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"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge" (Proverbs 22:17)
One thing you must understand about me and computer technology, beloved, is that I am always several jumps behind. For example, my latest cell phone is a slide-out keyboard texting phone and when did they come out? So it was a real shock for me when for Christmas my wife surprised me with my own iPad. Talk about a technological eye-opener! I cannot tell you how much this computer "old-timer" has enjoyed downloading different 'apps' and just generally playing with my new toy. Perhaps the greatest advance I have made with it thus far is to learn how to use it in the pulpit for my sermon notes. A couple of folks asked me early on if I had a new toy since they saw me keep touching the surface of something as I moved through each passage of Scripture. Needless to day, I am always on the lookout for new apps that I can check out and possibly download for my own use.
Did you know, however, that what we might rightly call "the ultimate app" does not require an iPad or a PC connection of any kind? In fact, it is every believer's responsibility to "download" this particular application into his or her own life! And just what is this spiritual app that we all need so much and to which we would do well to give heed? Note first in this particular proverb collected by King Solomon that the need is for us to "incline your ear and hear" wise words. And where do we find such wisdom? In the latter portion of the proverb God Himself through the writer commands us to "apply your mind to my knowledge." The Hebrew word here translated "apply" is shiyth, pronounced sheeth and meaning literally to "place" in the sense here of setting a thing in its proper place. The "thing" that is to be so set in place is the knowledge of God's Word and the precise "place" in which it is to be set is the believer's mind. Very simply, we are to set our minds solidly and continually upon the truths of God's Word and apply those truths to our living by scrupulous obedience!
And did you notice, beloved, that the responsibility for such application of godly wisdom is our own, yours and mind individually? To put it in "computer-ese," so to speak, the app is available to us but it must be our own choice, an act of our will, to "download" that truth and to make it a part of our lives. If we do not, then we and only we are to blame for the disastrous attitudes we will hold and for the catastrophic consequences we will endure as a result.
I hope to continue to enjoy my iPad, beloved, and even to download more apps as they become available. But more than that, my heart's desire is to make sure that God's "ultimate app" is up and running all the time in my life. Would you like to download it right now? You won't find it at the app store! It is no further away than your Bible and your personal yieldedness to the Spirit of God.
Ron
Friday, January 25, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Whose Church Is It?
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it...But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:15-16)
I recently had occasion to reflect once again upon what has become a significant weakness within many local churches today, beloved, and that is the inability to answer the question posed above. Now, please note that I did not say that we not have an answer for it but rather that the answer we are voicing so very often is just flat out wrong! I cannot tell you how many times over the years I have heard people state emphatically that the particular church of which they are a part is their church. Either someone's great-grandfather cleared the land on which the church sat or someone else's uncle donated the money for the building materials of which the church was ultimately built. For whatever reason, no matter how sincerely and honestly felt, we have simply come to believe that this church is our church.
It is well past time for us as Christians to put this chicken to roost once and for all, beloved. I find two issues inherent in rightly answering this question which we must consider. The first has to do with whose church it really is. Did you note that Jesus informed Peter that, beyond any shadow of any doubt, the church with which He chose to be connected would be His church and no one else's? Very simply, Jesus made it clear that any church that is not His church has no right to associate itself with His name in any way. You see, the truth revealed in Scripture, beloved, is that the answer to the question before us is that this is Christ's church and not yours or mine. It doesn't matter whose family member donated the land or whose loved one stoked the wood-burning stove every week so that the building would be warm for worshipers. Those are acts of a servant, beloved, not acts of an owner.
The second issue that I find in these verses has to do with whose authority is supreme in the church. It is has been my experience that whenever people have insisted in times past that the church is theirs, what they mean is that they run it. Claims of church ownership in local congregations are almost always tied to an inner struggle for power. But did you note also in these verses what the Apostle Paul told the saints in Ephesus about who has the true authority in the church? He told them straight out that Jesus Christ is the church's "head" and that the rest of us are its body parts. And there is nothing more unwieldy or ineffective, beloved, than a "two-headed" church!
