During Jesus’ ministry, His followers grew into “multitudes,” following Him for various ‘good’ reasons. He fed them; he healed them; he performed miracles. And He taught them as no one had before. They followed Him to Samaria, Capernaum and Judea. They climbed a mountain to hear the Sermon on the Mount. They followed Him to the shores of Galilee; then crossed the Sea to be with Him.
But then something happened that changed everything. Referring to Himself as the Lamb of God who would die for their sins and as the bread of life sent down from heaven, He said “I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” This statement not only confused but offended His followers: “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” And “at this point many withdrew and did not walk with [follow] Him anymore” (John 6:54; 60, 66).
When they thought He would be King, and as long as it was exciting, they followed Him. But when He began speaking of the Cross—and their need to follow Him there— the multitudes stopped short; they were unwilling to go to the Cross. And isn’t it still true today? As you follow Jesus on the highway to holiness, you will pass many who stopped following Him when things got difficult.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Self-Worth or God-Worth?
As Easter nears, we are reminded of God’s love for us in the price He paid. I am afraid, however, that many well-intentioned pastors’ sermons will make Jesus’ death more about us than about Him.
There is a popular teaching today that says we should love ourselves. The logic behind this self-love goes something like this: ‘since God loves you so much that He sent His son to die for you, you must be worthy, and you must love yourself.’ Why is this faulty reasoning? God’s love is about God—not about us! There is no greater evidence of God’s nature than the Cross. The unconditional nature of God’s love is this: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Ro. 5:8).
Yes, we are the objects of God’s love, but that does not mean we have intrinsic value. A decade ago, you may recall that a prestigious NY auction house sold Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s personal affects for charity. A hair brush or hand mirror sold for thousands of dollars. The items themselves had no such intrinsic value. But the worth ascribed to them was not based on “what” they were, but “whose” they were. Likewise your worth is rooted on “Whose” you are.
If anything, the Cross reveals God’s worth. “Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: The Lamb is worthy--the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev 5:11-12)
There is a popular teaching today that says we should love ourselves. The logic behind this self-love goes something like this: ‘since God loves you so much that He sent His son to die for you, you must be worthy, and you must love yourself.’ Why is this faulty reasoning? God’s love is about God—not about us! There is no greater evidence of God’s nature than the Cross. The unconditional nature of God’s love is this: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Ro. 5:8).
Yes, we are the objects of God’s love, but that does not mean we have intrinsic value. A decade ago, you may recall that a prestigious NY auction house sold Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s personal affects for charity. A hair brush or hand mirror sold for thousands of dollars. The items themselves had no such intrinsic value. But the worth ascribed to them was not based on “what” they were, but “whose” they were. Likewise your worth is rooted on “Whose” you are.
If anything, the Cross reveals God’s worth. “Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: The Lamb is worthy--the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev 5:11-12)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Have You 'CROSS'ed the Jordan?
On this Monday before Easter, may I encourage you to reflect on the subject question?
How was Israel’s Jordan River crossing different from the Red Sea crossing? While the Red Sea pictures our salvation; the crossing of the Jordan represents our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. God parted the Red Sea for their deliverance from their old life. The parting of the Jordan opened up their new life, and required their active participation.
Not until Israel’s Priests stepped into the Jordan did the waters divide. Those who follow Jesus into the waters of death and resurrection must take the first step of faith. Like Abraham who took the first step by leaving friends and family, or Peter whose first step was getting out of the boat, or the lame man whose first step was to get up, and pick up his bed. Conversely, the rich young man was unwilling to take the first step of faith by giving away all his possessions.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Dont Get into a Power Struggle with God; You won't Win
As a marriage counselor, I know that the balance of power and control is an issue in every relationship. Typically partners experience ‘power struggles’ early in the marriage—one partner perceives the other has more power in making decisions. Underlying every power struggle is the fear of losing control. In a healthy relationship, loving trust and mutual submission replace fear.
Likewise, as God's children, we experience ‘power struggles’ with Him until we learn to be content with His leadership (Phil. 4:11; Heb. 5:8). Unfortunately, we are all too much like deprived two-year old's, characterized more by our tantrums and pouting than by quiet submission.
The prophet Isaiah describes Israel’s power struggle with God in these words: The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, `No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle. (Is. 30:15-17).
Like a loving, patient parent who waits for the child’s tantrum to cease, so the LORD still waits for us to come to him so he can show us his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them (Is. 30:18). When will you stop trying to be in control? The power struggle exists only because you refuse to give up yours.
Likewise, as God's children, we experience ‘power struggles’ with Him until we learn to be content with His leadership (Phil. 4:11; Heb. 5:8). Unfortunately, we are all too much like deprived two-year old's, characterized more by our tantrums and pouting than by quiet submission.
The prophet Isaiah describes Israel’s power struggle with God in these words: The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, `No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle. (Is. 30:15-17).
