06/29/18 - Romans 12

June 29, 2018

In view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

God's forgiveness was given for us to pursue His holiness, not our 'happiness'.

Over the years, I’ve attended a lot of funerals.  A few for my family, but most for friends who have passed away, or relatives of friends.  In most cases, there is a part of the funeral where people get the chance to express stories, kind words, or memories of the one who parted.  It usually is the memorable part of the ceremony, and is often one of the most helpful elements for the family.

I’ve listened to many of those comments, and they all tend to have a common thread:  happiness.  Either the deceased person brought happiness to people, or had things that made him/her happy.  Most of the stories tend to talk about either good things the person did (to make others happy), or good things that happened to them (to make them happy).  Somehow, because we assume that the goal in life is happiness, then talking about ways happiness happened means they met the goal.

But what if happiness wasn’t really the goal?

Imagine if God was conducting an ‘entrance service’ at the same time we were holding a ‘departure service’.  Imagine what God would be looking for about the person.  I don’t think it would be happiness that would top God’s agenda.  According to Jesus, God would be interested in what our ‘holiness’ record was.  But holiness wouldn’t be a religious checklist, holiness would be a lifestyle.  God would want to hear the stories of what we believed and did about His Son.  God would look for our acts of obedience out of love for Jesus.  God would want to know what we did to help others grow their holiness – even more than their happiness. 

When God made man, He made him in God’s own image – that image was about holiness.  When God formed Eve, it was because man was not good alone – marriage was God’s method of growing holiness in each other.  When God saved Noah, it was to rebuild the world’s holiness.  When God laid out the Ten Commandments, it was to define holiness.  Story after story shows that the goal was holiness, not happiness.  Holiness leads to permanent happiness.  Jesus affirmed that often, calling us to Be Holy. 

So if we are serious about joining God’s family, know that it comes with sacrificing the world’s lust for happiness and pursuing what God intended all along – holiness.  Lay down your life as a living sacrifice, HOLY and Pleasing to God, and you will not only worship God well, but you will find the joy that creates lasting happiness.

It’s time to change the goal.  And maybe it will also change the conversations about you at your funeral someday.  They won’t talk as much about happiness, but about the inspiration and lifestyle of holiness you left behind.  That would be the best funeral story ever!

06/28/18 - Romans 11

June 28, 2018

And this is my covenant with them, I will take away their sins. Romans 11:27

Our problem is often we still want to hold on to some sins, instead of hand them ALL over to Jesus.

Our God is a God of Covenants.  He makes promises based on His character instead of our performance.  When God says He will do something, then He will do it.

God made a covenant with Adam to expand the earth through him.  God made a covenant with Abraham to grow up a nation that would save the world.  God made a covenant with Moses to not only rescue the people, but bring them to a promised land.  God made a covenant with David, to establish his lineage all the way to Jesus.  And God made a covenant through Jesus, to forgive and remove the sin of all people who follow Him. 

If it were not for His character, our performance would have long since lost all of God’s promises.  But that doesn’t match the covenant giver that He is.  Covenants are not based on performance like a contract, they are based on God.  That’s why when we enter a marriage covenant, we are not promising to be faithful to our spouse based on what they do, but promise to be faithful based on who God is.  We are then accountable to God, not to each other. 

The problem with God is not his promises being broken, but ours.  God promises through Jesus to take away every sin in our lives – past, present & future.  He promises to remove the sins as well as the sin nature.  He made a covenant, but we decide instead to only bring God some of our sins.  We are glad to have him fix our finances, but prefer to hold on to our greed.  We like it when God fixes our struggles, but prefer to hold on to our selfishness.  Many have taken him their brokenness, but still prefer to grip hold of pride.  There are many idols we are glad to turn over to God, just not the ones we enjoy for ourselves. 

Forgiveness isn’t God’s problem, it is ours.  We still want to hold on to some of our sins, and God gives a covenant that is a package deal – all or nothing. 

The rich young ruler found that out when he asked Jesus what there was left to do for his entrance to the Kingdom.  Jesus went through a number of things that were already not a problem, but then got down to the one he preferred to keep hold of – material possessions.  The problem wasn’t the possessions, but the young man’s sin of greed.  Walking away, that young ruler didn’t turn in the sin, and couldn’t be forgiven that day.

What are you holding on to these days?  What sin is still your preferred vice?   Stop accepting it as your little pet, and turn every single one over to Jesus.  He’s ready to do the work to cleanse us of them, but we have to hand them over.

06/27/18 - Romans 10

June 27, 2018

If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Wearing the jersey doesn’t make us a player on the team, playing the game on the field does.

Like many sports fans, I have a few shirts and hats to represent my favorite teams and wear them proudly on a regular basis.  When big games happen for one of them, I tend to wear the jersey or hat, as a way of proving my allegiance and supporting my team.  That’s not just sports fans, we see that happen for people supporting their favorite singer, or city, or political position, or even their religion.  It’s no wonder that artists and retailers work hard to find niche targets to profit from our devotion.

