What’s Your Role?

While you may hear farmers brag about the harvest they had in a particular year, you willl seldom hear them claim responsibility for the crop’s growth. You may hear some talk about working harder or smarter by picking the best variety of seed for their region, supplying additional nutrients with fertilizer or irrigation, or using a variety of methods to suppress the growth of weeds. At the end of the crop year, the farmer is ultimately dependent on a power higher than himself to make the harvest plentiful.

The same can be said about evangelism. We are told in 1st Corinthians 3:5-8 “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

The parable of the four soils (Luke 8:4-18) tells us that the farmer went out to sow his seed (the word of God) and that the type of soil (heart of the person) it fell on determined what would happen to the seed. Whether you are a sower/planter or a waterer to family and friends this Christmas season, the results are not in your hands. God has given each of us a job to do and has told us to give it all, including the glory of a bountiful harvest, to God. The question is do you trust God enough to leave it in His hands?

What’s on Your Christmas List?

I remember being so excited when the JCPenny and Sears Christmas catalogs would arrive at our house as a kid. I would look through them and pick out all sorts of things that would be on my list. As I’ve grown up, my list has gotten smaller and I’ve come to realize that I don’t “need” nearly as many things on my list as I thought I did.

If anyone has come to realize this, it would have to be people who God has asked to lead the Israelites over history. If you ask most folks in the military for what they need to obtain victory, they will talk to you about numbers of troops, technology and ammunition, and strategic locations. God used the physical example of Moses raising his staff to defeat the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). God told Gideon that 22,000 troops were too many and slashed the troop allotment to a mere 300 men to defeat the Midianites (Judges 7). God told Joshua to march around the walls of Jericho, which were 25 feet tall by 20 feet thick, once a day for six days. On the seventh day they were told to march around the city seven times blowing their trumpets and the mighty walls collapsed.

So, we can talk about what God needs to give us in order for us to be joyful...or we can realize that we are made to serve the almighty God of the universe. Jesus told us “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33). Have you looked at your wish list lately? Are you happy with what’s on it?

Ronald Reagan and Jesus

Who is responsible for solving the healthcare issues in America today? The politicians that we as Americans have elected appear to say that government is better able to care for the healthcare of Americans than individuals and the free market. This is in stark contrast to Ronald Reagan’s famous quote “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem”.

What does the Bible say about the poor? Jesus tells us that the poor will always be a part of society (Mark 14:7). We are also told that laziness is not a characteristic to be encouraged as evidenced by the rule “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2nd Thessalonians 3:10). That being said, there are people whose plight is not caused by a lack of effort. Jesus healed many people with debilitating diseases (i.e. blindness, paralysis, leprosy) while He was physically on Earth. The apostles also set up a food distribution program for widows to ensure their needs were met (Acts 6:1-5).

We are clearly told that we as individuals are responsible for the care of each other and not to leave such matters to an impersonal government organization. I am reminded of Matthew 25:40 where we are told “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”. Is God able to say that about you? If you are not happy with your answer, today is yet another opportunity to help those in need.

Is There a Worm in Your Apple?

The extremist that murdered 13 and injured approximately 30 others at Fort Hood has been in the forefront of the news and the hearts of many Americans this week. I would venture to guess that if someone were to look at a line of soldiers without knowing them, they would not be able to pick out which one would betray those he pledged to fight beside.

This isn’t the first instance of betrayal inside a band of brothers. Judas was chosen as one of the 12 disciples to follow Jesus. The other disciples only learned that Judas was going to betray Jesus when he sopped bread with Christ at the same time. Judas was willing to sell out Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Fortunately, our Saviour has power over death and this betrayal was actually part of His plan to save mankind from its own sinfulness.

It has been said that character is what we do when no one is watching. We may be able to fool everyone else, but we cannot fool ourselves and we cannot fool God. Judas hung himself over his betrayal of Jesus. The extremist at Fort Hood was shot and will face trial for his actions. Let’s use these examples of bad character as additional reasons to pursue the righteousness God calls us to.

