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today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 5th, 2011 10:27 AM   IP              What Has He Done For You Lately? “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Psalm 34:1 My friend Frank Tanana, who pitched the Detroit Tigers into the American League Championship Series, has an interesting take on baseball fans. He pitched a stellar game against the Toronto Blue Jays to win the final game in the division playoff. His picture was front page and he was, hands down, the town hero in Detroit. But when his turn in the rotation put him on the mound in the ALCS, his performance was not so stellar, and the Tigers lost their chance to go to the World Series. I asked Frank how he handled being town hero one day and “tarred and feathered” a few days later. I’ll never forget his quick reply. He said, “I learned a long time ago that with baseball fans it’s ‘what have you done for me lately’ that counts!” I’ve often thought about Frank’s answer when it comes to how we feel about God. Going to a small group meeting where everyone else is telling about how God has supplied for their needs and miraculously answered prayer can make a lot of us pretty grumpy about God because it seems like He doesn’t do much for us. We still have long-awaited, unanswered prayers on our lists and unfulfilled expectations that seemingly have gone unnoticed while He has been busy blessing others. But be careful. This kind of spiritual grumpiness will make you ungrateful, unworshipful, and ready for a major fall into the spiritual dumpster. So, for all of us who tend to be out on God for His seeming lack of living up to our expectations, let me help you out of your grumpiness with a list of how wonderfully good He is to you every day. •If He never does anything else but save your soul from hell and guarantee you an eternal home with Him in heaven, He has already done far more than you or I deserve and enough to keep us grateful to Him for the rest of our lives. But thankfully there’s more . . . •If it is true that He never leaves you nor forsakes you, then you have a lot to be thankful for (Hebrews 13:5). •If you can be sure that His mercies are new to you every morning, then you can make it through the day as weak and frail as you are (Lamentations 3:22-24). •If He guards our lives so that nothing comes in that is not ultimately for His glory and our good, then we are among the truly blessed ones (Romans 8:28). •If, when you put your head on your pillow at the end of the day, you think He didn’t show up for you, think about all the things you don’t know that He kept from you which may have “done you in” had He permitted them (1 Corinthians 10:13). •If He gave you His Word to guide, comfort, inspire, convict and assure you of His unfailing love and mercy, then you have enough to cancel your grumpiness and make you grateful (Psalm 119:97-103). •And, since He is far more than we ever bargained for or deserved, we have the high privilege of demonstrating to our world that our God is worthy to be trusted, worshiped, adored and praised—regardless (Job 13:15)! •So the next time you start wondering what He has done for you lately, check the list. There’s a lot to be thankful for! Which leaves only one more question: Is He wondering what you have done for Him lately? YOUR JOURNEY… •How does it make you feel when others talk about the great things God has done for them? Do you feel left out, or do you respond with a heart that is happy for them and grateful for what He has done for you? •Take some time to look up the Scripture references listed above. It may just help you build a biblical perspective of gratitude for all the things God does for you on a continual basis! •If you were to answer the question, “What have you done for God lately?” how would you respond? Think of something you can do for Him today as an expression of your love and gratitude for all He has done for you! God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 6th, 2011 08:32 AM   IP              Happy Holidays “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 At the risk of sounding a little cynical, I have to tell you that I sometimes wonder if some of our holidays have been created by those who can make a financial killing off of them. Did someone really want to celebrate their mom, or was it a conspiracy between FTD and Hallmark Cards that launched Mother’s Day? And who was it in marketing that thought up Father’s Day, Boss’ Day, and Secretary’s Day? Brilliant!! So, given my bent toward thinking like the Grinch who stole Christmas, you can imagine my enthusiasm when hearing on the radio that it was “National Buy Yourself a Toy Day”! Let me say that again, for real, National Buy Yourself a Toy Day—as though we needed encouragement to get the next best thing that our neighbors have! I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if we were talking about another GameBoy video adventure. But as they say, the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys! So I’m wondering what your next toy might be now that we have a day set aside that gives us permission to indulge ourselves. Could it be that fast new car, that longed-for riding mower, a bigger boat, or the biggest TV screen in the neighborhood? I’m sure you get the picture! But when NBYAT day is over, what then? As a Citibank ad recently reminded us, “Why is it that our I need that soon becomes ‘what on earth was I thinking?’” I guess we’ve forgotten that “He who dies with the most toys is still dead!” So, given our bent to fan our already out-of-check consumerism by masking our greed with a national holiday, let me join the party and mark some special days on the calendar that might make a huge haul for the kingdom. How about: •National Love Your Neighbor Day •National Forgive Your Enemy Day •Do Something About Poverty Day •National Encourage Your Pastor Day •National Commit One Act of Selfless Love Day •National Stick Up for Jesus Day •The Father’s Day •National Widows Day •National Feed the Hungry Day •Love the Lost Day •Make a Sinner Your Friend Day •Hug Someone Who’s Not Like You Day •Sing a Contemporary Worship Song in the Shower Day (for everyone over 65) •Sing a Great Hymn of the Faith in the Shower Day (for everyone under 40) If we sat around a table to strategize advancing the cause of Christ by setting aside special days to live like He leads us to live, we might just accumulate great riches for the work of His kingdom in our world! So, how about it?! Make your own list or take one of my nifty ideas (or were they God’s ideas?) and mark your calendar to make a difference for Jesus today! YOUR JOURNEY… •Which of the “kingdom holidays” listed above would be the easiest for you to celebrate? Why? •Which of the “kingdom holidays” would be the most challenging for you? Why? •What can you do today to actively seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33)? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 7th, 2011 08:00 AM   IP              Lessons From Jonah I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. —Jonah 2:2 The story of Jonah is one of the most discussed and fascinating accounts in the Bible. But for all the debate, one thing is sure: Jonah did a lot of soul-searching in that smelly underwater hotel. All of us can identify. Sometimes life just goes badly. When it does, like Jonah we need to ask ourselves some hard questions. Is there sin in my life? In light of Jonah’s blatant disobedience, God had to do something drastic to catch his attention and lead him to repentance. What can I learn from this situation? The wicked people of Nineveh were enemies of God’s people. Jonah thought they should be judged and not given a second chance. He obviously needed a lesson in sharing God’s compassion for the lost. “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster” (Jonah 3:10). Can I display God’s glory in this? Often our suffering is not about us but about people seeing the power of God working through our weakness. Jonah found himself in a helpless situation, yet God used him to lead a pagan nation to repentance. Next time you find yourself in a “belly-of-a-whale” problem, don’t forget to ask the hard questions. It could mean the difference between despair and deliverance. For Further Study For an in-depth study of the fascinating account of Jonah, read The Failure Of Success: The Story Of Jonah We learn lessons in the school of suffering that we can learn in no other way. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 8th, 2011 09:06 AM   IP              The Tipping Point Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. —Romans 12:1 In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell observes that struggling businesses are often turned around by one key decision. Many once-foundering companies are now thriving and successful because of a choice that became the tipping point. Although targeted to those in business management, the principle also applies to those who are committed to advancing the cause of Christ. Sometimes we find ourselves up against a wall, struggling with a decision or situation that threatens to cripple our capacity for effective service to our King. It’s at those critical junctures that we can make a “tipping point” decision to turn things around. The decision? Surrender your will and heart to God. James 4:7 says, “Submit to God,” and Romans 12:1 tells us, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.” Be willing to sacrifice your agenda for His greater purposes. What if Noah had told God, “I don’t do boats!” What if Joseph had not forgiven his brothers and failed to protect them from the life-threatening famine? Or what if Jesus had refused to die on the cross? Surrender is the tipping point. When we make that choice, God can use us to do great things for Him. Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine; Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine. Take all my will, my passion, self and pride; I now surrender, Lord—in me abide. —Orr Surrender becomes victory when we yield to God. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 9th, 2011 08:43 AM   IP              The Pharisee in All of Us Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47 I’ll never forget hearing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in concert. The sincerity and depth of feeling the singers brought to the music showed that it was more than a mere performance. When they sang “I’m Not Afraid Anymore,” you could tell that many of the singers identified with the experience of living in constant fear before they met Jesus—fear of violence, fear of not having enough money, fear of what might happen to their children, fear of not being able to get the drugs needed to feed their addictions, fear of every tomorrow. As the soloist, Calvin Hunt, sang, the spotlights showed tears flowing down his cheeks. No wonder—Calvin spent years as a crack cocaine addict on the streets of Brooklyn before being transformed by the life-saving power of the gospel. That’s why he could sing with such passion; each word of the song flowed from the heart of one who had been forgiven much. It reminds me of the woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ feet. The drama unfolds for us in Luke 7:36-50, when she crashed the dinner party at Simon the Pharisee’s home. She knew that Jesus was there. This was her chance to express adoring worship to her Savior. He was worth the risk for her, the town prostitute, to show up uninvited, worth the embarrassment to step from the crowd and approach Him, worth the price of the valuable perfume and the kisses and tears that she poured out at His feet. But as moving a moment as that was, Simon the Pharisee was not impressed. He was indignant about the “waste” of perfume (Mark 14:4-5) and thought, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner” (Luke 7:39). I suppose we shouldn’t expect the proud Simon, in bondage to his unbending tradition, to understand this kind of extravagant, self-effacing worship. But before we come down too hard on him, let’s consider the fact that there might just be a Pharisee in all of us. Unfortunately, it seems that over time we grow accustomed to what we have been rescued from and what we really deserve. Without a