Dianna and I went to a NCAA Basketball Tournament event one year, and our favorite team was playing at the venue.  We wore our Buckeye gear every day, cheered with fans throughout the town, celebrated their victories, and even saw a few of the players in a mall on the day off between games!  Wearing that stuff made us feel like one of the team.  But when it came time for the game to start, we were not sitting on the bench or playing on the court.  All we were doing was cheering the team on from the sidelines.

Jesus is not like athletes or artists looking for a cheering section.  He doesn’t care about gathering more people in the stands.  Jesus is looking for people on the court!  He wants our collective cheer, but more than that, Jesus wants our hearts involved in the game.  Wearing the jersey around town doesn’t make us a player, any more than it did for me at that tournament.  Jesus wants us to live the life, not just cheer the team.

So many people today call themselves Christians based on their family heritage or national allegiance.  Just because our family claims to be Christian doesn’t mean we have confessed Him as Lord.  Just because our nation considers itself followers of Christianity doesn’t mean we are following Christ.  Make sure your faith is not based on someone else – but based on your own convictions and beliefs about Jesus.  Then confess Him as your Lord, and believe everything He tells you to do.

Don’t just be a fan, be a player for the Kingdom of Jesus.

06/26/18 - Romans 9

June 26, 2018

They pursued the Law not by faith but as if it were by works. Romans 9:32

Obeying the law doesn't save us, obeying shows our love to God BECAUSE He saved us.

It must have been a complete shock to the crowds, and especially the Pharisees, when Jesus was talking about relationship saving us instead of obedience in the Sermon on the Mount!   Near the end of his message, Jesus speaks about people who thought they were doing good works, and how being good people will gain us entrance to heaven.  Jesus walked through the scenario, and then dropped the hammer on the idea by stating:  Many will say to me all the good things they did in this life, but I will say to them: I never knew you – away from me! 

It’s still the thinking today by some who practice Christianity, and by most who don’t.  The thinking is that we are better than others, and because we think of ourselves as good people, God will take us into heaven.  But Jesus made it clear:  Unless you are perfect, there is no entrance to heaven based on your good works.  If we even sinned one time, either by an action, or thought, or word said, then heaven is too holy for us to enter.  BUT… if we have a relationship with Jesus, then He (and only He), can get us in.   Jesus has a back-stage pass to heaven for all of us who know Him personally.  Relationship gets us in, not works.

That doesn’t mean we can pile up the sins in this life.  Obedience still matters for all of the reasons the Law was given – to protect our hearts from idolatry, to save us from consequences, to guard & care for our families & friendships, to bring Glory to God, and much more.   Jesus said: If you love me, then obedience will be your way of showing it.  So the evidence of relationship shows up in obedience, but it’s not the main proof.  The main proof is knowing Jesus, and being known by Jesus.

Obedience to God’s law is still crucial for our lives, but not the saving factor of our lives.  Having a relationship with Jesus leads us to obey out of faith in Him, not as a factor in guaranteeing our salvation.  If we know Jesus, then we know the cross and the power of His forgiveness in our life.  Obey Jesus out of faith instead of trying to prove something.  Allow your obedience to be a demonstration of your love for Him.

So start each day with a simple question:  How will I be loving Jesus today?

06/25/18 - Romans 8

June 25, 2018

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Pursuing what God desires frees our mind, while pursuing what the body desires enslaves it.  

Probably the most common response to a failure (from ourselves or others), is the question: “What were you thinking?”    I’ve heard it all too often, and said it to myself hundreds of times.

One of those times was back in 5^th grade, when my mom signed us boys up for a new sports league happening in our town called soccer.  (Yes, I know it has been around for centuries, but our town never seemed to know about it before the 70s.)  I had a lot to learn that first year, but found myself playing goalie, fullback, and midfield because of my height and strong leg.  It was INCREDIBLE!  I enjoyed it far more than football, and picked up the game quickly.  Our coach had a basic rule for us on defense:  kick that ball out of our zone!  Don’t worry about passing or dribbling, just kick it out of there. 

Later in the season, we were tied with the number one team in the league, and playing well in the second half.  Their best guy was attacking from the right wing, and as center fullback I came up to challenge him.  Somehow, I was able to steal the ball from him, and felt the best plan would be to kick it back toward my goalie, so he could boot it out of our side.  Well you can see where this is going … instead of listening to the single instruction, I kicked it back toward our goalie, who was not in position to receive it, and the ball went into the net.  We lost that game because of that one mistake!  And that ended our chance of winning the league.

My coach was quite patient with me … for about 30 seconds.  He made a substitution, and got down to my level, and said:  What were you thinking?  I sheepishly tried to explain what I was doing, and he listened, then coached me well on WHY you don’t ever kick the ball toward your goal.  (At least not at that level of soccer anyways.)  That was one of many times I discovered that justifying my own thinking can turn out shortsighted, and wrong.  Better to listen to a coach!

Paul writes to the Roman Church that our minds can convince us of many wrong things – all of which can lead to big losses.  Instead of trying to reason for ourselves what to do, we should listen to the Coach (the Holy Spirit), who has a far better perspective on things.  His instructions are for our good, and for the good of the team, and by following them it leads to great wins!

Be careful how much you trust your own reasons for things, especially when they go against your coach, or your authority, or especially God’s Spirit.  There’s a good chance they know better than you what is best for the team, and how to avoid painful mistakes.  Better that you were acting on obedience than making your own decision and hearing: What were you thinking!?!?

