You are not unworthy

For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. (Colossians 1:27-28)

Christ lives in you - those are words we can take to heart. In fact, I like to personalize that verse and remind myself that Christ lives in ME. That gives ME the assurance I will share his glory and will be 'presented to God', perfect in MY relationships to Christ. Maybe you might want to personalize that one for yourself. Recalling this from time to time may just be what you need to 'counteract' some of the stuff your enemy is telling you about yourself. We are 'in Christ', he lives 'in us', and we are certain that where he abides, his 'perfecting power' is sure to be at work!

God wants us to know this truth, so recounting it as frequently as we need to in order to begin to believe it, walk in it, and hold fast to it when all manner of lies about who or what we are come our way, we don't lay hold of those lies. We have a very sinister enemy in the devil. He knows one of the easiest ways to get us to doubt that we will ever behave differently is to get us to question if Christ is really at work in us. We do something we shouldn't, and he brings immediate condemnation and shame. Why? He is hopeful we will not lean into the grace God gives, because he knows if we do, we will experience a strength to move beyond that 'failure' into right living.

The greatest struggle we face at times is listening to the guilt our minds mull over and over each time we choose to do or say something God told us we shouldn't. That guilt is a mighty weapon Satan uses to remind us of our 'unworthiness' to be in relationship with a holy God. He is partially right, you know. As long as we hold onto that sin and all the load of guilt is produces, we aren't going to want to approach a holy God, but that sin doesn't make us 'unworthy'. It just makes us need grace! Instead of listening to the accusations of Satan when we trip up a bit, perhaps it would be wiser to remind ourselves that 'in Christ' we are a new creation, all things old have passed away, and no one who has the glory of Christ living within them is 'unworthy'! Just sayin!

Pebble or Jewel?

I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

"Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles." (Thomas Browne) Worthless pebbles are sometimes kicked underfoot, tossed aside, or left unnoticed. Would it surprise you to know that is you took one of those 'worthless pebbles' to a jeweler and had him see what he sees within the stone, he might reveal something quite different than what you might have seen in it? In much the same manner, Jesus beholds each of us, rough, ragged, kind of beat up by life, nothing too much to look upon, but within each of us he sees a thing of extreme beauty and value. 

God has made us who we are - complete with all our quirks and idiosyncrasies. Nothing we have done has dissuaded him from realizing there was a design to our creation, a purpose for us to fulfill, and a means by which we are to fulfill that purpose. We are his creation and as such, we can stand assured he sees a gem inside of each of our crusty and battered shells! It is time that we begin to let Jesus define our value by what he sees and has purposed for each of us, not the world, the guy or gal next to us, or even our imagination.

Whenever we create an image of ourselves that differs from how God sees us, we are pursuing an image that won't lead to us fulfilling our purpose as God has planned for us. Too many times we focus on 'image' rather than 'character'. God's plan is for us to allow his character to be developed within us, then allow his character to begin to define and refine our image. Don't get that mixed up or you might just be in pursuit of what is nothing more than 'pebbles' and be missing out on what really could be 'jewels'. Just sayin!

Esteemed and Valued

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Although we are weak - we are strong. Even though we are limited in both our understanding and our power - we stand all powerful, able to tap into the greatest wisdom ever. In spite of acting dumb on occasion- we are considered to be of the greatest worth to the God of the Universe. Because God breathed life into man, our value is higher than any living creature or created thing - we have a soul 'innervated' by God's life-giving Spirit. It is the one who made us, keeps us, and 'breathes into us' that actually makes each and every one of us significant in this world. Nothing else we do, say, or believe will ever accomplish what God's presence in our lives is capable of accomplishing.

How do we know God actually values us? If we have been 'devalued' most of our life by others or even ourselves, why should we believe our 'value' in God's eyes is so very great? We only need to look as far as the things he has provided or done for us to see how much God values each of us. He gives us his Word, so we don't need to be unaware of his plans and how much he has included us in those plans. If that wasn't enough, he sent his Holy Spirit into our lives to act as a 'teacher' of that Word, because he knew we would need to be 'educated' in the Word - coming to know its meaning and significance in our lives. We also come to understand our worth when we see the extreme patience of God with us - giving us the time to actually grow in his grace. 

