Be a Citizen of Heaven

I remember the day I truly became aware of how proud I was to be an American citizen. I was blessed to attend Capernwray Bible School in England when I was about twenty. Some French kid was trying to tell me how Vietnam (the war) was all our (the United States') fault! "What!? It used to be called FRENCH Indochina! The French started the stupid thing and we had to bail you guys out again!" I couldn't believe that little knucklehead! But, at that moment I realized that being an American was something different than being anything else. Paul reminds us that as Christians, we are citizens of heaven, not this world.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21

Our citizenship is in heaven. When you go to a foreign country they generally know you are not from there. Values are one of the components of culture. What do we value as Christians? We value our relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord.  

The world looks to self gratification (see verse 19) and in that they put their hope. That is not what we as Christians do. We eagerly await a Savior from heaven. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is what we look to see transform us into the image of Christ and to one day transform us into our resurrected bodies. 

Although I am an American and proud of it I am first and foremost, a Christian. I seek to be Christlike, to be transformed into his image. That is the end goal of what I seek. To be transformed into his image. 

Father, help us to set our hearts upon being citizens of heaven. Help us to see all that you have for us. Praise be to you in us today!

How to Finish the Race

I kind of get this picture of Richard Petty (the NASCAR racing legend) telling a younger driver how to win a race. The Apostle Paul is nearing the end of his life and he has already taught us about dying to ourselves and with the same attitude as Christ serving others. His perspective is from the end of the race, getting ready to join that great cloud of witnesses in heaven. From that point of view he says, 

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 

Continuing with the analogy of a race Paul is describing, to the mature and to those seeking to be mature, how to win the race. The first thing I see is that I must make winning the goal.  I find it funny when a reporter asks an athlete who has trained their whole life if they ever thought they would win. They try to sound humble and surprised, but, they didn't sacrifice all they did to come in last place or get disqualified. 

When Paul says that he wants to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him, he is not talking about failing. Christ Jesus took hold of me, he took hold of you, to make you into the image of Jesus Christ. It's not about perfection. It's not about being able to say you completed the checklist of things God gave you to do. It's about trusting God that he will do what he said he would do in you. In chapter 1, verse 6 Paul said, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Grab unto that truth and hold on for dear life! 

What do great finishers do? At the end they focus on the prize, the end of the race. They put their heads down and just flat out go, they give everything they have and cross the finish line! So, grab unto Jesus Christ, hang on, put your head down and go!

Father, thank you that as we seek to press on toward finishing the race you will complete what you want to do in and through us. Praise be to you in us today! 

Knowing Christ is what I want.

Sometimes I think I forget what the real center, the focus of being a Christian is. I don't mean this as a rebuke, just as a reminder. The bottom line is that everything else is secondary to knowing Christ.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead." Philippians 3:10-11 

Paul was no simpleton and he felt the responsibility of leadership for churches in pretty much the known world at the time. I say that because I have to remember that Paul was not a monk who could cloister himself from the demands of life. He was also a self-supporting missionary. So, when he talks about what is the bottom line of spirituality, I should pay attention. 

First of all, knowing Christ is the end of all things. A friend of mine was pastoring and working as a drywall contractor. I worked with him one day and in the heat of a moment he said, "There is no Jesus in the kingdom of drywall!" Well, God showed him there was (yes, without my help). 

Paul then links knowing Christ to the power of his resurrection. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is the power that God displays in my life to change me into the image of Jesus Christ. 

Here's the one I don't want to hear but, need to hear the most. I need to know Christ in the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, which leads me to die to myself, becoming like him in his death. There was this song by Barry McGuire the went something like this,"I walked a mile with pleasure and she chattered all the way, and never a thing I learned from her, when pleasure walked with me. Then I walked a mile with sorrow and never a word said she, but Oh, the things I learned from her, when sorrow walked with me." When I submit to God in the midst of sorrow, God reveals himself to me.

All this is about knowing Christ and somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. That's the goal according to Paul. The resurrection from the dead. Remember Paul said before Christ we were dead in our sins. Now we are made alive in Christ. Dying to ourselves produces resurrection life in Christ. We have a new life now and when Jesus comes again we are going to live a new life in eternity with him!

Father, thank you that in Christ we can live a new life. May we know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings and  becoming like him in his death and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead! Praise be to you in us today!

The Power and Glory in the Voice of God!

Whatever is going on in and around your life:

"Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;     worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.  The voice of the LORD is over the waters,     the God of glory thunders,     the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful;     the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;     the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon."  Psalm 29:1-5 

Once more, whatever your are going through in your life this is your God. His voice, his word, his promise is to provide for you. The truth is that he is above all things. Not passively, but actively. His ways are not our ways. Sometimes, we forget that his purpose is to make us into the image of Jesus Christ his Son. God's desire is that we reflect him as we call out to him. 

Remember today his glory and his strength. His very word can level the forests of our lives. 

