It's Not About Me

This is a fake vanity photo...

He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:30-31 (NKJV)

Not to be the rain that falls on your parade, but along the journey to grasp the meaning of life you will probably discover that, "It's not about You!" I hope that this news does not come as a shock and furthermore; I hope that you figured it out a long time ago. You are but one of about 7 billion humans that live on a tiny planet in a deserted corner of the universe. When it is all said and done our life will have almost no effect whatsoever on the cosmos. We are born--we live--we pass away--and we are soon forgotten. It was this understanding that made Solomon write such uplifting sentiments such as: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind." Eccl 1:14 (NKJV)

John the Baptist was the most famous prophet of Israel when Jesus started His own public ministry. Before long, many of the people that followed John the Baptist were flocking to the new teacher called Jesus. John the Baptist, knowing that Jesus would eclipse the significance of his ministry, said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John knew that his life found a place of deep meaning by being "God's tool" in preparing the way for Jesus. He refuted Solomon's idea that life was without meaning, while affirming the idea that life's greatest significance is found in our service to God.

What is the meaning of life? Is it to gain wealth that we can't take with us when we are dead? Is it to gain popularity that fades over time into obscurity? It is to be the envy of all our friends because of our great accomplishments, personal influence and amazing charm? Wow...maybe it is all vanity! There is an exception--an important exception. It is the understanding that John the Baptist expressed: Life becomes very meaningful when our lives fuse with the eternal purposes of God. Serving God--building His Kingdom--loving His people--declaring His truths--shining His light--being His ambassadors...this is where we find meaning. "Yes," He must increase and we must decrease!

Prayer: "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Remembering Dallas Willard

American philosopher, author and theologian Dallas Willard died May 8 at the age of 77 following a battle with cancer. Willard taught at USC since 1965 and wrote many spiritual formation books including “Renovation of the Heart,” “The Spirit of the Disciplines” and “The Divine Conspiracy.”A couple of my favorite quotes:

"The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons with God himself at the very heart of this community as its prime Sustainer and most glorious Inhabitant." 

"Our destiny is to be part of a tremendously creative team effort, under unimaginably splendid leadership, on an inconceivably vast plane of activity, with ever more comprehensive cycles of productivity and enjoyment."

"The writings of Dallas Willard always made me aware of the deficiencies of my I.Q.  I'm not sure that he ever wrote a paragraph that I did not need to read at least three times over to grasp at the ideas he was suggesting.  I truly great thinker!"  RD

Follow Jesus

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 16:24-26 (NKJV)

If you grew up in a Church setting you are probably familiar with the song, "I have Decided to Follow Jesus." The lyrics are simplistic; therefore, nearly impossible to forget.

I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.
The cross before me, the world behind me, The cross before me, the world behind me,
The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back...

I have sung that song countless times. With an authentic fervor in my heart and tears running down my cheeks I meant every word, only to stumble and fall under the weight of my own fleshly desires. Herein is the question one must ask: "Does Jesus want me to get up and try again or has He grown tired of my feeble attempts to fulfill my promise to follow Him?" The conclusion that a person draws in answer to this question is telling. If I am driven by the guilt of my failure, I am in danger of following in the footsteps of Judas. If I believe that God is love--and that His love does not fail--and that His love is revealed as mercy, grace and kindness--then I get up, dust off, pick up the cross and try again.

When I think of how Jesus restored Peter, I am filled with hope. When I read the story of the Prodigal Son and see how the Father greeted him and restored him, I am filled with hope. When I realize that God's love has no end--no hidden limitation--and that nothing can separate me from that love, I am compelled by love to follow Jesus. This is the one issue in life where I know that I need to double-down on my conviction and once again declare: "I have decided to follow Jesus."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, it is so good to know that Your love is not fickle or based upon my performance and good behavior. It does not mean that I am free to sin, but when I do stumble, You are there picking me up--cleaning me up--encouraging me to try again. You are a good and gracious Father. I will never be able to repay my debt of gratitude; but please know this: 'I love You.' Thank you for Your grace...thank you for Your patience...thank you for Your love! Amen"

First Love

But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matt 22:34-40 (NKJV)

Any lawyer worth his salt is going to pose questions that cut to the heart of a matter. Answering a sharp lawyer can be a very tricky proposition--especially, if a person has something to hide. Such a man posed a question to Jesus--and, "Yes," he was trying to trap Jesus. The lawyer asked Jesus a very difficult question: "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" I can see the Pharisses in the background smirking and giving the knowing nod to their colleague.

What the lawyer did not realize is that he was going up against God in the flesh--the author of the law. It would be like one of us going back in time and trying to argue the Theory of Relativity with Albert Eisenstein. So, Jesus answered the lawyer without missing a beat. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your heart...and the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." The lawyer did not have much of a comeback after Jesus' answer. The Gospel of Luke has his follow-up question on the record: "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus then launched into the story of the Good Samaritan. For the lawyer this was like shooting an air-ball, getting the rebound only to have your next shot blocked.

