Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world -- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does -- comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NIV
My hometown has a great newspaper. It is nicknamed "Egypt's Greatest Daily." When I was growing up, my parents always had a subscription and reading the newspaper was something my parents did every day. It was a notable event to get your name or, better still, your picture in the paper. Then everyone would know what a great job you did or how special you were.
Jesus came to give us full lives. But there is no place in it for boasting. Everything good that we have, are and do comes from God. When we compare ourselves to others, our focus is not on God; but, on ourselves. Impressing others may last for a little while; but, doing God's will lasts forever.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Closeness to God
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33: 18,19. NIV
God watches out for and takes care of those who put their hope in him. When we are in trouble, God is aware and he makes provision for us to survive whatever calamity we are facing. God does not resent taking care of us. He watches out for us because he loves us.
God's watchfulness is promised to those who fear him. We cannot expect God to watch out for us if we ignore him and his commands. We cannot walk away from God's unfailing love and expect him to come running after us. You must be near to God, in times of trouble, for His love to reach you. God wants to save all who draw close to him; but, you cannot run away from God and be close to him at the same time.
God watches out for and takes care of those who put their hope in him. When we are in trouble, God is aware and he makes provision for us to survive whatever calamity we are facing. God does not resent taking care of us. He watches out for us because he loves us.
God's watchfulness is promised to those who fear him. We cannot expect God to watch out for us if we ignore him and his commands. We cannot walk away from God's unfailing love and expect him to come running after us. You must be near to God, in times of trouble, for His love to reach you. God wants to save all who draw close to him; but, you cannot run away from God and be close to him at the same time.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Crown of Thorns vs Crown of Life
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which he has promised to those who love him. James 1:2
I usually think of temptation as something to resist. James talks about it as something to endure. Later in James, he tells us to, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James4:7. The implication is that the devil takes the temptation with him when he flees.
Perhaps temptation is like the old saying that tells us "Old habits die hard." If the temptation is new, resisting it will make it flee. But if we have struggled with it for years, it will not go away easily. Remember that it is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. It is only a sin to give in to temptation.
One thing that Jesus endured was the cross. It stayed with him until he died. Jesus had no choice but to endure it or to choose his desire to come down from the cross. He chose to endure. Jesus endured a crown of thorns so that we can receive a crown of life.
I usually think of temptation as something to resist. James talks about it as something to endure. Later in James, he tells us to, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James4:7. The implication is that the devil takes the temptation with him when he flees.
Perhaps temptation is like the old saying that tells us "Old habits die hard." If the temptation is new, resisting it will make it flee. But if we have struggled with it for years, it will not go away easily. Remember that it is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. It is only a sin to give in to temptation.
One thing that Jesus endured was the cross. It stayed with him until he died. Jesus had no choice but to endure it or to choose his desire to come down from the cross. He chose to endure. Jesus endured a crown of thorns so that we can receive a crown of life.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Knowing God
Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir. Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? (Galatians 4:7-9 NLT)
There is a tension in the Christian life that seems to be never ending, at least for me. Paul points out in Galatians that it is not we who know God; it is, rather, that God knows us.
The quest of the Christian is to learn more about God every day -- to get to know him better. The more we know about God, the more we are like him or can strive to be like him. That is why, as we grow in Christ, we gradually discard from our lives the trappings of life without Christ.
That doesn't mean that we have nothing but a cross on the wall and the 700 Club on TV. But it means that we are increasingly uncomfortable with the things of the world.
We constantly evaluate our lives from what we know of God's perspective. We learn that what is important is not what we want; but, rather what God wants. And life is complicated. First, we cut out the sin in our lives. Then there is room for doing God's will.
Until we stop craving sin, we cannot begin to know God.
There is a tension in the Christian life that seems to be never ending, at least for me. Paul points out in Galatians that it is not we who know God; it is, rather, that God knows us.
The quest of the Christian is to learn more about God every day -- to get to know him better. The more we know about God, the more we are like him or can strive to be like him. That is why, as we grow in Christ, we gradually discard from our lives the trappings of life without Christ.
That doesn't mean that we have nothing but a cross on the wall and the 700 Club on TV. But it means that we are increasingly uncomfortable with the things of the world.
We constantly evaluate our lives from what we know of God's perspective. We learn that what is important is not what we want; but, rather what God wants. And life is complicated. First, we cut out the sin in our lives. Then there is room for doing God's will.
Until we stop craving sin, we cannot begin to know God.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Mental Illness and God
He who comes to me, I will never drive away. John 6:37b
There can be different causes of mental illness. Some forms of mental illness can be inherited. Schizophrenia is an example of this. Other forms of mental illness are a direct result of trauma or abuse. Dissociative Identity Didorder (DID), what used to be called multiple personality, is a good example of a mental disorder caused by abuse. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a good example of a mental disorder caused by trauma. Some traumas are horrible; but, they are not directed at us personally. If my house burns down, I might be traumatized; but, unless arson was involved, it was nothing directed at me personally. Abuse is personal. Whatever type of abuse is involved, be it physical, sexual or emotional, it is directed at an individual. When we are abused, we are rejected in an intimate way. We often spend the rest of our lives recovering from the damage that was inflicted on us by abuse.
Jesus reassures us that everyone who comes to him will be accepted. No one is ever driven away. This is reassuring to those of us who sometimes doubt ourselves. God gives us the freedom to turn away from him; but, Jesus promises that he will never turn away from us.
When we are recovering from whatever problem life throws at us, when we are dealing with rejection issues from our past, when we are reeling because we just got fired or our marriage failed or we lost our house or a loved one, we can tie ourselves to the rock that is Jesus. He is the solid place, the firm foundation upon which we can attach ourselves so that he can make of us the strong, healthy, healed individuals that he wants us to grow into.