Father, we call upon you. Be glorified in our lives. We lift up the trials and problems in our lives to you. Show us your glory, power and majesty! Praise be to you in us today! 

Knowing Christ, there is no substitute.

I had a friend once who had this little Datsun B210 that he had fixed up a bit. He thought it was pretty fast and he was convinced it could corner like a race car. Well, one day he was following a Porsche and the Porsche took the ninety degree corner without slowing down. He thought he could too. He ended up in the dirt bank after spinning out. I told him, "Porsche, there's no substitute." Sometimes you think everything is ok until you experience the real thing. Knowing Christ is like that.  

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:7-8

When it comes to experiencing life, real life, once you know Christ and the power of his resurrection, you know that everything else is rubbish at best. Remember that Paul had just been describing how he had basically had it all before coming to Christ. He was all that he sought out to be. But, compared to knowing Christ, it was all nothing. 

The reality is that without Christ, everything else is just emptiness. The truth is that everyone has a God shaped hole inside that only he can fill. That never stops being true. Walking with God through your life will bring many opportunities to learn that truth anew. I learned that as a teenager many years ago. God filled the whole while I was in my twenties finishing school and hoping someone would fill it. The hole did not change when I got married in my thirties (apparently I am late for some things) and had children. Now, I am learning how knowing him through this time of my life fills the hole that only he can fill. I enjoy all that God has given me, but, nothing compares to just knowing him.

Where are you at in your life? I encourage you to remember that God still loves you. He is still Sovereign. He will always remain faithful, even when we are not. He will never leave you or forsake you. God has unfailing love for you today, right where you are at.

Father, thank you for yourself. May the surpassing greatness of knowing you permeate our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

Here I am vs There you are people

I had this friend named Kenny. He was pretty funny. But, he had an advanced degree in complaining and had quite a temper. One day we were talking and he asked me how come people didn't want to hang out with him that much. So, I told him the truth as gently as I could.  "Kenny, no one likes to hang out with someone who constantly complains. It gets old really fast." Have you ever noticed that people who complain tend to argue too? Just a thought. That is why Paul told the Philippians: 

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." Philippians 2:14-16a

Someone once said that there are two kinds of people. There are the Here I Am! people and there are the Here You Are! people. Here I am people are all about them. Here you are people are all about others. I think that the bottom line about complaining and arguing is that it is really selfishness. 

Christianity teaches us to look out from ourselves and see the needs of others. Then we get to be the instrument by which God meets many of those needs. But, if you are so busy looking only at your own problems, you will never get the opportunity to serve others and see God work. 

In contrast to my friend Kenny (who did ease up on the complaining) my brother had this friend who was just a great guy. I think I have only talked with him three times. But, each time I saw him he would ask about some detail in my life that we had spoken about four years earlier! That guy is the prototypical here you are person! In the same way as Christians we should look not to be served but to serve others. Even outside the church in our daily lives we should seek to serve others and in that way shine like stars in this crooked and depraved generation. 

Father, help us to trust you as we seek to serve others. Use us to shine like stars in our lives, at home, at work and at church. Praise be to you in us today!

The Circle of Faith

A little fear is very good for you. When I was in my teens and twenties I worked construction and the Skill 77 saw was constantly in my hand. My parents had taught me to respect any tool I used because they each could cause incredible damage. So, every time I used it I trained myself to pick it up, cut with it and set it down, respecting its blade. Walking with God has a special mixture of fear and faith.

"- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling , for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:12b-13

I think it is difficult for people to understand the fear of God . Yet, it is a vital element in a healthy relationship with God. I have dealt with a lot of young people as an educator for the last twenty some years. At the beginning of each year I have students complete a drawing where they show their family, the person they fear the most, the person they love the most and themselves. Many students have a parent or both parents for both fear and love. That is normal and very healthy. A little fear keeps people from doing a lot of stupid things. My mom used to tell me, "If you get thrown in jail, I'm not getting out of bed to come get you." The message wasn't just expect to spend the night in jail. The message was to expect to reap what I sowed. Yes, it did cross my mind many times as a teenager and kept me out of a lot of trouble. That and the grace of God.

That leads me to the other side of the equation. On the one side we respect that God will honor our choices and allow to us to reap what we sow. On the other side, we have the incredible sovereignty and grace of God. We trust God and he works in us and around our lives. If I look back upon my life I see time after time where God worked his will and good purpose, even despite me. Frankly, sometimes it is like God gave me just the right amount of stupidity to miss the opportunity to sin. That is the grace of God! What does Romans 8:28 remind us? That God works out all things for good for those who are called according to his purposes. I guess you could call it the circle of faith. 

Father, thank you for your grace to us. Help us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is you that works in us to act according to your good purpose. Praise be to you in us today!

The Attitude of Nothingness

The Bible is so often in direct opposition to the culture of this world. For most the importance of one's attitude is that being positive can take you to new heights. But, as usual, the Bible turns the culture upside down. 

