Christ is Coming #4

Isaiah 40 begins with the prophecy of the forerunner and then proceeds to tell of the Servant God will send to deliver His people.  It ends with this familiar challenge full of hope:

 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

God begins by asking the question: "Don't you know what God has in store? Haven't you heard the good news?" We're talking God here. He is all-powerful and He shares what He has with His people. He gives strength, courage, and hope to those who are weak, discouraged, and hopeless. God has been around forever and will be around forever. This story is not over. God is not done; neither are you if you trust in Him. Listen and learn to the Good News of Christ's coming. Take heart and trust in Him. 

Christ is Coming #3

Psalm 130 is one of the Songs of Ascents that the people of  Israel would sing on their way to Jerusalem for one of their holy assemblies or special celebrations.  It contains in it this aspect of hope we associate with Advent:

 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2     O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.

Notice here the deep convictions about the character of God: He is merciful; He is forgiving: He is faithful. The resulting response then is a heart that anticipates what God will do: He will hear: He will answer; He will come and do what needs to be done. That is exactly what Christ did when He came. During Advent this year, may we have that same sense of anticipation and trust the Psalmist has here. 

Christ is Coming #2

Many believers will recognize the title "The Hiding Place" as a book and movie about believers who did and did not survive the tortures of the Nazis.  That phrase comes from Psalm 119

114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
    I hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
    and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

The hiding place is not so much a physical location, but where we place our hope and trust. David here says that God is his hiding place, his place of protection.  He trusted in what God said.  The way that many are discouraged and distracted in life is by not trusting, and therefore not obeying, God's Word. It is in God, His Word, and our calling out to Him for help that we will find true Hope.  As we celebrate Christ's coming this year, may we not be distracted into doubting or disobeying. May we make God our hiding place. 

Christ is Coming #1

Today is the First Sunday in Advent. The way the calendar falls, we will have four full weeks to prepare our hearts for Christmas Day - the day we celebrate Christ's Coming.  We begin in Mark's Gospel:

 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

John Mark records: This is how it all started: This is the beginning of the Good News of how the Son of God was incarnated and came down to earth. He then immediately refers us back to the prophecy in Isaiah about the forerunner who would come calling out" Prepare the way!"  In other words: "Get ready. You've got to get ready for Christ's coming. Over the next few weeks we will have plenty of distractions from what really matters - lots of ways we can spend our time, money, and energy which really miss the point. Christ is coming. Stop and think about what that really means for you, for the world. Are you getting ready? 

Making a Big Deal of Thanksgiving Day 6

We've been in Numbers 10, looking this week at God's way of moving the nation during the forty years of wilderness wandering. He had the leaders sound the trumpet, pack up the tabernacle, organize by their tribes, then move out in an orderly fashion, following after the cloud of His presence. When the cloud would stop, they would stop, set up the tabernacle, pitch their tents in an orderly way, and wait for the Lord to call them to come together. The chapter concludes 

33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

Moses wanted the people of Israel to be constantly reminded of God's presence and protection as they traveled. As is often said in scripture, "He went before them," scattering their enemies. Only a few ever dared to mess with Israel in the wilderness, and they were always sorry they did. They had every reason to feel safe and secure in their camp, and in the knowledge that God would always provide for their needs. We have the same reasons and more.  As we continue in our journey, may we always recognize His presence, His protection and His provision, and pause often to give Him thanks.

Making a Big Deal of Thanksgiving #5

We are still in Numbers 10, looking at God's instructions to His people for their time of wandering in the wilderness.  Verse 

29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.” 31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. 32 And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.”

Now that we have come through Thanksgiving Day, we do not want to just forget it and move on. We want to hold on to why we are thankful.  Moses had some very supportive in-laws, including this young man he highly valued.  Notice as he encourages this man to go with him, the incentive he gives him: God does good to us. Over and over that phrase is repeated here.  Why did we take a break in life and celebrate yesterday? Because God is good to us. Why are we ready to get back into life and face tomorrow, even with all of its uncertainties? Because God is good to us. Why should we encourage others and bless others? Because God has been good to us and blessed us and called us to be a blessing to others. God is always good. 

Making a Big Deal of Thanksgiving Day 4

We turn again today to Numbers 10
17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies, and over their company was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. 22 And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
25 Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies, and over their company was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran. 27 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they set out.

Every time the Cloud of God's presence moved, the tabernacle was taken down and the encampment of the people of Israel moved, in a very organized manner.  Why take the time to read this detailed history? First, it is part of God's revelation, so it has a reason.  Secondly, then it comes to worshipping and obeying God, He has a plan, a method, and a reason for everything.  It is to be done freely, with no holding back, yet, as Paul says to the Corinthians, decently and in order.  As we look back today to those who celebrated their first Thanksgiving in America, they were a people of order. They made specific plans for their celebration and did so for specific reasons. They wanted to give God thanks in a way that would honor Him. May our way and our day do the same.