Yes, God disciplines us when we aren't really living up to our potential or moving outside of the protective boundaries he has set for our lives. Why? He values us too much to see us live wayward lives. He is a good parent, desiring only the best for his children, wanting that none should wander off and be overtaken by sin's pull. To that end, he sent his Son to provide the only way for our restoration - sin's atonement (payment in full) being met in him. It is through the finished work of the Cross of Christ that we are made sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Value is best determined by what someone is willing to pay for the item being obtained! 

We don't get our sense of 'value' or 'worth' from others, although we may look for it there on occasion. We won't find it in a career, or accomplishments that gain us accolades and praise. As parents, we won't even find it in the success of our kid's accomplishments. We find it in one person - Christ Jesus. We aren't 'exalted' by our accomplishments - we are 'esteemed' because of HIS. Just sayin!

So, that's what I am worth!

God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense. Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her. (Proverbs 3:13-15)

Wisdom, worship, and worth - could wisdom lead to worship, worship to worth? Wisdom is really application of the knowledge we have already received. It is when we finally make the connection between the "how-to" and the "let's get 'er done". Worship is simply a matter of heartfelt dedication and directed thought, action, and emotion toward another. Our attention is to be directed toward none other than God - perhaps because he has shown us how to make the connection and we are finally 'getting 'er done'. Worth is sometimes the hardest thing for us to get hold of because we have all kinds of things running around in our minds about "worth" that aren't actually 'truth-based'. The term "worth" was originally attributed to the value of a coin. As a lump of silver, gold or bronze was fashioned into a coin, it was given a "worth" based on its weight. The more it circulated, the less its worth. Why? It wore down. Instead of the "worth" being consistent, it was diminished by its use. I think this is where we might find ourselves today - we feel diminished by how we have been "used" or by how we have "used" ourselves! We have taken on the 'how-to' and tried to figure out the 'get 'er done' all by ourselves - taking God out of the picture. Then we wonder why we never feel like worshiping, or feel 'devalued' when we see our end result.

At the point the coin maker created the small coin, he had an intended "worth" for the coin. He put into it exactly what it needed to have "full value". As long as it was uncirculated, it maintained the "full value" - but why make a coin unless it has a purpose? The purpose of the coin was for it to be given in exchange for something. The one who possesses the coin has a clear indication of its worth. Wisdom directs him how to make the most of the full value of the coin. Worship directed how he would use the coin. Worth determined the return on his investment. Too many times we "diminish" the worth of what our Creator has placed in our lives - through our negative talk, or self-deprecating behavior. The issue is not the "declared worth" of our lives, but the "believed worth" of them. We don't make the connection between God's "measurement" of our worth and our "perception" of its worth. We forget that unlike the coin, the "circulation" of our lives in areas where we got tumbled around a bit in some pretty dark places doesn't diminish our worth in Christ's eyes. In fact, when he rescues us from those dark places, he actually returns us to the refiner's fire! It is not so we can experience pain all over again, but so he can re-fashion us as we were originally created - so we return to our "full-worth"!

Common sense and wisdom don't always interact well together. We learn common sense through experience. You don't need "Bible knowledge" to figure out some of life's challenges - you need common sense! You do need "Bible knowledge" to get to the place of exhibiting wisdom in the choices you consistently make. You need "application" of the knowledge you are exposed to. In other words, learn what the Word of God says about God's creation. Get it straight in your mind and then let God get it straight in your heart! Wisdom is when we finally get our eyes off of what we "think" we know about ourselves and let God direct us toward what it is he sees as the reality of our worth in his hands! We allow God (our Creator) to declare the "worth" of our lives instead of us determining it based on our past or present experiences. Worship directs our focus - gets our eyes off of us and what we think about ourselves. Wisdom helps us connect the dots, so to speak. Worth is a result of the right focus, combined with the right understanding, affecting the beliefs we adopt as reality in our lives. Get the first two right and the issues we have with the latter one will soon begin to melt away. Just sayin!