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:      Who, being in very nature God,        did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,     but made himself nothing,        taking on the very nature of a servant,        being made in human likeness." Philippians 2:5-7 

"Made himself nothing..." Did you get that? Christ Jesus, who is God, made himself nothing. What does that mean to me? It means that in relation to how I view others and act toward them: It's not about me. It's about serving others. I am nothing. That is hard to say because the world around me gears us to believe that if we don't look out for ourselves, look out for number one, no one else will. But, that is not true. God loves me. God has promised to provide for me. God said that he would never leave me or forsake me. 

Do you get it? Because I know God is Sovereign over my life and because he sent his Son to die for my sins I don't have to compete with anyone and everyone about anything and everything. So, if God is taking care of me, I am free to look outside myself to serve others. 

I have worked for and with two types of people. "Do this (for me) "people and "what can I do (help you succeed) for you" people. Do this for me people are really just interested in looking good. Because they are purely self-serving, when tough choices must be made, their underlying motivation is self glorification and not necessarily the good of the company or team. What can I do for you people help others succeed and the whole company succeeds. People like to work with and for someone who will help them succeed and consequently  will put out extra effort. 

Isn't it amazing that the Bible understands human nature at such a deep level?  Taking on the nature of a servant, considering yourself noting, are in direct opposition to everything this world believes and teaches. Yet, God tells us to take the same attitude as Christ Jesus: consider yourself nothing and serve others. He will take care of you.

What situation or circumstances are you currently confronted with? Do you need to consider yourself nothing and serve others?

Father, help us to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. Thank you that as we consider ourselves nothing, you provide and care for us. Praise be to you in us today!

Why read the Bible every day?

"I have hidden your word in my heart 
     that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 

Today I celebrate a completion. I finished reading through the Bible, again. Tomorrow I will begin the journey once more. I began reading through my Bible some thirty years ago. I started by reading about five chapters a day and I have since slowed down to about one per day. I encourage you to read through the Bible at whatever pace you can. There is nothing like reading it through from cover to cover. 

I would just like to share a few things that reading through the Bible has done for me and hope that you will be encouraged to with patient endurance to let the Spirit of God work in you. 

First of all, I believe that by constantly "hearing" the truth I can more readily recognize the truth. Have you ever been listening to someone speak and you think to yourself that they said something incorrectly? That's because if you know a language you recognize when it doesn't sound right even if you can remember the rule. Sometimes while listening to someone say something about the Bible or God in general a little inner red flag will go up. Then as I listen further I will see why. You have heard that they teach people to recognize forgeries by knowing what real money looks like. Know the truth and you will recognize a lie. 

Secondly, I have been in discussions with people about the reality of God and the truth of the Scriptures and often someone will say, "You've probably never even read the whole thing." It is very powerful to be able to say, "Yes, I have. I have read it several times. I stopped counting at about thirteen some twenty years ago. Have you ever read it?" 

Lastly, disciplining myself to read the Bible on a daily basis reminds me to humbly seek God. Every day we are confronted and bombarded by a worldview that seeks to point us away from God. Jesus said that "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31b-32) Know the Bible, which points you to Christ, who is the truth and you will be free in him. 

So, I encourage you to start reading the Bible every day. Don't worry about how much, just read a comfortable amount for you. If you have read through the Bible and been blessed by doing so, I would really like to hear about it, so please leave a comment.

Father, help us to put your word in our hearts that we might not sin against you. Praise be to you in us today!

Be confident in the goodness of God

"I am still confident of this:
     I will see the goodness of the LORD
     in the land of the living.
 Wait for the LORD:
     be strong and take heart
     and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:13-14 

Take heart my friends, no matter what you are going through, God wants to show his goodness to you. During these times of preparation wait on the LORD. Hand on to the truth that God has unfailing love for you and is Sovereign over everything. Remember, it is more important to bear the image of Christ than to have the riches of this world. Wait upon God to show you what you himself. 

Father, in these times of trials show us yourself! Praise be to you in us today!

The One Thing You Must Do

"One thing I ask of the LORD,
     this is what I seek: 
 that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
     all the days of my life,
 to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD 
     and to seek him in his temple. 
 For in the day of trouble
     he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
 he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
     and set me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:4-5

David gets to the one thing he always gets around to and that's getting into the presence of God. Wars, infidelities, family issues, you name it, in the end David sought God. That is the message for the day. Whatever is going on in and around your life, seek the presence of God. He will keep you safe, shelter you and set you high upon a rock. 

Father, thank that Jesus is our Rock and that in your presence we find strength and shelter. Show us yourself! Praise be to you in us today!

Help Others Succeed.

Many moons ago I was a manager of a Mimi's Cafe. One Friday night a cook didn't show up. So, for the busiest part of the night I had to help in the kitchen. The cooks suggested that I take the wheel position. The wheel calls out the food and sends out the food. It really is the lead position and normally should be the best cook. What the team did was help me lead them, considering me better than them. For the success of the restaurant, the cooks helped me run the wheel. That is sort of the picture Paul is painting here. 

