Suffering for...

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 

Colossians 1:24 NIV

I participate in a Precepts Bible Study class at my church on Sunday mornings and we are studying the book of Colossians. I made a comment about these verses and the person who was leading asked me to review these verses next week when I lead the study. The guy next to me looked at me and said, "Good luck with that."

I'm not going to get into the "Why do good people suffer?" topic. I'm just going to point out that like Paul, we sometimes suffer and God uses that suffering to strengthen his body, the church. Paul taught the Corinthians that "just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (II Corinthians 1:5). Now, we usually just hear the previous verses about God comforting us so we can comfort others, but we tend to overlook the suffering that needs comfort component. The point is that God uses our suffering for the sake of his body, the church. 

Remember we are the body of Christ, the living, visible, and active extension of Christ hear on earth. I don't know if someone needs to necessarily see us suffering so much as God uses our suffering. Not everyone saw Paul get forty lashes minus one, beaten with rods, pelted with rocks or shipwrecked ( see II Corinthians 11:23ff). He was beaten and pelted because he was preaching Christ crucified and shipwrecked and imprisoned because the enemy did not want the truth of Christ to be heard. So, if you suffer, look to Christ for comfort and press on to serve the Lord with all you heart, mind and soul.    

You Are Always With Me

   The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him...

  "My son," the father said, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." 
Luke 15:28, 31

God, always makes the first move. His Spirit is the One who works within us to desire to even think about God. If you are seeking God in any way (even reading this blog), that was not your innate spirituality causing you to do that, no, it's the Spirit of the Living God drawing you to Himself. Every thought of God is proof of the Spirit of God within you. God goes out to you. 

It's easy to forget that God is with us. It shouldn't be, but it can be. Yet, the truth is that God will never leave us or forsake us and even if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful. Notice that in the parable it says, "you are always with me." It does not say, "I am always with you." Jesus is placing the focus on the son knowing where he was. Where are you with God? If you are a Christian the answer is that you are always with God. 

People, Problems and Love

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

2 John :6

It's the start of a new work week. The challenges that will present themselves having to deal with people, policies and problems will come. We need to walk in love. 

Here is the truth: God has unfailing love for us and he is Sovereign over everything, whether we perceive it or not. That means that whatever comes our way he will provide the wisdom we will need to deal with them. To walk in love is to trust God. To walk in love is to treat others (as in anyone you deal with) with the same love that Christ has loved you with. 

Father, thank you for your love for us in Christ Jesus. Thank you for loving us even when we were your enemies. Help us to love others with that same love. Praise be to you in us today!

In the Fire, Not Out

But now, this is what the Lord says—
   he who created you, Jacob,
   he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom
   Cush and Seba in your stead.

Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

"What's the worse that could happen?" Does that question send a shiver down your back? Does a list start to form in your mind? Is there a catalog of past disasters from your live that you can review? I don't know about you but, sometimes I feel like my life is Murphy's Law incarnate. 

The truth is that God doesn't promise that we won't go through hard times, he does promise to be with us. He does promise that we won't be swept up or burned as we pass through the waters and the fire. He create us, formed us, and redeemed us. 

I think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). Because they would not bow down to the ninety foot image of gold they were condemned to death in the fiery furnace. The fire was so hot it killed the men who put them in the furnace. But, God was with them and they were protected from the flames. God was glorified in their trial. I will repeat. God was with them in the flames. 

What flames are you in right now? Know that God is with you. He created you, formed you, and redeemed you. He promises to be with you. 

Father, open our eyes to see you in the fire. Praise be to you in us today!

THE GOSPEL ON TWITTER/ Titus 2:11

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." Titus 2:11

I was engaged with someone on Twitter the other day concerning God and why there is evil in the world. The guy was sort of arguing that evil in the world is really God, if you believe in God, so therefore how can one believe in a God who allows or commits evil. I just think that if a person is an atheist, who by definition doesn't believe in God, can't bring up something they don't believe exists. So, if someone ia an atheist and God is out of the equation, how do they explain evil, or good for that matter? 

Here's the deal: to this atheist, whom I do pray God reveals himself to, the grace of God is revealed to him, even on Twitter. I also Tweeted to him that my belief in God leads me to value him, even if he disagrees with me, because he (in my world view as a Christian) is created in the image of God, and was worth dying for. 

He of course avoided that and wanted to dialogue about why someone would believe in such a "fantastical" book. 

The grace of God that brings salvation appears to all men. Sometimes through some odd ways, but, God ordained nonetheless. I just pray that my interactions, however they may appear, will bring grace and salvation to all men.

Father, help us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope within us and give us wisdom at the moment we need it to know what to say and how to say it with grace. Praise be to you in us today!

GOD'S APPROVAL: II Timothy 2:15

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15

This past week they had a uniform inspection at my son's Cub Scout Pack. All the scout's are checked to make sure they have the proper uniform and everything is in the proper place. It is fun to watch the boys proudly wear their uniforms and recite the Scout's oath. As a Christian I think I need to check myself sometimes and maybe even allow myself to be checked on occasion. 

Stop for just a moment and do a little check on yourself. I don't mean find a bunch of reason's to get down on yourself, or to recite all your failures. There is no need to make a vow to spend an unrealistic amount of time in prayer or Bible Study. 

