"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven."
-Matthew 10:32
Every one of us is called to spend our time on earth as a witness to God's glory. You may be thinking, "I am not a preacher or evangelist, so I just live a good life, and that is my witness." Without a doubt we are to live a life which is a witness to the changing power of Christ. But if we are not vocal and obvious with a different lifestyle than just a "good" person, what kind of a witness will we be?
I challenge you to think, how many times have you been identified as a "Christian" recently? How many people know how you live and assume that you are different? More importantly, how many people have you made a conscious effort to witness to in the last year? Have you invited anyone to church? Have you told someone you will pray for them, and done it? Have you asked a co-worker if they were a Christian, or what they think of Jesus? Perhaps you have brought glory to our Lord by hospitality and witness in your home? Have you ever thought it possible that you would be disciplined at work because you are witnessing to others there?
Whatever method you use, make it your goal to share the gospel. Make your life such an obvious example of "different" that you are asked why, but love others enough to share without them asking. Do you want Christ to be even the least bit ashamed of you before His Father? Are you ashamed of Him?
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Arrogance of Worry
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
-Matthew 6:27
"Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
-James 4:15
Our culture is overwhelmed with insurance. We have insurance for everything from hurricanes to tooth decay. We are even insured against death! The cost of insurance has become so high that many can not afford it, and yet we pay thousands of dollars for protection against possibilites which, should they occur, would cost only hundreds to offset. In short, we are addicted to the illusion of security.
It is important to realize that every breath we breathe, whether in perfect health, or on our deathbeds, is a gift from God. Your next breath may be your last, although you are in the prime of life. On the other hand, you may find yourself next to death, and yet recover to live many more years. You may be bankrupt today, and tomorrow find wealth in an unexpected windfall. Your drive to the grocery store may prove fatal, while God's hand holds in perfect safety a soldier on the front lines.
With these things in mind, we must remember that all circumstances and actions are in God's hands. Do you worry? All such fear is a lack of trust in the love of His controlling hand and pride in our own impotent abilities.
I encourage you to read the rest of Matthew 6:25-34, and learn that our only true insurance is to seek God's kingdom first.
-Matthew 6:27
"Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
-James 4:15
Our culture is overwhelmed with insurance. We have insurance for everything from hurricanes to tooth decay. We are even insured against death! The cost of insurance has become so high that many can not afford it, and yet we pay thousands of dollars for protection against possibilites which, should they occur, would cost only hundreds to offset. In short, we are addicted to the illusion of security.
It is important to realize that every breath we breathe, whether in perfect health, or on our deathbeds, is a gift from God. Your next breath may be your last, although you are in the prime of life. On the other hand, you may find yourself next to death, and yet recover to live many more years. You may be bankrupt today, and tomorrow find wealth in an unexpected windfall. Your drive to the grocery store may prove fatal, while God's hand holds in perfect safety a soldier on the front lines.
With these things in mind, we must remember that all circumstances and actions are in God's hands. Do you worry? All such fear is a lack of trust in the love of His controlling hand and pride in our own impotent abilities.
I encourage you to read the rest of Matthew 6:25-34, and learn that our only true insurance is to seek God's kingdom first.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Visiting Churches
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-John 13:35
We moved recently, and spent several months visiting churches, looking for a new place to call home. One thing that really turned me off to some of the churches we visited was not what happened during the service so much as what happened before and after the service.
I overheard people talking before the service, obviously regular attendees. However, even from the little bit that I heard it was obvious that they were not connected. They asked each other banal questions about work, questions more properly asked when meeting someone for the first or second time. They most likely knew a lot more about their co-workers than about their brothers in the church.
As I walked through some church entryways I would be greeted by a glazed, "Good morning, how are you?" It was often obvious that the questioner was unsure if I were a new visitor or a long-time member. Then, if I were to reply with, "rather tired, it's been a long week," I would hear in reply a muttered "fine" in response to a question I was expected to, but had not asked. Usually the person would vanish without breaking stride on some much more important business than getting to know me.
A third turn-off was the after-service rush. The second the closing "amen" was uttered the entire congregation would leap from their seats, rushing to get out the door, avoiding any direct eye-contact for fear of having to talk to someone. Within minutes, the parking lot would be empty, and the church would be left with one or two of the most active church members talking with the pastor.
I fully realize that I am being quite harsh. I am critically emphasizing things which I noticed as a visitor. The faults I'm pointing out were exceptions rather than the rule, and I'm sure there is a lot of background that I don't know, which would explain these behaviors. So I am sorry for appearing to be negative.
I want to encourage all of us (myself included) to not be like this, even as only a surface appearance. If I were a non-Christian, I would certainly be critical or what I saw. I have found myself doing these things at times, and am embarrassed.
Several churches that we have visited were exactly the opposite. It was impossible to get in the door without a friendly member asking a lot of questions. Then there was a stretch after the final prayer, followed by hours of conversation, and likely invitations for visiting during the afternoon or following week.
Let us be like this, known by our love for our brothers and sisters in the church in ever deepening ways.
-John 13:35
We moved recently, and spent several months visiting churches, looking for a new place to call home. One thing that really turned me off to some of the churches we visited was not what happened during the service so much as what happened before and after the service.
I overheard people talking before the service, obviously regular attendees. However, even from the little bit that I heard it was obvious that they were not connected. They asked each other banal questions about work, questions more properly asked when meeting someone for the first or second time. They most likely knew a lot more about their co-workers than about their brothers in the church.