So whose church is it? It is Jesus' church and only Jesus' church. It is not mine and it is not yours. Never has been. Never will be. It is Jesus' church because He is the only one who paid the ultimate price to establish it and to call it His own. And who is the operating authority in the church? Paul said that Jesus is the "head" and Jesus Himself said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him by His Father (Matthew 28:18). Thus, we find undeniably taught in God's Word that this is Christ's church and that He is the only one authorized to run it. The rest of us are His servants who wait upon His pleasure and then joyfully do His bidding. Don't you think it's time that we started acting like servants?
Ron
I recently had occasion to reflect once again upon what has become a significant weakness within many local churches today, beloved, and that is the inability to answer the question posed above. Now, please note that I did not say that we not have an answer for it but rather that the answer we are voicing so very often is just flat out wrong! I cannot tell you how many times over the years I have heard people state emphatically that the particular church of which they are a part is their church. Either someone's great-grandfather cleared the land on which the church sat or someone else's uncle donated the money for the building materials of which the church was ultimately built. For whatever reason, no matter how sincerely and honestly felt, we have simply come to believe that this church is our church.
It is well past time for us as Christians to put this chicken to roost once and for all, beloved. I find two issues inherent in rightly answering this question which we must consider. The first has to do with whose church it really is. Did you note that Jesus informed Peter that, beyond any shadow of any doubt, the church with which He chose to be connected would be His church and no one else's? Very simply, Jesus made it clear that any church that is not His church has no right to associate itself with His name in any way. You see, the truth revealed in Scripture, beloved, is that the answer to the question before us is that this is Christ's church and not yours or mine. It doesn't matter whose family member donated the land or whose loved one stoked the wood-burning stove every week so that the building would be warm for worshipers. Those are acts of a servant, beloved, not acts of an owner.
The second issue that I find in these verses has to do with whose authority is supreme in the church. It is has been my experience that whenever people have insisted in times past that the church is theirs, what they mean is that they run it. Claims of church ownership in local congregations are almost always tied to an inner struggle for power. But did you note also in these verses what the Apostle Paul told the saints in Ephesus about who has the true authority in the church? He told them straight out that Jesus Christ is the church's "head" and that the rest of us are its body parts. And there is nothing more unwieldy or ineffective, beloved, than a "two-headed" church!
So whose church is it? It is Jesus' church and only Jesus' church. It is not mine and it is not yours. Never has been. Never will be. It is Jesus' church because He is the only one who paid the ultimate price to establish it and to call it His own. And who is the operating authority in the church? Paul said that Jesus is the "head" and Jesus Himself said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him by His Father (Matthew 28:18). Thus, we find undeniably taught in God's Word that this is Christ's church and that He is the only one authorized to run it. The rest of us are His servants who wait upon His pleasure and then joyfully do His bidding. Don't you think it's time that we started acting like servants?
Ron
Thursday, December 20, 2012
A Not So 'PC' Christmas
"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" (Isaiah 9:6)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! SEASON'S GREETINGS! HOLIDAY WISHES! You've heard it all before, beloved, and if anything it becomes more pronounced with each passing year. Those 'PC' blues! Trying our best not to offend or put anyone off because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. As a result, Christmas has become a sterile, surface-only, secular celebration.
Would you like to really enjoy this year a not so 'PC' Christmas? Would you like to get back on track and genuinely celebrate CHRISTmas? If you would, then all you need to do is to reflect with me on the prophetic words of Isaiah spoken hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Note first here the manner of His coming. The promise that "a child will be born to us" emphasizes His incarnation and reminds us that God has given to us in Him the Son of Man. He laughs with us, cries with us, hurts with us, but most of all has died for us as He has taken our sins upon Himself.
But Isaiah also declared that "a son will be given to us." This promise emphasizes His divinity as surely as the word "born" emphasizes His humanity. Thus, the Son of God became the Son of Man by becoming "Immanuel" - God with us!
