Pray for others

Since the day we heard these things about you, we have continued praying for you. This is what we pray: that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need; that this will help you live in a way that brings honor to the Lord and pleases him in every way; that your life will produce good works of every kind and that you will grow in your knowledge of God; that God will strengthen you with his own great power, so that you will be patient and not give up when troubles come. (Colossians 1:9-11)

It is good to hear that someone is praying for us, isn't it? If we are struggling with even the simplest of things, we want that support behind us. We also want someone to be lifting us before the throne of God when it comes to our spiritual growth. We want to know that no matter how much the trials and temptations come against us, we have an advocate lifting us up over and over again, don't we? God listens for those prayers with an intense desire to answer each of them!

How should we be praying for each other? 

• With continual focus - never giving up on lifting that individual up in prayer, even when we don't see change.
• Seeking God for them to have spiritual confidence - in other words, that their faith would become certain, well-grounded, and not easily swayed
• Asking him to give them wisdom and spiritual understanding that is beyond their present understanding, opening the scriptures to them where it has been hard for them to understand them before, and to build upon past learning until one precept is laid upon another
• With a hope that God will create a desire deep within their hearts for more of his grace, power that is beyond their own abilities to overcome even the hardest of life's habits, and that life change would occur that brings about a living life testimony that honors God in every way
• Continually lifting them when we see troubles surrounding them, and even when we don't see those troubles plainly, so they will be covered with a hedge of protection much like a hedge of thorns kept out the wolves from the shepherd's flock at night

We may not realize how much our prayers on behalf of another can help them not only get out of troubles but avoid them entirely. We might find it easy to pray these things for ourselves, but never forget that God wants us to pray them for each other, as well! Just sayin!

    

Intentional love

Partiality is not going to serve anyone well. In the time of Christ, there were "systems" of people - some might call them "castes" - some more affluent and "honored" than others, while others were looked down on because of disease, poverty, mental state, or even what they did for a living. The idea of God allowing the sun to shine on the rich and the poor, the diseased and the well, the farmer and the tax collector, is Jesus' way of reminding us that no one sticks out as the "shining star" in God's eyes. All are equal - all receive the same attention, privilege, and honor in his eyes. 

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than anyone else. Even the people who don’t know God are nice to their friends. What I am saying is that you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Neither money nor poverty impact how he thinks about us. Neither beautiful physical features or the plainness of a simple way of living impress him. He exhibits an attitude of grace and acceptance of all who turn his way. The religious leaders of the day had a hard time with this one - especially when Jesus modeled it by hanging out with tax collectors, prostitutes, the diseased, and then came into the synagogue to teach a lesson or two on the Sabbath. It just wasn't in their "system of beliefs" to be lacking in this "social partiality". But...it was not Jesus' intention to win a popularity contest - it was his intention to embrace all of mankind with his grace and love! We'd do well to model this behavior in our own lives.

Love sometimes doesn't get returned in the way we might expect it to be returned. We have the idea there should be some form of "compensation" for what it is we "bring" into the relationship with one another and even Jesus. Jesus didn't just go to those who accepted his teaching and warmly embraced him. He stood in the crowds of naysayers and those who were in out-right opposition to him. He helped the widows and the captains of the armies - both with nothing to give back to him. He opened the eyes of the blind and made the withered arms straight - some never even looking back to say thank you for the tremendous reward of being made whole again. 

Learning to give "into" a relationship without expecting something "from" it might just be one of the hardest lessons for us to grasp, because love just yearns to be returned in some manner. Jesus yearned for a return of his love from those he touched - he didn't demand it, though. It was intentional that he loved us - he just loved, and loved, and kept on loving - not waiting for a return of that love. Just sayin!

Which column has the most zeros

 A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace. (Proverbs 14:14) What does your 'paycheck' look like today? Are you seeing lots and lots of zeros behind that 'grace' number, or more of them behind that 'meanness' number? Mean people aren't exactly the kind of people we want to hang around with on a regular basis, are they? In fact, we most likely want to 'put their lights out' on occasion, wishing they'd just back off and find somewhere else to do their dirty work. We don't always respond in grace toward the meanie, do we? In fact, we might just find ourselves wanting to be a little 'mean' in response!

