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Pastor's Words for Living
Powerful Living in Painful Times |
8/20/2010 10:25 AM |
How can I unleash the power of Christ in my life?
(1) Confess the pain/weakness/fear in my life to Him.
(2) Do I believe He is able and that He wants to empower me to thrive?
(3) Meditate on scriptures that proclaim His power and authority.
(4) Ask Him for His power in my life and needs.
(5) Ask Him to make me confident that all things are moving toward a kingdom end.
(6) Ask Him for faith to accept my path as His means of moving me toward His kingdom end.
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The Visible Gospel |
7/20/2010 6:00 AM |
| "Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible. The church is the gospel made visible."
- Mark Dever
This statement really causes me to wonder what gospel the world sees when it observes us.
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True Christianity and the Church |
7/16/2010 8:13 AM |
| "The church is not incidental to true Christianity; it is essential to the sustenance of a Spirit-filled life."
- Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity. |
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Fear of Whom? |
7/6/2010 8:52 AM |
The fear of man is the fear that another person might expose, shame or harm you. And it’s the greatest single obstacle to evangelism. Fear of man replaces God and sets people as our chief end, our chief idol. Nowadays, rather than bending the knee to carved wood and metal idols, we bow to people, so much so that the fear of man has become the idolatry of our age.
- J. Mack Stiles. Marks of the Messenger
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Are We Agonizing Together? |
6/30/2010 3:50 PM |
Does it lie within your power right now to weep over the spiritual destruction of the people on your street? Such tears come only through a profound work of God. If we want this work of God in our lives and in our churches, there will be agonizing prayer: “God, break my heart!” I choose the word “agonize” carefully. It is the word Paul used in Romans 15:30, “Now I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together [sunagonizasthai] with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.” With such “agonizing together” God may grant tears. And without those tears we may shuffle members from church to church, but few people will pass from darkness to light.
- John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, p. 56-57
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The Source of Hope |
6/30/2010 2:24 PM |
When we depend upon organizations,
we get what organizations can do;
when we depend upon education,
we get what education can do;
when we depend upon man,
we get what man can do;
but when we depend upon prayer,
we get what God can do.
A.C. Dixon
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Beyond the Gospel? |
6/22/2010 7:42 AM |
Many feel the gospel is what gets you saved. Then we focus on other things in the Christian life, such as raising our kids, working on Christian marriage and going on short-term mission trips.
But as Tim Keller says, “We never get beyond the gospel in our Christian life to something more advanced. The gospel is not the first step in a stairway of truths; rather, it is more like the hub in a wheel of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A to Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make all progress in the kingdom.”
- J. Mack Stiles, Marks of the Messenger, p. 51
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Discomfort or Desperation? |
6/10/2010 9:22 AM |
Physical hunger can, and often does compel human beings to extreme efforts in order to satisfy the desperate pangs associated with empty stomachs. The prodigal son is a graphic biblical example of how hunger drives a man. He exhausted his money and resources by riotous living. His poverty moved him to take up the unthinkable job of feeding pigs. Something no Jewish boy would have done apart from severe circumstances. While performing his distasteful task, he became so overwhelmed with hunger that he dropped to the ground alongside the pigs that he might eat of their slop.
Most of us who live in western culture have never experienced true and genuine hunger of this sort. The most severe encounter we have with hunger is nothing more than a little discomfort. We have not had to resort to unthinkable measures to abate the gnawing torment of hunger.
Physical hunger is certainly a large problem in many places and those of us who have much should be interested an invested in trying to alleviate hunger at every opportunity. But, there is a bigger issue at stake for us. Jesus preached that those who are spiritually hungry are blessed. It’s hard to understand how hunger can be a blessing. The person who is driven by his desire to know the righteousness of God like physical hunger drives a man to be desperate for food, this person is blessed.
It is certainly a powerful concept to consider. Does my spiritual hunger merely reflect my very limited and shallow experience with physical hunger? Am I so hungry spiritually for the righteousness of God that I will stop at nothing to be filled and satisfied by that righteousness only He provides? Jesus said that this kind of spiritual hunger is one of the keys to being happy. I think it is an important morsel upon which to chew.
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Why Stay The Course? |
6/9/2010 8:34 AM |
There are undeniable benefits for vigilantly guarding the distinction between sin and righteousness that the world wants to blur.