What I am saying is to just ask yourself if you are seeking to be approved by God. The purpose is not to create a condemnation list, rather, it is to remind you where to focus yourself. We know God approves of taking time to read the Bible, to pray, and seeking opportunities to serve others in his Name. We do my best and pray for grace for the rest. 

Father, help us to seek your approval and not man's. Bless our efforts to live by faith. Praise be to you in us today!

WHO DESERVES HONOR?/ I Timothy 5:17

As a teacher I see it all the time. Students who have no respect for anyone. Then I meet their parents and it is apparent why. The idea of teaching your children to honor and respect their elders is long gone from our society. In a real sense I believe that much of the current generation does not know what an honorable person is, does and looks like. So, it is easy for them to be misled by someone with a strong personality. In all of life, including the church, it is very important to know who to honor as a leader.

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching." I Timothy 5:17

In the church it should be pretty easy to tell who the leaders are. Who is serving, preaching and teaching? Notice that Paul goes beyond simply serving and says, "direct the affairs of the church well". He emphasizes that some minister "well". Who should be honored in the church? Those who serve well. 

What does this tell me? It tells me that I need to be an honorable man by serving well, not just serving to say I did it, but, serving well. It also encourages me to do all things well, as unto the Lord. As I go to work today, I need to bring honor to God by doing the tasks set before me well. 

So, I encourage you  to honor those who serve well in your church and also to serve well yourself, in all your life.

Father, help us to serve well in all we do and bring honor and praise to you today! Praise be to you in us today!

TRAIN FOR NOW AND THEN: I Timothy 4:8

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.' I Timothy 4:8

Like me I am sure you have been to several training's in your life. I have had training for coaching, teaching, and administrating, just to name a few. They all something in common: a limited time that the training will have value. 

But, the spiritual disciplines I learned as a young Christian have been my guides taking me through the victories, defeats, losses and gains that are part of a life of faith. 

Someone once said that God gave us two ears and one mouth which means we should listen twice as much as we speak. I don't want to be legalistic about time spent with God. That said, I do believe it is important to seek God and that reading the Bible on a daily basis assures me that I have heard from God on a daily basis. 

I am amazed that the God who knows all things wants me to pray,to call upon him and ask him for my daily bread. I was with some friends and my youngest son this past weekend for a Scouting outing. I watched my son ask me and another father's son ask him for some money for something. Of course we each knew from the moment we went into the general store/arcade we would give them some money, so we gladly did. God knows our needs and desires before we ask. He also plans to provide and has promised to do so. 

Seeking to be a godly person is not just a pursuit momentary peace, but a relationship with Christ that is eternal. All the spiritual lesson's we learn affect us now and in the life to come. God will take care of you now and then. 

Father, thank you that seeking you is not a limited experience. Thank you that walking with you blesses me now and for eternity! Praise be to you in us today!

LEAD WITH SINCERITY: I Timothy 3:8

When I was growing up my brother and I would fight from time to time. After a good scolding and perhaps some well deserved punishment, our parents would make us shake hands and apologize. I'm not sure I was always sincerely sorry (because, as you know, he started it). When you think someone is not sincere, you tend to keep and eye out for that person. 

"Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain." I Timothy 3:8 

The KJV translates the word, "double tongued". I have a friend of mine who over commits himself. So, he's a fit flaky sometimes. But, I don't think he's insincere. Whereas I know some people who will look you right in the eye, promise to do something, and will never even attempt to do what they said they would. I had a boss who was like that recently. The disunity and problems that resulted from their actions was not good, to say the least.  

As a husband and father, I must be sincere and not double tongued.   If my family can not count on be to do what I say, disunity will be the result. There will be problems as it is, that's just part of life. But, if I compound those challenges by not being reliable and trustworthy, it will just add to the degree of difficulty.

Remember, actions speak louder than words. Sincerity is sealed by what you do. When I was in college, I had the Dean of men a bit worried. I had a tendency to question authority. But, I wasn't rebellious.  I was the dorm council president my senior year. The previous president was constantly doing and saying things of questionable nature and ended up stealing money from the school. He was kicked out of school. So, when I was elected they were worried because they thought questioning why equaled being rebellious. At the end of my senior year the Dean of men called me into his office and said that I never once showed bad judgement and they learned they could trust me to do the right thing. I was not double tongued. I became trustworthy in their eyes. Sometimes that's the way sincerity works. What we do proves our sincerity.

Father, help us to be sincere and not double tongued. Praise be to you in us today. 

LET THERE BE PEACE: II Thessalonians 3:16

I worked a few times with people who just seemed to be constantly in crisis, constantly in a state of friction with one or more co-workers. There is no peace with people like that. When it is the boss, it can make life miserable. The good news is that God is not like that. God is the God of peace. 

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." II Thessalonians 3:16

Think about this: God sent his One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in your place. Why? Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes, God brings the peace. 

Living at peace is a very good thing. Allowing God to reign at all times and in every way is how you make a way for peace. Sometimes living by faith, following the teachings of Christ will put you in conflict with the world, but, you will be at peace with God.  If you are at peace with God, then it is up to God to deal with the world. He will. 

Take a little mental inventory of your life at this moment. Is God reigning (as far as you are concerned) in your marriage? Your family? Your finances? Your work? Your hobbies? 

If he is not. Give him reign. There will be peace. Because if you know you are doing what God wants you to do, he reigns. When God reigns, his peace reigns.

Father, help us to let you reign in every area of our lives. Praise be to you in us today!