Ephesians 4:1-3 As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.
A post on Facebook this morning noted that our high school football team gets “back to work” today. This got me thinking about sporting events – and how enjoy attending and supporting our alma mater, young friends and relatives who participate… and our community at large. It also reminded me that there are “fans” at these events who behave badly. To be honest, there are a handful of people I prefer not to sit near at sporting events, because their conduct is so off-putting. Even worse, some of these folks are active members of local area congregations who profess to be faith-filled Christians!
Some of these same folks are quick to complain noisily about calls by referees, the lack of playing time for a particular team member, and how poorly the coach does his/her job. If people spent as much time and energy on solving some of our country’s biggest problems as they do debating issues like these - or the newest uniform designs for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team - we’d be amazed at the progress that could be made!
So what does this have to do with today’s scripture passage? There are two things to glean from this:
We must do everything we can to be patient with those who behave in an unbecoming manner. When our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ show out at sporting events, on social media, or anywhere else, we must still love them and exhibit patience – even if they try our own! If we lash out at those who are misbehaving, we have become just as unlovely – and we dishonor God. We don’t have to sit near these people, but we can’t publicly lash out – or worse yet, become one of them!
We must check our own behavior and see where we are missing the mark. Are we behaving in a manner that is worthy of the title “Disciple of Christ?” Do we show patience and tolerance – hold our tongue and act with humility – even when we disagree with the ref’s call or the coach’s decision? When the other guy publicly speaks with hatred and untruth about our favorite political candidate, do we strike back with an equally vile comment or presentation toward his/her choice?
Just because I choose not to sit near a friend who is raucous at sporting events doesn’t mean I don’t love this person. And on occasion, I may privately speak to a friend – after careful consideration and prayer – and let him/her know I am concerned about his/her tone or others’ perception of these behaviors. But the most important thing we can do is to live by example… to behave in a manner that honors God and our allegiance to Him – and to patiently love the other guy… even when he/she is anything but lovely.
As we prepare for yet another school year and dozens of sporting events – not to mention the political campaigns that are in full force and countless other issues that are testing our mettle these days – let’s take a few minutes to study this scripture passage. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit of unity and peace – to show you how to treat others with humility, love, gentleness and patience. Call on God to help you guard your tongue and your thoughts… and to always act in a way that is worthy of His blessings. And if you find yourself needing a new seat at a sporting event, come and sit near me! I’ll be the one biting my tongue!
Ephesians 4:31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
What if you asked Jesus to forgive you, and He said, “I’ll get back to you on that.”? Or what if He flatly refused? How would you feel? I would be devastated, and I’m pretty sure I would look at Jesus differently afterward. While Jesus is the only One who has every right to refuse to forgive us, He is also the last who would do this!
So it follows that those of us who desire to be more like Jesus - to deepen our relationship with Him - must also forgive as He does… quickly and unconditionally. Does this mean that we are to become the doormats for others’ abusive talk and actions? Not at all! God is just and fair… He will mete out the consequences of our actions – and those of others.
We are called to forgive as Christ forgave us… to love others and focus on seeing them through His eyes. The impact this will have on all concerned can be powerful. Forgiveness is healing – for the offender… but also for the one who forgives. Often the person we forgive doesn’t even have a clue what he/she has done. But Satan uses the offense to eat at us. Forgiveness releases this hold and frees us to enjoy our lives and operate fully in love and joy.
Don’t waste another minute. Make a clean break, as the scripture says. Give up gossip, criticism, negativity, profanity, and spitefulness. Forgive quickly and completely and never operate in viciousness or backstabbing. Guard your tongue and do all you can to avoid making unkind remarks. Remind yourself often, “What if Jesus treated me this way?” Ask yourself how you would feel. Let this be your constant guide for how you treat others.
I am so grateful that Jesus stands ready to forgive me quickly and completely. As His disciple, the least I can do is offer this same consideration to others. It may not always be easy. But we don’t stop to consider how hard it might be for God to forgive us, either. When we think in these terms, we understand more clearly that this is the right thing to do. We can’t ask God to forgive us and treat us well if we are unwilling to do the same toward our fellow man. Who do you need to forgive or treat more kindly today? Where shall we begin?
Philippians 2:1-4 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
July 3, 2012, was not a good day in Pope County, Arkansas. Wildfires raged through the Ozark National Forest near Appleton, north of Atkins, and surrounding areas. Several area fire departments were called upon to help fight the fires, which raged for most of the day and into the night. In fact, there have been fires in this area of Arkansas virtually every day this week. My friend Missy Ellis and her husband, Randy, own a well-known family restaurant in nearby Russellville, Arkansas, called Whatta-Burger… located across the highway from the campus of Arkansas Tech University. Missy and Randy are still involved in the daily operation of this establishment… known for its made-to-order hamburgers and more-than-ample servings of everything!
Missy kept people updated on the fire locations, area evacuations and the firefighter’s progress via Facebook. At one point she noted that she had driven to one fire site to deliver 14 cases of water and 16 bundles of Gatorade to the firefighters… and she was waiting on 150 Whatta-Burgers to be prepared for delivery to the crew. Randy is a volunteer firefighter, and Missy posted photos of him manning a pumper truck. This is not an isolated incident. Missy and Randy do things like this all the time. I’ve known them over 30 years, and they’ve always stepped up and out whenever and wherever needed to help others.
