He Came to Serve and to Give

Philippians 2:6-7 (NIV) ⁶  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

In His book Dying to Preach Steven Smith develops an illustration to draw out the meaning of this text and help us think about what Jesus did in the Incarnation…

“While Christ took on the form of a human, he set aside his rights as God. In other words, all of Christ's time on earth he was always Godlike. When he was tried in Samaria, he was all-powerful; when he was asking questions in the temple, he was all-knowing; and when he was present in a particular place, he was omnipresent. It is simply that he made a choice not to take hold of what was always, and always will be, his—namely, his God-like properties.

Imagine that you are visiting a hospital. You cannot find a parking place close to the hospital, so you park way in the back, and now you are lost. You stop another driver in the lot to ask directions, and he kindly says that he will just park beside you and walk with you to where you need to be in the hospital. Now suppose that as you get to the front of the hospital, you find out that this man is actually the chief surgeon of the hospital, and as you near the door, he adds, "Oh, yes, and this is my parking place." He had a superior advantage because of his status. However, in deference to your needs, he did not take his rightful parking spot but walked with you the whole way. So here is the question: As he was walking with you, did he stop being a doctor? No. Did he have a parking place? Yes. He had all of these things and at any time could have laid hold of those things and used them, but for your sake he just chose not to in that particular moment.

As thin as that metaphor is, it illustrates that Christ's walking among human beings did not mean he was not God. Then why did he not reverse his tiredness or overcome all his physical limitations? It is because if he were to override his humanity, he would not have been fully in the form of a man and therefore could not fully empathize with our weakness or save us by his perfect life. The Incarnation was not just an event at Bethlehem. The Incarnation was the moment-by-moment choice of Christ to lay down his privileges, his rights as God, and to acquiesce to ungrateful sinners every second in order to effect our salvation.”

            Jesus was the ultimate servant. His life is the very definition of sacrifice. He lived and died in a totally others-centered manner. And because of it, His Father was and is glorified again and again in greater and greater glory. Jesus’ obedience means our salvation. May your Christmas be blessed with the joy that these truths bring.

Mark 10:45 (NIV)  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV) ¹⁷  For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. ¹⁶  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the willingness of your Son to lower himself for my sake, and for the sake of the world. Give me grace to comprehend just how far Jesus went for me, and may I always worship him appropriately because of such love. In His name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

"Must-Have" Prayer

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

The website Statistic Brain has tracked the "must-have Christmas gift" for the past few decades. In 1983 everyone had to have a cabbage patch doll. In 1984 we just had to have a $30 Trivial Pursuit game. In 1989 American households scrambled to get a new Game Boy, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990. Then in 1995 it was the Beanie Baby craze, and the 1999 Razor Scooter frenzy. In the ensuing years American consumers knocked themselves out to buy the following top yearly must-have Christmas gifts: a new iPod (2002), A Wii (2006), an iPad (2010), the Angry Birds Board Game (2011), and the Doc McStuffins doll (2013). This year’s big winner looks to be the Frozen Sing-Along Elsa Doll (2015).

Anything on this this list that you or your children ever wanted… badly? In my youth I spent many a Christmas wanting so much more than “my two front teeth”. I made my lists and wrote my letters. Recently Joanne and I found a well-written letter to Santa from Brianne when she was quite young. It was so polite. We laughed when we thought about how “bad” a year it must have been for her, because we did not remember her getting anything on the list… and it wasn’t because she had been bad.

Our “want lists” are rarely satisfied completely. If they are, they are soon replaced with new lists. But most people I know do not get everything they want. As I have gotten older my lists have gotten shorter. I’m always telling Joanne and our kids “I don’t want anything. I don’t need anything.” So does Joanne. I remember my dad saying that when I was young and thinking, “He’s crazy!” I couldn’t imagine anyone not wanting anything. I always wanted stuff. As you grow out of childhood the “stuff” changes. It gets much more expensive. Our kids learned not to bother asking if it was something very high in cost, even though they might have wanted it. In adulthood many of our wants change from things (stuff) to the less tangible: more time, more sleep, less busyness, more quiet, less stress, less worry, etc.

