One song-writer said, “Life is a highway… I want to ride it all night long.” We often refer to this life as a journey. Another hit song had the singer crying out, “Jesus, Take The Wheel.” Yet another hit references the idea of “Runnin’ On Empty.” In fact, many songs reference the drive along the road of life. The metaphors are endless. One of the common driving related phrases people use is, “Just keep looking ahead. Don’t spend your time looking in your rear-view mirror. You aren’t going backwards. Keep looking forward.” This is largely true of course. When you are driving, you want to spend most of your time looking forward. That is the direction you are heading, so it should consume most of your time. People who spend more time looking behind themselves are dangerous drivers. I think most of the time when people tell you to not spend a lot of time looking in the mirror on the journey of life they mean that you shouldn’t let your past control you. I get that. Whether your past is glorious or gross, it is not your future. So you shouldn’t take time and focus away from where you are going to dwell on what you’ve left. But it is possible that in the process we have become ‘anti-mirrors’. Perhaps we have forgotten the value of mirrors. Mirrors serve several purposes in your driving... and in your life journey. Mirrors help you make better decisions by giving you an awareness about what is going on around you. As you drive, you will need to switch lanes from time to time. In order to switch lanes safely, you need to know what is going on in the other lane. When you change lanes, it isn’t critical to see that there is no one in front of you. You need to know that no one is coming up alongside of you. Mirrors help you know this. Without mirrors you would probably spend a lot of time running into other people. Mirrors help you see if anything is coming up behind you. You’ve probably been in a situation where an emergency vehicle is trying to move quickly through an area, but they can’t because someone doesn’t realize they are there. Somehow they cannot hear the siren, and because they never check their mirrors, they don’t see the flashing lights. Mirrors don’t just help you see ambulances and fire trucks, but they also allow you to see when some idiot is weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds. This can help you prepare for what is coming. Mirrors show you what you are leaving. As a child I remember visiting my grandfather. When we would leave, he would stand out in the middle of the street and wave goodbye until we turned off of his road. We children could turn around in the back seat and wave through the back window, watching his tall thin frame become smaller and smaller. But my dad could not do that. He would catch long views through his mirror. He had to make the most of his mirror because that was his way of keeping in touch with what we were leaving. Most of the time you just glance at your mirrors. But when you need to make a change in your direction, you spend more time focusing on what the mirrors tell you about your surroundings. Some people apparently never use their mirrors. When a person does not use the available tools to help them navigate through life, they are basically saying, “I’m the only one that matters on this road.” Not using your mirrors to drive is a selfish thing. So, mirrors serve a great purpose. Looking at your mirrors does not mean you are fixated on your past. It means you want to be well aware of your surroundings. In life, it is good to check your mirrors. It is counter-intuitive, but in a real sense, they help you go forward safely. Scripture speaks to the idea of how to use (and how to not use) your mirrors on your journey. “Jesus said, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:62) “Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonderful works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced.” (Psalm 105:4-5) “When Jesus was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.” (John 2:22) “Don’t say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ since it is not wise of you to ask this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10) Mirrors have a good purpose. They are not to get all of our attention, but they help to make us better drivers. They help us get to our destination safely. And they help us see where we have been. Use your mirrors wisely today. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. It has become popular to say, “The Christian life is not a list of dos and don’ts. It is a relationship.” There are basically two groups of ‘Christians’ who say this. Those who do not want to see people bound by legalism, and those who like to live as they want without accountability for their actions. Because the reality is, there are a fair amount of ‘dos and don’ts’ in the Christian walk. When we think about laws for living, we think of the Old Testament, the nation of Israel, the law of Moses, and the book of Leviticus. When we think about Christian living, we think of the New Testament, grace, mercy, the work of Christ which fulfilled the law, and the law of liberty. But Jesus did not come to abolish the law. He came to turn us into the holy people who would live that holy standard. Grace does not exempt us from holiness. It empowers holiness in our lives. While it is true that salvation is not