You can’t mention the names of Missy and Randy - or their children - in the Pope County area without eliciting a smile – and probably a story or two. They are known far and wide for their generosity, moral character, and loving spirit. Because of part-time jobs at Whatta-Burger, thousands of kids have been able to attend college. Missy has taught a children’s Sunday School at her church for nearly 40 years. If I told you how much she prepares at Christmas time – cookies and candy – and delivers to area policemen, fire departments, doctor’s offices and more, you would probably faint just reading the list! I honestly believe they get up every morning and ask, “Okay, LORD… what’s on tap for today?”
I honestly have never known of these two friends to think of themselves first… in any situation. They truly are amazing. Most of us could not hold up to their level of commitment… nor do we have the energy to accomplish what they do in any given day. But we can all do our share. We can make an attempt to think less of ourselves and more of the other guy. We can make a concerted effort to get along… and we can look around for ways to make life a little easier or better for someone else rather than always asking, “When is it MY turn?” or “What’s in this for me?”
There is no greater joy or blessing than to be able to lighten another person’s load. To know that you operated in the love of Christ and did something for another person - with no thought of what you might gain in the process - is to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus. I didn’t mention that Missy had a total knee replacement a few months ago… and Randy had a surgery, as well. Yet they were both up and out this week, making life better for others and doing what they could… with no regard for the heat or the toll this would take on their own lives. I’m sure they are both exhausted. I’ve seen the comments on Facebook…the recipients of this kindness are regarding my friends as heroes of a sort… though they refuse to take any credit.
God is not calling us to be heroes… He is just asking us to do all we can without putting ourselves first – from being kind and agreeable to offering a hand up or a handout when needed. My question to you is… “Which end of this deal are you on most days?” Are you getting more than you are giving? Has the love of Christ made a difference in your life… and is this evident to others by how you are living? Shouldn’t it be?
Philippians 3:12-16 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
Yesterday, my mom had cataract surgery. According to information found at http://mayoclinic.com, “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens implant. The replacement lens sits in the same place as your natural lens and becomes part of your eye.” My mom’s procedure took less than two hours from start to finish, including pre-op time and recovery. She will have to use some eye drops and avoid bright light for a few weeks, but otherwise, her blurred vision should begin to clear pretty quickly.
Want to hear something cool? God can clear our blurred Spiritual vision even faster than cataract surgery! He can show you the truth about every situation and answer every question. No anesthesia is required… no trip to the surgeon is necessary. We already have everything at our disposal for a complete Spiritual “lens replacement!” Once we have totally committed to God… once we begin to truly listen to Him and seek His wisdom – to look at the world through HIS eyes – our own vision clears rapidly. We begin to see people and situations with love, kindness, grace, and mercy. We become less judgmental and more fair and compassionate. We exercise more patience and restraint, and our hearts become more open to serving God and others.
Cataract surgery is a miraculous procedure that has enabled thousands of people to see clearly again. The Great Physician can do the same for each of us in our Spiritual lives. He can enable us to see clearly – to maintain focus on the goal of living for Him and being more like Him each and every day. Satan wants nothing more than for us to live with “blurred vision.” He really doesn’t care if we profess faith in Jesus… as long as we continue to do so with “Spiritual cataracts.”
Allow God to give you “new eyes,” and prepare for the devil to stir things up a bit! He doesn’t like to lose! I assure you… anything the devil tosses your way in frustration will be worth the hassle. And with your “new eyes in Christ,” you will recognize him clearly and see right through his attempts to trip you up!
None of us has this all together… and we probably never will on this earth. But if we allow God to give us “new eyes” in Him, we can see the Finish Line… we have a goal. As long as we work toward becoming more like Jesus, everything will come into clear focus, and we will know we are on the right track.
Colossians 3:12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
My closet is probably a lot like most people’s… overflowing with garments for all kinds of occasions. And yet, I seem to wear the same things over and again. I bet if you were honest, you would have to admit that you have things you wear occasionally that you don’t even really like all that much. They don’t make you feel good about yourself... something isn’t quite right. Maybe the garment is too tight – or too loose. Maybe it’s the wrong color, out of style, or starting to show some wear. Conversely, you most likely have at least one item you can reach for that always makes you feel happy and ready to greet the world.
Our attitudes… and our Christian faith… are something like our wardrobe. God has given us all new “Spiritual clothing.” When we wear His garments, we always feel good… and our attitudes reflect this. We are especially happy and well-prepared for the challenges of the world when we put on love.
But sometimes, we drag out old “clothes” that don’t fit right or suit us… offense, unkindness, a quick temper, gossip, foul language, bigotry, and more. Let’s be honest, none of these “garments” are pretty on anybody!
I would suggest that we all consider a good closet cleaning. Sure… we may need to do this to our actual closets, too. But I’m talking about our “Spiritual closet.” Let’s take a really hard look at what is in our wardrobe and weed out anything that wasn’t placed there by God. Let’s dress in the beautiful “garments” He has provided… and be sure to wear love every day! I’m fairly certain our overall attitude will improve… and others will notice! Better yet, God will be pleased… and He will reward our efforts to “dress for Spiritual success.”