Like a loving, patient parent who waits for the child’s tantrum to cease, so the LORD still waits for us to come to him so he can show us his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them (Is. 30:18). When will you stop trying to be in control? The power struggle exists only because you refuse to give up yours.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Unsustainable
In news commentaries I keep hearing the word “unsustainable,” meaning out of control. The national debt is unsustainable. So is the California budget. Greece is the first European nation considering bankruptcy—its debt unsustainable. Real estate values are not predicted to return to the 'highs' of 2008 until 2020. Many home-owners are “upside-down,” foreclosures inevitable, their payments unsustainable.
But let’s make this a bit more personal. Perhaps many of you are feeling like your circumstances are out of your control—the things that used to sustain you no longer do. Don’t be surprised; this is part of God’s method for preparing you for kingdom work! Before the Hebrews could go in and possess the Promised Land, God led them into the Wilderness where their faith was tested. How? by removing all the things that had sustained them in Egypt—the familiar things that comforted them and gave them a sense of control.
Too many Christians today are trying to lay claim to God’s promises, while unwilling to let go of the “old” things that sustained them—they want to keep a foot in both worlds. If we are honest, we all want to retain some self-reliance, our independence—as a fall-back position. But if we are unresponsive, the wilderness will be prolonged. When you stop trying to sustain yourself, you will discover the Christ who sustains you, the One Who holds all things together (Col. 1:17).
But let’s make this a bit more personal. Perhaps many of you are feeling like your circumstances are out of your control—the things that used to sustain you no longer do. Don’t be surprised; this is part of God’s method for preparing you for kingdom work! Before the Hebrews could go in and possess the Promised Land, God led them into the Wilderness where their faith was tested. How? by removing all the things that had sustained them in Egypt—the familiar things that comforted them and gave them a sense of control.
Too many Christians today are trying to lay claim to God’s promises, while unwilling to let go of the “old” things that sustained them—they want to keep a foot in both worlds. If we are honest, we all want to retain some self-reliance, our independence—as a fall-back position. But if we are unresponsive, the wilderness will be prolonged. When you stop trying to sustain yourself, you will discover the Christ who sustains you, the One Who holds all things together (Col. 1:17).
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Why are We So Obsessed with Stuff?
I had coffee with a friend who told me he and his wife are thinking of moving closer to their children now living in another state. But they are less than eager because they have so much stuff. Last year I helped my parents move from their large house to an assisted care apartment. It was hard to know what to do with the stuff they wouldn’t need anymore. The personal storage industry is booming as Empty Nesters struggle to downsize without throwing away their stuff.
Author Annie Leonard has just published a book called “The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet.” I found her quote worth sharing: “We work more hours than folks in almost any other country in the world, and two of our main activities are TV watching and shopping. So we go to work, come home exhausted, and plop down in front of the TV. Commercials tell us we need new stuff, so we go shopping and in order to pay for it all, we have to work even more.” Sound familiar?
Jesus spoke of the problem of accumulating “stuff,” graciously referring to it as our “treasures.” He said "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.” (Mat. 6:19-20) Then He really drives home the point: “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” (Mat. 6:21) Maybe our storage units and garages as are telling us more about hearts than we want to admit.
Author Annie Leonard has just published a book called “The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet.” I found her quote worth sharing: “We work more hours than folks in almost any other country in the world, and two of our main activities are TV watching and shopping. So we go to work, come home exhausted, and plop down in front of the TV. Commercials tell us we need new stuff, so we go shopping and in order to pay for it all, we have to work even more.” Sound familiar?
Jesus spoke of the problem of accumulating “stuff,” graciously referring to it as our “treasures.” He said "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.” (Mat. 6:19-20) Then He really drives home the point: “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” (Mat. 6:21) Maybe our storage units and garages as are telling us more about hearts than we want to admit.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What is Real?
I read an article in USA Today about the “unreality” of “reality” TV shows. What you see as “real’ is the result of many ‘takes’ and ‘retakes’—the result of camera crews and directors behind every otherwise private moment. “Reality” shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, and The Apprentice are not ‘real’ at all, which begs the question ‘what is real?’
In his classic “Pursuit of God,” A.W. Tozer defines reality.
“What do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea any mind may have of it, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is real has being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity…. A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.”
In his classic “Pursuit of God,” A.W. Tozer defines reality.
“What do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea any mind may have of it, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is real has being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity…. A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.”
Monday, March 22, 2010
Please Be Quiet!
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer … Let my meditation be pleasing to You (Ps. 19:14; 104:34).
Almost 60 years ago, in his book “Pathways to Power,” Dr. Merrill Unger wrote:Meditation upon God’s Word is fast becoming a lost art among many Christian people. This holy exercise of pondering over the Word, chewing it as an animal chews its cud to get its sweetness and nutritive virtue into the heart and life, takes time… [And this] ill fits into the speed of our modern age. Today most Christians’ devotions are too hurried, their lives too rushed.
If that was true in the early fifties, how much more is it true today—in an age that has become faster than Unger could have imagined. Prayer and preoccupation are strange bed-fellows. Hurriedness and Holiness are incompatible. A deep knowledge of spiritual things can only come by the way of unhurried prayer and reflection upon the Word. The goal of our ‘quiet times’ is to internalize and personalize truth until it affects our thoughts, attitudes and actions.
