Monthly Archives: July 2015

Time for an eye exam

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Do you find that it is easier to be more critical of someone else’s shortcomings rather than your own? Do you notice how they act differently and wonder why can’t they be more like you? Maybe you regard their sin as greater than your own?

 

Judging others is a trap that is easy to fall into, but we are warned against it. In Luke 6, we’re told that the pharisees were critical of Jesus and his disciples because they were picking grain on the Sabbath. This was against the legalistic rules they had set up. But Jesus points out that He himself is the Lord of the Sabbath and the purpose of the day is to honor God not follow a set of legalistic rules. He reminds us that we need to keep our focus on God, not man’s rulings.

 

It’s easy to get those turned around, isn’t it? Every time elections come around it seems we turn our focus to the economy rather than the moral direction of our nation. We look to what will satisfy our earthly desires. We seek “happiness” as our highest goal, not faithfulness. We long for the approval of others more than we seek the approval of God. We easily get things turned around. But Jesus reminds us that blessed are those who find satisfaction in God regardless of their circumstances, or even the circumstances of our nation.

 

We easily regard those who disagree with us as our enemies. Whether they are or aren’t, Jesus commands us to “Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:27,36-37)

 

It’s hard, isn’t it? How can we obey this difficult command? How do we stand up for truth without judging others? Perhaps we start with an “eye exam”. You know if you have a foreign object in your eye you will not see properly. Jesus says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Luke 6:41) In other words, why are we so focused on judging other’s sins when confronted with our own (different) sins? We like to categorize sins, ranking them from not so bad to really bad. But God puts them all in the same category. Sexual immorality, impure thoughts, hatred, arguing, jealousy, greed, selfish ambition, envy. They’re all contrary to the Spirit and “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21) Our role is to submit to the Spirit of God so He can transform our own selfish, greedy, jealous, and impure nature to one that is marked by his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.

 

This isn’t to say that because all sin is sin we should think it’s all okay. Sin is an abomination to God because it separates us from him. It keeps us from accessing the fullness of his love and grace and from inheriting his promises. But it’s not for us to judge others. That’s God’s job. Our job is to love, do good, be merciful, and forgive.

 

We have a choice. We can focus our energies on hating the path the world is going while judging others in our path. . . OR we can hate the sin (of others and our own) and respond with the love that Jesus has shown us… the very love he demonstrated to us while we were still sinners! (Romans 5:8)

 

It all begins with a simple eye exam: “Am I looking at circumstances and others through my eyes or through the eyes of Jesus?” Ask God to look through his eyes and “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38)

 

Finding treasure and leaving it behind

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Imagine winning a contest with a big cash reward but instead of collecting your prize, leaving it unclaimed. Or imagine a realtor showing you the perfect house, saying “It’s yours, free of charge.” But instead of moving in, you walk away. Crazy, right?

 

But that’s what happened to Simon, James, and John. Fishing was their livelihood. It was all they knew. But on this certain day they hadn’t caught anything. Jesus showed up and told them to lower their nets one more time and they caught such an abundance of fish it took two boats to bring in the bountiful catch! What would you do if you were them? Would you rush to market to collect your profits? Would you ask Jesus, “Show me your favor!” Would you plead with him to make you even more successful? Perhaps many would think that way. But that’s not the response of these men. Instead, they “left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:11)

 

Astounding! Here, they just received what they had been diligently pursuing and then they just leave their treasure to rot on the shore. Why? Because they recognized something of greater value. They had a genuine encounter with the real Jesus.  They recognized him for who we was. His authority, power, and compassion were so real that they were compelled to follow him, leaving all other treasure for the sake of being with him and to become “fishers of men.”

 

It’s what Paul experienced: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

 

All the world’s profits are like a huge catch of fish rotting on the shore, compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus. I wonder if you’ve had such an encounter with the real Jesus.