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 

Christianity has a completely different focus than the world. For the world it's all about the bling and making yourself look good. Christ came into the world to die, so that we might live. He came to seek and save those who were lost: you and me.  

The funny thing is that the most successful leaders, the Good to Great Leaders (a book by Jim Collins) all seem to be men who realize that when their employees are successful, they are successful and they rarely seek the spotlight. I have worked for a lot of different people and the best are those who tried to help me succeed. Actually, they tried to help everyone succeed. 

Considering others better than yourself requires humility. Humility is not the act of putting oneself down. It is not saying that you are not as good as you think you are. (Think about that one.) Humility is knowing who you are before God. God will give you gifts and talents. Those gifts and talents are to build others up, not yourself. 

Here's the simple to do: Seek to find out what would help others. Do it. 

Father, help us to consider others better than ourselves. Thank you Jesus that you came to die for me. Praise be to you in us today!

One Purpose Philippians 2:1-2

When teams work with one purpose and goal it can be an awesome thing to watch. But, when everyone is not on the same page and does their own thing, it gets ugly fast. 

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." Philippians 2:1-2

Last winter I was coaching my youngest son's basketball team. What made it fun was that everyone worked hard and was willing to work together. Except for one boy. The whole team would run a play and he would just do his own thing. I can't tell you how many times I encouraged him to be a part of the team. Paul, encourages us to be like-minded, have the same love and be one in spirit and purpose. As Christians, we are part of the body of Christ and we each have our part to play. If we are off doing our own thing the rest of the church is left to play one man/women down. 

First, you need to be like-minded. Like who? Like Christ. Christ came to serve, not to be served. When you go to church do you go to "get fed" = be served or do you go to serve = feed someone else?

Second, you need to have the same love as Christ. He loved first and he loved those who persecuted him. He loved Peter who denied him. We love because Christ first loved us. When you go to church do you go to give love or get love?

Third,  you need to be of one spirit and purpose in Christ. The purpose is to lift up Christ. "To know him and make him known" is the vision/motto of my alma mater Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University). When I attended there I thought it was a bit corny but as I have matured I see the simple truth in it. As a church we seek to know him and to make him known. That is our purpose. When you go to church, what is your purpose?

Back to my son's basketball team. Everyone on that team improved, except the one boy who just wanted to do things his way. If you want to grow in Christ you have to be a servant. Seek the mind of Christ, the love of Christ, the Spirit and purpose of Christ. 

Father, help us to know you and make you known. Thank you that you first loved us. Praise be to you in us today!

Whatever happens...

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. " Philippians 1:27a

I was playing a round a golf a short time ago with a few friends of mine and just in front of the tee was a pond. Just before I hit the ball, one of them said, "Don't hit it in the water." What did I do? Kerplunk,  right in the middle of the water! I had been trying to tell myself to aim past the water. The point is that I hit it right where my focus went to after being "encouraged" to not hit it the water. Paul chose a very different tact when he sought to encourage us. Focus on the positive, acting in a worthy manner. 

We are living in very difficult times. My wife and I were talking just last night how virtually everyone we know is experiencing financial struggles and as you know, when the finances are under pressure everything else seems to feel the squeeze too. In times like these we need to remember to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. I have worked in education for over twenty years so I am not too concerned about losing my job, but I am greatly concerned because of furlough days. My pay has been significantly cut. This has been going on for over a year and looks to get worse. Well, how do I conduct myself in response to someone else's choices that affect my ability to provide for my family?

We need to seek God and ask him to guide us. That is the where we need focus. The current trials are like the water hazard placed directly in front of the tee, they can not be our focus. Our focus and faith is on God. God is Sovereign. He has unfailing love for us. He will work all things out for the good of those who are called according to his purposes (Romans 8:28).

The simple to do: Trust God in the current trail. Psalm 50:23 reminds us,"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Father, help us to be thankful and to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

Have Courage and Don't be Ashamed!

Death has a way of bringing things into perspective. One of my coworkers had a death in the family recently. At lunch yesterday a few people brought up how after a death in their family they just weren't as bothered by some things. They stopped being petty about little issues and realized that life is too short to spend it on things that aren't, in the grand scheme of life, that important. Paul approaches it this way. 

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:20-21 

Courage and the exaltation of God in your life are two things to think about when we realize that life is  short. Paul knew in the end it was all about God, either serving him or being in his presence.

I must  admit that whenever I think about courage the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz comes to mind. He just was paralyzed by his fears. He tried to act like he had courage but as soon as any difficulty popped up he ran away and hid and he was deeply ashamed. We are going to have trials. Some of them will scare us and seek to immobilize us. The truth is: If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31b)! Our courage comes from the truth that God loves us and sent his one and only Son to die for us and that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. Have courage! God is with you!