Some of my prayers – perhaps many – over the years have approached God with a “must-have” mentality. I’ve gone to Him with things (usually things that were wants, not needs) that I had to have. Imagine that: me, a finite, limited person presuming I could inform God what I must have. As my faith has matured, I am learning to ask God for what He – in His wisdom – deems best for me. In His infinite knowledge and love He always provides for my needs. When my wants are in tune with what He wants for me, I receive those as well. The secret is to want what He wants. Paul referred to this as contentment. John Piper describes it as being satisfied with all that God is for me in Jesus Christ. Oh, that my prayer life could be focused on more of what God wants and less of what I want. Then I would never have to worry about God saying “No!” to my prayers, because He will always say “Yes!” to His own will.

May we have an attitude of “must-have” in prayer about everything God says we must have.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) ¹¹  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Romans 8:31-32 (NIV) ³¹  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) ¹⁴  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵  And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

PRAYER:  Father, you have given me everything in Christ. Thank you. Let that be the focus of all my joy and desire. In His name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

            It goes by the word “nostalgia” – that sentimental longing for the past… a wistful affection directed toward a time gone by. It is usually accompanied by strong memories of people and the experiences we have shared with them. Holidays are a prime time for feelings of nostalgia. I found this out recently. I was home alone doing up some dishes while listening to some Christmas music on Pandora. The songs were mostly old standards of popular Christmas music that I grew up listening to in the sixties. For me this was a kind of “golden age” for Christmas. Christmas seemed simpler then. Maybe it’s just because I was a child and life was a whole lot simpler. So much of what I see and hear around me and in the world these days seems very tacky. Perhaps when I was a kid there were older folks who felt the same way about even earlier days. Anyway, I began to think about my childhood home and all of the blessings I had known there. The longer I listened the more I thought about those times, and the more I felt… well… nostalgic. I found myself over the kitchen sink with tears in my eyes. I was thinking about my dad and missing him… and about Joanne’s mom and dad and her/us missing them. I was thinking about family times at Christmas in days gone by. And they were fond memories. Memories can be good, but as time goes on, things change. Change is one of the natural laws of life, and accepting change gracefully – even with a warm embrace – is a valuable practice in our lives.

            Yet now and then the times come when we will cast our gaze on days gone by. When I talked with Joanne later about this experience, it was not from a “sad that I had to go through that” perspective. I felt happy to have had those moments, even though they brought some tears. There was a certain peace and joy about it. This kind of release of emotion can be beneficial. It wouldn’t be healthy for me to live in/for the past, but going to visit can be quite nice. It’s like I told Joanne in the years just after we got married: I enjoy going to visit your parents in Brooklyn… I enjoy visiting the city. But after a few days (of city life, not Joanne’s parents), I’ve got to get away. The old saying was true… “It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” If you are a city person, please be gracious with me. It’s likely that you have the same feeling – in an opposite way – about the country or about small town life. We like what we’re used to, but we can’t always stay there.

            Anyway, nostalgia can only do so much for you. The past is good for us to remember and learn from, but it’s not a good place for a dwelling. Living in the past can be an escape and can keep us from a daily, abiding walk with the Lord that eagerly steps into each new day full of His mercies and pregnant with His unfolding purpose. Our God never changes… He is the God of the old as well as the new. Whenever you look “back”, I pray you will be able to trace His love and the unfolding of His plan. In your moment by moment experience of the present, I pray you will be confident of His steadfast presence leading you. And regarding the unknown future ahead, I pray you will not live in fear, but will be assured that the God of your past and present will be the same tomorrow.

Psalm 102:23-27 (NIV) ²³  In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. ²⁴  So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. ²⁵  In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. ²⁶  They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. ²⁷  But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

Lamentations 3:22-26 (NIV) ²²  Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. ²³  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ²⁴  I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." ²⁵  The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; ²⁶  it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Malachi 3:6 (NIV)  "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Hebrews 1:10-12 (NIV) ¹⁰  He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. ¹¹  They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. ¹²  You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

James 1:17 (NIV)  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you that you are immutable… that you are the same today as you were a thousand years ago… a million years ago… for all eternity. This truth helps me know that I can trust you, and that your word is just as true now as when it was written. Thank you that, though everything around me and in my life is constantly changing, you do not. You are truly my rock and my refuge whatever comes my way in life. I hide in your unchanging love. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Giving Is Always in Season

Acts 20:35 (NIV)  In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

            About a year ago The Boston Globe reported a story about giving by reporter Kiera Blessing. Here is the gist of it:

