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"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done" (Revelation 22:12)
One of those very special heart-touching moments happened to me recently, beloved. A military retiree came up to me and handed me a small clear plastic envelope containing a business-sized card and a white embroidered star clearly cut from an American flag. The card explained that the star came from a flag that had flown over someone's home until worn and tattered and in need of replacement. A local veterans organization had rescued the flag among others and had separated the stars into keepsake bags to hand out to veterans like me. The card's message concluded with these words:
"Please carry me as a reminder that you are not forgotten. Thank you for your service."
You can be sure that I will keep and treasure this memento, beloved! I am as honored to carry a star from Old Glory as I am to have served my country over which she waved.
As a follower of Jesus Christ I have His assurance as well that those who serve Him faithfully are not forgotten. He has promised that one day He will return for us and that He will have with Him heaven's reward for faithful service. Even now you and I through faithful obedience are "laying up treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). Every life that we touch in His name, every act of service in meeting a need, every encouraging word prompted by His Spirit within, all are being noted by Him and will be rewarded.
So take heart, fellow pastor! Cheer up, stalwart youth worker! Stay strong, child of God! You are not forgotten! I am so thankful for that scrap of flag that was given to me. And I am eternally grateful for the assurance we all have from our Lord that in our service for His name's sake we are not forgotten.
Ron
Monday, March 18, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Grooving My Swing
"On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7b)
I know. I know. Already you are thinking: "Not another one of his golf analogies!" Yep. I am afraid so. But I hope that you won't let that stop you from reading through to the end. Hidden in this unusual-sounding term - "grooving my swing" - I believe to be a very sound and practical spiritual truth for living as Christians today.
To "groove your swing" as a golfer is to practice your basic golf swing over and over until it becomes something consistent, something dependable, something in which you feel confident. Oh, to be sure you will adapt it slightly from situation to situation depending on the lie of the ball and the distance you need to cover. But the swing itself must become the picture of consistency and sameness, something dependable and trustworthy. Are you beginning to see the rays of a light of Bible truth breaking through?
In his letter to a young pastor named Timothy, the Apostle Paul urged him to "discipline" himself in personal godliness. I love the King James Version's use of the word "exercise," a translation of the Greek verb gumnazo from which we get our word "gymnastics" or "gymnasium." It is a wonderful picture of "working out" spiritually. That is what a truly dedicated golfer will do in seeking to "groove his swing" and that is what every true follower of Jesus Christ needs to do in "grooving" his walk.
You see, beloved, I am convinced of one thing that is amply confirmed in Scripture, that is that people are not nearly so interested in what we know as Christians as in how we've been transformed by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Show people what Jesus can do for them by showing them what He has done for you! And in order to do that, you must as Paul advised Timothy "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." It takes practice to be a single-digit handicapper in golf, beloved, and it takes practice to be a godly Christian. Sitting in a church pew on Sunday or in a small group on Thursday won't get the job done! You are going to have to vigorously and faithfully apply the principles of Scripture to every detail of your daily living. That will be to "groove your swing," to "exercise yourself for the purpose of godliness"!
My golf game still needs a lot of "grooving," beloved, and I'll keep at it in my spare time. But my lifestyle needs a lot of "grooving" as well and that one need must become the priority of my life. Golf is just a game that is forgotten as soon as we turn our attention to something else. But living for Jesus Christ is the passion of our existence, the focal point of our living. Let me urge you, then, to make it your highest priority to "groove" your lifestyle, to bring it into line with the glorious standard laid down in the principles of God's Word.
I need to go and practice! Want to join me?
Ron
I know. I know. Already you are thinking: "Not another one of his golf analogies!" Yep. I am afraid so. But I hope that you won't let that stop you from reading through to the end. Hidden in this unusual-sounding term - "grooving my swing" - I believe to be a very sound and practical spiritual truth for living as Christians today.
To "groove your swing" as a golfer is to practice your basic golf swing over and over until it becomes something consistent, something dependable, something in which you feel confident. Oh, to be sure you will adapt it slightly from situation to situation depending on the lie of the ball and the distance you need to cover. But the swing itself must become the picture of consistency and sameness, something dependable and trustworthy. Are you beginning to see the rays of a light of Bible truth breaking through?
In his letter to a young pastor named Timothy, the Apostle Paul urged him to "discipline" himself in personal godliness. I love the King James Version's use of the word "exercise," a translation of the Greek verb gumnazo from which we get our word "gymnastics" or "gymnasium." It is a wonderful picture of "working out" spiritually. That is what a truly dedicated golfer will do in seeking to "groove his swing" and that is what every true follower of Jesus Christ needs to do in "grooving" his walk.
You see, beloved, I am convinced of one thing that is amply confirmed in Scripture, that is that people are not nearly so interested in what we know as Christians as in how we've been transformed by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Show people what Jesus can do for them by showing them what He has done for you! And in order to do that, you must as Paul advised Timothy "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." It takes practice to be a single-digit handicapper in golf, beloved, and it takes practice to be a godly Christian. Sitting in a church pew on Sunday or in a small group on Thursday won't get the job done! You are going to have to vigorously and faithfully apply the principles of Scripture to every detail of your daily living. That will be to "groove your swing," to "exercise yourself for the purpose of godliness"!
My golf game still needs a lot of "grooving," beloved, and I'll keep at it in my spare time. But my lifestyle needs a lot of "grooving" as well and that one need must become the priority of my life. Golf is just a game that is forgotten as soon as we turn our attention to something else. But living for Jesus Christ is the passion of our existence, the focal point of our living. Let me urge you, then, to make it your highest priority to "groove" your lifestyle, to bring it into line with the glorious standard laid down in the principles of God's Word.
I need to go and practice! Want to join me?
Ron
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