 

We’re sometimes persuaded to think we have to make Jesus more “appealing” to others. But that’s never how he presented himself. He saw people and met them with compassion. People who met the real Jesus found him completely compelling just as he was. He healed a leper and freed a man from a life of paralysis. He ate with “sinners,” saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

 

I wonder if you have met this Jesus whose authority and love are so real and so valued that you are compelled to follow him. And not just follow but leave everything else behind as if it were rubbish, compared to the worth of knowing him more. If so, he leaves us with a parable for how to follow him. He tells us that we should not put new wine in old wineskins because they will burst, spilling the wine and ruining the wineskins. So it is for us also. If we try to put the new life of Jesus into our old way of living, it will be just as disastrous. What should we do? Set the old ways aside. Leave them on the shore. Walk away and follow Jesus – completely. Live the new life fully and without regret or turning back.

 

Jesus says, “Follow me.” What is your response?

 

Victory over temptation

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Temptation. It comes knocking at everyone’s door. We all have experienced the defeat of giving in when we should have stood firm. While it’s not a sin to be tempted, we shouldn’t give it a foothold. If we willfully allow “even a hint” of sin in our lives, it will take up a stronghold and whip us into its submission. We think we can control it but we can’t. Sin is a train that takes us farther down the track than we want to go and charges us more than we want to pay. We are what we obey. We can blame others for our shortcomings, but it is our own selfish desires that drag us away from the truth, love, and joy in our life…from God. Against God’s warnings, we love everything the world has to offer: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 1 Jn 2:15-16 It seems all of our sins fall into one of these categories. Temptation follows us all our lives, but it’s not a hopeless battle.

 

There’s good news!

 

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

God has provided a way out of temptation. Jesus (The Way, The Truth, and The Life) is our way out. Why is Jesus able to help you? Because he faced temptation and was victorious over it. And he refused to give in to temptation the very way you and I are advised to do: using the Word of God.
Luke 4 describes the account.

 

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit where he prayed and fasted. The devil tried to tempt Jesus by appealing to his fleshly appetite, power and authority, and immortality. Jesus could have debated with the devil. He could have proclaimed that he already has all power and authority. But he simply replied with the Word of God. And so the devil fled. And he will do the same if we respond like Jesus.

 

What lessons can we draw from this account?

 

1. Be prepared. Expect it. What you’re facing is no different than others. Every-single-day is a battle. Put on the armor of God.

 

2. Know your enemy, the liar, the deceiver, the counterfeiter. He is the thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy your joy and power.

 

3. Take up your sword. The battle is fought by God’s Word, “the Sword of the Spirit.” A sword is most skillfully used by a trained swordsman. Learn to defend yourself against attacks by studying God’s Word.

 

4. Look for the way out, Jesus. Set boundaries to purposefully keep temptation at a distance. Decide ahead of time that you are going to serve God at all costs, that you are His, and will act like his child, no turning back. Temptation passes and weakens with time and training. Train your mind and heart to follow God. A piece of God will not suffice. Let God alone be your focus.

 

Some days will be tougher than others. If you’re tired of having your joy stolen and destroyed, don’t give up. If you fall, repent and draw close to him. He will lift you up and make you victorious.

 

 

Real freedom

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Happy 4th of July. I hope that among the parades, barbecues, and fireworks you will take time to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy. Remember also that freedom has two sides: the one side that we celebrate and enjoy and the other side that bears the scars brought on by the high cost with which our freedom was paid.

 

One “freedom” story that is as dramatic as it is unusual involves a young Vietnamese girl named Kim Phuc*. Recognize her name? I didn’t either. But if I showed you a photo taken when she was 9 years old, you’d likely recognize her at once. The iconic photo, taken by 21 year old AP photographer Nick Ut, captured a terrifying moment in time, as this young girl ran down the street naked, having torn off her clothes that had been set afire by the napalm bombing of her village in 1972. The image was so terrifying, it sent a shock wave around the world; some say it contributed to a quicker end of the war.

