As I mull over the question, “Why it is that Believers in America seem less zealous in devotion to Jesus than Believers in some other nations?”, one of the many possible answers (for surely no one answer will apply equally to all people) is that do to our country’s strongly Christian founding there are an inordinate number of people who have a religious affiliation or claim without any real knowledge of God. And while that is undoubtedly true, it is not my intention to focus on those who claim to know Christ as Savior but do so out of cultural convenience or familial tradition or whatever other reason people might falsely claim Christ. No, I want to think of only those of us who truly deep down have a genuine faith in and knowledge of Jesus. I only want to think of real Believers.
As for why it seems that American Believers often lack the zeal of their brothers and sisters in other lands when they both claim the same Lord, I want to focus on one answer in particular: worldly comfort made possible by wealth. Jesus often spoke about wealth as a danger and distraction to genuine faith (Matthew 6:19-21&24, 19:23-24, Luke 6:24, 12:16-21), and the basic idea is that wealth in this life often causes one to think less of the next life. For why would you long for the next life, when you have so much of this world’s stuff here and now. What’s the hurry for Heaven?
Don’t get me wrong, I think we want to go there. After all, it sounds like a pretty nice place…but does the average American Believer with his surplus of comfort really desperately long for Heaven? I think in many, MANY cases, the answer is no. At least not like our brother in repressive China or our sister in the Christian hating Sudan. Their desperate situation often allows them to see the promises of Christ and His coming more clearly and powerfully than those of us with money in bank, food in our bellies, cars in our garages, plenty of worldly worries, and no real threat of persecution for our faith. We have so much of this world…its easy to see how we could be distracted by it.
So is the answer for us to forsake all and move to those countries so that we might see Jesus more clearly? Well for some, the honest answer is yes. But for many others, The Lord’s call is to be His “Light” here in this land. But if we are to zealously cherish Christ above all else as He Himself deserves and demands, we MUST come to a place where we see our possessions as blessings from God to be used for God! God gave you a home, you could host a life group. God gave you a car, you could drive the kids of the neighborhood to church. God gave you clothes, you could give many away to the less fortunate. God gave you a good job, you could joyously give generously to His church and all kinds of worthy ministries. The point is this: comfort and wealth will either drive you to Christ in humility, thankfulness and joy or dry up your affections toward Him.
Jesus asks, “How hard is it for a rich man to enter Heaven?” And the answer isn’t that its harder for God to save a rich man, but that its harder for the rich man, because of his enjoyment of this world’s things, to realize that he needs to be saved. Believers, do not fall into this trap! My believing brothers and sisters…let us be determined to let go of this world so that we might more fully take a hold of Jesus!
Global Facts:
Over 3 BILLION (roughly half the global population) people alive at this moment live on less than $2.50 per day
Over 1.2 BILLION people alive at this moment live on less than $1 per day
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Occasional Musings
Do you have any recurring questions that seem pop up in your mind from time to time? I sure do.
They always seem to start rolling around my mind when I really need to be thinking about or doing something else, but just don’t want to. Musings like, “Why is it that a lot of young Believers don’t seem to take abortion more seriously as an issue?”, “Why don’t Christians seem to understand how important church unity is?”, “Why aren’t we more thankful year round?”, and “Will my beloved Mavs ever win a championship?!” And maybe all but the last of those questions is at least partially addressed by another query that occasionally pops into my mind: “Why don’t American Believers seem to love God more than we do?” Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting that you don’t love The Lord at all…or even that you only love Him a little. The question is, “Why don’t we love Him more?”
I’m sure you hear the same stories I do of millions of Chinese Believers who meet in secret “underground churches” and risk imprisonment by seeking to share the truth of Jesus with others. Or the stories of Sudanese Believers being tortured by radical Muslims and even being crucified for their faith. Country after country has stories of Believers being willing to risk so much in order to glorify Jesus...even to the point of giving their lives. And that raises the question in my mind, “What do Americans Christians risk? What are we willing to give?” And I don’t mean those brave and holy American missionaries to go to far off lands…I mean you and me, here at home. Comfortable. Safe. What are you willing to risk for Christ? What am I willing to give for God? Certainly, He is worth more.
(More on this tomorrow...but for now, pray through this question)
They always seem to start rolling around my mind when I really need to be thinking about or doing something else, but just don’t want to. Musings like, “Why is it that a lot of young Believers don’t seem to take abortion more seriously as an issue?”, “Why don’t Christians seem to understand how important church unity is?”, “Why aren’t we more thankful year round?”, and “Will my beloved Mavs ever win a championship?!” And maybe all but the last of those questions is at least partially addressed by another query that occasionally pops into my mind: “Why don’t American Believers seem to love God more than we do?” Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting that you don’t love The Lord at all…or even that you only love Him a little. The question is, “Why don’t we love Him more?”