Finding quiet time to meditate will not be easy as you attempt to pull away from the cacophony of modern media. But it is a much-needed Christian discipline. And as you reflect on God's Word during your quiet time, you will learn to recognize God's voice and really know Him.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Listen to Your Frenemies
Have you ever said to yourself “with friends like this, who needs enemies?” Thus, the post-modern term was coined:“frenemy”— an ‘enemy disguised as a friend.’ Granted, most of us are pretty quick to dismiss criticism that comes from a frenemy.
But if we begin with the assumption that God is always speaking to us (certainly by His Word but also through our circumstances), then logically we must accept that He may even be speaking to us (getting our attention for sure!) through people we might rather dismiss or disregard. And if we have prejudged them as our enemies, we will not consider that the Lord may be speaking to us through them.
This “frenemy” principle is illustrated in an episode in King David’s life. As David and his men were traveling home from battle, an antagonist named Shimei started throwing stones and cursing David from the other side of the river (2 Sam. 16:5-12). David’s loyal men asked if they should cross over and kill the man. But David response was to leave the man alone—maybe God was trying to tell David something. And by disregarding the denigration, David received a correction from the Lord.
When you are being criticized, do not be quick to dismiss those words. Maybe God has a message for you through the mouth of a frenemy? One final thought: God rebuked the prophet Balaam by speaking through a donkey (Numbers 22: 30). If God can speak through a donkey, surely He can speak through a frenemy!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Going to Church
Whenever someone meets you the first time, he or she will, predictably, ask you two questions: “what do you do?” (meaning where do you work?), and “where do you go to church?” Both questions are intended to identify and define, and even ‘label’, you. Their perception will vary, depending on whether you are a Pentecostal cashier at Wal-Mart or a Baptist VP of Wachovia.
The latter question troubles me. When someone asks me where I go to church, I want to respond “Church is not someplace I go, it’s who I am.” In one of the two times that Jesus speaks of the ‘Church,’ He defines it relationally: “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:20). His Church is made up of individual believers meeting in groups as small as two. Whenever Altha and I go out for coffee to share the Word and pray with one another, we are, in effect, co-pastoring a church of two!
Don’t get me wrong. I think every believer should be connected in some way to a local church. But far too many Christians have learned, incorrectly, that being a Christian is about ‘doing’ and ‘going,’ rather than ‘being.’ They have stopped “doing” things and “going” places they used to. Now they “do” and “go” to church—“Going” to church being the mark of a good Christian.
When I ask the question “Where do you go to church?” I want to know where someone is sowing into the Kingdom, doing the 'good works' God created him to do. The Church is not a place. It's an organism. So, let’s not get caught up in “doing” church and “going” to church, and forget we “are” the Church. Even so, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another ... And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:25, 24). Now, that’s a whole lot more than "Going to Church!"
The latter question troubles me. When someone asks me where I go to church, I want to respond “Church is not someplace I go, it’s who I am.” In one of the two times that Jesus speaks of the ‘Church,’ He defines it relationally: “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:20). His Church is made up of individual believers meeting in groups as small as two. Whenever Altha and I go out for coffee to share the Word and pray with one another, we are, in effect, co-pastoring a church of two!
Don’t get me wrong. I think every believer should be connected in some way to a local church. But far too many Christians have learned, incorrectly, that being a Christian is about ‘doing’ and ‘going,’ rather than ‘being.’ They have stopped “doing” things and “going” places they used to. Now they “do” and “go” to church—“Going” to church being the mark of a good Christian.
When I ask the question “Where do you go to church?” I want to know where someone is sowing into the Kingdom, doing the 'good works' God created him to do. The Church is not a place. It's an organism. So, let’s not get caught up in “doing” church and “going” to church, and forget we “are” the Church. Even so, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another ... And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:25, 24). Now, that’s a whole lot more than "Going to Church!"
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Pray for Brokenness
One of my young friends is going through a ‘fiery ordeal,” explained by Peter as necessary “for your testing.” Peter reminds us to “not be surprised … as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1Pe 4:12). But it seems we often are taken by surprise, aren’t we! After I had counseled my young friend how to pray during his test, I realized I had forgotten to tell him this important thing: to pray for brokenness!
The story of the Hebrews’ arrival in Canaan illustrates the principle of brokenness. Before taking possession of the Promised Land, God required every man to be circumcised. Canaan represents our victorious life in Christ. Circumcision represents dependence on God. The cutting of the flesh symbolizes their death to natural strength. Likewise, before you can enter your “Canaan,” you must be “broken” of your self-life, allowing God to expose and cut out everything that remains of your natural strength and self-determination. Afterward, you will be ‘enlarged’ by your trial.
King David knew brokenness was God’s way of enlarging his life (Ps. 18:36; 119:32). Whenever you are about to break through to your “larger place,” God will need to cut deeply into the bone, tissue, and muscle of your pride, false confidence, and self-reliance. He loves you too much to let you go into Canaan with your natural weapons, for they would surely sabotage you, and bring about your defeat. Let God break you. Let God’s knife do its work. “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12).
