Hebrews 3:13 tells us:
"Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today', that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
In my second year of University I decided that I was going to exclude myself from others and "go it alone"...The year before I had been so consumed in the social side of school that I decided I wanted to go the opposite way and become more focused.
It worked well...for a while.
But soon I grew hard, I got caught up in sinful thoughts and actions more than perhaps any other time in my life--and I started seriously doubting my faith and especially my call to ministry. I was miserable, but worse I was unproductive and living contrary to how God called me to live.
This all happened in the context of being at "Bible School" ... in other words it was almost like attending a church service everyday. But even so, I didn't have the kind of relationships in my life that allowed for others to encourage and urge me on...in fact no one really knew the struggles I was having that year.
Many Christians think that "going to church" is all of the Christian community they really need. Perhaps they also attend a small group or some other ministry program. But I am more and more convinced--by experience and especially by Scripture, that this is not enough. The relationships we need to be disciples of Jesus are ones that are far more intimate than regular acquaintances.
We need relationships that have permission to speak into our lives daily, sometimes in tough ways. This doesn't necessarily mean daily meetings...but it does mean having some people who really know what's going on in your life, and have the permission to encourage, urge you on and challenge you to live the life that Jesus called you to live.
This might scare you...do you really want people in your life with that kind of permission? If you want to follow Jesus, you NEED it! I know this, because I've tried both ways...going alone just doesn't work. I NEED people in my life who know me and are willing not just to encourage me, but to also urge me on when I am stumbling. This is what the Body is supposed to do.
If you don't have people like this in your life--find them. Find a way that you can mutually urge each other on!
"...spur each other on to love and good deeds!" (Heb 10:24)
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Being Straightforward...
"...they were not straightforward about the Truth of the Gospel." (Galatians 2:14)
This critique came because Paul observed that Peter and some others were making concessions in order not to offend or get a "bad name" with the "Circumcision"--aka Jewish Christians.
Previous to this statement Paul speaks of the need to live to please God rather than to please man--in fact he goes so far as to say "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal 1:10b)
I was speaking about this to a friend with whom I am reading Galatians with. I confessed how easy it is to begin to aim to please people, rather than please God. We can so easily not think much about it--Just like Peter did not think much about retreating from the Gentiles to eat only with the Jews.
We will often justify our actions (or lack thereof) with a statement like: "well I just didn't want to offend anyone". I understand this sentiment, yet I think that it is often a dangerous one that is overused in order to excuse us from being "uncomfortable".
I am not one who desires to offend for no reason, but I also know that the Bible says that the Gospel IS offensive to many, even an aroma of death (see 2 Cor 2:16). Because of this we read things like what Paul writes to Timothy: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted." (2 Tim 3:12). Again, I am not seeking persecution for the sake of being persecuted; yet I wonder how often I downright avoid even the smallest discomfort that the gospel might cause, by not being as straightforward as I ought to be?
I admit this is a difficult tension. I do not think that Christians should seek to needlessly offend people in our world. We are told to: "Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, while making the most of every opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace..." (Col 4:5-6) Surely this excludes many offensive and tactless approaches that are used to "evangelize" today...however it also calls out the passive Christian who does nothing "so as not to offend"---for surely this is not making the most of every opportunity.
We must make the most of every breath we have on this earth-- remember that Paul says "the gospel is the power of God for salvation" (Rom 1:16). For this reason we cannot afford to be ashamed of it; we must speak straightforwardly about the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified.
If you are like me, you perhaps have failed on both sides of the equation--at times offending because you were insensitive and did not speak with grace; while at other times missing an opportunity to share the Truth and Grace of the Gospel because instead of being straightforward you were shy or fearful of what reaction might come. The tension is a difficult one--it requires wisdom and discernment. It requires we love God enough to care only for His approval; and that we love others enough to risk their disapproval of us by being straightforward with the Truth of the Gospel.
If you follow Jesus, I pray that you would walk and talk with boldness and confidence--always holding out the Truth and Love of the Gospel as you fix your eyes on Jesus.