 

“I always remember that horrible day that we ran from life to death,” says Kim, now 52. She talks of hating the photo that captured her anguish and terror. That day left Kim with disfiguring scars and pain that continued far after the war had stopped. After numerous skin grafts and prolonged hospital stays, she finally recovered from her wounds. But the emotional pain of being associated with the famous photo continued to follow and embarrass her. You can imagine how she might have become angry and bitter.

 

Instead, something amazing happened. She found freedom from her bitterness and pain.

 

After studying scripture, she became a Christian at the age of 19. “When I became Christian, I had a wonderful relationship between me, and Jesus, and God.” And then another amazing thing happened:

 

“I learned to forgive.”

 

Thankful for her relationship with God and for her life, forgiveness allowed her to focus on what she had gained, not just what the photo took away from her. She had survived. She gained a new relationship with Jesus and a life mission to help others. Her personal choice to forgive became what she calls her “path to peace.” Today Kim Phuc works as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations and has started a charity to help children suffering from war. “That’s why I’m really thankful that I had that picture taken and I can work with that picture for peace.”

 

There was no freedom in war; only death and destruction. There was no freedom in recovery; only scars. But a personal relationship with Jesus brought new life and real freedom that came through forgiveness: God’s and hers.

 

As we give thanks for those who have paid the price for our freedoms, let’s remember there’s another war that was won our our behalf, the one that was settled at the foot of the cross.

 

Are you really free? Or does a painful past continue to scar your life? Real freedom is found in forgiveness. Running to freedom is our path to peace. Run to Jesus and find in him much more to be gained than what you have ever lost.

 

* You can get the book about Kim Phuc, The Girl in the Picture, here.

 

Preparing the way

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“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Luke 3:4

 

When you read the passage in Luke 3, it’s tempting to think it’s all about John “The Baptist.” Indeed, the quote from Isaiah 40:3-5 is a prophesy about John’s ministry.

 

When the Word of God came to John he chose to obey God and dedicated his life to preparing the way for Jesus, even unto his death. But the message is for you and me too. When the Word of God comes to us, we have to choose to either accept it or reject it. Any “middle ground” is the same as rejecting it and will face an unquenchable destroying fire. Accepting God’s Word demands a response and daily submission to the Holy Spirit who brings us through a refining fire (Malachi 3:3) that purifies us and prepares the way to produce “good fruit.”

 

We spend much of our life preparing for careers, house purchases, vacations, and more. But our real call is to prepare the way for Jesus to have his way in our life and to prepare a path for others to meet him.

 

Some think that you confess your sins, repent, ask Jesus to save you and all is good; “been there, did that.” But the gospel speaks of genuine repentance as an ever renewing process that brings peace, understanding, and power for victorious and purposeful living. Repentance is our daily path toward preparing a place for Jesus to govern our lives. It humbles our heart and prepares a path for him to make his home in us. We are quick to pray for healing, but James says, first repent of your sin. It is a pure and clean heart that prepares the way for the Lord’s power in our lives.

 

Luke uses the illustration of two trees, one that flourishes and produces good fruit “in keeping with repentance.” The other that either produces bad fruit or no fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. That’s what happens to all the “fruit” of our self efforts, committed without the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

In the midst of everything that you are preparing for, wouldn’t it be a good idea to take time right now to quiet your heart? Prepare the way for Jesus to strengthen you and guide you according to his good plan for your life.

 

The most profound question in the world

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I always enjoy Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus, beginning with the words: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken…” Little did the Roman governor know that his census was going to record the birth of a new “king,” in fact the King of Kings.

 

What strikes me in this story is how Jesus was received by those who encountered him. Even though he came into this world as a baby in humble circumstances, he was announced by an angel and recognized first by common laborers who gave thanks to God for this great gift. They were so excited at this good news that they spread the word to others who were also amazed. If Facebook had been around at the time, I suppose the internet might have crashed from all the postings of great joy in his birth. I wonder how much proclamation he receives in our daily lives, not just in our words, but our actions and ambitions.