The story of the Hebrews’ arrival in Canaan illustrates the principle of brokenness. Before taking possession of the Promised Land, God required every man to be circumcised. Canaan represents our victorious life in Christ. Circumcision represents dependence on God. The cutting of the flesh symbolizes their death to natural strength. Likewise, before you can enter your “Canaan,” you must be “broken” of your self-life, allowing God to expose and cut out everything that remains of your natural strength and self-determination. Afterward, you will be ‘enlarged’ by your trial.
King David knew brokenness was God’s way of enlarging his life (Ps. 18:36; 119:32). Whenever you are about to break through to your “larger place,” God will need to cut deeply into the bone, tissue, and muscle of your pride, false confidence, and self-reliance. He loves you too much to let you go into Canaan with your natural weapons, for they would surely sabotage you, and bring about your defeat. Let God break you. Let God’s knife do its work. “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12).
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Pursuit of Happiness
Happy Birthday Altha! Today many people will wish my wife Altha a “happy” birthday—not a successful or a lucky day, and certainly not a sad day, but a happy one. Why? because happiness is what we all want—for ourselves and others. As a matter of fact, we Americans consider it our constitutional right!
It is significant that Jesus began His sermon on the mount by proclaiming happiness—in what-we-call the beatitudes. The word “blessed” can be translated happy, and many scholars do. But the real meaning of “blessed” is “fully satisfied.” The English word “happy” derives from the old English word “hap,” meaning luck or favorable circumstances. This is the kind of happiness “earthlings” pursue—wealth, success, power, beauty, popularity… But Jesus teaches us to pursue the happiness that comes from being rightly related to Him, finding our satisfaction in Him. Pursuing God IS pursuing happiness!
Well I can assure that Altha does. Deeply satisfied by her pursuit of God, she knows that higher ‘blessedness.’ And as a result, she brings happiness to others.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Are Ewe a Sheep?
Scouting the internet these days, I am hearing many new voices of “Christianity”—emerging church movement; the house church movement; prayer movement; prophetic movement; latter rain movement. Then there is Christian Right, Christian Left, and Green Christians, progressive Christians...
Has there ever been a time when it has been more important to hear the Lord’s voice? Paul warns us there will be many false voices, called deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1) in the latter days. But good news! We have an assurance from Jesus “My SHEEP hear my voice” (Jn. 10:27). Please Note: He doesn’t say my LAMBS will hear my voice!
Sheep are ruminants, eating a diet of grass and legumes. Mature sheep have eight incisors. Every year after birth they get another pair of them until all eight are in place, enabling them to cut off the grass. Lambs, however, are born with milk teeth that are not strong enough to chew grass; they feed on mother’s milk until they get their first pair of incisors, and begin grazing: no longer lambs; they are sheep.
The analogy is obvious. Peter says “like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). But in order to grow into maturity, we must start eating meat: “solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). Only those who have been trained by the Word of God are sheep—only they will be able to hear the voice of the Lord.
Has there ever been a time when it has been more important to hear the Lord’s voice? Paul warns us there will be many false voices, called deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1) in the latter days. But good news! We have an assurance from Jesus “My SHEEP hear my voice” (Jn. 10:27). Please Note: He doesn’t say my LAMBS will hear my voice!
Sheep are ruminants, eating a diet of grass and legumes. Mature sheep have eight incisors. Every year after birth they get another pair of them until all eight are in place, enabling them to cut off the grass. Lambs, however, are born with milk teeth that are not strong enough to chew grass; they feed on mother’s milk until they get their first pair of incisors, and begin grazing: no longer lambs; they are sheep.
The analogy is obvious. Peter says “like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). But in order to grow into maturity, we must start eating meat: “solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). Only those who have been trained by the Word of God are sheep—only they will be able to hear the voice of the Lord.
Friday, March 12, 2010
"Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand: Make this World a Better Place..."
As I stood in the check-out line at Safeway the other day, a young woman whose groceries were being checked out was talking on her cell phone, paying little attention to what was going on around her. I wondered if she would get off the phone when it was time to manage the ATM machine and get her groceries. But alas, she continued multi-tasking. I observed what-I-thought was an expression of irritation by the cashier who was being completely ignored. Meanwhile, the whole check-out process was slowed to a near halt while everyone in line waited—albeit impatiently. In short, her preoccupation prevented her from paying attention to the people around her.
But you don’t have to be on a cell phone to be preoccupied. Who of us has never been so lost in our own thoughts, so self-occupied, we couldn't see someone God wanted to touch through us.
Each person who crosses your path today is important to God. Do you realize that God is working in their hearts, just as He is yours? Maybe He wants to use you to touch them with kindness. But if preoccupied, you won’t—and His love and kindness cannot touch them.
Try going into this new day with your eyes open for the people you'll encounter at the store, the office, the school, or wherever you're headed. When that Starbucks barista or grocery clerk asks ‘how are you?’ respond with a heart-felt “and how are YOU?” Give them your full attention and see how God uses you to touch them. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mat. 5:16).
But you don’t have to be on a cell phone to be preoccupied. Who of us has never been so lost in our own thoughts, so self-occupied, we couldn't see someone God wanted to touch through us.
Each person who crosses your path today is important to God. Do you realize that God is working in their hearts, just as He is yours? Maybe He wants to use you to touch them with kindness. But if preoccupied, you won’t—and His love and kindness cannot touch them.