When was the last time you cleaned YOUR closet? Don’t you think you should?
2 Timothy 2:22-26 Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness - faith, love, peace - joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
I was recently involved in a discussion with some family members about how people often assume that we share certain opinions - and proceed to engage in conversations we do not enjoy or appreciate. The question is… do you let your feelings be known and possibly spark an argument, or do you listen quietly – and risk further assumption by your silence that you agree? It really can be a dilemma.
We pretty well agreed that there are times we have to speak up… and times when the best option is to say nothing and remain as neutral as possible. In the most optimum situations, our silence will speak for us – and the others involved in the conversation will realize that we are “voicing” our disapproval.
But the lesson of this passage is two-fold:
Never assume that the “other guy” feels as you do – about anything! Guard your conversations accordingly. For every person who agrees with your viewpoint, recognize that there may be at least one – maybe more – who does not. As my mother would say, “You may cut off your nose to spite your face.” Here’s an example of this… you may disagree with a particular political issue that seems to potentially have a big effect on your particular business. So you voice your displeasure with this legislation – perhaps not so nicely – on social media outlets and in person. The thing is… for every customer who agrees with your position, you may have at least one who doesn’t – a customer who may hear your rants and choose to patronize another business! The same could be said for friends and acquaintances, fellow church members, and more.
Being argumentative could cost you big time in the long run! On this day, of all days, I am not saying that we should not be able to voice our opinions. But we have an obligation to prayerfully choose our words and actions. We may very well play directly into the devil’s hand if we are not careful! He would like nothing more than to see God’s children at odds with each other – over the most trivial issues, in the scheme of things.
Ask yourself... are there people who seem to have drifted away – or disappeared from my “circle” altogether? Could it be that they have been insulted or offended by my comments and actions? Could they disagree with my position and/or how I have presented my opinions? Have I represented the love, grace and mercy of Jesus in my behavior and acted with fairness and patience? Have I shown respect for the opinions of "the other guy?"
My challenge to you is to carefully consider this scripture passage and take it to heart. Guard your words and actions. Have opinions… but stop and think about how you share them with others. Never assume that the people with whom you are interacting feel as you do… and tone down your behavior accordingly. By tempering your expression in this manner, you may open the door for another to soften his/her heart… and you make the devil furious. Any day I can accomplish this is a good day in my book!
Keep your cool. Be a gentle listener who walks away from impolite and argumentative discourse. Let your general demeanor and your spirit of grace, love and peace speak for you and reflect mature righteousness. Exercise your freedom and independence by choosing to work decently and patiently with others. Serve the LORD gladly… and honorably. Stand up for what you believe to be right and true… just do so prayerfully and with grace and gentle restraint.
James 1:5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
My sister was approached recently by someone who asked, “Does God answer your prayers?” The answer was “Yes.” The person asking questions followed with, “Well, just how long does it take?” My sister tried to explain that some prayers are answered right away, while some answers take longer… even days/weeks/years. The lady asking the questions said something to the effect of, “Oh! I can’t wait that long! I need my answer within fifteen minutes!”
I’m afraid we are all like this much of the time. We ask for what we think we can get - or feel we desperately need. We hesitate to ask God for some things, fearing He will think less of us for asking. And in all prayers, we are often impatient for an outcome. When we don’t get instant answers, we “worry our prayers” … repeat them… stew about whether – or how – God might be planning to answer. And I have to believe that all the while, God is just shaking His head in frustration.
I am still often confounded by God’s timing – because I am impatient. But as I learn to trust His answers and outcomes, I am no longer surprised them. I am still occasionally caught off guard by His delivery. Let’s just call these “pleasant surprises.” It’s not that I didn’t expect God to answer. But as I release my worries to Him, I give them to Him in faith. So when He does deliver, I feel like, “Oh! That’s great!” I knew an answer was coming…but I had stopped trying to orchestrate the arrival time and date!
Understand this… no prayer or thought is too big or too small for God. Trust Him in all things – in all sizes. Never hesitate to talk to God about anything. There is a difference between bringing concerns and praises before God over and again… and brow-beating Him in an effort to get an answer. In other words, praying for someone who is ill on a daily basis is not the same as saying, “LORD, I asked You to heal Tom… did you HEAR me?” The former speaks to what – and who – is on your heart. The latter reveals our impatience and lack of faith in God to answer. Believe me… HE knows when and how the outcome should be delivered!
The best summary I can offer for this passage today is to calm down and rest in the LORD. Talk to God about everything, without any fear of retribution or ridicule. Then trust Him to answer… when the time is right… in the most perfect way. As this passage says, stop “worrying your prayers.” Never give them a second thought. Assume that God heard you the first time… because He did… and move forward in confidence that His answer is on the way.
James 1:12 God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
I sat behind a friend of ours at church yesterday and watched her play with a six-month-old baby she and her family are fostering. I thought about our little nephew, Timothy, and how fun he was at that age… and how sad we were when he moved away with his family. As I watched this baby cling to my friend’s neck while she cuddled him, I could see her efforts to infuse him with as much love as possible. I prayed that she would savor every minute she spends with him – and trust God to multiply the effects of her nurture – and that of other family members.
