Telling Your Story

Memorials are an important part of God’s story in our lives and the Bible is filled with examples. God often uses these memorials to create a conversation that He expects to be passed down from one generation to the next. And this was particularly important for the ancient cultures who depended on their oral tradition as a primary means of communication. In fact, much of what they knew about God was based on the stories the children heard from their parents and relatives in their own social community. This is hard for us to appreciate in the digital age because we often don’t need other people to gain information. For example, if you want to know about a subject, all you have to do is “Google it”. As a result, we don’t often share our personal stories of how God is at work in our lives. In fact, I read a recent study that revealed 40% of church going Christian homes either rarely or never discussed spiritual matters as a family. It is the absence of these stories that can make God into a subject I might learn about instead of a person I get to know. That’s why I want to encourage the body of Christ to be committed to telling their story. We need to raise up the next generation of Christian disciples by teaching them how they might know the living God in a real and personal way as we have come to know Him ourselves. Take some time on this Memorial Day to consider how you might continue the tradition of men and women who have been faithful to tell their story.

The Hope of Rose

Well, I went to visit my friend Lisa this weekend, just like I encouraged others to do. It’s easy for me to give out advice that I am unwilling to follow and so I took the time to go and visit my sweet friend in the Lord. Lisa was up in her chair and she grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. She went on to explain (as she always does) how good God has been to her and what she has learned from listening to sermons and devotionals that she engages with most every day. Lisa spoke these words over the hum of a ventilator machine that was helping her breath. But that machine was the only reminder that Lisa was in poor health because her spirit is alive and well. During our conversation, she brought up the Easter message and told me, “I heard what you said brother Todd. Jesus is our only hope. I believe that.” Well of course she does. Unlike you and I, she isn’t distracted by the success of a career and the allure of riches. She doesn’t have a family or a marriage that is a security for her. Her health is failing and the promise of healing gives her no hope. Instead, she looks beyond this life and understands that the promise of hope is yet to come. Hope is not an emotion… hope is a person. About that time, I look over at her roommate Rose. Rose is paralyzed from the neck down and I have never seen her in any other position than lying motionless on her back. Mentally, she appears to be a bright person but a stroke has robbed her of her ability to speak. Although she can mouth the words, she cannot make the sounds. I try hard to understand what she says and so when I saw her trying to tell me something, I went up close to her face and watched her lips as she said, “I have that hope too.” Wow! What a humbling reminder. “If we are to hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1Cor 15:19) I can only pray that I can have the hope of Rose in both sickness and in health. A hope not limited to my present reality but in the promise of things that are yet to come. Hope is not an emotion... hope is a person. And that person is Jesus Christ. Thank you for the reminder Rose!

Sunday was Palm Sunday. The day the crowds were ready to crown Jesus as king. "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." This is the day they had been waiting for... the day Israel would be set free from the oppression of Roman rule... the day the promised Messiah would deliver his people and establish His kingdom on earth. The air was filled with anticipation, and as the night grew dark, the excitement refused to sleep. The next day, Jesus walks into the temple and what He observes makes His stomach turn. The same people who were ready to make Him king were now in the temple preparing their hearts for worship. But instead of bringing their own animals, those that were without spot or blemish, they simply bought one from the merchants in the temple courts. Of course, they weren't as good as the animals they had at home, but it sure was more convenient. And in the end, it allowed them to fulfill their religious obligation without a great deal of personal cost. Jesus looked at the compromise that filled the temple and he knew it reflected the hearts of those who wanted to crown him as king. They liked the idea of worshiping God on their terms. They preferred a religion that minimized sacrifice and maximized benefit. They were all for Jesus when He did what they wanted Him to do. But when He began to turn over the tables in the temple, they just stood and stared. They began to realize that this might actually cost them something. It was a subtle but important shift. Those who were ready to crown Jesus as king began to wonder if this was such a good idea. After all, they like the idea of Jesus as one who would conquer their enemies and give them a comfortable life, but they were not as excited about the idea of Him ruling over their heart as well. They preferred the idea of a customized Messiah that came with minimal cost and maximal benefit... and we are not all that different.

