Embrace The Cross
The public ministry of Christ began when He was thirty years old. His first recorded miracle was performed at a wedding. For many, this marks the beginning of His public ministry. His ministry was one of healing for those who were broken and downtrodden. Wherever He went He attracted crowds. Unfortunately, most of the people were interested in His miracles and not in a personnel relationship with the miracle worker.
When the excitement of the healing passed and Christ talked of the ultimate cost of following Him, the crowds quickly thinned. This falling away is graphically illustrated with the attitude change that took place between the trip into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the mob’s cry for crucifixion a few short days latter. How quickly they passed from cheering to jeering the Savior.
From the beginning He was a thorn in the side of the established religious leaders. Partly because they felt threatened by His teaching and partly because He did not resemble the Messiah they expected. They followed his ministry closely, not for the purpose of learning, but for the purpose of attacking him. In the end they felt they had won the struggle because Christ’s ministry ended in what appeared to be complete failure. His ministry of love and healing was rewarded with a painful trip to the cross.
Little has changed through the centuries. During this Easter season, people who wear the name Christian will gather all around the world to celebrate the resurrection of the Christ. They will recognize that something is missing in their life. They will desperately long for the peace, joy and abundant life that Christ has promised in the Gospels. However, when they are confronted with the high cost of discipleship, when they realize that they can not experience the fullness of the joy, peace and abundance that Christ wishes them to have without embracing the Cross and dying to self, they walk away and say, “This is too hard.”
Someone has explained it this way; “Our problem is not that we want too much. Our problem is that we settle for too little.” We settle for what man can do. We settle for what the world offers. We settle for less than what God promises because we are not willing to embrace the cross. C.S. Lewis explains it this way in “The Weight of Glory”. “Indeed, if we consider the staggering nature of the rewards promised us in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink, sex, and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We are like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
This Easter do not settle for less that God would have you to have. Trust in Him; embrace the Cross; and believe that He will give you all that He has said.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Refections for March 11, 2010
"Opening A Rosebud"
Years ago I heard a story that reminded me of my own life. It was about a young seminarian walking in the seminary garden with one of his professors. The young man was expressing his doubts and frustrations about his future. He expressed his uncertainty about what God’s plan was for him. The two men approached a beautiful rose bush. The professor removed one of the rosebuds and handed it to the young student. He asked him to unfold the rosebud without damaging any of the petals. The student soon found his efforts to be in vain. The harder he tried the bigger mess he made. The rose petals began to come apart and to fall to the ground.
Seeing the young man’s frustration, the older man reminded the younger that only God could open the rosebud and display the beautiful peddles unharmed. He told him his life was like the rosebud. He reminded him to stop trying so hard and to trust in the Master to show him the way. The Master would straighten the curves and make the rough spots smooth. His only requirement was to trust the Master and to be receptive to His leadership.
As I listened to the story, I could not help but think of the different stages of my life. There have been times when I desperately wanted to know God’s will. The problem was I wanted to know it immediately. It was not that I wanted to be disobedient. To the contrary, I wanted to do great things for God. Each time I took things into my own hands, I fell on my face, frustrated and confused.
Out of the frustration came the realization that Jesus’ words, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” were true. If we are to be like the rose and to develop to our full potential, we must learn the secret of surrendering to the Master. He will unfold our lives and make us into what He wants us to be.
If you are like me, you do not like the idea of surrender. However, it is not until we accept the fact that apart from Him we can do nothing that we can realize that through Him we can do all things. When we finally surrender, the Master begins to bring things together and we begin to catch glimpses of the future and what He has in store for us. With each move He makes, we learn that He will always provide everything we need to do the thing or things He wants us to do.
Maybe you are frustrated in your search for God’s will for your life. Let me encourage you to give up and surrender to Him. Allow Him to peel back your petals and make you into the beautiful and useful person He wishes you to be.
Years ago I heard a story that reminded me of my own life. It was about a young seminarian walking in the seminary garden with one of his professors. The young man was expressing his doubts and frustrations about his future. He expressed his uncertainty about what God’s plan was for him. The two men approached a beautiful rose bush. The professor removed one of the rosebuds and handed it to the young student. He asked him to unfold the rosebud without damaging any of the petals. The student soon found his efforts to be in vain. The harder he tried the bigger mess he made. The rose petals began to come apart and to fall to the ground.