Thank you, Jesus, that you will NEVER drive us away.
There can be different causes of mental illness. Some forms of mental illness can be inherited. Schizophrenia is an example of this. Other forms of mental illness are a direct result of trauma or abuse. Dissociative Identity Didorder (DID), what used to be called multiple personality, is a good example of a mental disorder caused by abuse. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a good example of a mental disorder caused by trauma. Some traumas are horrible; but, they are not directed at us personally. If my house burns down, I might be traumatized; but, unless arson was involved, it was nothing directed at me personally. Abuse is personal. Whatever type of abuse is involved, be it physical, sexual or emotional, it is directed at an individual. When we are abused, we are rejected in an intimate way. We often spend the rest of our lives recovering from the damage that was inflicted on us by abuse.
Jesus reassures us that everyone who comes to him will be accepted. No one is ever driven away. This is reassuring to those of us who sometimes doubt ourselves. God gives us the freedom to turn away from him; but, Jesus promises that he will never turn away from us.
When we are recovering from whatever problem life throws at us, when we are dealing with rejection issues from our past, when we are reeling because we just got fired or our marriage failed or we lost our house or a loved one, we can tie ourselves to the rock that is Jesus. He is the solid place, the firm foundation upon which we can attach ourselves so that he can make of us the strong, healthy, healed individuals that he wants us to grow into.
Thank you, Jesus, that you will NEVER drive us away.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Do the meek really inherit the Earth?
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
I just finished watching the season opener for Survivor. Many have grown tired of the endless parade of liars, back stabbers and manipulators; but, I still enjoy watching the show.
Sometimes you get a person who lasts a long time in the game by "staying under the radar." Those people are followers. They make few decisions, they take few chances and at all costs, they offend no one.
Making "alliances" is important in Survivor. 'I won't vote you off the island if you don't vote me off the island.' Most people have secretly made alliances with opposing groups. They try to keep their bases covered. Eventually, they have to betray someone.
There is one person who stands out among the survivor winners. His name is Ethan. His goal, he let everyone know, was to win survivor without lying to anyone -- and he did.
You don't get many "meek" personalities on Survivor. "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast" is their mantra.
Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth. Was he right? Was he wrong? What did he mean? People haven't changed since Jesus walked the earth. They had greedy and selfish people then. They had liars. Many a meek Christian was literally thrown to the lions or burned at the stake. Do the meek really inherit the earth?
Jesus certainly did. He had the self-control and the love to let himself be crucified for you and me. Then God "put all things under his feet." Jesus showed us how to be meek with a purpose. He submitted himself to the will of God. God's will was his will.
The one thing I notice about the above beatitude is that it is in future tense. Jesus didn't say that meek people would make the most money, have the most fame or live in the nicest house. The meek are going to inherit something in the future: the earth. And the earth is better than any of the former things because the earth is where God will make his home with people.
I just finished watching the season opener for Survivor. Many have grown tired of the endless parade of liars, back stabbers and manipulators; but, I still enjoy watching the show.
Sometimes you get a person who lasts a long time in the game by "staying under the radar." Those people are followers. They make few decisions, they take few chances and at all costs, they offend no one.
Making "alliances" is important in Survivor. 'I won't vote you off the island if you don't vote me off the island.' Most people have secretly made alliances with opposing groups. They try to keep their bases covered. Eventually, they have to betray someone.
There is one person who stands out among the survivor winners. His name is Ethan. His goal, he let everyone know, was to win survivor without lying to anyone -- and he did.
You don't get many "meek" personalities on Survivor. "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast" is their mantra.
Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth. Was he right? Was he wrong? What did he mean? People haven't changed since Jesus walked the earth. They had greedy and selfish people then. They had liars. Many a meek Christian was literally thrown to the lions or burned at the stake. Do the meek really inherit the earth?
Jesus certainly did. He had the self-control and the love to let himself be crucified for you and me. Then God "put all things under his feet." Jesus showed us how to be meek with a purpose. He submitted himself to the will of God. God's will was his will.
The one thing I notice about the above beatitude is that it is in future tense. Jesus didn't say that meek people would make the most money, have the most fame or live in the nicest house. The meek are going to inherit something in the future: the earth. And the earth is better than any of the former things because the earth is where God will make his home with people.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Power from God
He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might, he increases strength. Isaiah 40:29
I have a clear memory from my time on chemotherapy. I was sitting in a recliner in our living room, watching TV and wishing that I had the energy to pick up the remote control on the arm of the recliner to change the channel.
Thinking back over a decade, I assume that if I had hated what I was watching, or that if something had been on another channel that I had been waiting to watch, I would have summoned the energy to move my arm. But, neither the motivation nor the physical energy were there.
We need both physical and mental strength to accomplish the tasks that we have before us. God gives us both the energy and the determination to do those things that are necessary to accomplish our goals.
I may fail to accomplish many goals that God has set before me; but, I hope it will never be said that it was because I didn't try. If God has a task for you to do, God promises you the energy and determination to do it.
I have a clear memory from my time on chemotherapy. I was sitting in a recliner in our living room, watching TV and wishing that I had the energy to pick up the remote control on the arm of the recliner to change the channel.
Thinking back over a decade, I assume that if I had hated what I was watching, or that if something had been on another channel that I had been waiting to watch, I would have summoned the energy to move my arm. But, neither the motivation nor the physical energy were there.
We need both physical and mental strength to accomplish the tasks that we have before us. God gives us both the energy and the determination to do those things that are necessary to accomplish our goals.
I may fail to accomplish many goals that God has set before me; but, I hope it will never be said that it was because I didn't try. If God has a task for you to do, God promises you the energy and determination to do it.
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