Making a Big Deal of Thanksgiving Day 3

We are looking in Numbers 10 at the instructions God gave concerning the response of the people in the wilderness to the trumpets God commanded them to sound. We find in verse 

11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony, 12 and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies, and over their company was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

This is the first time the plan was put into motion: the trumpets were played, the people set out in orderly fashion and they moved from one place to another.  So what's the big deal? Two things. First God's plan works - it always works best. Second, gratitude is shown through obedience.  This is not automatic. Often, the more we give our children, the less they obey. The same is true of adults - even God's people. But if we are truly thankful, we will obey promptly. Let's think about that as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week.

Making a Big Deal of Thanksgiving Day 2

We started looking yesterday in Numbers 10 at the instructions given to Israel during the wilderness wanderings about trumpets.  Much like the bugler in an army, the different sounds of the trumpets meant different things. We pick up in verse 
7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Lest we get the wrong idea here: the purpose of the trumpets was not to wake up God and ask Him for His blessing. The trumpets were a reminder to the people to think about God and be thankful: thankful that they did not go out into battle alone; thankful that when we offer Him our thanksgiving and praise, we are worshipping and thanking the true and living God.  Today, may we hear the trumpets sounding: God has blessed us with so much both physically and spiritually. May we gather together to give Him thanks. 

Making a Big Deal of Thanksgiving Day 1

In Numbers 9, God established a pattern for the worship of the people of Israel in the Wilderness. He told them when and how to commemorate the Passover and trained them in following the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Each time it moved, they were to pack up the tabernacle and follow. In other words, their actions were worship-led.  When we come to the next chapter, Numbers 10 God gives more instructions:

 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning
the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 

The people were to listen for the trumpets. When both were blown, it was the sound to congregate together. This week the trumpets are sounding; Come together and give thanks to God.  Thanksgiving and worship should lead our week. Let's not get so caught up in the business of life that we forget to give thanks. 

Being the Church #50

We wrap up our study today on "Being the Church" by returning to the epistle on "the Church" - Ephesians 4:

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Why did God bring us all together into one Body? Why did He give each one of us Gifts? Why has He put into each of us individually - and even in a greater sense - corporately, His Holy Spirit?  To build up, prepare, establish and strengthen us to speak up for and live for The Head, the One Who gave Himself for us, the One Who sent the Holy Spirit, that together we may live for the Glory of God. May it be so. 

Being the Church #49

Sometimes in Paul's letters, he really opens up and lets us know how he feels, like in II Corinthians 7:

5  For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

Paul admitted to times of struggle and discouragement when he and his team poured their lives out only to experience ridicule and rejection.  He also wanted his readers to realize that God takes us through these times, often by the support of fellow believers. In fact, he wanted them to realize that God had used them in this way when Titus had brought them encouraging news about what was happening their. They were told that rather than being angry with Paul's rebuke they were moved to mourn and be reconciled with him. This changed Paul's demeanor from one of expecting the worst at every turn to one of hope. There are times God may move us to call, write, or even visit someone and we are not sure why - or may even would rather not. God has a reason; He may use you to be the encouragement someone else needs.

Being the Church #48

How rarely we read the important wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, such as is found in chapter 4:

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

When God created man, He made us for community. Solomon here lists numerous practical reasons we need each other, beginning with the question: "Why am I doing this if it is only for myself? What good is it if I cannot share it with someone else?" The same is true of the Church; God has given us to one another for community. Together we have greater success in our own spiritual growth, but also in contributing to each other's spiritual growth.  Together we can accomplish so much more, we can be there in time of need, we can better understand what the Church is all about: Christ's Body He loves so much He gave Himself for us. 

Being the Church #47

As Paul is wrapping up the first half of his letter to the Galatians, he says in chapter 3:

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

What joins us together is our common faith in Christ. That breaks down all sorts of distinctions and differences that have historically divided us. Together, we have a newfound freedom - not from obedience to the Law, but dependence upon Christ.  In Christ we have been forgiven, taking off our old sinful life and putting on our new Christ-life. We are now more alike than different. We are family and you can see the resemblance to Christ and one another.  May the world around us see that resemblance today. 

Being the Church #46

Today we continue on in Philippians 2:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

After calling us as Christ-followers to humility, Paul now uses Him as the ultimate example for us to follow. We need to have His mind, which was revealed by His actions.  Christ did not let his "God-ness" stop Him from humbling Himself. He continually humbled Himself from God to human to servant to sacrifice to the One Who took all the shame of sin on Himself.   There is no greater humility, sacrifice and submission than that. We do not have nearly as far to humble ourselves as He did.  Paul's not-so-subtle exhortation here is this: stop grasping, stop holding onto your pride; let it out and become like Christ. 

