I feel like I’ve had a lot of “down time” or wasted time in my life. I’ve spent lots of time waiting in doctor’s offices, waiting for my number to be called at the Motor Vehicle Department, in grocery store lines, and in traffic jams, just to name a few.
Whenever I find myself groaning or sighing because of my lack of patience or think about how time is slipping through my fingers, I am always reminded of Paul’s statement about “redeeming the time.” The NIV translates Paul in this way:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
One of the ways that time can be redeemed is through prayer. No matter what we’re doing, where we are, and what the circumstance is, we can pray. We can pray for ourselves (including our patience). We can pray for the people that are surrounding us and we can ask the LORD to work in the lives of people and circumstances that are on the other side of our planet. As my friend Cho, in his South Korean accent would say, “It is epishent!” James says that prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
On the other hand, I’ve noticed that I spend a good amount of time on “wishful” thinking. While there are probably some good things that could be said about wishful thinking, how resourceful or beneficial is wishful thinking? In contrast to prayer, it’s probably like the difference between a dream and reality…
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Great Commission
Anyone who has attended an evangelistic church has heard the terms “omission” and “commission.” I don’t remember how it’s been said, but one of the things that I have heard is that “omission of the great commission is a great sin. “
When I look at our history, there seems to be an issue that is as great, or even greater than the sin of “omission of the great commission,” which is the omission of His authority. As Christians, we pay close attention to Jesus when He speaks and we even understand that Jesus is LORD. Yet, we often find ourselves in the Apostle’s shoes when they argued over, “who’s the greatest” (Luke 22:24-30).
“Who’s in charge” has to be settled before we can go on a mission, do a project, or do anything. In Matthew 28:18, before Jesus commissions His disciples, He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me…” If we do not continually acknowledge Him, we will not go in His power, His wisdom, and His spirit. If we are not constantly remembering or reaffirming His authority, we will consistently find ourselves in power struggles, robbing Him of His glory, and be in danger of making disciples not of Him, but of ourselves.
Moses was a pretty smart guy. He did not want any success that the LORD was not overseeing (Exodus 33:1-3). Moses told the LORD that if He was not going to lead them, to please not bother sending them. Moses added, “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 33:12-16)?
Many times we have wonderful dreams, worthy goals, and noble causes. And often our great visions begin with the Word of God and His promises. But if we do not repeatedly surrender to His authority then we will be no different than any other people. This is also why James warns us that it is a wicked thing to not acknowledge His rule (James 4:13-16).
The Psalmist said, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalms 127:1). What a comforting thought! What this says to me is that under the LORD’S leadership, nothing is a waste of time. “Success” is guaranteed every time. The “project” may fall apart, but we have this reward: “Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
When I look at our history, there seems to be an issue that is as great, or even greater than the sin of “omission of the great commission,” which is the omission of His authority. As Christians, we pay close attention to Jesus when He speaks and we even understand that Jesus is LORD. Yet, we often find ourselves in the Apostle’s shoes when they argued over, “who’s the greatest” (Luke 22:24-30).
“Who’s in charge” has to be settled before we can go on a mission, do a project, or do anything. In Matthew 28:18, before Jesus commissions His disciples, He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me…” If we do not continually acknowledge Him, we will not go in His power, His wisdom, and His spirit. If we are not constantly remembering or reaffirming His authority, we will consistently find ourselves in power struggles, robbing Him of His glory, and be in danger of making disciples not of Him, but of ourselves.
Moses was a pretty smart guy. He did not want any success that the LORD was not overseeing (Exodus 33:1-3). Moses told the LORD that if He was not going to lead them, to please not bother sending them. Moses added, “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 33:12-16)?
Many times we have wonderful dreams, worthy goals, and noble causes. And often our great visions begin with the Word of God and His promises. But if we do not repeatedly surrender to His authority then we will be no different than any other people. This is also why James warns us that it is a wicked thing to not acknowledge His rule (James 4:13-16).
The Psalmist said, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalms 127:1). What a comforting thought! What this says to me is that under the LORD’S leadership, nothing is a waste of time. “Success” is guaranteed every time. The “project” may fall apart, but we have this reward: “Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Life Is Difficult
One day I was complaining to my boss about how we did business. I told him the way the company did things made no sense and it made our job very, very, difficult. My boss gave me a short lecture and made three very clear points. Number one, life is difficult. Two, it is what it is. And finally, stop your whining and crying.
As I reflected on what my boss said, I had a feeling of deja vu because I know that I’ve had similar conversations with the LORD. Whenever I’m having a “why” moment, I often hear Jesus saying, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). And just in case I turn a deaf ear to the LORD, Scripture continually repeats itself and Peter bluntly says, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you (I Peter 3:12).
Paul makes the point, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man” (I Corinthians 10:13). In other words, “it is what is” and later Paul goes on to say, “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:14).
But this is where the familiarity ends and if I continue to seek God, His Presence leads me into His reality. God says that He understands (Hebrews 4:15). God doesn’t say deal with it or figure it out by yourself, instead He says that He would be with us always (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5, John 14:18).
He said that He would help us in our trouble (Psalms 46:1), and either provide a way of escape or give us the power to overcome our difficulties (I Corinthians 10:13).
God said that He would give us His Spirit (John 14:16, 16:7, II Corinthians 1:21-22), so that we can rejoice always (I Thessalonians 5:16), even in the most difficult times (James1:2).
Yup, life is difficult. But it’s nothing that God can’t handle (Jeremiah 32:27, John 16:33).
As I reflected on what my boss said, I had a feeling of deja vu because I know that I’ve had similar conversations with the LORD. Whenever I’m having a “why” moment, I often hear Jesus saying, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). And just in case I turn a deaf ear to the LORD, Scripture continually repeats itself and Peter bluntly says, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you (I Peter 3:12).
Paul makes the point, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man” (I Corinthians 10:13). In other words, “it is what is” and later Paul goes on to say, “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:14).
But this is where the familiarity ends and if I continue to seek God, His Presence leads me into His reality. God says that He understands (Hebrews 4:15). God doesn’t say deal with it or figure it out by yourself, instead He says that He would be with us always (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5, John 14:18).
He said that He would help us in our trouble (Psalms 46:1), and either provide a way of escape or give us the power to overcome our difficulties (I Corinthians 10:13).
God said that He would give us His Spirit (John 14:16, 16:7, II Corinthians 1:21-22), so that we can rejoice always (I Thessalonians 5:16), even in the most difficult times (James1:2).
Yup, life is difficult. But it’s nothing that God can’t handle (Jeremiah 32:27, John 16:33).
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