I'm Discouraged

I have not written in recent weeks because I just didn't feel like I had anything worth saying. To be honest, I've been discouraged. I've seen the evidence of the enemy's attacks in what seems like every direction I turn. I've stood at the graveside of young parents who had to bury a child that didn't live long enough to see the light of day. I've looked into the eyes of a wife who has been abandoned by her husband... I've seen the same look of pain in the eyes of a husband whose love has been repeated rejected by his wife. Our church had an intruder who broke in and stole instruments and equipment used by those who help lead worship on Sunday mornings. People I've discipled have walked away from the church and the list goes on and on. And then I turn on the TV and listen to Carl Sagan's mentor speak of the spiritual connection he feels with science in knowing that all living things are connected in a great web of life that originated for the spontaneous evolution of a single life giving cell. I see a Russian tyrant have his way in the world because everyone else is too impotent or too apathetic to do anything about it. It's discouraging! It's discouraging because it's times like these that it "feels like" the enemy is winning. Like he's gaining ground and we are losing hope. Now, intellectually I know that's not true. I'm a pastor for goodness sake and so I know all the right answers. But I'm also a human being and sometimes it just "feels like" the prince of this world is advancing at a greater rate than the kingdom of God. And then God spoke to my heart as I prepared another sermon in our study of Nehemiah. Here you have a remnant of Jews, who are in the midst of a spiritual revival, trying to take steps of faith as they re-build the wall their enemies have destroyed. They are good people trying to do a good work for God. And yet, what does the enemy do? He shows up to mock the Jews and their miserable conditions. He belittles the work they are doing and threatens to terminate their progress by taking their life. As a result, the workers begin to crumble under the pressure. "The strength of the workers is failing and there is too much work to do. We are convinced that we will never be able to finish the wall." I look at those workers and I see myself. I too easily listen to the lies of the enemy and start to believe they are true. After most Sundays, I go through a mild to moderate depression as the enemy whispers in my ear, "Boy, that was a lot of work but I'm not sure anyone was listening. Did you notice that person nodding off? Is what you have to say really making a difference? The church sure had a lot of empty seats. Maybe your mission is failing." The enemy knows where it hurts and that's where he attacks. Like we see in Nehemiah, his goal is to discourage you enough that you will lost hope and quit. He speaks lies into those areas in your life where you struggle and doubt. It's like a person who stands over a piano and sings a note. Without touching the piano at all, the string that matches the note that is sung will begin to resonate. In the same way, Satan will speak a lie that will resonate in the areas where you struggle. For me, he tells me that I'm failing. That what I am doing is not making a difference. And if I'm not careful, I begin to believe this is true. I start to lose hope. And so as Nehemiah taught the Jews, I go to the Lord in prayer. I speak honestly about what is on my heart and I let the truth of His word speak louder in my life than any lie of the enemy. I crawl under the shelter of my God and know that He has gone before me. This battle belongs to Him. His is the victor, and when I belong to Him, His victory is my reward. I am more than a conqueror in Christ who saved me and set me free. I am an ambassador for Christ, a minister of reconciliation, and I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. That truth of the gospel is what informs every aspect of my life. For what Christ accomplished on the cross has not only transformed my life but it has given me a new and everlasting hope. And the hope of God does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. I will take up the full armor of God so that I will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. I cling to this truth, because He alone is my rock and my salvation. In Him I will not be greatly shaken!

Every Member a Missionary

It’s all part of God’s original design. Man and woman, created in the image of God. Instructed by God to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth as stewards of His creation. God designed mankind to live in fellowship with Him and in loving unity with one another. His original plan would accomplish God's goal of filling the earth with the goodness of His presence through the blessing of walking in fellowship with Him. But sin changed all that. Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan to doubt God’s provision. They were convinced to live outside of God’s design, and at that moment, everything changed. Instead of seeking to walk with God, they hid from Him. Instead of encouraging one another they blamed each other for their own mistakes. And this same corruption of sin now resides in the heart of every descendant born from the seed of Adam. As Paul explains to the Romans, “There is none righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks for God. All have turned aside.” Sin brings death by separating us from what we were created to enjoy from the beginning—fellowship with God and unity with one another. Only the cross can change our hopeless condition. It is Jesus who restores what sin has destroyed. Only through faith in Him can we live according to our original design. Which includes the great commission given at the beginning of creation. The cross redeems the mission of filling the earth with the goodness of God’s presence as His Spirit now indwells the heart of every believer. Every member in the body of Christ is called to be a missionary who declares God’s redeeming love to the world! But don't overlook the power of sins deception. Our enemy continues to offer His distractions that lure us away from our original design. Like the good and pleasing apple, there is no outward sign of corruption. In fact, what we see in front of us is often good for us and our family. It can be a delight to the eyes with promises of so much good to be gained. But we must listen closely for the hint of a hiss in anything that draws us away from dependance on God or distracts from the call to be His light to the world. Just because its good, doesn't mean it's from God. He created you with a purpose and the cross has redeemed you to live according to your original design. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...

