Active participant?

Growth is a process that cannot be rushed, nor can it be neglected. We manage to do both, don't we? We want growth to be instant. We overlook the 'maintenance' of that growth, wondering why things seem to be 'going south' as it applies to our spiritual health. Seed might sprout where it is planted, but make no mistake about it, growth requires attentiveness.

The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. (Mark 4:26-27)

God is at work even when we don't see him working. We might not comprehend what he is doing, nor are we always 'attentive' to his work within, but when God plants a seed, he sends the Holy Spirit to tend its growth. We don't have to understand the growth process as much as we need to participate in it as it is occurring. Seed gets sown, but growth comes in its own time. We cannot rush it, although we can anticipate it. There is something transformative when we know God goes to work 'sowing' seed into our lives. We actually begin to look for evidence of what is about to come forth, don't we? Sometimes God asks very little in the way of our 'effort' when it comes to that growth, while he may ask for extreme attentiveness at others.

Just as seed in our garden requires little attention when sown into prepared soil, our prepared hearts may not seem to need much 'tending' until we begin to see the tiniest of growth emerging. That is where we find ourselves 'watching over' with extreme attentiveness the tiny seed of faith that is emerging. Why? Just as in our garden, if we want full development of that 'seed faith', the emerging 'plant' must be protected, nurtured, and encouraged to grow. We might not realize the importance of taking in his word on a very consistent basis, nor do we always understand the power unlocked when we worship and pray, but it is our part in seeing the 'seed' through to 'full growth' and fruit-bearing. We don't have to understand the 'growth process', but we do need to ACTIVELY participate in it. Just sayin!

Small beginnings

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

If you have ever considered the size of a mustard seed, you will likely have noted it is only 1-2 millimeters in diameter. While it is a small seed, the 'tree' produced (or actually a type of shrub) is about 20 feet across and just about as tall! From such a small seed come what some may say is 'remarkable growth'. The leaves start out as very green, then 'morph' into a yellow tone as they age. The ability to not only see physical growth in the height and width of the tree, but to also observe the 'maturity' of the tree by the color of its leaves is kind of neat. One suggests a good connection, while the other suggests a continued connection that allows growth to develop into maturity - something Christ wants for each of us!

While we might focus on the seed and all the wonderful things this seed can do, we cannot neglect the succulent leaves and stems, as they have a beautiful yellow-green flower that is produced with rather long tendrils (some about 12 inches long). The flowers develop into small pink or scarlet berries, which are translucent. The tree actually grows best in dry, rather arid conditions since they are prone to 'mold' if things are too wet for them. While we all dream of the lush green valleys, with lots of coolness and comfort, could it be that we might just thrive the best in the dry and arid conditions of our soul, when life seems to be less evident in others?

While the older, more mature trees don't take all that much maintenance, they do require a whole lot of attention in the earlier stages of their growth (much like us). The early maintenance is not only important to ensure the seed sprouts, but that good root penetration takes place once the seedling is planted. The eventual growth that comes from the proper root penetration not only ensures 'good anchorage' of the plant, but sufficient resources for its continued growth. As the branches begin to form, the tree takes form. Birds nest in the branches - a place of safety and refuge. As Christ's character grows within each of us, our greatest hope is that our lives become a place of safety and refuge for others who need hope and a community in which to 'take root' themselves. Just sayin!

Spurts - not zero to sixty

It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” (Romans1:16)

Right with God means we can stand before God without fear of judgment. How is this possible? We place our trust in the finished work of Christ at the cross. We learn to live a new life at the foot of the cross - beginning the moment we say 'yes' to Jesus and then continuing on as the Holy Spirit begins to take the Word of God and apply it various areas of our lives where we most need it. Trust is the basis of faith - faith is required in order to stand strong. As we discussed in an earlier post, faith isn't just 'given' - it is grown within us. The seed of faith is placed there by God himself, then nurtured within us until it comes to full maturity. Sometimes we think we should have a 'full measure' of faith the moment we place our trust in Christ, but if it were just 'given', we'd never learn to depend upon him.

