Control

"that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable" 1 Thessalonians 4:4

I haven't been posting as much lately because I have been heavily invested in teaching a Sunday School class at the church I am a member. It's been a lot of fun and taken much of my time. We've finally reached the point where we can put it all together and really enjoy applying the word of God to our lives. 

One of the tools we use on the first day is connecting to ideas we read in Scripture. Using the term, "that reminds me of" helps us connect to things we read. So, when I read this verse I was reminded of growing up and being taught that I had a choice in how I acted. That choice was usually framed in these words, "How would Jesus...?" 

In verse one of chapter four Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he had instructed them how to live in order to please God. Asking ourselves the question, "Does it please God?" can clarify a lot of issues. I don't want to throw out some guilt bombs to sound spiritual but not actually be meaningful. For example, I don't want to ask, "Does it please God for me to be here?" because I think that is a "gimme" question. We know there are obvious places that would not please God, but, what about going to the mall or to the movies? Too often things turn legalistic at this point. 

Sometimes it's not where you are but how you act once you're there. Buying something is not wrong, if it is within your budget, but, if you use credit are you trusting God (as in being content with what God has given you) or are you worshipping what I call the god-of-I-have-to-have-it-now? It's about trusting God no matter what anyone else is doing around you. Self control is obedience and faith working together to glorify God. The result is peace and power. 

If it pleases God, it's all good.

"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more."

1 Thessalonians 4:1

About a year ago my teenage daughter was participating in an event and was asked a question and she gave an excellent answer, off the cuff, from her heart. It was a great answer. I was so proud of her, so pleased that she was thinking about others and how she might help someone who was hurting. 

When I read this verse I am struck by the idea that what I do can please God. I know that today I am going to deal with hundreds of different personalities, adults and teenagers. There will be positive and not so positive encounters. My approach and response will either please God or not. My aim: to please God.

Pleasing God is different than making everyone else feel better, even though, pleasing God often means putting other first. Sometimes, when pleasing God means doing the right thing, it means some people will not be happy with that choice. Doing the right thing may mean I admit I was wrong, or I failed. Pleasing God is about doing what we know God would have us do and with the attitude of a servant of the Lord. 

The message of Paul to the Thessalonians rings true for us today, keep living to please God. 

Just Obey

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Genesis 22:15-18 NIV

Abraham simply obeyed. We don't read a lot about his feelings or the degree of his faith, just that he obeyed. I can't think of a situation that would induce internal questions than being asked to sacrifice my son. Abraham just obeyed. In the past Abraham had tried to help God out. He'd been through many trials. Now he knew it was just about obedience. His faith was demonstrated by his obedience. 

Our faith is no different than Abraham's in that it is demonstrated by our obedience. Christ didn't say they would know us by our warm fuzzies. He said they would know us by our love. Christ demonstrated his love by his service and his sacrifice. Our faith is not measured by our emotions, rather it is proven by our obedience. 

Let's be real here. Sometimes we just don't understand what God is doing. We don't understand how God will accomplish his will, how he will provide. We get paralyzed because we can see the end from the beginning. Like Abraham, we just need to know God. We need to know that God will provide. Then, we just obey. 

The Purifying Process of Obedience

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 

1 Peter 1:22-23 NIV

The truth is that in Christ we are saved. We are made children of God. The holiness and righteousness of Jesus becomes our holiness and righteousness.

We act in faith, obedience, and the Spirit of God works to purify our hearts and minds. Acting in love is what this process looks like.

It's Your Call

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-38 NIV

There isn't any thing you can add. We just have to decide, follow Chrisi or not. If you are. Christian, you have to ask yourself, "Am I?"

Is There a Way Prepared in You?

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way"-
"a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.'"
Mark 1:1-3

Tomorrow is the last day of 2014. Wow, 2015. Honestly, there has been times in my life when I never thought I would make it to 2015. So I am thankful for God's faithfulness in my life. 

In the Gospel of Mark we read about the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are told about the way being prepared for Jesus. Prepare the way and make straight paths for him. 