I’m sure you hear the same stories I do of millions of Chinese Believers who meet in secret “underground churches” and risk imprisonment by seeking to share the truth of Jesus with others. Or the stories of Sudanese Believers being tortured by radical Muslims and even being crucified for their faith. Country after country has stories of Believers being willing to risk so much in order to glorify Jesus...even to the point of giving their lives. And that raises the question in my mind, “What do Americans Christians risk? What are we willing to give?” And I don’t mean those brave and holy American missionaries to go to far off lands…I mean you and me, here at home. Comfortable. Safe. What are you willing to risk for Christ? What am I willing to give for God? Certainly, He is worth more.
(More on this tomorrow...but for now, pray through this question)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Burning Down or Building Up?
“See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire...” James 3:5b-6a
You may not be very important according to the standards of this world. Maybe you’ve never won any major awards or praises; maybe you don’t have the kind of skills or abilities that cause millions to take notice. But one thing that I can promise you is this; you have more influence than you know. There are more people watching you than you are aware of, and even if its only on a near subconscious level, they evaluate, no, judge every word you speak.
James says that your negative words are like the initial sparks that set an entire forest ablaze. You may think you’re only joking about how Nancy in accounting has such terrible fashion sense (she is an accountant after all), but what you don’t realize is that one of the people who hear you say this know that you are a Believer in Jesus and in a flash they think, “That doesn’t seem very Christian”. Now I’m not sure what all their definition of “very Christian” entails, but on this point, I think I agree. And far more important than that, I think Jesus agrees. What happens when you invite that person who overheard you teasing poor Nancy to church or even try to share the news of Christ’s redemption with them? What if your own words have “burned” you and your reputation? How many chances do we expect to get to before we’ve so damaged our personal testimony that people will no longer respect our claims to knowing Jesus? For some, the only “Christians” they regularly see are on the nightly news protesting the latest wizard movie or screaming about the latest legislation they disagree with...and don’t get them started on those loud mouth preachers with their diamond cuff links, private jets, and their hocus pocus prayer cloths that have been dipped in the river Jordon. Unbelievers see through all that...they know that if Jesus is true, he must be about more than those things.
Yes this world is full of great evils and enemies that seek to steer men and women away from the truth about God, but what happens to the reputation of God’s people when our words are a part of that evil? Through words of anger, gossip, vulgar joking, lies and half truths, we allow ourselves to be used to damage, not build up, God’s work. Jesus said that the harvest of salvation is ready...but what if the harvesters of His Kingdom are setting fires all throughout the field?
And know this, not only are your words are under constant surveillance from those around you, but even more significantly, God hears every word you speak and will judge all you say according to His standard of holiness. So whether this world ever praises your name or not, know that you DO have a large part to play in the lives of many...and you DO have influence. In the end, Nancy may have all the fashion sense of a color blind rhinoceros, but maybe its time for you to stop burning the forest and to start speaking words that glorify the amazing Savior that pulled you out of your darkness and into His marvelous light.
You may not be very important according to the standards of this world. Maybe you’ve never won any major awards or praises; maybe you don’t have the kind of skills or abilities that cause millions to take notice. But one thing that I can promise you is this; you have more influence than you know. There are more people watching you than you are aware of, and even if its only on a near subconscious level, they evaluate, no, judge every word you speak.
James says that your negative words are like the initial sparks that set an entire forest ablaze. You may think you’re only joking about how Nancy in accounting has such terrible fashion sense (she is an accountant after all), but what you don’t realize is that one of the people who hear you say this know that you are a Believer in Jesus and in a flash they think, “That doesn’t seem very Christian”. Now I’m not sure what all their definition of “very Christian” entails, but on this point, I think I agree. And far more important than that, I think Jesus agrees. What happens when you invite that person who overheard you teasing poor Nancy to church or even try to share the news of Christ’s redemption with them? What if your own words have “burned” you and your reputation? How many chances do we expect to get to before we’ve so damaged our personal testimony that people will no longer respect our claims to knowing Jesus? For some, the only “Christians” they regularly see are on the nightly news protesting the latest wizard movie or screaming about the latest legislation they disagree with...and don’t get them started on those loud mouth preachers with their diamond cuff links, private jets, and their hocus pocus prayer cloths that have been dipped in the river Jordon. Unbelievers see through all that...they know that if Jesus is true, he must be about more than those things.