Pulling a Win out of a Losing Situation

Have you ever had a situation where you thought there were no good outcomes? You evaluate the task, your own resources, and what you see as being available to you and determine that accomplishing the task at hand just isn’t possible. Maybe after coming to this conclusion you have had something in the scenario change that made the task possible or maybe even you were able to accomplish more than expected by the original task.

The disciples were no strangers to these types of scenarios They were with Jesus when crowds of 4,000 (Matthew 15:32-39) and 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21) men needed food as it was getting late. Jesus had the disciples see what food was available for the crowd to eat. On both occasions there were only a limited amount of fish and loaves of bread that couldn’t possibly feed the crowd. Jesus gave thanks for what was available and there wound up being not only enough fish and bread for all the crowd, but several basketfuls left over as well.

Just because we can’t see how any good can come from a situation doesn’t mean that no good can come from it. God knows about our situations and knows how He intends them to glorify His name. Are you willing to walk on faith to see what plans for a hope and a future the Father has for you?

Playing Within the Game Plan

Have you ever seen a player who has hurt his team by trying to do more than he has been asked to do? It winds up frustrating the player who is trying too hard, as well as his teammates, and isn’t a productive way to achieve the team’s goals.

Peter cut off the ear of a Roman soldier who came to arrest Jesus (John 18:10-11). Jesus told him “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Annanias and Sapphira wanted to look good by claiming to give the church all of the money from the sale of their property (Acts 5:1-11). They had actually held some money back for themselves. Their deceit led to both of their deaths. Moses striking the rock and David committing adultery with Bathsheba are yet other reminders in the Bible of people thinking their plan is better than God’s.

What area of your life do you think you know better than God? Jeremiah 29:11 tells us “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Won’t you trust your next decision to the God who gives you hope and a future?

Encouragement in the Face of Doubt

Have you ever been to a lecture or press conference where the speaker just got hammered with questions? These situations result from the audience strongly disagreeing or questioning the opinion of the speaker. Whether directly said or not, the audience is thinking “Are you serious?”, “That will never work!”, or “How can you be so sure you are right?”.

God is bigger than our fears and doubts. Moses thought he was inadequate to present God’s case to Pharaoh due to his speaking troubles and the unbelief of the Israelites. Instead of giving up on Moses, God provided Aaron to speak for him (Exodus 6:28-7:2). Gideon asked God for several signs before he believed that God was going to use him to save Israel from attack (Judges 6:37-39). Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead when the other disciples told him. Jesus showed mercy on Thomas and allowed Thomas to see, feel, and believe in His resurrection soon thereafter (John 20:19-29).

We all have doubts at times in our lives. God welcomes people bringing honest doubts and questions to him. He has shown us a track record of using people who have doubted to glorify His kingdom. So, what is it that you want to ask God today?

Temples and Palaces

The Dallas Cowboys played their first regular season game in Cowboys Stadium last Sunday. The stadium, which cost over 1 billion dollars to build, is such a marvel that many sportscasters are calling it the “Palace in Dallas”. It is reportedly the largest domed structure in the world with the largest sliding glass doors and the largest video screen to ever hang over a sporting event.

God had the King Solomon and the Israelites build a well known building back in the day known as the temple. Solomon had 70,000 people carrying materials and 80,000 cutting stone with another 3,600 serving as foremen (2 Chronicles 2:18). The foundation, main hall, ceiling beams, doorframes, walls, and doors were all overlaid with gold (2 Chronicles 3-4). The amount of gold to overlay the Most Holy Place was about 21 metric tons (42,000 pounds) of gold. The sea God had Solomon create for the temple held 17,500 gallons of water. There are many other amazing features of the temple, yet God’s people were separated from the Most Holy Place by a curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen.

A woman said to Jesus “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place we must worship is Jerusalem.” Jesus replied to the woman saying “A time is coming when you will worship your Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” He also told her that “God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4-20-23) After Christ died on the cross for our sins God ripped the temple curtain from top to bottom...symbolizing a new era where God’s people have direct access to Him (Mark 15:38). We are told “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) God has given us as Christians the privilege of being temples for the Holy Spirit. Is the next decision you are about to make going to bring honor to God and His temple or desecrate His temple?