When you stop and think about the ministry of foster families, remember that most of these situations are temporary. Thank God for the loving families who are willing to welcome children who have no other options into their homes. But also ask Him to comfort these families when the children leave. I can assure you, these families will become attached to the children they nurture. And when they leave, the families will experience sadness – even if this represents a positive step for the child.
My prayer is that these families trust God to give them strength and courage to handle this role – and a glorious life because of it. As their faith is tested - and it surely will be - I pray that He blesses them with confidence and wisdom… and that they savor every minute that God grants them. I pray that they stay awake and alert… and recognize the hand of God at every turn.
My daily quote for today was this joke: “A Sunday school teacher asked her little students as they were on the way to a church service, ‘And why should we be quiet in church?’ A little girl replied, ‘Because people are sleeping.’” This would describe many of us. We are “asleep” to the promises and blessings of God. We don’t recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit and how He is caring for us in even the most difficult circumstances. And as a result, we fail to realize the fullness of a glorious life in Christ. We focus on the test of our faith. We are asleep to the possibilities for God to bless us – especially in times of extreme challenge.
I used the example of foster families today because I am surrounded by friends who are currently opening their hearts and homes to these innocent children. The challenges, pain and heartache that comes with being a foster family is fresh on my mind. But many of us are facing all sorts of “faith tests” – illness, financial difficulties, relationship issues, the challenges of aging… even a need for rain and drought relief. If we can learn to stay awake to the promises and possibilities of God… if we can recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence and trust Him to meet our daily needs… we can live a glorious life each and every day - with the hope of even more to come!
I recently told a friend, “Hang on… keep believing. I don’t know how God is going to work in this… I just know He will.” This is my message to you today. Whatever you are experiencing… however your faith is being tested… stay strong. Believe that God will see you through this. Acknowledge the blessings in your life today… because there are blessings! Live with the confidence of having the Holy Spirit with you at all times… and the promise of something even more glorious yet to come. God is with you. Wake up – and live faithfully!
James 2:12-13 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.
A couple of dear friends of mine have been taken to task on Facebook lately for their political choices. One of these friends decided he had been quiet long enough, and with his usual flair for kindness and fair play, he began to calmly outline his justifications for believing as he does and choosing a particular candidate. The other friend received some particularly nasty posts and decided to fight back with a – let’s just call it somewhat “snarky” – post of her own. Almost immediately, she regretted this… and she said so in a follow-up post.
We all have moments when we lash out… call it “human nature.” And many of us regret what we say or do before the words are barely out of our mouths. Politics is a slippery slope at best. In order for our democracy to work, we have to be able to voice our opinions and state our positions – on both sides of the aisle. But often, we have to exercise great courage in order to do this… even if we are careful to stick to the facts as we know them and deliver our views calmly and nonjudgmentally. At any given moment, we must be prepared for a deluge of harsh discrimination and nastiness from “the other side.” We frequently see this when we try to share our faith and religious beliefs with others, as well.
Should we say nothing… fearing that we will be judged – or even ridiculed – by the other guy? No! We are called by God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. And as citizens of a democracy, we are obligated to exercise our right to support one candidate and platform or another. The problems lie with our delivery… our talk and action. If we try to bully our way in via a “my way or the highway” approach, we can expect some pretty rude responses. If we retaliate when others act in a discourteous or disrespectful manner, we have become no better than that person… and God is disappointed, at best.
My friend with the flair for speaking fairly and kindly still gets flack, but if any of it is truly nasty, I don’t see it. I honestly believe that the way he approaches these subjects with objectivity, kindness, love for the other guy, and most of all – a calm sense of evenhandedness – rubs off on others. He doesn’t return unkindness, even when he receives it. He doesn’t try to cram his ideas down the other guy’s throat. He merely states the facts as he knows them and lets the dust settle.
We would do well to act accordingly. Whether we are “arguing politics” with another person or group, testifying to our walk with Christ and witnessing to others, or merely going about our daily living… we must remember that in all things, we represent Jesus Christ. We must consider whether others see in us a person who represents love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness… and acceptance of those who think or act differently from us… or whether they see someone with a personal agenda.
If we don’t behave in a way that would please Jesus and glorify His sacrifices for each of us, we are really no different from the other guy… and we both need a change of heart. When you voice your opinions these days, how are they received by others? As you go about your daily living, do people see someone who reflects the teachings of Jesus… or someone who practices “Burger King Religion” and has to “have it his/her way” in life?
Jesus offers us freedom to do and say what is truly in our heart… and He has given us Biblical guidelines for our delivery. What are your words and actions saying to others today? Are you operating in the freedoms of kindness and mercy and even-handedness? Isn’t this a good time to start?
James 5:19-20 My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
One day last week, I made tuna salad. As I opened the cans of tuna fish, my cat, Lucy, came into the kitchen and began to cry and rub my legs. I have never given Lucy and Mabel tuna fish. They get a small spoonful of canned cat food each night, but never “human” food! I was tempted to give Lucy a small bite of the tuna, but I knew from experience with our first two cats that this would start something that I could never reverse!
