jolt

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Dana

A friend, who just arrived last week from the south African country of Namibia, talked with many of our students who have expressed a desire to be involved in missions. After the meeting, John said to me, “I’m sorry if I came across too direct. I always feel sorry for the first group I talk to after getting back in the states.” Half of the orphans he and his mission team work with are HIV positive. They bury kids almost every week. Living among the poor and hurting makes re-entry into our wealthy land initially disturbing. I think we need to hear his jolting questions and piercing statements. “What are you doing now? Do you know Christ and does that make a difference in your life? Do you serve the poor here in the states? Do you care about the lost where you live? Do people see Christ in you? What makes you think you’ll be any different if you go live in a foreign land? You won’t! Serve the poor now. Share Christ now. Live Christ now. Wherever you live… be a missionary now. Don’t wait for some trip or some moment later in time.”

As Jesus walked the earth, He often made jolting statements: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of God in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’” “If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.”

No wonder Jesus was despised and rejected. No wonder people turned away. No wonder He was crucified! Jesus was angry about the things that made His Father angry. He jolted those that needed to wake up. He offended those whose hearts were hard. “One of the experts of the law answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.’ Jesus replied, ‘And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them…’” (see Luke 11:37-54) People might accuse Jesus of being insensitive, but we know He only proclaimed what the Father of love wanted said. None of those listeners will stand at the judgment and say, “Lord, why didn’t you tell us what you saw?”

So what about today? Is our generation a righteous one? Has this world become good? Do the people of God practice what they preach? Do wealthy Christians in the western world have responsibility to the sixth of the world living in poverty? Is it God’s will that 100,000 people die every day without hearing Christ’s Name? The Living Word still jolts. May we recognize what God says to us and not turn away. May we be confident that a God of love speaks truth to listening ears and the Holy Spirit convicts humble hearts.

But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold to our courage and the hope of which we boast. So as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” Hebrews 3:6-15

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dreams/vision/purpose

Posted on October 2, 2003 by Dana

When I was a boy, I dreamed of playing professional basketball. Some told me I was crazy, but I didn’t want to listen to skeptics. ‘Whatever you believe you can achieve’ was the motto I liked… so I believed. For some reason, though, I didn’t achieve. That dream never came true.

When Taylor was born, I dreamed again. “My boy is going to be a professional basketball player!” When he was two years old, he could dunk on the play goal in our home! But despite those early accomplishments, I don’t think this dream is going to come true either.

A long time ago, a son told his family a dream he had: “One day you will all bow down to me.” Sounds like a pretty arrogant dream… but it came true. This dream was not fulfilled because of goals young Joseph set or because father Jacob had connections in Egypt. Joseph’s dream came true because, despite every imaginable obstacle, God brought it to pass. It was His purpose.

It was not God’s purpose that I play professional basketball. I’m confident He has greater purposes for my son and daughters. Their dreams of God are much deeper than mine. The Father has vision that is clear and precise. My vision is often blurred and imprecise, which is why stories like Joseph’s encourage me. “How does this pit fit into the dream You gave me?… slavery?… prison?… Lord, I can’t see!”

God sees… and occasionally He lets us catch a partial glimpse. One day we’ll see clearly, but until then, we please Him by walking in faith. May we believe in Him no matter how things look. May we know His heart and trust His purposes.

“I see what you can’t. I see the beginning, the end, and everything in between. When all seems to go against you, trust Me. I do not forsake my chosen ones. My solid purposes are rooted in My Son. He also trusted Me as He walked the earth, enduring every type of trial and temptation. He always kept in mind that nothing is impossible for Me. You should keep such truth in mind, too. Seek My vision and pursue My purposes and you will not be disappointed.”

“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:10-12

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revelation

Posted on September 26, 2003 by Dana

Teachers (especially math teachers) cherish the moments when the “light bulb comes on” and a student understands what has been taught. Sometimes a concept can be taught weeks without being understood. Without understanding, a student may have been going through the proper steps, perhaps even getting an occasional problem correct, when, for some unknown reason, the “light bulb comes on” and he exclaims, “Oh… now I get it!”

