Posts
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28)
I learned an amazing lesson this week about serving Jesus Christ, beloved, from wearing a ball cap, if you can believe that! Many of you know that my wife, Bev, is a 10-year breast cancer survivor. And one of my greatest joys each year is to attend the annual "Relay for Life" survivors' banquet with her. Each year as we enter the building, we are given tee shirts and sometimes ball caps. The caps that I have (1 navy blue, 1 tan) have the "Relay for Life" logo embroidered on the front. I am proud to wear those caps whenever I can, letting everyone know that we support this wonderful charity and that I am so proud of my wife.
Just this past week, however, I noticed something about the "Relay for Life" cap that I had been wearing all day. As I walked into my room, I took off the hat and tossed it on the bed. As it landed, for the first time I became aware that something had been embroidered on the back of the hat as well. I saw there the single word "Caregiver." For as long as I have had those hats and for all the times that I have worn them, I never knew that I was delivering a message from the back as well as from the front! You see, the words on the front of the cap are all about Bev, the cancer survivor in our family, and her own personal "relay for life." Now I know that the single word on the back is meant to describe me as the one who loves and supports her. Yet I have never worn that hat because it identified me as a caregiver, but because it identifies my wife as a cancer survivor. I almost wish that they had never embroidered that word on the back!
If you study carefully the words of the Lord Jesus here, beloved, you will become quickly aware that He clearly never wore a "Relay for Life" hat! Nor am I being facetious when I say that either. You see, for Jesus it was all about the service He had come to render on behalf of sinful mankind. For Him it was always about saving us from our sins and never about drawing attention to what He had to suffer in order to accomplish that holy mission. I guess we might say that Jesus never wore a sign on His back that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, Savior of mankind." Or as I like to think of it, He never wore a hat!
The lesson that I learned from this momentary experience, beloved, is that it ought always to be about the ministry and never about the recognition. It ought to be about the need of the heart and life and never about the one sent as an instrument to meet that need. The records of heaven will focus upon what's written on the back at that moment when God recompenses the service of His people. Until then, let it be about the need before us and not about the name behind us! God bless you as you serve the King sacrificially just for the joy of serving.
Ron
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A King Has Been Born!
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us' and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Did you know that there really is a "Grinch" stealing Christmas, beloved? In fact, long before Dr. Seuss gave to us that lovable green character upon whom we like to heap the blame for ruining our Christmases, they were already being stolen right out from under our noses! Whether we like it or not as Christians, Santa Claus has replaced Jesus as "the reason for the season." The sound of reindeer hooves on the rooftops has preempted the holy strains of "Silent Night." The humorous stanzas of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" have swallowed up the reading of the Christmas story in Luke 2. And the merry sight of inflatable snowmen, over-sized candy canes and icicle lights hanging from the edge of the roof have overshadowed the age-old nativity scene that once adorned every house in the neighborhood. There is no doubt about it. A "Grinch" is definitely stealing Christmas!
I for one believe that it is time for us to rediscover what Christmas is all about and to reclaim it for ourselves, our families, and even our nation. It is time for us to refocus our thinking upon what and who is really important. And all we have to do is read these two verses from the prophecy of Isaiah to do just that!
Notice in the sixth verse what the prophet said concerning the promise of Christ's coming. This "child" is none other than the Son of Man - One able to laugh with us, cry with us, hurt with us, and finally die for us as He takes our sins upon Himself.
Then Isaiah revealed that Christmas is about a "son" being given to us, specifically the Son of God. The word "give" shows us His divinity, His preexistence with the Father before all time. So the Son of God became the Son of Man by becoming "Immanuel" - God with us!
The prophet next declared that "the government" shall rest upon His shoulders as the King of Kings. But what government? The U.S.? Great Britain? The Soviet Republic? Iran? Oh, no! Not even close! That "government" which shall rest upon His shoulders will be none other than the government of our individual lives! Every detail of the affairs of our living lies directly in the hands of this King of Kings. The ultimate worldwide kingdom over which He shall rule not yet a reality, He rules today in the hearts of all who will come to Him in simple faith.
And what will He do when He comes? Isaiah called Him our "Wonderful Counselor" - the One who will give direction for life's living. This Christmas child would have all the answers that we will ever need! He will be able to show us the direction in which our lives should go.
Isaiah also referred to Him as "Mighty God" - the One who not only gives us wisdom but power for living. With His divine power He would conquer sin and death and hell on Calvary's tree. And living within us He is able to make us "more than conquerors" because of His great love.
Then the prophet called Him the "Eternal Father" - the One who gives to our hearts assurance about life's living. Because His kingdom is an unending one, we need never fear for our own future. Because of who Jesus is, we have an eternal relationship with the Father.
Finally, Isaiah said that Jesus would be the "Prince of Peace" - the One who gives to us peace in the living of our lives. He first brings us into a position of peace with God because of His shed blood. Then He brings us into peace with ourselves because of who and whose we are. And at peace with God and with ourselves, we can ever be at peace with our circumstances whatever they may be.
Son of Man, Son of God, King of Kings, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace - how does all this line up with what your eyes are seeing all about you this Christmas, beloved? There may indeed be a "Grinch" stealing Christmas, but we who are followers of Jesus Christ do not have to stand idly by and just let it happen! We have unshakable peace, insurmountable faith, and a Savior that everyone needs. And we also have mouths that can speak and opportunities divinely given to let anyone and everyone know that Christmas is not a lighted front lawn complete with prancing reindeer and a jolly bearded old elf trying to squeeze down a chimney. Christmas is only about one gift - the gift of God to man - eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ.
From Bev and me to all of you who mean so much to us and to Christ's kingdom: Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Ron
Did you know that there really is a "Grinch" stealing Christmas, beloved? In fact, long before Dr. Seuss gave to us that lovable green character upon whom we like to heap the blame for ruining our Christmases, they were already being stolen right out from under our noses! Whether we like it or not as Christians, Santa Claus has replaced Jesus as "the reason for the season." The sound of reindeer hooves on the rooftops has preempted the holy strains of "Silent Night." The humorous stanzas of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" have swallowed up the reading of the Christmas story in Luke 2. And the merry sight of inflatable snowmen, over-sized candy canes and icicle lights hanging from the edge of the roof have overshadowed the age-old nativity scene that once adorned every house in the neighborhood. There is no doubt about it. A "Grinch" is definitely stealing Christmas!
I for one believe that it is time for us to rediscover what Christmas is all about and to reclaim it for ourselves, our families, and even our nation. It is time for us to refocus our thinking upon what and who is really important. And all we have to do is read these two verses from the prophecy of Isaiah to do just that!
Notice in the sixth verse what the prophet said concerning the promise of Christ's coming. This "child" is none other than the Son of Man - One able to laugh with us, cry with us, hurt with us, and finally die for us as He takes our sins upon Himself.
Then Isaiah revealed that Christmas is about a "son" being given to us, specifically the Son of God. The word "give" shows us His divinity, His preexistence with the Father before all time. So the Son of God became the Son of Man by becoming "Immanuel" - God with us!
The prophet next declared that "the government" shall rest upon His shoulders as the King of Kings. But what government? The U.S.? Great Britain? The Soviet Republic? Iran? Oh, no! Not even close! That "government" which shall rest upon His shoulders will be none other than the government of our individual lives! Every detail of the affairs of our living lies directly in the hands of this King of Kings. The ultimate worldwide kingdom over which He shall rule not yet a reality, He rules today in the hearts of all who will come to Him in simple faith.
And what will He do when He comes? Isaiah called Him our "Wonderful Counselor" - the One who will give direction for life's living. This Christmas child would have all the answers that we will ever need! He will be able to show us the direction in which our lives should go.
Isaiah also referred to Him as "Mighty God" - the One who not only gives us wisdom but power for living. With His divine power He would conquer sin and death and hell on Calvary's tree. And living within us He is able to make us "more than conquerors" because of His great love.
Then the prophet called Him the "Eternal Father" - the One who gives to our hearts assurance about life's living. Because His kingdom is an unending one, we need never fear for our own future. Because of who Jesus is, we have an eternal relationship with the Father.
Finally, Isaiah said that Jesus would be the "Prince of Peace" - the One who gives to us peace in the living of our lives. He first brings us into a position of peace with God because of His shed blood. Then He brings us into peace with ourselves because of who and whose we are. And at peace with God and with ourselves, we can ever be at peace with our circumstances whatever they may be.
Son of Man, Son of God, King of Kings, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace - how does all this line up with what your eyes are seeing all about you this Christmas, beloved? There may indeed be a "Grinch" stealing Christmas, but we who are followers of Jesus Christ do not have to stand idly by and just let it happen! We have unshakable peace, insurmountable faith, and a Savior that everyone needs. And we also have mouths that can speak and opportunities divinely given to let anyone and everyone know that Christmas is not a lighted front lawn complete with prancing reindeer and a jolly bearded old elf trying to squeeze down a chimney. Christmas is only about one gift - the gift of God to man - eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ.
From Bev and me to all of you who mean so much to us and to Christ's kingdom: Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Ron
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Helping the Weak
"And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
Something that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian saints but which applies to Christians of every generation came home to me this past week in a vivid way, beloved! Bev and I were out for one of our "2 hour" dates, the home health aide being with her mom, and were enjoying a monster burger at a local "burger joint." As we sat eating, the door just behind us opened and an elderly gentleman stepped inside, reaching quickly for the back of the chair next to me. With buckling legs and limbs that were clearly weak with age, he virtually collapsed into the chair and almost instantly struck up a conversation with us. After a very pleasant chat, it was time for us to return home and we were glad to leave him in the very capable hands of one of the employees who had rushed out to take his order and to make sure that he had everything he needed. It sure seemed too clear to us that he was well-known there! And as weak as he was, he was clearly trying to live his life to the fullest!
In the midst of the 14th verse the apostle reminded the Thessalonian believers to "help the weak." The Greek word in this context could very well include those who, like our new friend, are physically weak and frail. But the greater application is certainly to those who are spiritually weak. The Greek word asthenes means literally "strengthless" or "powerless" and as used by Paul referred to those who are weak in faith. These may be "weak" when it comes to trusting God or "weak" when it comes to handling obstacles in life. Still others are "weak" because of not knowing clearly God's will for their lives. Like our friend physically at the burger place, these are the spiritually frail.
So what can we do to help those who are weak? The word here translated "help" is a Greek verb which means literally "hold over against" and can be pictured visibly as one leaning against one who is weak in order to hold him up and keep him from falling. We can best "help the weak," then, by adapting our ministering to their particular need. For some the need is for encouragement to persevere, to trust God in spite of any and all opposition. For others it will be wise counsel, the tender hand that guides gently down the right path. For still others it will be unconditional love that lets them know that they are neither valueless nor forgotten.
To "help the weak" is obviously a ministry of tenderness, beloved, and it requires of every believer God's own love flowing in and through us to others. We should not need the kind of physical object lesson such as Bev and I experienced yesterday, but should always be on the lookout for the spiritually "weak" all about us. Where would each of us be in our walk with Christ had those who came alongside to help us not been there for us? Now it is our turn to reach out in God's love to those who need us, beloved. With Paul's challenge ringing in our hearts, let's help the weak!
Ron
Something that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian saints but which applies to Christians of every generation came home to me this past week in a vivid way, beloved! Bev and I were out for one of our "2 hour" dates, the home health aide being with her mom, and were enjoying a monster burger at a local "burger joint." As we sat eating, the door just behind us opened and an elderly gentleman stepped inside, reaching quickly for the back of the chair next to me. With buckling legs and limbs that were clearly weak with age, he virtually collapsed into the chair and almost instantly struck up a conversation with us. After a very pleasant chat, it was time for us to return home and we were glad to leave him in the very capable hands of one of the employees who had rushed out to take his order and to make sure that he had everything he needed. It sure seemed too clear to us that he was well-known there! And as weak as he was, he was clearly trying to live his life to the fullest!
In the midst of the 14th verse the apostle reminded the Thessalonian believers to "help the weak." The Greek word in this context could very well include those who, like our new friend, are physically weak and frail. But the greater application is certainly to those who are spiritually weak. The Greek word asthenes means literally "strengthless" or "powerless" and as used by Paul referred to those who are weak in faith. These may be "weak" when it comes to trusting God or "weak" when it comes to handling obstacles in life. Still others are "weak" because of not knowing clearly God's will for their lives. Like our friend physically at the burger place, these are the spiritually frail.
So what can we do to help those who are weak? The word here translated "help" is a Greek verb which means literally "hold over against" and can be pictured visibly as one leaning against one who is weak in order to hold him up and keep him from falling. We can best "help the weak," then, by adapting our ministering to their particular need. For some the need is for encouragement to persevere, to trust God in spite of any and all opposition. For others it will be wise counsel, the tender hand that guides gently down the right path. For still others it will be unconditional love that lets them know that they are neither valueless nor forgotten.
To "help the weak" is obviously a ministry of tenderness, beloved, and it requires of every believer God's own love flowing in and through us to others. We should not need the kind of physical object lesson such as Bev and I experienced yesterday, but should always be on the lookout for the spiritually "weak" all about us. Where would each of us be in our walk with Christ had those who came alongside to help us not been there for us? Now it is our turn to reach out in God's love to those who need us, beloved. With Paul's challenge ringing in our hearts, let's help the weak!
Ron
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Miracle of Being Rescued
"And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me" (Psalm 50:15)
Fire trucks everywhere with an EMS rescue vehicle thrown in for good measure! That is what I saw late one night this past week, beloved, when the sound of many sirens on our usually quiet street brought me as well as other neighbors into our front yards. Two doors down from our home my neighbors had detected a burning odor somewhere in their ceiling and, unable to find it, had called 911. Local rescue companies responded in grand fashion! I counted at least ten fire trucks from various neighborhood companies along with the one EMS team. Fortunately, no fire was discovered so the rescue vehicles quickly dispersed and returned to their "alert" posture. I was so gratified to know that merely dialing 911 in an emergency situation brings such a response! In fact, while standing and talking with other neighbors during this recent episode, one commented to me that the scene before us caused him to want to more faithfully support rescue's fund raising efforts with his own monetary donation. It seems that I was not the only one who appreciated the wonderful service we were seeing!
Were you aware, beloved, that God has an emergency response system of His own to which you and I may appeal? The psalmist urges us to call out to Him "in the day of trouble" and that, when we do so, He will "rescue" us. How often in each of our lives have we as Christians known the saving hand of God? How many times can we look back and recall those times when God's presence in difficult times came alongside and comforted us, guided us and strengthened us? What a blessing to know that when we "call," He is there!
But what about those times when there is no emergency? Is God just "on alert" somewhere in our lives until the next time that we may need Him? Far from it! The psalmist here went on to say that, once rescued by His gracious hand, He will expect us to "honor" Him. In fact, if you return with me to the verse just preceding this one, here is what we find:
"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High" (Psalm 50:14)
The psalmist spoke of those whose very lives fulfill promises made and covenants established. That is what is meant by "pay your vows," beloved. As Christians we are those who have dedicated ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, to be true to God's Word every moment of every day. God is not a "stand by" being, One who sits quietly on the sidelines until an emergency arises and we need Him again! He is or should be at the very center of our living, the One for whom we exist, whose glory is our mantle and whose goal is our mission. Talk about making a "donation" to our rescue system! Ours should be one of a life wholly committed to Jesus Christ.
The miracle of being rescued is just one aspect of God's involvement in our lives, beloved. When we need it, He is there. But He is also there when all is well and the road ahead of us is smooth. What is He to us then? Don't let God just be your "911" emergency system! He wants to be so much more. He deserves the "honor" of your living moment by moment, day by day. You can count on Him, beloved. Can He count on you?
Ron
Fire trucks everywhere with an EMS rescue vehicle thrown in for good measure! That is what I saw late one night this past week, beloved, when the sound of many sirens on our usually quiet street brought me as well as other neighbors into our front yards. Two doors down from our home my neighbors had detected a burning odor somewhere in their ceiling and, unable to find it, had called 911. Local rescue companies responded in grand fashion! I counted at least ten fire trucks from various neighborhood companies along with the one EMS team. Fortunately, no fire was discovered so the rescue vehicles quickly dispersed and returned to their "alert" posture. I was so gratified to know that merely dialing 911 in an emergency situation brings such a response! In fact, while standing and talking with other neighbors during this recent episode, one commented to me that the scene before us caused him to want to more faithfully support rescue's fund raising efforts with his own monetary donation. It seems that I was not the only one who appreciated the wonderful service we were seeing!
Were you aware, beloved, that God has an emergency response system of His own to which you and I may appeal? The psalmist urges us to call out to Him "in the day of trouble" and that, when we do so, He will "rescue" us. How often in each of our lives have we as Christians known the saving hand of God? How many times can we look back and recall those times when God's presence in difficult times came alongside and comforted us, guided us and strengthened us? What a blessing to know that when we "call," He is there!
But what about those times when there is no emergency? Is God just "on alert" somewhere in our lives until the next time that we may need Him? Far from it! The psalmist here went on to say that, once rescued by His gracious hand, He will expect us to "honor" Him. In fact, if you return with me to the verse just preceding this one, here is what we find:
"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High" (Psalm 50:14)
The psalmist spoke of those whose very lives fulfill promises made and covenants established. That is what is meant by "pay your vows," beloved. As Christians we are those who have dedicated ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, to be true to God's Word every moment of every day. God is not a "stand by" being, One who sits quietly on the sidelines until an emergency arises and we need Him again! He is or should be at the very center of our living, the One for whom we exist, whose glory is our mantle and whose goal is our mission. Talk about making a "donation" to our rescue system! Ours should be one of a life wholly committed to Jesus Christ.
The miracle of being rescued is just one aspect of God's involvement in our lives, beloved. When we need it, He is there. But He is also there when all is well and the road ahead of us is smooth. What is He to us then? Don't let God just be your "911" emergency system! He wants to be so much more. He deserves the "honor" of your living moment by moment, day by day. You can count on Him, beloved. Can He count on you?
