Conflicts

Most people I know avoid conflicts or confrontational situations. We have a tendency to hope that the problem takes care of itself and goes away. If it doesn’t, we seek someone to intervene, seek counsel and try to find a formula or a method to deal with the situation. Whatever the problem or the result, the process is a difficult and an unpleasant experience.

There is one “formula” that has been helpful to me over the years. That is, falling on my hands and knees before the God of the Universe begging for mercy and for more grace. I wouldn’t call it boldness, but I need God’s grace because I need some courage. I need His wisdom because I don’t know how to proceed. I need God’s intervention because too many things can go wrong. I need His mercy because, even if I did something right, the results may be catastrophic. And I need His peace because this is a stressful situation.

Why would anyone want to enter a fiery furnace or walk through the valley of the shadow of death without His Presence? Even if the worst case scenario takes place, when God is involved, He is big enough to fix it and make things okay. Moses understood this and told God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16) I think these are great words from a very wise man.

Vain Repetiton

I think that one of the reasons why we don’t often recite or pray things together as a congregation is because we are afraid of using “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7-15). Ironically, the “Lord’s Prayer” is found in the same passage of Scripture and I think that this is a major reason why we are somewhat reluctant to pray it together as a congregation.

Jesus doesn’t say not to repeat things, or in this case our prayers. In Scripture, God Himself repeatedly repeats Himself. Jesus is saying don’t be meaningless, mechanical, or mindless in your frequency. If Jesus meant don’t say the same thing over and over again, I’m in big trouble.

Throughout the day I hear myself praying the same prayer—“Lord have mercy on me!” It is far from empty, I mean it every time, and I think I hear, “I do—more than you know” every time.

Paul's Prayer

II Kings 6:8-23 we are told of a King that was so angry with Elisha that he sent an entire army to capture him. When the army came to the place where Elisha was, they surrounded the entire city. The next morning when Elisha’s servant got up and saw the army, he said to Elisha, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” Elisha answered the servant and said, “Don’t worry. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Elisha must have seen the bewildered look on his Gehazi’s face because the very next verse says, “And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (v. 17)

I wonder if the Apostle Paul had this story in mind as he wrote to the Ephesians, “I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Apparently Paul saw that the Ephesians were blind to something in their spiritual lives and like Elisha, the Apostle knew that he did not have the ability to “open the eyes” of the Ephesians. So he turned to the One who could and said, “I pray…”

These men of God teach us a valuable lesson. We cannot open the eyes of the physically or spiritually blind. Attempting to do so is an exercise in futility and along with it comes frustration and exasperation. Moreover, if we assume this responsibility, we are telling God that we can do His job. I have discovered that it’s never a good idea to have God stand in the unemployment line.

Chunhui

Chunhui (pronounced choon whee) had been sitting in with a group that was studying the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Chunhui was greatly troubled at what Jesus said about anger (5:21-22), lust (5:27-30), and kindness (5:38-47). He came to me and solemnly said, “This is a difficult thing to do.” He was shocked when I said, “No, it’s not.” After his expression changed from shock to confusion, I said, “It’s not difficult, it is impossible.” Again, a bewildered look flooded his face.

We then looked at verse 48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” “These verses are a description of the heart of God,” I told Chunhui, “and we are to be like Him.” Chunhui then asked questions. In his is quest for answers, he recognized the need for a Savior and his questions ultimately led him to the foot of the cross. When he was asked, “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?” He pumped his fist in the air and proclaimed, “I believe! I believe!”

I'm Glad To Be A Christian

I have a habit of changing words to familiar songs and whenever I do this, my family groans, rolls their eyes, or both. This past Memorial Day I was reminded of one of those songs. This song is entitled, “God Bless the USA” and when I first heard it, it was sung by Lee Greenwood. My edited chorus goes like this:

I’m glad to be a Christian
Where at last I know I’m Free
And I won’t forget The Man Who died
Who gave that right to me!
And I’ll continue to call upon His Name—
He’ll defend me to the end
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt, He loves me so
God, thank You for that Man!

There are some that might be offended by my rendition to this song because it might seem like I am making light and perhaps even snubbing the efforts of our military. But not so! I know the sacrifice our Men in Uniform have made for us—they have given me many freedoms for the moment and perhaps for my lifetime. But Jesus’ sacrifice has given me a freedom for all eternity. When my life in this world comes to an end and entering the next, whose praises should I be singing? Obviously, the One who will defend me to the end!