based on a checklist of things we’ve done or haven’t done, it is far from a blank canvas of ‘do whatever you want’ living. When Paul wrote to one group of Christians in Thessalonica, he ended his letter this way… “Give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves Warn those who are irresponsible Comfort the discouraged Help the weak Be patient with everyone See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all Rejoice always Pray constantly Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus Don’t stifle the Spirit Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things Hold on to what is good Stay away from every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22) Sure looks like a list of dos and don’ts to me. It isn’t a way to be saved (only Jesus can save you.) But it is a way to live saved. Show me someone who doesn’t live like this, and I will show you someone who is not saved. Dos and don’ts aren’t bad. They keep us alive. The directive to not play in heavy traffic may save your life some day. The directive to eat healthy is not a burden. It frees you up to live well. The Christian life is not JUST a list of dos and don’ts. But there are things Christians should do and there are things we should not do. Following that “list” doesn’t “make me a Christian”… but it causes me to experience the blessings of a Christian life and is part of what reveals that I am a Christian. So what “Do” or “Don’t” in today’s list do you struggle with? Ask God to strengthen you in that area. Then bring your mind and body into submission to Christ and live free, doing the things you were designed to do. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. In the olden times the Jews would sing certain songs as they approached the temple to worship. The temple was on a hill. So these particular songs were called “psalms of ascent” because people would sing them as they ascended. Paul encouraged the early Christians to worship in this way, "Be filled with the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:18-19) Here is a song of ascent that may help you prepare for worship today… “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.” (Psalm 121) Have you ever been stranded on the side of the interstate and anxiously looking up the road for your husband, or parents, or AAA? The writer looks to the mountains, because that’s where the strength of God is realized. The temple was on a mountain. All help comes from God. He made everything in nature that exists. He is God over all. If He can create the universe out of nothing, He can fix whatever happens in that universe. God is journeying with you as you walk. He has already been down the road. He made the road. In fact, Jesus referred to Himself as the Way. Not only does God never sleep, He is never tired. Though we are weary at times, God is always alert, and is in protective mode 24 hours a day, 365.25 days a year. We are not alone in this journey, which is often a battle. The Lord shields you from harm. In the day this was written, some shields that soldiers would carry were large enough that you could actually get down behind it and it would protect you. God isn’t just a partial shield. He is a shelter at any moment. You do not need to fear anything in nature, at any time. Nothing in the day will hurt you. Nothing at the night can hurt you. God knows of every possible type of danger you may face. Whether it is a huge battle, or a sneaky ambush, He will protect you from all harm. You life is safe in Him. Wherever He leads you, He will protect you… every day that you follow Him… and into eternity. Worship Him today with this in mind. God is 100% capable of protecting you 100% of the time, in 100% of your circumstances, against 100% of your enemies. So look to Him for help with 100% of your heart, mind, soul, and strength. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. There’s an old saying that causes reflection and self-evaluation for the Christian. It goes like this… “What kind of a church would my church be if all of its members were just like me?” It is so easy to find fault with a church, mainly because it is full of people... people like me. But if you want to improve your church, the best place to start is not with the preacher, or the piano player, or the youth pastor, or the person who keeps falling into temptation as they try to follow Jesus, or that guy who loudly sings off key. The best place to start improving your church is with the person you see in the mirror every day. This week, our devotionals are focusing on what it means to be a God-honoring, pastor-supporting, and believer-edifying parishioner. How can I be a better part of my church? Yesterday we looked at the wrong and right ways to talk about your church. Today we wrap up the series by looking at how we our personal life impacts the church. The Church is God’s mission to save the world. So you can know that the enemy hates the Church. Satan is going to fight hard against the Church because it is the world’s only hope for making it out of this life alive. We carry the truth of eternal hope. We have power for daily holy living. We have the answers a hurting world seeks. So the Devil hates us. Unfortunately he has found that if he discredits us, people in the world will turn that into disbelief in God. This is somewhat fair in the sense that we are