Challenged Faith

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. (Matthew 3:8)

As a kid, we'd often find a friend boasting about something they had seen or reported to be able to do, so we'd challenge them with 'prove it' dares. We wanted evidence that what they said was actually to be trusted. It is not uncommon to ask for someone to prove something we find just too difficult to believe, or that we have a 'block' toward receiving, isn't it? We seek evidence in order to 'validate' the claim. Is it any wonder John the Baptist would challenge those who made claims to be 'believers' to 'prove' their faith by the way they lived? I think it is a fair thing to request - to see evidence that our life is more than just a set of rules without the substance of a changed inner character.

Prove by the way you live - that pretty much sums it up, doesn't it? If we want others to trust our statement of faith, they have a right to see the evidence of our changed inner character. Christ's presence in our lives should produce change - evidence that a relationship exists between us and Christ, not just that we perform various 'religious actions'. Too many times, we accept 'religious actions' or 'statements of faith' as evidence, but we neglect to look beyond the statements into the very character of a man. If Christ indwells us, our inner character isn't as concerned with the 'religious actions' as much as it is with doing everything to preserve our relationship with him through deep, intimate communion with him.

We sometimes miss the mark on that one, don't we? We get ourselves to church each week, have our Bible apps on the phone, listen to Christian music on the radio, and even help out at a local charity once in a while. All good 'actions', but is there evidence of a changed character? Do we do what we do because Christ's love and grace moves us to serve others, worship at his feet, learn from his word, and celebrate his presence with one another? Consider yourself challenged today - prove that the testimony of faith you speak forth is backed with a changed inner character. A character that comes from a deep, intimate, continually maintained relationship with him. Can you do it? Just askin!

Change the narrative, don't just control it

When you do good, you stop ignorant people from saying foolish things about you. This is what God wants. Live like free people, but don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as those who are serving God. (I Peter 2:15-16)

Have you ever wanted to stop someone from spreading bad things about you or someone else? It is only natural to not want someone's 'dirty laundry' aired in front of others, isn't it? As some would say, they hope to 'control the narrative' when it comes to what gets shared about how they live their lives. I would say it is much better to have the right 'narrative' than to attempt to control a wrong one!

Truth be told, ignorant people go around telling things about other people that would be best left unsaid in the first place. Whatever we do, we want our 'doing' to be honoring of Christ - when it is, we have nothing to worry about when it comes to the 'narrative' of our lives. The narrative will be written in such a way that it reflects well on what Christ has done within us, is doing through us, and wants to see replicated in those we touch every day.

I think it is our goal in life to live in such a way that we won't regret the moment someone begins to share things about us. Instead of hanging our head, or ducking away from the conversation, we will know God is getting the glory for all that has been accomplished. If we want the 'narrative' of our life story to change, we need to submit to the leadership of Christ in our lives. That is more than giving lip-service to him by saying we are Christians - it means we reveal a changed heart, renewed mind, and healthy emotions.

We stop ignorant people from sharing the 'wrong narrative' every time we take a step of obedience to Christ. A whole lot of the 'narrative' could be changed if we'd just get off the throne in our lives and really let him take that seat! As long as we are seated in the position of control, there will always be some form of narrative that we must 'control'. When he is seated there, the narrative is under his control, and it is a much better one! Just sayin!

Does baptism make me stop sinning?

So do you think we should continue sinning so that God will give us more and more grace? Of course not! Our old sinful life ended. It’s dead. So how can we continue living in sin? Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ Jesus when we were baptized? In our baptism we shared in his death. So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death. And just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life. (Romans 6:1-4)

If you haven't realized it yet, we do 'continue to sin' even after we say yes to Jesus. There is still a struggle with temptation. We don't just magically 'stop sinning' - we must deal with the urges to do what is wrong when we know what is right. Good news is that we don't do it alone! We have Christ in us to help us with that very real struggle.

Did you ever wonder what purpose water baptism plays in a person's life? If we are honest, some of us may have 'got dunked' without really understanding the real meaning of that action. When we say yes to Jesus, we welcome him into our hearts and ask him to take control of our lives. When we are baptized in water, we are attesting to the fact we have chosen to follow Jesus, wish to live our lives as 'dead to sin' and 'alive to right living'. 

The whole thing about 'taking part in Christ's death' can be a little hard for some to understand. The purpose of baptism is to show we are committed to this walk with Jesus, are reliant upon him to help us live renewed lives, and that we are aware we now live 'new lives'. We are attesting to being 'dead to sin', but we don't always make 'right choices', do we? Does that mean that the action of baptism 'didn't work'? Not at all. Baptism is a testimonial of our faith in Christ to renew our lives - to help us make better choices and walk in all the wisdom he gives.

What changes then? We don't get pulled into sin as easily. It might not happen immediately, but our priorities change. Our choices change. We find ourselves desiring the presence of God. We are easily convicted of our 'sinful deeds' and find ourselves desiring God's restoration quickly. We aren't perfect yet, but we have changed hearts that lead to changed actions, and that is moving us toward God's presence and not away from it. Baptism isn't magical - it is a trusting act that shows we desire more of Christ's activity in our lives until we one day find ourselves aligned with all he desires. Just sayin!

These three gifts

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me. I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all his people. (Psalm 116:12-14)

We all have those moments when we want to offer something to God, but whatever it is we seem to come up with just doesn't seem like enough. God doesn't ask much from us - he gives us so very much, but he asks little in return (or so it seems). If you have ever tried to keep your promises that you have made to God, you might have discovered it can be a little harder than you first thought!

As our psalmist points out, there are a few things we can 'offer the Lord'. If you have also tried to share your faith with another, you are doing one of the things he outlines. The testimony God gives us is actually a 'gift' we can share with others. That hope he places deep within our heart and the sense of freedom he brings into our lives is not easily contained - begging to be shared. Whenever we share our faith, we are actually giving a very special 'offering' to God, but we are also giving others the chance to bring a similar gift.

When we offer praise, lifting our hands and hearts in worship, we are bringing a 'gift' that actually transcends our circumstances. We don't have to 'feel like' praise is 'doing something' within us to offer it. Praise is a gift to God - we just get the 'side-benefit' of being 'lifted' in our spirit and emotions as we bring this precious gift. Isn't it amazing that the gift we bring God could actually be something that benefits us in such a large way? Perhaps the 'gifts' we offer to God have a wider-reaching effect than we first thought.

As we move into the realm of obedience, we are bringing a gift that actually begins to 'cost' us something we may not have really wanted to give at first. As hard as it might be to share our faith with others, praise and worship when times are challenging, it can be harder to look into God's Word and find places in our lives that aren't in line with what he requires of us. These are the moments where the toughest gift to offer is actually be prepared. We are beginning to move from a self-governed lifestyle into a lifestyle of being 'God-governed'. We call this obedience.

