Light-work

Enroute to Moriah

What a trip! In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to travel to a mountain He would designate and there offer up his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham arose early the next day to begin the three day trip.

There is no record of the conversation on days one and two, although I cannot imagine a lot of playful banter lightening the mood. Yet the brief interchanges that have been preserved from day three sound a note of hope. Abraham could envision how the situation might turn out differently. But no plan B was forthcoming. So Abraham kept his pace steady to fulfill God's original request. The altar and wood were arranged, the lad bound, the knife unsheathed, and Abraham's arm bared as he braced to plunge the blade into the heart of his son.

What would the journey to Mount Moriah have been like if I walked in the sandals of Abraham? Although my pace on foot would be labored, my mind would be racing in a tumble of questions like these, "How does this request square with God's previous promises? Isaac's birth was miraculous; his destiny was to become the first installment of God's covenant with me; he is poised to become a man who fears God and who is ready to serve Him. And now I am to extinguish all the hope and promise Isaac represents! God's request just doesn't make sense! And then there's the moral dilemma. How can the God of life advocate taking the life of the innocent? Surely this is the opposite of what I would expect of a holy God. Perhaps I have been confused. Perhaps, I have assumed that God is asking me to do this, when God couldn't possibly be the source of such a request! This is all a horrible mistake caused by  miscommunication."

Against the backdrop of such reasonable doubts, Abraham stuns us - he betrays no trace of flinching from God's request in the pregnant moment as the blade is raised. But then God interrupts: He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Gen. 22:12). Did you catch the connection God made? Fearing God and withholding a son are mutually exclusive. By his willingness to give God his son, Abraham proved the genuineness of his fear of God.

I would not presume to equate my experience with Abraham's. But I have recently joined the fellowship of those who journey to Mount Moriah and am striving to learn from Abraham's victory. Earlier this week, our son was diagnosed with cancer. That God would call our beloved son to Himself is among the range of possibilities. So I am asking God to grow in me the authentic fear of Him that is capable of releasing a son to his heavenly Father. I want to fear Him without doubt, without flinching, and without regret. I want to have the kind of regard for my God that considers it an honor to give Him such a precious gift.

God may choose to restore our son - we are fervently praying for precisely that. But even if God does not, we will still love Him and fear Him. Indeed our experience is only deepening our love. For in some small measure, we are experiencing something of what it was like for Father to journey to Mount Moriah and willingly consign His Son to death on a cross. The ghastly picture of what Abraham was about to do shows us what the Father actually did. God stopped Abraham but refused to excuse Himself. Through our tears and anguish of heart, we are seeing with even greater clarity the amazing love of our Father.

The Onesimus Protocol

Onesimus was a first century slave belonging to Philemon of Colossae in Asia Minor. After having robbed his master, Onesimus fled to the anonymity of Rome. There he encountered and was converted by the Apostle Paul, who sent him back to his former master bearing a letter of appeal. In His letter (known to us as The Epistle of Philemon), Paul was struck by an irony suggested in the name, "Onesimus," which means "useful." He declared, "I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me" (Philemon 10-11). Where once "Useful" had been a galling liability to Philemon, now he had been transformed into an asset to both Paul and his friend, Philemon. What had changed? Character! Onesimus had become a new man in Christ.

Here are the characteristics that, according to Peter, define such a man (or woman). Seven qualities are listed first, followed by a description of the outcome for those who develop them: Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).

The "outcome description" in the last sentence is an "if/then" statement. "If" these qualities are increasingly evident, "then" you are someone whose relationship with Jesus is making a positive difference in the lives of others. The implication is quite clear - the man who does NOT possess or has stopped growing these virtues is like an old abandoned jalopy in the desert, totally useless!

There is one difference between the jalopy and the useless believer. The condition of the latter is not permanent! Notice the phrase, "applying all diligence" in 2 Peter 1:5. It indicates that these seven virtues respond to elbow grease. The man who lacks self-control can make progress if he will work at it. The disreputable woman can become a lady of moral excellence, if she will apply herself to doing so.

There is one important caveat. A regimen of character development begins with a specific kind of faith, the belief that God has purified a man from his sin and enabled him to become a new man in Jesus. This kind of faith gives the believer the capacity to change, but the process is not automatic. The individual must supply diligence.

So here is a summary of the process of character development based on 2 Peter 1:5-8: When a man or woman comes to know God through faith in Jesus, he is provided with a resource kit. And in this kit is everything necessary to grow a whole host of character qualities, IF the individual will supply personal effort. As he directs his energies toward becoming morally pure, wise, self-controlled, persevering, godly, kind, and loving, he will make genuine progress and become the kind of person that others value having around. He will be like a tree that bears fruit.

The process of adding character building effort to a faith in Jesus is the protocol that made Onesimus look like his name. You can use this same protocol! Have you come to know God through faith in Jesus? Then you don't need anything except a commitment to work at growing noble character. Doing so will make you an "Onesimus" who is both useful AND fruitful.

It Takes Three to Change

Having discovered Mr. Wickham's true character, Lizzie laments, "How is such a man to be worked on?" The centerpiece of sliminess in Pride and Prejudice, Wickham eventually furnishes ample evidence his character is both corrupt and confirmed. The unassailable answer to Lizzie's rhetorical question hangs in the air with frank finality, "Impossible!"

Is this true for all? Is inner change beyond reach? The Bible is quite clear that redemption unlocks the power of genuine transformation. Paul names a den of disreputable characters in 1 Cor. 6:9-10, and then reminds the Corinthians, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11). Notice the first occurrence of the word, "were." It indicates not just an occasional lapse but a steady state of moral failure. In their former condition, the Corinthians were a consistently sordid lot. But this was the black velvet against which the Gospel gleamed so brightly. Being washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ so altered them that, where once they were aptly described as thieves, or womanizers, or drunkards, NOW those labels no longer fit. With truth and over time, they had been made new from the inside out.

This kind of change is not merely external. But it will be evident in externals. Try to take a sample of the human soul and put it under a microscope. Find a device to which a man or woman can be wired up with probes to produce a print-out of his character. Like the wind which can only be observed by the things it affects, so is a man's character discerned through words and deeds. They are not the essence of but windows into a man's character.

Jesus was addressing the religious bigwigs of Israel who were confused on this distinction. He explained, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (Luke 6:45). In the name of character transformation, we can fiddle with how someone expresses himself. We might succeed by maintaining, for a season, a favorable impression. But sooner or later, the true state of a man's character will be made evident in what he says.

Deeds also tell us about a man's character, sometimes providing an even clearer account of a man's heart than his words. In Paul's ministry on the island of Crete, he encountered a group whose declarations of allegiance were soundly contradicted by their actions. He observed, "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed" (Titus 1:16).

As a man is transformed from the inside out, those internal changes will be reflected by new speech and behavior patterns. So any attempt to form character must give attention to all three domains. It will address the ways that a heart must be renewed. It will teach how such a heart will speak. And, it will show the kinds of deeds that will flow from such a heart.