continuing awareness of why grace is so necessary for us, we are lulled into forming an exaggerated perspective of our own worth before God. It’s no wonder, then, that our worship is often lacking the kind of passion that Calvin Hunt and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir display in their love for the Savior. Jesus, knowing what Simon was thinking, rebuked him for his graceless, self-righteous attitude and for the pride that put his interests above the needs of others. In fact, Simon thought so well of himself that he felt it was too risky to honor Jesus as the guest of honor at his dinner. Yet Jesus commended this town prostitute for her extravagant worship. He told Simon, “I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:44-47). Let’s take the lesson personally. True ongoing love for Jesus flows from a heart that is gripped by the awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we grasp both the depth of our sin and the depth of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, then we’ll be looking for ways to join this woman at his feet to extravagantly express our love and gratitude to Him! YOUR JOURNEY… Carefully review the following questions to see if there might be a little bit of Pharisee lurking in your heart. Then begin to celebrate the fact that you have been forgiven much, and look for extravagant ways to show your love for Jesus today! •Would the “worst of sinners” feel loved by you, or would they sense that you are more likely to condemn and ostracize them? •Has your goodness become a habit, or does it thrive as a response of love and gratitude for all that Jesus has done for you? •Do you ever feel a twinge of jealousy when others are more “noticed” than you? •Do you feel like you have been forgiven much? Why, or why not? •Are you genuinely touched when you sing the words, “He saved a wretch like me,” or does it refer to someone else? •When was the last time you worshiped Jesus with a costly expression of love? •Have you ever loved Jesus in the face of intimidating circumstances? •Are you willing to be vulnerable in your expression of love for Jesus? •Think of some specific ways that you can “color outside the lines” of your comfort and convenience when it comes to expressing your love and gratitude to Jesus. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 11th, 2011 07:40 AM   IP              Supremely Significant Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 Modern counseling and psychology focus a lot of attention on obsessive behaviors—whether it’s an obsession with food, tobacco, alcohol, pornography, drugs, or even work. But perhaps one of the most overlooked addictions is our obsession with personal significance. Think about the amount of time and energy you spend in maintaining, advancing, expanding, and protecting your sense of significance. You know, making yourself look good, staying on top of the heap, protecting your ego, and living to be more successful than the next guy. And while it seems like everyone is signed up for this rat race, we need to face up to the reality that the search for significance is a treacherous pursuit personally. Count the costs. Significance is often gained at the expense of our character as we are willing to lie and cut ethical corners to be viewed well by others. It makes us defensive when someone seeks to improve us through criticism. The pursuit embitters our hearts against God over disappointing and unchangeable personal issues like our size, shape, or color. Pursuing our own significance makes us vulnerable to a host of verbal sins, such as gossip, slander, boasting, lying, and immoral chatter. It’s why we are quick to violate basic principles of stewardship by burdening ourselves with debt in order to accumulate things that supposedly enhance our significance socially and materially. The warning label on being obsessed with your own significance is long and serious. And, I need to add, being driven to protect and advance our sense of significance renders us unable to serve others unless there is an advantage to be gained; unable to sacrifice for a cause that is not our own and unwilling to suffer for that cause if necessary; unable to surrender to any agenda that impedes the progress of our personal persona. In short, it cripples our ability to love God more than ourselves and to live to bring glory to God since, when we are compelled to glorify ourselves, we are unable to exalt His worthy significance. So let’s see what we can do about this. At the start of his letter to the Colossians, Paul notes that Jesus is the only truly significant Person: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. . . . All things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. . . . He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:15-18). Yet, as Paul wrote to the Philippians, Jesus did not live to hold on to these things but rather poured himself out for our benefit by humbling himself in obedience to His Father (Philippians 2:6-7). Don’t miss the point! Jesus—who had every right to celebrate and advance His own significance—chose to serve, surrender, suffer, and sacrifice in order to bring glory to His Father and to rescue us from the grip of hell. And if you have accepted this gift of surrender on His part, you are now a child of God. You already are significant! God is your Father. Significance is no longer a search but a secured reality. And once you are significant in Him, you are free to refocus your obsession to living to glorify His significance and not your own. So, let the attitude of Christ be in you. It’s a significant pursuit worthy of your obsession! YOUR JOURNEY… •Read Philippians 2:1-11. How can you transition from verses Philippians 2:3-4 to live with the attitude of Christ? Can you believe that, as it says in 1 Peter 5:6, when you humble yourself to Him, He will exalt you “in due time”? •Make a list of things that make you feel significant. Is there anything on that list that competes with making Jesus significant through your life? •Think through why you want to feel significant. Do you really think that elevating yourself is more worthy than living to elevate Him? •What are some warning signs that might indicate whether or not you are obsessed with your own significance? If you’re not sure, ask a trusted friend to help you evaluate this area of your life. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 12th, 2011 08:28 AM   IP              Drifting Away “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” Genesis 3:1 On a recent vacation, Tom was casually bobbing around on a raft just offshore. He closed his eyes, basking in the warm sun. Before he realized it, he had drifted too far from shore. He hopped off the raft to get back to the security of the sand, but the water was now over his head. He didn’t know how to swim. The drift of our lives away from God is just as subtle. And just as dangerous. We drift one thought at a time, one small choice at a time, and often one damaging doubt at a time. In fact, our adversary is delighted to help our rafts drift from the protection and presence of God by casting doubt on God’s goodness to us. If you sense that your life has been set adrift—that God is not as close and precious as He used to be—then you may have just been in the riptide of an old trick of the enemy of your soul. The same trick he used to sever Eve’s heart from the joy of her relationship with her Creator. Satan’s opening volley was not a blistering attack on God; it was a simply a question that he wanted Eve to think about. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1). Actually, God had said that she could eat of every tree but one. But Satan twisted the facts to suit his purposes and to lead Eve’s mind to the conclusion that God was not the generous God she had known Him to be, but rather a stingy, restrictive, joy killer. Once she had let her heart drift to the wrong conclusion, it was easy for her to believe Satan’s lie that God just wanted to keep her from being as knowledgeable as He is and that the threat of them dying was just God’s way of scaring them into compliance with His stingy ways. Satan still sets us adrift by planting doubt about God’s Word and spinning the facts to his own evil advantage. Once we begin to suspect God instead of trusting Him, we inevitably drift away from Him. So, beware! Your life is full of scenarios where Satan can put his deceitful twist on your experiences. He is the spin-doctor of hell, and as Jesus said, “When [Satan] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). With that in mind, keep a lookout for some of Satan’s favorite spins: •Lie #1: God is to blame for the evil that Satan has inflicted on our lives. •Lie #2: God has not rewarded me for being good. I’ve been used, not blessed! •Lie #3: God’s rules are restrictive and oppressive. He just wants to take the fun out of my life. •Lie #4: God is good to others but not to me. He must not love me! And there are many other lies, all custom-made for your head and heart. If you believe them, you have begun to drift away from the safe shores of God’s love and protecting provision. You’ll soon discover that you are adrift in the middle of nowhere, bobbing dangerously over your head. And count on it, as Eve was soon to learn, Satan won’t stay around to make you happy and fulfilled. He’ll be slithering off to more interesting company, leaving you in the deep waters of shame and regret. YOUR JOURNEY… •Are you drifting in a sea of doubt? Make an appointment to talk to a trusted pastor or friend and ask that person to help you find your way back to God. •Pray and ask God to reveal the lies that Satan is using in your life. Find Bible verses that contradict the lies and recite them when you are tempted to believe what is not true. •Do you suspect God, or do you trust Him? How can faith shield you from the pitfall of suspecting and doubting God? Read Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 6:16; Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 6:12; and Hebrews 11:1-40 God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 13th, 2011 07:50 AM   IP              Don't Eat That Stuff! “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 Recently, when my wife Martie and I wanted to meet our sons and their families for a quick bite to eat, we decided that, with everyone’s busy schedules, it would be easiest to meet at a nearby fast-food joint. When I called my son Joe to suggest the plan, his response was, “Well, I can meet you there, but I can’t eat that stuff. I’m training for a marathon.” Joe’s comment lodged in my brain, particularly because at the time I happened to be preparing a sermon regarding spiritual food, and his offhand remark illustrated a great spiritual principle. Let me explain. Joe had a goal in mind—the successful completion of the marathon. He knew that reaching the goal was going to require months of disciplined choices, like waking up early to run longer and longer distances. And it meant that he would need to carefully guard and consider everything that he took into his body. Each meal—in fact, each snack—became an opportunity to choose to nourish and energize his body toward a successful marathon run. Spiritually speaking, we have a goal in mind. Paul expresses it clearly in 1 Corinthians 9:27 when, using an illustration of running a race he states, “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” In Philippians 3:10-11, he clarifies that the prize at the end of the race is the goal of knowing Christ “and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” I don’t know about you, but that’s a goal I want to strive toward. I can’t imagine any other objective more rewarding than finishing well and living for intimacy with and empowerment by the indwelling Jesus. But the reality is that many of us are not very committed to the training process that gets us to the goal. A key part of the training is learning how to guard what we “eat” spiritually. Just as those training for a marathon need to guard and carefully consider all that they take in, those of us in training toward the goal of knowing Christ more fully need to guard and consider all that we take in. Paul gives us a phenomenal nutritional guide in Philippians 4:8, using words like