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Monday, 03 May 2010
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Do Something!
1 Kings 18:21
Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."
But the people said nothing. (NIV)
There’s a word that I hate, but the reason I hate it isn’t because it’s socially obscene or vulgar, it’s because from time to time it strikes a chord of truth in me, it hits upon a raw nerve that says, “I can relate”. This awful word is “Apathy”. The word indicates a lack of interest or concern; in essence what it really means is “I don’t care”. Apathy implies that one could see the pain in a person’s eyes or someone’s life and walk on by and simply not care. It’s kind of like a news story I heard a while ago about a woman who was physically assaulted on a street in broad daylight and instead of anyone rushing to her aid she was ignored. Someone eventually called 9-1-1, but most witnesses in and around the scene of the crime did nothing, thinking it was none of their business. Hey, that sounds like another story I know from the Bible. Isn’t that what the Priest and the Levite did in Jesus’ parable of “the good Samaritan”? They just simply walked on by?
There’s another story I heard about recently that defines the ‘apathetic passerby’s’ in the story above. Somewhere in New York a 31 year old homeless man came to the rescue of a woman who was being attacked. He was a “good Samaritan”; He intervened, came to her rescue and was stabbed to death. While he lay bleeding on the street, people continued to walk on by doing nothing. He took this woman’s place, stepped in at just the right time and made a difference in her life.
Isn’t that what we as Christians are called to do? Because Christ came to our rescue we should be compelled to do the same in our own little corners of the world. Perhaps that means stepping in at just the right time because His holy spirit prompts us to. It may not mean we die for another person but it should mean that we aren’t apathetic and we are prepared to do something. William Booth, founder and first General of The Salvation Army once saw people sleeping on a bridge in deplorable conditions asked Bramwell, his son, if he knew anything about it. He indicated that he did, and William Booth was genuinely surprised, saying “You knew that and you haven’t done anything?” Then William Booth spoke two words that speaks to the very heart of what caring for humanity means; He said, “Do something!”
Doing something means we can’t afford to be apathetic. In fact doing something means just the opposite of apathy, it’s about compassion and love. I don’t know about you but I’m glad that Jesus wasn’t apathetic when confronted with the cross. He didn’t have an “I don’t care attitude”, He took upon our sins and our shame and He died in our place. So when we identify with Christ as a “Christ-follower” we identify with His outlook on life and His love for others. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…” (John 15:13-14) Now that is love! And love is a verb, an action in other words love is doing something without strings attached or because there’s something in it for me, but because we genuinely care about others.
In the Elijah’s day, the people of Israel were a perfect example of apathy. Their daily lives had become diluted with immoral practices and false gods and one of the most disturbing passages of scripture occurs in 1 Kings 18:21. Elijah asked the people gathered there, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." And then the disturbing response comes: “But the people said nothing.”
Still today we have one of two responses to God in our daily lives. We can be like the apathetic passerby and simply not care. We can do nothing, say nothing. We can rationalize it away and say, ‘it’s none of my business, I won’t get involved’. Or we can respond like a Good Samaritan; we can take on the very nature of Jesus in our lives and care about others. We can step in at just the right time and do something. The sad thing is the world is already full of apathetic people. If we want to truly experience all that God has in store for us we can’t afford to live apathetic lives. Get involved! Get caring! Let the love of Christ permeate your very nature. Sure we might endure difficulties because we go out of our way to care and to love, but in the long run doing something for Christ is far more effective to the kingdom than simply doing nothing.
Do something, get caring and watch what the Lord can do!
Monday, 26 April 2010
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Get in the Game!
Hebrews 13:13-16“Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.” -The Message Version
The athlete sits on the bench, anxious for his team to win. Play after play he watches the score board, the clock slowly ticking down, and then his team mates pushing hard for the win. Finally he glances at his coach standing with wingtips toeing the line, yelling out directions while inspiring confidence in his players. This is a tight game; both teams have held the score for mere seconds at a time, while the crowd is nervous and excited for the outcome. Waves of cheering reverberate in the stadium, while anticipation is hanging over the court like a fog in the early morning – soon it will be lifted. The ref blows the whistle; the opposing coach has called a time out, it’s strategic almost like a chess move, ever closer to determining the winner.