So Close, Yet So Far Away

You may have heard that Michael Crabtree is the only first round draft pick from the 2009 NFL draft that is still unsigned. He is threatening to hold out an entire season and re-enter the 2010 draft. Mr. Crabtree had the opportunity to show the world his talents during his college career and was rewarded as being the 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft. At this point, the only thing separates him from being on a NFL roster is signing a contract.

Have you ever been so close to a goal and turned away with only one thing remaining in your way? The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16-23). Jesus told him “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments”. The ruler replied that he had kept all these commandments and was likely shocked when Jesus said “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

It may be that only you and God know what your one thing is that is keeping you from complete surrender. God is not satisfied with being a spare tire or a nice “part” of our lives. Jesus said “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me he can do nothing” (John 15:5). Jesus told us that “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love” (John 15:10).

Look Before You Leap

Have you ever made a decision and only later realized how much the decision cost you? How about the worker who was talking about cheating the company he works for only to find out that his boss is right behind him? Or what about the woman who racks up a huge credit line on her family’s credit card only to find that her family can’t pay the bills at the end of the month? Consequences may not always be immediate or severe, but they will come when we put our own desires first.

God told Moses to “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out water” (Numbers 20:8-12). Moses instead struck the rock twice with his staff. God told Moses that he and Aaron would not enter the promised land because of their disobedience. Talk about a huge disappointment after wandering in the desert for 40 years! Esau gave up his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34)...talk about buyer’s remorse! The prodigal son took his inheritance to live the good life in the city only to lose all of his inheritance and long to go home to be a servant for his father (Luke 15:11-32). All of these scenarios show us what can happen when we leap before we look.

Luke 14:28 says “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” It is easy to criticize others for failing to plan for the end result at the beginning of a process. Let us learn from our own mistakes (and others’) and look at the potential consequences of our actions before we leap.

Letting Go of Your Clunker

Today, it was reported that approximately 700,000 clunkers were traded in for new vehicles during the government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program. People who brought their clunkers into dealerships as trade-in value for a new vehicle knew they were giving their vehicles up to be destroyed and that they would never be able to get them back. How then can we as Christians better get rid of the “clunker” aspects of our old life and grasp the new creation we are in Christ? (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

One thing we can do is to turn our focus to God. We are reminded that “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). Jesus also told us “...do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him” (Luke 12:4-5).

Focusing on God also allows us to let go of worry when we believe God’s promises for us. Jesus told us “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34).

We need to let go of the “clunkers” in our life on a moment by moment basis. Focusing on fearing God more than man and remembering His promises are the keys to doing this. We have a great God who declares “For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Are you ready to give up your “clunker” for God’s hope and future for you?

Standing Firm Against Giants

It seems everyone in the media is talking about Brett Favre this week, so I’m not going to talk about his comeback with the Minnesota Vikings (whoops...I just did). This past week Y.E. Yang stared down the golfing “immortal” Tiger Woods and beat him in the PGA Championship (one of the four major championships of the year). It wouldn’t have been unusual if Yang would have wilted against Tiger since Tiger was 14-0 in major championships when leading going into the final round before facing Yang this past Sunday.

David was a small shepherd boy when he was sent to the battlefield to provide food for his brothers. He likely had no idea that God would move him to fight the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Yet God provided David with all he needed in a slingshot and 5 stones. Later in life he was on the run from the Israeli king Saul due to Saul’s being jealous of David’s popularity with the Israelites. David had at least two opportunity to kill Saul and end his harassment, but knew that it was not God’s will for him to do so. Likewise, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendnego refused to bow down to their king’s idols because they served the one true God (Daniel 3). Yet another example is when God used Elijah to show the nation of Israel the one true God against 450 prophets of Baal (1st Kings 18:20-40)

So, we have examples of Christians who were willing to stand firm for their faith against what the world would view as giants. We are told that “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea.’ and it will obey you” (Luke 17:6). So, do you believe that your God is able to slay giants? What do your actions say?

Lessons From Failure

You may have heard about Josh Hamilton having a relapse from his battle with alcoholism. The actual incident occurred in January, but the photos were released this past Saturday (story on MLB.com). Unfortunately, this is all too vivid a reminder that “nothing concealed will not be known or brought out in the open” (Luke 8:17). So, what are we to take away from Mr. Hamilton’s night “off the wagon”?