We could apply this same principle to how we treat others… we cannot get this started! When someone wanders off track… engages in behavior that is irresponsible at best… or even downright immoral or ungodly… we must not dismiss them. We must never say, “Well, I tried… I gave it my best… but I’m done.” We most certainly cannot become disgusted and give up on them. If we give up on others, this will have a cumulative effect. We will find it easier and easier to throw up our hands, concede defeat and walk away. And the devil will dance.
Jesus never gives up on us. If we want to be like Him, we can never give up on others, either. We must continue to pray and trust God for His will to be manifested. We have to stay positive and faithful. We don’t need to preach and lecture. But we must maintain contact and offer love and kindness… let the other person know we still care - no matter what.
I can’t tell you how or when things will turn around… or if you will ever physically see the results of your efforts. I can assure you that if/when someone who has wandered away does make a change, you will be blessed… and so glad you didn’t give up on him/her. Either way, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did what God asked of you… that you persisted in showing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Never let it be said of you that these attributes have limits in your life. Love as Jesus did… without conditions or constraints.
Be ready to go the distance for others, just as Jesus does for us. And if/when the person does come back to God’s truth, be grateful… not for what you have done, but for how generous and dependable our Heavenly Father is toward each of us. Humble yourself and thank God for allowing you to play even the smallest part in showing unconditional love – and persistent faith – to others. This is not only our duty… it’s our privilege as Christians and Disciples of Christ. Are you doing your part to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others? Isn’t it time you did?
1 Peter 2:13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
Oh, how we need these scripture verses nowadays! From every side, our government has become fair game for human target practice. Somehow, we tend to gloss over the Bible’s admonition to respect our leaders. We are not told to agree with them… but we are commanded to respect them. Yet all you have to do is scroll down the “Home” page on any social media outlet to see people disrespecting leaders on both sides of the political aisle. I’m not talking about statements of disagreement or disapproval… I’m talking about venomous, bigoted, spiteful comments that reek of disdain – if not outright hatred – for those who have been elected to office.
I will be the first to tell you that there are unscrupulous legislators, public officials, judges and government leaders at every level. But God calls us to treat them – and all people – with respect and decorum. To treat anyone with less than the utmost dignity belies the grace and mercy that was given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus died for those in public office, too! He died for your fellow church members and the other citizens in your city, state, country…and around the globe. If you think for one minute your salvation is exclusive in any way, you have totally missed Jesus’ message!
Today, I am thinking of several people in the public eye – and some “ordinary folk” as well – who claim to be Christians yet never miss an opportunity to say something unkind and distasteful about our government leaders. I have to wonder if they ever stop to consider what God thinks about this behavior. Do they ever read their Bible… and more importantly, do they truly hear what God is saying through passages like this one?
The time has come for us to wake up and realize that hiding behind God’s name and bashing others – for any reason – is disrespectful… and un-Christian! If you want to please God (and we all should want this!), you have to listen to what He is saying and do what He tells you – even if that means showing respect for elected officials and others you do not like. The only way to truly be free is to follow God’s rules and let Him have complete control. Are you fully exercising your freedoms today? Are you showing respect for God… and for others? Isn’t it time you did?
1 Peter 2:22-23 Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly.
NBC’s Today Show co-host, Ann Curry, said a tearful “Good-bye” to her faithful early-morning followers this morning. Apparently, the “powers that be” have decided that Curry’s co-hosting style is not conducive to high ratings. So she has been “re-assigned” to other projects for the “Today Show family” with a “new title and a new role.” As Curry spoke, she said, “This is not as I expected… to leave this couch after 15 years.” You could hear the pain in her voice and see the sadness on her face. Yet she did not lash out in any way. Instead, she said, “I am so grateful… especially to all of you who watch me…”
Curry thanked a lot of people who work behind the scenes, and then she said, “For all of you who saw me as a ground breaker, I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the Finish line… but man, I did try!” Curry did not lay blame on anyone… she was gracious and humble. I have no doubt there is a lot more to this story, but Ann Curry did not air any “dirty laundry” in public nor make any pointed jabs at her bosses.
In a similar manner, we watched late night comedian Conan O’Brien get the boot from NBC (is there a pattern here?) a few years ago, when Jay Leno decided he did not like “retirement” and wanted his old job back. In a recent interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan, O’Brien talked about the devastation of losing his job as a late-night host, saying… “Not that I'm a great figure, whatever that would be. But there should be -- in a good career, there should be a lot of challenges. And so I wouldn't -- I would honestly not really change anything that happened. It's been fascinating. It brought me to where I am now, which I love.”
Again, I’m not saying there wasn’t huge disappointment for Curry and O’Brien, because clearly they were both hurt and upset by their dismissals. And we don’t know what went on behind the scenes… nor how they behaved in private. But publicly, at least, they took the high road and appeared to act honorably… knowing that much of the world was watching.
Like O’Brien, most of us are not “great figures” – and we may feel that few are watching or give a hoot about how we behave or react to circumstances in our lives. But I assure you, people are watching! We would do well to take a page from the books of these two celebrities and apply it to our daily living. We should listen to the words of these verses in 1 Peter and avoid attempts to get even – or make threats. God will judge fairly… He will protect us. For every “bad” outcome, God will give us a better one. As O’Brien said, there will be lots of challenges, and like Curry, we may not always “carry the ball over the Finish line.” But these challenges will all lead to positive outcomes for those who trust God to handle the bumps in the road.
