate to be reminded that it is God who makes real lasting change bringing the dead back to life, restoring hope to the hopeless and giving sight to the blind. Let's pray for God to do just that in our nation, state, county, work place, home and in ourselves today.
Real change is an inside job. You might alter things a day or two with money or systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be, the matter of the heart.
Allow me to get specific. Our problem is sin. Not finances. Not budgets...Our problem is sin. We are in rebellion against our Creator. we are separated from our Father. We are cut off from the source of life. A new president [congress] or policy won't fix that. It can only be solved by God.
That's why the Bible uses drastic terms like conversion, repentance, and lost and found. Society may renovate, but only God re-creates. ~ Max Lucado When God Whispers Your Name [brackets mine]
It seems appropriate to be reminded that it is God who makes real lasting change bringing the dead back to life, restoring hope to the hopeless and giving sight to the blind. Let's pray for God to do just that in our nation, state, county, work place, home and in ourselves today.
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