Being the Church #45

Philippians 2:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

We have been in passages all over the Bible in this study on being the church, but keep coming on these passages that remind us of the importance of humility. To begin with, this is an evidence of the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.  It is the kind of atmosphere that brings joy to the hearts of those who have been called by God to lead and invest in His people. It reveals that victory is taking place in the hardest of battlefields: selfishness. Notice how Paul builds from verse to verse. First it is as if he is asking a heart-searching question: "Is God at work in your life?  Do you care at all about others? Then he asks them as a favor to him. Next, he gives an imperative: Do nothing selfish; be humble. Finally, he gives an exhortation: Let everyone look out for each other.  Take the focus off of "me", and think more about "we."

Being the Church #44

We've been talking about how we as the people of God should stand out as the Church as being so distinct in our loving actions toward one another.  Sometimes God has used His people as a negative example, like in Jeremiah 9:

4 Let everyone beware of his neighbor,
    and put no trust in any brother,
for every brother is a deceiver,
    and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
5 Everyone deceives his neighbor,
    and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongue to speak lies;
    they weary themselves committing iniquity.
6 Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit,
    they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.
7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Behold, I will refine them and test them,
    for what else can I do, because of my people?

What happens when God's people fail to keep his call to be a positive example? What happens when we replace truth and love with lies and backstabbing? He refines, tests, tries them. What else can He do?

Being the Church #43

Isaiah 2: 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days

    that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3     and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war anymore.
5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk
    in the light of the Lord.

We've talked before about the importance of humility among God's people. Closely related to that is having a teachable spirit.  In this passage they people of Israel had strayed far away from the will and Word of God, and they were being called back to come and be taught. The result would be restoration of relationships and a presence of peace.  Do you have a teachable spirit?

Being the Church #42

It's interesting to see the variety of ways Paul wrote something similar to different churches. Colossians 3:
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

This is what God has chosen us for, called us out to do: live in a loving way towards one another. We are to demonstrate the same characteristics Christ has demonstrated toward us: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, with a strong emphasis on forgiveness - three times he repeats that word. What God is looking for is harmonious living; that is what stands out in the crowd and calmly yells Christlikeness.  What a different attitude and atmosphere than we see all around us today: people who love and care for one another in a quiet yet powerful way.  May God see more of that from us today.

Being the Church #41

We looked yesterday in Romans 12 at Paul's call to change our mindset on the people God has brought us together with as the church.  He continues on in the next paragraph to describe real church:
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Let love be real.  Real love does not embrace or allow what is evil - not in a self-righteous way, but in a way that says: "This is not good for you; this is not good for us."  Real love - that kind that does what is best for you no matter what it costs me - results in a good kind of outdoing one another - not a showy competition, but a desire to bless everyone as much as possible. Real love is not too laid back, too cool to show affection or excitement.  Real love encourages a brother or sister to not give up and puts up with them when they are hard to get along with.  Real love gives generously, both going out to meet needs and receiving the needy into our homes.  Real church happens when we all are like that one person we look to as an example of Christ-like love.  

Being the Church #40

Romans 12 is one of those places where Paul really hits hard on how we do church:

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

As with any other instruction concerning the Church, the starting point is this: humility. We are not to in any way think we are more important than anyone else in the Church. What we are to do is do our part with everything we have. This involves us changing our thinking from "me" to "we."  This chapter begins with that memorable exhortation about the "renewing of the mind", the transformation of the way we think. Thinking affects action, both in what we do and the intensity with which we do it. Our mindset needs to be that God put us here together to do something, and we're going to do it with all we've got.

Being the Church #39

Christ's apostles had been through a whirlwind of activity with Jesus: from the Triumphal Entry to the upper room, the garden, the cross, and then finally, His appearances to them after His resurrection. We don't know exactly what their thinking was at this point, but there must have been some thought like this: "What next?" Consider John's last chapter, 21:

 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they di, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

It's somewhat of a spoiler, but you can imagine what happens next. They realize: "This has happened before. When Jesus had originally called them, they had been fishing, and after an empty-handed night, Jesus had come and told them to go out and drop their net at a certain place. When they did they had a catch too heavy to handle.  What's the point? Sometimes we tend to forget what Jesus has taught us before. We need reminders of who we are, what God has called us to be, and what we ought to be doing.  May we have such moments today, and respond appropriately to them. 