If you are going to teach children how to become men and woman of character, you must give attention to all three domains, heart, word, and deed. Focus purely on heart, and you will reap arrogant do-nothings. Focus merely on words and deeds and you will raise up hypocrites. Focus on heart as the source and noble speech and deeds as the outflow, and you serve them well.

Church Growth By Intimidation

This was not your usual revival meeting. One man came forward to make an impressive contribution from a real estate deal. Instead of the adulation he envisioned, this man received a thundering rebuke and died on the spot. The guys with the stretcher hardly had time to get his body to the morgue before the man’s wife showed up. She betrayed her complicity in her husband’s scam and promptly joined him in death.

Needless to say, everyone in town was a little rattled! Whispers were heard on the street: “Don’t get too close to those Christian unless you want to put your life on the line.” The whispers were not without warrant. The basic problem with this late couple was an attempt to represent themselves as something they were not. They wanted to LOOK LIKE the real deal without BEING the real deal. Perhaps they actually deluded themselves into thinking they were the real deal. But, God was not fooled by this sham and made His point with double corpses as exclamation points.

Here is Luke’s summary of the reputation of the early church after the “double death revival” meeting:  “But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem” (Acts 5:13). The average Joe of Jerusalem respected the saints and appreciated their commitment. But he also had enough sense to realize that an insincere association with these folks could prove fatal.

So here is what I find fascinating. Some would say that church growth requires us to present ourselves to the average Joe as unthreatening and undemanding. We should demurely declare, “Hey, come hang with us. We are benign enough to be safe and unintimidating. You’ll feel perfectly at ease.”

But look at Acts 5:14!  When the church was respected but intimidating, that's when growth kicked into high gear!  Luke reports, “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number” (Acts 5:14).  The word “and” at the beginning of the verse tells us that when the church was frighteningly  real, that is when its growth went into overdrive! 

Suppose someone comes among us and says, “I respect your devotion and dedication, but I’m not ready to make this kind of commitment.”  Don’t interpret that comment as a call for us to become less committed or to hide our devotion to Jesus under a bushel basket.  It’s an affirmation we are following the lead of one of the fastest growing churches in history.  We may be scary to an average Joe when we are the real deal, but that is also when he sees that in Jesus you don’t have to live a life that’s just average.

Could You Be Convicted?

In Revelation, the Overcomer is presented as a model of authentic Christianity. In the future, he will overcome three intimidating threats, a “smart idol,” “the beast” and “his number.” This victory will be won despite considerable cost, including market exclusion, and in some cases, death. So how will the overcomer pull this off? What’s his secret?

One of the overcomer’s victory strategies is based on understanding the concept of “deed forwarding.” Here is John’s explanation: “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them” (Rev. 14:12-13).

In this verse, a special blessing is extended to those who pay the ultimate price for their allegiance to the Lord. But the phrase, “from now on,” suggests that, at a certain point, the difficulty of maintaining one’s allegiance to the Lord will increase (as will the blessedness of doing do).

This blessed condition has two results: The overcomer/martyrs will rest from their labors and their “deeds follow with them.” For those who have been about fighting the good fight, “rest” seems a fitting reward. The second phrase describes those whose deeds provide strong evidence of their faith. By the way, their deeds do not go “before” them as the basis of their salvation. They “follow” as a trail of evidence left by those who are the real thing. “Their deeds go with them and speak for them” would be the idea. On earth, there is no shortage of evidence by which to CONVICT them as followers of the Lord. In heaven, there is no shortage of evidence by which to REWARD them as genuine followers of the Lord. Their deeds make it clear beyond all reasonable doubt who they are.

So what about you? If a Jesus-hater were to follow you around today, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a follower of Jesus?

Out With The Bad, In With The Good

In a recent sermon, I stated that fearing God (used in a positive sense) is synonymous with "fearing God's disapproval."  JP has a question: "You say we should fear God's displeasure, but is that the only way we should fear Him?" GREAT QUESTION! Let me answer by first laying some groundwork.

Our English word, "fear," is most often used to denote panic, terror, and dread, so it seems decidedly ill-suited to describe a positive response to the God whom we are also encouraged to "love." How does one love God AND fear Him? It seems like it should be one or the other. Indeed, the Apostle John seems to say that fear and love are polar opposites: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love (1 John 4:18).

The Greek word phobos (used by John and elsewhere by almost every other New Testament writer) has a broader range of meaning than the English word "fear." In some contexts, phobos is a positive virtue that is translated by words like "awe," "respect," and "reverence." In others, phobos is something to be avoided. Compare these two passages: "On some have mercy with fear" (Jude 23); "And all the people . . . asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear" (Luke 8:37). In Jude, "fear" assists one to show mercy - this phobos is good; In Luke, "fear" drives a people to put distance between themselves and Jesus - this phobos is bad. Notice another thing about this passage in Luke. The "bad fear" of the people in Luke 8:37 is fear OF the Lord! Here are a people who really "fear the Lord" but this fear produces a disaster: They compel Him to leave the scene!

For Paul, the fear of the Lord is a powerful and positive motivator (2 Cor. 5:11). But for the residents of Gerasene country, their fear of the Lord motivated an aversion to Him. Think about what they had witnessed. Prior to Jesus' arrival, a man had become the unrestrained terror of the neighborhood through demonic power. Yet, at the man's first meeting with Jesus, the Lord merely used words to accomplish what neither chains nor posse's had here-to-for been able. Again through mere words, Jesus provoked a local shortage of ham and bacon when the demonic horde was promptly dispatched to a herd of swine. Obviously, everything about "life as normal" was subject to change with Jesus around.

Jesus was the enemy of the status quo and the Gerasenes liked their status quo. They had their own agenda, their own plan for what their lives should look like. So when Jesus flashed some muscle, it threatened their comfortable little existence. To see how even the demons were subject to Him made it hard to assert that they themselves were not. When men who resent the Lord are confronted by His power and faced with their accountability, their fear is about consequences. They fear the Lord, not because they love Him, but because they despise Him, despise His power and authority, despise His right to call them to account for their opposition, despise Him for administering punishment. This is fear borne by hate.

1 John 4:18 tells us what happens when this kind of fear has a close encounter with God's love. If a man's eyes are opened and he grasps what actually happened when Jesus died for him on the cross, he sees that the one he has hated loves him with a perfect love. How can he not love Him back? As he does, the fear borne by hate evaporates in the face of His perfect love. This is John's point in 1 John 4:18.

But there is more to the story. The awareness of accountability to God is transformed by love from being a penalty to a privilege. It is an honor to live in a way that pleases the God who loves us with perfect love. This is fear borne by love. An image that helps to capture what this kind of love looks like is discerned in the newlyweds' first meal. By love, the bride has prepared her table. But as "the first bite" approaches, she is anxious and apprehensive. She longs to see her beloved's face beam with pleasure and his approving gaze turn toward her. Here is fear borne by love.