We may not think of these three things as 'gifts' we offer to God, but could it be possible we should begin to 'offer' these on a more consistent basis? Just askin!

What I have written...

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” (John 19:16-22)

No matter how hard Pilate tried to release Jesus from the bonds his accusers had placed him in, they objected vehemently, completely determined that Jesus would die that day before the sun went down. Pilate had listened to Jesus' testimony, heard him tell him he was "born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” He found no fault in him, yet his accusers continued to demand his crucifixion, actually going so far as to accuse Pilate of being disloyal to Caesar if he refused to condemn Jesus to death. Isn't it amazing the lengths some will go to in an attempt to stifle the truth? Truth might not be popular to some, but it remains truth nonetheless. Try as we might, we cannot silence truth.

Pilate went to far as to ensure the sign above Jesus' head included the title "King of the Jews", even after the demands to change it to something more 'subtle' like he 'claimed to be' the King of the Jews. Here was what the Pharisees and religious leaders would have considered to be a 'heathen' ruler, giving honor to the one they had come to despise so greatly. Why do you suppose Pilate would not alter his declaration? Could it be that he actually believed Jesus to be the Son of God, come to redeem his people? Or do you suppose he merely did not want to condemn an innocent man, sort of like washing his hands of his guilt when he posted the sign? Either way, he did not ever declare Jesus to be guilty of a crime - he merely fulfilled the wishes of the pressing and demanding crowd.

In Hebrew, Latin, and Greek - assuring that all within the city could clearly see just who hung on the cross that day. Why would Pilate care that everyone knew? I go back to the question of belief. Did he perhaps believe in more than the 'innocence' of Jesus? Could it be when Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world,” that he actually realized this was more than a man standing before him? We weren't there that day, but I imagine the quandary he felt was made even worse when Jesus spoke nothing but truth and refused to 'justify' his claims or 'fight for his rights'. 

What I have written, I have written. Profound words indicating they would not be changed - truth would be told for all to see. When Pilate encountered truth, he would not allow truth to be altered. We don't know all the reasons behind his actions, but we know he was moved by what he saw in Jesus, and he would not allow his testimony to be altered. How about us? Are we willing to stand by the testimony of Jesus in our own lives? Does what we reveal about Jesus point clearly to the truth? If not, maybe it is about time we consider our testimony a little closer and allow the truth resident within to shine just a bit brighter. Just sayin!

Your true convictions

What does the cross-examination of your life reveal about the "rock-solid" or "a little too shaky to admit" testimony of your life? Whenever someone wants to build a case 'for' or 'against' you, they begin with something they call 'discovery'. There is a 'looking into' the life and events to see what really comes forward while 'looking'. A trial always begins with what they have come to term "opening arguments" - the laying out of the case from each person's perspective (prosecution and defense) in such a way that those 'on trial' are given a hint about what will be presented. It is often quite telling that something is about to become apparent, but it usually isn't all laid out in infinite detail in the 'opening argument'. There is much to be brought forward and that takes on a whole lot of 'asking' and 'telling'.

The first speech in a court case is always convincing—until the cross-examination starts! (Proverbs 18:17)

The opening speeches may all be nicely worded and organized into a nice synopsis of the beliefs of both the prosecutor and the defender, but they don't contain all the "evidence" that will be presented in the case being made. That is the purpose of the trial - it "opens up" the intricate pieces of evidence for the judge and jury to examine for the purpose of coming to a conclusion about the outcome of the one 'on trial'. Many times, these life-scenes reveal a pretty certain prosecutor who believes his/her case is rock-solid against the one who ultimately is 'under examination'. All the witnesses for the prosecution are believed to be exactly what will bring the "conviction" against the defendant that is ultimately desired.

Remembering that the case is a series of back and forth question or "examinations" that reveal the evidence 'for' or 'against' someone, it is easy to see how important it is to have all the right questions asked. Those questions come to light in the time of 'discovery' BEFORE the trial even begins. The "case" against the defendant is really made in the cross-examination of the witnesses. If the witnesses can have their testimony discredited in some manner, the case against that individual can go down the drain pretty quickly. This is so true about our daily testimony - the facts we present by the actions we display in our lives. The "making" or "breaking" of our "testimony" is determined in the closeness of "cross-examination" that we are placed under in the course of the 'trial'.

We stand "on trial" each and every day for evidence that our testimony is "rock solid" and unwavering. From the way we respond when we are wronged to the response we give when we are called on the carpet for less than stellar behavior - all lead to a conclusion about the "solidness" of our life's testimony. If our first response is to excuse our behavior (even though it has not been stellar), the testimony we give about Jesus is that our behavior really doesn't matter to him (or to us, for that matter). If our response when wronged is that we will turn to retaliation (rather than to forgive the offense), we damage the testimony of God's grace in our own lives. Either way, the testimony we give will betray our true convictions! Just sayin!

Choose a side

I was watching a show last night in which a physician was asked to be an 'expert witness' in a malpractice case. As healthcare providers, physicians and nurses are often called upon to give 'expert testimony' as to the practice exhibited by another provider during the care of a patient that didn't quite go as expected. If you are called upon to be the expert witness on behalf of the one being tried, you are there to give testimony to the evidence of the care being provided in a reliable manner - it met the standards of care. If you are called upon to be the expert witness against the one being tried, you are expected to bring out errors in judgment that led to the 'bad outcome' of the patient. It is clear from these examples, we can be a 'witness' on either 'side' of the issue - it depends on who's side we 'side with'!

'I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I've handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what's happened today, and to what I am going to show you.' (Acts 26:15-16)

A witness is one who has sufficient knowledge to constitute enough proof that something exists, or perhaps that someone is who they say they are, or that there is evidence to the contrary for one or the other. It may not be clear to you, but you are being spoken to by God - direct communication with God - and the message is clear! We are being "handpicked" by God to be his messenger and to act as a witness to the power of our holy and righteous God. We are called to stand on the side of God - to give a testimony to the reality of his existence - to proclaim his actions are 'spot on' in all regards. The effectiveness or what others will believe about our witness is often viewed by the kind of people that we are in our ordinary everyday lives, not what we say. All the preaching, teaching, or sharing we do is useless if what we "say" doesn't match with what we "live out" in our everyday lives. To be faithful to the message of hope that lives within us (Christ), we need the power of the constant flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

There is no substitute for power - we can light a candle, but it dims in comparison to the light afforded when a light bulb is connected to an outlet that feeds it the voltage to "light it up". That difference is found in the 'energy' source - one 'burns' the small wick secured within that candle wax; while the other 'burns' the energy provided by huge turbines moved by pressures exerted by wind or water. One is dim because the source of energy is less than the other. It is the same with our Christian walk - we cannot find any substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit within us. The operation of the power of the Holy Spirit will be that which produces conviction, convinces of the truth, and affords a conversion in our lives. Our own energy to 'live right' is kind of like that candle - it is dim in comparison to the energy source of the Spirit within. A witness has a personal awareness of what they share. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within to bring about this personal awareness of God.