1. We remain faithful to our calling and to our Lord.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
2. We make disciples with the Lord.
“My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:1-3)
3. We will be strengthened in the work of the Lord.
“Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
4. We will be blessed by the Lord.
“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:23)
There is simply too much at stake for us to ignore the cultural battles raging all around us pertaining to sin and righteousness. We cannot afford to remain silent and indifferent.
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.” (2 Timothy 2:8-9)
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Stay The Course |
6/7/2010 8:22 PM |
I have been thinking today about the “normalization” of sin. The movements in society cannot be simple chance occurrences. There is too much consistency in the efforts to make sin acceptable and normal. If it is normal then there is no need to push back from sin.
Right now there is a bill that has passed the House of Representatives and will soon be considered by the Senate that would make homosexuality an open and accepted part of military life in the U.S. It prompted my thoughts about how these absurdities take center stage in our government, courts, and media outlets. It has to be by design.
The homosexual sympathizers have pushed for tolerance on numerous fronts. They have accomplished their goal in the workplace, school, and even in the home. Why do they continue to drive this agenda down the throats of the American people? It seems that they want more than acceptance and tolerance. They want homosexuality to be considered a normal part of human existence. The more institutions that include the open practice of homosexuality the closer they come to making this abhorrent behavior normal in the eyes of society. If the eyes and ears deem it normal, then the mind and heart are soon to follow suit.
The same approach is used to make lying, adultery, divorce, and any number of sins to be nothing more than normal human behavior. If it is normal, can it really be considered so bad? If it is not so bad, can it really be labeled as sin? Without a clear distinction between sin and purity, can there really be a need for a Savior?
Christians must be vigilant and not grow weary in guarding the line that separates sin and righteousness. We simply must remain engaged in the battle against this onslaught that enables human beings to justify depravity. Our own souls hang in the balance as do the souls of countless people in every corner of the world.
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." - 1 Timothy 4:16 |
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They Do Not Understand |
6/2/2010 2:47 PM |
The world finds it impossible to understand the follower of Christ. In all fairness, it is reasonable for the unregenerate heart to have a difficult time putting the pieces together. Think of the paradoxes that Christianity poses; (1) A man is to become a fool in order to be wise (2) A man is to be rich by becoming poor (3) A man is to be strong by becoming weak (4) A man is to save his life by losing it.
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Beware of the Drift |
5/28/2010 8:08 AM |
It is an easy thing for Christianity to lose its distinctiveness from the culture. We have a tendency to relax the truths of the gospel that it might be more palatable which we believe will make it more effective in impacting more people. Once the drift begins, it is not only possible, but very likely that the gospel will soon merge with the culture and be lost.
Mack Stiles, in his book, Marks of the Messenger, offers some helpful insights for guarding the distinctions of the gospel.
- Remember the Bible critiques culture, not the other way around.
- Be humble about the way your particular culture may have blended with the message of the gospel, causing you to hold worldviews that Jesus would have never required.
- Be willing to counter culture; that is, be willing to look different than the culture around you.
- Never forget the intense pressure to fit into culture. The temptation is for us to adopt certain cultural norms that obscure or overshadow the gospel.
"Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." - 2 Tim. 1:14
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Exhausted Anger |
5/25/2010 8:01 AM |
Do we truly grasp the measure of salvation we have been granted by God’s grace? I think we do not. We presume upon it. We take it for granted. In some ways we even view it as something we had a hand in producing for ourselves.
“I will give thanks to You, O Lord; for although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away.” (Is. 12:1) No one turns the anger of God but God alone. I deserve His anger, His wrath, His judgment. Jesus stepped into my rightful place, took God’s judgment meant for me, and now God turns His anger from me. His anger toward me has been exhausted.
“Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things.” (Is. 12:5)
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To Be Nothing |
5/24/2010 7:46 AM |
| "God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him." - Martin Luther |
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Whose Child Am I? |
5/12/2010 7:32 AM |
“Certainly it evidences God to be our Father, when he has given us a childlike frame of heart, to weep for sin as it is sin, an act of pollution, enmity and ingratitude. A wicked man may mourn for the bitter fruit of sin, but only a child of God can grieve for its odious nature.”