Courage to do what? Courage to live a life that exalts Christ. How Paul did that was by coming to the realization that it didn't matter if he lived or died, Christ would be exalted in his life. Wherever he was, he was there for Christ. When he was in prison, where he wrote Philippians, he was a prisoner for Christ. For Paul life was serving God and death was seeing God. That's a win - win anyway you look at it.

That leaves the to do's for us: Live for Christ. Where are you right now? Be that for Christ. Be a teacher for Christ, a customer service rep for Christ, a dock worker for Christ, a engineer for Christ, a _____ (fill in the blank) for Christ. I might add, be a husband or wife, mother or father and friend for Christ. 

In the end the two things that matter are that we serve Christ and then we get to see him. Either way it's a win - win for us.

Father, anoint us to serve you by faith with courage and to not be ashamed of the gospel. Thank you that we will one day be in your Presence. Praise be to you in us today!

How to Pray and Choose to Love

I love the prayers of Paul because they show me how to pray and reveal what God's will is for my life. As a husband or wife and a parent and as a leader at your church in any capacity you want to know what you should be praying. The prayers of Paul give you great guidance. 

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

Where does Paul start his prayer? With love. We love because he first loved us (I John 1:9). This is not a warm fuzzy who knows where it comes from or where it goes emotion. The love that Paul prays that we abound in is love that involves knowledge and depth of insight. I think about a parents love for their children. As a veteran educator I deal with parents all the time who "love" their children. Some apply heavy doses of affection and others lay down the law with unyielding discipline.  If you are only affectionate your child will probably end up self absorbed and spoiled, unable to see beyond themselves. If you only discipline your child they will frustrated and either cower into uselessness or rebel with a vengeance seeking approval and acceptance from all the wrong places. The wise parents seek to use the appropriate mixture of affection and discipline. So, love is not haphazard.

When we humbly seek God for wisdom to love as he loved us, he will give us discernment to know what is best, not just good, but best. Making choices to love in the best way will of course lead us to purity which leaves us blameless. This is not sinless perfectionism. Because remembering that God first loved us is to remember that he, in Christ, forgave us and we are to forgive others. 

Purity in our choices fills our lives with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through our faith in Christ, his love for us. There is a beauty to the circle of this faith. He loves us. We seek his love. He gives us his love. We act in love, which is pure. He fills our lives with righteousness in Christ. God is glorified. 

Father, thank you Lord Jesus for first loving us. May our love abound in knowledge and depth of insight. Give us discernment to know what is best and to be pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. Be glorified in us today! Thank you , Lord!

Need some light?

"The LORD is my light and my salvation - 
     whom shall I fear?
 The LORD is the stronghold of my life - 
     of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

There a few things in life that we all need. Direction and security are two of them. David reminds us that God gives us both. Let's start with security. 

David asks who he should fear and be afraid of if God is his God. First of all we need to revere God. Healthy children have both an affection and fear of their parents. Those who have no fear do foolish things. When I was in High School I saw my youth pastor punish his daughter once. What was amazing was that his daughter, in tears, jumped into her father's arms. You see, God's discipline does not reject us (which is what I grew up with), it returns us or brings us to repentance. 

God is our light and salvation. When we need direction and everything around us seems to be against us, God is our salvation. He is the place we go when we need to get some security and safety in our lives. A stronghold is where you go when you need to find a defensible position in the midst of a battle. Well, if you haven't noticed, you're in the middle of a spiritual battle for the mind and souls of you and your family! 

These are tough times for most of us. The economy is bad, the cost of living is going up and up. God is you stronghold. Look to him to guide you through these times. The Bible is your guidebook of truth. It will lead you to faith in God.

Father, thank you for being my light and salvation and the stronghold of my life. Be glorified in us today!

Before all that , God loved you.

"for your love is ever before me, 
     and I walk continually in your truth."
     Psalm 26:3

Before you awoke this morning, before you were a twinkle in your mother's eye, before you were born, before the foundation of the world, God chose you and loved you. 

Whatever you  are going through, whatever the trail, the circumstance, the self-induced or forced upon you problem, God loves you. You see, before all things began God chose you and called you to be his own, knowing that at this very moment you would be exactly where you are at. Think about that...he knew and he knows where you will be this afternoon and tomorrow. That is the truth. 

Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I can't tell you how and I can't tell you when, but he said he will. That is the truth.

When I was a teenager and itching to drive a car my dad told me I could if I paid for the car, insurance and gas. I didn't until I was nineteen. At the time, I was pretty angry with my dad because he had more than a handful of cars. Now, I realize I would of course at least maimed myself and endangered the very lives of any other person on the road at the same time as me. I was a bit of a risk-taker I guess. My dad knew and protected me and the rest of society. How often has God protected you by not giving you what you want when you want? That is the truth.

When I look at my wife and children, I am reminded of God's love for me. They did not come when I thought they should, I was in my late thirties when I got married. God's timing is perfect. That is the truth.