Seeing the young man’s frustration, the older man reminded the younger that only God could open the rosebud and display the beautiful peddles unharmed. He told him his life was like the rosebud. He reminded him to stop trying so hard and to trust in the Master to show him the way. The Master would straighten the curves and make the rough spots smooth. His only requirement was to trust the Master and to be receptive to His leadership.
As I listened to the story, I could not help but think of the different stages of my life. There have been times when I desperately wanted to know God’s will. The problem was I wanted to know it immediately. It was not that I wanted to be disobedient. To the contrary, I wanted to do great things for God. Each time I took things into my own hands, I fell on my face, frustrated and confused.
Out of the frustration came the realization that Jesus’ words, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” were true. If we are to be like the rose and to develop to our full potential, we must learn the secret of surrendering to the Master. He will unfold our lives and make us into what He wants us to be.
If you are like me, you do not like the idea of surrender. However, it is not until we accept the fact that apart from Him we can do nothing that we can realize that through Him we can do all things. When we finally surrender, the Master begins to bring things together and we begin to catch glimpses of the future and what He has in store for us. With each move He makes, we learn that He will always provide everything we need to do the thing or things He wants us to do.
Maybe you are frustrated in your search for God’s will for your life. Let me encourage you to give up and surrender to Him. Allow Him to peel back your petals and make you into the beautiful and useful person He wishes you to be.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Reflections for March 4, 2010
"Learning The Word"
I purchased a new cell phone last week. It is considerably different from the one I had used the past two years. Because I am technologically challenged, the transition to the new phone has been traumatic. I have missed several calls because I was struggling to get the thing free from the clip on my belt. To make matters worse, it is a touch screen phone. Since I have fat fingers, it usually doesn’t stop where I want it to stop or I touch more than one symbol. The manual that came with it would be helpful, if I understood it. It would also help if the writing was large enough to read without a magnifying glass. With the problems I have all ready had, I tremble at the thought of what is going to happen when I attempt to send an email or go on line using it.
Despite the frustration it has caused me, I will continue to use it. In time I will become more familiar with it and it will become a great asset in my ministry. I see similarities between my struggle with my new phone and a new Christian’s struggle with the Bible.
We, who have been Christians for years, expect too much from the person who has recently become a Christian. This is especially true if we were raised in the church and had the benefits of childhood Christian education. We remember well the Bible stories we were taught in Sunday school or in our homes. We may have participated in Bible drills, where we memorized the books of the Bible and the key passages in them. When we finally came to the point of asking Christ to come into our hearts and to be our Savior and Lord, we were all ready on our way to feeling comfortable with the Bible.
This scenario is not true for many who come to the Lord today. Often, people come out of backgrounds where there was no reference to the Scriptures. Someone had shared the simple message of the Gospel with them; God had moved in their hearts; and they had asked Him to enter into their lives. At that point, they may not have known the difference between the Old and New Testament. Names like Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, etc. meant nothing special to them. To simply hand someone like this a Bible and to say read it every day is not enough. It is a daunting
What this person needs is for someone to come along side and to help them learn to navigate the pages of the Scripture. He/she needs someone who will take nothing for granted, who will patiently assist the new believer become versed in Scripture. With assistance, the new believer will become more comfortable going it alone. When discouragement comes, we need to be there to encourage and assure the new believer of the importance of the Scripture in the life of a believer. Most important, we need to model the truths of the Scripture in our own lives.
While having someone to assist a new believer in becoming comfortable with Scripture is important, it is not always possible. However, the believer has a personal tutor. When we accept Christ, His Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts. His Spirit becomes our tutor. If we are faithful to continue in the Word, in due time it will come alive for us and we will see its importance in our lives. We will understand the truth of II Timothy 3:16, 17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
I purchased a new cell phone last week. It is considerably different from the one I had used the past two years. Because I am technologically challenged, the transition to the new phone has been traumatic. I have missed several calls because I was struggling to get the thing free from the clip on my belt. To make matters worse, it is a touch screen phone. Since I have fat fingers, it usually doesn’t stop where I want it to stop or I touch more than one symbol. The manual that came with it would be helpful, if I understood it. It would also help if the writing was large enough to read without a magnifying glass. With the problems I have all ready had, I tremble at the thought of what is going to happen when I attempt to send an email or go on line using it.