            The Salvation Army receives some strange items in its red kettles during the Christmas season. Lieutenant Michael Harper, commander of the Cambridge Salvation Army in Boston said, "In addition to money, I've seen watch batteries, paper clips, safety pins, all sorts of strange things, but this one takes the cake." The gift was a diamond engagement ring given by a widow in honor of her late husband. The charity says the anonymous benefactor placed the diamond ring—valued at $1,850 (according to the woman’s appraisal)—and her wedding band in one of the kettles placed outside Boston's North Station. The rings were donated along with a note honoring the benefactor's late husband: "I've dropped my wedding ring in your Red Kettle knowing that the money from its sale will buy toys for needy children," the woman wrote. "In all seasons, my husband was a giver. I especially remember his joy in giving at Christmastime, especially to those in need. To honor his memory, I donate this ring." The rings sold a few days later for an astonishing $21,000, eleven times their appraised value. The anonymous donor did give some clue to part of her motivation, writing a short proverb at the bottom of her note: "To find out what a man is worth, take away his money and his possessions."

            There are many opportunities placed before us – especially in December - to give. May the Lord give you wisdom and grace in your giving, so that you may give joyfully and experience the fullness of the blessing Jesus promises to givers. Though you might not be placing an engagement ring in a kettle, it is the act that counts. Jesus puts no boundaries on the blessing. Whatever the size of any gift, blessing comes to the giver.

Matthew 2:11 (NIV)  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Proverbs 22:9 (NIV)  A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for every opportunity to give that you place before me. Open my heart to the joy and blessing  that comes with these opportunities. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Happy Thanksgiving to My Family in Christ

Hebrews 2:10-11 (NIV) ¹⁰  In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹  Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

            As you know – if you were with us in worship on Sunday – I had the joy of introducing my grandson Mason and praying for him. We also took time for everyone to pray for a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew of their own. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are a time when the closeness of family means so much. While we are glad Mason and his parents will be with us for Thanksgiving, we are sad that our son won’t be able to be with us. He’s far away in Florida. While he will have a warmer Thanksgiving than us, we will miss him here where the days are shorter and the temperatures are dropping. Families experience these kinds of celebrations and separations all the time. I am glad that April leads a GriefShare program for people in our church and community who have lost loved ones. The holidays can be even more difficult for them.

            This was the second year that our church gathered for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner (on Sunday). This is one of my favorite gatherings in our church life, because it brings us together in a family atmosphere around the tables. The language of Scripture reminds us that we are a family. This is a powerful metaphor for the followers of Jesus. We’ve been adopted by the Father through the work of Jesus, His Son – our “elder brother”. In this sense every believer can know he is never without a family.

            May our love for one another be as it is in the closest of earthly families. In Christ our ties are eternal, and that is exciting to think about. But it is nice to have the hugs and the caring that a family gives “here and now”. I pray that we all will come to a deeper experience of familial love in our own church: that it will be personal, warm, caring, and that we will become more involved in each other’s lives. As a part of this church, you have much to offer others… just by being a faithful brother or sister. May you make our church family to be a home for others each day. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you..

Galatians 6:10 (NIV)  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV) ¹⁴  For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵  from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸  may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for our elder brother Jesus, who has brought us into your family and calls us brothers and sisters. May I be true family to my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Every Breath I Take

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

            Your heart beats around 100,000 times each day. Your body has about 6 quarts of blood. This 6 quarts of blood circulates through the body three times every minute. In one day, the blood travels a total of 12,000 miles—that's four times the distance across the US from coast to coast. When was the last time you thanked God for one of those heartbeats?

            You take approximately 23,000 breaths every day. The process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide is a complicated respiratory task that requires physiological precision. We tend to thank God for the things that take our breath away. And that's fine. But when was the last time you thanked God for one of your breaths?

            Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. They are sophisticated trash collectors. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom. When was the last time you went to the bathroom that you thanked God that your “plumbing” works?

            Your eyelids blink about 10,000 times each day (assuming about 8 hours of sleep). We have to blink to cleanse and moisten the eye. Each time the eyelids close, salty secretions from the tear glands are swept over the surface of the eye, flushing away small dust particles and lubricating the exposed portion of the eyeball. Our eyes are always forming tears. The blink wipes them away and protects and cleans the eye. When was the last time you thanked God for one of those “cleanings”?

            You have roughly 1.6 trillion skin cells. Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour - about 1.5 pounds a year. By 70 years of age, an average person will have lost 105 pounds of skin, but it’s not the best way to plan on losing weight. Humans shed and re-grow outer skin cells about every 27 days - almost 1,000 new skins in a lifetime. When was the last time you thanked God for the protection your skin gives… and continues to give day in and day out?