 

In Jerusalem, Simeon had been waiting for the news of the Messiah, having been promised this by the Holy Spirit. Simeon immediately recognized the baby Jesus as the salvation not only of the Jews, but also “a light of revelation to the Gentiles.” He prophesied over the life of Jesus in a way that we cannot imagine in our own understanding. Which of us can set our eyes upon a baby and foretell what will become of their life?

 

The devout widow Ana also “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel.” She recognized Jesus for who he really was because she “worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.” Others recognized him because they were looking forward to his coming. I wonder how often we miss an encounter with Jesus because we are too busy to pray and fast, too busy to worship throughout the day.

 

When Jesus was just 12 years old, his parents found him in the temple where even the teachers in the temple were amazed by his wisdom. When they asked him why he caused them such anxiety in searching for him, he responded, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

 

You’ll gain great understanding from a study of all the bible’s accounts of people who encountered Jesus. As Simeon foretold, he “is destined to cause the rising and falling of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against.” Many who encountered Jesus experienced immediate and life changing transformation. Some followed with mild interest but missed out on the abundant life he offered. Others fought against him, resisting the revelation of his truth and grace.

 

When we encounter the real Jesus we face the most profound question in all the world:

“Who do I say Jesus is?”

 

Our answer determines not only the amount of joy and victory we experience in life, but also our eternal destiny.

 

Is Jesus the cute little baby in swaddling clothes, placed in a humble manger and tucked carefully away after the Christmas holiday until the next year?

 

Is he a good teacher who lived and died as a good example to us?

 

Or is he who he said he was, the Son of God, the exact representation of Almighty God, the King of Kings, Prince of Peace, the Lord and Savior, the one who conquers death and transforms lives, the redemption of all who believe in him?!

 

Lord, give me the discernment to recognize you for who you really are in the midst of my daily activities. Don’t let my busyness hide you from my sight or keep me from your call. Remind me of the joy of dwelling with you in your Father’s house. May the ambitions of my life reflect your wisdom, love, and grace today and always.

 

Nothing is impossible with God

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You’ve heard it so many times before:

 

If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

We are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)

Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)

 

These are all promises of God but how are we to apply them?  Because we believe in God and put our faith in him, are we assured that all our prayers will be answered according to our desires? That everything we want to achieve will be accomplished according to our plans?

 

Not our plans.

God’s plans.

 

The message of Luke 1 is that “Nothing is impossible with God.” Elizabeth was barren and she and Zechariah were quite old. But an angel of the Lord appeared and promised they would have a son who was to be dedicated to God. And it happened exactly as it was foretold. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, foretelling that even though she was a virgin, she would bear a son through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that her son’s kingdom would never end. And it happened exactly as it was foretold. Both births were humanly impossible, yet nothing is impossible with God.

 

Nothing is impossible with God because his plans are invincible. He is Almighty God who made everything from nothing. He is the author of wisdom and understanding, the creator of life itself. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He knew you before you were born. His power and love know no limits. He speaks and light appears. His son Jesus, The Light of the World, shines into the darkness of our troubles and illumines our path so we know how to walk in the path of peace, the very way to live our lives. He redeems our broken, lost, and hopeless lives with his great mercy and amazing grace. You can bear up under your difficulties because he will strengthen you with his strength and grace. Nothing is impossible with him!

 

Is this the God to whom you pray? When we pray the will of God for ourselves and others, we pray with the confidence that nothing is impossible for God when it comes to carrying out his good and perfect plan which far exceeds our own.

 

God has a good and perfect plan for you, better than you can imagine. Though circumstances look to be hopeless through your eyes, nothing can impede God’s perfect plan for those who seek him with their whole heart and trust him fully. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) It may not be the plan you foresee or even think you desire. The things we desire seem great to us, but sometimes they are like making mud pies in the street when God intends for us something immeasurably more grand. Nothing is impossible with God who loves you. You can turn over your daily to-do list and your very life ambitions to the God of all possibilities who loves you and will complete his perfect plan for you, if you let him.

 

Let your focus today be on the God for whom nothing is impossible.