Celebrate God's Grace

The book of Nehemiah records an occasion when Ezra the priest stood before the people and read the Book of the Law. In hearing the words of the Lord, the people "bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Neh 8:6) This is a response of a people who have been in captivity for 70 years. A people who have not heard God's Word, and for the most part, have not lived according to its truth. Their only right response is to worship the One they have all but forgotten. The passage goes on to explain how certain men were appointed to take what had been read and then go to the people to teach them what it means. Once again, "they read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." (Neh 8:8) After doing this, the people have a completely different response. It says, "the people wept as they heard the words of the Law." (Neh 8:9) So why such a dramatically different response? First it was worship and then it was weeping. I think what we see is often reflected in our own life as well. We go through the routine of religious observance and find ourselves worshiping a God who is very far off. We stand before Him and exalt the holiness of His name but we don't always understand how what He says applies to our life. His truth becomes personal only when we draw near to the Lord and listen to what He says to our heart. A place where His holiness comes close enough to reveal our sin. This is where our worship turns to weeping because we are undone. Like Isaiah we proclaim, "I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips". But God's grace does not allow us to remain in this place. Ezra and Nehemiah know this to be true and so this is what they say to the people:

"Go your way. Eat the fat and drink the sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to the Lord. And do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

They tell them to put aside their weeping and throw a party instead. Why? Because the grace of God is worth celebrating. We are to be strengthened by the joy of the Lord who's delight is in our redemption. He wants us to see our sin in the light of His forgiveness and grace. Because without drawing near, we continue to carry the burden of sin along with us. But God wants to set us free and give us a reason to celebrate. Lord, I want to draw near to you so that your Word becomes personal in my life. I want you to search me O God and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in your everlasting way. Set me free in the joy of your forgiveness and grace to the praise and glory of your great Name! Teach me to celebrate your grace.

Rejoice in Suffering

I'll admit, I don't get it. It's counterintuitive. This whole idea of rejoicing in times of suffering is difficult to grasp. I read the account of the apostles preaching in Jerusalem as "more than ever believers were being added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women." This turn of events and the attention being given to the saving message of the gospel was unacceptable to the religious leaders. So they took the apostles and threw them in jail. Only for them to be miraculously released to go right back to the temple in order to pick up where they left off last. Once again they were captured and brought before the religious council who forbid them to continue any more teaching in Jesus name. Peter, speaking on behalf of the others said, "We must obey God rather than men." In other words, you can forbid us if you want to but we will only do what the Lord has called us to do. In order for the religious leaders to put some teeth into their demands, they punished the apostles with a beating before sending them out. And the amazing thing is, as they walk away, skin bleeding and body bruised, the scripture says,

"Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." (Acts 5:41)

As you read closely, you'll find that the apostles didn't rejoice in their beating. They didn't enjoy their physical suffering in a kind of sadistic euphoria. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ. They realized that the lashing they received was they same that was given to their Savior. After all, they (like Jesus) were not being punished for a crime. These religious leaders didn't have a problem with the apostles per se. They had a problem with their message. And so, in the end, they rejoiced because they knew that the message they were preaching was being heard. For many who were seeking a Savior, it was the good news of salvation. But for those who were doing just fine on their own, it was an irritable inconvenience to their preferred way of life. But in either case, it was confirmation for the apostles that the good news of salvation in Christ was heard and understood by all. Lord, I too desire to be in a place where I might rejoice when suffering dishonor for Your name. Where my life is so centered around your gospel that my reaction to circumstances is not judged by the presence or absence of pain, but instead, on the understanding of the message I am called to proclaim. I realize that some with respond with great joy, while others will lash out with hatred. But may I realize that the reaction, in both situations, is not based on me and what I have done. It is a response to your truth which is salvation to some and foolishness to others. In whatever I do (or not do), may it be for the glory of your name.