The average human mouth produces about two liters of spit every day. Our salivary glands, which are located on the inside of each cheek, at the bottom of the mouth and under the jaw at the front of the mouth, churn out about two to four pints (one to two liters) of spit every day. Saliva contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes. Saliva keeps your mouth moist and comfortable and helps you chew, taste, and swallow. It fights germs in your mouth and prevents bad breath. It also has proteins and minerals that protect tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay and gum disease. When was the last time you thanked God when you smelled or saw something good to eat and your mouth began to water?

            Giving thanks should be as natural as all the ways our bodies were designed to work by God. But, unlike all these things, thanksgiving is not involuntary. It is an intentional act of worship. The more we know about God and His world (which includes the way He created us), the more we find to praise Him. Whether we do so is a moment by moment decision we make. May the Lord bring to our minds and hearts a thankful spirit with every breath we take.

     

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) ¹⁶  Be joyful always; ¹⁷  pray continually; ¹⁸  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV)  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 2:7 (NIV)  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

PRAYER:  Father, increase in me an attitude of appreciation and thankfulness to you in all things. Each time I learn something new, may it become an occasion for gratitude. I do not take for granted the wondrous way you have created me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

So That Others May Keep Them

John 15:13 (NIV)  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

            Ever since reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings in college, I have picked it up again every five to ten years or so. It is on my list of top five favorite books. I read something in the last chapter yesterday that caught my attention and gave me something to think about. The main character, Frodo (an “insignificant hobbit”), along with his closest friend Sam, has been back in his homeland for a short while after having been away doing great and perilous deeds which, in effect, saved their world of Middle Earth from great evil and ruin. Wars had been fought, many lives had been lost, and great deeds of courage had been done. But the time came for Frodo to leave Middle Earth, much to the grief of Sam. Through his tears Sam expresses how he had hoped Frodo would enjoy the Shire – their homeland – for many years. It is Frodo’s response that struck me:

“So I thought too, once. But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.”

            Tolkien had personally experienced the horrors of war in the trenches in Europe in World War I. He understood all too well the sacrifice soldiers make for those they leave behind. He saw death firsthand and knew that some gave up their homes, families, jobs, communities, friends, and much more when they went to war. They went because those things were in danger. They sacrificed comfort, safety and – in many cases – their own lives because what they loved and cared about was in danger. Such is the calling of the soldier. Our own nation has been served faithfully by hundreds of thousands who understood and made this sacrifice – losing that which they left behind so others could keep them. Veterans Day is a day to honor, recognize, and give thanks for those who have served our nation. May the Lord bless them with His love and grace.

            Jesus, in teaching His disciples that God’s will for them is to love one another, described the greatness of a life sacrificed for another person. He said there was no higher form of love. And Jesus did much more than talk about love. That in itself is a great example to us. It is easy just to talk about love. But true love always costs us something as we place the needs of another at a higher level than our own. Jesus placed our need for forgiveness of sin above His remaining at the Father’s side. He knew we lacked the righteousness that the Father requires for us to be in fellowship with Him, so He took upon Himself human flesh and lived His life without any sin. And in His death on the cross His righteousness became a gift to men. You could say that Jesus gave up the “comforts” of heaven, if you will, so that others may have them and keep them for all eternity. We are those “others”, and now we live to glorify Him and walk in His love. His grace has done it all, and His work for us is glorious.

Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV) ¹  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

PRAYER:  Father, I praise you for the humility and grace of your Son, Jesus. It amazes me that I am the object of His love. I glorify you for the perfections and wonders of your plan, and for your gift of faith that I might be redeemed from my sin and have the hope of eternity with you. Have mercy upon our veterans and their families. Comfort them in sorrow. Make your love known to them. Give them peace. Meet their needs according to your grace. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

A God-Informed Optimism

John 8:10-12 (NIV) ¹⁰  Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" ¹¹  "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." ¹²  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

            What do the people whom Jesus healed, delivered from demons, reached out to, made a part of His group of disciples, forgave of sins, saved from death, comforted, and spent quality time with… have in common? Perhaps it is that they were broken people. Broken people have something in their bodies, minds, relationships, and/or souls that is messed up. It’s not the way God designed it to be. Sometimes they know they are messed up and broken. And in their pride or ignorance, sometimes they don’t. God (and His plan) is the measure of our brokenness. And… God and His plan alone can heal our brokenness and set us on a path of wholeness. This happens through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection for us and through the power of the gift of His Spirit to those who are objects of His love and grace. In God’s hands, what we see as broken has potential for wonderful transformation into what is beautiful and glorious in His sight.