Try going into this new day with your eyes open for the people you'll encounter at the store, the office, the school, or wherever you're headed. When that Starbucks barista or grocery clerk asks ‘how are you?’ respond with a heart-felt “and how are YOU?” Give them your full attention and see how God uses you to touch them. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mat. 5:16).
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Don’t Believe in Your Self!
At the 24-Hour Fitness where I exercise every day, there are signs on every wall—‘Believe in Yourself.’ I look at them and think ‘they must be crazy!’ Anyone foolish enough to believe in himself is setting himself up for disappointment! To believe in yourself is to believe in your “self.” And Jesus says any follower of His must deny his self (Mark 8:34). Believing in your self is a sin of the greatest measure—it is the sin of independence. And being disappointed in yourself means to have believed in yourself!
“Self” belief is rooted in humanism—the belief that you can do anything. And humanism’s path ends in the despair of perfectionism: subjectively defined, self-imposed standards where you set unattainable goals—and always falling short.
Have you been trying to ‘believe in yourself?’ But falling short? You can never be free from performance and consequent disappointment until you accept that you are imperfect and unworthy! (I know how counter-culture that sounds!) But only those who truly understand their unworthiness and ensuing need for God’s grace will be free from disappointment. Knowing they can never be ‘good enough,’ their confidence is “Christ in me, the HOPE of glory” (Col. 1:27)—the divine remedy to humanism and perfectionism where we exchange our ‘goodness’ (a euphemism for self-righteousness!) for HIS perfection. The next time you feel disappointed in yourself, be quick to confess it as the sin of believing in yourself.
“Self” belief is rooted in humanism—the belief that you can do anything. And humanism’s path ends in the despair of perfectionism: subjectively defined, self-imposed standards where you set unattainable goals—and always falling short.
Have you been trying to ‘believe in yourself?’ But falling short? You can never be free from performance and consequent disappointment until you accept that you are imperfect and unworthy! (I know how counter-culture that sounds!) But only those who truly understand their unworthiness and ensuing need for God’s grace will be free from disappointment. Knowing they can never be ‘good enough,’ their confidence is “Christ in me, the HOPE of glory” (Col. 1:27)—the divine remedy to humanism and perfectionism where we exchange our ‘goodness’ (a euphemism for self-righteousness!) for HIS perfection. The next time you feel disappointed in yourself, be quick to confess it as the sin of believing in yourself.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Stop Reading the Bible
An often over-looked commandment of the New Testament is this one: “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
I can think of no parallel commandment to personal ‘reading’ of the Bible—other than in public settings (1 Timothy 4:13). Even then, the word ‘read’ comes from the Greek to “know,” meaning to “know by reading.” It implies active (not passive) learning. In fact, the men in the early church whose duty it was to teach the Scriptures were called ‘public readers.’ John used this active word for 'read' when he said "Blessed are those who read [know]... the prophecy..." (Rev. 1:3).
The Greek word for study has to do with concentrated effort, sometimes translated as the verb ‘to labor.’ And the reason Paul says we should ‘study’ the Word, or ‘labor’ the Word is so we can ‘rightly divide’ it. The literal translation of ‘rightly divide’ is ‘cut straight,’ the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. The significance should not escape us. Paul was a tent maker and knew the importance of cutting the canvas pieces straight before sewing them together. If the tent is not properly fitted together, the wind will blow through it. And if you are not able to “cut in a straight line the word of truth” (Darby translation), "you will be carried away by every wind of [tricky, crafty, deceitful] doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).
Stop reading and start studying.
I can think of no parallel commandment to personal ‘reading’ of the Bible—other than in public settings (1 Timothy 4:13). Even then, the word ‘read’ comes from the Greek to “know,” meaning to “know by reading.” It implies active (not passive) learning. In fact, the men in the early church whose duty it was to teach the Scriptures were called ‘public readers.’ John used this active word for 'read' when he said "Blessed are those who read [know]... the prophecy..." (Rev. 1:3).
The Greek word for study has to do with concentrated effort, sometimes translated as the verb ‘to labor.’ And the reason Paul says we should ‘study’ the Word, or ‘labor’ the Word is so we can ‘rightly divide’ it. The literal translation of ‘rightly divide’ is ‘cut straight,’ the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. The significance should not escape us. Paul was a tent maker and knew the importance of cutting the canvas pieces straight before sewing them together. If the tent is not properly fitted together, the wind will blow through it. And if you are not able to “cut in a straight line the word of truth” (Darby translation), "you will be carried away by every wind of [tricky, crafty, deceitful] doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).
Stop reading and start studying.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Are You Out of Your Mind?
A new study of more than 130,000 ‘gamers’ suggests that playing violent video games increases aggressive thoughts and behavior and decreases empathy. They also concluded that any game that involves killing or harming another character in order to advance is likely to be teaching inappropriate lessons to whoever is playing it. Tragically, in real life, some of these gamers have lost touch with reality, taking their gaming to the streets, schools, and malls, where they have proven that such games have driven them mad—they are “out of their minds.”
