All Things

Last week when the weatherman reported, “Sunny later on today,” I said, “Yeah, right…” to myself.  It looked dark, dreary, and cold out the kitchen window as the wet wintry mix of rain and snow was falling to the ground.  I also heard myself say, “I don’t believe it” when I looked up at the bright blue sky a couple of hours later.  As I spoke those words, I was reminded how frequently I’ve spoken these words.  There have been numerous times as I’ve read Scripture that I’ve told the author, Jesus, or Our Father, “Yeah, right…” only to come back and say, “I don’t believe it” later on.

One of the passages of Scripture that I’ve repeatedly said, “Yeah, right…” to is Romans 8:28 where Paul says, “All things work for good…”  Those words were usually followed by, “What good can come out of this?”  And later, sometimes much later, I’ve exclaimed, “I don’t believe this” because of how that useless incident had come to be a valuable part of my life.  Over and over again, Paul’s words, “All things work for good…” have proven to be true in my life, but even more so after I heard what Paul said in the next verse.  Paul said, “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

From the very beginning, God had a plan for us.  Like a good Father, He wants us to grow up to be in an intimate relationship with Him.  Our Father allows all things to happen to us so that we will always be looking for and finding comfort, strength, confidence, and security (faith) in Him—so that we can become like Jesus, our big Brother.

Kingdom Speech

After giving a talk recently, someone approached Phil and said to him, “You’re from Arkansas, aren’t you?”  I think Phil was surprised, as the other person continued, “I can tell from your accent.”   I was not there, but I was surprised because I’ve known Phil for over 30 years and I’ve never noticed that he had an accent.  But then again, I am also surprised when people still tell me I have an accent even though I’ve been away from Hawaii for 40 years.

As Christians, people should recognize that “we’re not from these parts” (Philippians 3:20) by the way we talk because the language that we speak (including its accent, inflection, tone, etc.) is peculiar to The Kingdom of God.

We all know that vulgarity, idle, and foolish talk should be foreign among Kingdom People (Ephesians 5:4) along with gossiping, arguing, and complaining (Philippians 2:14).  However, there are a couple more things that are very striking in their speech.

A distinguishing trait of a citizen of the Kingdom is the way they speak to and about others.   According to Paul, what comes out of their mouths should be, “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

Much of the rhetoric that we hear today produces hostility, animosity, and division.  Our Lord declared, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25).  Kingdom People are interested in building, while people who are not Subjects of the Kingdom have a tendency of tearing down.

The second noticeable quality about the speech of Kingdom People is that they are acutely aware of the King’s Presence.  They acknowledge Him in all their activities (Proverbs 3:6), because they are convinced that their lives are totally dependent on Him (James 4:15).  This is why Kingdom People’s speech make them “shine like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15) because we live in a society that teaches us to be independent and contend that the Universe revolves around us.

Learning new words in a different language is extremely difficult for me.  Learning the language of the Kingdom is next to impossible and it produces a lot of frustration, anger, and stress.  However, Paul refocuses my attention:

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.  (Philippians 2:12-13)

I am so glad and relieved that Scripture repeatedly reminds me that the emphasis is on the King.  Even the Greatest Commandment tells me that it’s all about Him.  When we put anything ahead of Him, even the Second Great Commandment, our speech becomes corrupted.  Let us continue to seek God so that our prayer and praise come from a pure heart.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

We’ve all heard the cliché, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” but I am pretty sure that individually we would all define “small stuff” differently.  The Bible defines what small stuff is as well.  In fact, Jesus says something shocking.  He says, “Do not worry . . .” and then He enumerates on what I consider are the essentials of life. (Matthew 6:25-34).

It doesn’t matter if we’re poor and destitute, or if we’re affluent and prominent; food, water, and clothing are at the very core of our existence.  Shouldn’t this be at the very heart of our concerns and affairs?  However, Jesus declared, “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) when He was hungry and was being tempted by the devil to make bread out of stones.  Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 in which God reminded the Children of Israel that He fed and clothed them miraculously so that they would know what was in their hearts.