Speaking about the power of Christ to redeem sinners and build his church, Russell Moore wrote the following in an early October blog: “The next Billy Graham might be drunk right now. The next Jonathan Edwards might be the man driving in front of you with the Darwin Fish bumper decal. The next Charles Wesley might currently be a misogynistic, profanity-spewing hip-hop artist. The next Charles Spurgeon might be managing an abortion clinic today. The next Mother Teresa might be a heroin-addicted porn star this week. The next Augustine of Hippo might be a sexually promiscuous cult member right now, just like, come to think of it, the first Augustine of Hippo was. But the Spirit of God can turn all that around. And seems to delight to do so. The new birth doesn't just transform lives, creating repentance and faith; it also provides new leadership to the church, and fulfills Jesus' promise to gift his church with everything needed for her onward march through space and time.”

            I don’t quote Moore in order to narrowly focus on a few particular sins. I do so because his thoughts woke me up when I read them. I need encouragement and hope regarding many people I know. This is a reminder to me to have an optimism informed by the power and love of God. It is easy for me to “write off” people as unchangeable or even “not worth the effort” of sharing the Gospel. I need to hear and heed Jesus’ words again: “… with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). The better I know the Lord… the closer I am to Him… the more my life should be characterized by a “Word-informed” and “Spirit-informed” optimism, especially when I think about broken people. My attitudes toward others have a direct correlation to my faith – or lack of faith – in the Lord. Jesus saw Paul (the named Saul) so differently than I would have. But He had a plan for Paul and worked in his life to bring it to completion. So in the end, my faith – my belief in what Jesus can, and will do – is tested by broken, messed up people. Do I believe in a God who can… or not?

            I pray we will have the joy of observing God’s transforming power in the broken people in our own lives, and may His glory shine brightly through them. AMEN.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 4:8-16 (NIV) ⁸  This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." ⁹  (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰  He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²  to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

PRAYER:  Father, if you can do for others what you have done for me, then wonderful things are in store for messed up people. Be glorified in the great things your love and grace accomplish in the lives of broken people. Build your church with people whom you are transforming. Increase my faith when I look at others, especially those who are unlikely in my own mind to become followers of Jesus. All the more glory for you. You are awesome! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Cats and Dogs

John 13:34 (NIV)  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

            In a recent scientific study it was determined that cats do not love their owners – at least not like dogs love their owners. The study - reported in Discover magazine October 1 – concluded…         

 “We’re pretty sure this post is going to be hated by all the feline fanciers out there, but this study is just too good not to share. Here, researchers applied a test developed for use with children to investigate the relationships between cats and their humans. The test can determine whether children, and apparently animals, view their caregivers as a source of safety in a threatening environment. It turns out that using this metric, dogs are “securely attached” to their owners, but cats are “not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety.” But that doesn’t mean their owners aren’t dependent on their cats for warm fuzzies in a crazy world!”

            This is probably not news to pet owners. Most of the cats I’ve known have a certain independent attitude and don’t mind isolation. Most dogs, I’ve observed, thrive on companionship and don’t seem to care much for isolation. They can get lonely, whereas cats don’t seem to mind being left alone. I don’t care to take a position on whether “cats rule and dogs drool” – or vice versa, but the difference is interesting.

            Some Christians are like cats: aloof and isolated. They think they don’t need community. In extreme cases they avoid church altogether. I believe such persons may actually be a different species than Christian. I do not think it is possible to be a Christian and isolate yourself from the people Jesus has made to be your brothers and sisters. Forced isolation can’t take the faith from you, but a self-imposed one communicates what you think of a Savior who created and loves His church.

            And some Christians are like dogs: hungry to share affection, loving, faithful, interactive, social, and not wanting to miss anything. In some cases they may come on too strong or be a bit insecure in themselves – perhaps even somewhat clingy. But the companionship drive is very strong and rewarding to both the owner and the dog, and the companionship drive, or fellowship, in Christ is very rewarding to believers.