Conan O’Brien has found a new late night home on TBS, a cable network. He says he is having the time of his life there. I have no doubt that Ann Curry will land on her feet and do great things in the future. I am equally confident that we can also have wonderful lives filled with blessings… if we keep our focus on God and trust Him to number our steps.
When others look at your reactions to the challenges of life, what sort of “faith walk” will they see? Are you ready to move over and let God have control in your life?
1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you.
I’m betting that somewhere along the line, someone has insulted you… or been rude or hateful. If you are a young adult, you have had classmates and acquaintances say something unkind that really stung. If you are a parent of grown children, you have likely survived the slings and arrows of teenagers… and many of you may now be dodging the jabs thrown by aging parents or loved ones. Others may have had to put up with a boss or co-worker who was hurtful or unkind… or maybe even a spouse, significant other - or even a family member.
Regardless of the “who or how,” one of the hardest lessons for us to learn as Christians is how to love those who insult us and treat us badly… and to continue to treat them with kindness. It would be so easy to lash out… to give as good (or is it as badly?) as we get. And the devil would love every second of it! But God calls us to always take the high road… to be kind and humble and continue to love others, even when they do not reciprocate.
Believe me when I say I have sometimes done this through gritted teeth! I am the first person to admit that this is not always easy. But I am also the first to tell you that God will bless your efforts – in ways you can’t begin to imagine. If you remain obedient and love even those who don’t seem to deserve it – or maybe especially those who are unlovable at any given moment – God will see to it that you are blessed. Better still - you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the devil didn’t win… you did! Isn’t that reason enough to give this a shot?
“The Bucket List” is a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. According to information found at http://imdb.com/ ...“Corporate billionaire Edward Cole [played by Nicholson] and working class mechanic Carter Chambers [played by Freeman] have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die, according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find joy in life.” Since this movie was released in 2007, the catch-phrase “bucket list” has become synonymous with actually doing things rather than just talking or dreaming about them. And many are on a mission to mark off things on their own personal inventories.
Perhaps we need a “bucket list” of sorts as Christians. Many of us talk a good game about doing things for God… but we are just that – all talk. When it comes to actually putting our words into action, we often fail miserably. So we talk about how we should call someone and see how they are doing… but we never pick up the phone. We say, “I need to make an effort to be more understanding of others”… and then we continue to treat people as we always have. We touch on how inspired we are by others who share the love of Christ in a myriad of ways… but we never seem to figure out our “niche” - how and where God wants US to serve!
The time has come for us to start working on our Christian “bucket list” – to stop talking and start showing love for others by truly helping them. It is time to ask God to show us where and how He wants us to serve… and then DO IT! Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to start marking things off your list?
I’ve been thinking about the resident at my grandmother’s Assisted Living Facility who lashed out at me and another resident over Holy Communion. Honestly, his reaction about a Christian ritual did not seem all that kind – nor “Christian!” And just as honestly, my first thought was, “Ha! If we hold a Holy Communion service here, maybe you shouldn’t be included!” But then I started to think about the offering of Holy Communion and its meaning… and I was struck that this man not only deserves to participate as much as the next guy – maybe He needs to be offered the body and blood of Christ even more!
We don’t get to pick and choose. This is not our business… nor does such behavior reflect our faith in Jesus and our service to Him. Jesus has every right to judge us… but He freely offers grace and mercy to any who ask. He gave His very life for us to have the right to God's forgiveness. If we want to be like Jesus, we have to show His unconditional love to everyone – even those we deem to be “unlovely” and/or those who lash out and behave in a manner in which we don’t approve.
On any given day, each of us commits more sins than we would care to count. And to God, these all hold the same weight… unless we are committing blasphemy (cursing God and denying Him). So this means when we point a finger at the other guy, four are pointing back at us! Makes it a little harder to judge the other guy, doesn’t it?!
Instead of trying to “play God,” wouldn’t we be better off spending our time seeking His will for our lives… and offering the same grace, mercy and forgiveness He offers us to the other guy? Isn’t it time we modeled true Christian behavior for the whole world to see and let God be in charge? Who do you need to truly forgive today? Where have you judged inappropriately? Are you operating fully in God’s grace and mercy – and extending it to others? Isn’t it time you did?
June 24 ~ Acts 2:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Scripture taken from the The King James Version present on BibleGateway.com, which matches the 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States.
This morning I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility. She wanted to go outside and sit on the porch, but it was already 93 degrees in the shade, so I suggested we go to the dining room. “Would you like to hear me play some hymns?” I asked. “YES!” she said enthusiastically. I positioned her beside the piano in the dining room and began to play some of her favorites. Soon, several residents had joined us, and one lady sang virtually every hymn I played. She sang strongly and knew all the words. I tried to play each hymn through at least twice to give her time to really recognize it and sing along.
As I played the hymns, I considered how some of them remind me of Holy Communion, as they are often played during this service. “Nearer My God to Thee,” “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds,” and “Faith of Our Fathers” come to mind as some of the “Communion hymns” I recall. So I asked my grandmother, “Would you be interested in taking Communion again?” The answer was “Yes!” and I talked with her and a table-mate, who belongs to my church, about receiving Holy Communion.