Why do mean people evoke a defensive response from us rather than a gracious response? It could just be that we see a bit of that same 'meanness' within ourselves! We might not always realize that mean streak exists within us, but when it is revealed, it is time to let God deal with it so that a gracious response is elicited in the face of meanness the next time. Jesus told his disciples that God's kingdom was made up of individuals who actually use the grace of God in their lives to learn to turn the other cheek. (Matthew 5:39) This idea of 'turning the other cheek' is a much harder lesson to learn than just 'letting it rip'. Emotional 'control' isn't accomplished as a matter of willpower - it is accomplished as a matter of Spirit-power within.

When we encounter mean people, who attempt to bring us down through mean actions or words, we can lean into the power the Holy Spirit gives each of us. We never control the other person's behavior, but we can be in control of how we respond to it - especially when we have the wherewithal to lean into God's grace and the Spirit's presence within us. I have found that responding with grace is really the result of the Holy Spirit reminding me that I don't always know the 'deeper issue' within that individual that is causing that other person to respond in mean ways. God's grace might help us look beyond the 'mean act' or mean words', but it could also be that his grace revealed through you brings the other person to their knees. 

I think this is why God reminded his people that they are not responsible for vengeance - he is. He will use the grace we respond with to 'undo' the individual who responds out of meanness and emotional hurt. That 'undoing' of the individual is not our job - it is God's. We might not like the way they are acting but rest assured - God takes note of both their action and our response to it. Let your grace-column begin to overrun your 'meanness-column' and you might just begin to see God's movement in that other person's life a little more each time you do. Just sayin!

Wisdom dictates...

Make fun of wisdom, and you will never find it. But if you have understanding, knowledge comes easily. Stay away from fools, or you won’t learn a thing. Wise people have enough sense to find their way, but stupid fools get lost. Fools don’t care if they are wrong, but God is pleased when people do right. (Proverbs 14:5-9)

If we go through life making light of everything we encounter - as though life had to be filled with jokes and humor all the time - we'll miss out on so much of what may have come if we avoided the sarcasm. Sarcasm actually "demotes" or causes something to have a lesser "degree" of importance. We often use sarcasm or joking to cover over the depth of your anxiety, guilt, or regrets. Wisdom calls for us to be men and women of integrity - having fun with life - but not making light of what life entails.

Understanding is closely related to one's perspective at the moment. If one's perspective is different from another's, as in the case of one being in the thick of the matter and the other being only an onlooker, it is easy to make "slight" of what the one in the middle of it is seeing, feeling, and experiencing. It is often much better to allow an individual the "space" or "comfort zone" to unwind about what it is they are experiencing than it is to jump right in with some "light humor" which we hope will diffuse some of their anxiety or grief. In so doing, we are acknowledging the other person's "perspective" as important and worthy of being understood.

Wisdom warrants our attention to the details - reading where another is "at". These moments when stress is high are not usually the best time to make light of the issues at hand. Wisdom warrants us allowing another to share their perspective openly and honestly, then coming alongside to help them navigate the difficulties of the situation. The closer you are to another individual, the easier it is to "read" them. You begin to pick up on the subtle signs of the stress, which is mounting internally, and you know when something is "not right". At the other end of the problem, we can often look back and bring a little levity into the situation. In the heat of the moment, the levity may elude us. Sarcasm only adds fuel to the already hot embers burning inside the one who is the middle of their muddle! Be sensitive to the words we speak, when we speak, and to whom it is we speak.

The fool acts impetuously, responds without thinking, and really is oblivious to the needs or "sensitivities" of another. Wisdom is learned when we come into greater places of understanding, both personally and in relationship with others. The fool cannot be patient enough to stand by while understanding is being "unfolded" - he needs to jump in. Someone once told me there is almost always an element of truth in sarcasm. It is a taunt, cutting remark, or a little bit of irony which tends to mask some underlying message. Wisdom dictates us "checking our words" for the underlying message before we speak, if we speak at all. 