Yes this world is full of great evils and enemies that seek to steer men and women away from the truth about God, but what happens to the reputation of God’s people when our words are a part of that evil? Through words of anger, gossip, vulgar joking, lies and half truths, we allow ourselves to be used to damage, not build up, God’s work. Jesus said that the harvest of salvation is ready...but what if the harvesters of His Kingdom are setting fires all throughout the field?
And know this, not only are your words are under constant surveillance from those around you, but even more significantly, God hears every word you speak and will judge all you say according to His standard of holiness. So whether this world ever praises your name or not, know that you DO have a large part to play in the lives of many...and you DO have influence. In the end, Nancy may have all the fashion sense of a color blind rhinoceros, but maybe its time for you to stop burning the forest and to start speaking words that glorify the amazing Savior that pulled you out of your darkness and into His marvelous light.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
"i hate wax fruit"
James 2:14
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ”
How would you feel if you went up to your local farmer’s market and asked for the most delicious orange they had...the attendant nods knowingly and then goes about his task to find you that spectacular sphere of Vitamin C goodness, then quickly comes back and hands you what appears to be the most brilliantly orange orange you’ve ever seen. But as soon as you try to peel the orange you find that this is not the delicacy your heart has been craving, this is a wax orange! In frustration you ask the attendant why he gave you this phony orange when you asked for the real thing...he looks at you rather strangely and says, “An orange is an orange, right?”
Friend, this is what many people in our world (maybe even people you know...maybe even you) are doing when it comes to believing in Jesus as the Savior. They have chosen to pass on genuine living faith choosing instead a stale and unsatisfying counterfeit that can do nothing but mimic the outer appearance of the genuine article.
Speaking of this “wax faith”, James says “what use is it” if you settle for the imitation claiming it’s the real thing? James concludes that this kind of imitation “faith” is as “dead” as that wax orange. (Ok, he doesn’t say that bit about the orange...but you get the idea.) James wants us to know that the only faith that makes a difference is the genuine, life changing, spirit filling, loving giving, Christ exalting faith. The “wax faith” is just like the wax orange, it may look delicious on the outside, but on the inside it as completely empty.
In our world there are plenty of people who look good on the outside, but dig a little deeper than the surface and we find nothing but religious games. Now, this isn’t to cause us to go around doubting everyone’s profession, (If anything, we would do well to closer examine our own!), but we MUST be aware that just saying you have “faith” doesn’t mean you have come to know God.
Our world asks, “An orange is an orange, right?” Well, oranges, like people’s faith claims, have to be judged on more than just external appearance. Its not enough to just look like you have faith...you have to really have it!
Can I tell you a secret? I hate wax fruit.
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ”
How would you feel if you went up to your local farmer’s market and asked for the most delicious orange they had...the attendant nods knowingly and then goes about his task to find you that spectacular sphere of Vitamin C goodness, then quickly comes back and hands you what appears to be the most brilliantly orange orange you’ve ever seen. But as soon as you try to peel the orange you find that this is not the delicacy your heart has been craving, this is a wax orange! In frustration you ask the attendant why he gave you this phony orange when you asked for the real thing...he looks at you rather strangely and says, “An orange is an orange, right?”
Friend, this is what many people in our world (maybe even people you know...maybe even you) are doing when it comes to believing in Jesus as the Savior. They have chosen to pass on genuine living faith choosing instead a stale and unsatisfying counterfeit that can do nothing but mimic the outer appearance of the genuine article.
Speaking of this “wax faith”, James says “what use is it” if you settle for the imitation claiming it’s the real thing? James concludes that this kind of imitation “faith” is as “dead” as that wax orange. (Ok, he doesn’t say that bit about the orange...but you get the idea.) James wants us to know that the only faith that makes a difference is the genuine, life changing, spirit filling, loving giving, Christ exalting faith. The “wax faith” is just like the wax orange, it may look delicious on the outside, but on the inside it as completely empty.
In our world there are plenty of people who look good on the outside, but dig a little deeper than the surface and we find nothing but religious games. Now, this isn’t to cause us to go around doubting everyone’s profession, (If anything, we would do well to closer examine our own!), but we MUST be aware that just saying you have “faith” doesn’t mean you have come to know God.
Our world asks, “An orange is an orange, right?” Well, oranges, like people’s faith claims, have to be judged on more than just external appearance. Its not enough to just look like you have faith...you have to really have it!
Can I tell you a secret? I hate wax fruit.