Many of us struggle to maintain a 'steady' walk with Christ, up one day and down the next, like a rollercoaster. We feel like our faith is growing, then we feel like we are just drifting along, not fully aware of Christ's presence. Trust doesn't always have to 'feel' or 'see' in order for it to give us a firm foundation upon which we stand strong. It means we don't forget who is in control even when the circumstances seem to get out of control for US. They aren't out of control for HIM. What Jesus asks of us is to remain consistent in taking the steps that indicate we have placed our trust in his control. This might take on the form of taking in the Word of God regularly, being built up at times, convicted at others. Faith doesn't mean we will never feel 'wrong', it will just mean we know there is a way to be made 'right' whenever we feel 'wrong'.

We see the flaws - God sees perfection. We see ugliness - he sees beauty. We see wobbly steps - he sees strength growing within us. Faith is a seed that must be nurtured - watered by the Word, nourished within the light of his presence, and stimulated to full growth through the continual tending by the Holy Spirit. We might have set backs in our 'faith growth', but if we remain (trusting fully), we will develop an internal strength that outgrows our own feeble strength. Don't get discouraged with the set backs, but press in, take hold, and hang on - you are on the verge of some pretty phenomenal growth! Just sayin!

Not just following the winds

As kids, we'd ask each other, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Today, some of us are still asking ourselves the same question!  We just haven't "grown up" yet and therefore, when we DO grow up, we will be something other than what we are today - that is the point of growing up - right?  All growth has an end point in life, though.  At some point, we move from "growing" to "rotting".  My tomatoes are at about the end of their season, beginning to yellow under the hot Arizona sun and their fruit is just splitting from the heat. It is about time to uproot them, turn them over into the soil and wait for the "volunteer" tomatoes at the end of the hot summer.  Some of us are waiting to see what "volunteers" to grow inside of us when we just need to take some steps to actually see some growth!

Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection. Then we will no longer be like babies. We will not be people who are always changing like a ship that the waves carry one way and then another. We will not be influenced by every new teaching we hear from people who are trying to deceive us—those who make clever plans and use every kind of trick to fool others into following the wrong way. No, we will speak the truth with love. We will grow to be like Christ in every way. He is the head, and the whole body depends on him. All the parts of the body are joined and held together, with each part doing its own work. This causes the whole body to grow and to be stronger in love.  (Ephesians 4:13-16 ERV)

Our goal is to grow up.  The way we realize that goal is through the aid of Christ within us.  The end result will be perfection - something none of us will ever attain any other way than to allow Christ to indwell us and change us from what we are now to what we have the potential to become in him.  My garden has gone from being "in full bloom" to barely struggling to show signs of any life as the hot days have lingered on and on.  We had a pretty good windstorm last night and my entire yard is covered in pine needles, elm leaves, pine cones, and small tree branches.  I could get out there today to clean it up, but I know there is another one headed in tonight and tomorrow, so I will not expend the effort to just see it come all back again!  What I am doing is listening to the inner voice which says it is okay to just let it linger.  Most of the time, I don't let things linger - I like to keep on top of this stuff.  I wonder why I let issues "inside" my life linger when I won't let the stuff on the outside linger?  Maybe this is a lesson we all need to learn - don't let the stuff which really matters go untouched!

As I watched the windstorm last night, I saw things from neighbor's yards go blowing down the neighboring streets.  These things weren't anchored down, so they were easily moved when the winds came.  The stuff in our lives which are not anchored solidly will become easy prey for whatever moves upon us in life. It matters not the source of the movement, it just moves us.  This is a dangerous way to live life - being moved by whatever moves us at the moment. If we continue in this long-term, we will just move from one thing to the next without ever setting down roots which will anchor us to something of lasting value.  Growth is only possible when we have solid roots.  Roots are only possible when we allow the seed to be taken into the soil of our lives.  Soil is only prepared when there is something which stirs it up.  Stirring is only possible when something external to the soil exerts pressure to break the hard crust of the topsoil.  If we could see the phases of growth in our lives as clearly as we can see the phases of growth in our gardens, maybe we'd be more challenged to deal with the tendency to embrace each and every seed which comes along!

We don't want to compromise our values in life.  Not all growth is wise for us, nor is it the season to accomplish this growth.  I have tried on several occasions to grow a zucchini plant.  You'd think that would be pretty easy.  In just about 3 weeks, each seedling withers and dies.  Sometimes it is because of those green inch-worm bugs which like to blend in with the leaves and just suck the life from the plant.  At other times, it is because pesky flies are laying their eggs around the stems of the plant, effectively cutting of their intake of "air".  As the heat continues in the low desert, the bright sun and unbearable heat of day further influence the successful growth of these seedling plants.  Various influences impact the growth of the tiny plant.  None of them can be controlled entirely, so if we are to ever see the growth of squash in the garden, we have to do what we can to protect the growth.  As is the case in the garden, the same thing is true in our lives - we must control what we can and then let God control the rest.  

Growth can be lost as quickly as it is realized, unless we do what we can to protect what is growing inside of us.  If it is the right kind of growth, from the right seed, we want that growth to continue, don't we?  If it is something akin to a weed of invasive plant, we may not be as desirous to see it continue.  As I have been reading more and more about gardens, there are some kinds of "natural weeds" which actually lend nutrients to the garden soil - like nitrogen, calcium, and the like.  Who knew we might actually benefit from a few weeds? The issue comes in letting nothing but weeds overtake the garden.  One or two may actually lend something for a while, but in time, they will become harmful, choking out life from the other plants.  We can have influences in our lives which are not exactly "pure" which might actually challenge us to grow for a while, but if they are left too long in our lives, we might actually find they inhibit our growth.  We must maintain a good balance of both, just like a ship's captain must use the winds to guide the ship into deep waters, but he must never just let the ship go where the current and winds take him!  Just sayin!

Full silos don't equal a good harvest

Harvest:  A supply of anything gathered at maturity and stored; the result or consequences of any act, process, or event.

I wonder if we have given much thought to the various "harvests" we have in our lives.  In most cases, we are not farmers - so this idea of "harvesting" is not fully understood.  The great work of producing the end result of a tremendous "intake" of grain is almost missed by us because we simply go to the local grocer and purchase the bagged flour, loaf of bread, or cake mix right off the shelf.  If there was a greater appreciation for the "work" which makes the harvest possible, I wonder if we'd have any greater appreciation for the "filled shelves" at the grocer?  Our definition above is really interesting, simply because it doesn't start with the definition of a farmer's work, but of the general work of seeing something to the point of maturity - then storing up the thing which has been brought to this point.  It also focuses on the idea of a process producing a certain outcome - the benefits of which provide for the basis of what will be "stored up" for the future.  Truly, these are the two most foremost definitions of the word "harvest". 

When you harvest your grain and forget a sheaf back in the field, don’t go back and get it; leave it for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow so that God, your God, will bless you in all your work. When you shake the olives off your trees, don’t go back over the branches and strip them bare—what’s left is for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. And when you cut the grapes in your vineyard, don’t take every last grape—leave a few for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:19-21 MSG)

In looking at our definition again, we see there is an inability to "store up" if there first has not been a "supply of".  So, the beginning point of the harvest is in the supplying of what will produce the harvest.  In the simplest terms - no seed, no harvest.  Think on that one a little - let it roll around in your brain.  No seed - no harvest.  The type of seed always determines the harvest, right?  So, in the most literal sense, we could turn this to the things we DON'T sow as providing the results we will reap.  No unkind words - no strife in a relationship.  No impulsive choices - no regrets or shame.  