I know I have good friends who laugh along with me when times get a little hairy. We take time to laugh a little, because it diffuses the tension and helps us to get back at the tasks at hand. What those good friends DON'T do is make light of the actual pressure I am feeling. They know it is real to me and they come alongside to support me in those times of pressure. This is what wisdom dictates - this is what comes of understanding another's viewpoint or perspective. Just sayin!

Even the smallest act

The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others. (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

...be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life ...continue to read the Scriptures to the people, strengthen them, and teach them. Use the gift you have... Continue to do those things; give your life to doing them so your progress may be seen by everyone. Be careful in your life and in your teaching. If you continue to live and teach rightly, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you. (I Timothy 4:12-16)

We are not put on this earth to live as we might please, but to live as it pleases God. In living in such a manner, we will find that we will be drawn to the needs of others, finding ways to minister to that need as we are able. Why? We are following the example given by Jesus and being living instruments of grace. We are to use the gifts we have been given - not for our own edification, but for the building up and restoration of others. 

In all manner of 'living', there is some form of 'teaching' that occurs. It might not be that we stand before a class and instruct from a book, but we 'instruct' with our actions (our daily lives). God asks that we 'live' in such a way that our 'instruction' will guide others to seek truth and to find relationship with him. We become instruments of grace, not so much by 'preaching the Word', but living the Word out in our daily lives.

How do we strengthen each other? It may be in small ways at first, but as we get 'better' at living with others in mind, not focusing on ourselves all the time, we find 'bigger' ways to be a blessing in the lives of those around us. What has God called you to do today in the life of another? Pray for them? Spend time helping them with something around their house? Bringing them a meal? Small steps result in big rewards, friends! Take even the smallest step today in obedience to what God prompts and see what amazing blessing he will bring to each of your lives! Just sayin!

Give First

Since we came into this world, we have had not had to tell ourselves to demand or seek out the things we want, but rather we have had to learn how to deal with all the things we want to figure out if we really need it. We might have come face-to-face with the reality that food was a necessity, but the black patent leather shoes weren't; the school clothes were, but the frilly dresses and designer jeans weren't; the reliable means of transportation was a necessity, but the shiny new car every other year was not.  We will often struggle with trying to decipher the difference between need and want throughout life - simply because the circumstances change and we are called upon to change with them.  In time, we can become a little confused between the two, especially when we aren't aware of this nasty little thing called "greed".  It rears its ugly head more often than we'd like to admit and we struggle with this thing called "contentment" more often than we'd like to admit.  The words we need to embrace:  "Life isn't defined by what we have - but by whose we are!"

Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”  He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?”  Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”  Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’  “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’  “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”  (Luke 12:13-21)

Isn't it so like us to go running to someone with some authority in life to "arbitrate" our differences?  This man didn't know Jesus - he just saw him as this great authority who was drawing in the masses, thinking he could intervene on his behalf to persuade his brother to give him what he was not able to get on his own.  We know one brother feels he has not received "his fair share" of the family inheritance and he wants it!  What we also know is the very evident tendency of Jesus to speak truth into a moment, exposing heart and soul pretty quickly!  So, when Jesus responds to the man to beware of greed in his life, he probably knows the inward struggle of this man's heart!  I have been in those same moments of time - coming to Jesus for what I thought was the right thing for my life only to have him expose something within my heart that wasn't allowing me to see things correctly!  In that moment of "correction", I got a little huffy and put-out with Jesus, but within a short while, I realized my attitude was impairing my ability to see what Jesus wanted me to really see!  

As was Jesus' custom, he launches into a story to "drive home" the warning he gives about not being defined by what we have (what we possess).  It is another "word picture" to help us realize the intent of his instruction, simply because we "get" words better when we "see them" in a picture!  Building new barns would be something the crowd understood, for these were places to keep their harvest - safe from predatory birds and animals; shut up against the weather.  Everyone who worked the land likely had a barn of sorts - maybe not a fancy one, but something which allowed for storage of the season's crops.  It doesn't seem like much could go wrong with building a new barn, does it?  After all, if you have enough grain to fill the first barn to overflowing, it stands to reason you need a second one to contain the excess.  The problem is, we don't really need the excess, do we?  Maybe this is what he was really trying to teach - our excess isn't doing us much good, but it could do a whole lot of good to the ones around us with tremendous need!

