What We Have

Acts 3:1-8 (NKJV)
 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;  who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God.  

I have a friend who once said, "Most Christians live their lives like practical atheists."  At first glance it seemed to be a shocking statement.  My immediate response was to form an argument to disprove his point. The longer I considered the statement, the greater the conviction that what he articulated was true...sad, but true.  What does it mean to live like a practical atheist?  It simply means that we live as if God is disconnected from the reality of our everyday life.  As if God is disinterested in the mundane goings-on of our daily routine.

I sometimes wish that life was as mundane as I suppose it to be, but then, just as I'm about to rest in that peaceful place of boredom, a crisis of sorts comes out of seeming nowhere and lands in the middle of my security.  Suddenly, I'm faced with a situation that requires the intervention of God.  I can no longer act like a practical atheist...there are no solutions found in a place of disbelief and separation from the Creator of all. In those lucid moments, where mundane caves in to the reality created by crisis, I shed the skins of the practical atheist and embrace the truth of "what I have" in Christ Jesus.

Peter and John where challenged by a beggar who had been lame from birth.  The beggar asked for what one would expect a beggar to ask.  The beggar asked for a temporary solace--a mundane solution for the symptoms of a greater problem.  What was the most the beggar could hope for?  Enough silver and gold to feed himself for the day?  Enough silver and gold to feed himself for a month or a year?  What if the beggar could play the lottery and win enough wealth to feed and house himself and his family for life?  Could it get any better than that?  Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."   

That was certainly unexpected...  The supernatural workings of God are always unexpected to the practical atheist.  The beggar was healed, and he walked around testing his new legs, leaping and praising God. Mundane was just destroyed by the power of God!  Believers in Christ may not always have silver and gold, but the Word of God declares: "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."  If we can lay aside our disbelief for a moment, there is a spiritual mantel that declares that "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  The impossible becomes possible.  As Believers in Christ, that is what we have...it is our spiritual birthright!

Prayer: "Dear Father, I live at a level of faith that is unbecoming for one who claims to believe.  I am reminded that those who believe will lay hands on the sick and the sick will recover.  That signs and wonders will be a fruit that follows them as they declare Your good news.  I have too often settled for less than what You have to give and want to give to me.  May I lay aside my doubts and fears, pick up the spiritual mantel that You have prepared for me, and walk in the fullness of Your power and the potential that You make possible.  All for Your glory, O Lord!  Amen"   

Just Could Be…

2 Peter 3:9-14 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

We were sure that the trumpet was about to sound and that Jesus was climbing on a white horse and preparing to descend. There was chaos in the Middle East—an explosion of “End-Times” prophecy in the Church—songs, such as Larry Norman’s “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” gaining popularity…surely the Lord was about to come back! I had some church friends who were lamenting the fact that with Christ’s eminent return they would not get to experience marriage or have a family. The “Mr. Naughty” part of my personality suggested that the soon return of Christ was not the only obstacle standing in the way of their future bliss. “OK.” Let me state the obvious…Jesus did not return—most of us got married, had children and are looking at retirement.

That said, just could be that we are living in the Last Days. No bold predictions here. No great prophetic insight. No clear word from the Lord. Not trying to scare people straight. Not even trying to anticipate what is to come. Still, there is this nagging feeling that we are facing difficult times ahead, where Christians will be out of step with the New World Order constructed of political correctness and humanist ideals. I am not of a survivalist mindset, but when they begin to hand out the equivalent of “yellow stars” to those who claim Christ…I might head for the hills.

The Lord has clearly stated why He is waiting to return. He is waiting until that moment when the Gospel has reached every tongue, tribe and nation; and that the maximum amount of people will have been “saved.” It is going to happen…and just could be that it will happen soon. In the meantime, I have a job to complete and a race to run.  I want to have oil in my lamp—my hand to the plow—my eyes on Jesus—becoming less, while He becomes more—loving God, neighbors, family, brothers and sisters in Christ, enemies… Doing my part to hasten His return.

Prayer: “Dear Father, how I long for your return. Through experience I have come to know the truth, that this world is not my home. It is a beautiful place, but is it marred by an oppressive darkness. Until the day that You return, or until I have breathed my last breath, give me the strength to live for You and to build Your Kingdom of light. I sincerely pray, ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Amen!”