true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy to describe the spiritual health food for followers of Jesus. Which should lead all of us to evaluate what we’ve been feeding our hearts and our minds. How well does our TV viewing fit the criteria of true, noble, or right? What about the conversations we have at work? Do they fall in the categories of pure or lovely? Is there anything admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy about the movies we watch or the music we listen to? Imagine how nutritionally strong we would be—when faced with a situation that we know would hinder our goal of finishing our race well and knowing Jesus more intimately—if we were to say, “I can’t. I’m in training.” That kind of spiritual dieting and discipline would groom our lives to run our race far more successfully. We could all stand to take a lesson from Joe—no junk food! As they say, “You are what you eat!” YOUR JOURNEY… •What does your spiritual diet consist of? •How would you rate the moral “nutrition” of your entertainment choices? •What do you consider to be your ultimate goal in life as a follower of Jesus? How do the choices you make today impact the outcome of that goal? •Read through Psalm 119:9-16 as an example of how nutritious, good, and right God’s Word is! God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 15th, 2011 07:05 AM   IP              Getting Through I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints. —Psalm 85:8 Gone are the days when a real person greets you on the other end of a phone call. It seems as though whenever we try to “reach out and touch someone,” we are greeted with a computerized voice. I’m glad this isn’t true of our Father in heaven. He is always there. No voice-mail boxes, no “press 2 for more grace” and no “call waiting” interruptions. Thankfully, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3) has not been replaced by, “All lines are now busy. Your call is important to Me. Please stay on the line.” Yet I wonder what kind of access He has to us? Communication with God is a two-way street. He speaks to us through His Word when we come attentively before Him in prayer and through the clear voice of the indwelling Spirit. He paid a great price to keep the lines open so that we can experience the joy of being still long enough to know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). As my grandmother’s favorite hymn “In the Garden” says: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known. —Miles The joy of hearing His voice is a call you don’t want to miss! Is God getting through to you? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 16th, 2011 09:04 AM   IP              Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? “Be on your guard…a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 One of my all-time favorite moments in the life of Jesus was when a man in the crowd asked Him: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13). I have always thought that if I had one chance to talk with Jesus, getting more money for me might not be the best topic to choose. But nevertheless, the guy in the crowd was ticked that he hadn’t gotten his full share; and instead of taking the opportunity to go deep with Jesus, he could only think of how deep his pockets would be if Jesus would put the hammer to his brother. As usual, Jesus took the opportunity to teach about the real essence of life and true riches. He replied, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Which reminds me of one of my all-time favorite non-Bible stories. A young investor stood looking out into the cool Gulf waters on the end of pier in a small coastal Mexican village. Having spent the last several months working hard toward gaining his securities license, he left for a few days of sun-soaked pleasure in Western Mexico. As the sun sank into the pale horizon,he a single fisherman docked his boat along the far side of the pier. The young Wall Street banker walked over to the boat and saw several large yellow fin tuna gasping for air. The young executive complimented the tanned fisherman, a wise-eyed, weathered man, on the quality of his fish and asked how long it had taken to bring in the catch. “Not long at all,” the fisherman replied. “Well, why not stay out longer and catch more fish?” the young New Yorker asked smiling. “I have enough for today,” said the fisherman, “this is what I need to feed my family.” “What do you do with the rest of your time?” the young man asked curiously. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I enjoy some wine and laughter with friends. It’s a full and happy life,” the fisherman replied. “Well, I’m a Harvard MBA and have just completed my investment securities training. I could help you. You could spend more time fishing and with the proceeds from the larger catch, buy a bigger boat. Then you could catch even more fish. With those profits you could buy several more boats and hire captains to fish for you, and eventually you could open your own cannery. Then you would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal village and move to Mexico City or LA or even New York where you could run your expanding enterprise.” “How long would that all take?” asked the somewhat bewildered fisherman. “Fifteen, maybe twenty years, max.” “But then what?” “Well, when the time was right, you could announce your IPO, sell your company stock to the public, and become very rich. You could be worth millions,” retorted the proud young investor. “Millions? Then what?” “Then you could retire and move to a small coastal village like this one where you could sleep late, fish a little in the morning, play with your grandkids, take a siesta, and enjoy wine and music with your friends in the evening.” The fisherman grinned, tipped his hat at the young advisor, and shook his head as he walked off the pier without a reply. When Jesus finished His warning about the emptiness of a life that is driven by greed, He told the story of a rich man who built bigger barns to hold all his stuff. To the surprise of His audience, Jesus called him a fool, not because he had lots of stuff but because he had lots of stuff and was not rich toward God! Which makes me wonder, if you had one shot at talking to Jesus, would you want Him to make you rich, or would you want Him to lead you in the prosperous pursuit of becoming rich toward God? YOUR JOURNEY… •Whose work ethic more closely resembles yours—the village fisherman’s or the New Yorker’s? •Would you rather be rich by the world’s standards or rich toward God? How are you proving the accuracy of your answer by the way that you spend your time and attention? •Just for fun, put yourself in the shoes of the man in the crowd. If you could go up to Jesus and ask one question, what would it be? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 17th, 2011 08:39 AM   IP              Escape to Wisconsin? “Each man’s work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13 If you live near a big city, no doubt you’ve been caught in the torturous experience of creeping along in bumper-to-bumper traffic. This can be particularly annoying if you are in a hurry to get somewhere—to say nothing of how revealing it can be about our true spiritual condition. As a Christian, I have to admit that I don’t have enough gestures to express my true feelings when traffic gets really bad! So the only way to relieve the tension is to spend the time reading the interesting bumper stickers that reveal the political and personal irritations of the drivers nearby. Among the more interesting ones: “As a matter of fact I do own the road!” and “If a woman’s place is in the home, why am I always in this SUV?” I particularly like the one that says, “You can’t scare me. I’ve got triplets!” I’m reminded of Paul Harvey, who once reported seeing two bumper stickers on a car in Chicago: on one side, “Jesus is coming!” and on the other side of the bumper, an invitation by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to “Escape to Wisconsin!” Well, Jesus is coming again, but when He does, no one will be able to escape to Wisconsin—or anywhere else for that matter. The most despicable pagans, the most vocal scoffers, the most intelligent deniers, the most thoughtful agnostics, and the most ardent atheists will not be able to find refuge. Instead, as Paul tells us in Philippians 2:10-11, they will join the great final worship service and, with all humanity, they too will bow their knees and confess with their mouths that Jesus is indeed the Lord. No doubt it will be a humbling and scary event for them. For those of us who have been worshiping the worthy name of Jesus long before His return, it is good to know that. Though we have often been ridiculed for such a naïve and retro view of life, it’s reassuring to know we were right about Jesus all along! But I need to add: though grace will prevail for those of us who have believed, and our sins and failures will be remembered no more, there is some jeopardy for us as well. The apostle Paul writes that we will be saved, but “with fire.” At His appearing, the flame of His glory will burn away all the wood, hay, and stubble from our lives, leaving only the gold, silver, and precious jewels. The wood, hay, and stubble, interestingly enough, is not necessarily our sins, but rather all we spent our time doing that had no use for eternity. Francis Schaeffer used to talk about the tragedy of what he called “ash-heap Christians.” He was talking about those of us who had lived our lives for the fleeting pleasures and pursuits of earth-side stuff and gain. Think of standing there in His glorious presence knee-deep in ashes with nothing of eternal significance to present to Him. You’ll wish you could be in Wisconsin! So, what have you done lately to make His return a happy event for you? Got any gold to offer Him when He appears? Believe me, seeing Him face-to-face after having lived a productive life for eternity’s gain will be lots better than seeing Wisconsin! YOUR JOURNEY… •How often do you consider the reality that Jesus could come back at any moment? •How does that reality impact your task list for today? What should be added to your to-do list? What could be taken off the list? •Take a minute to pray that God will bring some worthy investment options to mind—places for you to put your time and talents to good use for eternity. Then pick one of them and pursue it! God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 18th, 2011 09:02 AM   IP              Got Any Neighbors? Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 Jesus’ life and ministry dramatically demonstrated that the word prejudice is not in His vocabulary. In fact, He hates prejudice in any form. He detests racism, classism, and religious snobbery. Why? Because it defies who He is and what He came to do. No one escaped the embrace of His love and concern. And He calls us to love as He did—without limits. But prejudice blocks our ability to love as he did and denies us the privilege of being like Him in our world. When the Pharisee hoped to embarrass Jesus by asking Him to name the greatest commandment, Jesus answered that we should love God with the totality of our being. And although it was more than the scheming lawyer had asked for, Jesus added the second most important command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Not “second” meaning less important, but sequentially. In other words, the authenticity of our love for God is measured by our attitudes and acts of love for others. Ironically, the Pharisees prided themselves in mastering their love for God but were dreadfully lacking in love for their neighbor—which, in Jesus’ book, would break the first command. Their prejudices—often supported by their self-constructed theology and traditions—reduced their circle of involvement to people who were a lot like themselves. When the “expert in the law” asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), Jesus’ concern was not identifying who our neighbor is, but whether or not we are acting in a “neighborly” way to others regardless of who they are. The important dynamic in the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan is not that the religious passersby were too busy to help the dying victim. It is rather that they were the true victims. The priest and Levite, trying to avoid ceremonial defilement, were victims of a distorted view of righteousness. And that distorted view disabled them from keeping the law’s most fundamental command about loving those in distress regardless of who they are. Which should give us modern folk pause about any thoughts or attitudes that might blind us to the needs of others outside our usual circle of concern. Because quite simply, if we can’t love them, we can’t love Jesus! Lord, as difficult as it may be, I pray that you would bring to mind any prejudice that keeps us from loving others the way you love us. We want to love the way that Jesus loved—to be like the Good Samaritan in our willingness to tangibly care for those outside our usual circle. Please give us the strength, grace, and courage to love our neighbors. Amen. YOUR JOURNEY… •Do you struggle with prejudice against a particular person? Against a group of people? •What traditions or beliefs might stand in the way of being a good neighbor? •What action steps could you take to demonstrate love to others? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 19th, 2011 07:48 AM   IP              The Lonely Hearts Club And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 Three men were stranded on a desert island. A genie appeared and promised to grant each of them just one wish. So the first guy says, “I want to go back to my job with the brokerage firm.” Shazam, he’s back in the office behind his desk. The second guy says, “I’d like to be back in Chicago with my family.” Instantly, he’s zapped back to the Midwest. So the genie turns to the last guy and says, “What’ll it be for you?” He looks around and says, “It’s so lonely here. I wish my friends were back.” Actually, the pain of loneliness is no laughing matter. And, sad to say, there is no magic-genie cure for the loneliness so many of us struggle with. After God created Adam, He said that it is not good for man to be alone and created Eve for companionship and mutual encouragement. So, it’s no wonder that we hurt when we are disconnected from others who could be a source of satisfaction and joy. Yet, in one sense, even the loneliest among us is not truly alone. In fact, Jesus not only assures us of His presence but can empathize with the agony of our loneliness. He was brutally cast off by His own people, the object of criticism and scorn, abandoned by His best friends in His hour of need, and betrayed by a trusted colleague. Still, in the midst of this loneliness He was not truly alone. John 8:29 records Christ’s strong confidence in the midst of His standing alone when He says, “The one who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone.” And even though He realized His teaching was rejected by men, He said, “If I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent Me” (John 8:16). The only true loneliness is the aloneness of being disconnected from God. When we live disconnected from Him, we scramble to fill the void with food, sex, alcohol, shopping, drugs, or meaningless activity. Many of us will do anything to medicate the emptiness we feel without God. In its advanced stages, this aloneness from God fogs our outlook with a cloud of cynicism until our only response to life is “Who cares?” or “Whatever.” The only real way out is to cling to Jesus, the one who will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and the one who promises to give you life, in fact life more abundantly (John 10:10). Maybe you know this, but you’ve been afraid to put all your eggs in the basket of all Jesus has to offer. Maybe your fear is reflected in the words of the poet who wrote, “lest having Him I would have nothing else beside.” But let me assure you that Christ will never let you down. Jesus is certainly no magic genie. He does not exist in a foggy vision only to vanish in a puff of smoke. In fact, it’s just the opposite—we have the assurance that He is constantly with us. Jesus said, in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Because of this promise, you can trust that God will never leave you stranded alone on the desert island of life without Him, but will satisfy you with His presence and peace. YOUR JOURNEY… •Are you connected to God through a relationship with Christ, or are you alone in your soul? If you are alone, pray and ask Christ to become your Savior. •Find someone who needs to hear that Christ is the cure for his or her aloneness. Use God’s Word to encourage that person today! •Aloneness can carve a hollow in your soul that alters your tone and perspective on life. In your journal, write down comforting thoughts that God provides from the following Scripture (Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 49:13-16; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 13:5). God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 20th, 2011 02:45 PM   IP              Be A Meter Reader “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” Psalm 1:1 Do you remember how old-time TV shows used to have an applause meter to gauge audience reactions? A big arrow would spin around the dial to show how enthusiastic the crowd was—or wasn’t—about what had just happened onstage. It wasn’t particularly scientific, but it provided quick feedback! When I think about how we feel about God’s rules, I wonder if heaven has one of those meters. Well, not really, but there is one in your heart that God can read, so let’s talk about it. The arrow on your heart meter reflects your honest, instinctive response to God’s Word and His laws. Across the dial are five attitudes that, at any given moment, reflect how you really react to God’s rules for you. All the way on the left side of the dial is the word disdain. Ever feel like God’s rules are oppressive, restrictive barriers to your pleasure and dreadfully outdated? Then the arrow might just be buried in the low end of the meter of your heart. Next up on the dial is the word doubt. Those of us who wonder if God’s rules are good and for our best will register in the doubt category. But, be warned, Satan’s oldest tactic for plunging lives into shame and isolation from a loving God was planting seeds of doubt about the goodness of God and His Word (Genesis 3:1). Surprisingly, the tactic still works—fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me! At the center of the dial is duty. Is obedience to God’s laws a legalistic obligation for you? Something that you have to do since you are a Christian with a virtual score sheet of do’s and don’ts that help you keep track of how you’re doing? If you are externally conformed, but your heart is far from Him and His laws feel heavy with the only reward being the ugly sin of pride in your own goodness, then you’re a dutiful but dull law keeper. Further to the right, the arrow moves to the word devotion. This is closer to where God wants us to be. Those of us who land here obey God’s rules out of our love for Him. And while there is nothing wrong with that and much to be commended for it, there is still another point on the pleasing God meter that the psalmist urges us to qualify for. Which explains why David cranks the arrow on the meter all the way over to the farthest extreme: delight. He writes that the truly blessed person delights in the law of the Lord! What does that mean? Well, the Hebrew term used here actually means to be “emotionally preoccupied with.” It’s kind of like being in love. It’s all that you can think about. Other thoughts and conversations get drowned out by your overwhelming preoccupation. Imagine what our lives would look like if we truly became emotionally preoccupied with the profound goodness of God’s rules. So, what would it take to move the arrow of your meter to the delight position? Try spending time reflecting on the character of the Lawgiver. You have a Father who loves you, who wants to protect you, and who offers His rules as His loving way to keep you safe and offer you true freedom from Satan’s deceitful and destructive ways. And, when you obey His rules and experience the peace, joy, and cleansing that it brings to your life, you’ll delight with the psalmist who wrote that God’s rules are “sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103)! Take a meter reading today, and bury the needle deep in the “delight” end of the meter. When you do, heaven’s applause meter may just go off the charts because of your love for His law! YOUR JOURNEY… •Honesty time: How would you characterize your attitude toward God’s law—disdain, doubt, duty, devotion, or delight? •What changes in your thinking might help move the arrow on your meter further to the right? •Think of one or two laws of God that you can delight in because you see how they are lovingly in place for your protection. Spend some time thanking God for those laws and delight in them today. It’s a great start! God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 21st, 2011 10:00 AM   IP              Wandering From Wisdom Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. —1 Kings 3:9 If God offered you anything you wanted, what would you ask for? When Solomon was given that choice, he asked for the wisdom to discern good from evil so that he might lead God’s people well (1 Kings 3:9). “Because you have asked this thing,” God told Solomon, “I have done according to your words.” He even promised to give him “both riches and honor” (1 Kings 3:11-13). To this day, Solomon is remembered for the great wisdom God gave him. Solomon began his rule with devotion to wisdom and a deep ambition to build a magnificent temple to honor God. But something happened along the way. His passion for living by God’s wisdom was displaced by the allures of the wealth and position God had given him. His marriage to foreign women who worshiped pagan gods eventually led him—and ultimately the nation—into idolatry. The lesson is clear. Keeping our love for Christ and His wisdom preeminent is a primary objective for those of us who want to live to satisfy God throughout the course of our life. A commitment to following the riches of God’s wisdom will enable us to avoid the drift that destroyed Solomon. Keep your heart in tune with God’s wisdom and obey His voice. That’s the way to finish well. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above. —Robinson Monitor your heart daily to avoid wandering from God’s wisdom. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 22nd, 2011 10:10 AM   IP              Is Jesus Exclusive? Jesus said . . . , “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” —John 14:6 I once saw Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz on a popular news talk program. The interviewer asked, “Are you one of those who believe that Jesus is exclusively the only way to heaven?” He added, “You know how mad that makes people these days!” Without blinking she replied, “Jesus is not exclusive. He died so that anyone could come to Him for salvation.” What a great response! Christianity is not an exclusive club limited to an elite few who fit the perfect profile. Everyone is welcome regardless of color, class, or clout. In spite of this wonderful reality, Christ’s claim in John 14:6 to be the only way to God continues to offend. Yet Jesus is the only way—the only option that works. All of us are guilty before God. We are sinners and cannot help ourselves. Our sin had to be dealt with. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died to pay the penalty for our sins and then rose from the dead. No other religious leader offers what Jesus provides in His victory over sin and death. The gospel of Christ is offensive to some, but it is the wonderful truth that God loves us enough to come and take care of our biggest problem—sin. And as long as sin is the problem, the world needs Jesus! No one could enter heaven, Our many sins stood in the way; So God in love sent Jesus, For He alone sin’s debt could pay. —D. De Haan Embrace the good news: Jesus is a non-exclusive Savior. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 23rd, 2011 07:25 AM   IP              Three Dollars' Worth of God “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16 Most of us can blow through three dollars without even thinking twice. It’ll get you a cup of Starbucks, a few snacks for a road trip, or a squeak toy for your new puppy. But one thing is for sure: it won’t buy you soul-to-soul intimacy with the Creator of the universe. Someone once wrote: “I’d like to buy three dollars’ worth of God. Please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a rebirth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I’d like to buy about three dollars’ worth of God, please.” I wonder if you are among those who want just enough of God to get yourself to a comfortable place, but not enough to pay the price of a deepening relationship with Him. If we want to be in tight with Jesus, we’ve got to abandon the idea that a mere acquaintance with Him is enough and that we have all we really need in and of ourselves. Self-sufficiency is life’s greatest barricade when it comes to intimacy with God. I find it interesting that all the “self” terms we throw around make us wither with guilt. Just say the word self-centered and we wince. The same applies to self-indulgent and self-serving. But when we think of self-sufficiency, our eyes glaze over with pious apathy. We don’t consider it as much of a no-no as the other “self” sins. But, I’m telling you, with God self-sufficiency is a big deal. In fact, Jesus reproved the Laodiceans about their self-sufficiency in no uncertain terms. He said, “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). The Laodiceans were three-dollar Christians. Their self-sufficiency blinded them to their great need for Jesus. They didn’t have many material needs—in fact the text says that they were loaded—so they thought they didn’t need God. But in their self-sufficient attitude they had left Jesus standing outside the door of their hearts. They had enough of Him to get into heaven, but He didn’t have much of them in return! But Jesus didn’t give up on the Laodiceans, just like He doesn’t give up on you and me. He wants to be much more than the divine “911” call of our lives—only hearing from us in moments of desperation and emergency. He wants us to abandon ourselves in our quest for intimacy with Him. He wants our souls to reach out for Him with passionate desire every day! I think the psalmist said it best when he wrote, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2). That’s a far cry from being satisfied with a measly three dollars’ worth of Him. Ever feel there should be something more to your life? It’s Jesus you’re looking for—and a lot more than three dollars’ worth! If you’re looking for transformation, rebirth, and enough of God to “explode your soul,” you will only find it in a self-sacrificing, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ—and that is priceless. YOUR JOURNEY… •Do you have a three-dollar relationship with God? Pray and ask God to give you a sense of your need for him. Incorporate Acts 17:28 into your prayer. •Read Colossians 1:15-20. Do you think it’s possible to buy three dollars’ worth of God based on this passage? Why or why not? •True intimacy with God comes from accepting Christ as Savior. Have you done this? If not, read Romans 3:10-18, 23; 5:8; 6:23; and 10:9. Pray and ask Jesus to be your Savior. •The letters Christ wrote to the churches in the book of Revelation are about their ongoing sin. If Christ were to write you a letter about patterns of unconfessed sin in your life, what would the topic(s) be? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 24th, 2011 01:07 PM   IP              Dare To Be Different Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also." John 15:20 My dad was a pastor, so I got stuck with the label known to every pastor’s kid: PK. But, much to the congregation’s disappointment, the title didn’t stop me from being my mischievous little self. I have to tell you, I would like to have a $5 bill for every time somebody came to me and said, “Little Joe, you’re the pastor’s son. You should be an example.” They wanted me to be different, but they didn’t understand. I didn’t want to be an example! I was only five—I wanted to have fun with my friends and get into all the mischief they got into. Nobody wants to be different. We want people to like us, and one of the safest ways to do that is to blend in, to be like them. But following Christ has never been about “blending in.” Following Him means to be like Him, to respond to life and relate to people the way He did. Inevitably, there are times when doing that makes you different. Granted, it can be risky and uncomfortable to be different. But that’s what being a follower of Jesus is all about—bringing the difference of your King to bear on the territory you’ve been assigned to: your home, your office, and your friendships. We need to keep in mind that Jesus never promised that following Him would be a cakewalk. In fact, He made it clear that following Him would often create tension in a world that is going in the opposite direction. Just before His death, He spoke candidly to His disciples: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. . . . If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:18, 20). I’ll never forget the story of Abdul Rahman, the Afghani who accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and faced the outrage of Muslim clerics in the courtrooms of Afghanistan. Although his conversion was considered a capital crime and his life was at risk, his faith stood the test. Right now while we are talking about this, thousands of believers in places like China, the Sudan, and Vietnam are making the point that Jesus is more important than personal peace and comfort. But for those of us who don’t live in life-threatening environments, being a fully committed follower brings its own kinds of trouble. It may be the threat of being cut out of the group and losing a promotion when the boss takes you and your colleagues out to dinner and then takes everyone but you to the strip club for an after- dinner drink. Or when your evolution-promoting biology professor scoffs at your stance on creation and gives you a lower grade on your paper. Forgiving a serious offense may have other fellow travelers thinking that you are the “village idiot.” Refusing to enter a gossipy conversation and declining opportunities to speak in unloving ways about others may even cost you something with fellow believers. Yup, sad but true! Today, you will no doubt have opportunities to be different—to go against the flow. Don’t be intimidated. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” But then He said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). What an interesting thought: When I stick with Him through thick and thin, I may feel like I’ve lost, but in reality, I ultimately win! In retrospect, I can now see how my antics as a PK reflected poorly on my Dad. It’s motivating to remember that our non-Jesus attitudes and actions not only leave us on the losing side but also end up reflecting poorly on the One we love so much. Go ahead today. Make a difference by daring to be different for Jesus! YOUR JOURNEY… •Read John 15:18-27. In what ways have you dared to be different for Christ and felt the tension? •When was the last time you chose to blend in with the crowd rather than follow Christ? Why did you cave to the pressure? What can you do to stand for Jesus the next time you are in that situation? Making a plan for the next opportunity to follow Jesus is important. Be prepared! •What does it mean personally for you that Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”? Check out the whole story in Luke 9:21-26. Be specific, honest, and courageous in your answer. •When was the last time you realized that in this upside-down world, it is followers who are willing to go into the face of adversity for Jesus who are truly blessed? (Don’t miss Matthew 5:10-12!) •Set aside some time to look at the Voice of the Martyrs Web site: www.persecution.com and pray for those who are facing persecution today. Ask that God would continue to turn Satan’s attacks into victories, and that followers of Jesus around the globe would boldly stand for Him and rise to the challenge of being different for His sake. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 25th, 2011 10:43 AM   IP              Shattered "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 If you had a chance to meet her, you would agree that the name we have affectionately given her really fits. She has a fantastic command of the world around her and a charming personality that makes you want to give her what she wants. And, of course, since “Cate the Great” is one of our grandchildren, my wife Martie and I delight in doing just that. After all, it’s a grandparents’ prerogative! Martie once hosted four of our granddaughters for a special weekend tea party. Fancy invitations were sent, lacy décor was purchased, and I was banned from the proceedings. Cate the Great and her mother carefully chose an elegant wardrobe for the occasion, Cate’s favorite “princess” costume. Cate came with great anticipation of a regal entrance as “princess of the day” into the cultured society of her fellow cousins. It was to be her finest moment. Until we discovered that the dress had been left behind at her parents. Disaster! Cate’s world, as she knew it, was shattered. All her hopes, dreams, and aspirations to grandeur were left behind with the princess dress. She didn’t feel like Cate the Great anymore. Martie could have launched into a timely exposition of how, in the bigger picture of real life, it was not all that big of a deal and that Cate should stop crying and realize that she would get over it and someday laugh at this little wrinkle in her world. Instead, Martie quickly proceeded to the nearest specialty store with crying Cate in tow to find another princess costume. Martie not only rescued the tea party, but helped rebuild Cate’s shattered little world. We shouldn’t be surprised when God does the same thing for us. He “is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). In His grace, He comes alongside whenever your world becomes shattered—whether it’s shattered by your own fears and anxieties, or by disappointing events beyond your control. He could, of course, lecture you about the bigger picture of eternity and tell you to buck up and move on, but God compassionately comes alongside, allows you free access to His throne room in prayer, and listens to every one of your anxious thoughts (Philippians 4:6-8). Being the perfect Father, He never spoils or pampers, but lovingly offers every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). He is there, right now, waiting to rebuild and restore your broken world. Your Journey . . . •Think of a time when you felt like your world was shattered. Did a friend or family member come alongside to help? Did you look to God for hope and help in the situation? Looking back on it, how is your perspective different now than it was then? •Is your life is shattered now? David faced great seasons of devastating disappointments and consistently resolved them with hope in God’s merciful and gracious willingness to be there for Him in times of crisis. Thoughtfully read Psalms 13, 27, 28, and 42, and take them all personally! •Do you know someone who is currently experiencing a shattered situation? What can you do to help restore their shattered world today? •Put this verse in your head and heart for the next time your life is shattered. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5). God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 26th, 2011 07:56 AM   IP              What's For Lunch? Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" John 6:8-9 It seemed like a good idea at the time. Any thoughts of a diet were out the window when I spotted the steak on the menu. Not just any steak, mind you. It was a succulent, juicy premium cut weighing in at 28 ounces! As I ordered, I scrupulously avoided eye contact with my wife, Martie, knowing that she would discourage such a self-indulgent choice. It was a classic case of my eyes being bigger than my stomach. As hungry as I was, there was no way I could finish this slab of beef. In fact, looking at the plate, it seemed that I had hardly made a dent in it. I had it boxed up, and I walked out of the restaurant stuffed but eagerly anticipating the leftovers that the box would yield for tomorrow’s lunch. That’s about the time I spotted the homeless person. Or, more specifically, he spotted me. He asked for some money, and after I initially refused, a guilty stab of conscience prompted me to slip him five dollars and a quick blessing in Jesus’ name. Having done my Christian duty, I was ready to head home, boxed steak in hand, when I heard him call out, “What about the box?” My selfish instincts kicked in as I tightened my grip on the box. I had just parted with a crisp five-dollar bill. How insultingly bold for him to ask for my steak as well! Then God moved in and reminded me that it’s not the act of giving but the sacrifice in giving that makes the greatest statement about true love and dynamic selflessness. So, a little reluctantly, I handed over the box as well. I’m reminded of John 6:1-14—a little boy, a little lunch, and a huge miracle. The story appears in all four of the Gospels and stands as a powerful example, not only of self-sacrifice, but also of trust in God’s ability to do much more than we could imagine with the little bit that we surrender to Him. This little guy had a choice. He could be a consumer, using the lunch to satisfy only his own needs and desires, or he could be an investor, willingly placing it in the hands of One who could do so much more with it. The choice was his and it was not an easy choice—we all know how much lunch means to a hungry boy! He could keep it and devour it only to be hungry again or trust his precious commodity to the work of Jesus Christ. We all know the rest of the story. Christ gave him the privilege of partnering in a colossal miracle. Today he ranks as a Bible story hero, and Jesus made sure he didn’t go hungry after all. So what do you have in your hands today? You probably have a lot more than a few leftovers from supper. How about some time? Maybe some abilities or talents that could be used to serve others? Maybe it’s financial resources. A smile, a note in the mail, a reassuring phone call, or a combination of sacrificial acts of love go a long way to open the door for Jesus to make a difference in someone’s life. Right now, you may be saying, “But I don’t have much to give.” You’ve done the math, and it seems like it will be a drop in the bucket compared to the depth of the needs around you. And humanly speaking, you’re probably right. How can we possibly make a difference in the face of the overwhelming physical and spiritual needs around us? That’s just the point. We can’t! But our gifts of love—regardless of the size—open the door for Jesus to do some surprisingly great things. As has been often said, “Little is much when God is in it!” When you give in Jesus’ name, you invest in the One who can “do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). If a little kid could give up his lunch for Jesus, we’ve got no excuse! YOUR JOURNEY… •Take a few minutes to think through some of the physical and spiritual needs of the people around you. How do you feel as you think about all these needs? •What resources do you have in your hand? Think about blocks of time, God-given talents and abilities, and financial resources that might be available. •How can you grow in your passion to be an “investor” in God’s kingdom, rather than just a “consumer” in this temporary world? •Make a specific plan today to give to a need in the world around you. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 27th, 2011 07:49 AM   IP              Generational Impact "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right." 1 Samuel 12:23 I have always been fascinated by stories about the people God has chosen to use in significant ways. Two of my heroes are Charles and John Wesley. Charles penned hundreds of hymns, many of which are still sung by Christians all over the world. After observing the coronation of the King of England and hearing the masses lining the streets and singing the praises of the King, Charles penned the words, “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.” His brother John committed his life to taking the gospel to England and through frontier America on horseback. You and I are in debt to John Wesley today for his passion for the gospel. But I’m even more impressed when I consider the heroic faith of their mother, Susanna. The mother of 19 children, she understood the importance of raising a godly generation, in spite of a profligate husband who was almost never home. With all of her hardships, she would have had every excuse to complain and wallow in self-pity and bitterness, but instead she faithfully prayed for her children and instilled in them a desire to serve the Lord. Every day she gathered her children around her and read them the Bible and taught them His ways. Her life exemplifies the words of Samuel: “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right” (1 Samuel 12:23). One of God’s plans for our homes is to provide an environment for grooming the next generation for godly impact, and you can count on it that Satan is not happy about that plan. Throughout history, we can see his efforts to dead-end the generational impact of God’s people. Beginning with Adam and Eve, children have been at risk. The murder of Abel at the hands of his very own brother is proof that Satan will do anything to extinguish the impact of godly offspring. And he hasn’t stopped. The high cost of living has made two-career families common place today even among followers of Christ. Many families need two careers just to survive. As a result, quality time with our kids can suffer. Leaving our children to entertain themselves at the computer, which is a lot less painful than playing Chutes and Ladders with them on the floor, puts their hearts at jeopardy to the junk that the Internet offers. Our kids are in danger of suffering long term damage because of what they click on to. Not to mention what we permit them to see on TV, listen to on their iPods, or who we let them run with. Parenting is big-time business and among life’s toughest assignments. Whenever things got really tough in our household, my wife Martie and I used to look at each other and say, “This too shall pass!” And that’s just the point, it passes really fast. You have the next generation in your grasp for just a fleeting season. Make the most of it. As they say, carpe diem—seize the day! Is there another Susanna Wesley in the house? It’s your turn! Who knows what great things God has in store for your kids or the young people under your influence. YOUR JOURNEY… •In what ways have you observed Satan’s attempts to thwart generational impact in your country? In your neighborhood? In your home? •Read Proverbs 3:1-6. According to this passage, whether you are reading from the perspective of a child and/or a parent, what can you do to help raise a godly generation? •Children learn more from what they see in us than from what they hear from us. What important truths can your children learn by what they see in your life? Be specific. •When was the last time you admitted that what your children saw you do was wrong and that you desired to be a better follower of Jesus? •When was the last time that you admitted that you failed them and that you were committed to being a better parent? •Do you want to be well liked by your children or do you want to be respected? Remember, parenting is not a popularity contest. True love sometimes says no. •Are there organizations in your area that share God’s hope and help with families in crisis? Ask God to show you how you can get involved. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 28th, 2011 11:18 AM   IP              Storytime The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. —Joshua 2:11 Did you ever wonder why Rahab, the prostitute who lived in the pagan city of Jericho, opened her home to the Israelite spies? And what gave her the courage to name the God of Israel as her own? This unlikeliest of conversions was prompted by the stories she had heard about the reality and power of God. Though thoroughly steeped in paganism and immorality, her heart was drawn to God. As she told the spies, “We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites” (Josh. 2:10). Under normal circumstances, the highly fortified city of Jericho would have been virtually unconquerable. Yet it became vulnerable because of the compelling stories of God’s power. Long before God’s people arrived, the self-sufficient pride of this hostile culture dissolved in fear when faced with those who belonged to the God they had heard so much about (v.11). And within the walls, one pagan heart turned to receive the God of Israel and played a strategic role in Israel’s stunning victory. Let’s boldly tell the stories of God’s greatness. You never know whose heart may be ready to respond! Christ is coming, over the world victorious— Power and glory unto the Lord belong: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness! Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song. —Crosby Don’t be shy; tell the stories of God’s greatness. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted August 29th, 2011 06:09 AM   IP              Turn On The Lights You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. —Matthew 5:14 People often ask me what I miss most about serving as president of Moody Bible Institute. Without question it’s the students. I love their passion for Jesus and the way they demonstrate it to the world around them. Non-Christian employers often told me of the students’ exemplary work ethic. Chicago’s police super-intendent once said, “When the Moody students return to campus, it’s like somebody turned on the lights on the Near North side.” This is exactly what Jesus had in mind when He said, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). It’s a powerful word picture of the impact of contrast. There should be a recognizable difference between the integrity of Christians and the prevailing darkness of our world. It’s not about making speeches for Jesus; it’s about people observing us. Even though they may not want to hear about Jesus, you can be sure they’re watching to see if He makes a difference in our lives. When Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works” (Matt. 5:16), He was saying that before we can speak up we have to show up. Our capacity to shine for Jesus is measured by our good works, which reveal His compelling reality in our lives. Let’s turn on the lights. You are called with a holy calling The light of the world to be, To lift up the lamp of the Savior That others His light may see. —Anon. To lead others out of the darkness of sin, let them see the light of Christ in your life. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 1st, 2011 07:52 AM   IP              Family Resemblance "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 I am the third in an extended line of Joe Stowells. As a young boy, I realized that my name often brought quick recognition and statements like, “Oh, you’re Joe Stowell’s son.” My dad, Joe Stowell, Jr., pastored a large, successful church. He was highly respected as a preacher and was a leader on several ministry boards. He was, in fact, a household name within our denomination and was recognized for his service to Christ with an honorary doctorate from Wheaton College. I was proud of my dad and felt honored to be his son. Being known as his child was a primary source of significance for me. I always felt it was an honor to bear his name. But I have to tell you that the honor also brought some expectations. Given my dad’s great reputation, I was keenly aware that my actions would reflect on my dad, and that others’ perception of him might well be shaped by what they saw in me. And, when I forgot about my identity as Joe Stowell’s son, there were always a few “behavior cops” nearby to remind me! I’m not interested in being your behavior cop today, but I am deeply interested in God’s reputation that has been entrusted to lives like yours and mine. You are probably already getting the point: God paid a major price to adopt you into His family, ran the risk of calling you His child, and promised you a better-than-anything-on-earth inheritance. There are no material possessions, fame, or power that can compare to the significance that you have in being His child! So, when people find out who you are, they may just be wondering what your Father is like. What they see in you may be the only thing they ever know about our God. Since God is loving, gracious, just, honest, faithful, patient, generous, and merciful—just for starters—the family resemblance should be finding its way into your relationships, your career, and your family on a regular basis. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul reminds us that even our attitudes should reflect the heart of Christ. We should choose to think of ourselves as servants and to obey God with a humble and surrendered spirit even to the point of personal sacrifice. Hey, after all, that’s exactly what Jesus did to let others know that His Father desired to serve our sin-lost lives with the love of His saving grace. You know, I have to tell you that I’ve always wanted my dad to be proud of me. To this day, I have found great satisfaction in having heard him say that he was glad to be my dad. On a much greater scale, I want God to be pleased to be known as my Father! Keeping up the family reputation is a sure way for you to know that He is pleased with you. YOUR JOURNEY… •What about you? Have you experienced the privilege of becoming God’s child? •Read the list of family expectations in Ephesians 5:1-12. What specifically can you do to upgrade the family name? •Peter tells his readers that they may experience some suffering for bearing the name of Jesus (1 Peter 4:12-19). Have you experienced suffering or ridicule as a Christian? Did it derail you? •How has the “family resemblance” been reflected in your life over the past week? •What impression are your co-workers, friends, and family getting of Christ by watching your life as one of his followers? •How does knowing that you bear the name of Christ impact your sense of significance and self-worth? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 2nd, 2011 07:47 AM   IP              Getting It Right "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Matthew 16:13 There’s lots of talk about Jesus these days. From The Da Vinci Code debate to Jesus’ claims to be the only way to the Father (John 14:6), there’s nothing like a little Jesus-talk at the water cooler to get a heated discussion going! In the early 90s, a gathering of professors picked through the gospel accounts asking, “Did Jesus really say that?” They would bring their opinions to the table and then all would vote on the authenticity of Jesus’ words. When all the votes were counted, any confidence in the words of Christ was resoundingly discredited. Wrong answer. The movie, The Da Vinci Code, spins another view of Jesus that comes to the staggering assertion that Jesus never claimed to be God but married and fathered a line of offspring that continues to this day. Wrong answer—big time! But these “conclusions” don’t just surface in the scholarly and literary worlds. It seems that most people are more than happy to think of Jesus as being what they want Him to be. Everyone is okay with a Jesus who is merely a “good teacher” or a “noble example.” Even Muslims and Hindus view Jesus as a sage prophet. And gay activists speak of Jesus as being tolerant and loving. But all this Jesus-talk hits the wall when the exclusive claims of Christ are put on the table. When Jesus claims to be the only way or when He talks about heaven and hell and judgment, the Jesus party is over! Our seemingly tolerant society is not interested in the actual claims of Christ. Happy to discuss Jesus in vague, ethereal terms, the average guy resists any thought of personal accountability to Him as Lord and Savior. And yet that’s exactly what Jesus claims to be and what He calls us to embrace! When Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” it was no coincidence that the question was asked in Caesarea Philippi. No place could have been more threatening, politically and spiritually, to the disciples. And Jesus asked that question, not because He was uncertain about His identity or His rating in the polls, but because He wanted to be sure that the disciples knew whom they were following. Peter moved straight past the politically correct, carefully couched answers to a bold declaration—that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and the Son of God. Right answer! Jesus pointed out that this was a God-given insight and that those who believe are blessed in their declaration. Today, Jesus asks us the same personal question: “Who do you believe that I am?” Announcing that He is the true Messiah—our Savior—starts us on a journey of faith that stretches through eternity in heaven. A life that embraces this truth is blessed and bolstered with confidence in His character and delivering power. But it’s more than just believing. When the question arises in conversation, we have the privilege of becoming His witnesses in the swirl of so many dead-end opinions about Jesus. Whether it’s a friendly chat about a spiritually oriented movie or a discussion about the turmoil in the Middle East, the topic of Christ may well surface. And when it does, let’s be sure to present the real Jesus in a gracious yet confident manner. The right answer may just be the key to someone’s eternity! YOUR JOURNEY… •What perceptions about Jesus have you seen in your co-workers, family, and friends? Do those perceptions match up with the biblical picture of Jesus? •How has your understanding of Christ been shaped by your study of Scripture? •Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? When and how did you come to that conclusion? •What opportunities have you had to speak up about your trust in Christ? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 3rd, 2011 07:31 AM   IP              Packed With Power "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 My wife, Martie, and I have some items of worth around our house that sit on mantles or behind glass doors. They are things we have collected over the years, things from special places we’ve been or from special friends we have known. Though these items may have a good deal of worth to us personally, in terms of function they’re not worth much. My guess is that you have a few of your own prized dust collectors as well. I wonder if you, though you might never admit it, feel that way about the Bible—It’s an important book with great value but with little usefulness for the realities you face every day. After all, how could an ancient book written by religious zealots even begin to connect with the challenges of your often-too-complex life? Here’s the good news: When it comes to your life, nothing could be more helpful! The Word of God has tremendous worth and plays an active role in our lives to effect change. Paul explained its power to Timothy when he said that the Bible is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I think of my friend who told me of a time when he was away on a business trip. As he returned to his hotel one night and stepped on the elevator, two young, attractive women joined him. As he pressed the button to get off on his floor, they said, “Hey, mister, how about a little fun tonight?” He told me that Galatians 6:8 immediately came to mind: “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” He said that verse was like a shade drawn between him and what could have been a persuasive temptation. In that moment, the correcting power of the Word of God kept him safe and on course. Whether we realize it or not, throughout our lives we have been saturated with false values, and we need to be reprogrammed with truth. God’s ways and wisdom are without peer. His Word really is like a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119: 105). We need to know what to do with our time, energy, and money. We need to know what to do with our minds. We need to be taught what to do about friends and how to handle enemies. We need to be taught about family, work, and leisure. God’s Word is jam-packed with time-tested principles of success for every situation and issue of life. More importantly, God’s Word teaches us the wonderful truth that He cared enough to die for us when we were lost in our sin. In His Word we learn about His character and how we can cultivate a trusted relationship with Him. We learn things about Him through His Word that we cannot learn anywhere else. The Bible is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12) and packed with power. It’s not meant to be a collector’s item on your shelf. Go ahead—dust it off and discover for yourself how God can use His Word to guide, protect, encourage, and enrich your life! YOUR JOURNEY… •What importance does the Bible have in your life? Would you describe it as “living and active”? If not, what steps can you take to change that? •Think through some circumstances where you can experience the unique usefulness of God’s Word as it pertains to (1) teaching, (2) rebuking, (3) correcting, and (4) training in righteousness. •Like my friend at the hotel, have you experienced a time when God’s Word came to mind at a critical moment? Share your story with someone who needs to be reminded of the living and active power of God’s Word. •Choose a thought from Scripture to take with you today. And make it a daily habit! God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 5th, 2011 08:42 AM   IP              Family Resemblance "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 I am the third in an extended line of Joe Stowells. As a young boy, I realized that my name often brought quick recognition and statements like, “Oh, you’re Joe Stowell’s son.” My dad, Joe Stowell, Jr., pastored a large, successful church. He was highly respected as a preacher and was a leader on several ministry boards. He was, in fact, a household name within our denomination and was recognized for his service to Christ with an honorary doctorate from Wheaton College. I was proud of my dad and felt honored to be his son. Being known as his child was a primary source of significance for me. I always felt it was an honor to bear his name. But I have to tell you that the honor also brought some expectations. Given my dad’s great reputation, I was keenly aware that my actions would reflect on my dad, and that others’ perception of him might well be shaped by what they saw in me. And, when I forgot about my identity as Joe Stowell’s son, there were always a few “behavior cops” nearby to remind me! I’m not interested in being your behavior cop today, but I am deeply interested in God’s reputation that has been entrusted to lives like yours and mine. You are probably already getting the point: God paid a major price to adopt you into His family, ran the risk of calling you His child, and promised you a better-than-anything-on-earth inheritance. There are no material possessions, fame, or power that can compare to the significance that you have in being His child! So, when people find out who you are, they may just be wondering what your Father is like. What they see in you may be the only thing they ever know about our God. Since God is loving, gracious, just, honest, faithful, patient, generous, and merciful—just for starters—the family resemblance should be finding its way into your relationships, your career, and your family on a regular basis. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul reminds us that even our attitudes should reflect the heart of Christ. We should choose to think of ourselves as servants and to obey God with a humble and surrendered spirit even to the point of personal sacrifice. Hey, after all, that’s exactly what Jesus did to let others know that His Father desired to serve our sin-lost lives with the love of His saving grace. You know, I have to tell you that I’ve always wanted my dad to be proud of me. To this day, I have found great satisfaction in having heard him say that he was glad to be my dad. On a much greater scale, I want God to be pleased to be known as my Father! Keeping up the family reputation is a sure way for you to know that He is pleased with you. YOUR JOURNEY… •What about you? Have you experienced the privilege of becoming God’s child? •Read the list of family expectations in Ephesians 5:1-12. What specifically can you do to upgrade the family name? •Peter tells his readers that they may experience some suffering for bearing the name of Jesus (1 Peter 4:12-19). Have you experienced suffering or ridicule as a Christian? Did it derail you? •How has the “family resemblance” been reflected in your life over the past week? •What impression are your co-workers, friends, and family getting of Christ by watching your life as one of his followers? •How does knowing that you bear the name of Christ impact your sense of significance and self-worth? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 6th, 2011 06:56 AM   IP              A Worthy Pursuit "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19 Let’s face it, if you are a follower in a world that celebrates leaders, you don’t feel all that good about yourself. Walk into any bookstore, and you will note that many of the bestsellers are about how to be a great leader or how to make something of your life. Bestsellers are written by people who became successful by doing their own thing. Entrepreneurs are lauded for their independence and “out of the box” thinking. But nobody seems to notice followers, which makes being an authentic Christian an interesting challenge. When Jesus called His inner circle to join His cause, He didn’t lure them by offering them great positions of leadership and notoriety. In fact, quite the opposite: He recruited them to be followers. And it needs to be noted that in spite of the bad press that following gets, He had no trouble building His team. He was so compelling that rugged fishermen, a greedy tax collector, a tough member of the resistance force, capable women, and many others left everything to become His followers. When He called them, He offered no conditions. No negotiations. No particulars. No contractual exceptions or arrangements. All He asked was that they follow. Those who responded to the call never saw it as a demotion. For them it was an honor! But would it be an honor for you? After all, it sounds more like losing than winning. It feels like losing control, like losing the potential of managing your own life the way you want to manage it. That’s exactly what following Jesus is all about! When He called the disciples, He framed it like this: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Note the formula. In essence He is saying, “Follow me, and let me make something of your life.” Most of us want to make something of our lives on our own terms, and are happy to fit Jesus into the picture now and then. But that’s not the way it works, and thankfully so. Left to ourselves, we tend to mess things up. Or, if we succeed, we become proud and consume time and energy reaching for the next golden ring, only to find that ultimately “the good life” is either illusive or unfulfilling. It makes a lot of sense to give Jesus His well-deserved chance at being in charge. After all, He is smarter than we are, and since He has already proven how much He loves us, we know we can trust Him implicitly. He has our best in mind. So what does following Jesus look like? It’s like the old “follow the leader” game we used to play as kids—with the Leader out in front, and His followers walking behind Him, doing whatever He does and going wherever He leads. We are to be following His example of forgiveness, truth, righteous attitudes and actions, honesty with ourselves and others, integrity, serving even at risk and loss to ourselves, loving our enemies, caring for the needy and the poor, loving the losers, and generously extending grace and mercy to the undeserving. Letting Jesus make something of our lives is a plan worth implementing. The outcomes are so rewarding that it makes following a worthy pursuit. Your relationships, family, career, and even your leisure will all be more successful if you approach every situation as an opportunity to be a follower of Jesus. And, by the way, those who are called to lead are not exempt. Leadership that begins by following Christ is far more effective. When He looks over His shoulder, be there! YOUR JOURNEY… •Read Matthew 4:18-22. Imagine yourself in Peter and Andrew’s shoes. Do you find Jesus as compelling as they did? Would you drop everything to follow Him? Have you? •When Jesus transitioned His followers from fish to people, He showed them that nothing is more important than the needs and nurture of people, particularly in view of eternity. Is there anything in your life more important than the best interests of others? What would be different in your relationships if people were more important than your self-interests? •In order for these early followers to give it all up for Jesus, they had to trust Him in the face of great risk. Is there something that Jesus asks you to do today that is risky? Can you trust Him? •Who knows more about life and its challenges, you or Jesus? If your answer is Jesus, why are you still trying to manage your life on your terms? •What one thing could you plan to do today to live out your calling as a follower? •How does following Jesus affect our ability to lead others? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 7th, 2011 08:54 AM   IP              Pilgrimage Toward Intimacy "I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." Psalm 16:2 Several years ago, as I passed the fifty mark on the calendar of my life, I discovered a new and distinct desire to go deeper and pursue God more intentionally than ever before. I had dreamed a lot of dreams and seen many of them materialize. God, for reasons best known to Him, had been abundantly good to me. But after all those years of fast-paced busyness for Him and of conquering frontiers that loomed large in front of me, I found that beyond and under it all I still had a yearning in the core of my being that kept drawing my attention back to God. I had given God my best years and maximized my energies for Him, but busyness had not drawn me closer to Him. I discovered that, in some ways, busyness creates a false and treacherous sense of spirituality that leads to the assumption that spirituality is a performance and that intimacy with God is a business arrangement. It creates a flat and dull sort of Christianity that can begin to turn our hearts cold and even sour if we’re not careful. I am awakening to the reality that we do ourselves no favors when we act and live as though Christianity were a stage on which we perform as if there were no deep need for an intimate relationship with the One who is the focus of our activity. I have begun to sense as well that in the abundance of God’s goodness to me, I am prone to lose touch with the reality of how much I need Him. I know I need Him—my problem is that I find it easy to lose touch with the reality and ramifications of that knowledge. Early on in my life and ministry, my sense of need was apparent. I earned less than needed to meet my family’s expenses. Without God’s gracious, over-and-above financial provision, my family would not have made it. We needed Him. My insecurities as a minister and public figure also kept me very much aware of how much I needed Him. Each new church I shepherded challenged my sense of self-sufficiency. When we forget that we need Him, our Christianity becomes little more than a task maintained by responsibilities and requirements. God really doesn’t need to do much for us. We are pretty well set. While we count on Him for the big things—redemption, bailing us out if life goes in the ditch—we miss the pleasure and wonder of needing Him and being in touch with His presence and power that alone can satisfy, sustain, and secure us as an ongoing experience of life. While my life has not been without God in some ways, it has been a life that has yet to cultivate the kind of adoring dependency that is required to experience Him most fully and to be most powerfully used of Him. It’s not that I haven’t felt His touch. I have—in some very special ways. In fact, those periodic brushes with His wonderful reality are part of what drives me to live in the constancy of His touch. And it’s not that I haven’t loved Him. I do. It’s that I stand ready and wanting to know Him in a more personal and intimate way. I am hearing the longing of my soul for more of Him. I want to go deeper with God. Want to come along? YOUR JOURNEY… •Does your heart resonate with a longing for a deeper relationship with God? •Make a list of the things and/or people you lean on to fulfill and sustain you. Where does God rank on the list? How might the others on the list be preventing you from complete dependence on Him? •Do you sometimes feel as though “spirituality is a performance and that intimacy with God is a business arrangement”? If so, what led you to that conclusion? •What can you do today to begin cultivating a deeper dependence on God? •Psalm 16:2 says, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Recite these words aloud to the Lord throughout the day as a reminder of your dependence on Him. God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
today Administrator Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009  Posted September 8th, 2011 07:52 AM   IP              The Eternal Question "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." 1 Corinthians 15:19 Life has a way of driving our faith dangerously close to the edge. What we expect from God so often seems to contradict what we experience in life. We find ourselves wanting to ask: If God is good, then why did this happen? If God is all-powerful, then where is He now? If God loves me, why am I not happier? Richer? Why don’t I have fewer problems and more peace? If God is pleased with me, why don’t I experience more pleasure? Unanswered questions like these threaten our enthusiasm and heartfelt commitment to Christ. We find our faith growing more stoic, our view of God less emotive. We develop a kind of Christianity that shrugs its shoulders and says, “Well, that’s just the way it is.”And since the stakes are too high to deny God, we just decide to buck up, grin and bear it, and hope that no one ever asks us these kinds of questions. In fact, we may even come to believe that in order to maintain spiritual sanity we need to park our brains and questions outside the door of faith and separate the spiritual realm from the realities of life. At this point, faith itself becomes unreal and irrelevant. We are left to slug it out on our own, believing that the only relevant resources are in this present world. A disintegrating faith creates a resigned, despairing Christianity that lacks vibrancy and enthusiasm for God and His Word. Our edge is dulled, leaving us passionless and pessimistic. This decline of confidence in and commitment to God may be why there is something dreadfully wrong and out of sync with us. The fault is not with God; it is with us. We have assumed that this world should be a pleasant and friendly place and that the answers to the troublesome questions of life can be found in the temporal realm. We have assumed that the answers to life’s dilemmas lie somewhere within us, among us, or within the realm of the immediate world around us. We are wrong. Thankfully, redemption has put us back in touch with the eternal world beyond and has placed eternity in our hearts. Saving grace has blown down the walls that obscured our view of eternity and has given us a present relationship with Christ the King of eternity, who now lives within us. If you sense that you are missing something—that you had expected more—then perhaps you have neglected the pressing preeminence of the world to come and its first-wave expression in the person of the King who dwells in the world that is in our hearts. It is only when we actively embrace the world beyond and the world within in their proper perspectives that we become capable of finally coping with and conquering our fleeting experience in this present world. Paul had it right when he said: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19). YOUR JOURNEY… •We all have unanswered questions lurking beneath the surface. What are some questions that might threaten your spiritual sanity? •Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-58. What significance does the resurrection of Christ have in your life? •List some of the truths you know about the world to come—heaven. (If you need some clues, read Revelation 21:1-27.) How does the anticipation of heaven bring you hope and joy today? God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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