            Human beings need both – alone time and fellowship. Married couples need both. And Christians need both. If you are isolating too much, and you have little or no interaction with other believers, give some attention to the red flag raised by that. You were made for community and saved to be part of the family of God in Christ. “Family” requires and offers relationship that is healthy. But God also is at work in your inner life, which may be nurtured by His Word and prayer, along with times of worship when it’s “just me and God”. And, by the way, that’s as isolated as you can possibly get. Because of God’s existence and His presence, you can never be truly alone. You may shut Him out, but you cannot “shoo Him” away or dismiss Him from your presence. But it can feel great to get away from people and busyness and stress to care for your soul in a quiet place. May the Lord renew you in both dimensions of your life.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV) ¹²  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 5:16 (NIV)  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Matthew 6:6 (NIV)  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for both the privilege and joy of fellowship, and for time to be by myself. Help me to not get out of balance.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Lost

Luke 19:10 (NIV)   For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

            Last Saturday Joanne and I and Barbara MacPike took a group of eight Junior High youth to Levant to Treworgy Orchards. The main object of the trip was to “do” the corn maze. Each year the folks at this farm plant corn to be turned into a maze of some design. This year’s maze was a mother and baby elephant. A story is developed and travelers through the maze are given a map indicating six stations to discover. I have never been in a three dimensional maze before. The corn is high, and there are many paths not indicated on the map. In time you can find your way around, but there are moments when you feel disoriented and surprised – that you’re one place when you thought you were in another. Because all of this happens in safety, it ends up being fun. Hence the attraction. The illusion of lostness and finding your way out or through is appealing. Perhaps it is like watching a horror movie in a theater or a living room. People enjoy the emotional rise of being scared, but only from a place of safety. Few people would claim to enjoy being truly afraid. Fear is a brutal emotion and experience that leaves one debilitated and out of control if unchecked. So, too, people can enjoy being lost in a controlled environment whereas being truly lost generates great fear and anxiety.

            Of course, you can be lost and not know it. We sometimes think of the work of the Church as bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost people. This idea is generated by Jesus’ words in Luke 19:10. His self-described mission was to search out and save lost people. Were they groping around in their world, displaced, and not knowing where they were? No. They were living their lives in relative security with a sense of place and belonging. Most of them grew up in families and through their lives maintained connections that gave meaning and significance. If you asked them if they were lost they would have quickly responded, “No, are you crazy or something?” They did not feel lost. And no one they knew would say they were lost.

            So when Jesus says He came for a search and rescue mission for the lost, to whom is He referring? There must be another kind of lostness – very important if it led to the eternal Son of God exiting heaven and entering human flesh. Had God lost track of some people as if He were in a maze and couldn’t find them? No. I think what Jesus was getting at was that there are those who are lost to Him in their sin in the sense that they are relationally disconnected from Him on a pathway to hell. If He doesn’t do something… if He doesn’t go after them, they will remain lost to Him. But Jesus never fails in His search and rescue missions. He will later say, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:9). Could God be God if He loses track of people? Not much of a God. This lost condition is one of being lost in sin. When Jesus speaks of His search and rescue mission, it was at the end of a visit to the home of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was considered an outsider to the house of Israel. He was hated and considered to be a traitor and worse than a Gentile. When Jesus pays attention to him people got mad. That’s when Jesus describes His mission – a mission to the lost. Zacchaeus’ position of lostness is not unique. We’re all there. And it’s a good thing for us that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, because that’s where we are,… or were. “Found” people have no right to mock, hate, belittle, or think themselves better than lost people. We all start in lostness and were it not for Christ’s success in finding and rescuing us, we would still be lost. Once we’re found we can see no attraction in being lost. That condition has lost any appeal. We understand just how bad – how serious – it was.

            So now, like Jesus, we care about lost people. We care because God cares. If we do not care, can we really consider ourselves to be in tune with Christ’s ongoing mission in the world? Can we belong to God without caring for lost people? I don’t know how that could be possible. How can I not care about what God cares about and say that I love God? The condition of being lost – while the culture around us may take it lightly and in some cases even laugh it off – is a desperate place to be, especially when eternity is in view. Our great hope is that Jesus both knew and now knows what He is doing. His search and rescue mission never fails. No one can remain hidden and unfindable to Him. Nor can they remain unsave-able to Him. He will not be thwarted, beaten, or frustrated. He will not fail.

Luke 15:1-11 (NIV)   ¹  Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. ²  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." ³  Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴  "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶  and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' ⁷  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. ⁸  "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' ¹⁰  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." ¹¹  Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons… (read the rest in Luke 15:11-32)

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the persistence and faithfulness of Jesus to find me. He found me in my sin and took upon Himself what was deserved by me. May my memory of my own lostness ever lead me to praise you, to be appropriately grateful, and to care about others who are still lost – as you care about them.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott