What's Your Message?

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

Colossians 3:16

Whether we want to or not each of us is sending out a message with our lives. Jesus taught, "A good man brings up good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man things evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" (Luke 6:45). That is why Paul encourages us to let the message of Christ dwell among us richly. 

One thing I want to point out is that Paul does not specifically direct the leaders to teach and admonish one another. He is empowering everyone. We all teach and admonish each other. It does not matter who you are, you have something to "teach" the rest of us. You may not be a "teacher" but your life can be very instructive to those who are walking right along side of you and God may be using you to "teach and admonish" by your simple acts of faith and faithfulness. 

If you are reading this I am guessing that you are probably trying to store up good things within yourself. Keep seeking, keep praying, reading the Word, singing praises and what is inside you will come out one way or another, to the glory and praise of God. 

Mercy, Reverence and Service

In Christ God has heard our cry for mercy. In fact, he saw our need for mercy before we even came into existence. In Christ God has forgiven us of all our sins. Past, present and future. He nailed that record to the cross (Colossians 2:14) and triumphed over death and sin. 

Forgiveness does not give us license to sin, rather it opens our hearts to reverence. We stand in awe at the foot of the cross, knowing that the nails in his hands in feet, and all that he endured restores us to the Father and sets us in his kingdom as light in the darkness of this world. 

In that reverence we serve him where we are today. From home to work, school to sports, whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord, serving wholeheartedly. 

It's Friday, Please God

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

   as I rejoice in the Lord.

Psalms 104:34 NIV

It's Friday and most people are looking forward to the weekend. There is a lot of things to enjoy, perhaps some chores to be done, maybe a honey-do list. If you have children, you probably have little league, football, soccer or Scouting. Some people just look forward to hanging out with friends or watching football. 

Reading these verses this morning made me think of what sort of is in the background of my mind as I go through this day. I thought about what pleases God. I don't think I have to be constantly quoting a verse to myself, although that is a good thing. But, it is a good thing to just think about filtering my thoughts with the idea of pleasing God. 

You see, if we decide to do our jobs, as unto the Lord, then it just keeps things in perspective. Again, if we seek to be a servant of all, even at work, because we are seeking to abide in Christ, we meditate on his Sovereignty to be at work in our jobs. May that be our prayer, that our thoughts and actions may be in Christ, and please God by trying to love and serve at home and at work.

To Serve is to Know

Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:13 NIV

Notice Paul says,"Those who have served well", not, "led well." Knowing Christ is serving Christ. Quite often I get caught up in the notion that serving Christ is separate from knowing Christ. It's not that I consciously think that way, but naturally I tend to want to serve to prove myself worthy. 

I think truly serving teaches you that it's all of grace. Being a part of God's work in people's lives is humbling because you realize that you can't really change anyone, you can only love people. You also see that God does things in his own time. Serving also forces you to look outside yourself and see things from God's perspective. Seeing the Spirit work in yourself and others gives you that assurance that God loves you as is always working Sovereignly in your life. 

Being known as a someone who serves others is to have "an excellent standing" in your faith. This is opposite of the world where leaders are served by their employees. But, in the kingdom of God, the leader, like Christ, serves.

If I'm know for anything, I hope it's that I serve others and know Jesus. 

Send Help, Be the Help

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:35-38 NIV

Be a Shrewd Dove

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 

Matthew 10:16 NIV

The world looks at things completely differently than Christ compels us to view our lives. The end justifies the means permeates the beliefs of the world we live in from top to bottom.  From politics to literature the idea that you can break the rules if it helps you "make things better" in the long run. 

I think we need to love as Christ loved us. I don't believe that means that we have to be the victim. When Christ was questioned by Pilate (John 19) Pilate thought he was in power, but, Christ enlightened Pilate that the power he thought he controlled was given by God. We stand in the truth. If we suffer for that, we suffer in Christ's Name and for his glory. 

I also think that we need to be wise in all our dealings in life. I look at it like this: If someone asks me to do something inappropriate or questionable I should say no. 

Also, for the most part, people only hurt us as much as we allow them. So, trust people, but only as much as you are willing to be hurt. Then, forgive because none of us is perfect and we all sin. 