1. We are all vulnerable - The great apostle Paul said “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). Paul had a remarkable change from being Saul of Tarsus responsible for killing Christians to being a major influence in spreading the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. If a man as great as Paul still struggled with sin after such a dramatic change, why should we expect to be any different.
2. The story doesn’t have to end in failure - Samson was given great strength by God that enabled him to kill a 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:13-15) . Yet over time he gave into his desires for Delilah, telling her that the secret of his strength was his hair (Judges 16:17). Once the Philistines learned his weak point, they shaved his head, seized him, and gouged out his eyes (Judges 16:19-22). Samson prayed to the Lord to return his strength and was able to kill more Philistines in his death than during his life (Judges 16:28-30). There are many other examples as well including: 1) Peter denying Christ 3 times (Luke 22:34, 54-60) and still being allowed to preach a sermon where 3,000 were saved and 2) David committing adultery with Bathsheba and then orchestrating the murder of her husband, yet being called a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). This is because “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Certainly Mr. Hamilton has people that believe his recovery isn’t real because of this relapse. Fortunately, Mr. Hamilton’s wife is firmly in his corner and her faith in God is quite evident in her responses to critics (Katie Hamilton article). Paul did not want to take Mark on a second mission trip after Mark had deserted them on a prior trip (Acts 15:37-40). After a sharp disagreement, Barnabas decided to part ways with Paul and take Mark with him. Later, Paul said “Get Mark and bring him with you, he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2nd Timothy 4:11). This doesn’t mean that any one person will have such a dramatic turnaround...although we can certainly hope, pray, and encourage them.

Special Treatment

There are stories about players being so talented that their teams felt it necessary to give special treatment. Barry Bonds had his own corner of the clubhouse when he played for the San Francisco Giants. When Manny Rameriz was with the Boston Red Sox, the phrase “Manny Being Manny” was said on a regular basis to reflect the superstar’s unique behavior. Both of these players have posted great numbers in their careers, but the favoritism they received may have cost their teams greater success.

We are also told not to play favorites in our lives as Christians (James 2:1). We are told not to judge by appearances or by monetary riches (James 2:2-3). In fact, Jesus said that we should seek to hold dinners for the poor, crippled, lame, and blind rather than for friends, family, and the rich who can repay the invitation (Luke 14:12-14). Furthermore, even slave owners were told not to show favoritism towards the treatment of free men versus their slaves because God is our Master and there is no favoritism with Him (Ephesians 6:9).

We serve a God that “...accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34). Furthermore, God told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height...Man looks at the outward appearance,but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). So, let us practice loving each other regardless of ability, charisma, or stature.

That’s Not Fair!

Athletes often find themselves asking for fair treatment, especially when they perceive that they are getting the short end of the stick (i.e. less money than a “comparable” player). We hear them whine and pout, sometimes threaten to skip practices and/or games, and in general be a negative influence on their teams.

Peter knew what it was like to feel this way. He was told by Christ that he would he would be crucified for his faith (John 21:18-19). He quickly wanted to compare his fate to his fellow disciple John. Jesus told Peter “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (John 21:22). Job is another example of circumstances not seeming fair. Job had practically every worldly thing taken away from him including his children. Job’s friends accused him of sinning against God and his own wife told him to curse God and die.

We may wish we had someone else’s circumstances sometimes, but that is not our decision to make. Proverbs 16:9 states that “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” The next time you start to bemoan your circumstances, remember that God has allowed your circumstances for a purpose...regardless of how unfair they may seem...because He allowed his Son to come to bring you life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Wanna Second Chance?

I had the opportunity to watch the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox earlier this week. Our seats were in right field, so we got to watch Josh Hamilton up close. For those of you who don’t know, Josh Hamilton’s story is quite amazing (text, video). Mr. Hamilton spent over 2 years out of baseball due to drug and alcohol addictions and returned to become a great major league player. He now uses his story to share his faith in Christ with others.