When Jesus says, “Do not worry” in Matthew 6:25, He goes on to tell His listeners that the Father—“your Heavenly Father” has got your back, so don’t micromanage or meddle in His affairs.  Instead, Jesus says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” and in the same breath says that all the things we think are essential “will be added to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).  If our hearts truly believed that God’s got us covered, what would our lives look like?

Ananias & Sapphira

I was terrified the first time I read the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.  There is still some fear in me as a read and reflect on this story today.  I hear myself saying, “I’m in good company” because the people and the church at that time were seized with great fear (Acts 5:5, 11).  I also hear myself saying that this fear is normal and healthy.

I mean, don’t you think it’s normal to be afraid of someone who has the power of life and death?  Besides death, God has shown that He has power over sickness, demons, and nature.  Jesus also said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

It’s a healthy fear because we are told that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 1:7).  It’s healthy because the fear of God is the starting point, but we are not to stay there.  We know this because Peter starts off his second letter with “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2) and ends with “Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

How do we know we’re growing?  Scriptures tell us, “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear” (I John 4:18) and Paul ends the 13^th chapter of I Corinthians with, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

Knowing God

When John leads a class, he asks a lot of questions.  When we began studying Isaiah, John asked, “Why study the Prophets?”  There were several responses but not the answer that I was thinking of.  I study Isaiah and the Prophets for the same reason as I study the rest of the Bible—to know God.

How important is knowing God? I’m glad you asked.  The Apostle Paul says that everything else is “dung” (KJV) in comparison and knowing Him is so phenomenal that he desired to share in Jesus’ suffering (Philippians 3:8-11).

God also tells us not to revel in our abilities, intelligence, or possessions but to celebrate the fact that we know Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24, paraphrased).  David got that.  This is why he declares, “Your love is better than life.” (Psalms 63:3).  And hymnist Mary Artemisia Lathbury obviously had a taste of The Heavenly Manna as she penned the words, “Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word,” in her hymn, “Break Thou the Bread of Life.”

We need to know God not only informationally, but we need to know Him personally because we cannot truly love someone we don’t know.

Let us be people who can confidently stand with the Apostle Paul and declare in one accord: “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted Him for that day.” (II Timothy 1:12)

Salvation

When I saw Robin, she said, “Last night at Bible class, John asked the questions ‘What is Salvation’ and ‘what are we saved from?’”  My immediate thought was, “That’s easy.  I am saved from God—His wrath and His judgment.”  But the more I think about it, the more I’m realizing that it’s not true.  I am really being saved from godlessness—or, life without God.

If God were not in my life, I would not have meaning and purpose.  I would have no future and no hope.  Bleakness, misery, anguish, despair, devastation are words that would not even begin to describe the desolation I’d feel in my soul.  I know because I’ve been there.

So when Paul calls to remembrance the “…time you were separate from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world,” (Ephesians 2:12) it resonates with me.

The Good News according to Paul was Jesus, “came and preached peace to you who were far away” (Ephesians 2:17).  But that’s not good news to me.  That’s the best news ever to me.  Jesus is not a crutch to me, as some would allege.  No, Jesus is my life support—because without Him, I’d be dead.

One Step Forward

I’m not sure if the idiom says, “Two steps forward and one step back” or “One step forward and two steps back,” but either way, I’ve experienced it.  These experiences have brought me feelings of frustration, anger, and despair.  If I don’t realign myself, I could get depressed—very depressed.  This is how I encourage myself:

1. God’s more interested in who I’m becoming rather than what I accomplish.  Before the beginning of time, God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).  It’s not about my accomplishments, but about the purpose of God. 

2. God is faithful.  Paul says, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).  I hear Paul telling me, “It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve failed.  God will not abandon or desert His project.”

3. God wants me to trust Him.  Over and over, Scripture reminds us that the righteous shall live by faith.  After the Apostle Paul confessed, “We despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death” he quickly reoriented himself by saying, “but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead…on Him we have set our hope…” (II Corinthians 1:8-10).  I will be disappointed, discouraged, and disillusioned if my hopes, dreams, and expectations are in the wrong place. 