What an unfortunate picture of the worst that can happen to those whose minds are poisoned by the ‘father of lies’ (Jn. 8:44). Like gamers watching hours of evil video games, our minds become conformed to, even poisoned by, the world’s way of thinking. Paradoxically, in order to have our thinking transformed (Ro. 12:2); we must get “out of our minds.” What I mean is we must get outside of the mindset of the world’s way of thinking, and let the Word of God renew us in the deepest part of our minds (Eph. 4:23).
And of course whenever you attempt to think the way God does, the world will look at you and say, "Are you out of your mind?" But remember this: because “you have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), it is possible to think like Him. But to do so, you will have to get “out of your mind.”
One final thought: You are probably not a gamer, but if you have not stopped to think how TV, movies, books, newspapers, internet news, and radio are adversely affecting you, you must be out of your mind!
What an unfortunate picture of the worst that can happen to those whose minds are poisoned by the ‘father of lies’ (Jn. 8:44). Like gamers watching hours of evil video games, our minds become conformed to, even poisoned by, the world’s way of thinking. Paradoxically, in order to have our thinking transformed (Ro. 12:2); we must get “out of our minds.” What I mean is we must get outside of the mindset of the world’s way of thinking, and let the Word of God renew us in the deepest part of our minds (Eph. 4:23).
And of course whenever you attempt to think the way God does, the world will look at you and say, "Are you out of your mind?" But remember this: because “you have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), it is possible to think like Him. But to do so, you will have to get “out of your mind.”
One final thought: You are probably not a gamer, but if you have not stopped to think how TV, movies, books, newspapers, internet news, and radio are adversely affecting you, you must be out of your mind!
Monday, March 8, 2010
All or Nothing
Have you ever felt that you weren’t giving enough to the Lord? The Old Covenant required the Jews to give a tithe—ten percent. But the New Covenant requires 100%. Though I am not speaking of money, how you spend your money is a good indication of where your heart is: “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). I am speaking of your life: Jesus wants it all (Rom. 12:1: 1 Cor. 6:20).
John’s gospel account illustrates this principle (Jn. 6). At the end of a day when people were tired and hungry, the disciples wanted to send them away to the villages to buy their own food. But Jesus insisted that they feed the people (5,000 men, plus unnumbered women and children). When Jesus asked Phillip where they could buy enough bread for all the people to eat, Phillip began to hyper-ventilate (John says Jesus was testing him!). But Peter came to Phillip's rescue by finding a young boy whose mother had prepared him a lunch of 5 little loaves of bread and 2 fishes. I wonder how reassuring that was to Phillip!?
Of course you know how the story ends: not only was everyone fed but there were 12 baskets of left-over’s. (Wouldn't it have been fitting to give the left-over's to Phillip?) By turning the boy's meager lunch into abundance, Jesus was teaching Phillip (and us) this lesson: He doesn’t need a lot from us; but He requires all we have.
John’s gospel account illustrates this principle (Jn. 6). At the end of a day when people were tired and hungry, the disciples wanted to send them away to the villages to buy their own food. But Jesus insisted that they feed the people (5,000 men, plus unnumbered women and children). When Jesus asked Phillip where they could buy enough bread for all the people to eat, Phillip began to hyper-ventilate (John says Jesus was testing him!). But Peter came to Phillip's rescue by finding a young boy whose mother had prepared him a lunch of 5 little loaves of bread and 2 fishes. I wonder how reassuring that was to Phillip!?
Of course you know how the story ends: not only was everyone fed but there were 12 baskets of left-over’s. (Wouldn't it have been fitting to give the left-over's to Phillip?) By turning the boy's meager lunch into abundance, Jesus was teaching Phillip (and us) this lesson: He doesn’t need a lot from us; but He requires all we have.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Who Turned the Lights Out?
While preparing a sermon called “Who Turned the Lights Out?” for Berryessa Community Church last week, I received more light on this subject. May I enlighten you?
John describes Jesus as LIFE and LIGHT: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (1 Jn. 1:4). New-age teachers often refer to a light within us, telling their disciples that the light is the good part of humanity. But the Bible is very clear; you have no light in you unless you have the life of Christ. Remember that Satan, who has no life, will appear as “an angel of light” (2 Co. 11:14).
But it is not enough that we have LIFE and LIGHT, we must actually ‘walk in the light’ (Eph. 5:8). When we are self-willed, we are walking in our light; we are walking in our own life. And since we really don’t have any light of our own, we are walking in darkness—Christ’s life is blocked and His light is not seen. The intensity of the light seen through you depends on the intensity of His life in you. Then as the Holy Spirit reveals (sheds light on) more truth of Christ in you, you experience more of Jesus’ life.
However, be forewarned! The author of Hebrews explains that after the believers had received more light, they experienced a conflict of sufferings (Heb. 10:32). This week in his blog, David Wilkerson wrote: “Satan attacks us according to the measure of light we receive and walk in.” Satan will do all he can to put your lights out!
John describes Jesus as LIFE and LIGHT: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (1 Jn. 1:4). New-age teachers often refer to a light within us, telling their disciples that the light is the good part of humanity. But the Bible is very clear; you have no light in you unless you have the life of Christ. Remember that Satan, who has no life, will appear as “an angel of light” (2 Co. 11:14).