If you do not follow Jesus, I pray that you would find the life and freedom in Christ that is not available anywhere else. He died to set humanity free from Sin and Death, truly He is the only way. Repent, turn to Jesus and put your faith in Him and He will give you "life and life to the full" (Jn 10:10)
This critique came because Paul observed that Peter and some others were making concessions in order not to offend or get a "bad name" with the "Circumcision"--aka Jewish Christians.
Previous to this statement Paul speaks of the need to live to please God rather than to please man--in fact he goes so far as to say "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal 1:10b)
I was speaking about this to a friend with whom I am reading Galatians with. I confessed how easy it is to begin to aim to please people, rather than please God. We can so easily not think much about it--Just like Peter did not think much about retreating from the Gentiles to eat only with the Jews.
We will often justify our actions (or lack thereof) with a statement like: "well I just didn't want to offend anyone". I understand this sentiment, yet I think that it is often a dangerous one that is overused in order to excuse us from being "uncomfortable".
I am not one who desires to offend for no reason, but I also know that the Bible says that the Gospel IS offensive to many, even an aroma of death (see 2 Cor 2:16). Because of this we read things like what Paul writes to Timothy: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted." (2 Tim 3:12). Again, I am not seeking persecution for the sake of being persecuted; yet I wonder how often I downright avoid even the smallest discomfort that the gospel might cause, by not being as straightforward as I ought to be?
I admit this is a difficult tension. I do not think that Christians should seek to needlessly offend people in our world. We are told to: "Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, while making the most of every opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace..." (Col 4:5-6) Surely this excludes many offensive and tactless approaches that are used to "evangelize" today...however it also calls out the passive Christian who does nothing "so as not to offend"---for surely this is not making the most of every opportunity.
We must make the most of every breath we have on this earth-- remember that Paul says "the gospel is the power of God for salvation" (Rom 1:16). For this reason we cannot afford to be ashamed of it; we must speak straightforwardly about the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified.
If you are like me, you perhaps have failed on both sides of the equation--at times offending because you were insensitive and did not speak with grace; while at other times missing an opportunity to share the Truth and Grace of the Gospel because instead of being straightforward you were shy or fearful of what reaction might come. The tension is a difficult one--it requires wisdom and discernment. It requires we love God enough to care only for His approval; and that we love others enough to risk their disapproval of us by being straightforward with the Truth of the Gospel.
If you follow Jesus, I pray that you would walk and talk with boldness and confidence--always holding out the Truth and Love of the Gospel as you fix your eyes on Jesus.
If you do not follow Jesus, I pray that you would find the life and freedom in Christ that is not available anywhere else. He died to set humanity free from Sin and Death, truly He is the only way. Repent, turn to Jesus and put your faith in Him and He will give you "life and life to the full" (Jn 10:10)
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
What keeps us from true satisfaction?
I don't believe this needs to be so...in fact Scripture tells us it need not be so. A great example is what we find in Psalm 81. Flip there yourself for the whole thing--I'll just refer to a couple verses.
First we have verse 10: "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!"
What a promise God makes to His people! Just open up wide and receive what you need to be satisfied!
verse 16 continues and says: "He would feed you with the finest of the wheat and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
So often when people think of God's blessings I think they believe they have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get to them. But here God simply says---OPEN UP!
The immediate picture in my mind is a small child in a highchair with a parent "flying" an airplane spoonful of food towards the little ones mouth. All the child needs to do is open up wide and they will receive what they need!
This is all God is asking--but so often it seems like a stubborn child, we slam our mouths shut, and refuse what God offers. And here is the thing--God will not force Himself upon you. He holds the spoon out to us--but he will not pry open our mouths and shove it into our mouths--We must open wide our mouths!
verse 11 tells us what this looks like: "But my people did not LISTEN to my voice; Israel would not SUBMIT to Me."
God is speaking, He is offering satisfaction of the greatest measure in and through Jesus. He just asks that you listen, and receive the satisfaction He offers through faith in Jesus. This is grace displayed in the most beautiful of invitations---he is not demanding that you "be good enough, work hard enough, or jump through some hoops"--for you could never do enough. By grace He simply says listen--open wide, and I will fill you up!
May you "know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God!" (Eph 3:19)
Friday, October 5, 2012
Ecclesiastes 3:11 -- Revisited
"He has made everything appropriate in its time. he has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."