Love and the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Saint

My mom had this friend who if you said something and she didn't necessarily go along with it would just nod her head and say, "Hmmm...really...OK..." in the most no threatening manner. But, you didn't know if she was agreeing with you or not. It made you think about what you said. What do you think it means to love God and love each other?

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:1-5 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but when I start thinking about what it means to love God and each other, even after reading these verses I find myself trying to explain my actions or reasons for treating others the way I do. I can almost hear, "Hmmm...really...OK..."

Let's go with the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Saint. I think that it was the Apostle John is getting at. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ you're born of God. If you love the father you love his child. If you love God you follow his commands to love one another. If you love God and one another, you will have victory. 

I don't want to get too specific here because I think the Spirit is working in each of us in different ways and what I may need to do to love my wife may be different than what you need to do to love you spouse. I just want you to ask yourself, "Was that in love?" If you have to explain it or justify it, maybe you might want to check yourself.

The point is simple. Love God. Love each other. 

Father, help us to simply love you and each other. Praise be to you in us today!

Mr. Brow: A Scout is Courteous

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Romans 12:17-18 (NIV)

I decided to call him Brow. I thought about scowl, but, that would've been too obvious. You see last week my son went to Boy Scout summer camp at Forest Lawn Scout a Reservation in the San Bernardino Mountains. I attended as an adult leader for his troop. We arrived a week ago on Sunday. After checking in, setting up in our area, and taking the swim test we started mingling around the mess hall and talking to people from other troops. 

I noticed a guy giving me the dirtiest look, scowling at me like I took his sons ice cream cone just as he was about to take the first bite. My buddy, the assistant scoutmaster, said, "What's that guys problem? He looks like he wants to bite our heads off!" I gave a little nod and a smile. He kept scowling. I stared back. He finally turn away, still scowling. 

Because a scout is clean they have daily campsite inspections. My compadre and I volunteered to help. One day I went by the campsite for Brows' troop. Apparently he had demanded that my buddy ask for permission to enter the site the day before, so I announced myself before entering. I had a pleasant conversation about what needed to be done by his troop to achieve a top score. 

On Friday, we had steak (not filet mignon or New York cuts). We had a bottle of A-1 sauce on our table. Brow came by, asked if we we using it, we said no, and he snatched the bottle up, scowling all the way. I said, "You're welcome." A few minutes later he back, set it down rather firmly and declared, "Some words don't come out of my mouth!" As he abruptly turned and marched away. A scout is courteous. 

I saw brow many other times and he scowled even at a kind, "Hello".  My point is that it doesn't matter if someone else has an issue with you or everyone in general, the Bible tells us to live at peace with everyone. Even if, like my "friend" Brow, someone isn't kind or courteous, you still try your best to show the love of Christ. Remember, Christ didn't love us because we were nice, he first loved us when we were his enemies.

Father, help us to love even when we will only receive evil in return. Praise be to you in us today!

Know That You Know God

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

1 John 4:7-9 (NIV)

Lately people like to make a heart with two hands. Even soccer/futbol players did it after they scored a goal at the World Cup. As a guy I find it amusing that women love to post stuff about love. Love is this love is that. Love, to many people is a super strong urge or emotion (warm fuzzy) that compels them to attach themselves emotionally to another person and look to them for emotional fulfillment. 

I love my wife and have pretty strong emotions for her. But, if I only loved her when I felt like it our marriage would of failed a long time ago. I learned pretty quickly that love was about choice. Love is giving when I don't particularly feel like. If you know God and know his love you understand the depths of love, true love, what the Bible calls agape love. It is beyond friendship. It is beyond erotic physical love. It is love by choice, love by action. 

My wife kind of got upset with me one time because she noticed that I had written down on my planner to send her a note or buy her a little gift to let her know I loved her. I know she wanted spontaneous but, knowing that spontaneous doesn't do well with busy I chose to make sure I did something to love her. Let me tell you, sometimes the thought doesn't count, only an action will do. You know, actions speak louder than words. 

If we know God, says John, we love. If you don't love, you don't know God. We know what love is like because the love that God has for us was demonstrated by sending his only Son into the world that we might live through him. Get it? Love is giving. Love is action, serving others. 

Father, help us to love not just in word but in our actions. Open our understanding see the opportunities to love you place before us today.  Praise be to you in us today!

