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?