Yes, JP, there are other ways to fear God. But this is the best way.

The Art of Asking, Part 3 of 3

In a previous post, we acknowledged that Jesus repeatedly affirmed this simple formula. If we will ask, the Father will do. Don't confuse its simplicity with its "degree of difficulty," however. There is something inside us that will put forth a plethora of reasons NOT to ask. Here are three:

1. Asking Implies Accountability – When we ask God for something, our actions are an acknowledgment that He is in charge. By asking, the "asker" is admitting that he is not the master of his own destiny. Who doesn't feel the pull of saying, "I can do it myself?" To ask God is to pitch this self-delusion and declare, "God is the One upon whom I depend - I need what only He can give."
2. Asking Invites Refusal - When we pose a question to God - "Will You do this?" - it is a question that allows for at least two possibilities: "Yes" or "no!" Who likes being told "no?" So when we ask God for something that we really, REALLY want, we are allowing for the possibility that God could say, "not now," or "not ever." That risk can keep us from asking. But consider this: If God says "no," is that a bad thing? Not at all, if you understand God's love, wisdom, and power. God is committed to our best (love), knows what would serve our best interests (wisdom), and is perfectly capable of accomplishing it (all-powerful). So when God says "no," knowing His love, wisdom, and power allows me to respond by saying, "Thanks for your 'no.' You have refused this request, because love wouldn't grant such a thing. Thanks for watching out for me."
3. Asking Requires Waiting - When we ask, we have to wait for an answer. That's a challenge, especially in America where we want it NOW! So rather than ask and wait, we are tempted to rush after it on our own. Asking is a declaration of a profound preference: "I want what God chooses to give me, regardless of how long it takes, rather than what I can seize for myself right now."

The mere act of asking is by itself the first and foremost element of the art of asking. It is a form of worship wherein a man (or woman) declares his dependence on God, his trust in God for an answer that will be the product of love and wisdom, and his willingness to respect God's discernment of the right timing. Simply, to ask is to worship God.

But several of the qualifying phrases referenced by Jesus in our master chart add to our understanding of the art of asking. In Matthew 21:22, the asking is qualified by the phrase, "in prayer, believing." It will not do to make a request of God while entertaining doubt and uncertainty about God's ability to do what is asked. We may ask God for the impossible, but such prayers will be ineffective unless they arise from a confidence that nothing is impossible with God.

Several times, Jesus speaks of asking "in My name." This is often the basis for adding a formula at the end of a prayer, "In Jesus Name, Amen," sort of a magic charm that makes a prayer more powerful. (There is nothing intrinsically wrong with closing a prayer with these words, but this is not Jesus' point.) There are two principles captured by this phrase. In a passage like John 16:23-24, praying in Jesus' name means making requests on His authority. To pray in Jesus' name means to come before the Father and declare, "I am making this request of You because Jesus has given me the authority to do so." It's a bold and gutsy move, but one for which the death of Jesus has qualified us. Amazing!

The second idea behind "asking in Jesus' name" is given a more expansive treatment in John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” Note two things: (1) The one who understands the art of asking is an abiding disciple. He maintains his vital connection with Jesus. (2) When Jesus' words abide in a disciple, his thoughts and actions are informed by and reflect Jesus' teachings; he is "in tune" with Jesus' desires. His requests are the kind of which Jesus would say, "Now that's exactly what I would ask for. Good request!"

The obvious implication is that growing in our skill to ask well will be accompanied by growth in our ability to use "Word-driven prayers." Before making a prayer request of God, locate Bible verses that speak to the issues. Figure out what Jesus would ask for if He was to bring the situation before God. Pray for that and you are praying "in Jesus' name."

One more element to the art of asking is addressed in Matthew 18:19. The clause, "if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask," underscores the importance of agreement. When two disciples are praying for opposite outcomes, their prayers are probably a prelude to disappointment, at least for one party. But when they agree, the prayer power meter jumps. To increase your effectiveness in prayer, work with one or two others to discern what Jesus would pray for. Then start praying with one voice. Then step back and see God work!

The Art of Asking, Part 2 of 3

When Jesus says it ONCE, that is enough. When He repeats it TWELVE TIMES, it should be more than enough to make things perfectly clear - "Asking" moves the hand of God. "Ask," the single word in the blue column above, is found in each of the dozen passages in the left column. This word constitutes the simple sum of our part of an equation. We do the asking (blue column), then God does the doing (lavender column). (By the way, you can download an expanded and printable copy of this nifty table by clicking here.) So when we want to see what can only be explained by the hand of God, our part is simple: Ask! James explains the flip side, "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2).

Note three categories of information from this table that expand our understanding of "askology." (1) The One to whom our requests are directed is identified as the Father (3 times) or the Son (1 time). (2) The domain of what we can ask for is wide open, "anything," "whatever" or "whatever you wish," and "all things." Seems pretty simple, so far. (3) But HOW we ask is qualified by several phrases including "in My name," and "in prayer, believing." The clause, "if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you," appears in John 15:7 as a prerequisite for effective requests.

We are left with an inescapable conclusion: Not all requests are created equal. Those which meet the conditions in the "qualifier" column are answered by the Father's pleasure to act. No such guaranty is extended to requests that fail the "qualifier" test. Asking God matters, we can ask Him for anything, but how we ask makes all the difference between "do" and "not do." So what does such an art of asking look like, anyway?

The Art of Asking, Part 1 of 3

Here is a remarkable incident from the earthly ministry of Jesus:

As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Luke 18:35-41).

Can you imagine having Jesus, the only One capable of accomplishing the impossible, asking you the same question? What if, today, Jesus personally stood before you and queried, "What do you want Me to do for you?" What answer would you give that is worthy of such a question?

This is not an isolated incident in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Gospels are rich with accounts in which Jesus seeks, listens to, and responds to requests. He also clearly and repeatedly taught the principle that is captured in John 14:14: "If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it."

There are twelve different places in the Gospels where Jesus teaches to this principle. In every instance, the term, "ask," is the pole around which His teaching orbits. In three cases, "ask" is a command. In three instances, "ask" is the first half of a conditional statement. In the remaining six, "ask" is at the center of a statement of fact. Here are all twelve with "ask" highlighted:

Commands

• “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
• “And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).
• "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full” (John 16:24).

Conditional Statements

• “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
• “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
• Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name (John 16:23).

Statements of Fact

• “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).
• “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
• “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matthew 21:22).
• “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you” (Mark 11:24).
• “And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).
• “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you” (John 15:16).

If Jesus revisited a topic a dozen times, and repeatedly affirmed what He taught by His example, you would justifiably conclude, "This matters!" There is no room here for doubt or confusion: Jesus desires to receive and respond to our requests. He wants us to ASK!