When I rose to leave, a man at a nearby table motioned for me to come to him. He asked, “If you are going to have Communion, are you going to serve it once a week, like the Bible says?” Another man at his table looked at him, perplexed, and said, “Where does it say that in the Bible?” The first man said he didn’t know the exact verse, but the Bible says that they gathered once a week at the church to “break bread.” “What else could that mean?” he asked. Man #2 and I almost simultaneously replied, “… to share a meal!” I can’t repeat what Man #1 said to that, but it was not nice… and he was not happy! I wished them a good day and left, feeling like I might have started a religious World War III!
After I got home, I did some Google searches for Bible translations of the phrase “break bread” – and the Greek meaning of these words. I discovered several websites that address this very question, but I particularly liked this one… http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx168.htm ... check it out if you like. I don’t know the author, Al Maxey - a Church of Christ pastor in New Mexico - but he addresses several verses in Acts that refer to the breaking of bread. He notes that many newer translations have decided that this means “Holy Communion.”
But Maxey concludes: "Thus, are we reading back into the text what we want it to say, or need it to say, in order to fit our practice?!" Sadly, I think that is very often exactly what is taking place…we impose our theology upon the text, rather than drawing our theology from the text.
The blunt reality is -- and many seem very reluctant to face this -- we simply have insufficient data with regard to the phrase "breaking bread" to insist upon any one interpretation or practice over another. Yes, we all have our personal convictions, and that is good. We have also embraced certain traditional practices based upon those shared convictions, and that also is fine. What we must never do, however, is assume that all those who differ with us are godless wretches with dishonest motives and darkened hearts who are bound straight for the torments of hell. This is the perspective of militant factionists and sectarians, and does not reflect the spirit of Christ Jesus. We need to rise above such ignorance and ignominy.
We are children of God ... we can do better than that! Love demands it; Unity demands it; our Witness to the world demands it. May God help us all to live and love outside the guarded gates of our dogma, for when we do so we enjoy the blessings of the expanded parameters of God's household of faith. ‘Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread’ (1 Cor. 10:17).”
I could not say this any better. We twist and turn the words of the Bible to suit our needs and our circumstances… and “breaking bread” is the tip of the iceberg! And as Rev. Maxey says, we are not serving as the hands and feet of Jesus by doing this! I honestly don’t believe that God is keeping a count of how frequently we take Holy Communion… particularly in comparison to how we behave the rest of the time! This experience reminded me to check my own thoughts and actions and see where I might be putting my desires and influences on God’s word for my life, rather than truly hearing what He is saying to me. I probably should do this more frequently… and I would invite you to do the same.
I was reading a story in Good Housekeeping magazine about a woman named Angie Hernandez, whose young adult son, Ryan, was in the end stages of kidney failure as a result of Goodpasture’s syndrome - a rare disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the lungs and kidneys. With hopes of receiving a kidney transplant dwindling, 23-year-old Ryan told his mother that he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. He was tired and unsure he could live long enough to get the transplant.
If you know anything about kidney disease and dialysis, you understand the toll it takes on the patient – and family members and friends. The daily struggle just to stay alive can be physically and emotionally draining. It’s not hard to see how someone in this position would long for the peace and healing of heaven and an end to this earthly suffering… especially if that person is a believer in Christ and anticipates eternity in His presence.
Like any mother, Angie Hernandez was not ready to lose her son. A cousin had created a three-minute video montage of Ryan’s life, set it to music, and posted it on YouTube. Angie asked her Facebook friends to share the video on their Walls… and to solicit potential kidney donors in doing so. Amazingly, Angie’s half-sister, whom she had not seen in more than a decade, contacted the family and offered to help. Her kidney was a match! Today, Ryan has recovered, and the splintered family has reconnected… blessings have multiplied!
The slant of this article is how social media is helping in many arenas, like the solicitation of medical information and organ donors. The article does not discuss Christian faith… and I am left to assume that this mother surely must have prayed and believed for a miracle. I can’t imagine enduring something like this without a constant conversation with God… and faith in Him to keep His promises to handle all of our worries and cares.
My point in sharing this story is that this mother did not give up. Abraham’s elderly wife, Sarah, did not give up… and neither should we! When everything seems impossible… when we do not understand the “whys and wherefores” of a situation, God does… and He has promised to handle everything for us.Our jobis to trust Him… to believe in Him… and to never give up!
Healing may not come on this earth, but it will come. Our answers may not be evident in this lifetime… but someday, we will have them. Even when we cannot see, hear, or feel God at work… He is still on the clock, meeting our every need. Don’t give up! Don’t stop believing in God’s promises… never underestimate His power in your life and the lives of others.
In The Message*, Hebrews 11:11-12 says, “By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.” God may not give you millions of children, but He will meet your needs and fulfill His promises for your life. What do you believe God for today? Are you holding on and expecting Him to fulfill His promises? Isn’t it time you did?
Psalm 121:27-28 God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.
Imagine life in our nation’s White House, surrounded by Secret Service officials. Everywhere you go, someone is watching you – even if you don’t realize it. You are guarded when you go to school, to church, to a movie, or out for dinner. Your car is followed everywhere. You are protected as you sleep. Someone knows your whereabouts every minute of the night and day. Honestly, I’m not sure I would enjoy such scrutiny!