- Thomas Watson
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The True Religion of the West |
5/11/2010 3:16 PM |
Mark Buchanan, in Trapped in the Cult of the Next Thing offers a very challenging take on the world we live in:
I belong to the Cult of the Next Thing. It’s dangerously easy to get enlisted. It happens by default --- not by choosing the cult, but by failing to resist it. The Cult of the Next Thing is consumerism cast in religious terms. It has its own litany of sacred words: more, you deserve it, new, faster, cleaner, brighter. It has its own deep-rooted liturgy: charge it, instant credit, no down-payment, deferred payment, no interest for three months. It has its own preachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles: ad men, pitchmen, and celebrity sponsors. It has, of course, its own shrines, chapels, temples, meccas: malls, superstores, club warehouses. It has its own sacraments: credit and debit cards. It has its own ecstatic experience: the spending spree. The Cult of the Next Thing’s central message proclaims, “Crave and spend, for the Kingdom of Stuff is here.”
It is a very unflattering and convicting picture, but impossible to disagree with anything he said.
“Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consists of his possessions.” - Luke 12:15
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Under Seige |
5/6/2010 8:06 AM |
Every object that our senses encounter presents a deity to our minds, and exhorts us to subscribe to the truth of it.
- Stephen Charnock
The path to safeguarding our hearts against the world’s imposter gods begins with a desire and intention to consider and honor the true God.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Taking the false and destructive gods of this world off our radar is accomplished by filling our minds and passions with an obsession for God. We must set our inward impulse and disposition to charge hard toward God. If we dare to relax, the haunting images from this world will flood in from all directions.
J.B. Lightfoot said, “You must not only seek heaven, you must think heaven”
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Secret Atheism? |
5/5/2010 7:49 AM |
“A secret atheism, or a partial atheism, is the spring of all the wicked practices in the world; the disorders of the life spring from the ill dispositions of the heart.”
- Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God
All of us practice atheism at some level of our existence. This statement challenges the careless activities of our lives, especially for the person who claims a belief and love for God. It is easy to make claims with pious words, but the real actions of our lives contradict or confirm those words.
At any moment when we engage in wicked attitudes and behaviors, we either do not believe God exists or we do not believe He possesses the attributes Scripture claims for Him. If we believe He does not possess the attributes Scripture claims, are we not denying God?
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No Dry Ground |
5/3/2010 8:51 AM |
I stepped outside this morning to walk my dog and discovered there was nothing dry to be found anywhere. The rains came last night and every step proved to be a soggy ordeal that quickly saturated my shoes, socks, and eventually my clothes.
Honestly, I thought about complaining, but God replaced that thought with another one. What if God’s people were filled by His Spirit until He spilled over the boundaries of our lives and flooded our world. Can you imagine a Church so saturated with Spirit-filled people that the dry people could not avoid getting wet?
Just a thought.
“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:31
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Don't Tinker Around With My Stuff |
4/29/2010 8:51 AM |
One of the most unhelpful and unproductive Christian scenarios occurs in the church when people are easily provoked to anger. It’s not that anger is condemned by God. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin.” So, is anger justified in the church? It is clear that there is a place for righteous anger, but most often what actually occurs is sinful anger. The best way to distinguish between the two is by examining what the person is angry about.
Righteous anger is directed toward sin. When others are clearly violating God’s word, God’s ways, and God’s people, spiritually-driven people should be indignant. Scripture offers us a method for dealing with sinful behaviors, though most choose the path of avoidance when it comes to church discipline. It's easier, but far from best. Unrighteous anger is usually directed at something very personal. In church life it means that someone has tinkered with the religious things affecting my life. Often these are overrated stale habits and possessions that we have substituted for genuine Christianity.
If you find yourself “put off” or “hurt” by someone or something in the church, the truth is that you are angry. The question you need to ask yourself is, “What am I angry about?” Is my anger directed toward real sin? Or, is my anger about not having things the way I want or think they should be? The answer could tell you a lot about your relationship with Christ, and maybe a few things about your church.
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No Time for Small Change |
4/26/2010 8:11 AM |
The life we live in this world is like discovering a single shiny quarter affixed to the surface of freshly dried concrete. Many of us become distracted and drawn to that quarter. We work diligently to pry it loose, while just over eternity’s hill before us is a treasure too vast to count and more spectacular than we can imagine.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
- Matthew 13:44
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Design Work vs. Divine Work |
4/21/2010 8:22 AM |
“The new birth is not like the make-up that morticians use to try to make corpses look more like they are alive. The new birth is the creation of spiritual life, not the imitation of life.”