Love With A Will

In the letter to the church in Ephesus recorded in Revelation 2:1-8, Jesus affirms this congregation on several counts: They are hard working, persevering, devoted to the truth, and intolerant of false teachers. There is one warning sign: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). The terms of Jesus' condemnation make it clear that the Ephesians' love has been trending in the wrong direction. They formerly possessed a "first love," but have lost it. Where you would expect someone to love the Lord more with the passage of time, the Ephesians actually love the Lord LESS. This is abnormal and definitely a sign of something serious!

Their sister church, Thyatira, demonstrated what should have been: “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Rev. 2:19). The "deeds" of the Thyatiran believers are specified in the four terms, love, faith, service, and perseverance. In all four categories, this church has made progress. For example, their love has grown stronger with the passage of time. They mark a bold contrast with Ephesus where love has waned.

What, exactly, happened in Ephesus? And how would one who has "lost his first love" go about reclaiming it? Answering these question has been rendered more difficult for our culture's preoccupation with a type of "love" that is nothing of the sort. D. G. Myers has a fine post on his "commonplace blog" exploring the literary expressions of this pre-occupation. He elucidates, "All the literary world loves a lover, especially if passion overwhelms his commitments and will." Our Western culture is awash in glorious depictions of love as this powerful and external force prevailing over good sense, honor, and restraint. 

So, when contemporary Western Christians think of a "first love," they are quick to associate this phrase with the onset of an external force, something like the landfall of a hurricane. To "recover" a first love seems as attainable as conjuring the hurricane. How do you "recover" something that is not under your control, something that, in point of fact, controls you?

The problem, here, is created by a case of mistaken identity. The irresistible hurricane of passion is not love. It might be called as much by some, but it is diametrically opposed to what Jesus calls "love." In Jesus' dictionary, love is synonymous with unconditional commitment. This true form of love resists the hurricane; it boldly declares, "I will love you as a matter of choice. Despite whatever winds oppose that commitment, I will remain true to you."

Myers cites a McClatchy Newpapers post that provides a poignant illustration of the contrast between love that is commitment and "love" that destroys commitment. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has shown the latter by his adulterous relationship with an Argentine television journalist. The former shines forth in a statement by his wife, Jenny Sanford. Here is a key excerpt: "I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. . . . I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance."

Only when we understand that the "first love" of which Jesus speaks is commitment love can we understand His appeal to recover it. He is asking the Ephesian believers to renew their commitment to Himself. He is asking them, as a matter of the will, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). When this commitment of heart is increasingly evident in a person's life, he is moving in the right direction. When it becomes less and less evident, he is courting danger and vulnerable to the hurricane.

Remembering Your Sisters in Jail

Last Sunday, August 9, Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh were brought before an Iranian court. They have been held for the last five months in Evin prison and were brought before the court to pressure them into recanting their profession of faith. You can read the full report filed by Elam by clicking here - highly recommended. Here is an excerpt:

Mr. Haddad, asked the two women if they were Christians. “We love Jesus,” they replied. He repeated his question and they said, “Yes, we are Christians.”

Mr. Haddad then said, “You were Muslims and now you have become Christians.”

“We were born in Muslim families, but we were not Muslims,” was their reply.

Mr. Haddad’s questioning continued and he asked them if they regretted becoming Christians, to which they replied, “We have no regrets.”

Then he stated emphatically, “You should renounce your faith verbally and in written form.” They stood firm and replied, “We will not deny our faith.”

During one tense moment in the questioning, Maryam and Marzieh made reference to their belief that God had convicted them through the Holy Spirit. Mr. Haddad told them, “It is impossible for God to speak with humans.”

Marzieh asked him in return, “Are you questioning whether God is Almighty?”

Mr. Haddad then replied, “You are not worthy for God to speak to you.”

Marzieh said, “It is God, and not you, who determines if I am worthy.”

Although Christian persecution is (currently) rare in the United States, it is the norm in many parts of the world and has been so from the beginning. The New Testament outlines specific steps of action to be undertaken by those who are NOT in prison toward those who are. So read these verses and think of Maryam and Marzieh.

The writer of Hebrews commands, "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body" (Heb. 13:3). Maryam and Marzieh are our sisters in Christ, so we will not forget them. We will remember them in prayer, and serve them as God gives us opportunity, knowing that we, too, could someday share a similar fate. Paul requests, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Tim. 1:8). We have every reason to be proud of our sisters. In the strength of their faith, they will leave their prison with honor.

But we are not blind to the pressure that is being brought to bear against them. They need divine strength to maintain their testimony, and we can play a vital role by asking Father to keep them strong. When Jesus addressed the church of Smyrna, He identified seven key truths that can reinforce persecuted saints. Here is a prayer for the Maryams and Marziehs of the world that is informed by these seven truths.

Dear Father, we come before you on behalf of Maryam and Marzieh and all persecuted Christians. (1) Even though their circumstances have been turned upside-down, remind them that You are the beginning and the end. That which matters most, their relationship to You through Jesus, has not changed. You are still God; your purposes have not changed; your love for them has not diminished. Give them incredible calm in the face of glaring uncertainty because they KNOW You have not changed.  (2) Give them hope in the confidence that death is our door to life! Jesus has already shown us by His resurrection that life follows death, that death is no threat but a door to life, and that we will follow Jesus to life in Your presence. (3) Please remind them that you understand what they are going through. Nothing that is being done to them has escaped your notice or failed to arouse your concern. You know! Remind them that You do not take lightly what is done to Your children. (4) Give them the profound inner joy that, regardless of what is taken from them, what matters most is absolutely secure. They are rich in Christ. Nothing that men, nothing that judges, or guards, or prosecutors do, can confiscate their true riches. (5) Speak to their hearts and remind them that You are in charge. This is not a situation that has spun out-of-control. You are calling the shots, and whatever these men do out of anger or opposition to Jesus, they will only further Your purposes. Help the hearts of our brothers and sisters to bubble over with joy in the knowledge that you ALWAYS lead us in triumph. Someday, we will be able to look back on what transpires here, and discern in it one more stepping stone for the victory that is ours in Christ. (6) Give our brothers and sisters the kind of wisdom that creates joy in the face of trials. Help them to know that You will use this experience to better conform them to the image of Christ. (7) Whisper to their minds, "It will be worth it!" Cause the hope of eternity to burn brightly within their hearts, for them to have an unshakable resolve to stay true to Jesus, to know that they are walking a path that leads to eternal life. We pray these things in the blessed name of Jesus our Savior, Amen

Who's Got Your Number?

Sometime in the future a very powerful smart idol will "encourage" allegiance to a charismatic world leader. Most folks will receive this encouragement as an offer that cannot be refused. A few will see past the hocus-pocus, declining to join the fan club despite the cost: These are the overcomers who are victorious over the beast (the antichrist) and his image - see previous post for more info.

But there is a third facet to their victory. In Revelation 15:2, we learn that they are also victorious over "the number of his name." Now how do you achieve victory over a number? To answer that question let's consider Revelation 13:16-18, which declares: And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six (Rev. 13:16-18).