Despite the frustration it has caused me, I will continue to use it. In time I will become more familiar with it and it will become a great asset in my ministry. I see similarities between my struggle with my new phone and a new Christian’s struggle with the Bible.
We, who have been Christians for years, expect too much from the person who has recently become a Christian. This is especially true if we were raised in the church and had the benefits of childhood Christian education. We remember well the Bible stories we were taught in Sunday school or in our homes. We may have participated in Bible drills, where we memorized the books of the Bible and the key passages in them. When we finally came to the point of asking Christ to come into our hearts and to be our Savior and Lord, we were all ready on our way to feeling comfortable with the Bible.
This scenario is not true for many who come to the Lord today. Often, people come out of backgrounds where there was no reference to the Scriptures. Someone had shared the simple message of the Gospel with them; God had moved in their hearts; and they had asked Him to enter into their lives. At that point, they may not have known the difference between the Old and New Testament. Names like Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, etc. meant nothing special to them. To simply hand someone like this a Bible and to say read it every day is not enough. It is a daunting
What this person needs is for someone to come along side and to help them learn to navigate the pages of the Scripture. He/she needs someone who will take nothing for granted, who will patiently assist the new believer become versed in Scripture. With assistance, the new believer will become more comfortable going it alone. When discouragement comes, we need to be there to encourage and assure the new believer of the importance of the Scripture in the life of a believer. Most important, we need to model the truths of the Scripture in our own lives.
While having someone to assist a new believer in becoming comfortable with Scripture is important, it is not always possible. However, the believer has a personal tutor. When we accept Christ, His Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts. His Spirit becomes our tutor. If we are faithful to continue in the Word, in due time it will come alive for us and we will see its importance in our lives. We will understand the truth of II Timothy 3:16, 17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Reflection for February 24, 2010
"The Folly of Pigheadedness"
My father-in-law once had a hog that was known to travel down the road on occasion to the nearest neighbor and wreak havoc on the neighbor’s yard. If you have ever seen what a hog can do to a yard, you can understand why the neighbor had threatened to kill the hog, if he got into his yard again. My father-in-law attempted to keep the hog within the confines of an electric fence for his own safety, but the hog did not understand the safety issue. All he understood was the fence represented a boundary he did not want to honor. When the boundaries became more than he could tolerate, he would stand back from the fence, start pawing the ground, lower his head, start squealing, and finally start running as fast as he could toward the fence. He started squealing early, because he knew the fence would be painful, but he was willing to endure the pain to reach the space beyond it. This old hog reminds me of some Christians I know. In fact, it reminds me of myself in my younger days.
Our Heavenly Father has given us His word to establish boundaries for us to remain within. He has done it for our own protection. He is well aware of the dangers that can be found outside the safety of His word. He has warned His children throughout His word that He would not turn his head away when they choose to disregard His word. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly reminded His children of the consequences of not remaining within the confines of His law. His children refused to heed his warnings and time and time again they were left at the mercy of their enemies. Only when they repented and once again sought safety behind the boundaries God had created did they find deliverance.
Likewise, God warns his children in the New Testament of the dangers found outside of the boundaries He has established. He directed Paul to write, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7, 8).
Looking to excuse their behavior, some would argue that this Scripture is nullified by our confession and repentance of whatever sin we have committed. While it is true that no sin is so great that God will not forgive a truly repentant sinner. Forgiveness does not negate the reaping of the consequences of living outside God’s boundaries. For example, if someone chooses to live their life abusing their bodies with drugs and alcohol, they can come to their senses and receive the forgiveness of a loving and caring God. His forgiveness does not remove the fact that the individual will have to live with the consequences their wrong choices had on their bodies.
The truth is when we choose to live outside the boundaries of God’s word we are left without excuse. If we behave like my father-in-law’s old hog, we may well pay a high price for forging ahead and ignoring God’s clear boundaries. Whatever momentary pleasure we may receive outside of God’s boundaries is not worth the cost. When we remain within God’s boundaries and ignore the temptations the enemy places before us, we will discover the greatest pleasure in life comes from remaining within the confines God has established for us. It is there we find the joy, peace and abundant life Jesus promised those who remain faithful.
