April 25, 2013

John 21:15-19 ¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Ah, yes.  The God of second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth (you get the picture) chances.  But not always easy second chances.

As we trace Peter's frailty through the New Testament, Jesus responds with an increasing level of rebuke.

Matthew 14:31- After Peter starts to sink, Jesus immediately "reached out his hand and caught him (Peter).  'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"  In reading this it comes across to me as almost a sad, disappointed statement.  I invision it spoken with a slight head shake and slightly furrowed brow.

In Matthew 16:23 the punctuation used by the writer in regards to Christ's rebuke of Peter was an explanation point.  Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!"  Yikes!  I bet Jesus turned quickly to Peter, looked him straight in the eye and spoke the words with such force Peter felt as though he had been struck.

Still Peter continues to disobey.  

At Jesus' arrest, Peter draws a sword and attacks an innocent person.  It is interesting Peter does not attack one of the temple guards, but instead a slave who had no choice in being present at the arrest.  After reading the accounts of both Luke and Matthew in regard to this incident, it appears as if Jesus has had enough of Peter's bluster.  

Jesus is exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually.  For the past three years he has taught, healed, prayed, worshipped, laughed, cried. . .Experienced every human emotion.  Resisted every human temptation.  Started a revolution that would change the world.  Turned his back on safety and security for a people that wanted to see him dead.  Now here is one of his inner circle once again taking matters into his own hands.  

"No more of this!" (Luke 22:51)  "That's it, Peter!  Enough!"  I believe Christ was angry with Peter at this point.  The Bible does not treat righteous anger as sin. We are warned to not allow that anger to lead us into sin, but there are times when anger is an appropriate emotion.

Christ was exhausted.  He knew his fate and he pain that would ensue.  Luke writes that while in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in anguish and "sweat drops of blood".  Now he has to deal with Peter trying to pick a fight with an armed group of men who were instruments in God's salvation plan for mankind

"STOP IT, PETER!  GET OUT OF GOD'S WAY!"

Are God's warnings, rebukes, corrections in your life become increasingly stern?  Is he on the verge of speaking to you with righteous anger?  At times in my life, I have continued to ignore the kinder, gentler voice of correction from God.  He will pull out the big guns if necessary.  Trust me.

Take it from one who knows, it is much better to listen to the still, small rediretion voice.  Do your best to avoid God's exclamation points.

April 24, 2013

John 18: 15-18  ¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶ but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

¹⁷ “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

Until I had closely read the verses of Peter's denial of Christ closely, I had held some admiration for Peter's bravery in even being at the courtyard.  My thinking was that at least Peter had stayed with Jesus longer than the others.  Today's reading took the shine off that apple.

Peter was not the only disciple to accompany Jesus after the arrest. In fact he did not even accompany Jesus as far as the nameless disciple who "went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard."  Then to make matters worse for Peter's defense, the other disciple even garnered Peter access into the courtyard.  This special-status was not sufficient to embolden Peter.

Any excuses offered for Peter's denial evaporate at this point.  He was not alone.  He had the support of another Believer.

Will you deny Christ today in your actions or with your words?  Why?  Fear?  Habit?  Oversight?  Apathy?  As a Christian, we are in the Great High Priest's courtyard.  We are indwelled with the Holy Spirit.  

April 23, 2013

1 John 4:7-12 ⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

 Verses 7 and 8 will require a bit more study on my part before I fully grasp all the implications here, but John is pretty clear in verse 11- "since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."  No grey area there.  We are loved, therefore we need to love.

The logical question that flows from that is, "What does that love look like in 2013?"  I almost hate to go to
1 Corinthians 13 because of its overuse in marriage ceremonies, but the virtues of love outlined in the chapter from 1 Corinthians are applicable for all situations.

Love is patient and kind.  It is not envious, boastful, proud, self-seeking or easily angered.  It does not dishonor others, keep a record of wrong or delight in evil.  Love protects, trusts, hopes, peseveres and rejoices in truth.

My lack of full theological understanding of verses 7 and 8 do not negate my mandate to live out verse 11 and love others.

April 22, 2013

John 13:36-38  ³⁶ Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

³⁷ Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.
Peter Drucker


Hell isn't merely paved with good intentions; it's walled and roofed with them. Yes, and furnished too.
Aldous Huxley

Good intentions are not enough. They've never put an onion in the soup yet.
Sonya Levien


Good ol' Peter.  He had intended to walk to Jesus on water.  He had intended to stand by Jesus to the end.  The Peter of Good Intentions.  

Of all the disciples, Peter seems the most human to me.  Perhaps it is because more is written about him than most.   Or it could be that I can more closely identify with his actions,  foibles and missteps.

I think that Peter was very sincere when he stated he would lay down his life for Christ.  I can only imagine how much being in actual physical presence of Jesus Christ must have strengthened and encouraged the disciples.  Even though they didn't fully realize who Jesus was, simply being around the man would have been very reassuring.  