Lots of energy has been consumed in attempting to make a positive ID on the number "666." It seems warranted because of the exhortation to "calculate" this number and the tantalizing prospect that someone who solves this high-stakes Sudoku puzzle "gets it," he understands. So there has been no small amount of speculation about what it represents. I won't go into all the proposals; they are myriad.

I am of the opinion (and it is just an opinion) that solving the 666 puzzle will be impossible until we pass a certain juncture in future events. Once we pass that juncture, anyone with a biblically informed understanding will "get it" quite easily. There is a biblical precedent for this idea. On the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus explained, “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them” (John 16:4). Jesus predicted future events knowing full well that his disciples couldn't possibly anticipate how they would be fulfilled. However, He did not provide this information so that they could predict what would happen in the future but recognize what was happening for what it was once it had occurred. His prophecy was not about prediction but recognition!

I think that the "triple six" number system will be immediately recognized (by overcomers) for what it is when it actually appears. The saints will experience an "aha" moment when they are blinded by the obviousness of what they see. But, today, in the season when "666" is not manifest, every attempt to predict what to look for is a subjective stab in the dark.

What we can say right now and with certainty is this: The possession of this number is a requirement for market participation. The beast "provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name" (Rev. 13:17). Can you imagine having to survive in our modern world without buying and selling? I don't care how "off the grid" you live, buying and selling is still critical to your existence. Someday in the future, without a "beast mark" issued in the form of a name or number, you will be on your own.

So why would anyone refuse such a number. According to Revelation 14:9, receipt of a "beast mark" is a clear declaration of loyalty to this coming charismatic world leader and a declaration of opposition toward God: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Rev. 14:9-10). Anyone with the spiritual eyesight to see the issues clearly would realize that "taking a number" is a choice to keep the pantry stocked at the cost of incurring God's wrath! This is a no-brainer!

The "third victory" of the overcomer is a refusal to align himself with the antichrist even though it means his exclusion from the marketplace. When the time comes and when everyone around him thinks having a triple six makes perfect sense, he will KNOW this is a course defined by perfect stupidity. When told to "take a number," he will respond without hesitation, "Take a hike!"

Ain't No Scary Idol Gonna Break Me!

In a previous post, I talked about how modern technology could solve the age-old problem of dumb idols. Until now, a man might dress up a tree, call it his god, and start consulting it for guidance. There's just one problem, his idol is dumb! In the future, perhaps the near future, the "right hand man" of a charismatic world leader, will solve this problem by inventing the ultimate smart idol.

Here's a preview of his accomplishment. I have inserted in square brackets some descriptions that will help you sort out who's who. "And he [the right hand man] deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast [the charismatic Jesus hater], telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast [the charismatic Jesus hater] who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him [the right hand man] to give breath to the image of the beast [living representation of the Jesus hater], so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed" (Rev. 13:14-15).

Talk about a scary idol. This one doesn't just LOOK menacing, it IS menacing! It is sentient and  intelligent. It speaks! It is capable of using these endowments to discriminate between supporters and opponents of the charismatic Jesus hater AND can effect the execution of those opponents. Needless to say, most folks will "get religion" from an encounter with this bad boy. The religion they will be "getting" is fawning allegiance to the Jesus hater.

It is this understanding which helps us make sense of Revelation 15:2: "And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God" (Rev. 15:2). There will a group of people who successfully oppose the living image's attempt to intimidate them. I have said it before, and will say it again: The overcomer has within him the power to discern that giving allegiance to the Jesus hater is the stupidest thing a man could do. The overcomer will be able to see through all the hype and PR that everyone else has bought into. He will stand firm in that conviction, even when a talking idol utters very real threats like, "Off with his head!"

It will be worth it: "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years" (Rev. 20:4).

Overcomers and Drop-Outs

Yesterday, we made two observations. (1) The term, "overcomer," that is used in the book of Revelation is simply another title for a "true Christian." (2) The overcomer is willing to die for his faith. He loves the Lord more than life itself and overcomes by thwarting others' attempts to compromise that love. This seems clear enough. But we have to ask, "Is someone who fails to 'overcome' because he denies the Lord not a 'true Christian?'" Our notion of what constitutes a "normal believer" doesn't seem to include this courage that thunders, "Die before deny!" Isn't the whole martyr gig for the Stephen's of the world, and surely not the stuff of ordinary Joes for Jesus?

It is common in today's church to encourage people to pray a "sinner's prayer." It's a good idea! But the simplicity of this moment has potential to reinforce a really bad idea, "Insurance Policy Salvation." When a man says, "Yea, I prayed 'the prayer' a long time ago so I'm good with the man upstairs," it is appropriate to ask if that prayer was about getting fire insurance or the day a fire for God got started! A man can receive salvation in such a moment of prayer, but if he truly has been saved, we ought to be able to see some changes. James would say that faith without works is dead. Faith without change is lifeless faith. Living faith changes a man.

The true state of a man's faith is not always obvious. True, the Lord knows those who are His. But, we can be fooled. Even an apostle like John admits to being taken in, for a time, by some pretenders: They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us (1 John 2:19). There were some in the congregation who gave the appearance of being the real thing. But only when they bailed from the fellowship to pursue an agenda of opposing Christ were their true colors revealed. Perhaps these pretenders "prayed the prayer," but they demonstrated the falseness of that prayer by their actions.

The overcomer is the real deal. Striking evidence is provided by his willingness to be steadfast when following Christ is accomplished by carrying a cross. True believers are willing to die for Jesus. I don't hear this principle talked about much in our pulpits. Not a good sign! It ought to be preached - because it conveys something profoundly encouraging. A marketing slogan queries, "Is it in you?" For the true believer, the answer is a resounding "yes," and we're not talking about sugar water. When someone genuinely surrenders to Christ, he receives the capacity to stand for Christ despite the cost. If you know Jesus, then the capacity to "overcome" is in you. You can do this!

What Overcomers Overcome

Each of the seven churches addressed in Revelation chapters 2-3 receives an "overcomer promise." Here's one: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God” (Rev 2:7).

The other six promises have a similar three part format. (1) They are each preceded by a call for careful consideration, "He who has an ear, let him hear...." (2) The condition is identified by the phrase "To him who overcomes." (3) The result for those who successfully overcome is a profound benefit, although it is variously described as "eat of the tree of life," "not be hurt by the second death," receive "hidden manna, ...a white stone, and a new name," receive "authority over the nations," be made a "pillar in the temple of My God...," and granted to "sit down with Me on my throne." All of these promises are associated with the "finish line" that is described in the last two chapters of the book, chapters 21-22.

A road-map shows what to expect and how to prepare for the journey. Revelation is just such a road-map. The drama that plays out in Revelation 4-20 describes events "before the finish." It identifies the obstacles that will cause some to fail. It points out critical route markers that will indicate when the goal is near. It provides exactly the information an aspiring overcomer could use to great advantage in his journey to the finish line.