If You Got It, Give It

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

Talk is cheap. An emotion is not an action. I can tell my wife I love and genuinely feel it, but, if I don't act in loving ways, she won't believe me. John gets right to the heart of the issue and says we need to lay down our lives for our brothers. He explains that love is action by helping a brother with a material need. If you got it, give it (to those in need). 

Sometimes I will ask myself this simple but very telling question: What did I do that showed my love to my wife, to my children, or to people I came in contact with? This is not meant to be condemning because we all fall short of the glory of God. Yet, when we see a need, we need to try to meet it. If my wife needs some rest, I can do what needs to be done so she doesn't have to do it. If my children need time, I can give it. If a friend needs help, you can help. 

The deal is that sometimes we just need to stop and look around, listen to what others are saying, watch what they are doing. Meet a need. The difficulty can be our willingness because to give to others may require laying down our lives, giving up a bit of ours.

Father, help us to love as you have loved us. Thank you for your love, laying down your life for us! Help us to lay down our lives for others. Praise be to you in us today!

To love (agape) others means ____. Fill in the blank on Fill-It-In-Friday!

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

After mixing together faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and mutual affection (brotherly love) Peter  says to add love. 

Why do you think Peter saved love, agape in the Greek, for last? What do you think agape love means? 

I am going to try something different today. Let's call this a "Fill-it-in" Friday. I need you to complete the following statement. 

Peter places love last for a reason. To love (agape) others means ___________________________________. Help us out by filling in the blank leaving your thoughts and insights in the comment section. Thanks!

FINISH TOGETHER

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

My oldest son was a long distance runner in high school and college. In high school he was captain of his cross country team. He wasn't the best runner in the league but he fully understood that in cross country it's all about getting more people to finish high together. So, he and his friends started using the slogan "ohana" no one finishes alone. The team took first in league. My son wasn't first as an individual runner but, the team was. The team grew from around thirty kids to over one hundred within a few years because the culture was all about helping each other finish as best as they could. 

My point is that as Christians we should be more concerned about loving others with the same forgiveness, grace, mercy and love that Christ first loved us with than winning any argument, being right about some particular issue or making sure that we have been treated fairly. It is not up to us to change anyone. We are called to love as Christ loved us. 

Father, help us to be thankful for your love toward us and to humbly love each other. Praise be to you in us today!

OK GOD, IT'S UP TO YOU...

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10

The world says to fight for everything you get, to look out for number one, just do it.  Or, in this age of entitlement, sometimes people just feel they are owed things. 

To humble ourselves before God is to see things as they really are. God is Sovereign. I am finite. God is righteous. I am not. God is whole and complete. I am fractured by sin, incomplete without Christ. 

To humble ourselves before God is to trust him with our needs and desires. It is more than being able to say, "Your will be done". It is knowing that God will work our all things for our good. That means that God has me where he wants me and if I am not where he wants me, he can move me, or move what needs to be in my life. He can move me to the mountain, or move the mountain to me. 

Father, we look to you to use us where we are at and to move us to where you want to use us. Praise be to you in us today!

ARE YOU READY? / Titus 3:1

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good." Titus 3:1

In sports there is the "ready position". You know, feet just a little more than shoulder width apart, knees bent, hands out, and ready to move which ever way is necessary to make the play. Spiritually speaking we need to be ready to make whatever play the Spirit of God puts before us. 

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

In I Peter 3:15 the Apostle says, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 

Maybe this is why the saying, "What would Jesus do?" came about. I think that is always a good "stance" or mindset to be in. 

REGARD FOR THE WEAK;Psalm 41:1-3 and Happy Mother's Day!

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
     the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
     he will bless him in the land
     and not surrender him to the desires of his foes.
 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed
     and restore him from his bed of illness." Psalm 41:1-3

So many truths in Scripture are a two edged sword. Repent and be saved. Forgive and be forgiven. Die to yourself and live. And here in Psalms we are reminded that we are to have regard for the poor. 

What kind of person are you? Do you consider that state that someone else is in with any sense of compassion and empathy? You may not be able to rescue a person from the circumstances in their life, but, do you have any regard for them? 

I have a good friend who has been struggling for a few years trying to get a job. So, many times I wanted to help, but, was unable to help (financially). But, I prayed with him and tried to empathize with him. After a lot of prayer together (and I am sure not just by me) a door seems to be opening, he has had work these last two months. Sometimes we are reminded that we are not God and only he can act Sovereignly and provide for the needs of his people. (Yes if you can give, give.)