- John Piper, Finally Alive, p. 35
Am I merely decorating the outside of myself with life-like furnishings or am I leaking spiritual oil from within?
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Empty The Tank |
3/10/2010 8:26 AM |
Life is full of shortages, at least from man’s perspective. Many worry about using up all the world’s natural resources. Certainly there is a case to be made that we should be good stewards of all that the Creator has entrusted to us, but obsession over protective rationing is a bit much.
This protective mindset often plagues the lives of genuine believers. We attempt to lower the flame of devotion to Christ because we fear it will lead us to being burned out. Serving the Lord should never be something we “work up” on our own, but a work of God’s Spirit in us and through us. The question is not whether I will become burned out by ministry, but will I become consumed with the fire that is Christ in me.
Followers of Christ need less protective rationing and more of the burning that was evident in the Apostle Paul’s life. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Cor. 9:24)
Lord, do not let me run this race just to finish. Make me to run this race without reserve and without regret. Lord, empower me to empty the tank in pursuit of Your glory.
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Attitude Adjustment |
3/8/2010 9:04 AM |
“Joy is a command. You may be working hard and serving the Lord faithfully, but if you aren’t serving with gladness, you aren’t serving Him appropriately or representing Him accurately.” - C.J. Mahaney, Living The Cross Centered Life.
So you can serve God inappropriately? Can our labors for Him, in His name really be dead on arrival? Yes, they certainly can, and if we are honest with ourselves a great number of our God-honoring efforts likely end up in the tragic category of inappropriate service. It’s not what any of us want, but without joy it is all we have to offer God.
Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.” Lord, challenge my motives and attitudes in every facet of my life. Make me joyful at all times for Your glory.
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Always Be With Grace |
3/2/2010 7:33 AM |
How does your company affect your behavior? Have you noticed that it is easier to emulate Christ when you know other Christians are around? It is a sad truth that many of us who claim to love Christ often fail to reflect that love when in the presence of unbelievers. For some reason we drop our guard and allow the world’s behavior patterns to become our own.
Colossians 4:5-6 says, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to respond to each person.” In other words, we are to behave with prudence and discretion toward those who are not followers of Christ. Every encounter is an opportunity. In fact, every encounter is a divine opportunity carefully arranged by God. What we say and how we say it can be used by God to create a thirst in the heart of an unbeliever, or it can stir up anger and bitterness.
That’s a sobering thought as I begin my day. Lord, be the Master of my life today, especially my tongue.
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Are We Real? |
2/26/2010 8:44 AM |
D.A. Carson, in his new book Scandalous offers a statement that every serious Christian should consider. Here’s what Dr. Carson said on page 51: “Our culture is so present-oriented that we filter out depictions of final judgment; we are not frightened of hell. We are far more frightened of war, old age, sickness, disease, and bankruptcy. We are more frightened of temporal judgments than final judgment.”
Take a few minutes, take a few days if necessary and prayerfully meditate on the significance of this statement. A couple of important observations leap to my mind: (1) Man is ignorant regarding final judgment. (2) Those who understand it and are in Christ are indifferent because it no longer affects them.
We must change our hearts on this matter. We must become serious prayer warriors, interceding for the souls of people. We must step up and be what God has called us to be. Equip, mobilize, and engage our world with the love and truth claims of Christ. That is real Christianity. To do less is a cheap imitation at best.
“Man is destined to die once, after that to face judgment.” - Hebrews 9:27
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When Serving God Hurts |
2/25/2010 11:51 AM |
If you attempt to follow God’s direction in your life, you can expect to experience more than an occasional heartache. Very often the hurts will come from other people who simply do not understand or appreciate the desires of your heart. They may not be interested in godly things or in truth. This will lead them to act antagonistically toward those who are serious about these things. Others may be completely apathetic about spiritual matters, even while going through religious motions. Still, there are people who believe they have a better grasp of God’s desires and design for the lives everyone else. They spend their energy helping you see the error of your ways.
There are plenty of scenarios in which it becomes painful and discouraging to serve God. Are we supposed to put some special coating on our hearts that shields us from hurtful things? Are we supposed to abandon what we believe God has said in order to comply with the crowds? The truth of the matter is that when serving God hurts, it is because there is too much of “me” in the equation. The right question to ask is, “Am I serving me, or am I serving God?”