There is a saying: “Work like everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.”  I know that I need realignment when I work like everything depends on God and pray like everything depends on me.

Peace of God

Having the peace of God is very important to me and to some it might seem that’s all I’m concerned about.   This might be true, but it involves more than seeking my personal comfort.  I’ve learned that in order to receive the peace of God, I have to identify who or what’s giving me the anxiety, tension, or struggle.

As I’ve reflected on my state of mind in the past, I’ve discovered that the greatest source of my stress were conflicts with God.  Yup, my unrest was because I was at war with God and I have found that in order to have the peace of God, I have to be at peace with God.

I am sure that when most people think of stress and anxiety in Jesus’ life, we think of what Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane.  When I read the Gospel accounts describing Jesus’ emotional state at that time, I hear the words: distressed, troubled, anguished, and overwhelmed with sorrow (NIV).  But in Jesus’ suffering, what captures my attention are the words that come out of His mouth, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).  And the Gospel writers tell us that Jesus went through this intense time of prayer three times and after the third time, I see Jesus not only arising with peace, but I see Him rising in power.

In this event, the picture of Jesus’ anguish brings clarity to the chaos and conflicts in my life.  As I read about His struggle, I am reminded of His teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 as He exhorts His listeners not to worry, but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  This is the reason why I know that I’m at odds with God.  The greatest reason for my stress is I am not seeking the purposes or rule of God in my life, and often, it’s not even a consideration.

Once I settle the question of “who’s the boss,” I am reminded that Paul says I will be able to rejoice.  My problems will not go away, but Paul says, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

If you’ve been around me, you might have heard me say, “I’d rather have many trials with God in my life, than have a comfortable life without God.”  I squirm as I write these words because it’s almost like an invitation for trouble.  But as I have said, having the peace of God is very important to me.  When I sing, “It is well with my soul,” I want to it to be authentic and unrestrained.

Spiritual Gifts

This morning I was thinking about spiritual gifts and how we are more gifted than we realize.  Forgive me for spiritualizing; however, let me interpret I Corinthians 12-14 in a practical way.

We have all been given the gift of knowledge.  When we read Scripture and observe the world around us, we understand who we are and how life and God works.  Of course our knowledge is limited, but in our minds, and to some degree, life makes sense to us.

We have also been gifted with understanding.  We speak to ourselves in an individual language.  In our minds, words and phrases may not have the same meaning to other people—not even to our own family members!  We think in pictures and concepts, take shortcuts, and we usually do not form our thoughts in complete sentences.  I know this is true because when I speak from my universe to another person, my listener looks at me as if I’m uttering mysteries—or as if I’m speaking in tongues.

I especially thank God for the gift of interpretation.  Whenever I’m in a conflict with someone because they don’t understand what I’m saying and want to scream, “Don’t you speak English?”  The Lord often sends someone with the gift of interpretation to intervene and translate.    

Paul tells the Corinthians that the purpose of all our gifts is for “strengthening, encouragement, and comfort” (I Corinthians 14:3).  In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives them an even bigger purpose statement.  Paul tells the Corinthians that God gave and committed to them the ministry and the message of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:18, 19).  For this reason, let’s consider Paul’s words as we look for ministry opportunities in our world.  God’s vision might be more far reaching, yet closer to home than we think. 

As We Are

In the past, whenever I asked questions like, “Why me?” or “Why does this have to happen?”, I was answered by a Biblical text (and there are many different ones).   Thus, I have quit asking these questions.  Instead, whenever something interrupts the flow of my life, I tell myself, “This is a test.”  Remember when the Hebrew writer said Jesus “was tempted in all points?”  He goes on to say, “…just as we are” (Hebrews 4:15).  In other words, as Jesus was tempted, we are also tested in every area of our lives.

Most of us don’t recognize the test because when we think of temptation we think of being enticed to eat a second bowl of ice cream or being allured to go where angels fear to tread.  In actuality, a temptation is anything that draws us away from God (James 1:14).