What "supply" we tap into most is what we will see as the resulting harvest we will "store up" for days to come.  If the "supply chain" is directly from the hands of God, the stored product will be that which produces further fruitfulness in our lives.  If the "supply chain" is something other than God's best, the harvest may not be as beneficial for our storehouses!  The connection I want us to see this morning is in the supply of what will be planted and the harvest which will be available for storage during "leaner" times in our lives.  

There is also another portion of this definition which beckons for our consideration this morning.  The idea of something coming to a place of maturity before it is harvested almost escapes us today as many farmers "reap" the crops long before they ripen - so they have a longer "shelf life".  Here's the rub - they just don't taste the same!  When ripening occurs exactly where the seed was planted, the "taste" produced is richer or flavorful.  Why?  The product was meant to "mature" where it was planted!  It was not meant to "mature" in a fruit bowl on your kitchen table, or in the brown bag on your shelf!  It might allow the fruit to ripen, but it still doesn't taste the same as a vine ripened tomato, or the tree ripened avocado.  The outward appearance may be the same, but it is in the experience of the "taste" where we really note the differences.

You can "force" ripening - but the result is a pitiful excuse for the intended taste!  The same is true in our spiritual lives.  We can remove ourselves from the place where we have been planted way too soon.  Sure, we see evidence of fruit - something worth harvesting.  Yet, if we are removed too soon from the place where we are planted - the harvest will only yield tasteless seed!  The richness and robustness of the produced fruit is really only evidenced when the fruit is allowed to ripen right where it was planted.  If you haven't noticed, the seed wasn't planted in the dark!  It was planted in the light, watered regularly, and the soil around it was worked regularly to keep it weed free.  So, before the harvest comes a whole lot of purposeful planning and consistent work.  In the season of harvest, we are tempted to "store up" when we see the beginning evidence of fruit - but waiting just a little longer often brings just the right amount of added "son-shine" we need to experience the richest of harvests.

In our passage above, the idea of harvest also carries the intentional leaving of something behind.  Now, for those who work the land, this may seem like a senseless waste - leaving some of the harvest behind.  But...in what is left, there is even greater provision!  You see, there are those who cannot produce the fruit without a seed - the seed you provide by the intentional leaving of something of the harvest available for the taking.  I don't know about you, but some of the best "seeds" in my life have been left by those who have allowed the seed they were "supplied" to come to maturity in their lives - allowing me to glean a little of their harvest so those "seeds" supplied by their harvest to become the basis of growth for the similar harvest in my life.

I don't know the harvest you will bear today - or even if the harvest will be today.  The season of harvest may be in seed-form in your lives right now.  It could be just about to begin the "reaping" phase.  Regardless of where you are in the process - you needed the first "seed" to be supplied.  You and I are called upon to intentionally provide for those who have no way of producing the harvest in their own lives without the seed you have already seen come to the place of maturity in yours.  We become instruments of God's "supply chain" in the process.  If you are anxious to call it a "harvest" and be done with the entire maturing process, remember this - the harvest is best when the maturing is allowed to occur right where the seed was planted.  Don't rush God's handiwork.  You might get fruit, but the richness of it may not be as enjoyable as it would have been if you'd have stayed a little longer where you were planted.  Just sayin!

Not another "leaf check"

I know I am not supposed to take scripture out of context, but something struck me this morning and I zeroed in on it because of what it implies for ALL our thought, actions, and intent, not just for the subject of speaking in tongues.  Paul was speaking to the Corinthian church about "honoring" others in their worship - coming prepared to worship, teach, etc., and being cognizant of the fact others don't get much from speaking in tongues or making a show of your "spirituality".  Paul encourages believers to pray for others to come into the depth of relationship I often refer to as a place of "intimacy" with God.  This is the place of real transparency with him - the place of honesty and "integrity" in our sharing of heart, mind, and soul with him - not just for our sake, but for the sake of others.  Now, I came across this passage and was just impressed to read it over and over again until it sunk in a little.   