God will use the hurt to chasten us and change us into the vessels He desires us to be. I know very few people who long for chastening, but God’s corrective hand upon our lives should be welcomed with joy and gratitude. Serving God will always hurt at different times and in different ways. We need to hold on to the truth that what He ordains for us is for our good and for His glory … every time.
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No Greater Thought |
2/24/2010 10:15 AM |
“He was despised.” He was held in contempt. People loved the miracles He performed, but they hated the truth. His righteousness and condemnations of sin were too much for the people of His day, and they continue to be too much for the world today.
His life was not one of stardom and glamour, but of continual rejection, criticism and disdain. People were disrespectful and condescending toward Him. He was a novelty, only interesting when He was doing miracles and entertaining them. He was dull and offensive when He was speaking the truth. Everything He said found a sensitive target in the heart. He continually pulled back the curtain and cast a bright light on the sin that men tried to keep hidden in darkness. They despised Him. They hated the gospel He proclaimed. They plotted against Him. They talked about Him in hurtful ways. The Hollywood version of Jesus portrays Him as a star, but the scriptures tell us He was a plague in the minds of the people.
He embraced the hatred, the shame, and even death for me. He took it all so that I could have His righteousness. There is no greater thought for me to consider.
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Evaluating God's Place In Your Life |
2/23/2010 12:08 PM |
We often use task-oriented opportunities to make ourselves feel good about God's rightful place in our lives. If you practice a personal worship time each and every day, you may consider yourself to be a godly person. If you faithfully attend a local Christian assembly, you may consider yourself to be a godly person. If you observe and obey the Ten Commandments, you may consider yourself to be a godly person. These things are all important in the context of being true disciples of Christ. Participation in these kinds of spiritual growth opportunities should be an integral part of our Christian lives, but they are not necessarily the determining factors of whether or not we are putting God first in our lives.
The best evaluator of whether God is in His rightful place in our lives is the spiritual fruit that is being produced in us and through us. Colossians 3:18-25 makes the case that relationships are a critical indicator of our attitudes toward God as well as our faith in God. Do we honor the many kinds of relationships that exist in our lives? Do we view these relationships as God intends them to be viewed?
There are some interesting words and phrases used in this short passage that can tell us alot about ourselves. Consider some of the key items in these verses: "be subject to" ... "love" ... "do not be embittered" ... "be obedient" ... "do not exasperate" ... "with sincerity of heart" ... "for the Lord rather than for men." The theme is that every relationship we have is by God's design. We are to embrace those relationships with regard to God's desires. Wives are to be subject to their husbands, husbands are to love their wives, children are to obey their parents, fathers are to guard against provoking their children, workers are to serve their employers as though they are working directly for God. In every relationship there is the foundation of love and submission.
Carefully evaluating our attitudes and actions in regards to these relationships can tell us a great deal about our relationship with the Father. We may put together a nice checklist of religious accomplishments, but still be missing the real fruit God intends for those who want Him first in their lives. |
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Victorious Living |
2/22/2010 10:09 AM |
In the Christian life we must make choices moment by moment, and day by day. We can succomb to the whispers from the enemy which undercut our peace and conformity to Christ. This path leads us to defeat. The lies of the enemy are designed to cause us to lose hope and assurance. Our faith and trust in Christ get rocked when we give place to the attacks of Satan.
Colossians 3:12-17 makes it clear that we can take another path. We can put on a heart that is much different. We can adopt a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We have the capability through God's Spirit to be people who are longsuffering and quick to forgive any injuries directed at us. We can opt to put on love instead of pride and hurt. Love is the glue that binds us together in unity.
It is one thing to know this in our minds, but how do we put it into practice when the adversity is so real and hurtful? We are told to allow the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts. The picture here is of a wonderful arbitrator who judges these things that are used against us. Like an umpire calling balls and strikes, Christ Jesus calls the attacks valid or unfounded. Those that are unfounded can be immediately discarded as vain attempts by the enemy to rob us of joy, peace, and unity. If they should be accurate, our arbiter makes the way plain by which we can properly resolve them. In both instances, our faith in Him is strengthened and our unity in the body of Christ is guarded. |
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Reconciled |
1/4/2010 7:54 AM |
Once I was alienated from God by sin. The relationship was broken beyond repair. I had no hope. I was destined to receive the full devastation of God's righteous wrath and judgment. I had no alternative and no way out. But even while I was reveling in my enmity toward God, Christ Jesus loved me and offered Himself up for me. He took my judgment unto Himself. He became sin that I could become a son. He took my reproach and gave me His righteousness. Now, there is no condemnation for me! Look as long and as hard as you wish, but you will find no condemnation on my record. He has rolled away my reproach. I have hope. I have life. I have been forever, ... FOREVER reconciled to God.