The athlete sitting on the bench jumps up and runs over to join his teammates in the huddle while the coach drafts up the next play. It’s all about anticipation, setting up the plays in advance for a better opportunity for a high percentage shot. This is it, mere seconds away from either a victory or a hard defeat. It will be all or nothing, the team is prepared though. They have practiced situations such as this a thousand of times already. But there is a difference. All of the determination in practice, all of the sweat and tears, all of the cramped muscles and repetitive drills have led to this very moment. The tension and excitement in the team is noticeable. It’s like holding a lit fire cracker in your hand and waiting for the absolute last minute to throw it. Raw nerves embodied and wrapped in a team uniform waiting to let go.
Then the unthinkable happens, the coach looks at the athlete who had been sitting on the bench all this time. “You’re going to take THE shot”, the coach says. Instead of producing a play which revolves around the star player, the coach has chosen to involve an unsuspecting team mate who will not be given as much attention by the opposing team. This is what the coach is counting on.
The ref blows the whistle; it’s time to get in the game. The athlete is nervous and confused. Why would the coach draft a play involving him? He’s not the best or the fastest. His talent is marginal compared to most of his team mates, and yet he has been called upon to take THE shot. The play begins; his teammates go through the motions as practiced countless times before. The athlete steps around a defender, receives the ball and shoots, all of his training and drills have come down to this. He feels the ball roll off his fingertips and just like countless movies he’s seen before, he watches almost in slow motion as the ball makes its spiraling ascent to the basket. One second he’s holding his breath, the next the crowd erupts into roaring cheers of victory. They have won the game!
Perhaps you’ve never been on a team or played in a game as pivotal as this, but it speaks to us doesn’t it? We can relate to the Athlete buying his time on the bench, feeling average and largely overshadowed by the big stars and maybe even the water boy. We understand how he feels because perhaps we’ve felt that way too. Under appreciated, inadequate, not good enough, we use these adjective to describe ourselves and the sad thing is we believe them about ourselves. Taking it one step further, we believe that’s how God sees us too. We might think, “God’s not going to use me, that person over there has way more talent than me, I’m not good enough.”
The sad thing is, when we say things like that we are putting a stumbling block in our paths to spiritual growth. Sure God could pick someone else, someone with more talent and abilities but He wants you and He wants me. He knows we are capable to do his work and what God wants from us isn’t our excuses but our faithfulness. It’s a kind of faithfulness that says “God I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m going to trust you and I’m going to do what you’ve asked me to do.” Faith is like! It’s all about stepping into the unknown despite our trepidation and insecurities and relying on God to get us through! He has given us the abilities and the talents even if we feel as if we’re just another benchwarmer. I love the fact that God believes in us! He knows we can do the work that He’s set out for us to do. That work may include doing some very difficult things, like witnessing to friend, a spouse, a family member or a neighbor. But God doesn’t make mistakes and when He calls you, it’s because He believes that you can make THE shot!
The question is this; are we content sitting on the bench, or the sidelines when we know that we’ve been called to get in the game? I hope the answer is ‘no’! Because each and every member of the body of Christ has been called to get in the game, not warm a bench or a pew. The real work, the real ministry isn’t only for the Officer or Pastor it’s for every person who professes Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. This real work is not beyond our skills or abilities; God doesn’t set us up to fail. He believes in us, He has called us and He will give us the strength and endurance to make it through even the most difficult of situations.
The clock is ticking down to zero…you’ve been called to make THE shot…are you going to get in the game?
Monday, 08 March 2010
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Lord today...help me!
I don't pretend to understand your grace
but Lord, today just seems to be a waste
I wish I could just glance upon your face
while running to escape this empty place.
But I know that's not what I need to do
I've gotta man up and push on through
Because I know your promises are true
and If I ran, I know I couldn't face you.
Sometimes this life is hard to take
I know you don't want faith that's fake
so here I am, I'm wide awake
please save me from myself.
I don't pretend to contemplate my fate
for it's assured, heaven bound, no date
to help lost souls recover from the hate
to learn to love You before it's too late.
So here I am again with this goal
letting you speak to me, take control
for I don't understand my soul
but You do, You heal and make me whole.
Come and fill me, Lord I plead
I'm broken, bruised and I will bleed
teach me how to follow thee
wash me clean and help me see.