Remember that God's love is continually before you. That is the truth.

Father, open our eyes to see your love in and around our lives. Praise be to you in us today.

God will finish what he started in you!

I once was a manager for a Mimi's Cafe. They are a highly successful restaurant chain. When I worked for them they were family owned and had a great business model. One of their really smart practices was to make long time managers part owners of restaurants. What that did was make all managers act like owners because if you became a general manager of a Mimi's Cafe you could become a 25% owner. That's partnership. Partnership breeds commitment. The apostle Paul reminds us that we are more than pew warmers, we are partners in the gospel.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6

Once we realize that we are more than passengers on a flight to heaven, rather we are gospel givers, we realize God has a reason and a purpose for our lives. And God will accomplish what he wants to accomplish. When I worked at Mimi's Cafe I knew we would succeed because the owners knew how to run their business. As a Christian I can be confident that God will carry on to completion what he wants to do in my life because he is God, Sovereign Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator. 

Stop. God is doing a work in your life. Did you hear that? God is doing a work in your life. He began that good work in you and he will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Here's the to do: Remember that you are called into a partnership in the gospel. Let God complete his work in you.

Father, thank you that you began a good work in me. Thank you that what you began you will bring to completion in me. Praise be to you in us today!

Are you at your wits end?

Have you ever seen an engine seize? If you run it hard enough and long enough, any engine will just lock up and stop running. Sometimes when the circumstances of our lives become so stressful and we have been trying for so long to find the way out, the right thing to do, or just some relief, we just seize up inside. That is when we need the some serious spiritual armor.  

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:17-18

The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit protect our minds and encourage our spirits especially when we are at our wits end. I have no doubt that many of us are experiencing some trials where we see no relief and are on the edge of losing hope. My pastor was teaching on discipline this last Sunday. Not discipline of children, but, the discipline that we as adults experience. He pointed out that many of us may be being disciplined by the economy. Almost everyone nodded and raised their hand. Even if you have a job the cost of living is increasing in such a manner that you constantly have to make decisions about what you will have to do without.  That stress can wear you out emotionally and spiritually. Is anyone feeling that? 

Well, what I do know is that I am saved in Christ and the word of God tells me that he is Sovereign over everything and that he has unfailing love for me. I can not see the end from the beginning. I can not perceive the way that God may take me. I can know that he will work all things out for my good. 

I believe there is a point you reach where all you can do, which is all God wants you to do, is remember that God is Sovereign and he has unfailing love for you. Are you there? 

Father, help us to remember and rest in the truth that you are Sovereign and you have unfailing love for us. You will work all things out for our good. Praise be to you in us today!

The Shield of Faith

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16 

Today I encourage you to by faith believe that God "exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6b). Know that God is Sovereign over our lives and has unfailing love for us,  love that sent his one and only Son to die for us. Faith in his love for us shields us from the flaming arrows of the evil one.  The truth is that no matter how I feel God still sent his Son to die for me and Jesus is still at the right hand of the Father ever living to intercede on my behalf. That is good news. That is the truth. 

One of the design features of the Roman shield was that it was made to interlock with other shields to make a giant "tortoise shell" that would allow them to walk up to the enemies gate. You see, we are not meant to stand alone, but, together. Today I will go to a men's Bible study. One of the groups mottos is "As iron sharpens iron." We get together to, as men, strengthen ourselves to stand together in Christ. 

So, today I encourage you to remember that God is Sovereign over all that is in and around you life and he has unfailing love for you! Stand with others with your shield of faith.

Father, encourage us in our faith in you today. Praise be to you in us today!

Can you take a shot to the heart?

I happened to flip the channel the other day to the old Clint Eastwood movie "A Fistful of Dollars". At the end of the movie during the climactic shootout Clint's character is shot several times in the chest. He keeps getting up and finally kills the bad guys. But, he first revealed to his would be killers that under his sarape was a metal breastplate he had constructed, thus saving his life.  

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:14-15

At the heart of the spiritual armor that God has provided in Christ is the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our righteousness and in that truth we can enjoy peace with God. I Corinthians 1:30 reminds us, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is , our righteousness, holiness and redemption." In Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars the villain was frustrated and in shock that although he hit Eastwood's character directly in the heart he couldn't kill him.  

In a similar way the enemy will try to kill our faith, aiming directly for the heart of our faith. Condemnation, like a well aimed bullet can kill our peace with God. Condemnation is of the devil because it does not allow you a way out, a way back to God, a way back in your relationships with others. Sin, condemnation will always seek to separate you from God and the people close to you, especially those you need for support, like your spouse. But the good news in Christ is that our righteousness is not built upon nor dependant upon our righteousness but upon Christ's righteousness! That is the breastplate of righteousness that protects us. That knowledge, that gospel, that truth "readies" you to stand in your faith.