My father-in-law once had a hog that was known to travel down the road on occasion to the nearest neighbor and wreak havoc on the neighbor’s yard. If you have ever seen what a hog can do to a yard, you can understand why the neighbor had threatened to kill the hog, if he got into his yard again. My father-in-law attempted to keep the hog within the confines of an electric fence for his own safety, but the hog did not understand the safety issue. All he understood was the fence represented a boundary he did not want to honor. When the boundaries became more than he could tolerate, he would stand back from the fence, start pawing the ground, lower his head, start squealing, and finally start running as fast as he could toward the fence. He started squealing early, because he knew the fence would be painful, but he was willing to endure the pain to reach the space beyond it. This old hog reminds me of some Christians I know. In fact, it reminds me of myself in my younger days.
Our Heavenly Father has given us His word to establish boundaries for us to remain within. He has done it for our own protection. He is well aware of the dangers that can be found outside the safety of His word. He has warned His children throughout His word that He would not turn his head away when they choose to disregard His word. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly reminded His children of the consequences of not remaining within the confines of His law. His children refused to heed his warnings and time and time again they were left at the mercy of their enemies. Only when they repented and once again sought safety behind the boundaries God had created did they find deliverance.
Likewise, God warns his children in the New Testament of the dangers found outside of the boundaries He has established. He directed Paul to write, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7, 8).
Looking to excuse their behavior, some would argue that this Scripture is nullified by our confession and repentance of whatever sin we have committed. While it is true that no sin is so great that God will not forgive a truly repentant sinner. Forgiveness does not negate the reaping of the consequences of living outside God’s boundaries. For example, if someone chooses to live their life abusing their bodies with drugs and alcohol, they can come to their senses and receive the forgiveness of a loving and caring God. His forgiveness does not remove the fact that the individual will have to live with the consequences their wrong choices had on their bodies.
The truth is when we choose to live outside the boundaries of God’s word we are left without excuse. If we behave like my father-in-law’s old hog, we may well pay a high price for forging ahead and ignoring God’s clear boundaries. Whatever momentary pleasure we may receive outside of God’s boundaries is not worth the cost. When we remain within God’s boundaries and ignore the temptations the enemy places before us, we will discover the greatest pleasure in life comes from remaining within the confines God has established for us. It is there we find the joy, peace and abundant life Jesus promised those who remain faithful.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Reflections for February 17, 2010
The Apostle Paul sometimes used illustrations from the arena of athletics to make his point. One of his best known athletic illustrations is found in I Corinthians 9:24-27. There he wrote, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”(NASB)
In this illustration there are at three traits found in great athletes that can be transposed to the Christian life. First, a great athlete must have dedication. There has always been the argument over whether an athlete is born or made. There is some truth to both thoughts. Certainly, there needs to be some natural God-given talents for an athlete to excel. However, if the work ethic is not there, the athlete will never reach his/her full potential. Over the years there have been many athletes who were so naturally blessed that they could stand head and shoulders above most of their competition. However, their full potential may have never been realized because they were unwilling to give the dedication needed to fully develop all of their God-given talents. If you do the research, you will discover that the truly great ones spent long hours developing their tools.
Second, a great athlete must have determination. There is an old saying in football that says, “It is not how hard you get knocked down that counts; it is how fast you get up.” Every athlete knows that there are going to be days when things do not go well. There are going to be times when you are knocked down. The good ones absorb the blow and get up with a new determination to not let it happen again. Their focus is on the prize at the end. It is nice when the prize is a championship trophy. However, it is also gratifying to be able to look back and know that you have stayed the course and have been the best you can be.
Third, the great athlete understands discipline. The discipline of the body may be included in the dedication and determination of the athlete. However, there is another form of discipline. It is the discipline to play within the rules when they take the field, court or track. If they choose to ignore the rules and play by their own standards, they forfeit the opportunity to win the prize and receive the joys that come from victory.
It is not hard to see the need for these three qualities in the life of a Christian. This need is evidence by the numbers of Christians who are living defeated, unfulfilled lives. They have expected all the benefits without any of the toil. Christians of our day need to look at the saints of old and learn from how they weathered adversity. It has never been easy to be a Christian. The world has always been hostile to the message of Christ. The secret to overcoming is not found in some simple formula but it is found in personal dedication, determination and discipline. Just as these three qualities are the defining factor between the average athletes and the great ones, they are the defining factors in the life of the Christian living the victorious life and the Christian who is simply getting by.