"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach." - Colossians 1:21-22
Lord, make me a herald of the good news today! |
The Worst Day Ever |
8/3/2009 8:40 PM |
Monday has long carried the distinction as the worst day of the week. I suppose it earned this label because we place so much value on the freedom we typically attribute to the weekend. The current climate in society seems to be turning the entire week into one long series of Mondays. How can we combat the culture of negativity that is so prevalent today? Pondering this subject led me to consider some other important questions:
· Do we place too much of a premium on material prosperity?
· Do we neglect to give proper credence to God’s complete control over all things?
· Do we fail to look for God’s hand in the midst of challenging times?
· Do we entertain thoughts of bitterness toward God for difficulties?
Soon I found myself thinking about a man who had possibly the worst day ever. Even people who have little interest in spiritual matters seem to know the saga of Job. Sometimes it is very helpful to examine another person’s difficulties to find encouragement for persevering through our own trying days. So, I decided to refresh my memory of Job’s dilemma in hopes of discovering how he dealt with his difficult ordeal.
The story begins with a description of Job’s wonderful life. He had ten children who apparently got along well together. He had an abundance of livestock and material possessions. Life was good for Job. Then one day messengers showed up at Job’s house bearing bad news. Raiders, fire from the sky, and a mighty wind had destroyed servants, livestock, and even Job’s children. Everyone has had bad days, but we would be hard pressed to find anyone having as tragic a day as Job experienced.
We can only imagine the emotions that must have exploded in Job’s heart. Most of us would have been devastated by the news, but Job’s response was truly incredible. The Scripture says, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” As I read these words I could help but be inspired. I want to be like Job. I want my first response to difficult times to be a passion to worship God. Job’s example should be an encouragement to all of us to commit to worship God no matter the circumstances we face.
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The Genius Of Man And The Greatness Of God |
6/19/2009 10:55 PM |
There is a popular belief in the faith arena that suggests that the Bible is archaic and modern man needs to apply technology and human ingenuity to make it relevant. Many are surely well-intended attempts to proclaim the gospel effectually, and some creative methods may be appropriate as long as they take a supportive role to giving understanding to God’s truth. The danger is when there is more confidence and attention placed in the genius of man than in the truth. When we buy into the idea that Scripture is lacking relevance in our modern culture we create some unintended consequences for ourselves.
First, we are essentially claiming that there is a problem with God’s revelation of Himself to man. If we say that Scripture is not relevant, we take a position that it is not sufficient. If it is not sufficient then it is flawed in some way.
Second, we put ourselves in a position of questioning God’s ability to providentially preserve His message as He intended that message to be communicated. It has been relevant for two thousand years and we have no reason to believe that twenty-first century human beings are of a superior nature to the many that have lived before us.
Third, we deny the promise that the Holy Spirit will give us understanding of God’s message. The Holy Spirit is more than able to shine the bright light of understanding upon the Scripture for any human.
Fourth, we adopt an attitude that man’s ability to enhance God’s revelation is greater than Scripture’s own supernatural claim. Scripture claims that it is living, active, and powerful. When we claim that it is not relevant we deny the supernatural quality of God’s Word.
Fifth, we call into question God’s infallibility. If something is amiss with Scripture then God has made a mistake in His plan to reveal Himself to man.
Sixth, we undermine our own faith in the sovereignty of God. If we think we must do something to aid God’s Word then we have adopted the idea that it is God who needs our help instead of us needing His help.
The Word of God is both precious and powerful. Any attempts we make to improve it are nothing short of arrogance. Read it, meditate upon it, love it and obey it. Approach it prayerfully with trust that God is able to make it live in you.
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The Worshiping Life |
6/13/2009 6:46 PM |
Human beings are created in the image of God and for His glory. Worship is the expression of all that we are created to be and do. Most of us have compartmentalized worship. We set aside one hour each week, if our schedule permits, for worship. We not only constrict our time for worship, we also confuse our worship. It is tempting for us to approach that one hour each week with the idea of getting something for ourselves instead of giving what is due our God. This makes the minimal time we have set aside for worship to be mostly about ourselves.