The 'witness' within our lives comes first in conviction - bringing us to a place where we recognize our need for a Savior, moving us into a place where we are constantly aware of the sinfulness inherent within our lives apart from Christ. The witness grows as we are convinced of the truth - allowing us to see the error of our wrong choices, opening to us the truth of God's standards by which we are to pattern our lives, moving us from making wrong choices to making better ones little by little. In bringing about the conversion of our lives into that which brings honor and glory to our holy God, the Spirit of God within is helping us to become 'reliable witnesses' of the work of God's grace within us. It is the last point that makes us solid witnesses of the truth about who God is in our lives. When there is a lifestyle change, there is a witness that is linked to the grace of God.

God's work within our lives is never secretive. There is always a witness of his grace touching us - we may not display the "why" behind the grace (the sinfulness that led us to the place of needing that grace), but we definitely display the "freshness" of that grace (the hope and joy it produces in our lives)! That is the type of "witness" that God asks us to be - channels of his grace by allowing his grace to be "lived out loud" in our lives. Wherever God's grace has affected your life, let it shine out! The witness of God's grace in that area of your life may be the very hope that reaches out to another in need of that same grace in their life! Just sayin!

Go ahead...depose me

“But he knows where I am and what I’ve done. He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I’ll pass the test with honors. I’ve followed him closely, my feet in his footprints, not once swerving from his way. I’ve obeyed every word he’s spoken, and not just obeyed his advice—I’ve treasured it. (Job 23:10-11 MSG)

I wonder if this will be our testimony - that we didn't waver in our walk, we kept step with him, not choosing our own way instead? Could it be that it would be said of us that we did more than obey 'his advice', but that we treated each and every word he has spoken as that which we treasure and give that right place in our lives? This is indeed a testimony I think all of his disciples really hope will become theirs, but many times we don't even believe this is possible!

Look at what Job recounts for us. He begins with God and ends with himself. All we can hope for is that we really get that right - we begin with God and let self take a backseat to his desires and plans for our lives. Yes, God does know what we have done - and even what we haven't done that he may have asked us to do. He also knows where we have been - no matter how cleverly we try to disguise that from others, he is still the one who 'knows all'. 

I have had the opportunity to be deposed and sit in the witness box for matters totally outside of my control by attorneys intent on wanting nothing more than to tear every word of someone's testimony to shreds. It is an uncomfortable feeling to be 'in the hot seat' and know very well that they are trying to find fault with something that might incriminate a physician, nurse, or owner of some healthcare establishment. The idea is that if they can get you to just 'slip up' once in your testimony - find just a shred of incongruity in it - then they can argue their point either on the side of the defense or the prosecution.

I can recall how uncomfortable it was to know you had nothing to hide, but be treated as though you did! It is not this way with God, though. He isn't going to put us in the hot seat, intent on finding something 'bad' in our testimony he can use to build a case against us. In fact, he does everything he can to ensure our testimony is flawless by giving us the very thing that makes us flawless - grace! His 'cross-examination' will come up short every time because of the life of Christ resident within us! He will find no flaw, no fault, nothing will lack congruity in our lives when all he sees is Christ in us! 

We might start with a pretty 'flawed testimony', but all that changes when Christ is given access to our lives. He isn't about to let us stand 'undefended' or in a place where anyone can 'poke holes' in our testimony! That might come as a surprise to some who believe they can never escape their past failures, but search the scriptures and you will find this is truth! The past doesn't need to be a concern when Christ has made us new in the present. Just sayin!

What story does your life reveal?

It is God’s will that your good lives should silence those who foolishly condemn the Gospel without knowing what it can do for them, having never experienced its power. You are free from the law, but that doesn’t mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only God’s will at all times. (1 Peter 2:15-16 TLB)

Lives that can actually shut down the foolish accusations of the unwise - the truth we portray in our everyday choices is more powerful than we might just imagine!  We are to live in such a manner so as to silence the condemnation of the fool by the way we live, not so much with the words we are able to speak in rebuttal to his accusation. It may seem hard to imagine, but the example we set is oftentimes more important than studying to have "all the right words".

It may not come as a surprise to anyone, but there were years when I was studying to "have the right words" - always ready to give an answer. I studied books on apologetic responses - having the EXACT truth to counteract the untruth someone else was trying to put on me or make me believe. While all of that study was not bad, it didn't accomplish anything as powerful as just allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way I acted!

The fool has no clue what the power of God's Spirit is capable of in the life of a believer. In fact, the fool cannot fathom the greatness of grace, nor the absence of any other performance-based "good works" in order to gain "privilege" or "position". The fool often uses words to attempt to disarm those he sees as "different" or "out there" in a spiritual sense. Why? He has no other weapon in his arsenal!

The availability of grace doesn't mean we have the privilege to sin. We still must bring our will into submission to the will of God. We assume the part of the fool whenever we think it is okay to live the way we want all week and then "make up for it" one hour each weekend while we go to church. We ARE the church. The example we set all the rest of the week is what others see and how it is they will judge just how much grace has impacted our lives!

We aren't "free to sin" just because we have access to grace. We are "free from sin" because we have grace. That means our lives are lived as close to the heart of Jesus as possible, and as far away from the fringes of sin as can be imagined. Just sayin!

Live it - don't just say it!

Basic principles - you see many charter schools starting up all over the place touting they are getting back to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The basics are essential in order to have a good foundation upon which to build.  So many schools today have gone in all directions, forgetting the basics or somehow "reinventing" them so they are "new".  Let me just warn us against reinventing any of the basics God expects us to have built into our lives - this is just not sound business!  There are "basic essentials" we all need to have "worked into" our lives in order to have a good foundation in times of trial and temptation - without these, we are subject to all manner of deception and disobedience.

Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. (2 Timothy 2:14-17 MSG)

Some of us view "rules" as something which restricts and binds, so we resist them with all manner of passion.  Almost all rules are meant for our safety and protection.  Wearing a hard hat on the construction site is mandatory, but it gives us "hat head".  A little hat head outweighs a gash in the noggin which requires stitches and lengthy healing!  Driving the speed limit puts a cramp in our style and may take us a little longer to get to wear we want to go.  A safe arrival, without crumpled fenders, is much more desirous than body shop work, increased insurance rates, and a traffic ticket!  See...rules aren't all bad!  How we view them may be, but not the rules themselves!