06/22/18 - Romans 7

June 22, 2018

By dying to sin, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit. Romans 7:6

Surrendering means we no longer focus on what we prefer for ourselves, but on what pleases Him.

I remember a simple science lesson from 3^rd Grade, and the principle that it taught has been with me for years.  We made “oceans in a bottle”.  In those days, soda was served in bottles, and we took an empty one, filling it half-way full with oil, water, and some blue food coloring, then sealing it up.   After sealed, we could shake the bottle, and the whole container would become blue.  Eventually one will separate from the other, and the oil will settle below the water – and if I am remembering correctly, the blue food coloring would stay with the oil.   All summer long, I enjoyed tipping the bottle sideways for hours making the ocean move back & forth, and the beauty of the sea inside.  (Maybe that’s where my love for the ocean started!)

It was a simple science principle.  Oil & water don’t mix.  You can try to make them merge, but eventually they separate.  One cannot exist with the other.

That’s what Paul says happens when we surrender our lives to Jesus.  Like any decision to surrender, the surrendering person gives up all rights, no longer trying to pursue their preferences, but following those of the power they surrendered to.  Just like the blue food coloring, it will settle out of the mixture into the oil, away from the water.  The blue color surrenders to the oil, letting it dictate where it will go.

By giving our lives to Jesus, we allow the Oil of the Holy Spirit to take us where it wants to go.  We no longer follow sin & its temptations, we instead follow the Spirit.  Our focus is no longer on a list of dos and don’ts, instead we simply follow the Spirit.  All of the ways of sin (the water), no longer have control over us.  Instead, we are controlled by the Spirit, and in following the Spirit, we are able to do and not do what God had designed us to be in the first place.

I don’t recall the exact recipe of that ocean in a bottle.  But I do recall the principle.  Oil and water don’t mix.  That’s not just true physically, it matches spiritually too.  Surrender to the oil, and let it separate me from sin.   Then watch what happens in your life!  You will discover an amazing adventure that pleases your heavenly Father!

06/21/18 - Romans 6

June 21, 2018

We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Jesus killed sin in us at our baptism, so don't let sin kill us by missing out on it.

Probably the two most misunderstood and misused sacraments of the Christian Life is baptism and communion.  Maybe that’s why Paul wrote about both in his letters, to bring the early church back to the core elements of both – and to help us see the power of what happens in both activities.

Baptism has been modified so much from the original basic action.  Look at how we have turned something so simple and significant in a Christian’s life into something controlled and minimized:

-          Some call it an act of obedience, yet baptism is not a ‘work’.  It is not something we ‘do’, it is done to us.  Another Christian is always the baptizer of a person giving their life to Christ.

-          Some say it is not necessary.  Then someone forgot to tell Jesus & Peter – Jesus sends us to baptize people, and Peter said it was directly tied to your original repentance from sin.

-          For centuries, we have baptized babies by a parent’s will.  Yet Jesus chose to be baptized around the age of 30, and called for adults to repent & be baptized as their own confession of sin.

-          Many think of it as symbolic, but the Holy Spirit says it is far more – He comes to reside in you at your baptism, according to Peter.

-          Some use baptism as an act of membership – and certainly it would indicate our decision to join a local church.  But it is far bigger.  Baptism is about surrendering to the Kingdom of Jesus. 

In this passage, Paul says that something incredibly miraculous happens at our baptism – our sin life is killed, and our soul is resurrected!  While we just see a person go under water, God sees the person dying to sin and rising to eternity.  That is INCREDIBLE!  Baptism is a spiritual resurrection!

Now I don’t say all that to create angst about people who have not been immersed.  Nor is the decision of who is saved & who is not saved based on our observation of their actions – God decides salvation.  But let’s not be so arrogant, that we would dismiss the teaching and the practice of Jesus and the early church by our so-called ‘advanced intelligence’.  Jesus is doing something AMAZING in us at the moment of our baptism.  He is killing the power sin has to control our lives, and giving us a far greater power to live a new life with.  He is marking us with the seal of the Holy Spirit for resurrection day.  He is providing us the assurance of His forgiveness, and the joy of reconciliation with the Father.  Why would we NOT want to repent and be baptized? 

If you have made that decision, take a moment to celebrate again what great gift you have been given.  And if you have not made that decision yourself, then find a Bible-teaching church that practices it and give your old life over to Him.  You’ll be eternally glad that you did!

06/20/18 - Romans 5

June 20, 2018

God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

Accepting Christ means permitting God to fill our hearts with the love of His heart.

God’s love is always around us.  Without it, we would not exist.

His love created the universe, the world and everything in it.  Out of His love came the design of man in God’s image, and the structure of marriage to support us in relationship.  His love operates the world, providing everything we need each day.  And it’s out of His love that we are constantly being protected from evil’s destruction, granting us mercy & patience in spite of our sin.  Whether a person is a believer or not, God’s love is unescapable.  A country can reject God, but they cannot escape God’s love.

