“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
I’d been thinking about how we ought to deal with the disappointments of life. Life is full of them – that big holiday you want seems out of reach, the relationship that you thought was the one, maybe isn’t, the job you want doesn’t get offered, people you should be able to count on – like our government leaders fall so short of expectations. The list of disappointments can go on forever if we want to wallow in the self pity that often comes along with disappointment.
Then I started to think about some of the people in the Bible and the disappointments they faced and then overcame in amazing ways. Take Joseph for instance – God had given him a couple of amazing dreams, he understood them and like the song knew his future was so bright he’d need shades. Then he got thrown into a cistern, sold into slavery and ended up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. I don’t know about you but I’d be pretty disappointed. Consider Moses handpicked to help lead his people out of slavery and into the Promised Land – only to see it from a distance and never get there. Joshua was ready to lead the charge to take the land but had to wait until all the old folks died off in the wilderness before he could do what God wanted. Jesus’ handpicked leaders were not only disappointed that their friend and teacher was dead, but they were scared too. I suppose Jesus even had times when he was disappointed – like when John the Baptist was killed or when those same handpicked leaders just did not seem to get it. Yet all of them went on to do amazing things following their greatest disappointments. So how did they keep going, how did they go from disappointment to victory?
There is something that these examples share and I believe it’s the thing that allowed them to move from disappointment to victory. That thing is trust. In Joseph’s story we read over and over that the Lord was with him. Moses got to talk to God face to face and no doubt he is still talking with Him face to face. Joshua was old when he led Israel across the Jordan into the Promised Land and declared that: “He and his house would trust in the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). The disciples ultimately fulfilled their commissions because they trusted in Jesus and Jesus was able to do all He did because He trusted the Father.
The dictionary defines trust as: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing; confidence and as the confident expectation of something; hope. So you see hope comes from trusting in the One who knows the whole plan and is with you even in the disappointments of life. I think this week’s passage not only sums up the secret to living a victorious life but instructs how we should live every day.
This week no matter what kinds of disappointments you may be dealing with, know you are not ever alone and trust that God has got you and that HE will bring you through to victory.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for all the examples of lives moving from disappointment to victory because they trusted you. Help us each day to put our full trust in You so that we can have hope even in the trials of life. Helps us also to display our trust and hope to the world around us – a world that so desperately needs hope and the confidence that a better day is coming. In the name of Jesus, who teaches us to trust and gives us hope, we pray – Amen.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
A Fashion Statement
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues out on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14
The fashion industry likes to get together regularly and show off their high fashion designs – nothing wrong with that, if you can afford those kinds of clothes and are built to wear them. Give me a pair of jeans, some boots and a t-shirt and I am happy and comfortable. As I was thinking about clothes it dawned on me that while wearing clothes is a good thing, the material clothes that we put on, or that fashion models wear on the runway aren’t life changing, they won’t make the world a better place. So I wondered if the Scriptures had anything to say about clothes. Turns out the Bible has quite a bit of “fashion” sense.
According to Biblegateway.com the New International Version uses clothe or some variation of the word 225 times. Sometimes it is practical like when God made clothes for the newly fallen Adam and Eve. A couple of times clothes are used to trick someone into doing something. In the Old Testament people regularly tore their clothes as a sign of deep sorrow and repentance. In the New Testament this Biblical “fashion” sense is more about God’s provision and character. This week’s passage is a great example. The Apostle Paul regularly talks about how followers of Jesus, should be clothing themselves with Christ and in this week’s passage he is encouraging the believers in Colossi by explaining to them what the divine outfit of Christ looks like.
The first piece of this divine wardrobe is compassion – Jesus has the amazing ability to meet people right where they are, in the midst of their pain and then He acts to make it better for them. The next part of the outfit is kindness – really just to treat people really well, even when maybe they don’t deserve it. Kindness is followed with an article of clothing that can be very hard for most of us to put on or even to really understand – humility. Humility is one of the foundational pieces of this line of clothing – it’s not about letting people walk all over us or being self depreciating, rather humility gives us the strength to put others before our selves – to lift them up and then help them up even higher. This next piece of clothing – gentleness is sometimes seen as a weakness in our daily lives, but in this wardrobe of Christ, gentleness is strength under control – especially under control of the Holy Spirit. Just a couple more pieces and our wardrobe will be complete. Patience is another one of those clothing pieces that we often struggle to put on. I like one of the definitions I found for patience it reads: “quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence” – this definition sounds like some of the accessories we have available to go with our wardrobe. Finally, there is one piece that holds every other piece together and makes them all work together, no matter the season of life they are being worn in. It is the most important part of the wardrobe – it is love. Love allows us to wear all the other parts – to be thoroughly clothes in Christ.
