I enjoy reading and studying the Bible and then sharing with others what I learn. I also enjoy learning from what others discover in their reading of God's word. But recently a verse of Scripture caused me to take a deep breath and thoughtfully consider my own life (many verses do that often!). I came face to face with 1 John 2:6, "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." (TNIV). Another version puts it this way, "Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did" (NLT).
LIVE AS JESUS DID. I hear John saying to me, "Don, you claim to be a Christian, right? What is the evidence for that? If you think it is your knowledge of the Bible or your ability to tell others how to become a Christian, you've got it all wrong. The only credible evidence that anyone is a Christian is that they are living their life as Jesus lived his. Is that what you're doing?"
I answered honestly when I said, "Not always." Then it came to me. Reading and studying the Bible should always lead to discovery of how Jesus lived so that I can learn to imitate his life in my own. Unless I am reading the Bible, first of all, to learn how Jesus lived and then to practice becoming more like him, I have no right to claim to be one of his followers. Further, unless I am living my life as he lived his, I have no basis for trying to teach anyone else what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The real proof of the lordship of Jesus over our lives is when our life looks like his; that's living proof.
The Parson's Bench
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Keeping the Light Shining and The Salt From Going Bad
When I lived in a very humid climate it was not unusual to see grains of rice in the salt shakers on restaurant tables. Humidity could dampen the salt causing it to solidify in the shaker and it wouldn't come out of those small holes in the top. The rice grains helped keep the salt shakable. Something could be done to keep the salt usable.
Jesus was affirming the influence his disciples (including today's followers) would have on the world around them when he said, "You are the salt of the earth. . .the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13, 14). However, he was also issuing a warning. Just as salt can go bad if not protected against conditions that cause decay, decomposition and contamination so can our influence for Jesus be diminished by neglect of our relationship with him. Light does no one else any good if it's only turned on in my sleeping bag so I can read my book instead of offering to share it with others in the tent.
We are salt of the earth and light of the world only to the extent that we heed the warning of Jesus so our influence has max impact for his kingdom.
Jesus was affirming the influence his disciples (including today's followers) would have on the world around them when he said, "You are the salt of the earth. . .the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13, 14). However, he was also issuing a warning. Just as salt can go bad if not protected against conditions that cause decay, decomposition and contamination so can our influence for Jesus be diminished by neglect of our relationship with him. Light does no one else any good if it's only turned on in my sleeping bag so I can read my book instead of offering to share it with others in the tent.
We are salt of the earth and light of the world only to the extent that we heed the warning of Jesus so our influence has max impact for his kingdom.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The High Cost of Rebellion
I've been reading 1 Samuel which is mostly about the rise and fall of Israel's first king, Saul and his successor, David. Saul had disobeyed the word of the Lord given to him through the prophet Samuel and this rebellion against God gave rise to what might be the most heartbreaking verse in the Bible: ". . .the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul. . ." (1 Samuel 16:14). Ponder that for a moment; let the implications of that sink in.
Can you imagine anything worse than the loss of the sense of God's presence in your life? We need not doubt God's unfailing love for Saul and for us but Scripture teaches us that willful disobedience to God can result in God withdrawing from us the sense of His presence.
It seems that Saul never recovered what God removed but we can if we are willing to humble ourselves, repent and cry out for God's forgiveness. That is exactly what Jesus came to provide for us; a means for recovering from our rebellion against God through faith in Jesus.
There's no reason to lose the sense of God's presence through disobedience but as the Bible says, "if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." 1 John 2:1.
Can you imagine anything worse than the loss of the sense of God's presence in your life? We need not doubt God's unfailing love for Saul and for us but Scripture teaches us that willful disobedience to God can result in God withdrawing from us the sense of His presence.
It seems that Saul never recovered what God removed but we can if we are willing to humble ourselves, repent and cry out for God's forgiveness. That is exactly what Jesus came to provide for us; a means for recovering from our rebellion against God through faith in Jesus.
There's no reason to lose the sense of God's presence through disobedience but as the Bible says, "if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." 1 John 2:1.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
House of Prayer
I arrived at our new church building at 3 am to open the building for those who had signed up to participate in our 40 hour prayer vigil. Members of our church will come and go today and tomorrow during all hours to intercede for the various ministries of our church and for the newcomers yet to discover our church and our Jesus.
This place is permeated with a Spirit of prayer at this hour. I pray for the pray-ers who come as they pray for the many places, people and purposes of our church in the work of God's kingdom.
As he grew older, Samuel seemed to place growing emphasis on the ministry of praying for God's people; so much so that he said, "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23).
Pray for God's people; for His Church. It's something we can do at any age and it is desperately needed these days.
This place is permeated with a Spirit of prayer at this hour. I pray for the pray-ers who come as they pray for the many places, people and purposes of our church in the work of God's kingdom.
As he grew older, Samuel seemed to place growing emphasis on the ministry of praying for God's people; so much so that he said, "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23).
Pray for God's people; for His Church. It's something we can do at any age and it is desperately needed these days.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Ready to Share What Is Needed Most When Needed Most
Flowering trees are budding out beautifully in North Texas! Everywhere the glorious colors of an early spring remind us of God's renewing grace. The stunning colors of the trees also remind me of Psalm 1 which says that the one who delights in God's word and meditates on it is like a tree which "yields its fruit in season."
When we spend regular and frequent quality time reading God's word and prayerfully thinking about its meaning for us we become like trees "planted by streams of water". We are filled with God's truth and equipped by His Spirit so that when the "season" comes we can offer the fruit of God's word to a hungry soul.