The Bible lets us know that God is a fan of second chances. The parable of the prodigal son is certainly a reminder of this, but there are actual accounts in the Bible as well. Samson lost his strength after giving into the whims of an ungodly woman, but God allowed his strength to return to show God’s glory. Peter denied Christ 3 times, yet was given the privilege of preaching a sermon where 3,000 were saved. Saul lost his sight while traveling to Damascus to kill Christians, but God restored his sight allowing him to become one of the greatest apostles responsible for many of the New Testament churches.

It is has been said that the way back to God is to just turn around. He is slow to anger and delights in mercy. Will you accept His mercy and return to His love today?

Freedom Isn’t Free

Many Americans this past weekend celebrated the anniversary of our country’s Declaration of Independence. However, this isn’t the most important freedom afforded to us. Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection provide freedom from eternal death and torment in the lake of fire. We often remember our soldiers on government established holidays....how often do we remember what God has done for us?

America was not satisfied with being the only free country in the world. America has come to the aid of Europe on several occasions and even helped rebuild countries that once warred against it (e.g. Germany, Japan). Likewise, Christians are not to be simply be satisfied with gaining their own freedom....Christians are called to be shining examples to the world of what living in God’s freedom looks like. In addition, Christians are tasked with proclaiming the truth that God has made evident in their lives.

So, let us be thankful for those who fought (and are fighting) for America’s freedom. Let us also give thanks to Christ for providing our ultimate freedom. Then we need to take the actions we are called to by our American and Christian citizenships.

Are You Running on Empty?

Jimmy Johnson and Greg Biffle both had the misfortune of running out of gas at the end of the NASCAR race this past Sunday.  Both racers had performed well during much of the day, but could not finish since they didn’t have enough fuel.  Has this ever sounded like your day or week?  Things started off well, but you didn’t have energy to finish what was required of the day...fortunately we are given several examples of where to go to have the perseverance to finish our race like Paul the apostle (2nd Timothy 4:7).

Christ tells us in John 15:4 that “...No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”  In John 15:5 he makes this even more explicit stating that “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

What is the great thing about God being our fuel?  Jesus told the woman at the well “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-15).  We know it is silly to try to run a car without fuel...then why do we try to live our lives apart from the true vine that supplies the living water we so desperately need.

Things Change, but God Doesn’t

If you’ve ever watched the movie Varsity Blues, you are familiar with the girl who dumps star quarterback Lance Harbor as soon as he suffers a severe knee injury.  On the car ride from the hospital where Lance is to the party that same night she begins trying to seduce the new starting quarterback Jonathon Moxon.  When he tries excusing himself by saying Lance is her boyfriend, she just says “Things change Mox...you’re the starting quarterback now”.

It has been said that the one of the only certainties we have in life is change.  All sorts of things change many times in our lives...friends, family, jobs, what city we live in, etc.  It can seem like everything is moving.  In these times it is so easy to get caught up in emotion and base our level of faith in God on our immediate circumstances.  This approach is like trying to run in place in quicksand....it just doesn’t work.

God has made himself known to us in different ways throughout history, but he has always been the same.  Malachi 3:6 states that “I the Lord do not change”.  Hebrews 13:8 also tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.  God has always wanted His people to belong to Him alone and to bring Him glory.

Circumstances around us will always be changing.  We can choose to yield to our emotions and reject God’s love when things aren’t going well OR remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Playing a Full 48 Minutes

Professional basketball coaches will often talk about the importance of playing a full 48 minutes of a basketball game. This is especially true when their team played well most of the game and let things get out of hand for just a few critical minutes. The interesting thing about that is we don’t necessarily know which minutes will look most critical at the end of the game…or we would play our hardest during those times.

What are the most critical things for us? Proverbs 3:1-4 says “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commandments in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” What commandments are most important to follow? Jesus was asked this question and said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these 2 commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

So, God wants us to play a “full 48 minutes” for Him. He wants ALL of your heart…ALL of your soul AND ALL of your mind. He wants you to keep His commandments in your heart because He knows they will bring you good things. Do you believe Him? Do your actions say you believe Him? If you don’t like your answer, ask the great physician to work a change in your heart and see the wondrous work He will start in you.