So who is an overcomer? View one: This term is synonymous with a "true Christian?" Or, view two, this is a description of a super saint who rises above the norm? View one is preferable. The benefits offered the "overcomer" are no different from what is promised to the true follower of Jesus. If the benefit, "eat of the tree of life," for example, is only available to super saints, where does that leave the less than super saints? Not in a very good place! Conclusion: The fact that the successful overcomer is promised benefits which are extended to all genuine disciples of Jesus tells me that "overcomer" is simply another term for a "true Christian."

Holding this position does raise a sobering question. Some of the characteristics of an overcomer seem to surpass what we would consider "normal" Christianity. For example, the overcomer is one who "keeps my deeds until the end" Rev. 2:26). The overcomer is compared to Jesus who "overcame" by completing His earthly mission (Rev. 3:21), a mission that culminated in His death. In Rev 12:11, overcomers are described as those who "did not love their life even when faced with death." Overcomers don't seem to overcome death, indeed, their victory is somehow secured in death. So what, exactly, does the overcomer overcome? Rev. 15:2 answers that the overcomers' victory is "over the beast, and his image, and the number of his name." The overcomer might not beat death (although he will beat the "second death!"), but he beats the beast at his game of compelling allegiance to himself.

It is not possible to appreciate these verses without concluding that the overcomer represents the true Christian, but his true Christianity includes a surpassing devotion to the Lord. The overcomer shows us that a true believer is willing to die for his faith. His is a simple and uncompromised devotion: He loves the Lord more than life itself. He would rather die than deny his Savior.

Can Obama Learn A Lesson Fit For A King?

The Wall Street Journal is tracking Obama's First 100 Days. Their handy "track-o-matic" is a nice touch and highlights major developments for each day in the countdown. Alas, there is no associated story with a Presidential quote like this: “For my first official act in office, I will spend the next 15 days making a complete handwritten copy of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. My entire cabinet of advisers will serve as witnesses during the process. I will then begin each day in office with the reading and study of the books I have copied.” This may sound like a speech from the twilight zone, but there was a time and place where it made perfect sense.

God spoke through His servant Moses, declaring the highest and best use for a monarch's first days in office. Here is what God outlined for each newly installed king of Israel: “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

The worst thing that could happen to a king was to become proud, to let the power and prerogatives of his position go to his head. Reading, studying, and meditating on a handwritten copy of God’s Word was a great antidote for this workplace hazard. Making this part of his daily regimen would remind the king to lead the people in a way that served God's interests. It would help him remember that he answers to God.

Does it seem like President Obama would welcome a coronation? Let him learn what God says about the proper priorities of kings. Let him reaffirm his accountability to the God of the Bible for his performance as President. A good place to start would be in reading and meditating on the Word. Let him discover therein how to boost his approval ratings in the eyes of the only One whose opinion matters. Alas, we are now two thirds of the way through the first one hundred days, and the President's actions present scant evidence for a sense of accountability to the God of the Bible.

What about you? Would you like to live like a king? Start a journal in which you write out the Bible verses God is using to teach you, keep that journal ready at hand, and use it as the basis of daily study and refection. Your ability to obey God, to resist pride, and to be a constructive influence on those around you will all go up.  Writing, reading, and applying God’s Word is a great way to live like a king, the kind of which the King of kings approves.

The Real Prosperity Gospel

Who doesn't want to prosper? All men (with a few bizarre exceptions) share this basic desire. They differ, however, by the creative range of means they use to pursue this prosperity. Solomon knew a thing or two about prosperity, so his thoughts on the subject warrant our attention. Listen to this striking piece of counsel: He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion (Prov. 28:13).

The genuine prosperity of seeing your plans and desires come to fruition is put in jeopardy when your energies are dissipated in attempts to conceal your secret sins. The fear of being discovered, doing what you must to keep from being found out, is a terrible waste of your energies. The healthy alternative is both simple and scary. Honestly admit what you have done to those who need to hear your confession, God being the first name on your list. Then, make a clean break from your sin. As you do, you will find yourself on the receiving end of compassion, both from God as well as those who know what it means to be forgiven.

This is not just Solomon's idea. Peter echoes the same promise on the day that the church came into existence: “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

When Jesus died on the cross he made it POSSIBLE for men to have their sins wiped away. But they have their own part to play to turn what is possible into what is ACTUAL. To "repent" and "return" is something each man must choose for himself. Those who do unlock the power of the Gospel to make men rich. Inner refreshment, a sense of God's presence, compassion from God and others - I would call the recipient of such treasure a truly wealthy man.

The Preferred Way to Lose Stuff

Here's a recent snapshot from our ministry partners in central India. The people in this picture serve Jesus in a place where doing so can prove costly. But despite damage to property and time in jail, they are still smiling. Why? They understand the meaning of this passage: But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one (Heb. 10:32-34).

In the current economic crisis, lot's of folks have suffered losses, too. But they're not smiling. Why not? When your treasure is on earth, it's depressing when you take a big hit in the marketplace. But when your real treasure is safe and secure in heaven, and you're using all the disposable stuff here on earth for Jesus, then who cares when you lose some stuff! It's all going to burn up anyway! So here's a simple choice - EITHER accept the loss of earthly benefits for Jesus sake and you can keep smiling (because your real treasure is safe). OR, live for earthly treasure and fight depression when your portfolio takes a beating (because your hoard is vanishing). I join our Indian partners by choosing the former as my preferred method to lose stuff.

Prayer That Packs a Punch

This verse ought to take your breath away:  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). The speaker is Jesus and He is making a stunning offer. He, the Lord of the Universe, will put "whatever you wish" on His personal to-do list. You don't get a better prayer guarantee than this.

So what's the catch? It's captured in two conditional clauses that precede the promise: (1) "If you abide in me," and (2) "[if] My words abide in you." The promise is only relevant to those who meet these two prerequisites: They must be living "in Jesus" and His words must be living in them. Jesus is describing someone whose entire approach to life is defined by a devotion to Jesus and His Word.

The reward ("Jesus will do whatever you wish") is too great for us to ignore the prerequisite. So how, exactly, can we meet it? Here is one practical step: Learn how to pray "Word driven prayers." These are prayers that are informed by what the Bible says. They are NOT a mere dressing up of personal desires in Bible lingo. They ARE prayers which use the Bible to identify Jesus' desires and then declare, "That's what I want. too." In John 15:7, Jesus is describing the power of prayer when a man's (or woman's) heart beats in unison with His.

I have prepared a little booklet called "Only by the Hand of God," which gives you some examples of these kinds of prayers. Click here to download a copy. It uses Scripture to identify the things that matter to Jesus and express those desires in simple prayers tailored to different situations. This is NOT a prayer book - but an illustration of a kind of praying that occurs when the Word abides in us and leaks out in our prayers, the kinds of prayers of which Jesus says, "Now that's a prayer I want to answer."