I subscribe to the teachings of "give first, save second, and live off the rest". This doesn't mean I figure out how much I want to live on, then determine what I can give and save in response to what I want to live on.  What it means is that I have determined my reasonable standard of living - what some might call a budget.  Our "excess" is not what defines us - it isn't going to provide anything of lasting value to our life.  What does define us is our position "IN" Christ - a child of God, loved and adored by him, cared for under the shadow of his wing, and safe in his sheltering arms.  I kind of chuckle when I go by a neighbor's house, not because he is particularly "funny", but because of the priorities he seems to have established for his life.  You see, he bought the lot next door to him, tore the house down, erected a two-story garage complete with these fancy lifts which allow him to park cars on both levels!  Exactly how many cars can you drive?  Unless I am missing something, we are all only capable of driving one car!

My neighbor subscribed to the farmer's philosophy - bigger barns make for "more stuff" he can amass!  As is always the case with Jesus, he points us to the importance of relationship, not resources.  Let's not lose sight of this important lesson in our own lives - relationship first!  First with Jesus, next with each other, then in turn touching those in our lives who cross our paths. This is better than bigger barns any day!  Just sayin!

I need an example

Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness. (H. Jackson Brown, Jr.)

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends." (John15:13-14)

The very best way to love - love like Christ loves you! Indeed, three powerful resources are available to all who are redeemed by the blood of Christ: Love, Prayer, and Forgiveness. Without prayer, we find it hard to love the unlovely. Without forgiveness, we find it hard to love anyone! What does a life on the line look like? If we were to consider the examples throughout scripture, we could find a few that stand out. We can take a lesson from each of them.

David may not have been the tallest kid in the lot of his brothers, nor was he likely the strongest, most talented, or even the most appreciated. But...he was the most available when the need arose! One way we love is to be there when God asks us to do something. David knew his God well enough to trust him with the biggest and worst of 'giants'. Some of us need to be there to face the 'giants' with those we love - because they are having a dickens of a time facing them all alone!

Ruth was not the 'luckiest' of women, having married a foreigner to her land, but all too soon widowed. A widow was a burden - someone from the immediate family needing to step up to take care of her. The family suffered great tragedy - the loss of the patriarch and both sons, leaving a grieving matriarch, and two widowed daughter-in-laws. The most logical plan - go back home to her own people. The loving choice she made - serve her mother-in-law with all her ability. Some of us need to learn to serve another in love, even when it is not the most 'convenient' thing to do.

The Song of Solomon is filled with reminders of pursuing the one we love - so perhaps the greatest example of love is the Bride depicted in this Song. She gives of herself, sometimes forgetting to pursue, but then realizing how empty life is without that love. God's love is drawing, engulfing us in its grip, and holding us tightly. The Bride served her lover, clung tightly to him, but never forgot that 'pursuit' is necessary in love. Some of us might need to remember there is more to love than just 'being there'. There is investment of time, attention, and our total self within the relationship. Just sayin!

Dogma matters, but...

What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. (Romans 14:8)

Okay, so I know the original translation of this passage doesn't tell us to eat prime rib and broccoli, but it is there to make a point. We are to stand by our commitments - our beliefs, values, and even our dogma - but we are not to look down on others because of theirs. If their dogma, beliefs, or values are not according to scripture - we are to hold them up in prayer, not argue with them. Way too many arguments have ensued in the past couple of years over things like which political party is the 'best' or 'right one', but in truth, there is but one ruler over all mankind and that is Christ Jesus. God turns the head of the king where he wills, not the other way around. We argue over which type of song to sing in church, all the while forgetting we could just do two 'kinds' of worship services - one more traditional and one more 'modern'. The silliness of arguing over some of the things we take issue with is just sheer folly - proving that mankind can get pretty wigged out over the stuff God doesn't really take issue with in the first place.