This is no formula. We are not talking about a universal law of karma. We are simply remembering that God wants us to have regard for the weak. He will take care of us.

Father, thank you that you know are needs even before we do. Praise be to you in us today!

*By-the-way, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my mom, my lovely wife (an awesome mom), and and the mom's who love their children like only a mom can!

RICH IN GIVING: I Timothy 6:18-19

What do you have to give? Time or money. Maybe both. Who gives you time and money? God. 

"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." I Timothy 6:18-19

The point is that God gives us life (time) and he gives us money (resources). The question is whether we use them to glorify God or not. I am not going to be sanctimonious and act like I balance this well. I try. I am learning. But, it is not always easy. 

A few years ago I was a bit convicted about my time. I found myself being inwardly upset when opportunities to help others came up. I found that I was missing chances to serve. The opportunities were all around me, at home, at work, with my children's activities and just random situations. What I didn't like about myself was that I was unwilling to step out in faith. I just wanted to be left alone. That had to change. 

I find that opportunities to serve, to give, to be generous with my time or money are scattered throughout my day, camouflaged by circumstances. I just need to remember that God wants me to be a giving person. 

Father, open our eyes to see the opportunities to share you love with others throughout the day. 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!

THE LOVE OF MONEY: I Timothy 3:3

My mom had a little plaque once with a picture of a monkey. The caption read, "I've been richer, and I've been poorer. Richer is better." There is a difference between enjoying what you can do with money, including giving, and just plain loving money. 

"not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." I Timothy 3:3

Paul has been comparing the traits of a godly man who is controlled by the Holy Spirit with the traits of an ungodly man who is controlled by his desires, including the love of money. 

Ecclesiastes 5:10 tells us, "Whoever love money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." The love of money, is when you seek to find satisfaction and fulfillment in having it. That will never happen. Only God can satisfy our souls.

Jesus taught his disciples (and therefore us), "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money" (Matthew 6:24). Jesus spoke those words while teaching about trusting him to take care of our needs. So, the idea is whether you will trust in money or God to take care of you. Trust God. 

Paul was teaching young Timothy what to look for in a church leader. We are looking at these traits as the traits of a good household, family leader too. Now we have the love of money.  This trait of being a lover of money follows a description of someone controlled by alcohol, violence and the need to quarrel. Why is the love of money harmful to a church, a marriage and a family? Because the person who loves money will put the need to have more money before the needs of their family. They will pursue "opportunities" to make more money more than they will pursue opportunities to love their spouses and children. 

A word of caution. We do need money to pay our bills. Sometimes we will work extra to provide extra or more for our families. You must know when you are no longer providing a better life with your family or just seeking more money. 

A pastor of mine once said, "Prosperity is having a little more than you need." May God grant you provision and prosperity for your family. 

Father, help us to love and serve you with the money you provide. Praise be to you in us today!

WELCOME WITH RESPECT: I Timothy 3:2

People will listen to a man or woman of experience. When Phil Jackson first became the Lakers head coach he showed Shaq his NBA championship rings. Shaq respected that his new coach knew what it took to be a champion. 

"Now an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach". I Timothy 3:2

Respect is a very important word for me. I want my wife and children to respect me. As a leader for my son's Cub Scout Pack and coach for some of his sports teams I need to be respectable. I need to be a man of my word. I think respect has to do with both actions and attitude. If I do my job with skill, that is respectable. We had parent conferences last week at the school I teach at. When I great parents I always try to address them as Ma'am or Sir. That instantly tells them I respect them. I don't care what they look like or where they come from when I address them with respect, they almost always treat me with respect. 

Being hospitable is very much in tune with being respectable. Because being hospitable is able how you treat someone. Making others feel comfortable and welcome is not just about having people over for dinner. Jesus told us to be the servant. Putting other peoples needs before out own is definitely Christlike. I think it is hospitable. And I don't think you need to be an overseer in the church to be hospitable. 

One little aside. I have been to and a part of a few churches. Some are more hospitable than others. Sometimes churches have little times for people to great each other. It is easy to find someone you know but, maybe finding a guest and making them feel welcome would be a great little ministry.

Father, help us to be respectable and hospitable. Praise be to you in us today!