Why?

During my break last weekend, one of the things that became even more clear in my mind is the reason I do what I do. It is not that I didn’t already know it, or even that I had forgotten it. It is just that every once in a while each of us needs to rethink why we do what we do. I am a pastor and I need to constantly remember why I want people to become Christians and live for Jesus! That is a really big deal! I mean, if all I am doing is just trying to get people to believe like me for the heck of it, then what I am doing is pointless, right? But if there is something more foundational than just getting people on “team Jesus” then maybe what I say will be worth listening to.

So I guess it starts with a question like this, “Why do I want people to believe in Jesus?” I don’t want to give the cliché answer such as, “So they won’t go to hell.” Though it is true that I do not want people to go to hell, that’s not main point of it all, is it? Sure hell is a big issue regarding Christianity and eternity, but it’s not the primary driving force behind why people should come to Christ, is it? Besides, if to elude suffering is the only motivating factor behind such a big decision then we will only end up with passive acceptance and not radical obedience to God’s commands. And if eluding suffering is not the primary reason people should come to Christ, then what is?

I will make one assertion here. This is not the only reason, but probably the best and primary reason people should come to Christ. Here it is: People should come to faith in Christ because God is AWESOME! And I don’t mean awesome in the slang sense, but in the weighty, and heavy sense! God is the creator, sustainer, and ruler of all things! He is AWESOME! Life with Him is the greatest life that exists! There is nothing in this universe that can care for you better, love you more, or have your well-being at heart better than God! He is the greatest treasure that we can experience! All other possessions, prizes, experiences, and relationships are nothing in comparison to knowing HIM! The Apostle Paul puts it this way in the letter to the Philippians. Remember, he wrote this letter while he was in prison!

Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

What do we have if we do not have Him? And what are we lacking if we have Him? He owns everything! I rules everything! God is… One important way the greatness of God is shown in the life of believers when they suffer loss and continue to cherish Christ through the suffering! When Paul was sitting in prison, being mistreated, he treasured Christ above his freedom! When he was beaten and left for dead he cherished Christ above his comfort! When Jesus was suffering on the cross, it was for the joy set before him that he endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). What can be more valuable than knowing the one who owns all things? Nothing!

The sad truth is that all of us will chose something to cherish in this life above all other things. We will desire something. We will pursue something. Something will dominate each of our lives! Here is a great question I have for all of us, “Why would we spend our lives pursuing something that will perish?” And here is another question, “Why don’t we spend our passions and energies pursuing the one who will never perish, but gives eternal life to his children?”

Lord, please give us the eyes to see how great you are! Please reveal yourself to us that we would know how valuable you really are!

Clarity

It is amazing how much clarity can be gained by taking a few days away from your task list and just relaxing. This weekend Karis and I spent two nights in a cabin out in the woods. We had no schedule of activities or agenda other than rest, reading, and prayer. And that is what we did. We leisurely drove around Beavers Bend Park, stopping to see sights wherever we felt like it, and just spending time together. In the mornings I read my Bible, wrote in my journal, and read a good book. It is almost as if all of the mental and spiritual clutter was swept away out of my brain. I can think and pray much more clearly now.

           

I also spent a lot of time thinking about who I am, my identity as a person. I find that if I don’t think through those very foundational issues from time to time that I quickly lose sight of what my life is supposed to be about. So here are a few specific issues that solidified in my heart as I prayed, read, and wrote throughout the weekend.

           

First, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. No matter what struggle or issue arises in life I know that this is my first identity and priority. No matter if my ministry, marriage, or my family falls apart,  I know that my identity is wrapped up in what God did for me when he sent Jesus Christ to save me from my sins and give me a new life. I am reminded of what the author of Hebrews said in Hebrews 12:1-2:

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus endured the suffering of the cross, physical and spiritual, knowing that the joy that was to come made all of the suffering worthwhile! In the same way, I should treasure God so much that I can follow Jesus anywhere he leads me gladly enduring struggle for his sake. I should also endure every trial, test, and temptation while maintaining the joy of knowing Him! God is so great and the joy of knowing him is so magnificent that all suffering is worth enduring for the sake of knowing Him!