Who’s Name Are You Standing Up For?

Do you want to see a player get angry? Call them out and say they don’t have the ability will, or character needed to do the task at hand. This isn’t a newly found behavior…just go to a local playground and watch the response if a child is told the same thing. Have you ever thought that the reward for actively defending your “reputation” wasn’t worth the price to do it? A better alterative is to make sure people know the true nature of the God we serve.

Men like Pharaoh, the Pharisees, and Pilate were all worried about defending their reputation…you can see how that turned out. Men like Joseph and Job were more concerned with obeying God than proving their critics wrong. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendnego were thrown in a furnace for refusing to worship a god other than the God they served (Daniel 3). The furnace was so hot that it killed the soldiers who placed then in the furnace, but Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendgo walked out unharmed. David was determined to fight Goliath so God could show His glory in taking out this disgraced Philistine who was trying to defy the armies of the living God.

In Elijah’s day, the people of Israel began worshipping Baal…to the point where Elijah was God’s only prophet in Israel (there were 450 Baal prophets). Elijah had a contest with Baal’s prophets to show the people of Israel that God is the ONLY God (1 Kings 18:16-40). Baal’s prophets could not get Baal to light their altar for their sacrifice despite dancing and cutting themselves. Elijah poured water over his altar 3 times and prayed “…let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” God sent fire than burned the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil…it even licked up the water in the trench.

We can have 1 of 2 responses when others have a different view or criticize us. We can be about self-preservation/promotion and make it all about ourselves OR we can stop and think how will God be glorified in my response.

Who’s Your Neighbor?

If you haven’t heard Michael Oher’s story, you are in for a treat (ESPN video). Mr. Oher grew up homeless as 1 of 16 children and quit school to avoid being placed into foster care. A neighbor helped Mr. Oher become enrolled at a local Christian school in spite of concerns of his 0.6 GPA. Mr. Oher was walking from school in shorts and a t-shirt in the snow one day when the Tuohy family stopped and began to take him in gradually…first clothes, meals, and spending the night a few times per week…eventually leading to the Tuohy family adopting Mr. Oher. Mr. Oher blossomed in this loving environment boosting his GPA to 2.65 and being recruited to a SEC football program. Mr. Oher’s football career at Ole Miss was so successful that he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of this year’s NFL draft.

If something like this sounds familiar, it should. Jesus provided the parable of the Good Samaritan to answer an expert in Jewish law who asked, “…who is my neighbor?” This parable shows us that offering God’s love and mercy to others is more important than rules for religion’s sake (Luke 10:29-37). Also, a lame man had 4 friends who knew he needed to meet Jesus (Mark 2:2-12). They climbed up to the roof since the house was already full and opened a hole big enough to lower their friend down to meet Jesus. Jesus healed the man’s soul in addition to giving him the ability to walk (talk about hitting the jackpot!).

Unfortunately, we will come up against naysayers when we are obedient to God’s desire for us to show His love and grace to others. Other parents at the school Mr. Oher attended asked why they would let a black man live under the same roof as their white daughter. Similarly, some people questioned Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-5).

Neighbors are NOT defined by location, class, or status. If God has specially and wonderfully made someone to exist, that person is of great value. He tells us that he will come look for the 1% even if 99% are still in their place (Matthew 18:12-14). So, let’s extend God’s grace and love to our neighbors regardless of the consequences from others.

Forget “Be Like Mike”…“Be Like Jackie”

April 15th is Jackie Robinson day which acknowledges the significant accomplishments and cultural advancements resulting from the career of the first African American Major League Baseball player. Mr. Robinson was a gifted baseball player that suffered many racial insults because of the color of his skin. Today remembers his career and his family’s impact in life after baseball are a result of many years of perseverance and hard work.