As I walked through some church entryways I would be greeted by a glazed, "Good morning, how are you?" It was often obvious that the questioner was unsure if I were a new visitor or a long-time member. Then, if I were to reply with, "rather tired, it's been a long week," I would hear in reply a muttered "fine" in response to a question I was expected to, but had not asked. Usually the person would vanish without breaking stride on some much more important business than getting to know me.
A third turn-off was the after-service rush. The second the closing "amen" was uttered the entire congregation would leap from their seats, rushing to get out the door, avoiding any direct eye-contact for fear of having to talk to someone. Within minutes, the parking lot would be empty, and the church would be left with one or two of the most active church members talking with the pastor.
I fully realize that I am being quite harsh. I am critically emphasizing things which I noticed as a visitor. The faults I'm pointing out were exceptions rather than the rule, and I'm sure there is a lot of background that I don't know, which would explain these behaviors. So I am sorry for appearing to be negative.
I want to encourage all of us (myself included) to not be like this, even as only a surface appearance. If I were a non-Christian, I would certainly be critical or what I saw. I have found myself doing these things at times, and am embarrassed.
Several churches that we have visited were exactly the opposite. It was impossible to get in the door without a friendly member asking a lot of questions. Then there was a stretch after the final prayer, followed by hours of conversation, and likely invitations for visiting during the afternoon or following week.
Let us be like this, known by our love for our brothers and sisters in the church in ever deepening ways.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
God's Glory in the Mundane
"Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
-1 Corinthians 10:31
Although you've likely heard it thousands of times, and probably memorized it as a child, when was the last time you stopped to think about this verse? The outward simplicity of the phrase belies the profound truth so wisely condensed.
On the surface, it would be easy to trim off all but the last part of this verse, and call it complete... "do all for the glory of God." Is every action you do for the glory of God?
But so much more emphasis is included with the first part of the verse. Paul wrote that "...whether you eat or drink..." Now there is a strange phrase! He did not say "whether you pray or sing," or "whether you are preaching or giving thanks." No, he uses something so mundane that it is as essential to life as breathing! I believe that the point he is making is this; even in the mundane tasks of life, brushing your teeth, eating a bowl of cereal, or driving to the store, make your motive bringing glory to God!
There is another way to put it, by rephrasing negatively. "Do not do anything, not even the most commonplace task (let alone the more purposeful ones), if you are not doing it for God's glory." If you realize that something you are doing cannot be done with thanks to God, and as a witness to His greatness, then it is most likely nothing less than a sin.
So as you go about your tasks today; checking e-mail, changing a diaper, walking the dog, or talking with a co-worker, do it all with the purpose of giving God glory.
-1 Corinthians 10:31
Although you've likely heard it thousands of times, and probably memorized it as a child, when was the last time you stopped to think about this verse? The outward simplicity of the phrase belies the profound truth so wisely condensed.
On the surface, it would be easy to trim off all but the last part of this verse, and call it complete... "do all for the glory of God." Is every action you do for the glory of God?
But so much more emphasis is included with the first part of the verse. Paul wrote that "...whether you eat or drink..." Now there is a strange phrase! He did not say "whether you pray or sing," or "whether you are preaching or giving thanks." No, he uses something so mundane that it is as essential to life as breathing! I believe that the point he is making is this; even in the mundane tasks of life, brushing your teeth, eating a bowl of cereal, or driving to the store, make your motive bringing glory to God!
There is another way to put it, by rephrasing negatively. "Do not do anything, not even the most commonplace task (let alone the more purposeful ones), if you are not doing it for God's glory." If you realize that something you are doing cannot be done with thanks to God, and as a witness to His greatness, then it is most likely nothing less than a sin.
So as you go about your tasks today; checking e-mail, changing a diaper, walking the dog, or talking with a co-worker, do it all with the purpose of giving God glory.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Longing for Heaven
"...Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.'
And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
'You are worthy , our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.'"
-Revelation 4:8b-11
How do you imagine heaven?
I have met several honest people who have said to me something like this:
"I don't want to go to heaven... who wants to float around on clouds and play harps all day? All of my friends will be in hell, so that's where I want to be too."
There are others I have met who pitch heaven like this:
"Everything will be made of gold, and we will all have mansions. There will be snowboarding and surfing and gardening and incredible food and anything that you could ever want! Who wouldn't want to go there?"
Both of these perspectives contain a grain of truth, and both of them are lethal. The incredible picture drawn in Revelation is not of flushed cherubs playing harps, nor of retired saints enjoying croquet. No, the image we see is of a throne surrounded by smoke and thunder and lightning, blazing spirits, and fearsome creatures worshiping constantly. We see the greatest of saints on their faces before the throne, considering crowns encrusted with otherworldly riches as nothing before the worth of the one who sits on it.
Only those who desire God more than anything else will see His awesome majesty. What is your deepest desire?
And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
'You are worthy , our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.'"
-Revelation 4:8b-11
How do you imagine heaven?
I have met several honest people who have said to me something like this:
"I don't want to go to heaven... who wants to float around on clouds and play harps all day? All of my friends will be in hell, so that's where I want to be too."
There are others I have met who pitch heaven like this:
"Everything will be made of gold, and we will all have mansions. There will be snowboarding and surfing and gardening and incredible food and anything that you could ever want! Who wouldn't want to go there?"
Both of these perspectives contain a grain of truth, and both of them are lethal. The incredible picture drawn in Revelation is not of flushed cherubs playing harps, nor of retired saints enjoying croquet. No, the image we see is of a throne surrounded by smoke and thunder and lightning, blazing spirits, and fearsome creatures worshiping constantly. We see the greatest of saints on their faces before the throne, considering crowns encrusted with otherworldly riches as nothing before the worth of the one who sits on it.
Only those who desire God more than anything else will see His awesome majesty. What is your deepest desire?
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