no, really--thank you!

The last several years, and the last year in particular, have been rough at my church. I have witnessed many casualties as Satan has sniped at our people, especially our leaders. God has done marvelous things in, through, and for the church body over the years, and it should come as no surprise to witness the faithfulness of Jesus Christ during this hard time as he cared for His bride. It has been a time of pruning, a time of growth. I feel that I've had a ring-side seat (better, maybe a seat in the ring!) to witness in operation the principle espoused by Robert Murray M'Cheyne when he said,

I know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan is also busiest.

My purpose in mentioning this is that during our services yesterday, we sought to publicly thank our staff for the extraordinary effort and commitment shown during this time. I believe that any such expression will fall short of what is merited (I think ours certainly did,) so for any of our fine staff who may read this, I want to remind you that it is God who will exalt you at the proper time, and I am certain that there is treasure stored up for you because of your selfless service. And now may I humbly offer to you, my brothers and sisters, my heart-felt thanks for having made yourselves available to God for His use during this difficult year.

where's your heart?

Sitting in the worship service yesterday, the worship leader at one point said something to this effect: "..I want you to take a deep breath, lay aside the stress and worry of last week, and focus on God..."

C. S. Lewis said,

The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.

Don't misunderstand--I was glad that our leader said what he did. But the fact of his comment left me thinking: How often do we bring a heart of stress and worry to our worship on Sunday rather than bringing a heart of worship to our stresses every day? It seems to me that a proper view of and relationship with God is the right starting point for every human pursuit--not just church.

now what?

Watchman Nee said,

“Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.”

I became a Christian at the age of 12. I think that I understood that I was a sinner and that Jesus' death on the cross had accomplished forgiveness of my sins. It would be quite a few years before I realized what I didn't understand: "Now what?"

You see, I had learned the Gospel--the good news. "Christ died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day." I could recite it. Many could recite it. And I heard the cross preached a lot (you are sinful, spiritually dead--separated from God; Christ's death on the cross accomplished forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God. Trust in Him!) Except for the recitals, though, I rarely heard taught that Christ is risen from the dead. I had this vague notion that Jesus was in heaven, alive, and that one day I would see Him.

Something I knew very clearly, though, was that I still had the same struggles, temptations, and failures in my life here. Now. And if I had had the presence of mind to literally ask, "Now what?" the answer I perceived was "Don't sin! Lead a virtuous, obedient life!" How? Knowing I couldn't, I ran away from church, and Christ, or so I thought.

It would be fifteen years before I would hear God say, both in His Word and through my life's circumstances, "You can't; only I can."

Getting plugged back in, I encountered some great teaching about the resurrection. About the risen, living, Savior. The difference made in my life was so profound that I questioned my earlier conversion and salvation up to that point. But yes, I had really been reconciled to God at age 12, but I had missed the "other half" of the gospel, eloquently highlighted in Romans 5:10.

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

I think that many come to understand their need for Jesus and they trust what He did to save them, but they then say "Now what?" because they don't know Him. As Major Ian Thomas said, the Gospel is not intended to get us out of hell and into heaven--although it has that effect. It is intended to get Him out of heaven and back into us, in the person of His Holy Spirit. What a joy it is to be aware of the presence of the living, indwelling Savior!

I love to meditate on Jesus' words to John in Revelation 1:18: "...I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore..." Was dead, past tense. Am alive, present tense. Forevermore.

Watchman Nee's comment echoes the apostle Paul: "...in Christ...the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." What I've come to understand is that allowing Him to live His life in and through me will result in that virtuous, obedient, abundant life.

a cud we all should chew on

"The amount of loafing practiced by the average Christian in spiritual things would ruin a concert pianist if he allowed himself to do the same thing in the field of music. The idle puttering around that we see in church circles would end the career of a big league pitcher in one week. No scientist could solve his exacting problem if he took as little interest in it as the rank and file of Christians take in the art of being holy."

A. W. Tozer

1 Peter 1:15 says, "...like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior."

giving of what we receive

Find out how much God has given you and take from it what you need; the remainder is needed by others.

Certainly God knows and meets our needs, and I have been richly blessed over the years as I have learned to freely share what He has given me with others. But sharing material things was not what was on my heart and mind as I remembered this quote from Augustine.

I have mentioned before that I meet with a group of men on Thursday mornings for Bible study. This morning we began reading 2 Corinthians. In 2 Cor. 1:3,4 (NASB), we read,

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I've long been familiar with this passage and understood the difference between affliction in my life and God's use of affliction in my life. Many years ago when my mother passed away, that was not a good thing, but good has been realized from it as God has since then ministered through me to others who have lost parents. Just as God comforted me, others have been comforted through me.

But this morning when I reread this passage, the words so that in verse 4 jumped out at me. I guess that I always subconsciously separated God comforting me from me comforting others (granted by God's power.) But God's purpose in comforting me, His child, is more than my solace. At the time my mother died God comforted me through many loving people that surrounded me and loved on me; He comforted me so that I would be useful in His hand to comfort others.

This morning I was reminded once again that my relationship with God in Christ is not about me; it's about Him. When I live in surrender, according to His power, He has in me legs to walk with, arms to hold with, ears to hear with, tongue to speak with, mind to think with, and heart to love with. Let's give of what we receive--not only of the abundant means he may give but also of the rich blessings he pours out, always motivated by His love for us.

noise

"Cease striving and know that I am God..." (Ps. 46:10) This morning, I was out walking and thinking about how busy life is. I realized (for the first time again) that the "busy-ness" of life can easily squeeze out any time to meditate on such nuggets in God's Word.

I have been considering for several days now this idea that letting the many demands of life fill each day, hour, even minute, robs one of a needed foundation for living: Time spent with God. One must be cautious and guard against the devotional time, Bible study, worship service, or even prayer becoming another task to check off of today's list. When that happens, one's relationship with God can become shallow and distant. Yet God desires intimate, personal relationship with each of His children ("I will never leave you or forsake you...")

A. W. Tozer said:

We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today.

Let's resolve to take time to devote ourselves fully to God. When we do, we need never ask for blessing because it is inevitable. He also in this way equips us to overcome the challenges that life on earth throws our way.