Measuring Up

Three words we oftentimes use without really considering their meaning - status, esteem, and value. Status: The social or professional position, condition, or standing to which varying degrees of responsibility, privilege, and esteem are attached. Esteem: Regard highly or favorably, with respect or admiration; to consider as of a certain value. Value: Worth, merit, or importance; to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance. We place "value" on certain things, don't we? In considering someone, or something, we determine some "importance" or "degree of excellence" which we will "assign" to the individual or object. Sometimes the individual or object is held in a higher, or lower, esteem based on the value we "assign". In turn, we often equate "position" or "standing" based on our determination of "assigned value". It is not unlikely that we have even assigned "value" to certain actions of others, and even ourselves. We often do this without much thought - giving, or attaching, some sense of "worth" to various actions and their resulting outcomes without much conscious thought. The danger - we often assign value based on our "interpretation" of the importance or excellence of the action to us at that moment in time. The "value" we assign today may not be the importance we will hold with regard to the same action in the future. Our "determining" of merit can fluctuate depending upon mood, circumstance, and even the individual we are considering. When it comes to considering our OWN value, we often are the most "fickle" or "fluctuating" in "assigning" value!

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (Philippians 2:5-8)

Jesus took a different "tact" to determining value. He had "equal" status with God the Father. No amount of "doing" or "manipulating" would make that status any better. He already had pretty "awesome" status! Yet, he did not "cling to" the status he had - he did not let it define his actions. Jesus, equal with God himself, did not think so highly of himself that he was unwilling or unable to see the need of humanity and then take on the form of humanity in order to accomplish the remedy to that need. He could have said, "Hey, I am holy! I cannot rub elbows with those sinners! You just don't understand how important my position is in the scheme of things in this world!" We really should view the "worth" or "value" of the actions of both ourselves and others by the example of Christ. Do we exhibit a certain ability to be selfless - willing to consider others ahead of our present position? Jesus was able to separate his "status" from his "actions". He laid aside "status" in order to "act" in a way totally contrary to his status - laying down his deity to take on the position of a slave. If you were the owner of the manor, to take on the position of a slave suggested a huge transition in "status" or "worth" in the eyes of those who beheld this action. I wonder what we could accomplish if we took our eyes off of "status" and began to see the "worth" of another as more valuable than our own personal "status"?

He set aside privileges. With "status" comes privilege - there is some resulting "benefit" to status, is there not? For example, you can buy tickets to a concert, but when you get the "all-access" tickets, you get to meet the artists, rub elbows with the band, and almost be present in every action they are undertaking. There is a benefit to the "status" of having the "all-access" tickets. Jesus was able to separate the "privileges" of his position - taking on the form of humankind. This probably meant he had to deal with the stuff humans deal with - like hunger, emotions, being tired, and aching feet from long hours standing on them. He could have continued to luxuriate in the "status" of being "equal to God", but he laid that down those privileges in order to experience humanity. I don't know about you, but this suggests a whole lot to me about the "value" Jesus gives to each of us! He was willing to "associate" with our pain and need in order to meet it! Jesus shows us the real "worth" of individual is not in "claiming" his own rights, but in laying them down. This is the meaning of him living a "selfless and obedient" life. To live "selflessly" one must begin to think more of another than they do of themselves. To live obediently suggests a willingness to submit to an authority higher than yourself. Jesus not only laid down his "claims" for his "rights" as "equal to God", but he also was willing to submit to the authority of his Father God. If you have a hard time figuring out how one who is "equal to God" actually "submits to God", you are probably not alone. I think it centers on this whole "value", "worth" and "esteem" issue. He was willing to take on whatever needed to be done in order to connect with and meet the needs of humanity - selflessly, without falling back on his "rights" or "status". I don't know about you, but I think I attach "value" or "worth" to other people's actions all the time. I even find myself "comparing" their actions to my own - seeing if they measure up or are actually "better" than mine! Do you ever do that? If so, I think you and I might just need to take a lesson or two from Jesus - remembering it is not in the "status" we obtain where we are "defined", but in the selfless obedience of considering our "status" less important than the needs of another! Just sayin!