The Adding Machine Says It Ain't Chump Change

Finally, someone has discovered how to use an adding machine as we herald the "bailout of the day." Here's the scoop from Bloomberg. If you want to see the research behind the article, click here. Bloomberg did what, to my knowledge, no one else has done. They simply added up all the commitments, lines of credit, and guarantees being put forward by the Fed, FDIC, Treasury, and FHA to "solve the economic crisis." The total is $7.7 trillion and counting!

Here's an illuminating quote: "The money that’s been pledged is equivalent to $24,000 for every man, woman and child in the country. It’s nine times what the U.S. has spent so far on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Congressional Budget Office figures. It could pay off more than half the country’s mortgages."

Oh, how my confidence soared at this inspiring gambit from Ben Bernanke:  “Some have asked us to reveal the names of the banks that are borrowing, how much they are borrowing, [and] what collateral they are posting,” Bernanke said Nov. 18 to the House Financial Services Committee. “We think that’s counterproductive.” Huh? It's counter to whose productivity? Certainly not mine. We, the taxpayers, are supposed to fork over $7 trillion but without knowing to whom and for what. This sounds like the kind of scam a Somalian pirate would drool over!

By the way, the largest share of this $7.7 trillion came from the New York Fed, where Timothy Geitner is President. Yup - He's Obama's appointee to be Secretary of the Treasury. So I guess that "change we can believe in" will involve more than chump change.

I am so glad that God's economy is never strapped for cash: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Cor. 9:8). Credit may be tight, the market in turmoil, and main street in distress. But if you know Jesus as your Savior, you have a ready supply of grace, more than enough to do good to those around you. You are flush enough with grace to lavish good deeds on others. God's got you covered. Get out there and spread the wealth!

Outrageous Parking Fees and Obama Nation Ambassadors

The abuse of "diplomatic immunity" by United Nations delegates on the streets of Manhattan was big news in the 90's. Things were really getting hot when Mr. Giuliani decided enough is enough, although something of a truce was eventually established. Things haven't changed much in ten years - deadbeat diplomats are still in the news.  I can understand their motivation. Why should they be subjected to the rules and regulations of a country of which they are not citizens?

This is a question not unlike one we face as followers of Jesus. Our ultimate citizenship is not of this earth! Here is the Apostle Paul's summary:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Phil 3:20-21).

We don't belong here. Our home country is elsewhere and it makes our current living conditions seem so decidedly inferior. How I long for our homecoming! So we have to ask, "What are we doing on this God forsaking planet?"  Here's Paul's answer:

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20).

We have been given an assignment, to represent the Kingdom of Heaven on the rebellious planet. Those who break off their hostilities with God and embrace Jesus as their Savior have their citizenship immediately transferred. But, they remain, for a time, in their host countries as delegates. Here's where the issue of parking fines comes in. In a previous post, I made the case for respect for the office of the President, regardless of who occupies it. Now let me add a note about results.

One of the characteristics in our host countries is their highly developed capacity for judicial sentiment. They can accurately identify what is right and wrong when it is applied to someone else. There is abundant evidence of this characteristic in the current criticisms flying between Republicans and Democrats. When you find yourself thinking, "Isn't this a case of the pot calling the skillet black," you are watching judicial sentiment in action. Earthlings can accurately identify a mere speck in someone else's eye even while ignoring a 2 x 4 in their own.

Peter once wrote to citizens of heaven living in a hard place on earth. Here's what he reminded them:

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Pet. 2:12-15).

To be sure, we submit to the laws and leaders of the land because it is God's will. But when we do, there are two additional outcomes: Ill-informed critics are demonstrated as fools for the fact that their criticisms don't stick. Second, lost people observe the kind of behavior which makes God look good and which gives them reason to praise Him when He shows up.

When we show disrespect for the laws and leaders of our host countries, we curtail our ability to represent well our King and His Kingdom. We do not have diplomatic immunity! Our King requires us to make Him look good by showing the citizens of our host country how a model citizen would behave. There's far more at stake here than our like (or dislike) for a President who will occupy an office for a few earthly years. Don't muddy the water with petty parking fine failures when it could hobble someone's ability to share eternity with our King.

Lest We Forget the Prodigal's Brother

The Prodigal Son is the celebrity sinner, the poster child for stories of failure and forgiveness. For parents of wayward teens, his tale gives them reason to hope. For those who have wandered far from God, the prodigal's return is a prototype for making a fresh start with God. I am not trying to take anything away from his "great comeback" story, but the prodigal is a secondary player in the parable that is named after him.

Parables are intended to make a point, and clues as to the nature of that point will often be found in context, in this case Luke 15. The entire chapter consists of three linked parables, "The Lost Sheep," "The Lost Coin" and "The Prodigal Son," that all answer to the need identified in verses 1-3:

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying . . . (Luke 15:1-3).

Jesus' three stories are intended to turn the tables on His critics. The religious big-wigs are grousing because Jesus is ministering to riffraff. Instead of celebrating that losers are flocking to the One person who can help them, they're grumbling that Jesus doesn't dust them away like so much shoulder lint.

So Jesus recounts a trio of parables that swell in a crescendo of celebration. First he talks about the recovery of a lost sheep. Yes, this sheep was only 1% of the flock, but surely it's recovery would be reason for joy. Then he talks about finding lost wealth. Even though it was only 10% of someone's life savings, who wouldn't host a party to celebrate its recovery? Finally he talks of a lost son. If you celebrate when one sheep (out of a hundred) is found, or one coin (out of ten) is found, then what kind of celebration would attend the return of a lost son?

Right as Jesus' audience is catching the party vibe, a new character shows up, the prodigal's whining brother. He is the one in the harsh spotlight crashing the party, the party-pooper with an attitude, and the embarrassing spokesman for Jesus' complaining critics. I draw your attention to the prodigal's brother because he is the punch line in Luke 15. THE PRODIGAL'S BROTHER is the one Jesus wants us to examine and understand.

I confess that I see in myself much that reminds me of the prodigal's brother. I have not lived a life of rebellion or moral abandon. I came to Jesus at an early age, began living for Him in earnest as a teen, and have sought to stay true to Him to this day. (Don't misunderstand me. I am just as much a sinner as the most profligate prodigal - no difference. And my steady pursuit of Christ has not kept me from presenting a pitiful picture of what it means to be His follower on occasions without number.) Despite my failures, flaws, and growing pains along the way, however, I am a fair example of the classic "good kid."

So when I observe the prodigal's descent into the depths of loose living, I can't identify. But when I hear his brother protesting, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours” (Luke 15:29), I hear in his words the voice of my own dissenting heart. I have expressed words like his, words of disappointment in God for His seeming lack of appreciation.

There are prodigals and there are prodigal's brothers. The prodigal's obstacle is his sense of unworthiness to lay claim to the heart of his father. The obstacle of the prodigal's brother is his sense of entitlement, an insistence upon God's approval for his faithfulness. In its advanced stages, "Prodigal's Brother Disease" (PBD) can rob a man of his joy. He can become a spiritual scrooge who mutters "Bah, humbug" on occasions when even angels are pulling out all the stops.