To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility.  (I Corinthians 14:20 MSG)

The apostle Paul was getting "exasperated" because the believers were stuck in the rut of what he called "infantile" thinking.  There are times in scripture when I just sit back and relish the "honesty" God has provided for us in the accounts of those who penned these pages under his inspiration.  When I see other believers admitting to some emotional response or challenge in their lives - it warms my heart!  Paul was "exasperated" - he was irritated!  Not because someone was doing something "wrong", but because he was having to focus on the same "types" of lessons over and over again.  Does this sound familiar to anyone else besides me?  This idea of focusing on the same lessons over and over again, then feeling a little exasperated with oneself or another, is not uncommon.  In fact, it is probably one of the most talked about things in realm of Christian teaching!  People get stuck in ruts and they don't seem to be able to "grow beyond" those confined spaces!

Paul asks the question:  "How long...?"  How many times have you spoken these same words to yourself or another?  "How long" before I get this right?  "How long" will I have to endure this?  "How long" does it take to understand this stuff?  There are probably a dozen other "how long" questions you could add to this right now.  The point is - we ALL deal with the "how long" questions and they each give us a little bit of exasperation in life!  Paul points out something which seems to be the theme of our "how long" experiences - there is a transition time between "childlike" and "adult" responses and thinking.  

In this "transition time", we often lose our momentum.  We get a little exasperated (frustrated) with the length of time it takes for us to "grow into" the "mature" and "well-exercised" intelligence God gives each of us.  I guess I am no exception to this challenge.  I get equally hard on myself when I am having to experience the same lessons I thought I learned some time back!  Paul says it is okay to remain childlike in some things - as they pertain to evil and the pursuit of what will cause us to stumble in life.  In this, he tells us to have a childlike "unfamiliarity" - it should not be a practiced thing in our life.  But...we are to have a "mature" and "well-exercised" intelligence when it comes to avoiding sin.  Here's the rub - we get caught up in stuff which pulls us down because we don't "exercise" the intelligence we have been given!

Now, lest you think I am picking on you, let me assure you this lesson is just as much for me as it is for each of you!  Yesterday, I talked with you about three little trees I am growing from seed in my backyard.  Two are doing quite well, but the one which has not resprouted its leaves after this harsh winter is actually the BIGGEST tree of them all!  It has been around my yard the longest and has the biggest appearance, biggest root-base, and biggest branch spread!  Yet, it is the last to get its leaves!  The thing is - the appearance of "maturity" doesn't always guarantee the "hardiness" of the tree!  I think this is what Paul may have stopped a moment in his teaching with the Corinthians to say - the "mature" OUTSIDE appearance is not always a reflection of the "stability" and "soundness" of the INSIDE.  

* It is more than saying "yes" or "no" to something.  We need to exercise some "intelligence" in our decisions.  The most intelligent process involves both remaining "childlike" in our experiences with those things which will only pollute and pull us down and being "mature" in our responses to the things which will actually help us grow stronger in our faith.  When I was first asked to teach, I thought I was too immature to do it.  In looking back, I see how much I actually "grew up" in the process of sharing from an honest heart.  There is a process to growth - it is a series of saying "yes" to the right stuff, and "no" to the stuff we'd do better if we'd avoid.

* There are times when our struggles exasperate more than just us.  Others see our struggles - even if we try to hide them.  We might just need to be open to hearing from another about how "frustrating" our continued struggles with the same old thing are to those who look to us for evidence of growth.  Some of us need to embrace the revelation that others see us as we are, not as we hope they will see us!  Remember, the biggest tree doesn't ensure the continued evidence of new growth.  Sometimes we need to do a little "leaf check" to see if we see evidence of mature growth!  Just sayin!

I am not mature!