a reflection of the reality of God. Jesus told us that the world would believe in the Father because of Him, and the world would believe in Him because of us. On the other hand, it is not acceptable to refuse belief in and infinite God because of the flaws of finite humans. The Church should not be full of hypocrites, people who claim one experience with God but live an entirely different lifestyle. Christians are not perfect people with no problems or room for growth. But they are people who are being perfected. When a person says that they don’t go to church because of hypocrites, they are usually making an excuse. But we as believers should not give them the reason for the excuse. Each of us should examine ourselves to see if we are living up to our claims and Christ’s work. Don't be the excuse someone uses to refrain from church. Paul wrote something similar to the church at Corinth… “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right… We also pray that you become fully mature… Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (Parts of 2 Corinthians 13:5-11) Throughout Paul’s writings, he refers to the Church as a building, a bride, and a body. All of these metaphors reflect the idea of relationship and purpose. We are a building that keeps people safe during the storms of life. We are a bride, in perfect union with a groom who loves us and sacrifices everything so we can be whole. We are a body working together to serve and rescue a lost world. Everyone in the Church is not always living in the power of the Spirit, but that doesn’t mean the Church isn’t real, or really God’s movement. Today, be the kind of Christian that reflects the relationship you claim. Be the church member that shows what God has done for you and in you. What kind of a church would your church be if all of its members were just like you? If there is an area of your life that is unbecoming of a believer, repent of it and move on to maturity. And remember this promise from Christ about the Church even before the Church existed… “I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18) [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. We all like to think we have great taste, and great 'finding' ability. If you find a new restaurant that no one else knows about, you are proud to be the one to introduce all of your friends. And when someone else mentions their favorite spot, you can’t wait for them to finish so you can talk about your discovery. Sometimes we even go so far as to explain why our find is better. I think mostly we want to know (and we want others to know) that we have good instincts and make stellar decisions. When we can convince some of our friends to go with us, and shame the rest for not being cool enough to figure it out, we think we have accomplished something. That may be an exaggeration of how it goes, but not by much. And you probably have someone in your life who does go too far in gushing over their ‘faves’ and making others feel small if they don’t agree. This week, our devotionals are focusing on what it means to be a God-honoring, pastor-supporting, and believer-edifying parishioner. How can I be a better part of my church? Yesterday we looked at the wrong and right ways to find a church. Today we look at how to talk about your church. Let’s say you find that place where God plants you. It is a wholesome loving community of faith where you receive the Word and are able to serve the saved and reach the lost. You love the anointed preaching at your church. The music is top notch. The people serving in areas of ministry are loving and self-sacrificing. The atmosphere is like Heaven. The facilities are welcoming. You absolutely LOVE everything about it. Congratulations. Many Christians wander most of their spiritual life without ever getting plugged-in to such an experience. But when you talk about your church family, there’s no reason to overstate what is going on. The Church is the bride of Christ, and that makes her special. But no one local church gets it all right all the time. That’s right. Your church is not perfect. You might say it is perfect for you. But it is not perfect, and it is likely not perfect for everyone. Everyone should not come to your church. It would never be God’s will for everyone in the world to be a part of your local church. I’ll go a step farther. It isn’t God’s will for every Christian to go to your church. There is one “C”hurch. And that Church is made up of many “c”hurches. That is how God designed it. Each church has its own calling in the larger body and in the world. Most churches have their own unique strength. Larger churches often have a more obvious sense of broadening the Kingdom. Many large churches send a lot of money to foreign fields to build churches and other ministries. They provide great opportunities for the community to get plugged into various services, and will write large checks to a variety of local ministries. They have the ability to put on top-notch productions and special events which provide a gateway for the unchurched to come to know Christ. Smaller churches usually have a greater sense of connectedness/community. It is easier for the church to actually get to know each other. There is often more loyalty present in smaller churches. It is more likely that people will get plugged into ministry in these churches. It