Paul's advice to Timothy - repeat the basics over and over again - until you get them down pat in your life and they become the basis of all you do and say.  In fact, this is so essential, Paul asks Timothy to remind his brothers and sisters in Christ (fellow believers) to do the same thing - in order that the Body of Christ may be built upon a solid foundation.  Then he launches into a couple of things we need to guard against in our lives - because they have a destructive bent to them.

- Don't get caught up in a whirlwind of nitpicking.  It is so easy to do this, isn't it?  We drift into the negativity in the workplace or home environments, getting caught up in the inconsequential details, and missing the things right in front of your own face.  Notice - nitpicking seems to focus not on what matters, but on what doesn't matter at all!  It has an air of "pettiness" about it.  Nothing destroys relationships quicker than a critical spirit.  As Paul puts it, "It just wears everyone out."  

- Avoid appearing "holy" or "religious" because of nothing more than your talk. You have heard the adage - walk the talk - I think this is what he had in mind here.  It is more than mere words which make a testimony - in fact, it is life change which makes the "loudest" testimony!  Back the words up with a lifestyle reflective of the dramatic difference grace has made in your life, or just don't bother!  Maybe that seems a little harsh to some, but trust me on this - no one wants someone to be all "preachy" about one thing, but live totally opposite of what they preach!

So, as a word of final advice to Timothy, Paul tells him to concentrate on doing his best for God.  Now, lest we think Paul was telling Timothy (and us) that we needed to be "working" toward getting "good stuff" FROM God - in other words, working our way to God by our good works - he wasn't!  He was reminding Timothy (and us) that every believer has a mission in life - to be agents of God's grace in this world.  Lay out the truth in your life - by living out the truth in your life - and you won't get caught up in this system of works which is nothing more than religious piety.  Just sayin!

Raised right!

What were you raised on?  For some of us, we remember the good and wholesome nights of family games, story-telling, and an Sunday drives after church.  Others might remember being raised with a strong emphasis on competitive sports, cheering on your favorite teams with gusto while regaled in the team colors.  Still others may have lived a little more introverted and remember long, lazy days reading ravenously, being carried away into the world of imagination and dreams.  What we "were raised on" becomes the foundation of what it is we "pass on" in this life.  I imagine we all have our memories of how we were raised and what it was which seemed to be of "value" to the family we were raised in.  Yet, I also am aware some may not have had much in the way of "family life" and those memories are a little clouded or almost negative - so this "family life" in Christ is made a little more difficult, as a result.  

You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. (I Timothy 4:6-10 MSG)

In God's family, he expects us to pass on what it is we receive.  A few years back I had the privilege of volunteering one weekend at something referred to as "Saturday Sunday School" held at the local Teen Challenge center.  It is a program which provides a huge bus ministry to the kids in the poorer sections of town.  They come to the Saturday gathering for several reasons - it provides them something special to do on their weekend while many of their parents are "absent" from them; they get snacks and a safe place to "hang out"; and they enjoy lots of fun and games.  Interwoven through all this is the sharing of the Word in puppet shows, videos, story-telling, and crafts.  It always amazed me to see the older, more "street-wise" teens who would come along with their younger siblings.  They were like watchful hens and roosters - guarding their "kin" and insuring no one mistreated their "brood". The most amazing thing I saw though was the intensity of love they have for their siblings - often forgoing their own snack to pass it down to a hungrier younger one in the group.  Gang rivalry was put aside, bravado was put in the backseat for a few hours, and I watched as these "families" took care of each other.  I think this is a picture of what God intends with all his kids who are called his "family"!

Our "thing" we "pass along" is not the cookies and juice, but the meat of the Word and the testimony of God's grace in our lives.  We "pass on" the counsel we have received from the Word - so others may take it in and be nourished by the depth of its wisdom.  We "pass on" the testimony of his grace in our lives so others may "taste" a little bit of the transforming power of his unending grace.  These are more than "silly stories that get dressed up as religion".  They are life-transforming testimonies of what God is doing in the lives of those he loves and cares for - nurtured under the watchfulness of his eye and nestled into the protection of his arms.

The command in our passage is pertinent to all of us:  Pass on what we receive.  I think this is the purpose of my blog - to pass on what God gives me rather than just holding these life-lessons all up for myself.  When we hold these things to ourselves, we are just going to become "fat" Christians. We actually stay "spiritually-fit" when we are sharing what it is we have been given and learned at the feet of Jesus!  Any time we "take in" without "giving out", we get flabby!  This is as true in the spiritual sense as it is in the physical!  What is given is meant to be given away - this is a principle clearly outlined in scripture.

Now, let me give you a word of caution here.  Not everything we are given is to be given away - sometimes we need to ruminate on it a while until it becomes a little clearer and has had its effect on our lives.  When we give out spiritual truth without fully understanding it, it is still truth, but it lacks the same "integrity" which becomes very apparent when it shared from a life which has truly been changed by that same truth.  Sometimes I think we need a little "breathing room" to allow the Word to take hold in us - then we will be able to "give out" what we have taken in because through the "exercise" of the Word within us, we are able to share it with a power behind it!

Disciplined lives are learned in the process of moving from undisciplined living into the place of embracing what we know to be true and acting upon it.  If I know my heart will be made stronger (since it is a muscle) by vigorous exercise, and I actually take a walk everyday to strengthen my heart, I am moving from undisciplined living into disciplined living.  I am acting upon what I know to be truth.  The reality of the truth becomes very apparent when I am no longer winded at the end of my walk, but invigorated and energized for the other activities I need to accomplish that day!  What happened is strength came to my heart by the actions I took.  What happens spiritually when we "exercise" our faith based on the truths we know is that we develop "spiritual strength" and we are able to "endure" longer and tougher battles as a result.

What we are raised on matters - what we do with what we are raised on matters more!  Just sayin!

A living testimony

As we have studied scripture before, I have often reminded of the importance of the simple words such as "and" or "but".  Today's passage has one of those "buts" in it - the thing which has been proposed or said ahead of this simple little word makes a huge difference.  So, we cannot skip over the simple words if we are to get the entirety of the meat from the passage.  To set the stage, we see Peter writing this letter to believers - it wasn't written to those who had no faith in Christ, but rather those who had embraced the finished work of Christ on their behalf.  As he begins the letter, he challenges believers to begin to live a life of holiness - set apart from their former ways of doing things (especially as it applies to their past religious performance).  There will be tough times - of this he assures us - BUT these tough times don't need to destroy or defeat us - we should allow them to define us.  As the chosen ones of God, we are designed for a specific work - to be his instruments and his voice to a hurting people.