The prophet then went on to say that "the government shall rest upon His shoulders." Hear the word "government" and instantly an institution comes to mind. The Hebrew word here however actually means "a governing" and refers not to a national governmental structure but rather to His Lordship over the lives of men. Isaiah was promising to us that with His coming we would receive our own King of Kings. Every detail of our individual lives lies in His hands.
And what of the specific ministry of His coming? Isaiah told us that He would be called "Wonderful Counselor." He is the One to whom we can turn for direction for life's living. This Christmas child would have all the answers for all the questions that pluck at the strings of our hearts. He would be able to show us the direction in which our lives should go.
The prophet said also of Him that He will be "Mighty God." The Hebrew word here means "strong" in the sense of the One who gains the ultimate victory. So as the Wonderful Counselor He gives us the direction we are to go, as the Mighty God He gives us the power to go in that direction.
But Jesus is also to us the "Eternal Father." In that role He provides us with assurance about life's living. His kingdom within us is an unending one, so there is never a need for us to fear for our future. The Christmas child makes possible for us an eternal relationship with the Father.
Finally, He comes to us as "Prince of Peace." Because of Him we have first of all peace with God. And then we also are enabled to be at peace with ourselves. And when we are at peace with God and with ourselves, we should always be at peace with our circumstances no matter what they might be.
There you have it, beloved, the makings of a genuine not so 'PC' Christmas! It is after all the real Christmas message and it's about time we took it back from the Grinch that is stealing it from us. Merry CHRISTmas to each and every one of you!
Ron
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! SEASON'S GREETINGS! HOLIDAY WISHES! You've heard it all before, beloved, and if anything it becomes more pronounced with each passing year. Those 'PC' blues! Trying our best not to offend or put anyone off because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. As a result, Christmas has become a sterile, surface-only, secular celebration.
Would you like to really enjoy this year a not so 'PC' Christmas? Would you like to get back on track and genuinely celebrate CHRISTmas? If you would, then all you need to do is to reflect with me on the prophetic words of Isaiah spoken hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Note first here the manner of His coming. The promise that "a child will be born to us" emphasizes His incarnation and reminds us that God has given to us in Him the Son of Man. He laughs with us, cries with us, hurts with us, but most of all has died for us as He has taken our sins upon Himself.
But Isaiah also declared that "a son will be given to us." This promise emphasizes His divinity as surely as the word "born" emphasizes His humanity. Thus, the Son of God became the Son of Man by becoming "Immanuel" - God with us!
The prophet then went on to say that "the government shall rest upon His shoulders." Hear the word "government" and instantly an institution comes to mind. The Hebrew word here however actually means "a governing" and refers not to a national governmental structure but rather to His Lordship over the lives of men. Isaiah was promising to us that with His coming we would receive our own King of Kings. Every detail of our individual lives lies in His hands.
And what of the specific ministry of His coming? Isaiah told us that He would be called "Wonderful Counselor." He is the One to whom we can turn for direction for life's living. This Christmas child would have all the answers for all the questions that pluck at the strings of our hearts. He would be able to show us the direction in which our lives should go.
The prophet said also of Him that He will be "Mighty God." The Hebrew word here means "strong" in the sense of the One who gains the ultimate victory. So as the Wonderful Counselor He gives us the direction we are to go, as the Mighty God He gives us the power to go in that direction.
But Jesus is also to us the "Eternal Father." In that role He provides us with assurance about life's living. His kingdom within us is an unending one, so there is never a need for us to fear for our future. The Christmas child makes possible for us an eternal relationship with the Father.
Finally, He comes to us as "Prince of Peace." Because of Him we have first of all peace with God. And then we also are enabled to be at peace with ourselves. And when we are at peace with God and with ourselves, we should always be at peace with our circumstances no matter what they might be.
There you have it, beloved, the makings of a genuine not so 'PC' Christmas! It is after all the real Christmas message and it's about time we took it back from the Grinch that is stealing it from us. Merry CHRISTmas to each and every one of you!