Live up to your value

What someone is willing to pay for something is what some say determines the 'worth' of the object being bought. I just observed a discussion of a woodworker on social media who crafted a raised dog dish holder from wood, painted it, and then put it up for sale on the social media feed. He was surprised at how much people were willing to pay for the newly crafted item. He found there are a whole lot of people out there very willing to pay for their doggies to have a nice place to dine! He already has thirty orders for more! Now, I am sure he put the doggy dish up at a reasonable price, but the demand for the item outweighed his investment of time, talent, and creativity. I imagine he will be able to create a little 'market' for these items in no time at all because people are willing to pay the price for their dogs. If we are willing to pay a price for the comfort of our animals, I wonder why it is we don't fully appreciate the price God has paid to see our lives set free from the power and pull of sin?

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. (1 Peter 1:18-19 MSG)

We are all on a 'journey' somewhere, but not all of us appreciate what has been done for us so that we may enjoy that journey to the fullest extent! Sometimes we forget the extreme 'value' placed upon us by the 'price' God was willing to pay for our restoration. If we humans are willing to pay such a high price for our animals who are with us for such a short while, why is it hard for us to reconcile that God would pay the ultimate price for us to be with him for all of eternity? As we might already have realized, not all of the journey we were traveling apart from Christ was all that rosy. Sometimes the journey got downright dirty and nasty. The 'dirt' we found clinging to our lives almost weighed us down with a guilt far too heavy for us to bear up underneath.

We are on a journey, but not one we travel without consequence. Either we experience the consequences of separation from God, or the consequences of being brought near to him through his grace and the shed blood of his dear Son, Jesus. There is no greater price - no more perfect a price to be paid. Therefore, we are encouraged to be aware of the journey we are now on - to realize that it is no longer one of 'empty' or 'vain' pursuit, but of 'extreme value' and 'fulfilled joy'. We are to live with a deep consciousness of the price that has been paid and then to learn to live up to the value God places on our lives!

All of us have probably heard about living by our values, but maybe it is time we take a different view of this and learn to live up to our value! The value of our lives was clearly determined by the price God paid - we now need to live with a consciousness (awareness) of the value he declares about each of our lives. Sometimes we 'discount' the value of our lives, but let me assure you that no life bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus is to be 'undervalued'. It is one of supreme worth and as such, we are to live with a new awareness of this future we have been prepared to enjoy with him for all of eternity. Just sayin!

No "sticker-shock" here!

I don’t cling to my life for my own sake. The only value I place on my life is that I may finish my race, that I may fulfill the ministry that Jesus our King has given me, that I may gladly tell the good news of God’s grace.  (Acts 20:23-24 VOICE)

Value is often something "assigned" by another - but is also based upon what we have come to give credence to, spend time working at, and get some sort of enjoyment from ourselves.  Someone may set the value of a new vehicle at "X" amount of dollars and people will flock to the showrooms to buy one.  Others may have fallen in love with an "old clunker" kind of car, take tremendous care of it, and buy an exact duplicate of it again if they had the chance.  Why? They have assigned a value to that vehicle beyond the sticker price.  It has become something useful to them and which brings them enjoyment.  The one heading to the new car showroom may not understand that value, but the one who possesses that "awesome car" certainly does!  We all have probably had those moments when we realize we didn't know how much we valued something or someone until that thing or person was no longer a part of our lives. It is truly a sad moment to realize what we placed "value" in is no longer there.

Value isn't always the value another places upon an object, a relationship, or the decision right there in front of us at this very moment.  It might just be value is determined more by how something or someone impacts our lives than anything else.  There are times when I have to ask the tough question: "Does what I am doing right now make sense - is there 'value-added' to my life or my work because of what I am doing right now?"  It might be the toughest question we ask ourselves about what gives or brings value to our lives.  We sometimes think the next big thing, a different relationship, or the job someone else tells us about will be the very thing to bring us greater "value" in life.  Often it is the things we don't fully recognize which either add value or end up taking it away.