The same is true for many Christians today.  During our quiet time of meditation and Bible study, we can conquer the world.  Break that habit.  Love that person.  Tithe that paycheck.  Then the world sticks its big fat nose into our business and much like Peter our intentions are not much stronger than the little pig's house made of straw.

What we must realize is that we have an advantage that Peter did not.  We have access to Jesus 24/7.  (Peter did have this advantage after Christ's ascention to heaven.)  The Holy Spirit lives within each beliver.  It is there to strengthen, guide and comfort.  When we feel our intentions weakening, we can immediately turn to God to fortify our resolve.  

Say a quick eyes-open prayer.  Find a quiet corner in the office to meet with God.  Store some verses of encouragement on your phone and read over them.  God is omnipresent in the lives of all of his children.

As Christ told his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

Don't try to keep your life on track with your own power.  Our flesh is weak, but the Holy Spirit that lives within every Christian as all the strength we require to get us through each day, each situation, each challenge.








http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/good_intentions.html#Wex9SKswFmTdtAJq.99 

April 18, 2013

John 18:25-27   ²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

²⁶ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Failure will occur.  Mistakes will happen.  Tragedy will befall many of  us.  I have found that it is much easier to get through those times when my actions/words not contributed to the problem.  When I am able to honestly look in the mirror and say, "I did all I could and have no culbability",  I do not allow the situation to become a source of sleeplessness and worry.

Situations where I can point to one, two or even more instances where I have contributed to a wrong turn of events, those are the times I replay the situation over and over and disallow God's "peace that passes all understanding".

I can only imagine how deep the pain and self-rebuke Peter felt must have been when he realized the prediction of his denials had come to pass.  "Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow."  Just as Jesus had predicted.

Always before when Peter had offended, failed or misspoke, Christ had been there to rebuke, correct and forgive.  But now Jesus was not there.  Peter could not apologize.  He could not make things right.  There were no do-overs.  

Peter was right about one thing- there are no "do-overs" in life, but there is forgiveness.  Peace is available, even when the difficulities we face are a result of our own actions or words.  That peace might be more elusive.  Prayer might have to be more intense. 

God does not promise peace only in those times where we are blameless.  His comfort is not reserved just for the innocent. Some situations can be repaired.  Others are beyond repair.  The bottom line is that God promises peace to ALL of his children. 

Matthew 11:28-30
Luke 12:25 
John 14:27

April 17, 2013

It's already Wednesday!  The days just fly by.  How many people have I witnessed to this week?  NONE!

"Heavenly Father, please provide me the opportunity, insight, widsom and words to share your love with another person before this week ends."

Interesting thing happened as I typed the preceeding prayer.  There was some hesitancy and a nervous flutter in my stomach.

I have spent enough time in church, Sunday School and private Bible time to know two things:
 1.  Whatever prayer is offered that is in God's will be answered.
 2.  It is God's will for us to share the Gospel message.

Sooooooooooo, if I pray for a witnessing opportunity, then God will grant me that opportunity.  Why does that give me cause for pause?  Shouldn't I be chompin' at the bit for a chance to share the love of God with a "lost and dying world"?

What if I the person asks me a question about evolotion I can't answer?  What if the person mocks me?  What if the person challenges my views on God, salvation and eternal life?  Perhaps the greater "what if" I should worry about is what if that person spends eternity in hell because I don't share the Gospel message?

April 16, 2013

Spiritual discernment.  Wisdom.  James 1:5 states simply that if "any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

So many Biblical promises appear to be a matter of just asking and receiving.  Plug in a request and the manna will fall from heaven.  Ask, God gives. Simple.  A done deal.  More often than not, I have found life doesn't work that way.

Is it because translators have missed the mark on their word choices?  Does "ask" mean the same thing to us as to the writers of the N.T.?  Is it a faith issue that keeps my asking from receiving?  Is it the frequency or fervency of my requests?  Are certain requests more a guaranteed "ask, receive" transaction?  All of the above?

Hmmm. . .

April 12, 2013

John 12:1-8 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

This much we know, "You will always have the poor among you".  So the question remains, when and how do we draw the line in helping the poor?   As we invest time and emotional energy into establishing relationships with those less fortunate, are we required to also invest our financial wealth into these relationships?  Do we share a cup of coffee then travel back to our warm ranch-style homes leaving the homeless to find a doorway for the night?

I know Kristi and I don't have the resorces to alleviate homelessness for even one person, let alone affect change on a state or even local level, but what is our duty?  How useful (or even genuine) is our love and concern if it confines itself to 2.5 hours of coffee and conversation three times a month on Sunday afternoons?

Luke 10:25-37 ²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Where is the line between John 12:8 and Luke 10:37?