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (I Peter 2:9-10)

The former way of living is behind - the new is set before us.  As such, Peter calls our attention to several important facts we need to keep in mind as we make choices about how it is we live each day.  First, we need to recognize our high calling.  Now, if you were in school and the teacher called on you to come to the front of the class to share your "show and tell" item - something special you brought to school that day to share with the class - you would feel pretty special.  You might feel like at that very moment you were the center of attention - all eyes directed toward you and interest high in anticipation of what you might share.  Our high calling in Christ is not really that we are the center of attention, but this calling draws attention to Christ as the author and finisher of a great work - a work he has begun in each of us and chooses to highlight in each of our lives.  This work is evidence of his grace, love, and intense desire to see each of us drawn into the nearness of relationship he desires with each of his children.

We are chosen to be a holy people.  As such, we exemplify the finished work of Christ in our lives.  What does being "holy" entail?  Simply put, it means that we are "set apart" from the old way of doing business in our lives. Choices are made differently, actions reflect a new "person" in charge of our lives.  We make out "holiness" to be something like unto the life of being a priest - being pulled away into the monastery, living without some of the earthly pleasures others enjoy, taking a vow of poverty, etc.  Now don't get me wrong - if Jesus has asked this of you, then follow that path - but few are called to live this type of life.  In fact, most of us are asked to live right where we are as "holy" people - serving God in the midst of the regular stuff of life.

This high calling is simply put as "telling others" - being an example of the life change Christ brings into our lives.  There is an old adage which states "more is caught than taught".  In other words, our lives are to "tell the story" of God's ability to take a life of religious performance and transition it into a life of grace-filled holiness.  As more and more of our life becomes filled with God's grace, it bubbles forth into a lively testimony of what God does in the lives of those who serve him.  I know my old way of living had a "testimony" which did not honor God - but I was quite "religious".  I attended church weekly, sometimes more frequently.  I spoke the language of "religion", but my words did very little to describe the real condition of my heart.  Trust me -my actions often betrayed my words!

God's action in our lives brings a transformation - all Peter is reminding us to do is allow this transformation to be so evident that it sparks the interest of others to want what we have in our lives.  It is by a living testimony that many will follow Jesus - may ours be that testimony!  Just hoping!

Walls of defense don't stand a chance!

Have you ever been beaten before you even started?  I imagine the people of Jericho felt a little like that.  They looked out, seeing a vast army of God's people, having heard of God's interventions on behalf of this people.  Evidence of their fear was in them shutting their gates so tightly - none coming or going.  Why?  Because of the people of Israel.  Imagine that - the "testimony" of what God had done through this people had made its way into their town. Faced as they were by their armies, they could not help but respond to what they saw and heard.  This is the power of a testimony - living it out in real life.  

Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out.  God spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops. Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in.”  (Joshua 6:1-5 MSG)

It was as though Jericho was "captured" by Israel's testimony even before their armies could conquer them!  Evidently, the "testimony" of God's actions on behalf of Israel had a profound effect on the inhabitants of the city of Jericho.  If you have studied scripture for any length of time, these walls separating Israel from Jericho's inhabitants were actually quite large - something of "adequate" defense against most armies.  In fact, there were two walls, a large retaining wall and an embankment of soil which normally protected this city.  Archaeologists calculated the two walls to be something like 46 feet from ground level - top to bottom.  That is a pretty sizable set of walls!  The first was set upon a retaining wall 12 feet high itself with the wall extending about another 20 feet on top of that - all about six feet wide!  The two walls were separated by a large soil embankment building up to the inner wall which stood about 46 feet high from ground level and also about six feet wide.  Now, imagine seeing a bunch of people intent on coming inside with nothing more than their "marching sandals"!

Jericho was kind of dependent upon what was outside their walls - for they needed to hunt game outside the walls.  The small city of probably less than 100 mud huts required access to the "outside world" in order to provide for those who dwelt within.  To shut up the gates implied a cutting off of resources and the possibility of starvation.  They would have had a little reserve, but not likely all that much.  So, this maneuver rendered them helpless - although a sandal-clad group of people really didn't seem that formidable to most!  I wonder if this was part of God's plan - to cut them off from their supply?  

Now, to fully understand the battle of Jericho, it is imperative we understand when Jericho's battle was fought.  Israel has wandered for years in the wilderness between leaving Egypt and now arriving into the land of Promise. Canaan had been a dream to them at this point.  Joshua would lead them in and help them conquer the armies of the region.  They hadn't had a lot of battles under their belt by this time - but something about the testimony of this people made its way to Jericho.  Something caused the people of Jericho to tremble in fear before them.  Could that "something" be what had just occurred with God's people - something which would forever change them? Isn't that what really gives God's people a unique testimony anyway - the stuff which really "changes" them inside and out?  What happened just prior to the Jericho walls?  The circumcision of Israel and the appearance of the Commander of the Angel Armies!  

Joshua listened intently to the instructions of God as he faced the battles before him.  His intention was to do more than "act" like a holy and set apart people - he wanted Israel's strength to be based on having been encountered by the Commander of the Angel Armies!  They were to do more than "act" - they were to "be".  It is our "being" which speaks louder than any words we might speak.  Maybe this is why Israel was instructed to just circle the city completely silent for six whole days!  God didn't need their words to accomplish his purposes - he needed their obedience.  I think we get this confused sometimes.  We imagine God needing our convincing arguments in order to see walls crumble in the lives of those around us.  In truth, he just needs the evidence of his actions in our lives to speak through!  Actions are the basis of our testimony - changed lives are the "loudest" testimony!

For six days they march - silent.  For six days Jericho watches intently - assured they were safe against all invasions - especially against this "silent" crowd of "witnesses".  Hmmm...I wonder how many times our silent testimony becomes our most instrumental tool in God's hands?  I think it is more than we realize.  When Israel finally did speak - what did they say?  They testified of God's grace, his love, and his protection - they praised God with shouts and cheers.  If you have ever wondered what speaks the loudest in your life, it is likely the testimonials of God's actions in your life!  It is the testimony of his grace which speaks clearly and which breaks down the defenses.  It isn't the eloquence of our words - it is the connection between our words and our actions.  Israel was obedient to all God asked - silence for six days, praise on the seventh.  Obedience is evidence of their connection with God's heart. It was likely their obedience which spoke loudest.  Just sayin!

"T" anyone?

We are almost done with our exploration of the character traits God desires to work into our lives.  As you may have well imagined, this list is far from complete, even with the ones I have listed along the way.  In fact, you probably thought of a few in the list which I did not mention - it is okay, because God is probably expanding that list for each of us as we explore these traits.  This was a starting point for us to consider how it is God builds character within - a starting point of beginning the moving from just knowledge in our heads about what God wants us to do into a place of allowing God to actually do it within!  As we explore our "T" List today, I chose just two traits:  Temperance and Truthfulness.  How we define temperance today is probably a little different than they did in the days of King James, but generally it means moderation.  It is the ability to exhibit a little self-restraint, especially where it applies to any of our "natural" appetites.  We think of this as passing on dessert when we know we don't need the extra calories, or perhaps it is avoiding awkward situations where you will be able to compromise your purity in a sexual sense.  Either way, the idea of self-restraint is one we kind of understand better than "temperance".  Truthfulness is more than just "telling the truth" - it is a lifestyle which "conforms to" truth.

Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.  (2 Corinthians 6:2-10 MSG)

Let me begin by stating something quite obvious:  Living what we preach is hard work!  I remember hearing the phrase, "Do as I say, not as I do".  Now, what kind of conflict does that conjure up in your mind?  Isn't this just the way we are, though?  We say one thing, but end up doing another.  We don't want anyone else to pattern their actions after ours because they are inconsistent.  You are not in this boat alone, friend!  I am paddling right along with you!  There are even times when I lose the paddle and get set adrift for a while!  So, don't lose heart - you have traveling companions!

Look at what Paul says - our work as God's servants gets "validated" in the "details" of what we say and do.  What is more concerning to me is the next statement - people are watching us!  Eegads!  Don't you just wanna crawl under a rock about now?  So, this is where truthfulness and temperance come in, friends.  You see, when we begin to take our lives to God and allow him to remove the masks as we studied yesterday, we begin to live "real" lives.  Those real lives are filled with all kinds of things which need some "refining" and "cultivating", aren't they?  Some of the things we'd like to just have "refined" a little, God is actually working on taking completely out of our lives as they don't do a thing for his testimony in us.

Self-control is only learned in the midst of the compromising circumstance or situation.  You don't need it at any other time, do you?  So, it is a "trait" we call upon when we are tempted or in times of trial.  Amazing!  Paul doesn't paint a pretty picture when he talks about the testimony God had worked in his life, does he?  Nope - he talks about the reality of dealing with "stuff" in the here and now which he'd probably rather not have to deal with at all.  Things like hard times - when the going just gets rougher.  Or perhaps the sorrow is heavy upon us, bringing tears easily and heaviness of heart like nothing else can.  The truth is, people are watching us when these circumstances are upon us - because they want to see what Jesus would do with them!

Yep, you heard that correctly - they watch US because they want to see what JESUS will do with the circumstances!  When that saying first came out, it was all the rage, wasn't it?  What would Jesus do?  (WWJD)  People got bumper stickers, bracelets, book covers, necklaces, etc. - all brandishing the little logo "WWJD".  I wonder just how well that worked for them?  I would sometimes drive behind one of those cars and watch as they'd swerve in front of others, speed down the highway, or simply be doing stuff not safe to do while driving (texting, make-up application, etc.).  Truth be told, I was watching!  Looking for the testimony of Christ in their lives!

This is a tough message this morning - I am in the boat rowing, remember?  My testimony can sometimes not reflect the best self-control, nor the most truthful side.  Transparency is a hard process - one which requires vulnerability and a willingness to be under "scrutiny".  It also makes us a little more accountable for our behavior.  Maybe this is why God values it so much!  It helps to bring us to a place of accountability in our lives.  I think this is what Paul may have been saying about how he was living his life - he lived it out in the open, the good and the bad alike, hoping people would see more of Christ than they would of him.  Friends, this about all we can do - live as close to Jesus as possible in the moment, then trust him to do the rest.  We cannot get down on ourselves for each moment when self-control went out the window.  We can turn to Christ, ask for his help the next time, and for the courage to admit when we are faced with struggles beyond our capacity to deal with alone.  

Truthfulness and Temperance - getting to the point of living so Jesus is seen in our actions is the goal.  Remember, we only reach the goal as we take one step at a time.  There are no "teleporters" in this "character thing".  You cannot just ask to be "beamed up" and go from start to finish in the blink of an eye.  Character is a process - lesson upon lesson.  The key:  Keep rowing!  Just sayin!

Trouble equals Training

I wonder how many of us could agree with this equation:

Trouble = Training

Most of us equate "training" to the efforts we put forth to AVOID trouble - such as when we work out at the gym or take regular walks in order to keep our hearts healthy and avoid heart disease.  Very few of us will actually equate the present "trouble" we might be experiencing as a way of "training" either our minds, bodies, or spirits.  

God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. (Hebrews 12: 7-11 MSG)

Did you realize the primary definition of trouble is that state of mind where your contentment is disturbed?  We call it worry or distress.  I don't think this is what God hand in mind when he tells us our present trouble is not punishment, but training.  I think he may be referring to the idea of the "agitation" of the present moment actually "stirring us up" to do something about the circumstances we have been allowing ourselves to remain in without ever doing anything about them!  Too many times, despite his continual urging, we like to stay adrift on the calm seas of "status quo".  The problem is the stuff which "settles" into the deepest and darkest places in our lives whenever we don't have some "troubling" of the waters of our minds, souls, or spirits.  We become stagnant and the "stuff" which collects at the bottom is kind of gross.

Why do some streams appear so crystal clear, allowing you to see all the beauty in the rocks underneath?  Isn't it because they are constantly flowing? The rivers around my neck of the woods here in Arizona are not so clear - in fact, they are pretty murky.  Why?  They are "dam fed" - in other words, when they open the slews a little, the waters are free to flow downstream, but they come from the bottom of the lake, where all the murkiness is, not the top!  When I was in Tennessee, we enjoyed a freely-flowing creek right off our balcony - frequented by the animals of the forest, and refreshing just to watch.  Yet, there was something else which caught my eye about the "running water" - it had a unique sound to it.

Think about it - stagnant water doesn't make much of a sound, does it?  It takes "running water" to actually be heard.  Now, bigger rivers also have a "flow" to them, but it is a different kind of flow, isn't it?  As we took a paddle-boat ride on the Tennessee River, we could see nothing in the waters because they were so muddy and murky, not even a fish could be seen.  There were many waterways which fed this larger river, but the flow of the river was not enough to filter out the impurities which all gathered at this point.  Although there was a "flow" to this river, it could not be heard, and it was barely observable.  