Grace adds value, but grace isn't always recognized.  We might recognize it when we find ourselves "caught" in our moment of sin - standing there with "egg on our face", so to speak.  On the other hand, when we say something kind of unkind and someone overlooks the offensiveness of those words, do we always see that as grace and come to value the relationship even more?  Not always. There are times when grace is given and we are clueless!  I believe the more we come to value the "grace" within our relationships, the more we might just value our relationships.  The more we value the receiving of grace, it is entirely possible we will learn to value the giving of grace, as well.

The world around us might tell us to value certain things, such as status, power, privilege; or even beauty, good looks, or a great physique.  Are we being taught to value the integrity of others?  How about the genuineness of their heart's devotion?  Or even the depth of their compassion and gratitude?  Not always. The things we see on the outside are often not what really makes a man or woman "valued" in life.  It is what is at the core that really matters - the place where they have connected with grace themselves and understand others need that same connection.  It isn't the fanciest car in the showroom, but it is the one you can rely upon time after time again!  Just sayin!

Above all

The very next time you question your worth or value on this earth, or to anyone for that matter, consider Psalm 8.  It will put a whole different framework to your thinking!  God didn't look down upon "humankind" as insignificant or of "little worth".  Instead, he created all things, placing "humankind" in a place higher than any other created thing.  It never implies throughout scripture that any one man or woman is at a "higher level" than the other - all are of equal worth simply because that is exactly how God made each and every one of us!

When I gaze to the skies and meditate on Your creation—on the moon, stars, and all You have made, I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals—sons and daughters of men—specks of dust floating about the cosmos. But You placed the son of man just beneath God and honored him like royalty, crowning him with glory and honor. You ordained him to govern the works of Your hands, to nurture the offspring of Your divine imagination; You placed everything on earth beneath his feet:  All kinds of domesticated animals, even the wild animals in the fields and forests, the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, all the multitudes of living things that travel the currents of the oceans.  (Psalm 8:3-8 VOICE)

Society has a tendency to judge worth by the "contribution" one makes in this world.  I watched a show the other night about a dad's struggle to accept his "deformed" newborn girl. The child was born with arms shortened, hands resembling fins, legs and feet just barely protruding from the pelvis.  She had a magnificently beautiful face, perfect torso, and a sweet disposition.  The dad's horror was registered at his first glance.  The struggle which ensued was that of a mother's love for her child and the father's love, but broken heart over the "condition" of his child when born with such "gross deformity".  It was as though he thought anything "imperfect" could not be loved.

In the ensuing hour of the program, the struggle became very apparent.  He had two "perfect" children already, but could he ever accept and love this "imperfect" child.  I think there are those who wonder if God ever looked at any one of us and "struggled" to love us because we were "less than perfect".  If that were the case, none of us would be loved by God and this is totally contrary to what scripture teaches!  God loves the "less than perfect" and he embraces each and every "deformed" part of us as though it were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen!

Lest you judge this father too harshly, I think his reaction is based on what society has come to define as "normal" or "worth" valuing.  "Perfect people" rarely exist, though.  They may appear "okay" on the outside (conforming to some standard defining "normal").  Yet, on the inside, all of us is less than perfect.  God still sets us above all other created things and values us above all other created things - no matter how "majestic" or "beautiful" or "awe-inspiring" they may be.  The end of the story for this father - he remembered his intense love for his wife and other children.  He contemplated this new one as "his own" and in very short order, he came to love and embrace this one others may have viewed as "less than perfect".  In essence, he did what God does with each and every one of us!

We may not "feel" or even "act" perfect, but know this - God doesn't love us any less.  Our "worth" isn't established by our "pluses" or "minuses" in this life, but by the very fact his Spirit dwells within each of us!  Just sayin!

Value vs. Success

What standard do you live by?  I have a little plaque in my office which simply reads: "Every time you walk by the violation of a standard, you set a new standard."  It was given to me some years ago, but it still have great meaning to me, serving as a reminder to not simply "walk on by" those things which really matter in life.   Einstein once said, "Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them."  I believe this is true - we press beyond what we are willing to see as a limit which must be broken in order to move on in life.  There are limits which are kind of the "standards" by which we live - sets of beliefs and rules we adhere to without compromise.  Then there are limits we place on ourselves - beliefs which may not be founded in reality, but are self or other imposed.  I think we need to be careful what "standard" we use as a measuring rod in our lives, for the standard may be too low, or even too high.