One reason for the temptation or test is so that we can know ourselves.  When the Hebrew writer tells us Jesus was tempted in all points, he finishes his sentence with, “…yet was without sin.”  The Hebrew writer is telling us that Jesus was on target in every area of His life and we are left to contemplate our struggles in the context of His life.

I know I’m failing a test whenever I do or say something followed by me saying, “That’s not like me.”  When I speak these words, I am reminded of how Jesus lived His life and what He said throughout the Gospels.  In Mark 7:20-23, Jesus tells me that how I respond to life and people comes from who I am.  When I try to justify myself, I hear Jeremiah reminding me that “the heart is deceitful above all things…” (Jeremiah 17:9).

I don’t know if anyone else has these thoughts and conflicts, but I am sure glad for the words of Scripture to redirect my thoughts.  I can pray with David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24).  And then I find comfort when John says, “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:1b-2).

Aren’t these wonderful words?  They tell me that no matter what happens, I can pass the test with flying colors!

He Was Tempted

A few weeks ago Tom wrote an article about the “Temptations of Jesus.”  As I read what Tom had to say, I wondered how many of us had seen the many temptations that Jesus had faced besides the ones in the wilderness.  As Tom pointed to various other temptations that Jesus faced, we were reminded that Jesus “was in all points tempted…” (Hebrews 4:15) and I thought about the numerous temptations Jesus encountered in the last few hours of His life.

I see Jesus being tempted when He was betrayed, denied, and deserted by His closest friends.  I see Jesus being tempted when He was disrespected, insulted, and humiliated.  Jesus was tempted when He was lied to, lied about, and threatened.  Every act that could destroy a relationship was hurled at Jesus.  And when Jesus was tempted with such animosity, we hear Him cry out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).  When I hear these words, I am bewildered and ask myself, “What kind of man is this?”

In my astonishment, the Hebrew writer interrupts my thoughts.  “Remember when I said Jesus was tempted in all points, I wasn’t finished talking.  I also said that Jesus was without sin.  In other words, God’s love was tested in all points and it is pure, genuine, and flawless.  What you should be mystified by is, What kind of God is this?”  This is the wonderment of all the people in Scripture.  In fact, Peter said what God was doing through Jesus had fascinated not only the prophets on earth, but the angels in heaven as well (I Peter 1:10-12).

I am glad that Scripture harps on the love of God because I would have missed it.  I would have said, “Got it.  Now let’s move on to bigger and better things.”  But Scripture repeatedly marvels over the love of God and it has caught my attention.  Listen again to the wonderment of Scripture:

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all . . . (Romans 8:32)

I am convinced that . . . [nothing] in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord . . . (Romans 8:37-39)

How great is the love The Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! (I John 3:1)

God’s love is so hard for us to understand that Paul prayed for the Ephesians: “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge . . .” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Amazing?  Yes!  Shocking?  Yes!  Mind boggling?  Yes!  Unbelievable?  Yes!  But listen what else the Hebrew writer says:

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. –Hebrews 4:16

The One who has overcome the world is our advocate in heaven!  No wonder Paul declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)!  Isn’t that great news?

Leadership

What does a leader in the church look like?  Is there someone in or outside the church that you consider to be your “leader”?  If you were to use your own words, how would you describe a good leader?

When I think of leaders, I think of the Apostle Paul.  I think that if he were here today, I’d be intimated by him because he is so intense.  I also think that as we got to know each other, he would put me at ease and I’d learn to trust him.  Here are some of the reasons why:

A leader values me.  Paul says to the Thessalonians, “For what is our hope, our joy, or our crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes?  Is it not you?  Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (I Thessalonians 2:19-20).  Paul says that the people of God are priceless.

A leader wants me to be all that I can be.  Paul writes to the Ephesians, “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.  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…” (Ephesians 1:16-19).  Paul sees the riches that God’s given and desires that the Ephesians will get a glimpse of their inheritance.

A leader is always in prayer for me.  Paul tells the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3).  Paul doesn’t just have fond memories of people, but every time he thinks of them, he remembers them before the LORD.