Monday, August 31, 2009
“The World’s Stain”
James 1:27
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
There are plenty of “big” extravagant and outrageous sins in this fallen world. After all, this world is extravagant in glorifying its outrageous fallenness. And we spend plenty of time discussing those outrageous sins while furrowing our brow at those who do them. We often hear sermons about how wicked these sins are and we shout our hearty “Amens!” in righteous condemnation of them. So, dear friend, it is not rape, pedophilia, murder, or any other number of sins that we likely do not struggle with that I care to speak about with you today...no....instead I want to talk with you about mud.
Just some days ago I came home from daily busyness and as I was sitting down to relax I noticed something alarming: there were muddy foot prints in my wife’s home! (Only a married man will understand that last bit) Who could have committed this travesty? And why would they? So I prepared my list of likely offenders...but as I ran down the roll of potential suspects, I quickly realized that only I was home. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I was the guilty party! Somehow in my travels that day I had unknowingly stepped in mud and now it had left clear evidence of the fact in clear display. Mud leaves it’s mark.
God’s word tells us that this evil world works much the same way. Sometimes without even our knowing, it can leave a mark on us. James calls it a “stain”. The idea is that something pure has been dirtied. My friend, this world is a spiritually muddy place...and often without too much coaxing, we step right in. A coworker gets the promotion we were sure we deserved and we step in the mud of jealousy. Our husband comes home and has forgotten to buy milk AGAIN and we stumble in the mud of angry and uncaring words. Our neighbor just refuses to stop being just so completely strange so we slip in the mud of personal judgment. On and on the muddy list goes; but not only does it not have to be this way, it mustn’t. The Lord has saved us for more than to be destined for this world’s mud. He has called us to love His loves and hate His hates. Isn’t it such a wonderfully humbling fact that God will give us the strength we need to accomplish His will? If we’ve fallen into sin, He promises to forgive and cleanse when we seek Him.
So I ask you, dear reader, is there any of this world’s mud on you? Where do you need to be most careful that you don’t step in it? At the office? In the car? With the family? In front of your computer or TV? Perhaps the most wise answer would be to say that we must be watchful everywhere and all the time...because like we said...this world is a muddy place, and The Lord’s wants His people like my wife wants her carpet: spotless.
James 1:27
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
There are plenty of “big” extravagant and outrageous sins in this fallen world. After all, this world is extravagant in glorifying its outrageous fallenness. And we spend plenty of time discussing those outrageous sins while furrowing our brow at those who do them. We often hear sermons about how wicked these sins are and we shout our hearty “Amens!” in righteous condemnation of them. So, dear friend, it is not rape, pedophilia, murder, or any other number of sins that we likely do not struggle with that I care to speak about with you today...no....instead I want to talk with you about mud.
Just some days ago I came home from daily busyness and as I was sitting down to relax I noticed something alarming: there were muddy foot prints in my wife’s home! (Only a married man will understand that last bit) Who could have committed this travesty? And why would they? So I prepared my list of likely offenders...but as I ran down the roll of potential suspects, I quickly realized that only I was home. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I was the guilty party! Somehow in my travels that day I had unknowingly stepped in mud and now it had left clear evidence of the fact in clear display. Mud leaves it’s mark.
God’s word tells us that this evil world works much the same way. Sometimes without even our knowing, it can leave a mark on us. James calls it a “stain”. The idea is that something pure has been dirtied. My friend, this world is a spiritually muddy place...and often without too much coaxing, we step right in. A coworker gets the promotion we were sure we deserved and we step in the mud of jealousy. Our husband comes home and has forgotten to buy milk AGAIN and we stumble in the mud of angry and uncaring words. Our neighbor just refuses to stop being just so completely strange so we slip in the mud of personal judgment. On and on the muddy list goes; but not only does it not have to be this way, it mustn’t. The Lord has saved us for more than to be destined for this world’s mud. He has called us to love His loves and hate His hates. Isn’t it such a wonderfully humbling fact that God will give us the strength we need to accomplish His will? If we’ve fallen into sin, He promises to forgive and cleanse when we seek Him.
So I ask you, dear reader, is there any of this world’s mud on you? Where do you need to be most careful that you don’t step in it? At the office? In the car? With the family? In front of your computer or TV? Perhaps the most wise answer would be to say that we must be watchful everywhere and all the time...because like we said...this world is a muddy place, and The Lord’s wants His people like my wife wants her carpet: spotless.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
"The Fate of the Proud"
Proverbs 29:1
“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”
Ok, admit it...you can be pretty stubborn sometimes. And while Godly stubbornness (or perseverance) is a “good gift” from our Heavenly Father to help us face the pressures of the world or the temptations of the flesh, its when we are the one needing correction that general stubbornness can become fleshly pride and send us down a path deserving of what my Dad used to call an “attitude adjustment”.