There is only one place where God’s love doesn’t have permission to enter uninvited.  The only place God’s love does not reside without an invitation is a person’s heart.  His Holy Spirit is always around us, but it cannot reside inside of us until we open our heart’s door to Him.  The only way to have the love of God is to ask God to put His love into our hearts.

That’s why Peter in Acts 2 tells people that when we repent and are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes inside of us.  We are filled with the love of God.

That’s why Jesus sent His disciples to all the world, to bring the love of God INTO THE HEARTS of people.

That’s why you can know a lot about God, go to church periodically, even pray or read the Bible, but not have the love of God inside.  The only way is to accept His Love into your life, to hunger for it, to stay open to it.

Accepting Christ is not just signing up for a pass into heaven, it’s opening the door of your heart to let God’s love in.  And God’s love entering the room of your heart will require significant changes.  Accepting Christ without repenting is like dumping fresh water into the sewer. It doesn’t make any sense.  It would be a waste.  Accepting Christ is not a task or a work, it is a surrender – allowing the love of God to have complete access to your life.

Then, just like God’s Love did when He created the world, God will use His Love to create something new in you.  The power of God will be the power of your life, and real love will start working its way into all of your relationships.

Maybe it’s time for a fresh new taste of love in your life.  Maybe it’s time to accept Jesus into your heart.  You’ll be glad you did!  Choose to do it now.

06/19/18 - Romans 4

June 19, 2018

Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Romans 4:7

Our greatest blessings are not possessions or experiences, but freedom from our past so that we can again become what God designed us to be.

What was the best gift you ever received from your family? 

On my 16^th birthday, I wasn’t expecting much.  My mom and family had made a cake and my favorite dinner for me after the baseball game I played in, but our limited income had kept gifts limited for years.  (That was okay, since we were happy with the things we did get to do, but it kept the expectations down.)   On the table was a small gift box along with a birthday card, so I figured it was just something simple from my mom.  Much to my surprise, when I opened the box, it was a set of keys to the family car, along with a paper showing my registration for summer drivers ed classes!  My mom had entrusted me with the keys to the only car we owned, and promised to help me get my drivers license!  I was shocked and blessed!  Even though the gift was not expensive to purchase, it was an incredibly valuable gift.

There’s another gift that is incredibly valuable, though it doesn’t appear to cost much … it’s the gift of forgiveness.  When given, it restores relationships, removes the baggage of the past, and gives freedom to the receiver.  While it may not have a sticker price, it’s of great value to our lives, and lasts longer than a car or other possession.  And when GOD gives it to us, it is priceless!  Without that simple gift, we have no hope of living eternally.

While forgiveness doesn’t have a high price tag, it still has a great cost.  In our case, when we give forgiveness, it costs us retribution and restitution from the person.  And when God sent Jesus to the cross to buy our forgiveness, it cost Jesus his life!  So be careful not to discount the forgiveness given to us by others, it is a highly valuable gift.  In fact, it is the best blessing you ever will receive.

Valuing the gift of forgiveness has a life-changing impact.  Living free of sin and the regret of the past can open the door for us to follow Jesus, love God, forgive our brothers, and love our neighbor.  It can change a life destined for hell into a glorious life headed for heaven.  It can also open the door for an amazing life, filled with joy and purpose. 

So for your next birthday, (or for your next prayer request), why not ask God for the greatest gift you will ever receive.  Ask Him for forgiveness.  It will be much better than keys to a car or cake & ice cream.  It will change your life.

06/18/18 - Romans 3

June 18, 2018

There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:11

God created man to pursue His mind & heart, but we instead pursue our own desires -- use TODAY as an experiment, what would it look like if I pursued God's thoughts & passions today?

As an employee, I always wanted my manager or boss to trust me.  Somehow it is inherently clear that if your authority trusts you, then you will have the freedom to do what you want.  However, it took me years to realize that the REASON leaders don’t trust their people is BECAUSE they want to do what they want.  Managers and Owners aren’t looking for us to do what WE want, they are looking for us to do what THEY want!

That’s when I discovered a great secret to organizational success – stop trying to do what WE want, and learn more about what the Manager Wants!  It’s so simple, but the more I started to think and work like they wanted, the more trust they showed in me.  (And I have found that true in managing people too --- the more they understand my thinking, the more I trust them as well!)

God says the same thing to us!  He’s looking for people who are trustworthy … but the way you and I become trustworthy is to constantly seek what HE wants, to learn the way HE thinks, to act the way HE acts.  The more we seek to know and understand God, the more He entrusts to us. Imagine what great things God may entrust to us if we just started seeking His thoughts!

Unfortunately, we know what Paul says is true – there isn’t a man alive who always seeks what God wants, or wants to know the mind of God.  If we had a person like that, it would change the world, and give us a model to follow.  How Great to know we HAVE A PERSON LIKE THAT!  His Name is Jesus!  By knowing more about what Jesus says and does, and learning how to think and live like Jesus, God can entrust us with more of His character and activity. 

So here is an experiment to try.  Take today and try to fully pursue God’s thoughts & passions – even for a single day.  If you know something you are doing is a sin, stop it.  If you know there is someone He wants you to forgive, or mend a relationship, or show kindness to, do it.  Whatever God has told you to do, do it.  Take one day and Pursue His Mind – learn from His Word, have conversations with Him in prayer, discover again what His thoughts are.  And see what He tells you.