But it is not enough that we have LIFE and LIGHT, we must actually ‘walk in the light’ (Eph. 5:8). When we are self-willed, we are walking in our light; we are walking in our own life. And since we really don’t have any light of our own, we are walking in darkness—Christ’s life is blocked and His light is not seen. The intensity of the light seen through you depends on the intensity of His life in you. Then as the Holy Spirit reveals (sheds light on) more truth of Christ in you, you experience more of Jesus’ life.
However, be forewarned! The author of Hebrews explains that after the believers had received more light, they experienced a conflict of sufferings (Heb. 10:32). This week in his blog, David Wilkerson wrote: “Satan attacks us according to the measure of light we receive and walk in.” Satan will do all he can to put your lights out!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Old People are Not the Only Ones with Wrinkles
Some time ago, I wrote about ‘spots,’ but I forgot to mention the ‘wrinkles.’ (Aug. 8, 2009: “It only takes a spot”) (Probably unconscious avoidance on my part!) But Jesus is coming for a Church without spot or wrinkle” (Eph. 5:27). OK, so what are wrinkles?
Perhaps the phrase “a new wrinkle” will help us. A “new wrinkle” means adding a new idea to an old one. In that sense, it could apply to those who try to improve the gospel by adding something new to it. But in so doing, something already perfect gets all messed up. In the 1970’s many churches were infected by psychological theories, and began to incorporate the ideas of self-help into their teaching and programs. This has continued to be a wrinkle in many popular churches right up to this day.
The other way to think about a wrinkle is to look at what it does to otherwise clean apparel. No matter how pristine your clothing may be, if it is wrinkled, it is un-presentable. (Think what impression you’d make in a job interview with a wrinkled shirt.) We all have internal wrinkles. And what are they? They are the ‘crooked’ parts of ourselves—our ‘self-life’: from self-hatred to self-confidence. And when people see you, the first thing they see are these wrinkles instead of the perfect life of Christ.
On my daughter’s wedding day, we took precautions not to wrinkle the wedding dress—having been warned not to ‘lay’ it on the bed, we hung it. When Jesus comes, He doesn’t want to see any wrinkles in His Bride’s gown. But good news! If we confess our wrinkles to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our wrinkles and cleanse us from every spot and wrinkle (1 John 1:9, Greg's version).
Perhaps the phrase “a new wrinkle” will help us. A “new wrinkle” means adding a new idea to an old one. In that sense, it could apply to those who try to improve the gospel by adding something new to it. But in so doing, something already perfect gets all messed up. In the 1970’s many churches were infected by psychological theories, and began to incorporate the ideas of self-help into their teaching and programs. This has continued to be a wrinkle in many popular churches right up to this day.
The other way to think about a wrinkle is to look at what it does to otherwise clean apparel. No matter how pristine your clothing may be, if it is wrinkled, it is un-presentable. (Think what impression you’d make in a job interview with a wrinkled shirt.) We all have internal wrinkles. And what are they? They are the ‘crooked’ parts of ourselves—our ‘self-life’: from self-hatred to self-confidence. And when people see you, the first thing they see are these wrinkles instead of the perfect life of Christ.
On my daughter’s wedding day, we took precautions not to wrinkle the wedding dress—having been warned not to ‘lay’ it on the bed, we hung it. When Jesus comes, He doesn’t want to see any wrinkles in His Bride’s gown. But good news! If we confess our wrinkles to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our wrinkles and cleanse us from every spot and wrinkle (1 John 1:9, Greg's version).
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Are These the Last Days?
Following is an excerpt from Dr. Ray Stedman’s sermon “Are These the Last Days?” Written in 1980, note how relevant it is. The entire message can be found at http://www.raystedman.org/misc/3699.html
“Surely no one alive is unaware of the apocalyptic character of the times in which we live. Everywhere there is a sense of impending disaster. The voices of the secular media, various Christian proclamations, etc., all are united in saying that something serious is ahead. Even young people, who do not have the experience of the past for reference, are nevertheless sensing a heavily clouded future. Perhaps this accounts for the rapid increase in teenage suicides. It may startle you to know that teenagers are now the dominant age group committing suicide today. They do not see any hope in the future.” ...
“Malcolm Muggeridge ... editor of Punch magazine in Britain [says one symptom of a collapsing civilization] is the enormously complicated structure of taxation and administration. No one seems to be able to do anything to reduce the complexity of it. Taxation and government will keep mounting to the point where it will become insupportable, until the whole economy at last collapses under the weight of it.”
To the question are these the last days? Ray says: “These may or may not be the last days; who knows? But whatever they are, they are days of opportunity, days of possibility, days when God can be glorified…” And to the question what are we to do? Ray cites Jesus' words: "Occupy until I come," (Lk. 19:13). In other words, keep busy doing the work of the kingdom of God until His arrival!
“Surely no one alive is unaware of the apocalyptic character of the times in which we live. Everywhere there is a sense of impending disaster. The voices of the secular media, various Christian proclamations, etc., all are united in saying that something serious is ahead. Even young people, who do not have the experience of the past for reference, are nevertheless sensing a heavily clouded future. Perhaps this accounts for the rapid increase in teenage suicides. It may startle you to know that teenagers are now the dominant age group committing suicide today. They do not see any hope in the future.” ...