Thursday, 04 March 2010
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Living Dangerously
"And why do you think I keep risking my neck in this dangerous work? I look death in the face practically every day I live." 1 Corinthians 15:30 (THE MESSAGE)
I don't know about you, but I don't picture Christians warming a pew on Sunday's as people who "Live Dangerously". Maybe it's just me, but I can't quite picture the little saint in the middle row wearing a tuxedo and pulling off a Bond-style covert mission, queue the “Special Agent” music. Ok, now I know it's just me because I think that I've got the wrong picture in mind when it comes to what Paul is talking about in this passage. It's not about covert missions at all is it? What Paul means when he says "I keep risking my neck in this dangerous work" he's not talking about covert mission but rather an overt mission.
Overt missions require us to be open and honest. Overt missions require us to be relevant and real. The world doesn't need any more fake charity, or phony empathy & love. The fact of the matter is the world is sick, people are sick and no human love or compassion alone can cure it.
It's like stepping into a busy emergency room that's full of people in need of help and as you look around the room these people look just like you and me...sometimes we are the people in need of help...and who can help us? It's not going to be our friends, or our family or even our government...because there's only so much any of them can do. When we step into the emergency room we want to be healed, we want to recover, to get better. We want our wounds and broken bones to be mended. If we were waiting in those little triage rooms and suddenly in walks the janitor and he says, "So what can I do for you today?" you would probably think and even say..."Ah dude, where's the doctor?" Cause we know that the Janitor, or the intake specialist, and even the nurses aren't the ones that will make us better. We need the man or woman who has the M.D. behind the name, the one who has had specialized training and is far better equipped to heal than the hands that have pushed the mop or punched my info into the computer, or taken my vitals. I'm not saying any of those individuals aren't important, but we have standards as to who is going to help us get better...
So why do we as Christians still assume that handing a tract to someone on the street corner is going to make a difference in their lives or even heal them of their wounds? What impact do Christians make in the world when we sit in those pews on Sunday morning and wonder why more people aren't coming to us? It's because we're not living dangerously anymore. We're playing it safe, it's the comfortable things to do. The Apostle Paul was all about intentional dangerous evangelism. Don't get me wrong he wasn't lurking around the street corner waiting to pounce on poor souls, but he was actively pursuing changed lives because the love of Christ compelled him. So let me ask you a question that might be difficult to answer: what is the love of Christ compelling you to do about people in need of healing?
Ok, breathe deeply...don't panic, because you aren't alone in this. Many Christians feel guilty about not doing enough. But you see instead of worrying about not doing enough, maybe we need to refocus our actions and intentions. Perhaps what we need to do is take Jesus' advice when He sent out the 12 disciples, he said; "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously." -Matthew 10:5-8 (Message)
Did you catch that? Start in your own neighborhoods. Get out of the church building, out of your small group setting, out of whatever quasi-religious structure that you're in and go to the lost and the hurting. Tell them about God's kingdom and about His hope...in other words tell them that the real doctor is in, and He’s here now! The Great Physician can bring hope to the lost, healing to the sick and restore the emotional and spiritual cripples.
Maybe you are scared about what words to use, or you're wondering is there's some special lingo we Christians should say to convert or help people...nope, none that I know of. You see it's not what we say that speaks volumes it’s what we do. It's our actions, our follow through that will help restore or heal. Jesus said; "do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." (Luke 12:11-12) Apply those words to everyday life and we begin to see what living dangerously is all about. Sure, we are probably not going to be thrown into jail or executed like Paul was, but we will be stepping out of our safe surroundings and we will experience the possibility of rejection and ridicule. We will be taking a stand. We will be aligning ourselves with Christ, and that is what living dangerously is all about. It is worth it? You bet it is! Not only is it worth the effort for our own spiritual growth, but it will be life saving to people in need of hope and healing.
So live dangerously...I dare you.
Monday, 09 February 2009
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Foot In Mouth Disease
The great poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “I should think your tongue has broken its chain.” (The golden legend, pt. IV)
Warning: There is a dangerous outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
You may have already seen the side effects of this horrible disease in yourself or someone you care about. Have you or your loved one engaged in slanderous discussions in regards to someone else? Do you or your loved one find it difficult to follow the “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” rule? Do you find it difficult to tell the truth even when confronted with a lie? If you answered yes to any of the above questions you may already be infected with Foot in Mouth Disease.