Then try it again another day, and then two, and then a week, and keep working on becoming a person who seeks after God’s heart.  Watch what happens in your life when His thoughts start becoming your thoughts!  Much like any other authority, you will find God entrusting you with more.

06/15/18 - Romans 2

June 15, 2018

Don't show contempt for the riches of God's kindness, forbearance and patience, it is intended to lead you to repentance.  Romans 2:4

Blessing is given to motivate us to worship, not become more selfish.

There’s an old saying:  Never look a gift horse in the mouth.  I know that you can tell a lot about a horse’s health by looking in his mouth, but don’t imagine that would be the first thing I would look at if I were given a horse.  However, the same principle applies to anything ever gifted to us, and I have many times started mentally critiquing the gift before considering the kindness of the giver.

God’s Kindness is the most abused gift ever given.  People not only have received his patience, mercy and kindness daily, but then turn around and demand it from God tomorrow.  So many people pray for God to bless them without ever giving God the time of day in worship or devotion.  If it weren’t for His incredible love and patience, we would be starved for blessing because of our ingratitude.

To be even more blunt, many people use up the blessings of God for selfish interests, then complain when the debts are mounting, or their schedule becomes unmanageable.  God provides people a job and they start complaining about work.  God gives us a spouse and we look to dump them for the next attraction.  God provides us freedom to worship, and we choose instead to spend our time on the sports field or sleeping in.  God gave us blessing – we turn it into a curse.

According to Paul, the purpose of blessing is not to make us happy, it is given to direct us to holiness.  God’s patience and mercy are a calling for us to repent and turn to Him, not walk away with our hands full.  Don’t waste the blessing, use it for what God intended. Allow every daily gift He gives remind you to make God your first priority.

How different would money be handled if we saw it as a kindness instead of an expected payment.  What would we do differently with our time if we saw each day as a gift from God to live for Him, instead of being expected for our own activities.  If families and marriages were seen as a special blessing, how would it change the way we live in our families?

Here’s a simple exercise to try.  Take one day (or one week), and record in a notebook every blessing you are given by God – big things and small things.  Then consider what those blessings are supposed to do in your relationship with Jesus.  Allow every blessing to both BE a praise to God, and BE Used for praise to God.

Don’t waste your blessings on yourself.  Use them for the great purpose God intended.

06/14/18 - Romans 1

June 14, 2018

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped & served created things rather than the Creator... Romans 1:25

Sin is always a substitution of what We want for what God wants.

In grade school, any time you saw a substitute teacher in the classroom, you knew it was going to be an easier day.  Having a substitute usually meant watching a movie, having extra time to do homework, or spending the day having fun another way.  I always enjoyed having substitutes … until the regular teacher returned.  Then the homework doubled, and the class had to work extra hard to catch up with the lost day.

Every sin is a substitute.  It seems enjoyable at the time, but has a price to pay afterwards.  Sometimes the cost is more short-term than others, and sometimes the cost affects more than one person, but there is always a consequence later.  When we sin, we are choosing a shortcut that has a long cost.  The problem is often that the attractiveness of sin grabs our attention more than the cost attached to it.  If we could see the cost, we might more often avoid the sin.

Paul addresses the beginning of his letter to the Romans talking about the severity of substitutes.  In a culture rampant with sexual sin and immorality, Paul sees how people have swapped out their holiness for sin substitutes.  They have chosen the temporary satisfaction of sex over the longlasting security of marriage.  They have decided to swap the rules of righteous living out for the intoxication of sinful living.  And the result is an ever-declining death spiral away from God, and toward hell.

The Roman culture is not much different than America’s culture these days.  Our rapid decline is a result of a substitution plan – choosing to pursue selfishness over God, then money, then drugs & alcohol, and these days now using substitutes like living together, homosexuality, abortion, and euthanasia.  What appears acceptable and enjoyable continues its destructive consequences on marriage & families, leaving in its wake a terrible aftermath for the next generations. 

The only way to recover from sin is to stop the substitutes.  That means releasing all of the substitutes in our life and grabbing hold of the only pure alternative, Jesus.  Choose to eliminate the long term consequences and do your homework today – letting holiness provide a great result for generations to come.  Worship and serve the Creator, and pursue the Truth.

Or, expect to have a LOT more work to do tomorrow.

06/13/18 - Acts 28

June 13, 2018

“Go to this people and say: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused;…”  Acts 28:26

People aren’t saved by logical arguments for their heads, but by understanding with their hearts.

Over the years, I have had several friendships with people who have questioned my faith and challenged the ideas of God & Scripture with me.  Because of our friendship, I would do my best to help explain their questions or answer their arguments, and in most cases, at least provide some answer to think about.  But I cannot recall ANY of them changing their mind or starting a relationship with God out of the discussion.  In fact, it often got dropped and we would move on without agreement.  In each case, I tried to maintain the friendship, but it often would fade away over time.