April 11, 2013

Ephesians 2:4-10  ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Interesting contrast in these six verses from Ephesians.  On one side of the coin, Paul reminds believers that our salvation is a result of God's grace ONLY-  "not by works".  Grace is extended to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, not because of anything we do or say.  However, verse 10 talks of "good works".  But these good works are what is required of us AFTER salvation.  God saves us by grace, but expects good works from us.

These good works will look different for each believer.  For some it might be a children's ministry at church.  For others it could be a prayer ministry.  Overseas missions might be the calling for some.  Regardless, we are saved "to do good works" and those good works have already been prepared for us.

Since those good works are prepared in advance it is our duty to discover what God has planned for each of us, then get busy accomplishing those projects, missions, events, ministries God has planned.

Salvation through grace.  Obedience through good works.

What good works has God preordained for you today?  Have you earnestly asked God to reveal those to you, and are you willing to act in obedience when He reveals them to you?

April 10, 2013

Ephesians 1:15-19 ¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 

A part of my morning routine is to spend time in prayer over our Sunday School class's prayer list.  The process of passing around a prayer list at small group on Sunday mornings probably dates back to the first Southern Baptist church ever established.  Bulletin- check.  Offering plates- check.  Dates for potlucks- checks.  Prayer request sheet- check.

Here is a list of items on this week's list:
Physical healing 5x
Traveling safety 1x
Family problems 2x
Praise 1x
Spiritual issues 2x

Contrast this to Paul's prayer list: spiritual wisdom, revelation and enlightment.  Couple this with yesterday's verses about a mind being goverened by the Spirit not the flesh and the message for me is to make sure I spend enough time in prayer for the foundational portions of the Christian life.

The physical healing, traveling protection and marital reconcilation should NEVER be neglected in prayer, but wisdom, insight, increased capacity to love others, spiritual discipline, etc. should not be overlooked during prayer time.

Why don't we ask others to pray for the spiritual side of ourselves?  Do we not want others to know we are spiritually weak?  Would that type of prayer request come across as selfish or uber-holy?

"Please pray for my cousin who has cancer", but seldom "please pray that I will increase in the knowledge of God's love for me".

April 9, 2013

Romans 8:5-6  ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Springtime.  Trees budding.  Robins chirping.  Flowers blooming.  Students testing.  Teachers stressing.

While the arrival of spring is eagerly anticipated by many, it is also a stressful time for those of us in public education.  A third grader in Springfield Public Schools will take the following end-of-year tests before May 16: online tests in reading, language arts and math, the MAP tests in communication arts and math, a writing essay, a large end-of-year spelling test as well as various, smaller end-of-unit tests.  This testing schedule is consistent with expectations for most grade levels above third grade as well.

Imagine the stress this places not only on the students, but teachers and administrators as well.  

The struggle I face is finding that balance between focusing my thoughts and energies on what is demanded by school without allowing my "mind (to be) governed by the flesh".  

When Paul wrote "the mind goverened by the flesh is death" he may have been referring to death in terms of an eternal separation from God.  However, I know all too well when my mind becomes "goverened by the flesh" it leads to a more immediate death--the death of a good night's sleep, the death of a relaxed evening, the death of a worry-free weekend. 

This life dictates that our minds will have to be focused much of the time on temporal concerns, plans and processes, but not allowing those to rule our thoughts is the key to "life and peace".

April 8, 2013

Luke 18:10-14   ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Over the years, my Christian live had evolved from man one to man two in today's reading.  I used to be a look-at-me Christian.  It was in that stage I had my biggest fall.  After many and varied and continued spiritual failures, I find myself identifying more and more with the tax collector.  However, the struggle I now face is that I get stuck in the breast-beating stage.  I can become an emotional flagellant.  Sin I recognize.  Failings I embrace.  

If as Christians we stop at the tax collector stage of interaction with God, I believe we disappoint God as much as the Pharisee.  

John 10:10 ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  
Romans 15:13 ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Recognition of our sinfullness and depravity creates in us a deep apprecaition for the completeness of God's grace.  However, it is imperative we allow that same grace to be the basis for life-changing joy and peace.

April 6, 2013

1 John 3:16  This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

I am in a profession that is famous for coining concise, catchy phrases.   "All children can learn."  "No child left behind."  "It takes a village to raise a child."  If I had a nickle for every time one of these or similar phrases have been tossed around staff rooms and board rooms, I would have a much greater net worth.

I tend to be more of a concrete, action-plan type of guy.  After so many years in education, inspiring jingles and mottoes tend to leave me a bit flat.  There is a danger in that also happening with scriptural references that are bandied about.

"Lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."  A good place to start.  A conversation starter, but what does it really mean to "lay down our lives"?  Will that look different for each person, or are there some fundamentals that are expected for each Christian?