Ron
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Mountain Peaks, Valleys, and Everything in Between
"But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on a level place; in the congregations I shall bless the Lord" (Psalm 26:11-12)
I was sitting this morning in my favorite auto repair facility, beloved, waiting for the mechanic to finish servicing my car so that I could get on my way. As I waited, I could hear the roar of a fighter jet flying overhead, an all too familiar sound for those of us who live near Air Force bases. The pilot streaked across the sky with his plane on its side, seeming to be only a few hundred feet above the place where I sat. I quickly walked outside to catch a glimpse of his rehearsals. As I stood and watched, he put his jet into a steep vertical climb, afterburners full, stretching skyward until he disappeared into the high ceiling of distant clouds. It was as if he had flown straight into the presence of God!
As I continued to watch, suddenly he appeared again from that same cloud cover, this time with the nose of his aircraft pointed straight at the ground, all the time performing a slow controlled spiral as he plummeted toward the earth. I almost held my breath as he slowly leveled out and flew a straight course toward the horizon, his aircraft once more parallel to the ground. In just a few seconds he was out of sight and I did not see him again.
As I reflected on what is always for me an exciting experience, suddenly a spiritual parallel began to take shape. How often we see Christians who live from "mountain top to mountain top," always spiraling skyward emotionally in search of a new height to ascend, always looking for a new level of spiritual "high" to achieve. These are those believers for whom "valleys" simply do not exist and when they do occasionally come, these dear saints seem incapable of dealing with them because their focus is always on the spiritual heights of personal experience.
Others by contrast are "valley" people, the realists for whom there are no mountain tops, no exciting flights upward to new heights of Christian experience. They are like the aircraft whose nose is pointed to the ground. Valleys are all that they know so valleys are all that they see!
For both types of Christian I would encourage a closer look at the psalmist's statement: "My foot stands on a level place." It will not be the mountain tops of spiritual excitement nor the valleys of spiritual somberness that make us the effective servants of Jesus Christ which He wants us to be, beloved. It will be the "level flight" that results from our choice to walk in our integrity as did the psalmist. We will praise God for the mountain tops when they come and we will praise Him for the valleys that try and prove our faith. But always, always we will fly straight and level in the integrity of those whose lives are sold out to Jesus Christ. As someone much wiser than I once observed:
"It doesn't matter nearly as much how high you jump in church as how straight you walk when you come down"
Amen!
Ron
I was sitting this morning in my favorite auto repair facility, beloved, waiting for the mechanic to finish servicing my car so that I could get on my way. As I waited, I could hear the roar of a fighter jet flying overhead, an all too familiar sound for those of us who live near Air Force bases. The pilot streaked across the sky with his plane on its side, seeming to be only a few hundred feet above the place where I sat. I quickly walked outside to catch a glimpse of his rehearsals. As I stood and watched, he put his jet into a steep vertical climb, afterburners full, stretching skyward until he disappeared into the high ceiling of distant clouds. It was as if he had flown straight into the presence of God!
As I continued to watch, suddenly he appeared again from that same cloud cover, this time with the nose of his aircraft pointed straight at the ground, all the time performing a slow controlled spiral as he plummeted toward the earth. I almost held my breath as he slowly leveled out and flew a straight course toward the horizon, his aircraft once more parallel to the ground. In just a few seconds he was out of sight and I did not see him again.
As I reflected on what is always for me an exciting experience, suddenly a spiritual parallel began to take shape. How often we see Christians who live from "mountain top to mountain top," always spiraling skyward emotionally in search of a new height to ascend, always looking for a new level of spiritual "high" to achieve. These are those believers for whom "valleys" simply do not exist and when they do occasionally come, these dear saints seem incapable of dealing with them because their focus is always on the spiritual heights of personal experience.
Others by contrast are "valley" people, the realists for whom there are no mountain tops, no exciting flights upward to new heights of Christian experience. They are like the aircraft whose nose is pointed to the ground. Valleys are all that they know so valleys are all that they see!
For both types of Christian I would encourage a closer look at the psalmist's statement: "My foot stands on a level place." It will not be the mountain tops of spiritual excitement nor the valleys of spiritual somberness that make us the effective servants of Jesus Christ which He wants us to be, beloved. It will be the "level flight" that results from our choice to walk in our integrity as did the psalmist. We will praise God for the mountain tops when they come and we will praise Him for the valleys that try and prove our faith. But always, always we will fly straight and level in the integrity of those whose lives are sold out to Jesus Christ. As someone much wiser than I once observed:
"It doesn't matter nearly as much how high you jump in church as how straight you walk when you come down"
Amen!
Ron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)