One final comment, Paul stresses that the athlete does it to receive a perishable wreath or in our day, a trophy or some other kind of recognition, but the Christian does it to receive an imperishable reward. For the Christian a “well done My good and faithful servant” will suffice when we stand before our eternal coach.
In this illustration there are at three traits found in great athletes that can be transposed to the Christian life. First, a great athlete must have dedication. There has always been the argument over whether an athlete is born or made. There is some truth to both thoughts. Certainly, there needs to be some natural God-given talents for an athlete to excel. However, if the work ethic is not there, the athlete will never reach his/her full potential. Over the years there have been many athletes who were so naturally blessed that they could stand head and shoulders above most of their competition. However, their full potential may have never been realized because they were unwilling to give the dedication needed to fully develop all of their God-given talents. If you do the research, you will discover that the truly great ones spent long hours developing their tools.
Second, a great athlete must have determination. There is an old saying in football that says, “It is not how hard you get knocked down that counts; it is how fast you get up.” Every athlete knows that there are going to be days when things do not go well. There are going to be times when you are knocked down. The good ones absorb the blow and get up with a new determination to not let it happen again. Their focus is on the prize at the end. It is nice when the prize is a championship trophy. However, it is also gratifying to be able to look back and know that you have stayed the course and have been the best you can be.
Third, the great athlete understands discipline. The discipline of the body may be included in the dedication and determination of the athlete. However, there is another form of discipline. It is the discipline to play within the rules when they take the field, court or track. If they choose to ignore the rules and play by their own standards, they forfeit the opportunity to win the prize and receive the joys that come from victory.
It is not hard to see the need for these three qualities in the life of a Christian. This need is evidence by the numbers of Christians who are living defeated, unfulfilled lives. They have expected all the benefits without any of the toil. Christians of our day need to look at the saints of old and learn from how they weathered adversity. It has never been easy to be a Christian. The world has always been hostile to the message of Christ. The secret to overcoming is not found in some simple formula but it is found in personal dedication, determination and discipline. Just as these three qualities are the defining factor between the average athletes and the great ones, they are the defining factors in the life of the Christian living the victorious life and the Christian who is simply getting by.
One final comment, Paul stresses that the athlete does it to receive a perishable wreath or in our day, a trophy or some other kind of recognition, but the Christian does it to receive an imperishable reward. For the Christian a “well done My good and faithful servant” will suffice when we stand before our eternal coach.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Reflection for February 11, 2010
Good News
A few years back, my wife and I celebrated her birthday at a well known restraint. When we entered the restaurant I noticed a small plague on the checkout counter that notified us that this was a 100 percent smoke free restaurant. No sooner than I read the informative plague the hostess asked us whether we wanted smoking or non-smoking. We told her that we preferred non-smoking.
As we were being seated, I could not help but wonder why that question was necessary in a 100 per cent smoke free restaurant. When our server came, my curiosity was getting the best of me. I asked the server why we needed to be asked whether we preferred smoking or non-smoking if it was a 100 per cent smoke free facility. The server’s explained, “If you are 80 per cent smoke free, you met the requirements.”
I am not sure if this explanation was accurate, but my first inclination is to believe that it was...It is typical of the manner in which we interpret rules and laws today. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, we are often sticklers about the laws that do not interfere with our lives but we are constantly looking for ways to circumvent the ones that are not suitable to our purposes.
Just in case you are thinking that this does not apply to you. Think about this. When was the last time you thought it was all right to exceed the speed limit as long as you did not exceed it more that five miles per hour? I sense that there are still some toes that have not been stepped upon. Let me try one more time. When is the last time that you went to a buffet and while you were there, you attempted to split a dinner or even a salad with someone with you? In your eyes, it may be a frugal decision. In God’s eyes, it is taking something that you have not paid for. Some would call that stealing. The point is that most of us operate on the assumption that laws and rules are good until they interfere with something we want.
While we often seem to get away with such tactics in the world, we need to be reminded that in God’s law there is not room for maneuvering. What God says; God means! To make matters worse, God says that if we have broken one of His laws we have broken all of them. This is why Paul refers to God’s Law as a tutor. It is there to show us how incapable we are of keeping the Law perfectly.