Christians should also expect to face insults and persecution in this world. Christ said “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belong to the world, it would love you as its own…you do not belong to the world…that is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). We are told in 1st Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” Furthermore, “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1st Peter 3:17)

Therefore, remember that we should expect troubles to come AND that we have been given our orders in regards to how to respond to suffering and persecution. Psalm 23:4 states “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”….it is not a matter of if we will walk in the valley, but how many times, for how long, and how will we respond. The beautiful thing about this we are told up front the reward for obedience…“Humble yourselves to the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

Unshooting a Gun

I remember my dad talking about gun safety while I was a youngster and saying “you can’t unshoot a gun”. Trauma surgeons know this all too well…you can take out the bullet, but the damage is already there. Similarly, the nails could be removed after Jesus allowed the Roman soldiers to nail him to the cross…but the holes were still there (Mark 20:25-29). Just because God forgives the sin, doesn’t mean that all the consequences here on Earth go away.

David certainly knew about this after sleeping with Bathsheba and ordering the death of her husband (2nd Samuel 1:2-4, 14-17). God sent His prophet Nathan to tell David a story about a rich man who took the only lamb from a poor man to feed a visiting traveler (2nd Samuel 12:1-5). David became irate at the rich man in the story and said that he should die and repay the poor man 40 times over for his lack of pity! Nathan then told David he was that rich man and calamity would fall upon David’s house…David’s response was to acknowledge his sins against the Lord. God was merciful to David by forgiving his sin and letting him live…but war and family turmoil continued throughout the rest of David’s life.

God loves His people so much that he sent His Son to take away the eternal consequence of sin which is separation from God in hell (John 3:16-21). He also loves His people so much that He wants them to follow His will so they will not have to face the consequences of sin during this life…so we can live life more abundantly (John 10:10)!

Judge Dredd

Have you ever been driving and made a mistake that almost caused a wreck? If you have, you are certainly hoping for mercy at that time. Have you ever been in that same situation and then become irate just minutes later when someone cuts you off? This reminds me of the movie Judge Dredd where Sylvester Stallone says “I am the law!”

The story of the servant who owed a great debt to the king reminds us of how to offer grace to others (Matthew 18:21-35). The king was collecting from all people who were indebted to him. The servant owed a large sum of money…and the king was about to sell off the man’s family to settle his debt. The servant pleaded with the king to give him more time to pay the king back…and the king decides to cancel his debt! The servant goes out and demanded one of his fellow servants repay him a small amount of money…when the fellow servant could not, he was thrown in prison by the first servant. When the king heard about the first servant’s unwillingness to extend the grace that had been offered to him, the king had the first servant thrown in prison.

Too often, we think we deserve to judge who deserves to receive grace. If you ask how often you should extend grace, Matthew 18:21 tells us to forgive those who sin against us 70 times 7 times (good luck with counting someone else’s sins and maintaining a heart that is in sync with God’s grace…those 2 just don’t go together). Let’s extend the grace God has so freely given to us instead of demanding that people settle their debts (emotional, physical, economical, etc.) with us.

One of a Kind

Have you ever seen anyone that makes you say that person is one of kind? Many professional football commentators say this about former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, who is considered one of the greatest players in NFL history. While other wide receivers may eventually approach or even break his records, none will be Jerry Rice. It is widely reported that he developed his great hands by catching bricks that his brothers would throw to him. His off-season training regimen included running up a steep 5 mile hill in the morning and weight lifting in the afternoon. He also excelled at the less glorified parts of being a wide receiver including running great routes and being a great blocker.

So, what does all this have to do with you? You are one of a kind as well. Psalm 139:13-14 says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…". Matthew 10:29-31 spells our worth out even more explicitly "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs or your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

God didn't make us unique just to sit idly on a shelf, just like Jerry Rice's talents may have never been known if he never played football. Our purpose is to "…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…" (Matthew 28:19-20). So, live your life for God's purpose…because God purposely made and cares for you.

Perseverance

Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow in Super Bowl 43. Sports reporters have talked about Kurt Warner’s story of going from a stock boy in a grocery store to 2 time MVP and Super Bowl quarterback. Then injuries, ineffective play, and other circumstances left Kurt Warner as an afterthought to professional football for 5 years. There were a lot of opportunities for Kurt to give up during this time and a lot of built in excuses including: 1) I’m too old, 2) I don’t have enough talent around me, 3) I don’t think people aren’t treating me fairly. Kurt chose to persevere during those tough years and was able to have a fantastic season (4,583 yards, 30 touchdowns) and led the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl ever.