What goes through your mind with you hear that phrase "lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters"?  It is easy to see how Christ did that.  His whole life was about others- healing, feeding, teaching and ultimately dieing on the cross.  But how does an accountant, principal or homemaker lay down his or her life for others?  Not just "willing" to lay down a life.  But an actually laying down of a life.

Hmmm. . .

April 4, 2013

Ephesians 1:7-8 ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us.

Over this past year, I have become involved in a ministry that works with the hard luck/homeless population in Springfield.  I can't count the number of times I have been asked for some sort of assistance during this past year.  Bus passes, job leads, housing assistance, Greyhound tickets are just some of the more regular requests/concerns that arise.  Each time I assure the person "I'll see what I can do" or "I'll get back with you next week" or "Have you tried. . .?"  

Even though I do feel concern for them and their situation, my offers of help are limited by my lack of funds, connections and time.  Any check written or promise made is only as good as the funds or integrity of the person involved.  When people invest in a company, they do so because of the real or perceived strength of that particular company.

What a joy to know that the promises of God for forgiveness, joy, peace, protection, widsom are backed up by the creator of the universe.  He created all things.  He knows all things.  He has all power.

His forgiveness of our sin is based on the richness of his grace.  His grace is total, complete.  His forgiveness covers ALL our sins.  Is it possible for our human minds to really grasp the totally of his grace?  As humans we are unable to truly forget (unless it is where we laid our car keys).  We can forgive to the extend of our humaness, but that slight, that hurt still lurks in the dark shadows of our minds, ready to jump to the forefront at a moment's notice.

But God's forgiveness is truly complete.

Isaiah 43:25  
“I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions, for my own sake,
    and remembers your sins no more.

Psalms 103:12

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Hebrews 8:12 

For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.

April 3, 2013

Hebrews 12:1a-3  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Matthew 11:28-29 ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Perseverance, endurance, grow weary, lose heart.  Rest for soul, easy yoke, light burden.  Which is it?  If the burden of salvation is light, then why the caution against growing weary and losing heart?

Since Jesus did all the heavy lifting for us on the cross, the "requirements" to enter into heaven are "easy and light"; however, the Christian life does require endurance, hard work and sacrifice.  If we look to Jesus as our example, we can be assured of trials and struggles.

Christians are provided two separate pieces of advice on how to make it through this life.  Today's reading from Hebrews is one of those avenues.  Paul viewed the Christian life as a marathon which required perseverance and dedication.  He espoused a similiar view in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.  

In other New Testament writings, we are admonished to be joyful and thankful during times of trials and struggles. This suggests we are to do more than just endure.

Take it from one who tends to be more of an endurer as opposed to a thankfuller.  Just trying to endure starts to wear you down.  If your sole focus is just "getting through" you will quickly grow weary and disillusioned.  

 I don't do joy well.  Half-empty glasses, boogey man under every bed and possible bad news each time the message light is blinking on the phone at work is my default mode.  It is imperative we allow God to open our hearts and minds to the joy of the Christian life.

 Joy is to be the hallmark of a Christian's life.  Not only for our individual health and well being, but as an example to the world.  Just because joy does not come naturally, does not excuse the absence of that in a Christian's life.  If God instructs, he will equip.

Joyful perseverance.  Without God's help, an impossible oxymoron.  With God's help, the model Christian life.

April 2, 2013

Matthew 20:17-19  ¹⁷ Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them,¹⁸ “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death ¹⁹ and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

I recently received some less than stellar student achievement and climate survey results from school.  In the past, this double whammy would have sent me into a tailspin of self-doubt and career worry.  But surprisingly it did not.  I have spent some time wondering why the change.

Two things come to mind.  First, I have a much stonger faith in God than in years past.  More and more, I am allowing Him to become my rock, my refuge.  This I believe:  If we are striving for obedience, working daily to please God, our Heavenly Father will not allow his children to come to ruin.

A second reason the two pieces of worrisome work news is not cause for emotional collapse is what I envision happened during Christ's three days in the grave.  While I am sure there was much anguish, crying and grieving, I also imagine there was planning starting to take place as to what to do next.  James, John and almost certainly Peter likely started some backroom discussions about "what now" and "where to go from here".  I believe that at least a core of the disciples were starting to plan next steps.

 Bad things happen in life, whether through choices we make or throught the choices of others.  I think bad news can be debilitating if a person sits and ruminates on it.

The third chapter of Ecclesiastes reminds us that for all things there is a season.  But this doesn't mean that we are to remain idle during those seasons.  Pray, plan and act.

Nehemiah took on the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  He prayed, planned and acted.  Nehemiah recognized a problem and after a season of prayer, took the necessary steps, through a lot of adversity, to solve that problem.

If the waves become our focus, we will drown.  If we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, we can walk above the stormy seas.  The seas may remain stormy, but we don't have to go under.

April 1, 2013