Then there have been many conversations with friends who didn’t come to argue or debate a point, but came to learn and understand.  Not that I was the expert they needed, but they came looking to figure it out.  These folks OFTEN found some answers they were seeking, and God OFTEN brought out answers in the conversation.  And I have been privileged to see a number of them start a relationship with God out of those conversations – in some cases even baptizing them!

There is a difference between trying to approach God with the head versus approaching God with the heart.  The brain, even though larger in size than the heart, is not big enough to fathom all of the logic of God.  (No one can have the mind of God!)  But the heart has this ability to expand in understanding God far better.  Isaiah said it centuries ago:  You will be hearing and seeing, but not getting it with the brain; because you’ve already hardened your heart.  Instead of seeking to know God, you have come to argue his existence.

I have learned over the years it is better not to "win people" with arguments.  Even Christians, when they want to debate some technical doctrine or theory, need to be interested in learning together before I will engage the conversation.  That’s because the argument only does more damage to the heart, hardening it even more.  I would rather be considered dumb and hope for a future time their hear might be ready than do more to harden their chance at salvation.

However, the sad part of this often quoted verse for me is not the hardness of other people’s hearts, but the hardness of my own.  I too am guilty of having a hard heart on some areas and not even realize it until sin has done the damage.  The cement of pride can get in the way of understanding my wife, loving my family, or obeying completely God’s Word.  It took years for me to want to UNDERSTAND giving, serving and witnessing for Jesus.  It has been a lifetime struggle to push down pride and ego in order to understand the teachings of Jesus.  I’ve got some more work to do on this, and maybe you do too.

So listen to Isaiah (and Jesus, and Paul) from this text:  stop trying to argue or justify our behaviors, and try to listen with your heart in order to understand His ways.  Use the heart’s capacity to understand instead of your head.  And what you will find is that the head catches up soon after!

06/12/18 - Acts 27

June 12, 2018

The angel said: “Do not be afraid Paul.  You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.”  Acts 27:24

Don’t be so quick to leave - One Christian may be the only protection in a family, a business, even a town!

Paul was wrongly accused, beaten, jailed for years, and put on a boat to head to Rome to face Caesar for a crime he didn’t commit.  He was surrounded by soldiers, sailors and criminals – none of which cared about his predicament, and most of which were not concerned about God.  That was, until they faced a storm that threatened their lives.  Then Paul became an important person on the ship, and his leadership and influence protected 275 people from death.  One man’s faith affected the entire ship, and saved everyone there.  The influence and presence of a faithful believer protects many around them.

That may also be true with Christians in the workforce, those feeling alone in a marriage or family, and even those who are persecuted in towns and villages all around the world.  Believers are a light of the world, a reflection of the true light of Jesus.  And often their presence is enough to delay judgment on people around them.

You may recall the story of Lot in the book of Genesis.  His presence in the town of Sodom held back the judgment of God until the angels finally pulled him and the family out.  Or think back to the story of Esther.  Her faithfulness was all God needed to save the entire nation of Jews from destruction.  Or one of my favorite examples isn’t even a human… it’s the story of Balaam’s donkey, who ended up protecting Balaam from the sword of the Lord, and by doing so led to the protection of the Jewish nation.  The impact one believer can have is tremendous!

That’s why we should consider carefully what God wants from us BEFORE abandoning ship in our families, or the company we work for, or the church we serve, or even the town we live in.  Don’t be so quick to leave.  Make certain you are not jumping ship for selfish reasons, but instead waiting on God to direct you away.  You may be the influence God wants to use to save lives!  Just because the storm is raging now doesn’t mean the job is done.  Wait and listen for God, letting Him tell you when to leave, and what to do.

I’m afraid that comfort and cash have lured people away from calling way too often in the Kingdom.  It always saddens me to hear of ministers jumping from church to church because of the salary offered instead of the calling confirmed.  Too many people pick up and move to more comfortable locations for their jobs or their homes in order to enjoy their lives more than save lives.  Certainly God may call people to new situations, and sometimes even enjoyable ones (I’m still waiting to hear God send us to a megachurch in Hawaii!), but be more interested in reaching the lives around us than the comforts somewhere else.

Paul became God’s man to save the captain and everyone on the ship.  How might God be using you to protect those around you? 

06/11/18 - Acts 26

June 11, 2018

The Lord replied: 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and witness..' Acts 26:15, 16

Jesus doesn't disqualify us because of our past, He calls us to a new purpose.

Often the greatest hindrance to our future is not skillsets, education, or opportunity … it’s our past failures.

That’s where Paul found himself after being confronted with the glory of Jesus.  Paul instantly came to the realization that he had failed terribly at the stoning of Steven and the arrest of Christians.  He found himself fully guilty of persecution, pride and murder.  But Jesus didn’t condemn Paul … instead Jesus Called Paul to a new purpose.  Now the ones Paul was persecuting would become the ones Paul would encourage during their persecution.  The past didn’t eliminate Paul, it prepared Paul for his ultimate purpose.

Everyone has a ‘past’.  Some have stories that are far more fascinating than others, and many have a testimony that is more traumatic than others, but we all have a past that would disqualify us from the Kingdom of God.  In fact, God often uses our ‘past’ to help reach similar people in our ‘future’.  It’s the lessons of mercy, grace, compassion, love, conviction, and much more that comes OUT of our past, which Jesus uses to minister to people locked IN their past.  Your greatest ministry often comes from the lessons of your past.  Don’t run from it, learn from it.