Being the Church #38

The writer of Hebrews diligently listed reason after reason why his readers should not lose heart and give up on following Jesus.  Faith in Him is superior in every way to their old way of life or anything else out there had to offer. He then gave this classic illustration in chapter 12:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

The writer says: "Let's step back and see the big picture."  As we said yesterday, followers of Christ need to realize and remember that they are not alone: we are surrounded by encouragers and those who have gone before and are waiting at the finish line.  Also, like Jesus told His disciples when He sent them out two by two: travel light. Don't try to carry the burdens, and definitely don't hold on to those tempting sins: they will just slow you down and trip you up. Finally, keep your focus.  We as the church can get so easily distracted from the goal. Christ is the Goal: where He is, what He is like, and how He ran the race. He was not distracted by sin or by hostility or any bumps in the road; He completed the race on our behalf.  Let us run on and run together. 

Being the Church #37

In Mark 6, Jesus has just gotten His ministry well established, with everyone talking about what He was doing and saying. It then says this:

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Just a few notes here about these first followers of Jesus: They were not hindered by fear. They knew Jesus was sending them out into a dark and dirty world, but they did not let that hold them back from following His call.  That may be because they knew they were not alone. Not only did they go out two by two; they knew they had the authority of Jesus and His message.  He had told them all they needed to say: "Repent! We all need to change and Jesus gives us the ability and desire to change." Also note here that His followers traveled light; they were to take as little as possible.  We cannot carry out His mission with a lot of baggage weighing us down.  Finally, leave the response to God.  We cannot change the world; we can only introduce people to the One Who can.

Being the Church #36

In I Corinthians 9, Paul is trying to help us keep perspective as to how we are to be in the world, yet not of this world - how we can do all we can to bring together God's people from all sorts of different backgrounds. He says:

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Our freedom in Christ does not make us free from responsibility to others.  We cannot just blow other people off based upon our convictions.  We need to deal wisely and gingerly with those of different backgrounds and perspectives. First and foremost, we must view ourselves as God's servants who are willing to serve others to draw them to Him.  As God's people we are called out, separated to serve Him. But we are not to get an attitude that we are better and cut off all ties with others. We need to build bridges and be willing to serve others to demonstrate to them the blessings of the Gospel.  This is part of being the Church. May the church be the church today.

Being the Church #35

In the last chapter of the Sermon on the Mount , Matthew 7,  Jesus is winding down His instructions on how we should interact with fellow followers:

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

In this call to prayer, Jesus talks both about individual followers - the one who asks, seeks, and knocks - as well as His people corporately: everyone, you plural, children (plural).  Christ's followers should be known as those who pray together and on their own, trusting God to give what is good, what we need, all we need. He will repeat these instructions as reminders late in His ministry, but the principle was there from the beginning: ask and show that you trust Him. Let's show Him how much we trust Him today.

Being the Church #34

As the writer of Hebrews works his way through all the reasons for his people to not give up on the church, their faith, their Lord, he makes this well-known statement in chapter 10:

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Sometimes it can seem that the last verse of these three is used to beat people up for not showing up at church services.  But it is more like: "Why would you want to?"  It's all a part of not giving up. God does not give up on us: He is faithful.  We are not alone: He has given us each other.  We are not aimless: He has given us a goal, and a hope and a purpose.  The next time you are feeling hopeless, helpless and alone, reach out to fellow believers; don't avoid them.  Get fully involved with the people of God; you will no longer feel weak, alone, or lifeless. Figure out what you can do to encourage others and you will find yourself encouraged as well. 

Being the Church #33

Imagine what it would be like to hear Jesus pray this, like the Apostle John did:

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Jesus was praying for His closest followers (and for all followers to come, including us), to be sanctified, set apart for service.  Christ's plan was to transform us for His mission here on earth. He did not come to recruit an army or group of admirers to take back to heaven to say: "Look what I found, Dad!" He came to provide us salvation, pull us out of the snare of Satan, and send us back into this world changed from the inside out: full of joy and truth.  As those around us sense the joy, they will want to hear the truth. Let us do what He left us here to do: pursue truth, be transformed, and allow Him to fill us with joy to share with others.  

Being the Church #32

As we have seen this past month, Paul has a lot to say about being the church in His letter to the Ephesians. The last paragraph of chapter 2 says:

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Paul piles on the descriptions to remind us how much God wants us to be a part of His people, and how important it is to Him that we value one another. We are fellow citizens and members of the household. We are not outsiders, but a part of what God is doing, what He is building. We are not useless stumbling blocks to get out of the way.  We are stones - Peter would say "living stones" - that God is putting together as a glorious temple for His presence.  God wants us to understand that we are a part, and to remind and encourage each other that we are a part of His family, His kingdom, His plan and purpose of redemption. Once we recognize we are a part, then we should do our part.