Words

James 3:1-2 (NKJV)
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

Recently, I have run into quite a large number of God’s sheep who have been on a long sojourn looking for a “new” church. When I build up enough relationship to ask them the difficult question of what motivated them to look for a new place to worship God I generally hear stories of how they were somehow disenfranchised and disillusioned by their previous church experience. Very often the finger is pointed at a pastor. “Yikes!!” As a pastor myself, the first thought in my head is I wonder how many people have been driven away through the years, because of my poor behavior or lack of wisdom. You must understand, I have been the pastor where people left looking for greener pastures. What role did I play in their decision?

James tells us that being a teacher or a spiritual leader in the Church is not a position to be taken lightly! As a teacher/pastor I should expect a stricter judgment…from God. Double “Yikes!!!” I need to ask myself some serious questions: “Am I really called by God to be a spiritual leader?” “What is my responsibility to the people God places under my care?” “Should I have pursued another career?”

Very often the offense that blows someone out the back door deals with things spoken. My mouth has the potential to be a real source of offense and emotional pain. Sometimes I’m just being defensive and reacting to a criticism or unkind word—but, flinging back unkind words is simply fighting fire with fire. If the goal is to burn down the work of God this is a brilliant strategy; however, if building the Kingdom of God is of great worth, time to tame the tongue!

As I honestly look into the mirror I can honestly tell you that this pastor is flawed. Knowing that I shall receive a stricter judgment I pray that I will respond to God’s flock with a much larger dose of mercy and a double load of grace. After-all, all things being equal, God has not given me what I deserve…Bless His Holy Name!

Prayer: Dear Father—I humble myself before You with the knowledge that I have not represented You well. I am the servant who has been forgiven much and so, I should also forgive. May I see people as You see them. May I have a measure of Your compassion and be filled with empathy and a desire to bring healing. Put a guard on my mouth and may the words of my mouth be pleasing unto You. Amen!

Scattered

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. James 1:1 (NKJV)
Let me state the obvious: James is a letter that was written by a "guy" named James (perhaps the half-brother of Jesus) to the twelve tribes of Israel.  So...how does an ancient letter written to a group of people scattered throughout the world relate to us?  (Good Question!)  "No," we are not the twelve tribes of Israel scattered abroad; however, as a Believer in Christ, we have a lot in common with a people of faith who are surrounded by a culture that is not necessarily of a common religious persuasion.  I don't have a personal problem with living for Christ in a diverse secular/pagan/agnostic culture, because, I am building my life on the Rock...but, I have noticed a trend of a growing hostility towards Christianity.

Have you ever asked yourself this question: "Why do Jewish people seem to be the target of hate--both historically and in our present time?"  The answer is fairly simple, if not complete.  I believe that the Jews were hated by the nations where they were scattered for one basic reason.  They were not easily absorbed into the local cultures.  They maintained their own religious beliefs; they maintained their own language; they maintained their own identity as a people group; they discouraged intermarriage with people outside their persuasion...you get the idea!  As much as our current culture pretends to embrace the idea of diversity, it is a selective diversity at best.  Any people group that does not march to the beat of the current fashionable ideas are putting themselves in the crossfire of possible persecution.

How can we remain true to what we believe in a sea of growing hostilities?  The Apostle Paul gave some great advice that we should consider: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:12-15)  The key phrase: "You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of!"  As Believers who are scattered abroad throughout a hostile world--we must maintain our identity as Followers of Christ.  The price may include persecution, even a martyr's death, but continue in the faith, run the race and win the prize.  It will be worth the sacrifice!

Prayer: "Dear Father, I am not alone in my faith.  I am surrounded by others who refuse to bow before the popular opinions of those speak out against the Church.  Please center my thinking on the thoughts that come from above and not be persuaded by the vanity of popular culture.  I confess that the wisdom of man is foolishness compared to Your wisdom.  Please fill my life with the virtue of courage that I might speak up.  Cause me to continue to stand for the things that are virtuous and against those things that are not.  May Your Kingdom come and rule in my life.  Amen!"