Here's the to do's: Put on the breastplate of righteousness which means remember and rely on the truth that Christ is your righteousness! Thank God that he has provided that way in Christ to be a peace with him and others. When the enemy seeks to condemn you, remember and claim the truth in I Corinthians 1:30. Christ is your holiness, righteousness and redemption!

Father, thank you for the truth that Jesus is our righteousness! Help us to put on that faith and stand in our peace with you in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

Are you wearing the belt?

Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, does a little move after a touchdown. He stands tall and moves his hands over his imaginary championship belt. State Farm Insurance uses him in some of their commercials kind of spoofing his celebration. We are told to... 

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place," Ephesians 6:14

We aren't talking about posing, rather, we are as Christians being told to stand in the truth with confidence that God is the one fighting our battles.

Truth is the belt that holds everything together. If you aren't being truthful with God and your self  you will just be doing a lot of spiritual posing and pretending but not actually being ready for actual warfare. When I was attending Capernwray Bible School in England one of my roommates (of about 10 in that large yet crowded dorm) would practice his karate in the afternoon. Someone asked him if he really knew karate or was he just pretending. He said he was very advanced. One guy said, "OK, prove it. Do a move on me." The "karate" kid said, "No, I don't want to hurt you." After everyone stopped laughing the karate kid once again started going through his moves. The kid who dared him to demo a move on him came flying across the room and knocked him down. After that people took turns "testing" his expert karate skills. Needless to say that although the kid tried to look like a skilled karate (who didn't know what belt he was) expert he was kind of a poser. 

As a Christian, you can't be a poser! Going to church and trying to look like a good Christian won't help you. Remember, we are fighting a real battle for not only our souls but for the souls and minds of our families and friends. Like my roommate in Bible School who wanted to look like a karate fighter but could be knocked down at will because he was just pretending, you can't pretend to know God. If you are just pretending the enemy will just knock you down. But, if you are in Christ you can stand. 

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Remember that Christ is your righteousness, holiness and redemption (I Cor. 1:30) and stand in that truth. 

The to do's: Remember that you are a sinner saved by grace. Remember that Jesus is your righteousness. Look to God today for forgiveness and strength to stand.

Father, thank you that the truth is that Jesus is my righteousness, holiness and redemption! Help me to stand strong in you today! Praise be to you in us today!

God Wants to Confide in You!

"The LORD confides in those who fear him;
     he makes his covenant known to them.
 My eyes are ever on the LORD, 
     for only he will release me from the snare."
 Psalm 25:14-15

God wants to make himself known to you. You were made to have a deep fulfilling relationship with God. The fear of God is where that happens. To fear God is to realize that he is God and you are not. He is the Creator and you are the creation, made in his image to glorify him. Only he can release you from the grips of sin. He sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die for your sins and place you into his son or daughter. 

Thank you, Father, for making me your child. I look to you to release me from the snares of sin that are scattered through my life. Thanks you for your forgiveness in Christ. Thank you that I can pray to you and that you hear my prayer. Praise be to you in us today!

To Learn, Be Humble

"Good and upright is the LORD;      therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right     and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful     for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O LORD,     forgive my iniquity, though it is great."  Psalm 25:8-11 

True humility starts in knowing who you are before God's eyes. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15). Notice that David does not say that God instructs the spiritual or good person. He says the humble person. I have been a teacher for over twenty-two years and have coached a lot of kids, and the only ones who don't learn are those that think they already know it all or for whatever reason don't believe that they need to learn anything.

God wants to guide you and teach you. He is loving and will faithfully deal with you if you humbly come to him for help.

Here's the to do's: Be humble. Stop and remember you are a sinner (we all are sinners). Look to God and the Bible to learn what is right. He will teach you.

Father, we humbly come to you to learn what is right and to walk in your ways. Teach us, O Lord. Praise be to you in us today.

Get in the fight! Take a stand!

Spiritually speaking, there are no Switzerland's. During any war Switzerland claims neutrality. All around us a war is being waged, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. The battles are fought daily. It's time to get in the fight. It is time to take a stand. 

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:11-12 

Get in the  fight. Take a stand. The reality is that there is a spiritual battle being waged for our souls, for our marriages, families, spouses, and children. The battle is for our minds and the choices that we make. The world is constantly on the attack. That is why we need to daily put on the full armor of God. Think about this :  The armor that Paul was describing was the armor of the Roman soldier, a soldier that was sent out to attack, not just stand and wait to be attacked. Yes, part of the armor was designed to be able to stand their ground, yet, they were an aggressive force built for conquest. Every day we must go out into the world and make our stand in Christ. 

Your enemy is the forces and influences of the world that you live in. The ideals that tell men that they are dogs and have no control over their sexual desires. The ideals that tell us we are only animals when the truth is we are created in the image of God. The ideals that tell us there is no God when we know the truth that there is one God the Creator of us all. The ideals that tell us that there is no such thing as sin when Christ came to die for the sins of this whole world. 