           

Second, I am a husband. I made a covenant with God and with my wife that I would love and cherish her as long as we both live. It is so frustrating to look back at the last eight and a half years and see where I have simply maintained mediocrity when it came to loving Karis. I should treat her the way Paul described in Ephesians 5:25-30

Ephesians 5:25-30 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one every hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Chris does the church, because we are members of his body.”

I am embarrassed to say that if Jesus loved the church the way that I have loved Karis we all would be in big trouble. I am praying for wisdom and sensitivity as a husband, in the hopes that I would become the kind of husband that God has called me to be. It will take time but I trust that God has spoken clearly to me about how to take steps forward to fulfilling the promise I made back in August of 2003.

           

Third, I am a father. Ever since the moment I became a father, about two weeks after we received Hank, I have carried a weight of responsibility for his physical safety, health, and spiritual training. What I have not done as well as I should have done is to train Hank to be a man. I know he is only 21 months old, however every moment is precious and important. Upon returning from our cabin in the woods Saturday evening, I was blessed to watch my father-in-law, Tim, look after Hank. Tim did an amazing job allowing Hank to be a rough and tumble boy while maintaining consistent discipline. It challenged me to take a more active role in leading Hank in his pursuit of spiritual manhood. If he does not learn it from me, then where will he learn it? I am challenged by Paul’s charge to fathers in Ephesians 6:4:

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

I pray that each one of you would spend some time this week thinking through your foundational identity and how you should live your life in light of who you are in Christ, period! It was a refreshing experience for me. I know it will be for you as well!

Lord, may you empower us, by your grace, to be who you have called us to be! Please give us wisdom, strength, and passion to fulfill the promises we have made to you and to our families! Amen.

Fear

Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

It is interesting how Paul says that the Colossians’ lack of fear is a sign of their opponents’ destruction and the Colossians’ salvation. Here is the question of the day, “What stops us from serving the Lord with passion and boldness?”

One very important thing that tends to hinder us is fear. I know it has for me more than once in my life, especially when I feared being socially alienated for what I stood for. Now before you call me a sissy, take a look at your own life. Have you ever allowed your fear of man to hinder you from being bold and passionate for Christ? Most likely the answer is a huge, “YES.”

But why? Why are we tempted to place the feelings of man over the feelings of God? I think one important factor is the fact that God made us with a deep longing for community! And that is a good thing! It is good to connect with people in real and authentic relationships that help build each other up. But there is a problem when our desire for human community overrides our desire for communion with God. It is at that point when we stop obeying God and begin living to please people.

And what does God think about this? I am thinking that God probably (note the sarcasm) does not like it when we weasel our way out of our mission.

But what is the solution? How do we overcome that fear?

Well I am not sure exactly how it will work for everyone, but I do know a few things. First, the more time you spend with God in prayer and reading his word, the more you will relate to him and understand his perspective (standing firm in one spirit, with one mind). The result of that will be a greater view of all situations, including the situation where you are tempted to shrink back in fear. Also, understanding God’s ultimate plan will help you value his approval more than man’s approval. Second, engaging in real and authentic relationships with believers who you can trust will fill that need for genuine community that God has given you. This will help to alleviate fear of man because you know that you have strength in your community (striving side by side for the faith of the gospel).

Remember 1 John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

It should go without saying that this is not the entire answer to the fear struggle, however I know that it has helped me in my journey of faith. I hope it helps you as well…God Bless.

Timing

2 Kings 6:24-27 Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver (expensive), and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver (expensive). How as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my Lord, O king!” And he said, “If the Lord will not help you, how shall I help you?

2 Kings 7:1-2 But Elisha (God’s prophet) said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel (cheap), and two seas of barley for a shekel (cheap), at the gate of Samaria.” Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows of heaven, could this thing be?” But he (Elisha) said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

It is amazing how quickly a situation can change. The economy looks so good one day, yet the next day the DOW drops 200 points. Your boss is singing your praises one day and the next day you hear about layoffs. The Texas Rangers can be dominating in the playoffs and then…you get the picture.