The important part of this passage is the final sentence. Jesus lived, died, and lives again - so HE can be our Master, setting us free from the petty stuff we get all wigged out about in this lifetime. What are some of the petty things you have chosen to wig out about just in the past week? Don't tell me there wasn't even one thing, because I bet that even if you didn't voice it, something someone did, said, put up on a billboard, or advertised on social media rubbed you the wrong way. God is the one we are answerable to - so when something or someone sets you on edge, take them or the subject of your 'rub' to Jesus. He will take care of it - but don't be surprised if he begins to work on your heart first! It isn't that he is trying to change your beliefs (he may be, but not always), but rather he is attempting to help you see the individuals he loved enough to die for. 

While accountability amongst our brethren (those who are serving Christ Jesus) is quite important, we are ultimately accountable to God above all others. He is the one to clarify our beliefs, align our dogma with his Word, and create solid values in place of wishy-washy character. Unfortunately, as hard as we may try, we cannot do this for one another. We can set good examples, but we cannot change a man's character. We can live out our beliefs, but we cannot fill the empty spirit of a man. These areas belong to God. We can spend lots of time and energy arguing our point with each other, or we can agree to take all matters to Christ, asking for his Spirit and the Word of God to help us in our relationships with one another. I choose the latter. How about you? Just askin....

Heed and Act - they go hand in hand

 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:34-35)

I was always taught to pay attention to things that are repeated in scripture because they are important. If we just pass over something because it seems 'rote' or like we have heard it a million times, we may miss one of the most vital lessons we need to learn in our lives. I can drive by the 'speed checked by radar' time and time again, all the while ignoring it until one day I see those bright red and blue lights flashing for me to pull over to the side of the road. The sign was always there, but I didn't heed it and therefore, the consequences are deserved. If we heed the warnings in scripture, we do well. If we obey the commands in scripture, we do even better.

Love one another - seems easy, doesn't it? Ever try doing it? You know exactly how hard it is to love 'some people', don't you? Those ones that are on your last nerve about all the time are not all that easy to embrace in love! There isn't a whole lot of wiggle room in this command - anymore than there may have been wiggle room in exceeding the speed limit when it was clearly posted and I was even given a warning that my speed would be monitored by some invisible radar somewhere. (Lest you think I have been busted for speeding - I am just using this as an illustration) Love one another is an 'absolute' - there is no opportunity to do otherwise and think we won't bear the consequences of not having fulfilled the command.

In the same way I loved you - that is Jesus talking about how we are to love one another - as he loved us. Before we were godly creatures, he loved us. Before we got our act together, he loved us. Before we figured out we weren't all that loveable ourselves, he loved us. Without compromise, no strings attached. He loves graciously - not holding grudges when we promised something and didn't fulfill the promise. He loves limitlessly - not ever considering how much it will cost or where to draw the line with us. He loves constantly - not just when the urge hits him or he 'feels like it'. Herein is the example we are given - love as he loves us. 

When they see the love - that makes it quite clear - love is an action, not just a feeling. I think we live in a crazy, mixed up world that sometimes gets this whole 'love' thing all out of perspective. It seems like love is equated to what we get, not what we give. It is based on how we 'feel' toward another and that is totally whack. Love is an action - taken without regard to how we feel at the moment. We may feel wronged - but love dictates we forgive and restore. We may feel less than appreciated - but love requires us to be kind and gracious in our response to others.

This thing called 'love' is visible - it isn't hidden - it is 'out there'. It goes the extra mile, even when we don't feel like it. It creates room for others, even when it seems like the world we live in would be a whole lot simpler if it was just us in it. Love is without reservation - because God didn't reserve his love for just a few - it is and has always been available for 'whosoever' would believe and call upon his name. Love like Christ? Not an easy task, but we don't do it alone. The Spirit of God lives within us, empowering us to obey this command, my friends. Just sayin!