Ron
Monday, December 10, 2012
Yesterday I Met Santa Claus
"But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31)
Yesterday I met Santa Claus, beloved. It's true! I was walking down the hallway at church prior to the very special and inspiring morning worship service. I ducked into one of the classrooms and there he sat chilling out: Santa Claus! Or rather one of our fine young men dressed up in an enormous, pillow-stuffed Santa suit complete with snow-white wig and snowy beard with rimless glasses. That he took me by surprise is an understatement!
You see, yesterday morning we were all privileged to be led in worship by our young people as they presented their annual Christmas play, this one appropriately entitled: "That's What Christmas Is All About" and written by one of our fine young college-and-career men. Fantastic! As the play pointed out so well to all of those present, including the visiting parents and family members and friends who joined our regular members, we often miss the message concerning what Christmas is really all about. How unique that Santa should be present in our service of worship, not only to share in it but to try to explain that he is not the focal point of Christmas. By the way, one look at our Santa doing his best to stay in his enormous pillow-packed trousers as he made his way down the aisle and your day would have been made just by the sight.
At the end of this precious dramatic presentation I had the distinct privilege of stepping "on stage" to interact with the characters and to share with them and all others in attendance what God says that Christmas is really all about. I chose to focus upon the name "Immanuel" or God with us. That God would choose to come to us, beloved, and out of His limitless love and grace to die for us so that as we put our trust in Jesus Christ we will have Him with us is truly what Christmas is all about. Lose that truth and you lose Christmas, at least in any way that really matters.
So yesterday I met Santa Claus...at church! And the memory of that moment and of that entire gospel presentation will always be special to me. But far more important for me, and for each of you as well, is that one day long ago I met the babe of Bethlehem who became instantly my Savior and Lord. That meeting transformed my life just as it can transform yours if for whatever reason you do not yet know Him personally. Anyone can meet Santa, beloved. I am living proof of that. But to meet the Christ of Christmas, now that is what life is all about! Want to meet Him? I'd love to introduce Him to you.
Ron
Yesterday I met Santa Claus, beloved. It's true! I was walking down the hallway at church prior to the very special and inspiring morning worship service. I ducked into one of the classrooms and there he sat chilling out: Santa Claus! Or rather one of our fine young men dressed up in an enormous, pillow-stuffed Santa suit complete with snow-white wig and snowy beard with rimless glasses. That he took me by surprise is an understatement!
You see, yesterday morning we were all privileged to be led in worship by our young people as they presented their annual Christmas play, this one appropriately entitled: "That's What Christmas Is All About" and written by one of our fine young college-and-career men. Fantastic! As the play pointed out so well to all of those present, including the visiting parents and family members and friends who joined our regular members, we often miss the message concerning what Christmas is really all about. How unique that Santa should be present in our service of worship, not only to share in it but to try to explain that he is not the focal point of Christmas. By the way, one look at our Santa doing his best to stay in his enormous pillow-packed trousers as he made his way down the aisle and your day would have been made just by the sight.
At the end of this precious dramatic presentation I had the distinct privilege of stepping "on stage" to interact with the characters and to share with them and all others in attendance what God says that Christmas is really all about. I chose to focus upon the name "Immanuel" or God with us. That God would choose to come to us, beloved, and out of His limitless love and grace to die for us so that as we put our trust in Jesus Christ we will have Him with us is truly what Christmas is all about. Lose that truth and you lose Christmas, at least in any way that really matters.
So yesterday I met Santa Claus...at church! And the memory of that moment and of that entire gospel presentation will always be special to me. But far more important for me, and for each of you as well, is that one day long ago I met the babe of Bethlehem who became instantly my Savior and Lord. That meeting transformed my life just as it can transform yours if for whatever reason you do not yet know Him personally. Anyone can meet Santa, beloved. I am living proof of that. But to meet the Christ of Christmas, now that is what life is all about! Want to meet Him? I'd love to introduce Him to you.