Joseph is another example of how perseverance can lead to God being able to lead us through tough times and ultimately be exalted for conducting His work. Joseph was his father’s favorite son (Genesis 37:3). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt and told his father that he was dead (Genesis 37:23-33). One of Pharaoh’s officials bought Joseph’s services. He was so impressed by Joseph that he trusted Joseph to be in charge of everything in his house (Genesis 39:4-6). Joseph was thrown into prison after being falsely accused of rape, but God was still with Joseph. Ultimately God placed Joseph in charge of Egypt (Genesis 41:41) and allowed Joseph to save his family from the famine occurring in Israel.

What circumstance are you persevering through right now? Whatever it is, know that God is there for all who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior. Just because things don’t seem to be working on our schedule doesn’t correlate into the fact God is not working. David asked “How long?” four different times in Psalm 13 before finally arriving at the conclusion that “I trust in your unfailing love” and that “He has been good to me”. Let’s remember what God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives and keep working for the His glory.

What’s Your Go-To Play?

You often hear about teams having their backs against the wall when facing adversity. Teams will often focus on the one thing they can do better than anyone else to try to overcome these times of adversity. This single-minded focus can help the team regain its swagger by focusing on doing only things that have become second nature…things that they know will come through no matter the situation.

A lot of us have our backs against the wall right now…whether it is our finances, job, health, struggles with family and/or friends…so what are we supposed to do? Fortunately, there are some examples of what to do in difficult times. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tossed into a fiery furnace because they refused to bow to the golden image of King Nebuchadezzar (Daniel 3). Job lost his wealth and children…all his friends and his wife told him to curse God and die.

So, you might be asking yourself, “Why would people still believe in God with all these troubles?” Remember that people go back to what they know they can trust in times of trouble. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the King “we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter...the God we serve is able to save us…even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods…” Job said in the midst of his troubles “I know that my Redeemer lives and the end the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25). Christ told us “come to me, all you who weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)...so why don’t we take Him up on it today?

Size Matters….NOT!

If you got to watch the San Diego Chargers play the Indianapolis Colts last weekend, you were in for a treat. Darren Sproles, all of 5 feet 6 inches tall, racked up 328 all-purpose yards…which is good enough for 3rd all-time in playoff history. When he entered the NFL draft out of Kansas State, he had plenty of critics...he’s too small…he’s only a kick returner or 3rd down back…you can’t depend on him every play. I wonder how many folks still doubt Darren Sproles after that great performance.

Mr. Sproles isn’t the only person that has ever had people doubt him because of his appearance. David was the youngest of eight boys in his family. When Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel, he thought any of David’s older brothers were surely the one God had chosen. Instead, God told Samuel “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). When David was called in from tending the sheep, God told Samuel to “Rise and anoint him; he is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12).

Jesus showed us how we are to be more concerned with people’s hearts than with their looks or prestige. He often disagreed with Pharisees and Sadducees that were considered the most religious people of the day. Instead, Jesus spent much of his time teaching “common people”…reaching out to leapers, prostitutes, and people that He wasn’t “supposed” to talk to. God isn’t about the way things look…we shouldn’t be either.

I Want That!

You may remember the scene from Napoleon Dynamite where Uncle Rico is trying to get a couple to buy a 24-piece set of Tupperware. As soon as he gets out the miniature ship that comes with the 24-piece set, the lady in the scene goes “I want that!” You can tell that no matter how good or bad the product is, she is willing to pay the price to get that ship.

This got me to thinking…how often do folks look at Christians and see enough of Christ to go “I want that!” We are clearly told in that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). Furthermore, Proverbs 3:17-18 tells us that wisdom’s “ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Proverbs 24:5 adds that “A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength.” That sounds pretty appealing, doesn’t it?

So, what is this wisdom? James 3:17 tell us that it is “first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” What should we do if we lack wisdom? James 1:5-6 says “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God…and it will be given to him. But he must believe and not doubt…” Therefore, we have to not only ask God, but believe that He wants what is best for us, including provision of His wisdom as He gives freely. Then we can live lives filled with peace that are full of mercy and good fruit that others will want for themselves.