Mature:  Fully developed in body or mind; complete; perfected; ready; prepared.  Now, how many of you will say you are mature?  In society today, we often think of maturity as reaching a certain age - the age of "legality".  In other words - it is a measure of chronological years, not so much a measure of anything on the inside of the person.  The problem with this way of thinking is that we often have a whole lot of "mature-looking" individuals walking this earth, but they really lack the evidence of maturity in the emotions, mind, or their spirit.  Chronologically, they are "of age" - spiritually, emotionally, or intellectually, they are still immature.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  (Ephesians 4:11-16 MSG)

The idea of maturity carries several very focused meanings.  First, there is this idea of being fully developed.  Having lived with some fruit trees in my backyard as a kid, I know it takes some time for the fruit to come to a place of being developed enough to actually eat it.  As an orange "matures", it goes from a solid green color, to a light yellow, and then a full-bodied orange color.  The chance you take in plucking it too early from the tree is the arresting of the maturing process.  You might see it continue to change color a little, but the "full-bodied" taste of the orange is produced best while it still attached to the source of its maturing!  Now, in a spiritual sense, the place of maturing for a believer is not detached from the branch!  It is in finding a good connection with others who will actually aid your development that maturity is realized.  

Second, readiness is evident in maturity.  If you have ever waited any length of time for a child to be "ready" to leave for a destination they may not actually "want" to go to, you will know exactly what I am speaking of here!  The child "knows" the destination - but they aren't "ready" to get there.  They dilly-dally with the silliest things - taking forever to find their shoes, comb their hair, and get their jacket from the last place they threw it aside.  Now, if we are still doing this as we come into adulthood, most of us would never make it out the door to work in the morning!  We learn to do even the things which don't really thrill us - because we have come to a place of maturity which "overrides" our desire to stay in bed!  There is a readiness to arise in the morning, greet the new day and its challenges, and then come home to do it all over again.  In the spiritual sense, readiness is a key indicator of our level of maturity.  When God asks us to take a step with him, do we balk?  Or are we "ready" to move into what he has for us?  

So, how is it we get to this place of maturity, complete in every way?  I don't know about you, but I haven't arrived yet, but I am on the journey!  Maturity is more than a "time" in life - it is a consistent development process, never fully ended until it is ended.  My pastor says the biggest room in your house should be the room for improvement (Pastor Chad Moore).  If you think about this, he is right.  When we think about being mature, we sometimes think we have arrived at a point in life where there is no further need for "maturing" - almost like a wine maker might say a wine has reached its "perfection".  None of us actually reaches the point of perfection - if we think we do, we are only fooling ourselves.

The best we can ever do is stay in a place which allows us to mature - like the orange attached to the tree.  If we begin to see the resources God has provided for our growth (maturity), we will begin to see the benefit of being rightly connected for however long it takes!  Ever eat fruit which is ripened too quickly - it lacks taste, may be a little bitter, and is dry.  In contrast, the fruit which is allowed to develop to its point of maturity "connected" to its source of development has not only a different appearance on the outside, but the inside is quite different, too.  The pulp of a mature orange is full of juice - it has a robust taste, emanates a pleasant aroma, and is sweet to the one taking it in.  The same is true of spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.  Stay connected to the source of maturity and you will find you produce a "robust" taste, a pleasant aroma, and are not as bitter!

The outside may be deceiving - just looking mature doesn't make us mature.  It is in focusing on what is on the inside that we begin to actually "actualize" maturity.  Readiness is a result of preparation.  Being complete is a result of being perfected.  When we want to do well at something, we just don't launch out and expect to do it well the first time.  We have to prepare - to perfect our skill.  Let's not get the cart before the horse - we have lots and lots of room for improvement in our lives before any of us can actually say we are "mature".  Just sayin!

Who done it?

I love to read - my favorite venue being mystery.  I like the suspense of seeing the plot unfold until you discover the "who done it" at the end!  By definition, a mystery is anything (or anyone) which presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse our curiosity.  The "fun" comes in unraveling the obscure features.  I think God likes mysteries, too!


⁵ Just as you'll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, so you'll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 The Message)


God is at work all around us - in today's moments - unveiling little by little the elements of his "mystery" in us and through us.  