Sometimes our lives become "catching" places - places where the impurities of life just seem to gather, settle in, and leave us with some pretty murky places in our lives.  When God begins to "trouble" those waters, it is not to bring us turmoil and pain, but to begin to get the "flow" again so we might begin to "filter out" the impurities and hear again the sweet music of "moving waters" in our lives.  Those waters are meant to be "living streams" - music to God's ears!  So, whenever you see troubles come, don't think of them as punishment, but as God's way of "troubling the waters" so the impurities have a chance to surface, be skimmed away and then begin to flow again in sweet melodies which delight the ear and heart of God!  Just sayin!

And my take away is....

Chosen:  the action of selection, often as a means of indicating preference for a specific object chosen.  Most of the time, we go through life making all kinds of choices without much thought - simply because things have become so familiar to us, we just do it by habit.  We reach for the salt or pepper at the table simply because we have done this for years.  We drive a particular path to work without much thought to the winding path, sometimes not even aware of the things we pass by simply because they are so familiar to us because of the sheer frequency of the path we travel.  We gravitate to the same place at the table, in the living room furniture, etc. - it is "our" space.  We have indicated a "preference" for a certain route, spot, or type of activity - it is now our method of conducting our affairs.

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.  (I Peter 2:9-10 MSG)

God views being "chosen" a little differently - not as the routine or "preferred" means of conducting business - but as a means of "electing" those who embrace grace, not so they can sit pretty, but so they can engage with him in the work he has for those he chooses.  We are chosen for a high calling - not just a routine, mundane, run-of-the-mill kind of existence.  Our high calling involves something referred to as a "priestly work" - something most of us would equate to some "office" of the church.  God has a different opinion of the "priestly work" he has called us to - it is not just an office - it is a lifestyle.  The idea conveyed here is one of living as the priests of old did - set apart, vigilant in pursuit of the right choices, and as an example for others.  The priest engaged in certain "duties" such as worship, prayer, teaching, study, etc.  So, our high calling is similar - we are called to pray for each other (even those we don't know), worship together, study to show ourselves approved, and to teach with all boldness.  We make this "priestly" thing kind of mystical - God makes it quite practical!  

Our "high calling" is really a calling to live "out loud".  We are to "live out loud" as it concerns the evidence of grace in our lives.  What is reflected in our lives is far from the mundane - it is the ever dynamic flow of grace.  Is there really any other way to reflect the holiness of God in our sinful lives?  We cannot possibly reflect the holiness of God without the continually flow of grace from within.  As grace does its work within us, we are becoming what we are chosen for - changed lives being used to change lives.  

We become God's instruments - not to just sing a pretty song - but to do his work.  I am listening to a song right now by Josh Wilson called, "See You".  It is basically saying he refuses to sit still while he watches someone else do what he is called to do himself.  Maybe this is a fitting song to reflect the teaching reflected above.  God is not calling us to sit around watching others do the work of their priestly calling - he has called us to do the work he has prepared for us to do ourselves!  You see, there is nothing more powerful than the testimony of one!  The evidence of grace in your life is your unique priestly ministry.  Only you can reflect the grace of God in the unique way you do - it is your calling.  

The work of the Old Testament priests was to conduct their lives as examples for those who were looking to them.  I don't know about you, but it kind of freaks me out a little to think others are actually looking to me to be the example they follow!  We may not even know how many people this may be - but the idea others are actually looking to us as examples should cause us to be a little more concerned with not doing things by "rote" and more concerned in keeping things "lively" as it concerns the flow of grace in our lives.  When grace is free-flowing, there is a living and vital testimony.  When grace gets a little stagnant, our testimony is just as stagnant.  If you ever think grace is just a one time thing - thing again.  It is a constant process.  As such, it ensures a free-flow of that which becomes the "talking points" of our lives.  Talking points are the things which people actually latch onto - the "take away" from the encounter.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all lived in such a way so as to leave others with the "take away" which always pointed others to God's grace?  Just sayin!

It is time for the news!

In today's electronic age, we seldom resort to "snail mail" as a means of keeping in touch with others in our lives.  I am quite guilty of this myself.  It is not that I have lost the ability to write a letter, place a stamp on it, and walk it to the mailbox.  It is the "immediacy" of email and instant messaging which makes it all the more appealing to me.  In the past, the "news" we'd share about changes in our lives would come via the postal service, arriving to the recipient days after the "news" was indeed "news".  In the military, we had mail call.  It was a time when we'd all gather around in hopes of one link to home in the form of a small envelope filled with "news" and maybe even a little token of love.  In turn, our loved ones would hurry to the mailbox when they'd see the familiar mailman's truck passing by.  We all want to know the "news" of another's life.

Does it sound like we're patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we're not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it. (2 Corinthians 3:1-3 The Message)

We are all "writing letters" of a different sort - the letter written on a human heart touched by the hand of a forgiving and loving God.  These are letters which are "read" by many - not just those closest to us.  The "news" of a changed life is indeed something to be heralded.


I want to challenge us for a moment.  Let me pose a couple of thoughts about what is being "written" in our hearts today.  


- First, "news" is the report of something recent - a new event or occurrence.  What can you point to in your life today which reflects the hand of God writing on your heart something which is new or fresh?  If you are having a little difficulty with this one, then maybe it is time to seek him out - taking some time to allow his touch to be felt almost always assures us of seeing the evidence of his "writing" in our lives.


- Second, "news" is usually a collection of things - not just one point or idea.  In order to "frame" the "news", one has to "tell the story".  When God sets out to write his story in us, he "frames" the story.  There is something about God's writing which points others to see the trail grace has made as it traces over our souls.  In the reviewing of the various "points", one sees a clear picture of who and what God has done in our lives.


- Third, "news" is something written and expressed - it is not "news" if it is kept to oneself.  It is simply "new" knowledge if we keep it to ourselves.  God's purpose for "writing" on our hearts is so others can see and enjoy the story.  Look at what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church.  He did not need all kinds of letters of endorsement from others - his greatest letter of endorsement was a changed life.  Our lives are evidence of God's "re-creative" power.  They are "news" worthy of expression.  


So, really there are various forms of "mail" we read in life - the instant electronic type, the snail mail type, and the ever-present "mail" of a life touched by his hand.  Others are "reading" us each and everyday.  I wonder what "news" they will see today by looking upon my life?  How about you?

A little too close for comfort!

Most of us have never experienced the type of persecution which lands us in jail for our testimony of Christ.  In fact, many of my readers actually luxuriate each day in our "comfort" of living in a country which promotes religious freedom.  Over recent months, I have observed the largest percentage of my readers shifting from the US and Canada to some of the countries where religious freedom may not be as available - such as Russia, Slovania, Indonesia, India, and Saudi Arabia.  In fact, the most "hits" have come from Russia over the past 60 days.  I can only praise God for the expansive audience the internet allows!  