is more difficult to hide in a small church, so there is more accountability at all levels. I can go on and on about the benefits of various types of churches. And it isn’t just the size of the church that determines its strengths and weaknesses. The style of worship, leadership and denominational status will impact its values and environment. I can easily list several good things about every church, and several challenges about each church. But most people aren’t that honest about it, especially when talking about their church with their friends and family. It is not uncommon to see Christians on social media gush over their church, pastor, ministries, worship services, etc. They will say, “This is the best church. I’ve been to other churches where people don’t love each other. There is no fighting in this church. You can feel the love when you walk in. No one judges me or my family. I’ve never felt closer to God than I do in this church.” Now, that all may be true. But I’ll be honest… usually that kind of a line is offered after a person has left another church because of something bad that went down between them and another member, or between them and the pastor. Ironically, they had gone to that church for quite some time. And if you go back into their Facebook history, you will probably find that they said the same thing about their former church that they are now saying about their present church. And if you can look deeper than the words, you might find that they are gushing about their new church in order to take a shot at the former church, knowing that their friends from the other church will see their passionate love for the church that they have only been attending for 2 weeks. And how much would you like to bet that they will end up at another church in a couple of years saying the same thing about that one when they get tired or mad at this one? (This is some important stuff). In other words, we act like there is a competition. Some people apparently feel like it is their mission in life to show others that their church is more Biblical, more loving, more accepting, more outreach-focused, cooler, better in the music department, etc. than every other church on the planet. Unfortunately church leadership sometimes promotes this unhealthy competition. I’ve heard radio commercials touting things like, “This ain’t your grandma’s church.” What?!? My grandma was one of the best Christians I know. Her pastor knew her name. That church has been supporting missionaries for 50 years. That church could have all night prayer meetings where they actually prayed all night. It is arrogant of you to think guitars, smoke machines and a hip looking pastor are better than my grandma’s church. Another thing church leaders and members will say to get people to come to their church is, “Our people are real… we are authentic.” What does that mean? Are you saying every other church is full of fake people or hypocrites? Are you suggesting that your church doesn’t have anyone who is a hypocrite? Are you taking a shot at holiness by telling us that people who go to your church can act however they like and it doesn’t matter? The more you tell me how ‘real’ you are, the less I believe you. Ironically, that pitch does not sound authentic to me. We say these things usually to make ourselves feel better about our choices and desires. Perhaps your church does have a spectacular preacher, music program, children’s ministry, youth movement, and facility. Maybe they are making disciples. Great. That really is wonderful. But God is doing the same thing in the church down the street where the preacher stutters, the piano is out of tune, there are only four children (and three of them belong to the pastor), the teens don’t get to go on trips to Africa, and their roof has a few leaks. But they are making disciples too. The Kingdom of God is not a competition between one church and another. It is a conflict between light and darkness. We are called to rescue the lost and bring them into God’s Church, not lure other Christians to our church. It is time for Christians to quit ‘shaming’ other Christians based on their church choice. If you have a friend or family member who is being led away from the truth by false doctrine, you need to help them find truth. But we need to stop comparing the work of God to the work of God and start contrasting the work of God with the work of the enemy. The book of Revelation starts out with seven letters to churches. In those letters God commends and condemns certain activity within them. No church was perfect with no room for improvement. God encouraged them to become more of what He intended them to be. The same is true today. Invite people to church. But mainly invite people to Christ, and encourage them to be a part of that in a place that will best meet their spiritual needs, and help them become fruitful in the Kingdom. Paul saw competition in the early church and addressed it this way… “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:4-18) The primary message you should be sending out is not that your church is better than other churches, but that your God is the only God, and His family is the only one that provides what every person needs. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. |
AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
March 2019
Categories |