The theological term for the breaking of one of God’s laws is sin. In his Letter to the Romans Paul wrote: “we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory.” The bad news does not end there. He goes on to notify us that “the wages of sin is death.” The death to which he refers is much more that the ending of these physical lives that we cling to so doggedly. It means a spiritual death that eternally separates us from the God that we were originally created to have fellowship with.
Since I believed the appraisal of man found above, it was not difficult for me to see that I had a great need that I could not meet on my own. My breaking of God’s law had separated me from Him and all my efforts were not enough to restore the fellowship that has been broken. If I had not believed the rest of the story, I would have been extremely depressed over my hopeless condition.
I am grateful that Paul followed his bad news with good news. He wrote, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ our Lord.”(Romans 6:23) The rest of the story is that God loved me enough to provide a means by which I could be restored to the fellowship that had been lost. He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on a Cross for my sins. When I received Him into my life and decided to follow Him, the forgiveness that He died to provide became mine
The “Good News” in all of this is that the miracle of redemption is for anyone who is willing to open his/her heart to receive it. My prayer is that you will take that step, if you have not done so. You will not regret it.
A few years back, my wife and I celebrated her birthday at a well known restraint. When we entered the restaurant I noticed a small plague on the checkout counter that notified us that this was a 100 percent smoke free restaurant. No sooner than I read the informative plague the hostess asked us whether we wanted smoking or non-smoking. We told her that we preferred non-smoking.
As we were being seated, I could not help but wonder why that question was necessary in a 100 per cent smoke free restaurant. When our server came, my curiosity was getting the best of me. I asked the server why we needed to be asked whether we preferred smoking or non-smoking if it was a 100 per cent smoke free facility. The server’s explained, “If you are 80 per cent smoke free, you met the requirements.”
I am not sure if this explanation was accurate, but my first inclination is to believe that it was...It is typical of the manner in which we interpret rules and laws today. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, we are often sticklers about the laws that do not interfere with our lives but we are constantly looking for ways to circumvent the ones that are not suitable to our purposes.
Just in case you are thinking that this does not apply to you. Think about this. When was the last time you thought it was all right to exceed the speed limit as long as you did not exceed it more that five miles per hour? I sense that there are still some toes that have not been stepped upon. Let me try one more time. When is the last time that you went to a buffet and while you were there, you attempted to split a dinner or even a salad with someone with you? In your eyes, it may be a frugal decision. In God’s eyes, it is taking something that you have not paid for. Some would call that stealing. The point is that most of us operate on the assumption that laws and rules are good until they interfere with something we want.
While we often seem to get away with such tactics in the world, we need to be reminded that in God’s law there is not room for maneuvering. What God says; God means! To make matters worse, God says that if we have broken one of His laws we have broken all of them. This is why Paul refers to God’s Law as a tutor. It is there to show us how incapable we are of keeping the Law perfectly.
The theological term for the breaking of one of God’s laws is sin. In his Letter to the Romans Paul wrote: “we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory.” The bad news does not end there. He goes on to notify us that “the wages of sin is death.” The death to which he refers is much more that the ending of these physical lives that we cling to so doggedly. It means a spiritual death that eternally separates us from the God that we were originally created to have fellowship with.
Since I believed the appraisal of man found above, it was not difficult for me to see that I had a great need that I could not meet on my own. My breaking of God’s law had separated me from Him and all my efforts were not enough to restore the fellowship that has been broken. If I had not believed the rest of the story, I would have been extremely depressed over my hopeless condition.
I am grateful that Paul followed his bad news with good news. He wrote, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ our Lord.”(Romans 6:23) The rest of the story is that God loved me enough to provide a means by which I could be restored to the fellowship that had been lost. He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on a Cross for my sins. When I received Him into my life and decided to follow Him, the forgiveness that He died to provide became mine
The “Good News” in all of this is that the miracle of redemption is for anyone who is willing to open his/her heart to receive it. My prayer is that you will take that step, if you have not done so. You will not regret it.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Reflection for February 3, 2010
"Bring Back Blushing"
When I was in the eighth grade, a friend and I decided to go to a movie. This was not just any movie. This was a movie that everyone was talking about. It was a movie supposedly made for adults. If my memory serves me correctly, it was titled, “Baby Doll”, and the star was an actress named Carol Baker. Wouldn’t you know? I do not have clue who the male lead actor was. As we purchased our tickets we held our heads down in fear that someone that knew us might see us. It got worse when we entered the theater. It was full. As we sheepishly searched for a seat we could tell that we were the youngest ones in the theater. We finally sat down or maybe slid down into our seats.