We need to take Jesus' answer to heart--realizing that all the Law and the Prophets find their completion in these two commandments. It is possible to be very religious and not keep the greatest of the commandments. In writing to the Church of Ephesus, Jesus commended them for their perseverance, hard work and doctrinal stability...however, they failed on a grand scale, because they had wandered away from their first love. Let us keep our priorities straight and make Jesus our first love.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that as a child my heart belonged to You. As I have grown older, my life has been invaded by other concerns, both good and bad; however, at times I know that my communion with You is not what it used to be. With Your help, I am going to strive to go back to the time when You were my first love and the great passion of my life. Please forgive me for my duplicitous heart and wandering ways. I love You Lord! Amen"

One Way

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broadis the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficultis the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matt 7:13-14 (NKJV)

If you are embarking on a trip across the country or even to a local destination where you are not acquainted with the location, if you are wise you will look at a map--turn on your electronic navigator--or look it up online and download the directions. (Sometimes I do all three just to make sure) Arriving at a particular location is not guess work, it is a calculated decision, where I know that if I take a specific road to a specific destination on the map I will complete the journey as planned.

If you have an interest in "landing" in the eternal Kingdom of the Creator you must "Enter by the narrow gate." Jesus was trying to convey an important truth to those who were and are interested in an abundant and eternal life. Simply stated--there is one road that will take you to heaven, and as long as you stay on that road you can rest assured knowing that you will arrive and you will hear the voice of Jesus say, "Welcome thou good and faithful servant."

There are a plethora of roads that lead to destruction. People are gullible and willing to believe just about anything, simply because they wish it to be true. It is almost as crazy as heading due south on a road heading out from New York City believing that it will eventually take you to Seattle. If you want to make heaven your home please take the right road--the only road--the one way that leads to eternal life. Let the following verses act as your spiritual map, and know that if you stay on this road you will arrive at your destination. 

• Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV) 
• For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 2:5 (NKJV) 
• He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 (NKJV)

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me from my sin. Thank you for making a way for me, so that one day when this life is over and the race is completed, I will arrive at my eternal destination with You. I pray Lord that You would make me more effective in sharing this news--this road map that leads to salvation. Please grant me many opportunities to tell others. Amen"

To Serve

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matt 20:25-28 (NKJV)

If you grew up with siblings then you already understand the idea of "Sibling Rivalries." Often, in the struggle to gain the attention of a parent a child will both strive to win the approval of the parent and put down their siblings in order to emerge as the "better" child. This is the kind of self-serving behavior that we expect from children, but this is where we judge children too harshly while not perceiving our own "adult" behavior accurately. Even adults strive to win the approval of the people that matter to them; but, too often at the expense of others.

Jesus, as usual, is right in His observation of mankind. In the secular world, those in power lord it over those that are under their authority. I think that this is more often the case rather than the exception. Some people really like to have authority and power over others. There was a time where I was the "whipping boy" in an organization. I worked hard and dealt with my relationships with a good deal of integrity, but was on the receiving end of criticism. What a miserable time... However, it was an opportunity for God to bring greater measures of humility and patience into my life.

What people experience IN THE CHURCH should be very different than that. In the Church, leadership should be expressed as servant-hood. Those who rule, lead and teach in the Church should do so with a servant's heart--putting the needs of others before their own. Pastors were never called or meant to be little kings who rule over the laity. Authentic Christian leadership must strive for, and exercise Godly humility. That is the only way we can truly follow in the footsteps of the Great Shepherd. Jesus literally poured out His life to serve our needs--how far down that road are we willing to travel in order to follow after Jesus?

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I will admit that I like to be liked by others--I like to be in charge and to have the power to direct the activities of others--I like to be recognized and seen--I like to be complimented for what little skill I have... Sometimes I wonder if I do anything with a truly selfless, humble attitude. You know my heart...nothing is hidden from You; so, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Mold me into a better, more Christlike person, that You might be glorified! Amen"

Peace

"These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:25-27 (NKJV)

Jesus prophesied to His disciples concerning the difficult final chapter of His sojourn on earth. His words were upsetting to His disciples. So much so that Peter jumped in (as usual) and told Jesus that he (Jesus) did not need to go through with the plan. Jesus then strongly rebuked Peter by saying, "Get thee behind me Satan!" The end was near--Jesus was about to complete God's plan to rescue mankind--and the disciples were perplexed and confused. 

In the midst of this sobering prophecy Jesus spoke some words of hope to His disciples. He told them about a God-initiated peace that would become available to them. This was not a promise of an easy life, where the disciples would enjoy a time free of conflict, controversy and danger...no, history tells us that all but one of the disciples would be martyred for their faith. This would be a supernatural peace that would be activated by the Holy Spirit in the very center of difficult and trying circumstances.

I came to faith in God at a very young age. I can verify what Jesus said concerning the Holy Spirit. "You will know Him, because He will be with you and He will live in you." I was acutely aware that the Spirit of God was with me. Having God the Holy Spirit with me and living in me "always" gave me a deep sense of well-being. The Holy Spirit was a continual source that spoke words of encouragement. Words such as: "I am here with you." "Everything is going to work out." "I will help you." "All things are possible with Me in your life." "I will guide you." "You do not need to worry about that." "Rest in me and know that I will work this for your good." The promise of peace is real. Listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you...He is our comforter and is walking through life with you...every step of the journey.

Prayer: "Father, giver of life, Creator of all that is, mighty power, lover of my soul; I cannot imagine life without You, for You are my peace. My burden in life is light, because You do not give me a burden that I cannot carry. There is no temptation that can overcome the way of escape that You provide. There is no enemy or circumstance that cannot be overcome, because with You even the impossible becomes possible. You are good...what an understatement...You are good beyond what my words can describe. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"