The religious leaders called out by Jesus have a pronounced case of PBD. It has achieved a level of spiritual toxicity that is acute, perhaps from which there is no recovery. But for anyone who seeks to be faithful (at risk) and who is willing to learn (teachable) from their sad story, there is hope in timely self-screening (self-examination) and treatment (repentance).

Are you a prodigal? Come home to a Father whose grace is greater than your sin. Are you a prodigal's brother? Then serve without strings before it robs you of joy. Stay faithful to God without getting sucked into thinking that God owes you recognition. Your faithfulness matters. Never forget what Jesus says to the prodigal's brother, “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours’” (Luke 15:31). Staying true to God WILL BE WORTH IT. That is no less true for the fact that we party strong when a prodigal comes home.

Tell the Preacher What to Preach

Those brainy guys (and gals) on the CBC tech and web teams have done it again. Here's a screen shot of their latest creation, The CBC On-line Media Center! Click here to go to the actual site. The media center allows you to access audio files from series preached at Collierville Bible Church. You can listen to a sermon at your computer or download it to your ipod. You can also download and print associated outlines and slides. In short, you can duplicate the benefits of attending a Collierville Bible Church worship service at any time and from anywhere in the world!

There are some additional features of the Media Center that make it BETTER than Sunday morning. What if you could go to church and determine the topic for the morning sermon? Let's say you're struggling in your marriage and want the preacher to share some truth that ministers where you're hurting. Your heart longs to determine the topic for the message. Don't just wish for that power - now it's yours to use!

Here's how. The left panel is the Media Center main screen. At the top of this panel are a series of tabs labeled [Date], [Series], [Speaker], or [Topic]. Click on a tab and all series in the Media Center library are sorted accordingly. You can scroll through the list, highlight a series, and then pick the sermon (in the right panel) that you want to access. If you can't find something suitable by sorting and scrolling, there is also a search tab at the top of the main screen. Using your own keywords, you can locate exactly what you're looking for based on search terms you supply.

Currently, there are only a few sample sermons that have been loaded, so there's not a lot to search from. YET! Series in progress will be loaded on Sundays as they are preached. So, if you are following a current series, you can catch a sermon a few hours after it has been delivered. Previously preached series are also being prepped for inclusion in the Media Center. I have preached almost 900 sermons in my years at Collierville Bible church, so there are lots of possibilities to choose from. If you have a favorite, be sure to let us know and we'll fast-track it to the Media Center library. This will be fun.

Thanks Eric, Jeff, Castle, and especially Garry - this is fantastic. Your diligence is going to make a big difference!

Purpose Driven Pricetag

I have been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. "Living a purpose-driven life" is Warren short-hand for living your life for the glory of God. This is my third reading and I would still retain this on my short list of books everyone should read. Pastor Warren has a marvelous gift for capturing truth in simple, memorable language. Many sentences rise to the level of proverbs for their pithiness.

Although chock-full of terse wisdom, there are some pages missing. One of those places is in chapter three, particularly pages 30-35. This is the section where Rick explains the "five great benefits of living a purpose-driven life."

1. It gives meaning to your life.
2. It simplifies your life.
3. It focuses your life.
4. It motivates your life.
5. It prepares you for eternity.

Let's take a cue from Paul Harvey and hear "the rest of the story." I am not taking away from what Warren has said, simply highlighting what he hasn't said that I think you NEED TO KNOW. Warren's five are all positives. Where are the negatives? Living for God's glory can be costly. And I don't think we do anyone a service unless we compare the benefits with the costs.

Jesus plainly talked about the cost! He declared, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it” (Luke 14:27-28). Jesus did not just highlight the advantages of being His disciple and then hide the implications. He stated the matter plainly and asked men to make an honest assessment of their willingness to embrace those costs. He wants men to decide that it is "worth it" to live for Him. So let's add to Warren's list of benefits a companion list of the disadvantages of purpose-driven living.

Here's my list of three significant costs to purpose driven living. (There are probably some more, these are three that immediately came to mind.)

1. It increases your inner struggle.
2. It provokes opposition from others.
3. It leads to exhaustion.
   

First, "living your life for the glory of God" (or alternatively, living for Jesus) can increase personal stress. Living for yourself is not that complicated. When self desires - do what self wants - easy-peasy. But when you add "pleasing God" to the equation, you have complicated your life. Now you must figure out what someone else wants (God), discern where your personal desires are at odds with what God wants, and then do what is required. You can thus find yourself caught in some sort of schizophrenic tug-of-war, opposing the things your inner man desires.

No wonder Paul calls living for Jesus a "faith-fight" (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12, 2 Tim. 4:7) and a struggle against dark forces (Eph. 6:12). His words drip with both agony and ardor in Romans 7:14-25 where his soul gasps for a reprieve from the spiritual warfare being waged within. Living a purpose-driven life introduces a whole new level of challenge to the inner man. Let's not kid anyone about the reality and intensity of this inner struggle.

Second, living for Jesus also makes some relationships pure misery. Jesus made this fact and the reason for it clear when He declared, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19). To live for Jesus is to declare the bankruptcy of living on the world's terms. And that does not sit well with some. Know this - there will be recrimination and reprisals directed at those who live for Jesus. “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

Third, purpose-driven living alters the experience of time's passage. This is, for me, one of the most profound costs. When we decide to live for Jesus, we enter into a race against time. We are instructed to make the most of opportunities (Col. 4:5); make the most of our time (Eph. 5:16); number our days (Ps. 90:12). The window of opportunity to win those do not know Jesus will close when we die, so our love for Jesus drives us in ministry to others. Ours is not a dilemma of choosing between something good and something bad. It is the exhaustion that attends choosing to do every possible good while there is still time. This is purpose driven exhaustion.

Don't hear me discouraging anyone from living for Jesus. Quite the contrary, I think that living for Jesus is the highest and best use of a man's life. I say this not because living for Him is all benefit and no cost. I say this because the costs, great as they are, are transcended by the value of knowing and serving Him. I am not alone in this opinion. The Apostle Paul was no stranger to the costs of living for Jesus. Even so he reckons this: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Rom. 8:18). Do I hear an "Amen?"

Flabby Faith Has Got to Go

I told you yesterday that my big need is a cure for my little faith. How did I come to this conclusion? Here's a copy of some verses and notes that brought me to this point. Please print out a copy and read through these sixteen Bible passages. I have selected verses and highlighted key phrases that can help you (as they have me) to appreciate the importance of developing my faith muscles.

The current "economic crisis" is a GREAT reminder that flabby faith has got to go. The prosperity we enjoy can beguile us into a sense of security based on stuff. Enough of that stuff! God is the only one worthy of unconditional trust. And when a man has great faith in his faithful God, that's when Jesus takes notice. May God help us all to learn well from whatever financial turmoil lies ahead. May God help us all to make the transition from peewee faith to remarkable faith.