Once the movie started I am sure that no one cared about us, but at the time we felt as if every set of eyes in the place was focused on us. After about twenty minutes, we could stand it no longer and we got up and left. We did not walk out because of some noble religious conviction but we walked out because we were embarrassed.
The point of this tale from the past is that the material in the movie, “Baby Doll”, would seem tame compared to the normal flow of material that pours into our living rooms every night by way of television. Young adolescents sit and watch far more graphic situations everyday on “MTV”. Every imaginable topic is discussed in detail on the many talk shows. These are not late night talk shows. They air every afternoon. Nothing seems to be taboo anymore. Behavior that would have been classified as deviant a few years ago is now often presented as being acceptable. The illustrations are too many to print but hopefully the point has been made that it takes a lot more to embarrass us today than it did in the past.
Many today would argue that the changes reflected in the two paragraphs above are good. We are now a more open society. We no longer must live under the horrible moral codes of the past. We now have a freedom to express ourselves. Those who are considered most admirable are those who continue to “push the envelope”. After all, these are the ones who help us to expand our consciousness and our ability to experience all types of new things.
The proponents of this philosophy refuse to admit the correlation between these changes in moral expectations with the epidemic of social problems that our nation faces. A general breakdown in respect for authority, the breakdown of the family, out of wedlock pregnancies, and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases are a few of the consequences of our new and expanding moral freedom.
The prophet Jeremiah addressed a similar situation in the ancient nation of Judah. He wrote, “Were they ashamed of the abomination they had done? They certainly were not ashamed, and they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time of their punishment they shall be brought down, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 8:12 NASB) My prayer for our nation is that it will learn how to blush once again. If it does not our direction will not change and at some point, contrary to what many teach today, God’s judgment will be unavoidable.
When I was in the eighth grade, a friend and I decided to go to a movie. This was not just any movie. This was a movie that everyone was talking about. It was a movie supposedly made for adults. If my memory serves me correctly, it was titled, “Baby Doll”, and the star was an actress named Carol Baker. Wouldn’t you know? I do not have clue who the male lead actor was. As we purchased our tickets we held our heads down in fear that someone that knew us might see us. It got worse when we entered the theater. It was full. As we sheepishly searched for a seat we could tell that we were the youngest ones in the theater. We finally sat down or maybe slid down into our seats.
Once the movie started I am sure that no one cared about us, but at the time we felt as if every set of eyes in the place was focused on us. After about twenty minutes, we could stand it no longer and we got up and left. We did not walk out because of some noble religious conviction but we walked out because we were embarrassed.
The point of this tale from the past is that the material in the movie, “Baby Doll”, would seem tame compared to the normal flow of material that pours into our living rooms every night by way of television. Young adolescents sit and watch far more graphic situations everyday on “MTV”. Every imaginable topic is discussed in detail on the many talk shows. These are not late night talk shows. They air every afternoon. Nothing seems to be taboo anymore. Behavior that would have been classified as deviant a few years ago is now often presented as being acceptable. The illustrations are too many to print but hopefully the point has been made that it takes a lot more to embarrass us today than it did in the past.
Many today would argue that the changes reflected in the two paragraphs above are good. We are now a more open society. We no longer must live under the horrible moral codes of the past. We now have a freedom to express ourselves. Those who are considered most admirable are those who continue to “push the envelope”. After all, these are the ones who help us to expand our consciousness and our ability to experience all types of new things.
The proponents of this philosophy refuse to admit the correlation between these changes in moral expectations with the epidemic of social problems that our nation faces. A general breakdown in respect for authority, the breakdown of the family, out of wedlock pregnancies, and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases are a few of the consequences of our new and expanding moral freedom.
The prophet Jeremiah addressed a similar situation in the ancient nation of Judah. He wrote, “Were they ashamed of the abomination they had done? They certainly were not ashamed, and they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time of their punishment they shall be brought down, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 8:12 NASB) My prayer for our nation is that it will learn how to blush once again. If it does not our direction will not change and at some point, contrary to what many teach today, God’s judgment will be unavoidable.
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