Each piece of Christ’s fashion line has the power to make some positive life change – but wear the whole outfit every day and lives will be changed – the world can be changed.
So what about it? This week will you make a divine fashion statement? Will you help others discover the best designer? Remember every outfit is custom made everyday – all you have to do is get dressed.
A Prayer
Father – thank you that Your Word is supernatural and practical. Thank you that it speaks to weighty matters like redemption, forgiveness and divine judgment. Thank you that it gives us fashion advice that is always in vogue and never goes out of style. Help us each day to clothe ourselves with Christ by putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love. May the world be drawn to Christ’s fashion line and changed because of it. In the name of Jesus, our fashion expert, we pray – Amen.
Colossians 3:12-14
The fashion industry likes to get together regularly and show off their high fashion designs – nothing wrong with that, if you can afford those kinds of clothes and are built to wear them. Give me a pair of jeans, some boots and a t-shirt and I am happy and comfortable. As I was thinking about clothes it dawned on me that while wearing clothes is a good thing, the material clothes that we put on, or that fashion models wear on the runway aren’t life changing, they won’t make the world a better place. So I wondered if the Scriptures had anything to say about clothes. Turns out the Bible has quite a bit of “fashion” sense.
According to Biblegateway.com the New International Version uses clothe or some variation of the word 225 times. Sometimes it is practical like when God made clothes for the newly fallen Adam and Eve. A couple of times clothes are used to trick someone into doing something. In the Old Testament people regularly tore their clothes as a sign of deep sorrow and repentance. In the New Testament this Biblical “fashion” sense is more about God’s provision and character. This week’s passage is a great example. The Apostle Paul regularly talks about how followers of Jesus, should be clothing themselves with Christ and in this week’s passage he is encouraging the believers in Colossi by explaining to them what the divine outfit of Christ looks like.
The first piece of this divine wardrobe is compassion – Jesus has the amazing ability to meet people right where they are, in the midst of their pain and then He acts to make it better for them. The next part of the outfit is kindness – really just to treat people really well, even when maybe they don’t deserve it. Kindness is followed with an article of clothing that can be very hard for most of us to put on or even to really understand – humility. Humility is one of the foundational pieces of this line of clothing – it’s not about letting people walk all over us or being self depreciating, rather humility gives us the strength to put others before our selves – to lift them up and then help them up even higher. This next piece of clothing – gentleness is sometimes seen as a weakness in our daily lives, but in this wardrobe of Christ, gentleness is strength under control – especially under control of the Holy Spirit. Just a couple more pieces and our wardrobe will be complete. Patience is another one of those clothing pieces that we often struggle to put on. I like one of the definitions I found for patience it reads: “quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence” – this definition sounds like some of the accessories we have available to go with our wardrobe. Finally, there is one piece that holds every other piece together and makes them all work together, no matter the season of life they are being worn in. It is the most important part of the wardrobe – it is love. Love allows us to wear all the other parts – to be thoroughly clothes in Christ.
Each piece of Christ’s fashion line has the power to make some positive life change – but wear the whole outfit every day and lives will be changed – the world can be changed.
So what about it? This week will you make a divine fashion statement? Will you help others discover the best designer? Remember every outfit is custom made everyday – all you have to do is get dressed.
A Prayer
Father – thank you that Your Word is supernatural and practical. Thank you that it speaks to weighty matters like redemption, forgiveness and divine judgment. Thank you that it gives us fashion advice that is always in vogue and never goes out of style. Help us each day to clothe ourselves with Christ by putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love. May the world be drawn to Christ’s fashion line and changed because of it. In the name of Jesus, our fashion expert, we pray – Amen.
Friday, July 8, 2016
The Wise Thing
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17
I was reviewing video based Bible Study curriculum for my small group when I came across a series from Andy Stanley called Ask It. In it Pastor Stanley shares the one question that should inform all aspects of our lives. My group won’t be getting to this study until next year but in light of some truly horrendous things that have happened in our nation not only in recent days but in the past month or more. In light of the current – in my opinion terrible political climate we find ourselves in, a climate in which the servants of the people have forgotten they are servants of the people. In light of hate filled words some so called “christians” have spewed into the media. In light of a major decision that will be made at the church where I serve – I decided that I would touch on the topic of the wise thing now rather than later.
Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not - I think the question that Andy Stanley says we should ask ourselves is relevant to all of us, but he makes it so clear - it should be a driving factor for followers of Jesus especially. You see followers of Jesus are at the same time ordinary folks and members of a royal family. Followers of Jesus are ordinary people and members of a holy priesthood (see 1 Peter 2:5, 9). Followers of Jesus have responsibilities and are expected to live against the current and shake up the way things are done – there is no “the way we’ve always done it in the Lord’s operating manual – there is only the Lord’s way and that can and should look different in all circumstances and cultures so that those who are not followers of Jesus can see and feel the difference when they interact with members of this Divine Royal family, with these members of a Holy Priesthood.
Andy Stanley says the one question we all need to be asking ourselves is “What is the wise thing to do?” In this week’s passage – from which the question stems the Apostle Paul is exhorting the churches he planted and us to live carefully and act wisely understanding God’s will and doing that instead of what the world says. But how can we know what God’s will is, how will we know we are making decisions that are wise? Luckily for us the basics are actually pretty simple and they have all been written down for us in the Lord’s operating manual – the Bible. Jesus himself tells us the greatest commandment, the very first things we need to do to live carefully and with wisdom – He tells us to “Love God and love others” (see Matthew 22:35-39). The prophet Micah also provides insight into the matter when he tells us that the Lord desires for us to “Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (see Micah 6:8) and again Jesus provides easy to understand instructions for living carefully and wisely in accordance with His will when he tells us “So in everything, do to others what you would have then do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
So there you have it – the basics for knowing the wise thing, love God, love others, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God and treat others the way you want to be treated.
A Prayer
Father – thank you that Your Word, our operating manual provides easy to understand instructions for knowing Your will and how we should live it out in our world. Forgive us for making is more complicated than it needs to be and trying to make it fit our personal preferences, prejudices and our idea of justice. Help us daily to heed the words of your servant Paul to live carefully and wisely making the most of the opportunities You place before us – so that others might see You working in the world and find hope, peace, forgiveness and strength for the journey. In the name of Jesus, our example of what the wise thing is, we pray – Amen.
Ephesians 5:15-17
I was reviewing video based Bible Study curriculum for my small group when I came across a series from Andy Stanley called Ask It. In it Pastor Stanley shares the one question that should inform all aspects of our lives. My group won’t be getting to this study until next year but in light of some truly horrendous things that have happened in our nation not only in recent days but in the past month or more. In light of the current – in my opinion terrible political climate we find ourselves in, a climate in which the servants of the people have forgotten they are servants of the people. In light of hate filled words some so called “christians” have spewed into the media. In light of a major decision that will be made at the church where I serve – I decided that I would touch on the topic of the wise thing now rather than later.
Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not - I think the question that Andy Stanley says we should ask ourselves is relevant to all of us, but he makes it so clear - it should be a driving factor for followers of Jesus especially. You see followers of Jesus are at the same time ordinary folks and members of a royal family. Followers of Jesus are ordinary people and members of a holy priesthood (see 1 Peter 2:5, 9). Followers of Jesus have responsibilities and are expected to live against the current and shake up the way things are done – there is no “the way we’ve always done it in the Lord’s operating manual – there is only the Lord’s way and that can and should look different in all circumstances and cultures so that those who are not followers of Jesus can see and feel the difference when they interact with members of this Divine Royal family, with these members of a Holy Priesthood.
Andy Stanley says the one question we all need to be asking ourselves is “What is the wise thing to do?” In this week’s passage – from which the question stems the Apostle Paul is exhorting the churches he planted and us to live carefully and act wisely understanding God’s will and doing that instead of what the world says. But how can we know what God’s will is, how will we know we are making decisions that are wise? Luckily for us the basics are actually pretty simple and they have all been written down for us in the Lord’s operating manual – the Bible. Jesus himself tells us the greatest commandment, the very first things we need to do to live carefully and with wisdom – He tells us to “Love God and love others” (see Matthew 22:35-39). The prophet Micah also provides insight into the matter when he tells us that the Lord desires for us to “Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (see Micah 6:8) and again Jesus provides easy to understand instructions for living carefully and wisely in accordance with His will when he tells us “So in everything, do to others what you would have then do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
So there you have it – the basics for knowing the wise thing, love God, love others, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God and treat others the way you want to be treated.
A Prayer
Father – thank you that Your Word, our operating manual provides easy to understand instructions for knowing Your will and how we should live it out in our world. Forgive us for making is more complicated than it needs to be and trying to make it fit our personal preferences, prejudices and our idea of justice. Help us daily to heed the words of your servant Paul to live carefully and wisely making the most of the opportunities You place before us – so that others might see You working in the world and find hope, peace, forgiveness and strength for the journey. In the name of Jesus, our example of what the wise thing is, we pray – Amen.
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