We have a new year coming up. I am not good with New Year's resolutions, but I do believe in redirecting myself from time to time. This is a good time to think about what is directing me and what is motivating me to make decisions. If it is not what God would have me do, then I should change what I'm doing and/or what is motivating me. 

Here's the questions I think these verses ask me. First, am I prepared for the Lord to work in my life? Second, I am making straight paths for the Spirit of the Lord to work in me? 

What can I, what can we do? Here are a few things I think we can do:

• Give God time. Remember, a few minutes are better than none. A simple honest prayer is better than a long repetitious prayer meant only to say you did it. 
• Be honest with God. He already knows. You're still alive. So, there must be something he wants for you. 
• Do good where you are at. Let's get real here. For me today, doing good was (to start) putting the clean dishes away before my wife got up so she didn't have to. 
• Serve. This kind of goes with the last one. Specifically, do something to serve at your church. Just ask, they'll put you to work. Frankly, I have never truly felt a part of a church unless I was serving. 
• If the Spirit moves, move. About a month ago I felt compelled to email a note to a missionary couple I pray for. They needed to get in touch with someone we mutually know. I was the needed link (one they didn't have if I had not of heeded the Spirit's moving), though I was unaware of the urgency of the situation. 

If you have more ideas, please post them in the comments section. 

ARE YOU AFRAID OF DOING GOOD?

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." I Peter 3:13-15a

Sometimes we are afraid to live by faith. Afraid of what people might think. Afraid of having to explain ourselves. Afraid of being different. Afraid of failing. Afraid that God might let us down. 

Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15a). Sometimes faith seem foolish. Sometimes doing what we know is right in Christ may seem odd to those around us. It may even seem odd to us! But what others may think is not what is most important. Knowing that we are doing what God says is right is most important. How God views us is what counts and he sees us through the righteousness of Christ. That is why we should seek to please Christ, as our Lord. 

The wonderful truth is if we do what is right we will be blessed. even if we suffer for doing what is right, we will be blessed. 

Father, thank you for being Sovereign over all. Thank you that if we seek to live by faith and do what is right, in the end you will work all things for our good. Praise be to you in us today!

TRUST GOD WITH THE WORLD

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 

1 Peter 2:13-15 (NIV)

There's a great saying, perhaps you've heard it, "Tell the truth and you won't have to worry about having a great memory." One of the fruits of trying to live by faith in Christ is peace. Peace with God and peace with others. Now, I know that I am an enemy of the world because I am a follower of Christ. But, when I know that I am in Christ, I'm good to go. 

Father, help us to live by faith in Christ. We trust that you will work all things for our good. Praise be to you in us today!

GROW UP!

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV) 

This school year I have been teaching sixth graders at a middle school. There has been a number of times that I have had to remind them they are no longer in elementary school. They have to grow up a little and learn how to deal with things responsibly and in a maturing way. 

Peter is reminding his readers that they should crave the spiritual in Christ rather than the desires of the sinful nature. He tells them to "crave pure spiritual milk". When I was a kid I used to love milk. I would drink it straight from the bottle (when no one was looking). Now we buy 1% or 2% milk. I can't stand it! It's like watered down powdered milk. Desiring pure spiritual milk is really about seeking the truth in Christ and being willing to hear it and deal with it maturely. The end is not to be a child but, to "grow up in your salvation". 

Once you see that the Lord is good you should want more. Maturity in Christ is the goal. I once heard someone say that the difference between a man/woman and a boy/girl is that a man/woman does what they have to do and a boy/girl does what they want to do. Often times even from a spiritual perspective it boils down to maturity and simply choosing to do what we have to do in Christ rather than what we want to do in our sinful nature. The good news is that if you do what you have to do in Christ you will taste and see that the Lord is good!

Father, help us to grow up in Christ! Praise be to you in us today!

"I'M DONE,GOD!" REALLY?

"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25

I have been teaching sixth grade this year and one habit I have been trying to break them of is the, "I'm done, teacher!" thing. Usually they aren't actually done. Maybe they wrote "Yes" or "No" to a question that was asking for an explanation that demonstrates their understanding of some process we have been studying. Or they just wrote gibberish. 