But in the case of my Heavenly Father, I welcome such close and comprehensive care. To think that I am continually guarded from evil…that God cares about me so much that I am always protected…is amazing, comforting, and almost beyond description. And the best part of all is that this same care and protection is extended to my family and friends… and my brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as all of those for whom I pray.
It takes a whole team of Secret Service agents to guard the First Family and others who are entitled to this level of protection. But all you and I need is Almighty God. He is more than enough to defend and protect us. And He is on the clock twenty-four/seven on our behalf! When was the last time you stopped and thought about how soundly you sleep at night – how blessed your days are – because God is guarding you? When was the last time you thanked Him for this? Isn’t this a perfect time to stop and do so? Aren’t you glad that God’s “Secret Service” detail is on duty in your life?
John 20:29 Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
A few nights ago, my husband and I spoke by phone with our three-year-old nephew, Timothy, who lives in another state. At one point, he said, “Debbie, I want to see you!” I replied, “I want to see you, too, Timothy.” He did not understand the concept of talking to someone on the phone and being unable to see them… and he kept trying to show us things – toys, movies, and more.
As we talked, Timothy’s mother got out a picture album and showed him photographs of us. He would say, “That’s probably you, Debbie. That’s probably you, Uncle Greg!” It seemed to help him to visualize us as we spoke… to remember what we looked like, based on our photos.
Doesn’t it seem like it would often be easier to communicate with God if we had a photograph of Him? Don’t we long to see Him? Yet Jesus tells us in this passage that the very fact that we accept Him on faith – even though we have never physically seen Him – is what makes our relationship so special and powerful. We trust in God solely on faith that He exists… and the evidence of His love, care, grace and mercy on our behalf. We trust completely that a man we’ve never seen died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. We hold onto a promise that we will join Him in heaven someday for all eternity.
Timothy trusts that we are the same Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg who loved him unconditionally and lavished attention, food, clothes, shelter and time on him when he stayed with us. Conversely, Timothy’s little sister Zola does not know us. We have not seen her since she was three months old, so she has no recollection of us except for photos… no real basis for a connection. Yet somehow, I believe she will come to know us and love us, based solely on the words of her parents and brother – and our actions toward her. In a childlike manner, we Christians walk and live by faith… completely trusting God without ever having seen Him. Just like our little Zola, we operate purely on the word of others… and the actions and blessings of God on our behalf.
We humans tend to be such literal creatures. I find it truly amazing that we have the capacity to so deeply love and adore a God we have never seen, based on faith that He really exists. I find it even more incredible that God can love us with such a power and compulsion that we find this completely plausible - real and genuine. How can we deny His existence? How can we fail to trust and serve Him? After all, evidence of God is all around us… in nature, daily miracles and blessings, and answered prayers. With the confidence of a three-year-old looking at photographs, we can say, “That’s probably God’s handiwork!” – and know without question that we are correct.
Do you have “unseen” faith? Do you believe in God, even though you have never physically seen His picture? Do you require more proof that He exists, or are you ready to take a look around you and acknowledge that what you see is more than probably God at work in your life? He truly IShere… ready to meet your every need! What more do you require? What is holding you back from truly believing in Him? If a toddler can accept that the voices on the other end of a phone are those of people he loves (who love him, also) - yet he only sees them in photographs - can’t we accept that the God who is evident all around us truly exists? Are you ready to exercise the faith of a child… and be blessed accordingly?
Ephesians 4:26-28 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry - but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
My daily calendar quote for yesterday was, “The man who can’t dance thinks the band is no good.” I think this probably describes a good number of people who are not taking ownership for their problems or responsibilities. It’s someone else’s fault… or another person’s problem… but certainly no fault of their own. In a way, this is the same thing as stealing. If we allow others to accept responsibility for our problems… debts… mistakes… or even unhappiness, we are making ends meet at their expense.
So when you “borrow” from your friends – a place to stay, food, clothing, money – with no agreement or plan for restitution… you are stealing from them. If the friends allow this, you are letting them to own your problems instead of taking responsibility for them yourself. When you say or do something you shouldn’t and try to pawn it off on another person – or make excuses – you have pretty much stolen that person’s integrity, as in the case of the man who can’t dance. It’s really not the band’s fault… but he doesn’t want to be honest and admit that he has shortcomings. He would rather allow the band to own the deficiencies.
The daily quote for today was, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!” I think this is timely advice. When you are doing what God has called you to do… acting responsibly – even if it means admitting mistakes and making an effort to correct them… keep going. Don’t stop! Don’t get bogged down by anger, frustration, embarrassment, disappointment, or discouragement. Trust God to help you come out on top!
Pastor Joel Osteen paraphrases Philippians 4:13 in this manner… “It's not how you start that counts, it's how you finish. Shake off the past and keep running toward the prize!” Today is the day to stand up and accept responsibility for where we are in life… to do an honest day’s work in all arenas… and to move forward. There is no time for getting angry about the past… no room for the devil to get any pleasure in this! Let’s push on – with God’s help. Let’s ask God to show us how to quit focusing on the band and improve our “dancing!”