Ron
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Going Back for My Teeth
"This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:58)
It was not my finest moment to be sure! I knew that something was wrong when as I backed slowly down the driveway my tongue informed me that something was missing. My teeth...I had forgotten my partial. Quickly I stopped the car there in the driveway and ran back into the house to retrieve a very necessary item in order to face my day. How embarrassing would that have been! Surely I would have realized my mistake later as soon as I bit into a sausage biscuit.
I am convinced, believe it or not, that there is a tremendous spiritual lesson to be learned in this seemingly trivial experience of going back for my teeth. You see, beloved, many professing Christians today treat God's Word as if it is something that is light and airy, an addendum to life, much like sprinkles on top of ice cream or flavoring on your favorite meat or vegetable or even, dare I use the analogy, "pixie dust" showered over us that is supposed to make us healthy and wealthy and satisfy every desire of our hearts. We go to church and we allow the message to fall lightly upon us and then we leave the place of worship, glistening with a dusting of spiritual truth. Maybe it will sink in and "flavor" us and maybe it won't.
I was fascinated to discover that Jesus spoke quite frankly about "eating" His body and His blood, of actually ingesting Him into our lives. In fact, in the verse displayed above the word "eats" is from the Greek verb trogo which means literally "wear away" by crunching and grinding with the teeth. Other forms of this Greek word, trogalia and trokta, refer to fruit and nuts that are used as dessert. You get it...things that have to be chewed thoroughly and ingested.
If you are going to be a Christian, then, and I mean a serious follower of Jesus Christ, you must have your spiritual "teeth" with you at all times. You've got to be able to "chew on" the truths of Scripture, to digest them thoroughly, to apply them vigorously to every situation that you face in life. In other words, they have to become a part of you if you are going to "eat the bread" that will cause you to live forever. Jesus is not an ice cream topping, beloved! He is the "main course" and He must become your life if you are ever to realize God's great plan and purpose for your existence. Go ahead! Go back for your teeth!
Ron
It was not my finest moment to be sure! I knew that something was wrong when as I backed slowly down the driveway my tongue informed me that something was missing. My teeth...I had forgotten my partial. Quickly I stopped the car there in the driveway and ran back into the house to retrieve a very necessary item in order to face my day. How embarrassing would that have been! Surely I would have realized my mistake later as soon as I bit into a sausage biscuit.
I am convinced, believe it or not, that there is a tremendous spiritual lesson to be learned in this seemingly trivial experience of going back for my teeth. You see, beloved, many professing Christians today treat God's Word as if it is something that is light and airy, an addendum to life, much like sprinkles on top of ice cream or flavoring on your favorite meat or vegetable or even, dare I use the analogy, "pixie dust" showered over us that is supposed to make us healthy and wealthy and satisfy every desire of our hearts. We go to church and we allow the message to fall lightly upon us and then we leave the place of worship, glistening with a dusting of spiritual truth. Maybe it will sink in and "flavor" us and maybe it won't.
I was fascinated to discover that Jesus spoke quite frankly about "eating" His body and His blood, of actually ingesting Him into our lives. In fact, in the verse displayed above the word "eats" is from the Greek verb trogo which means literally "wear away" by crunching and grinding with the teeth. Other forms of this Greek word, trogalia and trokta, refer to fruit and nuts that are used as dessert. You get it...things that have to be chewed thoroughly and ingested.
If you are going to be a Christian, then, and I mean a serious follower of Jesus Christ, you must have your spiritual "teeth" with you at all times. You've got to be able to "chew on" the truths of Scripture, to digest them thoroughly, to apply them vigorously to every situation that you face in life. In other words, they have to become a part of you if you are going to "eat the bread" that will cause you to live forever. Jesus is not an ice cream topping, beloved! He is the "main course" and He must become your life if you are ever to realize God's great plan and purpose for your existence. Go ahead! Go back for your teeth!
Ron
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