Worship in the proper sense means to express reverence of the worthiness of God. It is the expression of honor to God. When we engage in worship we are to declare God’s greatness through singing hymns and praises to Him. We honor Him by giving ourselves to the study and hearing of His Word. We celebrate His faithfulness by giving our tithes and offerings. We declare His supreme place in our lives by giving our time to worship. We stand in awe of Him by proclaiming His marvelous gospel.
Worship is not something that only happens for an hour on Sunday morning, but it is a way of life. Worship should be the way we live our lives moment by moment every day. It is living continually with a heart that is intentionally focused upon honoring Him with every dimension of our lives.
How is this possible? It begins by setting the right tone for each day with a personal time of worship. Think of your day as an airplane flight. The first thing that must occur for a successful flight is that the pilot must chart and file a proper flight plan. A believer’s personal time each morning is a time for setting the heart and mind upon God and His purposes for the day. Begin by exalting Him in prayer. Cleanse your heart of all impure thoughts, desires, and deeds. Saturate your heart and mind with His Word. Lift your heart upward toward God by singing a hymn or praise song that expresses His greatness. Ask God to make you an intentional worshiper of Him throughout your day. Submit yourself to His purposes.
We are designed and equipped to be worshipers of Almighty God. Our lives have real purpose and meaning as we fulfill our calling. Commit yourself to not allow another day of your life to be wasted on the trivialities of this world. Give yourself to being consumed with passionate worship of the One who deserves all your attention and affection.
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The Good News About A Turbulent Culture |
6/12/2009 12:54 AM |
History has been fraught with trouble. Some eras have been more disturbing than others, but all man’s days have been filled with difficulties. The concept is not idle speculation, nor is it unfounded pessimism. Job 14:1 announces this truth clearly, “Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil.” Even with an objective understanding of this fact, it may be tempting to try and make the case that these days we live in are more troubled than any days of the past.
A virtual war is raging across the very foundation of our culture. Values are eroding at the speed of light. Some are working feverishly to fuel the deterioration and others are tenaciously standing in the gap attempting to stem the tide. The battles are evident in every direction one looks. Unbridled greed is running rampant in the market place. Unapologetic corruption has taken center stage in the political arena. Unrelenting assaults are being levied against the family.
Jihadists have made the entire world a war zone. Rogue nations are defying international law. Wars and rumors of wars abound. The entertainment industry is engaged in a blatant campaign of ridicule and persecution against those who dare to be people of faith. They clearly have the authority of God and the credibility of His Word in their sights. The agenda they drive is one of unabashed lawlessness and arrogant perversion. If they have their way, all opposing opinions will be banished into silent oblivion.
Atheism is on the march as well. The defenders of humanism are becoming more visible and more vocal than they have been in recent memory. They are writing and publishing books that litter the best-seller lists and demonstrate a heightened tone of animosity. People of faith certainly have cause to feel a bit dazed by all that is taking place. Is it reasonable to be concerned? Certainly it is natural to be overwhelmed. Should we be discouraged to the point of despair? Absolutely not!
There is a positive side to all the turbulence dominating our world. Christians should remember that Christ Jesus has already won the war. He has not been defeated, but has defeated the enemy once and for all eternity. He has not surrendered His sovereignty and is still in control in spite of what our eyes may cause us to believe. The fact that hatred toward God and those who love Him is on the rise can be encouraging if viewed properly. The enemy is desperate and panicked. While the bad news dominates the headlines, the good news of the gospel continues to work powerfully all around this world. Reports are coming out of some very unlikely places that people are turning to Christ in record numbers. Discussion of religion is on the rise even in places like Europe where humanism appeared to have it silenced completely. This is certainly one reason that leading atheists like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins are screaming their hatred of God with renewed fervor.
The truth for those who have been regenerated by the marvelous grace of God is that these are exciting days in which to live. God’s work has always prospered in the midst of great persecution. The rise of challenges and troubles presents a powerful forum to contrast the glory of the gospel with the misery of man’s hopelessness. These are oppressive times, but we have the opportunity to reap a bountiful harvest of blessing. Be faithful and keep looking up, our redemption draws near.
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