That doesn’t mean you won’t be judged for your past.  There will always be judgmental people who pride themselves on not committing the sins you did.  We all have faced that … and sometimes imagine it when it was not intended that way.  Accepting or reacting to judgment just takes us back to the past we already went through.  Don’t react to judgmental people, respond with love and move forward in the ministry God has given you.  For every person that judges you, there will be dozens who need your message of mercy, grace & hope.  See the judgment for what really is happening – Satan trying to discourage you from the purpose God intended.

Jesus saw the importance of forgiving people AND calling them to a new purpose.  He forgave the crippled man AND healed him to go serve his family.  Jesus forgave the adulterous woman AND sent her away to ‘sin no more’.  He forgave Peter AND called him to shepherd the new church.  And in this passage, Paul tells everyone that Jesus forgave him, and sent him to the Gentiles.  Our past need not stop our future, but it will definitely change it.  Let God remove the sting of the past from your life, and use it for His Glory in your future.  Start today becoming the new person God is calling you to be.

06/08/18 - Acts 25

June 8, 2018

Paul said: “If I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die.”  Acts25:11

Dieing for a conviction is far better than living without one.

As Paul faced the trials of Festus & Agrippa, he was being threatened constantly with capital punishment for standing on his convictions about Jesus.  The Romans didn’t really have a problem with that (yet), but the Jews saw Paul as a threat to their country and their control.  Through the interrogations, Roman leaders would look for a bribe or a compromise to get rid of the problem, but Paul would not compromise his convictions, even if it meant death.

When you know what you are willing to die for, you have found what you actually live for.  Whatever you are willing to die over is the object of your worship.  Paul demonstrated his conviction to die for His faith, and that was a powerful testimony to everyone of how committed he was to Jesus.

Yet many people are less committed to Jesus, and more committed to their own personal safety.  Fear of the unknown keeps followers from taking a mission trip, holding back on giving radically, delay serving in a ministry, or inviting a friend to church.  It is also fear that keeps people from forgiving a hurt or sharing compassion for a need.  These are people who would rather live without a complete conviction, and find themselves compromising through life instead of living a holy life.

If you wrote out a short list of the things you were willing to die for, what would it contain?  Maybe take some time to consider that question and draw some convictions out of it.  Find out what you are willing to die for, and you’ll discover what you’re living for.  If it needs changed, then start making changes in your convictions.

06/07/18 - Acts 24

June 7, 2018

Paul: “I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way…so I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”   Acts24:14,16

What we worship can be identified by what our conscience says more than what our mouth says.

For the first 40 years of my life, I was a Cleveland Browns football fan… (yes, I’m secure enough to admit it!).  It hasn’t been a pleasant experience over the years, watching bad seasons and bad mistakes keep them from getting to a Super Bowl.  But I watched, I rooted, I bought the hat & shirts, I did what a typical football fan would do in rooting for their favorite team (within reason). 

When we moved to San Francisco, it became easy to start following the 49ers.  I had always liked them, but also enjoyed seeing a team that regularly competed for playoff spots.  When an old friend started talking to me years later about the Browns team, I was clueless as to the roster or the results, and it became obvious my allegiance had changed.  While I could say I rooted for the Browns, my conscience and my behavior said otherwise. 

Paul was facing a hostile crowd of judges, all looking for justification to convict him, yet Paul was unashamed to speak of his devotion to God and worship of Jesus.  It mattered more to Paul that his conscience was clear before God than to be accepted by men.  That’s because Paul didn’t worship his own life, Paul worshipped God.  The proof of what he worshipped was seen in the commitment of his conscience to God.

Most national survey groups say that 60-80% of Americans claim to be Christians.  But the volume of regular worshippers, or those who profess to read the Bible regularly, or those who give a percentage of their income to God’s Kingdom are MUCH less than that number.   The significant difference shows a disconnect between what we claim to worship and what we actually worship.  How much MORE would our conscience show the disconnect.

Praise God that He is a merciful and forgiving God.  But that still leaves us with an unclean conscience to fix.  What change is necessary to make your conscience match your words?  How about making that change, so that when you are challenged, you can speak with a clear conscience about your devotion to Jesus.

Don’t be a closet fan of Jesus, be a clear conscience follower of Him.  Make your words and behaviors match.

06/06/18 - Acts 23

June 6, 2018

Paul said: “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”   Acts 23:1

Eternal life isn’t based on how good our life was, but how clean our conscience is.

In talking with friends over the years, any time the subject occasionally turns to eternal life, there is always one of two responses:  I was a good person (performed well enough), or I gave my life to Jesus (accepted Jesus as Lord).  Whether or not either statement is true, the fact is that both methods are accurate.  We get to heaven by our performance or by Jesus’ performance. 

Many people believe their performance is “good”.  But the problem with comparing performance is the standard we use.  Comparing ourselves with others, we all can look better than some people (and not quite as good as a few others).  In the human mind, because we have done good things, we can feel qualified to be accepted by God.  But the problem is that God has a different comparison.  His level of “good” is based on being perfect, just like Jesus.  Since none of us match that standard, we can never be good enough to enter eternity.