Sending my wife a "Love you!" text (which is a good thing) is different than sitting with her while she tells me whatever she needs to tell me (and actually trying to listen). Reading the Bible tells me to love my wife. If all I do is send my wife a "Love you!" text every now and then, maybe that's my version of "I'm done, God!" Looking intently at the Bible tells me I need to be patient and kind with my wife, even if I don't feel she is being patient and kind with me. 

What I am getting at is that looking intently into the word means that I consider things on a deeper level. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is a double-edged sword. Sometimes I should feel the truth cut me a bit. I should notice the plank in my eye when I am asking God to get the speck out of someone elses. I should listen...wait...listen, and then obey, do what I know is right. 

Look intently into the word of God. Don't rush. Let the Spirit work. Obey what you know is the best thing to do. 

Father, help us to wait upon you and to see and do what you want us to do, to love as you have loved us. Praise be to you in us today!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

I believe A.W. Tozer said, "Self deception is the worst kind of deception." If I just go to church and change nothing in my life, if I do nothing any differently than before, what's the difference? 

Let's just get it straight. Going to church does not make you a Christian. It's a good thing, it just doesn't mean anything if you don't act accordingly. Putting on a Laker uniform doesn't make me a professional basketball player. It's doesn't even mean I know how to dribble a basketball. 

This is where it gets real. I have been walking with Christ since I was in high school in the 70's. There has been times when I honestly looked at myself and realized that I wasn't acting on what I knew was true. My decisions, my choices, and my actions were not of faith. I was not doing what the Word of God says. I was in sin. 

I'm married. We are going on our eighteenth year. I have a lot of friends who are married and a few that are divorced. If you don't do what the Bible says; love, respect, and forgive each other, I don't know how you can stay married. Honestly, it's usually more about inflexibility than infidelity. The Bible tells us to love as Christ first loved us, which is when we didn't want it and didn't deserve his love. What usually holds a marriage together is when you love your spouse when they are unloveable. 

What do you need to do?

Father, help us to do what your word says to do. Praise be to you in us today! 

OBEDIENCE, SUFFERING, PERFECTION

"Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designed by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 5:10

Think about that, Christ learned obedience. He learned it from what he suffered. His obedience has brought us salvation. This perfection, this completeness of Christ's obedience and suffering results in our perfect salvation. 

Our obedience is our acceptance of his salvation. We obey because we do believe. We accept that we our sinners in need of forgiveness, mercy and grace. We look to him to intercede on our behalf. He does so perfectly. He is the source we continually look to for our salvation. He forever is our High Priest. 

Father, help us to obey. Thank you for our perfect Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to you in us today! 

GO TELL WHO?

Have you ever felt led to tell someone about Christ yet you just knew that they were going to be hostile? Imagine how "a disciple named Ananias" (see Acts chapter 9) from Damascus felt when the Lord told him to go to lay his hands on Saul from Tarsus to heal him? Ananias knew Saul was arresting Christians. Yet, God was sending him to Saul. 

Sometimes courage is obeying God even in the face of danger. Ananias had to have the faith to be courageous enough to face the person who was wrecking havoc on the early church. Saul represented the whole of the cultural and religious ruling class of the day. Obviously the early believers lived in fear and when they heard that Saul was in town and he was the last person they wanted to run into!

Ananias obeyed God and "went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength" (Acts 9:17-19). 

Ananias, overcame his fear by obeying the Lord. That is courage. That is faith. 

Father, help us to overcome our fear and act in faith, to be courageous in Christ! Praise be to you in us today! 

HOW HAS THE WORD CUT YOU?

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The context of this passage is the middle of a call to obedience rather than disobedience, faith instead of unbelief and the supremacy of Christ as our Great High Priest. 

I worked under a few people about six out of the last eight years. One finally moved to another location and the other retired. They did some things and treated people in ways that are completely opposed to just about everything I believe. It is very hard to not speak about either of them without feeling some disgust and anger and maybe a bit of bitterness. 