Did you ever wonder why God sometimes takes a great deal of time unveiling his mystery in us?  For one thing, we probably could not handle the whole thing if it was revealed in one great "dump of data" into our finite brains!  More importantly, I think God may just be developing our "curiosity" for more of his mystery to be revealed in us - getting our brains in line with our heart, our emotions in line with his Word, and our spirit in tune with his!  He is almost moving us step-by-step so we come to a place of heightened anticipation until we finally "get it"!


Some think of a mystery as a "puzzle" of sorts - something to be "figured out".  Let me caution you here - God's unveiling of himself in us - the re-creating of our character from one of sinful hardness into one of yielded gentleness is not something we will ever "figure out"!  I have walked a good many years with Christ and I still don't know how he orchestrates some of the change in my life, but he does!


The fact remains - God IS at work in us!  In his mysterious ways, he is bringing us into a place of understanding him more.  He reveals elements of his character, in turn this revelation begins to impact ours.  To understand something (or someone) begins with becoming thoroughly familiar with the person or object.  


Guess what?  The more we get to know God, the more familiar we become with the ways he moves, the things he takes delight in, etc.  This is my scripture tells us those who want to learn God's will for their lives must turn from following after the pursuits of the world.  "² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2 New Living Translation)   


The process of a mystery being revealed requires "learning" - we take in information, processing it until it becomes evident we possess a "piece of the puzzle".  Sometimes God's dealings are just like this - we feel like one piece is being revealed at a time - but we want the bigger picture right now!  


Here's something to consider:  If I gave you a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle today - no box for it - just the pieces - would you be able to "handle" it?  Not likely!  You'd demand the box!  You would want to see the "pattern" in order to know where you were "headed" in placing the pieces together.  God gives us the "box" in Christ - he is the image of what we will all become when God is finished putting the pieces together in us!  Pretty awesome, huh?


So, don't worry about not having all the "knowledge" to figure out the mystery at work in you right now.  Just trust the one doing the work!  He gives us something to look toward - Christ.  He reminds us what he is accomplishing in us - making us into the image of Christ.  He will reveal the "finished product" at some point down the line - we just need to trust in the one who is "revealing the mystery" one step at a time

Sermon Lessons: Courage

⁴⁸"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

(Matthew 5:48)

¹³Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.

(James 3:13)

I think it takes great courage to live out the Christian life.  When you really begin to examine what Jesus outlines in this Sermon on the Mount, he is focusing on his disciples living by a standard that is just a little higher than the rest of what other "religions" require.  For example, he says to live as "kingdom subjects" - living out our God-created identity.  Before we can do that, we have to discover what that identity entails.  We have spent a couple weeks now outlining the "criteria" of our identity in Christ.  So, in capping this off, Jesus says, "Now, live like you are a new creation!  Stop living by the old ways of thinking and acting!"

Two characteristics he emphasizes of a man or woman that has taken this "God-created identity" to heart - graciousness toward others and generosity.  Why does he focus on these two when he describes us living "grown up" lives? It is simply because when we finally "grow up" in Christ, we learn to look beyond our own needs and wants - connecting with the needs of others.  We learn that always being right is not always going to be the best for relationship development.  In turn, we learn to be gracious to overlook offenses, or let another "win" on occasion.

These seem like strong words for Jesus to use.  Remember, he is speaking to those disciples who were his constant companions.  He wants more for them, and he is requiring more of them.  The words to "grow up" imply that they may not have been living very mature lives.  It gives me great joy and hope in knowing that others struggle with making mature decisions, too!  As "old" as I am in a physical sense has nothing to do with the "maturity" of my decisions.  I have been a Christian for 41 years now...but I still struggle with living like a "grown up" in the spiritual sense sometimes. 

I demand my own way - whining and complaining when others seem to be getting theirs.  I whimper and act annoyed when the demands of another's life interfere with my plans.  I run into circumstances that present me with all kinds of temptations to act wrong, talk boastfully, and live out of sync with my new identity.  The truth is, we all do!  In fact, none of us is above another in this "living out" of our Christian faith.  The message to "grow up" is to all of us  - if we count ourselves as disciples of Christ.