“Malcolm Muggeridge ... editor of Punch magazine in Britain [says one symptom of a collapsing civilization] is the enormously complicated structure of taxation and administration. No one seems to be able to do anything to reduce the complexity of it. Taxation and government will keep mounting to the point where it will become insupportable, until the whole economy at last collapses under the weight of it.”
To the question are these the last days? Ray says: “These may or may not be the last days; who knows? But whatever they are, they are days of opportunity, days of possibility, days when God can be glorified…” And to the question what are we to do? Ray cites Jesus' words: "Occupy until I come," (Lk. 19:13). In other words, keep busy doing the work of the kingdom of God until His arrival!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Is God Shaking Things Up?
The front page story in USA Today caught my attention: “In Chilean quake, a warning for U.S.” The title begs the question: Is Chilean quake a warning for us? I believe God is speaking through the catastrophic earth quakes in Haiti and Chile. And we should be paying attention (Matt. 11:15).
“Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." (Heb. 12:26) …“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places; all these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:7)…“for we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Rom. 8:22).
Jesus said natural disasters would be "but the beginnings of the birth pains" of the last days of the earth as we know it—are we now experiencing those ‘birth pains’? There are two things that occur during labor: 1) the pain becomes more intense and 2) the pains are closer together as birth nears. Is it not apparent that the entire creation, earth and inhabitants, are groaning in anticipation of the end of this age? Who of you does not know someone whose life has been severely shaken this last year?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they did not discern the times (Lk. 12:56). The raging seas (tsunamis) and the increase of earthquakes seem like the birth pains Jesus spoke of. And the shaking up of our personal lives is a severe reminder we are God's workmanship (there’s nothing like an 8.8 to heighten our awareness of God's activity!). If there was ever a time to remain alert and listen to the Spirit, this is it.
“Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." (Heb. 12:26) …“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places; all these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:7)…“for we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Rom. 8:22).
Jesus said natural disasters would be "but the beginnings of the birth pains" of the last days of the earth as we know it—are we now experiencing those ‘birth pains’? There are two things that occur during labor: 1) the pain becomes more intense and 2) the pains are closer together as birth nears. Is it not apparent that the entire creation, earth and inhabitants, are groaning in anticipation of the end of this age? Who of you does not know someone whose life has been severely shaken this last year?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they did not discern the times (Lk. 12:56). The raging seas (tsunamis) and the increase of earthquakes seem like the birth pains Jesus spoke of. And the shaking up of our personal lives is a severe reminder we are God's workmanship (there’s nothing like an 8.8 to heighten our awareness of God's activity!). If there was ever a time to remain alert and listen to the Spirit, this is it.
Monday, March 1, 2010
A House Divided
Though Jesus wasn’t speaking of America, Iraq or Afghanistan when he said “if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand; and if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mar 3:24-25), it is certainly relevant.
Here in the States, our Congress is so divided and polarized it is nearly dysfunctional. You may well argue it has been this way before, but I don’t believe ‘we’ have ever been here before—the unique combination of events—dealing with a ‘global’ recession, fighting two wars, and combating terrorism. To solve these problems, our country needs unity more than any time since the Civil War, when, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech.
Our great nation-building experiment in Iraq, a country long divided by ethnic and religious differences, is yet on trial, but will only succeed if the formerly fractured factions can work together. Likewise, our whole strategy in Afghanistan is dependent on ending three thousand years of tribal loyalties!!
But the “house divided” principle also applies to the Church, which is why Paul says “always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace” (Eph. 4:3). What is more, the “house divided” principle is also very personal. Paul describes a ‘great divide’ going on inside of each of us—the battle of flesh versus spirit (Gal. 5:17). But Paul assures us that as long as we walk in unity with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), our ‘house’ will stand. This single mindedness is essential if you are to overcome in these troubled times. Beware: Satan, the great divider, is at work in the world, the Church, and your heart.
Here in the States, our Congress is so divided and polarized it is nearly dysfunctional. You may well argue it has been this way before, but I don’t believe ‘we’ have ever been here before—the unique combination of events—dealing with a ‘global’ recession, fighting two wars, and combating terrorism. To solve these problems, our country needs unity more than any time since the Civil War, when, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech.
Our great nation-building experiment in Iraq, a country long divided by ethnic and religious differences, is yet on trial, but will only succeed if the formerly fractured factions can work together. Likewise, our whole strategy in Afghanistan is dependent on ending three thousand years of tribal loyalties!!
But the “house divided” principle also applies to the Church, which is why Paul says “always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace” (Eph. 4:3). What is more, the “house divided” principle is also very personal. Paul describes a ‘great divide’ going on inside of each of us—the battle of flesh versus spirit (Gal. 5:17). But Paul assures us that as long as we walk in unity with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), our ‘house’ will stand. This single mindedness is essential if you are to overcome in these troubled times. Beware: Satan, the great divider, is at work in the world, the Church, and your heart.
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