Understanding is much more critical before the Master Teacher. Why doesn’t everyone see that without Jesus there is no hope? How can the things of this world rival eternity? Until certain “revelations” take place, we are captive to a spiritual enemy. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

God holds revelation in His hands. Jesus called many blind that thought they could see. He quoted the prophets who predicted a lack of understanding. “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; ever seeing but never perceiving.” It almost seemed that the advantaged ones were the poor, the uneducated, and the despised.

When the revelation of sin comes, a man can feel undone. “What a wretched man I am!” Paul wrote. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Peter cried. Without the knowledge of sin, a person might live a carefree life. People around might think he’s the happiest guy in the world, but such is not reality. The revelation of sin brings despair, but where there is truth there is hope. At such points one might search for a Savior. “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” There is One who can. There is One who paid the price, but only sinners know they need Him.

When Peter answered the question Jesus asked about what people thought about Him, he answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus knew his friend had been given a revelation. “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”

In our day of enlightenment, we think we figure things out on our own, but don’t we need revelation? If I truly saw Jesus as the King who created me and then died for me, would I live for myself? If I truly fathomed the price paid for my sin, would I fail to repent? If I truly comprehended the love of the Father, would I put anything before Him? If I fully understood the mercy I have received, would I ever withhold mercy from another? Jesus praised His Father for revealing the hidden things to the ones the world overlooked. May He show such kindness to us.

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matthew 11:25-26

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

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method

Posted on September 18, 2003 by Dana

To practice his new method of fishing, Taylor must resist old habits. To follow Jesus, I must also resist old habits. The world’s ways are not the Lord’s ways. We’ve been taught to always strive to be number one. Jesus teaches an opposite path: “He who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”

The Jesus’ method of living opposes the world and challenges the practical. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

Jesus walked this surrendered life claiming full dependence on His Father in Heaven. “By myself I can do nothing…” “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…” “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.”

So how should I live? Can I resist striving to be number one? Can I deny myself? Can I become the least? Can I come to the place where I realize I am nothing without Christ? Can I obey the Master, even when His direction goes against my common sense or my physical comfort? Can my message be His message? Can my actions be His actions?

Such life only comes from above. Jesus gives us peace when we come to Him, and He patiently teaches us. He puts His burden on us, but it is not heavy. He leads us beside still waters. He restores our souls. He anoints us with His Spirit and puts our enemies to shame. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

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practice

Posted on September 12, 2003 by Dana

First, let me express gratitude for thoughts and prayers. Yesterday I got news of last week’s tests. It was perfect! God is so kind. We are so thankful…

Out son, Taylor, has become a pretty good fisherman. He not only likes to fish, he enjoys studying different strategies and techniques. Recently, he bought a two-hour video of an old Tennessee fisherman who discovered a new method of bass fishing. I chuckled as I watched Taylor soak in the instruction as Charlie Brewer and his sidekick, “Foxey”, discussed and demonstrated the art of “slider fishing”.

What if Taylor had watched the video and then just talked about it? “Dad, that was a cool video. You should have seen all the fish those guys caught. I’m glad I bought it.” Buying and watching a video was not my son’s goal! The other day, school started late, so Taylor and his friend, Jake, got up at 6:00 AM and went fishing. “Dad, it works! I caught ten bass this morning and one of them weighed 4 pounds!” (If my math teaching could only produce such excitement!)

Taylor believed that if he put into practice the things he learned, he would catch some fish. In a deeper way, Jesus often stressed this obvious truth. He knew man would be saved by grace through faith in Him, but He clearly described those who were His disciples.

“You say you follow Me? Check out your life. My family members not only hear what I say, they put My teaching into practice. Don’t be fooled by any talk that says you can please Me without doing what I say. Many will tell Me of all the great things they did while on earth, but I will say, ‘I never knew you’. Those that truly love Me, obey Me. If you have ears to hear, listen carefully then put My words into practice.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!’ Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:21-27

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