There is no need to call the centers for disease control or your local health department; there is nothing that they can do to protect you from this outbreak. This strain of foot in mouth goes back much further than our medical journals and historical documents. This particular strain of foot in mouth effects only humans and has the potential to inflict serious damage to friends, families, and anyone it targets.
This disease is not a physical illness rather it is an illness of the heart. It is a spiritual condition. The Apostle James writes about the cause of this blight, he says; “A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything — or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. (James 3:5-6) – The Message
These are some pretty strong words by James, but it should instill in us just how deadly this spiritual condition can be.
Perhaps you are wondering what kind of medicine there is for such an ailment or maybe you are thinking “is there a cure for this spiritual disease?” I am glad you asked! To help you in this fight against foot in mouth disease here are some tools to help you tame your tongue in the form an appropriate acrostic: T.A.L.K.
T.ruth: it is the truth? “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19)
If we are to stop the flare up of foot and mouth in our lives, we need to consider the source of our words. Are we proclaiming the truth with our words, or are we merely entertaining fools with our gossip and lies? It is easy to fall into the trap of foolish talk and I would venture a guess that we have all been there. Perhaps we wish to impress someone and so we stretch the truth about ourselves. Or maybe we hear a juicy fact about someone and without going to the source, we engage in idle talk, and when we do so we not only hurt the person we are talking about, but we also hurt our own credibility. After all if we wish to confide in someone with a problem in our life, we don’t seek out the gossiper or one with loose lips, we look for a person who is trust worthy and confidential. Such friends are highly valued.
If we want to tame our tongues instead of putting out foot in our mouths, then consider speaking the truth, for as Proverbs says “Truthful lips endure forever…”
A.sk God for help.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God , who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5-6)
As followers of Christ we must understand that we do not have all of the answers. That might be a news flash for some of us, but it’s true! There are problems and issues in our lives that are beyond our control and the source of our strength needs to come from above. John Donne the great literary poet and preacher once wrote “No man is an island…” by that he meant that we as human beings need others for support and direction. Going one step further, we were created by God, and God desires fellowship with us and is pleased when we come to him for help. We should not consider ourselves self sufficient, and it is never a sign of weakness to admit that we need help in this life.
If we are to tame the tongue and speak the truth, then we need to be plugged into the source of truth – God himself. Go to Him in prayer, seek Him out in His Word and He will supply the wisdom that we need in order to address these issues in our lives.
L.isten to what he has to say.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
The Lord will guide us if we allow Him to do so in our lives. The key is for us to be silent for a moment and intently listen to His instruction. These instructions may come in the form of His Word through the Scriptures, or they may come to us through our prayer time, they may also come in the form of a fellow Christian giving us a word of encouragement or challenge. The key to taking control of our tongues is found in the wisdom of our Father in heaven. But it requires us to stop talking and start listening to his still small voice. He wants what is best for us! But we can not just listen; we have to act on His instruction. James says, “Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!” James 1:22 –The Message We must first listen, but upon receiving His instructions we need to get up and get going! Taming the tongue is vital and listening is a crucial ingredient in this cure for Foot in Mouth disease.
K.now your weaknesses
“… be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom 12:2b)
This may sound like a Sunday school answer but I assure you that Satan knows our weaknesses, so be prepared to cut off those opportunities for sin before they even happen. How can we do that? By knowing what situations cause us to stumble and steer clear of them before they have the chance to occur. If we are to tame our tongues and avoid foot in mouth disease, then we have to change our patterns of thought. This isn’t an easy process; rather it is a daily exercise in self-discipline. The Apostle Paul offers us some things to help us in this, he says, “…whatever is true , whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) Don’t waste your time on thoughts that don’t build the kingdom of God, don’t allow Satan a foothold in your mind because soon it will become a foothold in your mouth.
Foot in mouth disease is deadly but there is hope and a cure. Speak the truth at all times, ask God for help, listen to what He has to say, and know your weaknesses so that Satan does not cause you to slip. With this daily dose of spiritual medicine, we can defeat foot in mouth disease in our lives and continue to grow in God’s rich grace.