I have a friend who faced a weird job situation like that in 2011. He was a top performer one day and the next, after discovering a possible corporate scandal, found out that he was facing disciplinary action for what seemed to be false accusations. He ended up getting fired out of the blue. Come to find out there was some tricky billing situations going on and the company is facing a complete overhaul.

If you really think about it, very few things in this life is truly stable and within your control.

So how in the world can a person stay sane, and sober, in the midst of the roller coaster of life?

Do you really want to just celebrate when things go great and feel sorry for yourself when things go bad? If that is how we live this life then we will simply be slaves to politicians and the ideological battles of our world leaders! Is that what we want? Do we really trust them with our well-being and the well-being of our children? Or is there something more stable to grab on to so that when a crash happens you can sustain it and maintain your focus on what truly matters?

Now don’t get me wrong, it is important to celebrate victory and mourn suffering. But if all of our hope and trust rests in the hands of people who we don’t really know, then how can we find true peace that lasts?

When you look at any situation during a crisis, there seems to be no reason for hope. However when you move forward a year, two years, even five years down the road you often see the struggle resolved and life moving on for all parties involved.

How can you know when the resolution will happen? You can’t. So how can you simply put your hope the old adage, “Time heals all wounds?” Well the truth is you can’t. We don’t know when and even if the struggles we face today will be resolved to our satisfaction in this life. So how in the world can you rest peacefully when you think about all that can go wrong?

In the passage written above you see a situation that is completely grim. Not only is Syria besieging Samaria, but there is also a terrible famine in the land! So Samaria cannot collect water to drink nor can they send out for supplies from their neighboring countries! It appeared that destruction was the only outcome for Samaria.

But what happened? A man of God remained faithful to God’s word and God used this man to deter the Syrian army.

What was the result? The army is no longer besieging Samaria and they left all of their supplies outside the city for the Samarians to take and use themselves. Two birds, one stone. God solved the seemingly hopeless situation by simply causing the Syrian army to hear what seemed to be a great army coming against them.

So what am I trying to say?

It’s pretty simple really. Our problems are in God’s hands! When you are his child he will not let you go! Trust in him and him alone for your future! Though our situations may look grim for now, God is working through them! They may not be resolved in the time or way we desire, but there is a greater purpose that our suffering plays in God’s plan! Suffer well!

This is hard for many of us to take because we don’t want to hear it when we are in the midst of the struggle. But please, be still and listen to what the Lord is saying to you in the midst of your struggle. HE IS FAITHFUL!

Now may we, though our situation can look grim, see our struggles from God’s viewpoint and trust Him! Amen!

Honesty

1 Kings 22:13-14 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably. But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”

What amazing honesty! Micaiah was not intimidated by the king into lying or soft-selling the truth. He simply said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” And he said this to the king whose wife, just the chapter before, arranged a brutal murder of someone who simply told the king, “no.”

America is the country of salesmen. Our politics are politics of sales. If you can smile and charm people then you can pretty much get what you want. Just look at all the scandals that go on every day in all levels of business and state. Ponzi schemes and book cooking are just a few of the atrocities that go on in corporate America. Strong arming and blackmailing are just a few sad realities of the political landscape. This is not to say that all politicians and high level executives are bad. Well…maybe not all the executives.

Israel was not that much different at this time. All of the prophets before Micaiah straight up lied to the king, telling him that he would be successful in a war when they likely knew he would die! Wow! But what was the alternative? Death? Imprisonment?

So the question arises, “What would you do in that situation? What would I do?” Let’s say the king or ruler of your country, who is known for brutally murdering his enemies, asks you for what God thinks about his actions. How do you respond? You are likely to be killed if you are honest. If you smudge the truth you will save your skin, but would have to live with the guilt and shame of cowering to the evil of the world. It is something to think about. I know when I read this passage I was challenged with this question.

Lord, please give us the courage to stand up against evil and speak the truth in all contexts! May we not misrepresent your word in this world! Amen!