Here's the to do: Get in the fight! Put on the full armor of God! Know the battle is spiritual and for your mind and the minds of those you love. Know the Truth. 

Father, thank you for the armor of you provide by faith in Christ. Clothe us and help us to take our stand in you today! Praise be to you in us today!  

Come Get Some Strength!

Faith in Christ is not about our strength, our faith, our holiness. Our spiritual strength is all about God's faithfulness and his mighty power!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:1  

Way back in the day, when I was a Freshman in High School the tradition at the school I went to was that the Freshman boys were all tossed/rolled down a hill. When it came to be my turn I remember being held by my arms and legs and everyone counting "One!...Two!...Three!!!" and on the backswing (I was saying to myself, "Think like a cat, land on your feet!") just before they were about to toss me everyone went flying and they dropped me on the ground. This big buff guy pulls me up by the shirt and says, "You all right little buddy?" faces the crowd and yells, "Don't mess with my little buddy!" and then walked away. Well, he was the starting fullback and middle linebacker for the Varsity football team. Come to find out he had a bit of a crush on my older sister. But, no one messed with me and I was the only one not tossed. I didn't have to be strong. I had a protector. 

In Christianity our strength is in the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth that he died and rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. It's not about us, it's all about Christ. I Corinthians 1:30 reminds us, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." 

Father, help us to be strong in the Lord. Thank you that your power  that raised Jesus from the dead can empower us. May your mighty power be in us today! Praise be to you in us today!

Make the Most of Every Opportunity

When I was a little kid I had a hard time watching the I Love Lucy Show because I knew she was going to do something dumb. Maybe  it's the middle child in me, I don't know. What I do know is most of the time she wasn't very wise. Well meaning, I guess, but not wise. So, let me ask this question. How often do we live our lives conniving and plotting and trying wiggle our way into or around the grace and will of God?   

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:15-17 

In contrast to the world, we should view the circumstances that we find ourselves in as opportunities to be wise and trust God.  What is it that God is trying to do? What is he trying to teach me? What is he giving me the opportunity to do? 

Now for me at this time this is quite a challenge. I don't like several of the "opportunities" that are "available" for me. But, if I am honest with myself and God, I need to make some better choices, learn to lovingly deal with some people (even though they may not want to) and wait upon God to direct my paths in some instances. I suppose you may be a bit like me. What is it in your life that God wants you to take advantage of the opportunity to seek his wisdom in? 

Father, your Word says that if we ask for wisdom you will give it (James 1:5-8). We're asking. Give us wisdom and help us to wisely take advantage of every opportunity. Praise be to you in us today!

Choose the Opportunities for Goodness, Righteousness and Truth

I was in Charleston, South Carolina late one evening (many moons ago) walking on the Battery. It was late at night and someone said that they thought the ground looked like it was moving. So, a flashlight was turned on and there were tons of cockroaches scampering all over the place trying to get out of the light. Light has a peculiar way of bringing out the truth.

"For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:1-11

Paul is reminding us that although we once were living a life that was in the dark spiritually, without God and without hope, we are now light in the Lord. In this world we shine and expose the darkness around us. That is part of God's purpose for your life.

The fruit of the light within us is all goodness, righteousness and truth. Find out what pleases the Lord. Not what pleases you, what pleases the Lord. The darkness of the world around us will appeal to our sinful natures and will lead to fruitless deeds. Do you get that? Fruitless deeds...deeds that yield nothing but emptiness. I was watching a show last night that brought up the awful fact the Ernest Hemingway shot himself. He had a life that many people thought was a great fulfilling life. In the end, death. 

In contrast to the darkness of the world life in Christ is life in the light which yields eternal life, abundant life, life to the fullest. As a child of the light you can pick the fruits of goodness,  righteousness and truth. 

Here are the can do's: You can choose to do what is good. You can choose to do what is right. You can choose to act in and on the truth. 

Father, help us to see the opportunities for goodness, righteousness and truth today. Praise be to you in us today!

Imitate God

So much of what we learn is by trying to emulate someone having success at whatever we are trying to do. Kids imitate sports heroes and as adults we often try to duplicate someone else who has done what we are seeking to accomplish. A sometimes sobering truth is that our children learn from and copy us. Spiritually speaking we have a Father whom we are to imitate.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 

First of all, you are a dearly loved child. Like a child interacting with their loving parent, responding to every move, we imitate our Father in heaven. 

This is pretty straightforward. Christ gave himself up for us, we give ourselves up for others. We, like Christ, are a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Get that? To God. Our acts of love are first of all to God. Why? Because sometimes the person we need to love isn't making it easy to be loving to them. The truth: sometimes WE make it difficult for those closest to us to love us. Secondly, our acts of love are sacrifices to God. That means it is going to cost us something. That might mean time, money, pride, effort, or a mixture of each. 

That is the to do: Give yourself up for others. Giving starts at home...

Father, thank you that Christ gave himself for us. Help us to give ourselves for others. Praise be to you in us today!