But others recognize they are not good enough, and rely on their acceptance of Jesus as Lord.  Now whether that has changed their life enough or not, they no longer are in the comparison game, but in the association game.  By knowing Jesus and surrendering to Him, it is not about how clean our lives are, but how clean our consciences are.  In this case, it is up to Jesus to decide, and we put our trust in Him to save us.  Because Jesus is already in eternity, we can be permitted entrance through our relationship with Him.

Paul stood on trial and told all of the Jewish accusers that he had finished his duty to God in all good conscience.  That didn’t mean he was perfect in his work, but faithful in his effort.  That didn’t mean Paul was sinless in his behavior, but sin-free in his conscience.  Only Jesus can clear our conscience, good works just tries to cover it up. 

We will all stand before God & men someday and have to give an account of our lives.  If we stand on our works, then plan on making that comparison to the perfect model of Jesus.  If you can match up with Jesus, then you can have eternal life.  But if not … then maybe it is time to accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior, so that He can clear your conscience.  It’s either one or the other, so choose well.

06/05/18 - Acts 22

June 5, 2018 

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”   Acts 22:7

Every sin against others is a persecution against Jesus.

“It’s none of your business!”

That’s a phrase used often to tell others they are not the target or the solution to a problem.  We like to use it often – to the spouse who wants to fix it, or the nosy person who wants to hear it, or the government who wants to check on it.  We think that our actions are only limited to the people we directly affect, and want everyone else to stay out of it.  (And to some extent, that is correct.)

Jesus has a different opinion.  Saul had just approved the death of Stephen, and was trying to arrest people who were professing Jesus and stirring up the nation with His teachings.  Saul thought his actions were not only justified, they were holy and righteous.  But then Jesus shows up and tells Saul that every action against another is a persecution against Christ.  Every hurt is not just pain to the person we hurt, it’s also putting a nail in the hands and feet of Jesus.  Your lack of love for a brother is painful to Jesus.  My rejection of a person is killing the Savior.  We may not think it involves God, but Jesus says otherwise.

What is also true is that every action we take in this life has an effect on other people too.  Our sin has consequences that affects not only me, but also my family, friends, neighbors, nation, and world --- not just for this generation, but for generations to come.  There is a tidal wave of impact that happens from every sin and every righteous act.  Just look at the effects of second hand smoke, or pollution, or oil spill.  And yes – even the effects of sexual immorality, drunkenness, pride, bigotry, selfishness, greed, etc. all carry over into the lives and futures of people around us.  Big or small, it has a lingering impact.  While we may not think it is any of their business – it actually affects their business!

That doesn’t give us the right to steal away a person’s free will!  But it does give us the permission to question what is happening.  And it DEFINITELY permits Jesus to question us when our sins have such a personal effect on Him.

Jesus already paid the price for our sins, but doesn’t like our ongoing ignorance and persecution by continuing to sin.  It’s time to see sin for the reality it brings – sin is destructive, defeating, and death-giving.  Every sin is a slap in the face of God, and puts Jesus back on the cross.  Stop acting like your sin is private.  It may not be publicly known, but it is not just privately felt. 

Thank God that Jesus wants to fix our sins.  He did that with Saul, and He still does it with us.  Let Jesus change your life instead of continuing to persecute Him with our sins.

06/04/18 - Acts 21

June 4, 2018 

All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.   Acts21:5

People can leave our homes and move from our lives, but they can’t escape our prayers.

Dropping off our daughter to college was one of the most exciting and saddening moments in our lives.  We were thrilled with the college, with the atmosphere, with the care and connections she would have available to her.  Certainly being 800 miles away had its drawbacks, but we expected great things for her, and knew this was a good choice in her life.  But even with all of the positives, driving away was painful.  After raising her all our lives, we were now leaving the job up to God.  (Not that He wasn’t doing it the whole time --- but at least God let us have our delusions for a while.)

That’s when the reality sank in the first time --- our kids can escape our homes and escape our authority, but they can’t escape our prayers!  At that point more than ever before, Dianna and I discovered a new depth in the power of prayer.  We found out how much our prayers “chase” after the ones we pray about.  Over the next several months, every ‘crisis’ gave us a hunger to pray, since that’s about all you can do from 800 miles away.  Prayer was no longer the prelude to action – prayer WAS the action.  And it seemed like EVERY prayer found an answer soon afterwards, as other challenges came to the forefront of our conversations.  God not only took care of our daughter, but proved He was way better at helping her through her problems than we ever were.

That’s a WORD for someone today.  If Jesus can chase us down 2000 years later with His prayers, then our prayers have the ability to work wonders today.  People can leave your home, leave your life, even run from your authority or advice, but they cannot escape your prayers.

Paul was facing persecution and possibly death as he headed to Jerusalem, and the only thing left for the leaders to do was pray for him.  So they did, right on the beach before getting back on the boat.  Their prayers chased after Paul, and God answered their prayers by protecting Paul in Jerusalem even when men committed themselves to killing him. 

Praise God – nobody can outrun your prayers.  And thank God that you can’t outrun the prayers given for you!