Think Good Stuff, Do Good Stuff

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

I teach at a middle school. One of the classes I teach is a Math Tutor Lab and we use an online course. I am amazed that some of the students are failing the course yet, can find a way to get around the firewall to try to search inappropriate sites. They use all their mental powers just to attempt to get around the firewall. That's all they think about. 

Paul tells the Philippians and us to think about what is excellent or praiseworthy. The good stuff. Things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Think about these excellent and praiseworthy things. Put them into practice. Tell the truth. Do noble things. It's not about being right but doing the right things. Have pure thoughts (truthful, noble, righteous). Enjoy God's lovely creation. Honor what is admirable. The fruit of all this is the God of peace will be with us. 

Do You Have Hope?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

1 John 3:1-3 (NIV)

OK, I admit it. I have, on occasion, paid a dollar for a lotto ticket, just for the dream or hope of having enough money to put my kids through college. (Yes, and buy a Porsche.) I also remember greeting people at church as they came in and seeing my wife for the first time . I hoped to see her again. After church a week or so later I saw her again. After the service I went to the church bookstore hoping she might go by there. She did. We met, we dated, we got married and have four great kids. That is a hope fulfilled. 

Knowing Christ and hoping in him is more than just a dream like winning the lotto. Knowing Christ and hoping in him is more powerful than even the strongest love we can have as humans. Our hope in Christ purifies us. Sin always corrupts and pollutes us, physically and spiritually (on the outside and the inside).

Knowing Christ and hoping in him is an eternal experience. Eternity is not a ray, starting at one point and then continuing on forever. Eternity is the  past, the present and the future connected. Salvation is not just that Christ forgives our past sins. Salvation is more than the removal of our past transgressions and even the sins of the present. Knowing Christ as Savior and Lord is knowing that he forgives us all our sins (past, present and future) so we can enjoy his purity. Remember, in a marriage purity is not abstinence, rather, purity is faithfulness to your spouse. 

Knowing Christ, hoping in him is not just refraining from sin. Our hope is in the love of God that he lavished on us by making us his children. My hope, as God's child, is knowing that the Sovereign Lord of the universe has unfailing love for me and in Christ I am his child. 

Father, help us to purify ourselves by our hope in Christ, to live in his love. Thank you for you love for us in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

STAY IN THE CHAIR! / Titus 2::13-14

"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 his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:13-14

While we are waiting we don't remain stagnant. We are redeemed and purified. Our salvation isn't just about getting to heaven someday in the by-and-by when we die. No, now, while we wait, we redeem the time and seek to live pure and holy lives here on earth. 

When I was a kid I must have been the worst case scenario for every barber my parents took me too. I am very ticklish and I would squirm and wiggle every time the barber would touch my neck. It was torture for us both. Finally, my dad start cutting my hair and I just ended up with a butch - I believe now called the buzz cut. 

Believe it or not I am going to relate the wonderful process of God redeeming and purifying us (sanctifying us, if I may) to that of getting a haircut   The barber cuts our hair, but, we must remain in the chair and let him do his work. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit redeems us and purifies us, but, we must remain in Christ. Yes, sometimes we will be in some uncomfortable situations and we may squirm around a bit, but, we must remain in Christ and trust him to do his work within us. 

Lord, help us to remain in you as you work within us, redeeming and purifying us everyday. We wait for your blessed return. Praise be to you in us today!

SHINE IN THE DARKNESS: Psalm 43:1

"Vindicate me, O God, 
     and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
     rescue me from deceitful and wicked men." 
 Psalm 43:1

During the last Presidential election the Democratic Party (at their convention) voted on keeping God and Israel in their platform. The  "vote" was so close the chairperson (Antonio Villaraigosa) had to redo it three times! We live in a nation that is rejecting God. 

We need to shine like stars in the darkness (Philippians 2:15) in this crooked and perverse generation. God will strengthen you. God will enable you. God will empower you. God will guide you. 

Father, help us to abide in you and shine like stars in this world. Praise be to you in us today!

DON'T PANIC, SEEK THESE FOUR: II Timothy 2:21-22

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." II Timothy 2:22

Only one thought on fleeing. Notice Paul does not say to think, pray, or resist. He just says, "Flee". Don't think, just flee. 

I once was at a situation where someone threw a military grade tear-gas canister into a high school basketball game. People just ran out in complete panic, knocking each other down and running every which way. It was mayhem. Sometimes I think that is what our attempts at repentance look like. We're all over the place, knocking into things, just doing anything. Paul gives a four specific spiritual points to seek.

First he tells us to seek righteousness, then faith, love and peace. The opposite of evil desires is righteousness, acting Christ like. Acting Christlike is faith in action. Remember in I Timothy 5:1-2 Paul had exhorted Timothy to treat others, and specifically younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. To act righteously is to love as Christ loved us. Faith in action is manifested in love. When you act righteously, by faith, in love, you will be at peace with God and others. Seeking God this way with others who call on the Lord out of pure hearts is what church is all about. That's Christianity. 

Father, help us to seek righteousness, faith, love and peace together in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SUPPORT/ I Timothy 5:22

"Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure." I Timothy 5:22 

I think these are pretty stiff words of advice. Don't just jump on any bandwagon of support. Don't rush people into leadership. I have seen many a good person put into leadership before they were ready soon encountered circumstances they were not spiritually mature enough to deal with and down they went. Not always trapped by sin. Sometimes they just caught up in a teaching that wasn't quite right. In my mind the leadership that put them there shared the guilt because they were too quick to call them pastor and send them out to sink or swim.  

Be careful who you align yourself with. If they are caught in sin, you may end up with them. I have been asked many a time to go places with people and I knew that it was not right. Every time I am glad I say no. Keep yourself pure.

Father, help us to be wise in our support and strengthen us to remain pure in you. Praise be to you in us today!