Courage is defined as the quality of mind and spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear.  This is not "bravado" - the boastful, puffed up, kind of "courage" that puts self out there for all to see.  It is the quiet connection with our source of strength (Christ) that enables us to face life head-on.  "Grown up" people exhibit this type of "head-on" courage.  There is a desire to "be all we can be" in Christ.  Today will present some opportunities for "grown up" decisions - are you ready?

Don't lose a minute

^5-9So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

(2 Peter 1:5-9)

Peter opens this second epistle to the church with a reminder that the salvation we have been given is all because of the "straight dealing" and intervention of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Everything we need to get to know God better has already been given to us in the gift of salvation - we just need to apply it to our lives.  The very ability to get to know God intimately is not something we have on our own - it is a gift directly from Jesus.

Now, Peter focuses us on building on what we have been given - salvation should lead to a life change (sanctification).  The process of being "cleaned up once" (salvation) leads to the life-long process of being "cleaned up, transformed, and renewed" on an ongoing basis (sanctification).  All with the intention of bringing us to a place of spiritual maturity in Christ.  Peter directs us the allow for good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love to be "worked into" the life we live on a daily basis - these compliment the basic faith we were given at the point we reached out to God in salvation.  I will spend some time elaborating on each of these over the next several days.

Good character - character is often referred to as the sum total of the traits that form the individual nature of who we are.  Our character is made up of both the good qualities and the various peculiarities that make us uniquely who we are.  It involves moral qualities by which we live, ethical standards by which we form judgments, and the principles upon which we base our decisions in life.  If there is one thing that requires change when we come to Christ, it would be our "character" - the sum total of the traits that form what others term as our "reputation".

We possess both good and bad qualities.  Some of these qualities or peculiarities are already "good" at the point of our salvation - such as a person who has the quality of being a hard worker.  Some of them are likely to be viewed by God as "not so good" - such as our tendency to want our own way.  Each trait makes us uniquely who we are at the point of our salvation and lends to the unique way God will move in our lives as we grow in him.

The "good character" that God wants us to work toward is really something that focuses on the set of moral and ethical beliefs we have formed over the course of our life prior to being welcomed into the family of God.  Apart from Christ, the standards we may have chosen to live by may have been self-focused, and even damaging to both our own life and that of others.  Therefore, God wants us to allow his Spirit to work on those character traits that don't align with what he views as good, honoring, and solid.  

When we spend time with God, asking him to reveal the parts of our character that do not align with his standards, he is faithful to point out opportunities for growth.  The key to growing in Christ is really two-fold: being willing to be exposed for who we are; and being willing to re-align our priorities, actions, and principles of life with the standards he lays out in his Word.  It is a matter of willing surrender that produces "good character" - laying down our old beliefs and flawed standards while embracing the standards he provides.  

This process is uncomfortable at first - even downright unpleasant.  This is because the process of transforming our moral standards is counter-intuitive to our very sinful nature.  It is sometimes like a process of battle - we resist a little, yield a little, struggle a little more, eventually submitting, but not without the battle.  Our will is strong - yet our heart desire is pulling us toward the "good character" God desires to see produced.  

Peter reminds us that the very power to live the life we have been given is provided by Christ himself - it is not in our own ability to that we make this exchange of character.  If we keep that in mind, the disappointment we experience in shifting from one set of behaviors (bad) to the another (good) can be a little easier.  All we are asked to do is take the steps of obedience - God does the rest.  He is the one that regenerates what needs the transformation - all we do is take the steps he asks us to take (as difficult as they may be).  What is God asking you to step out into today?  Where is he focusing his attention in your life?  Chances are good that it is with the intention of producing within you "good character" where a character "flaw" now exists.  Don't grow weary in the process of sanctification - the rewards are greater than the battle.