A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him.  (Acts 24:24-25 The Message)


Felix was governor of the region.  He is asked to hear a case which is a little unsettling to him - the case of "State" versus "Paul - a believer in Christ".  As the chapter opens, we learn something interesting about this case - it is a "set up".  The charges have been "trumped up" to make Paul out to be some type of "rabble-rouser" worthy of a life sentence in prison.


Felix is in a little bit of a muddle here.  In fact, he is torn on what his verdict should be.  Why?  Maybe it was because his wife was a Jew, as was Paul.  In fact, if you know anything about Paul, he was a Jew of the Jews (a Pharisee - a student of the Law of Moses).  If he ruled against Paul, siding with the religious Jews which brought him before the court, what was he saying?  It was kind of like, "This group of Jewish believers I will support, but this group I will not."  Now, there's a pickle for you!


So, he delays his sentencing.  Yep, the age-old strategy of "stalling" in the moment of needing to make a decision works to his advantage here.  He tells the crowds he will need more time.  In reading this chapter, I actually chuckled by the passage which precedes ours today.  So, I thought I'd share it, too.


Felix shilly-shallied. He knew far more about the Way than he let on, and could have settled the case then and there. But uncertain of his best move politically, he played for time. "When Captain Lysias comes down, I'll decide your case." He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to more or less give him the run of the place and not prevent his friends from helping him. (Acts 24:22-23 The Message)


He "shilly-shallied".  In the simplest terms, it means he wasted time - delayed in order to not make a decision.  He was vacillating this way and that, not able to figure out one way as better than another.  So, when in doubt, just throw the guy back in jail!  Only, look at what he "allows" for Paul.  He gave him the run of the place!  Anyone incarcerated would be the first to tell you this just doesn't happen!  Prisoners are just not allowed to have visitors anytime they want them, moving about as they wish.  In fact, they are on a regimented routine - going hither and yon as the guards require.


The thing I want to focus on today is the summation of Paul's testimony before Felix.  Our passage points out several important things.  First, Paul was given opportunity to share the Good News even in his "bound" state.  There is nothing which can "shut down" the testimony of Christ when it is genuine!  Second, he was bold in his message.  We learn he "insisted" upon right relationships between God and man.  He pointed them repeatedly to the truth of restored relationship - not just religious pursuit, but intimate relationship.  Last, but not least, he continued to warn of coming judgment.  Amazingly, the prisoner preaches of coming judgment to the very one who could pass the most serious of judgments against him (at least in the natural sense).


The result - it made Felix uncomfortable because it hit way too close to home.  The evidence of the reality of Christ is too much for even the most stalwart of souls to resist.  When the message hit too close to home - he sent Paul back to the cell.  Interestingly, he does not order him killed, nor does he prohibit his speaking out his testimony.  He simply distances himself from Paul - to ease the discomfort a little, I am sure.  


I wonder just how much our own testimony "gets a little too close to home" with those we are given audience with?  Does the message of our lives match the message of our mouths?  Who knows - we may be given audience to someone one day with great influence.  This "audience" may be the very thing which influences a nation.  What your words and life accomplish under the anointing of the Holy Spirit may be far-reaching.  Just remain faithful to the testimony of Christ, the reality of restored relationship, and the right-living of solid morals.  Your life speaks volumes - even if it is to an "audience of one".  

Cry Wolf One Too Many Times?

^11-13Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it." It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."  ¹⁴But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? 

(Romans 10:11-14 The Message)

You may find the fact that calling out to God ensures a listening ear - each and every time - a little hard to believe, but it is true!  God listens AND he hears!  As a little girl, I learned the story about "crying wolf" too many times.  The idea of "crying wolf" was really a symbol of sounding a false alarm.  In other words, you think you are in trouble, but really the threat is not real.  The most amazing thing about God is that he really doesn't differentiate between us "crying wolf" and really being in trouble!  He just listens and responds to each and every request we bring before him!  

-  How can people call for help if they don't know who to trust?  This is the question of our times, is it not?  We just don't believe what we hear anymore because we have heard so many different stories, so many lies, and been duped so many times.  It is a sad fact, but true.  Trust has been broken so many times by those we hold close to us, or those we really should be able to trust by nature of their position.  No wonder society asks, "Who can we really trust?"  So, the first thing we must establish clearly is that God has not changed!  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  He is the unchanging one and as such, can be counted on to remain faithful in all he does and says (Deuteronomy 7:9).

-  How can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted?  There is a tendency to "be in the dark" about things until someone shares with you what you have been missing.  When that moment comes, there is a release that comes (I call that our ah-haw moment).  That release causes us to see things in a totally new light - we move from a lack of awareness to a fresh awareness (light).  There is a responsibility to share our foundation of hope with those around us - not "hoard" Jesus to ourselves.  The scripture is clear - if no one tells the world, how are they to know?  Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a "stand on the street corners, shouting repent to the world" kind of gal!  As a matter of fact, I have tried this at one time or another in my walk with Jesus and found it to be very unrewarding and a little useless. The fact is that Jesus came to tell us about his father in heaven, and he asks us to tell others about him, as well (John 8:26).  How can they hear if nobody tells them?  Telling is the ability to give an account, to report what one has done.  All Jesus asks of us is to share what he has done in our own lives.  It is an "accounting" for the hope we have.  The hope we have is based on the testimony of ONE - Jesus.  He came to tell us the way back to relationship with God - our testimony is to point others to that same hope (I John 5:11).  It is our goal to be a living message of the truth that Jesus sets lives free.

-  How is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?  What many of us really resist is the fact that we have been "called" and that "calling" includes being "sent".  To be called simply means that we have been invited to be part of the family of God.  To be sent means that we extend that invitation to others.  Plain and simple.  

Just as we confide in a close friend, Jesus is standing ready to have us confide in him.  He invites us to bring our hurts, our hopes, and our cries for help.  He sorts through each of them to "weed out" the perceived threats from the real ones.  He is not concerned that we may "cry wolf" now and again - in fact, he uses those times as "teachable moments" to show us how he can be trusted, that he has things in his hands, and that there is NOTHING that can stand against us.  There is a process of learning to "tell Jesus" our concerns, allowing him to bring out those things that really are at the core of our complaints and our concern.  In so doing, he is teaching us.  

That process of "telling" Jesus is more than just "telling" him what we think he wants to hear.  Too many times, we learn to "tell" like we think it should be rather than the way it really is!  Jesus relishes our honesty - even if it comes with a tendency to "cry wolf" on occasion.  So, if we want to learn to "tell the world", we must first learn to "tell Jesus".  No testimony to the world will be as effective as that which has already been discussed at the feet of Jesus!