We don't know when those opportunities will come. Not every moment is the right season for sharing a word from God's truth. Only God knows when someone is ready for a word from Him. But if we delight in His word and take it into our own heart and mind regularly, we will be ready when He is ready; when the season is right.
When we spend regular and frequent quality time reading God's word and prayerfully thinking about its meaning for us we become like trees "planted by streams of water". We are filled with God's truth and equipped by His Spirit so that when the "season" comes we can offer the fruit of God's word to a hungry soul.
We don't know when those opportunities will come. Not every moment is the right season for sharing a word from God's truth. Only God knows when someone is ready for a word from Him. But if we delight in His word and take it into our own heart and mind regularly, we will be ready when He is ready; when the season is right.
Friday, March 9, 2012
What's Good About Old Age?
The Bible is written to and for people of all ages. It's principles, warnings and promises are for the present as well as future generations.
I'm reading Judges right now and came across a phrase in Judges 8:32 that stimulated my thinking. It says, "Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age. . ." Now, at first glance we could say that 'old' means he lived a long life. But what about 'good'? Is there anything good about being old? I remember a popular phrase from the 1960's: "Don't trust anyone over 30". Hidden meaning: if someone was over 30 they were old, out of touch, didn't understand the current generation and couldn't be trusted.
Getting old does have its challenges and disadvantages; no argument there. But the Bible shows us that 'good' and 'old age' can go together in the same thought. A little quick research revealed that this phrase is found in the Bible in reference to only three people; Abraham, Gideon and David. They all "died at a good old age."
If one can die at a good old age then it must follow that it is possible for one to die at a bad old age. Here's what I think about that as I reflect on the lives of Abraham, Gideon and David. These men didn't get it right all the time but they trusted God and lived their lives as godly individuals. Yes, so did many others in the Bible but there must have been something about the overall choices these three made along the way that singled them out as the ones who died at a good old age.
Here's a question that applies no matter your age. What choices are we making in our life journey? Are we making choices regarding physical, mental and spiritual well being that will let us finish among those who die at a good old age?
If I can learn anything from Abraham, Gideon and David I learn that a heart fully devoted to God is the key to finishing well; dying at a GOOD old age.
I'm reading Judges right now and came across a phrase in Judges 8:32 that stimulated my thinking. It says, "Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age. . ." Now, at first glance we could say that 'old' means he lived a long life. But what about 'good'? Is there anything good about being old? I remember a popular phrase from the 1960's: "Don't trust anyone over 30". Hidden meaning: if someone was over 30 they were old, out of touch, didn't understand the current generation and couldn't be trusted.
Getting old does have its challenges and disadvantages; no argument there. But the Bible shows us that 'good' and 'old age' can go together in the same thought. A little quick research revealed that this phrase is found in the Bible in reference to only three people; Abraham, Gideon and David. They all "died at a good old age."
If one can die at a good old age then it must follow that it is possible for one to die at a bad old age. Here's what I think about that as I reflect on the lives of Abraham, Gideon and David. These men didn't get it right all the time but they trusted God and lived their lives as godly individuals. Yes, so did many others in the Bible but there must have been something about the overall choices these three made along the way that singled them out as the ones who died at a good old age.
Here's a question that applies no matter your age. What choices are we making in our life journey? Are we making choices regarding physical, mental and spiritual well being that will let us finish among those who die at a good old age?
If I can learn anything from Abraham, Gideon and David I learn that a heart fully devoted to God is the key to finishing well; dying at a GOOD old age.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Should We Spend Time With 'Sinners'?
Matthew relates to us the story of how he met Jesus. It is a sobering account when considered from Matthew's perspective. As a Jewish tax collector employed by the Roman government, Matthew was disliked among his own people and probably thought of as a corrupt representative of an oppressive government. In a word, a 'sinner'. But Jesus reached out to him. How do you think that made Matthew feel? If his response is any indication, it must have been VERY meaningful to him. The Bible says that Matthew got up from his tax collector table and followed Jesus (Mt 9:9-13).
The next scene has Jesus at Matthew's house having dinner with other 'sinners' and being criticized for it by the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus responds to the criticism by reminding his detractors that his purpose for coming is to "call not the righteous but sinners."
If you're like me, we spend lots of time around our brothers and sisters in the Church but have little intentional contact with anyone else. We might be forced into sharing time and space with unbelievers or even critics of religion on the job or in school but our usual practice is to flock together with others whose feathers look like ours while avoiding the other birds.
That clearly was not the way of Jesus nor should it be our way. We need fellowship with our fellow followers of Jesus but 'sinners' (those outside the circles of faith) need the love of Christ and the keys to his kingdom.
Yes, we should spend time with 'sinners' first, because Jesus did and second, because God has given us what this troubled world needs most: the good news of God's forgiveness in Christ. Pray for God to put a Matthew in your life. And when He does, be Jesus for a moment and watch the holy sparks fly!
The next scene has Jesus at Matthew's house having dinner with other 'sinners' and being criticized for it by the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus responds to the criticism by reminding his detractors that his purpose for coming is to "call not the righteous but sinners."
If you're like me, we spend lots of time around our brothers and sisters in the Church but have little intentional contact with anyone else. We might be forced into sharing time and space with unbelievers or even critics of religion on the job or in school but our usual practice is to flock together with others whose feathers look like ours while avoiding the other birds.
That clearly was not the way of Jesus nor should it be our way. We need fellowship with our fellow followers of Jesus but 'sinners' (those outside the circles of faith) need the love of Christ and the keys to his kingdom.
Yes, we should spend time with 'sinners' first, because Jesus did and second, because God has given us what this troubled world needs most: the good news of God's forgiveness in Christ. Pray for God to put a Matthew in your life. And when He does, be Jesus for a moment and watch the holy sparks fly!
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