(Ecc 3:11)
If eternity is "in our hearts" why is it that for so many it lays yet undiscovered--to the extent that many would scoff at the idea and say we are here today...and then there is nothing more?
Many search from beginning to end to fulfill this longing--or perhaps they have simply given up the search and decided the longing must be false for they did not discover what they sought. Or perhaps they have found something...it seems to fill to an extent...and yet...there is still something more they can't quite put a finger on.
So is the search a hopeless one? It is, IF, we do not look to what is "appropriate in its time". For "in time" is really the only place a human being can search--and therefore if eternity is to be found it must somehow be found within the constraints of time itself! But even such a thought is a bit ridiculous--how can something outside of time, timeless and without bounds become known to us who are bound by space and time? Is it not a hopeless search...one surely destined to leave us in despair? Again, if the search is left to us the answer is yes--for "man will not find out the work which God had done from beginning even to the end". Many have tried and are trying to find the value of life through temporary--though often seemingly deep and spiritual things--but they are yet still just the efforts of a temporary being bound by time and space, unable to break into the eternity that their heart so desperately longs for.
The only way for the longing of our heart to be fulfilled is if that which is Eternal not only speaks into time and space--but actually enters into time and space to bring Eternal Life to us who's hearts long for it. This is exactly the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1 tells us that it was the ETERNAL plan of God to save us through Jesus, but that he was REVEALED IN TIME. John the disciple of Jesus, tells us that God took on flesh and made His dwelling among us--so that through His flesh we might be saved--brought into eternity with Him--thus, the longing of our hearts fulfilled.
We must see "what is appropriate in its time" -- Jesus revealed to us as the way of Eternal Life. This is the only way. This is an unpopular claim, and so many have searched and continue to search for another way; but it is not to be found--only Jesus has conquered for us the death that through sin binds us to a life separated from the Eternal One--our Father in Heaven. The searching of mankind apart from Christ is a hopeless one that will never lead to the Life that our heart so desperately longs for.
My prayer for any who read these words is that your searching would end with Christ, and that through Him you would know Life Eternal.
(Ecc 3:11)
If eternity is "in our hearts" why is it that for so many it lays yet undiscovered--to the extent that many would scoff at the idea and say we are here today...and then there is nothing more?
Many search from beginning to end to fulfill this longing--or perhaps they have simply given up the search and decided the longing must be false for they did not discover what they sought. Or perhaps they have found something...it seems to fill to an extent...and yet...there is still something more they can't quite put a finger on.
So is the search a hopeless one? It is, IF, we do not look to what is "appropriate in its time". For "in time" is really the only place a human being can search--and therefore if eternity is to be found it must somehow be found within the constraints of time itself! But even such a thought is a bit ridiculous--how can something outside of time, timeless and without bounds become known to us who are bound by space and time? Is it not a hopeless search...one surely destined to leave us in despair? Again, if the search is left to us the answer is yes--for "man will not find out the work which God had done from beginning even to the end". Many have tried and are trying to find the value of life through temporary--though often seemingly deep and spiritual things--but they are yet still just the efforts of a temporary being bound by time and space, unable to break into the eternity that their heart so desperately longs for.
The only way for the longing of our heart to be fulfilled is if that which is Eternal not only speaks into time and space--but actually enters into time and space to bring Eternal Life to us who's hearts long for it. This is exactly the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1 tells us that it was the ETERNAL plan of God to save us through Jesus, but that he was REVEALED IN TIME. John the disciple of Jesus, tells us that God took on flesh and made His dwelling among us--so that through His flesh we might be saved--brought into eternity with Him--thus, the longing of our hearts fulfilled.
We must see "what is appropriate in its time" -- Jesus revealed to us as the way of Eternal Life. This is the only way. This is an unpopular claim, and so many have searched and continue to search for another way; but it is not to be found--only Jesus has conquered for us the death that through sin binds us to a life separated from the Eternal One--our Father in Heaven. The searching of mankind apart from Christ is a hopeless one that will never lead to the Life that our heart so desperately longs for.
My prayer for any who read these words is that your searching would end with Christ, and that through Him you would know Life Eternal.
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