Consider the message of Proverbs 29:1. By account of the verse this man had already been confronted with his error several times but in stubborn pride he had “hardened his neck” against the corrections. Sometimes our first reaction to reproof and correction is a prideful self defense...an unwillingness to honestly examine our own actions through the lense of Scripture. Sometimes “we just wanna do what we wanna do!” Do you find yourself in that spot today? Is there area of your life that should look differently than it does but you haven’t been listening to the voice of God’s Spirit? Turn your heart over to Him in these moments of conflict...ask Him to bring you to peace and purity. No longer cling to stubborn pride, admit the fault, confess the issue to God, and move on in right conscience before the Lord.
Surely you will not hold so tightly to this error that the fate of the stubborn stiff necked man will befall you? Remember the beautiful promise of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Listen to the voice of correction and find freedom today!
“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”
Ok, admit it...you can be pretty stubborn sometimes. And while Godly stubbornness (or perseverance) is a “good gift” from our Heavenly Father to help us face the pressures of the world or the temptations of the flesh, its when we are the one needing correction that general stubbornness can become fleshly pride and send us down a path deserving of what my Dad used to call an “attitude adjustment”.
Consider the message of Proverbs 29:1. By account of the verse this man had already been confronted with his error several times but in stubborn pride he had “hardened his neck” against the corrections. Sometimes our first reaction to reproof and correction is a prideful self defense...an unwillingness to honestly examine our own actions through the lense of Scripture. Sometimes “we just wanna do what we wanna do!” Do you find yourself in that spot today? Is there area of your life that should look differently than it does but you haven’t been listening to the voice of God’s Spirit? Turn your heart over to Him in these moments of conflict...ask Him to bring you to peace and purity. No longer cling to stubborn pride, admit the fault, confess the issue to God, and move on in right conscience before the Lord.
Surely you will not hold so tightly to this error that the fate of the stubborn stiff necked man will befall you? Remember the beautiful promise of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Listen to the voice of correction and find freedom today!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ongoing Godliness
"You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." 1 Thessalonians 1:5b-7
Have you ever thrown a stone into a perfectly still pond? Isn’t it amazing how the concentric ripples spread all over the water just because you threw one little stone? The entire pond responds to your action.
I was reminded of that pond and those ripples as I was reading the Bible this morning. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them that He (and his traveling partners) had “proven” through their actions to be godly men. And in response to what they saw in Paul’s life and the power of God they witnessed in him, the Thessalonians chose to “imitate” Paul’s faithfulness to Christ...even though they were suffering persecution for their faith. But it doesn’t stop there! As the Thessalonians began to imitate Paul (who was imitating Christ), other believers began to hear of the faith that the Thessalonians had and began to imitate them!
Do you see it? It is as if Jesus is the stone thrown into the pond and Paul is changed by Jesus, and the Thessalonians are changed through Paul, and then neighboring towns are changed through the “example” set by the Thessalonians!! Brothers and sisters, the Gospel works the same way today! God wants to use us to bring about godly change in the lives of others. He wants us to set an example for Christ that is worthy of imitation...I wonder, how you will be an example for God today? How will God use you to “spread the ripples on the water?”
Have you ever thrown a stone into a perfectly still pond? Isn’t it amazing how the concentric ripples spread all over the water just because you threw one little stone? The entire pond responds to your action.
I was reminded of that pond and those ripples as I was reading the Bible this morning. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them that He (and his traveling partners) had “proven” through their actions to be godly men. And in response to what they saw in Paul’s life and the power of God they witnessed in him, the Thessalonians chose to “imitate” Paul’s faithfulness to Christ...even though they were suffering persecution for their faith. But it doesn’t stop there! As the Thessalonians began to imitate Paul (who was imitating Christ), other believers began to hear of the faith that the Thessalonians had and began to imitate them!
Do you see it? It is as if Jesus is the stone thrown into the pond and Paul is changed by Jesus, and the Thessalonians are changed through Paul, and then neighboring towns are changed through the “example” set by the Thessalonians!! Brothers and sisters, the Gospel works the same way today! God wants to use us to bring about godly change in the lives of others. He wants us to set an example for Christ that is worthy of imitation...I wonder, how you will be an example for God today? How will God use you to “spread the ripples on the water?”
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