For a while now when I speak about them I sense the Spirit of God convicting me to not let my anger motivate how I paint them verbally to whomever I am talking with. It's tough. Mostly, it boils down to me trusting God to work out all things for my good.

How has the Spirit of God used the Word of God in your life to lead and guide you? 

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us. Speak to our hearts and help us to act in obedience by faith. Praise be to you in us today!

GRACE & SELF-CONTROL/ Titus 2:11-14

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us  to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14

Self-control is a lifelong lesson. It is life long because although everyday is connected to the past and bridges to the future, it is new and unique unto itself. Today I will encounter circumstances, situations and people that will be opportunities to experience God and to seek to be godly. 

How does the grace of God that brings salvation tie into this moment? 

How does the grace of God affect the way I respond to each person and each situation and circumstance?

Father, teach us to say "No" and abide in you. Praise be to you in us today!

SERIOUSLY THOUGH.../ Titus 2:7-8

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

Titus 2:7-8

When I was just out of high school I attended Calvary Chapel's Bible School. It was at that time a very intense one semester course. Most of the teachers were in their mid to late twenties. At one point they kind of got into an unofficial competition of who could tell the best joke to "introduce" a lesson. At one point one of them got convicted because it became a distraction and took away from focusing on what they were supposed to be teaching and then  all became a bit more serious. Humor is a good, God given gift, but, it should not become the focus rather than the truth of the gospel. 

In my life I am concerned as a husband, father, coach and Scout parent/leader that my life shows integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech. What I say, how I say things and how I follow through with what I say is a direct reflection on my faith because my faith is shown by what I do. I can not tell my wife I love her yet be with someone else. I can not say I love my children yet give all my attention and time to other things. I, by faith, through the grace and power of Christ,  seek to live for Christ. 

We can with the Apostle Paul can be, "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 1:6)

Father, thank you that you are always faithful, even when we fall short. Strengthen us to live with integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech. Praise be to you in us today!

CHRIST'S FAITHFULNESS IS OUR STRENGTH!: II Timothy 2:11_13

"If we died with him,
     we will live with him;
 if we endure,
     we will also reign with him.
 If we disown him,
     he will also disown us;
 if we are faithless,
     he will remain faithful,
     for he cannot disown himself."
 II Timothy 2:11-13

Jesus told us that if we are to be his disciples we have to deny ourselves, take up his cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). Paul reminds us that if we die to ourselves we live to him, which is real life, life everlasting. That death will take some enduring on our part but, the end result for us is that we will reign with him. Pretty good deal.

Notice that there is a difference between disowning Christ and being faithless. To disown Christ is to take yourself out of the family. You know, if you say you are no longer a Christian... To be honest, that scares me. Not that I have said that, but, I know there are times when I certainly don't act like a Christian. And I think that is the difference between denying Christ is your Lord and Savior and sinning. We will sin. We will. There are times when our faith falters, yet, Christ remains faithful! That is the good news! Because Christ cannot disown himself, he will remain faithful even when we struggle and that is our strength, his faithfulness!

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your faithfulness, even when we are not. Praise be to you in us today!

OBEDIENCE IS FAITH IN ACTION: Psalm 37:27-28

"Turn from evil and do good;
     then you will dwell in the land forever.
 For the LORD loves the just
     and will not forsake his faithful ones."
 Psalm 37:27-28

There was a florist I used to get flowers from for my wife. A very nice guy and we usually ended up talking awhile. One time he mentioned to me that we should do some business together exporting things from his native country. He said it would be easy because he already knew who we would have to bribe. I said no thanks and walked away. For him that was just how you do things. As a Christian, that is not how we do things. He went out of business eventually, by-the-way.

The truth is that we trust God to take care of us even if everyone else around us is doing things differently. I don't want to get all letter of the law and legalistic. I just want to remind you that obedience is faith in action. You obey because you believe that God is Sovereign and will take care of you. Sometimes we don't feel like obeying and everything within us wants to go one way but we know God would have us go another. Go with God. David reminds us that God will not forsake us when we seek to be faithful to him.

Father, help us to walk by faith in obedience to you. Praise be to you in us today!