A leader desires to come along side and empower me.  Paul says to the Romans, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:11-12).  Paul doesn’t see himself as “Lord,” but sees himself as teammate, classmate, or joint-heir.

A leader is firm in his convictions.  Paul says to the Galatians, “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong” (Galatians 2:11).  Paul was bold and stood up to false practices no matter who he was going to clash with.

A leader does not think of himself more highly than he ought.  Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1).  Paul has a sober judgment of himself.  Paul sees himself as mortal, a hireling, and a servant.  Paul not only has his eyes and his thoughts fixed on the One he is following, but points others to follow Him as well.

This list is probably not a comprehensive list of what a leader should be, but I think that Paul has not only defined what a leader is, but his life expounds what a good leader looks like.  When I hear Paul saying “follow my example, as I follow Christ” I hear God asking me, “Who are you following and who’s following you?”

Hiding From God

There are many humorous places in Scripture; one of the places is found in Genesis 3.  Remember when Adam and Eve ate from the “forbidden tree” and then hid from God when He showed up?  When God asked Adam why he was hiding, Adam’s answered, “I was naked” (Genesis 3:10).

I find his answer hilarious:  Adam and Eve had always been naked, and even in the Presence of God.  But this time when God greets them, it’s as if they were confessing their crime even before they had been accused.  It reminds me of children who have disobeyed their parents and when their parents come home, without so much of a “Hi, Mom!” or “Hi, Dad!” the children exclaims, “I didn’t do it—”

However, my amusement turns somber when I remember that nothing is hidden from the eyes of God (Hebrews 4:13).  I am also reminded that when we don’t own our sins, life will be sucked out of us (Psalms 32:3-4).  It’s a natural consequence of our lives when we despise the Word of the LORD (II Samuel 12:9).

The Good News is that we don’t have to cover up our sins before God, men, and ourselves.  We can live a transparent, yet vibrant, exuberant, and abundant life.  Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  How can we experience this liberation?  Jesus tells us, “If you continue in My Word. . .” (John 8:31-41). 

I hear Scripture urging us, don’t hide from God, be persistent to remain in His Presence, and we’ll be at peace with God (Hebrews 11:6).

Prayerlessness

As I was singing and praying the hymn, “I Am Thine, O Lord” this morning, the words, “O the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend” jumped out at me.  The reason why it caught my attention is because I would not describe my prayer life as a pure delight.  As a matter of fact, “prayerlessness” would be more a more accurate description of my spiritual life.

Earlier this morning I listened to a program about George Washington and his spiritual life.  The speaker said that Washington kept a prayer journal and George prayed an hour in the morning and an hour at night.  In his journal while at Valley Forge, he wrote, “under the crushing weight of responsibility that I find myself, I can no longer sustain my prayer vigil” because of the suffering and dying of his men.  So he continued to pray an hour in the morning, but two hours in the evening.

The idea of even praying for an hour is mind boggling and I could come up with a whole bunch of reasons why I can’t spend that much time in prayer.  Yet, as I listen to my excuses, I am reminded of the numerous times when the Gospel writers spoke of Jesus praying.  Among them is the time that He arose early (Mark 1:35) and that He spent all night praying (Luke 6:12.

While I struggle in prayer, Fanny Crosby’s words remind me, “When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend.

Jim

My friend Jim is facing round 2 is his bout with cancer.  The prognosis is not good, but Jim says, “I am at complete peace with God, and whatever He wills is also my will.”

Jim’s spirit reminded me of what Paul wrote Timothy.  In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, Paul said, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

When Paul said these words, he didn’t mention his successes or failures.  Paul didn’t mention his competitors, his status, or the struggles that he went through.  What I do hear Paul saying is that he poured everything into staying on course and finishing.

Paul’s words blare out to me about perseverance, resolution, determination, faithfulness, and steadfastness.  And this is what I’ve also seen coming from Jim’s life.  And like Paul, I think Jim has his eye on the prize—“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day.”   And I think Jim would be quick to add, “Paul doesn’t put a period there.  Paul goes on to say, “And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”

Good job, Jim.  Keep running.  As you recently reminded me, “We ain’t dead yet!”