For we would never dare to compare ourselves with people who have based their worth on self-commendation. They check themselves against and compare themselves with one another. It just shows that they don’t have any sense! (2 Corinthians 10:12 VOICE)

I will never be an Olympian, so to aspire to be one is kind of silly.  If I tried running like an Olympian at this stage in my life, with my artificial knee and aging body, I'd just look silly. In fact, getting to a good, rapid, heart-pumping pace while walking is enough exercise for this body!  If the standard I measured my cardiovascular workout against was that of the Olympic 5,000 meter distance runner, I'd always be critical of my efforts.  Why?  That is not realistic for me!  The standards we use to evaluate our progress in life need to first of all be realistic.  To bite off more than we can chew in any area of our lives is to set ourselves up to be defeated.

One thing is for sure in this life - there will always be plenty of people we could compare ourselves to - good, bad, pretty, not so pretty, heavy, or slim.  The list could go on and on, but you get the idea.  The "standard" we choose will either serve to defeat us because we don't see ourselves as "measuring up" or get us so self-inflated we see ourselves as "better than" the one we are using as a comparison.  According to our passage, people who compare themselves to other people have "no sense"!  Therefore, using any standard other than Christ as our measurement of "success", "beauty", "spiritual maturity", etc., is just going to point out we have a wrong standard by which we are judging ourselves and others.

Einstein was also quoted as saying, "Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value."  Think on that one a little - a man or woman of value, not of "success".  Why?  "Success" is subjective.  It is based on what is achieved or accomplished.  It isn't a stable thing in our lives.  It can be "undone" by the next "successful" thing someone ELSE does!  Jesus never pointed his followers toward "success" in this life, but rather development of "trust", "hope", and "love".  Success vs. value - one is subjective and movable; the other is objective and immovable. Value is not determined by what we achieve, but rather by what we have been declared to be - a child of the living God himself.  Value is what really gives us worth - worth is more than success - it is a deep-seated assurance we are living by the right standard!  Just sayin!

More than a denomination

Those of you following my blog on a regular basis know I was raised in the Catholic faith and then after being out on my own, I chose to leave the Catholic church, choosing instead to associate myself with more of the non-denominational Christian church community.  I have been asked many times why I would leave the Catholic church and I always respond the same way - it wasn't the place for me to learn what I needed to learn, grow as I needed to grow, and become what I needed to become.  I will admit it almost broke my father's heart when I did leave the Catholic church, as he had been raised "staunch" Catholic and I can still recall every Saturday confession, Sunday communion, my first Communion, my Confirmation, and catechism classes.  All though high school, I struggled immensely with lots and lots of actions which really didn't reflect a very good "Catholic" at all.  I really needed more than a weekly visit to the confessional, if you get my drift!  Yet, all the while, I felt something tugging at my heart, for at the age of fourteen I had prayed the prayer of faith - asking Jesus to forgive my sins, come into my life, and make me a new person from the inside out.  I tried reading the Bible, but really had no one to mentor me in my faith, so I never really grew that much.  I had said "yes" to Jesus, but I was really "marching in place".  Deep inside I longed to be made new - sick of how lonely I felt all the time, distraught about continuing to disappoint my parents with all my wrong behaviors, and just plain miserable as a person, but wearing a pretty mask on the outside which said "everything is fine".  It wasn't until I was on my own in the military when I finally hit bottom. I can still remember the day my friend took me with him in his little blue VW bug to this "hand raising", "lively chorus singing", and very "happy" church.  My world was turned on end that night!  I could hardly wait for the sermon to end before I found myself at the altar, asking Jesus to transform what had become of my very empty and very lonely life.  I had found something which I had longed for without even knowing that was what I longed so desperately to enjoy!

So we should stop judging each other. Let’s decide not to do anything that will cause a problem for a brother or sister or hurt their faith. I know that there is no food that is wrong to eat. The Lord Jesus is the one who convinced me of that. But if someone believes that something is wrong, then it is wrong for that person. (Romans 14:13-14 ERV)

What I needed was community - something I just didn't find in my previous twenty years.  I needed connection - something I just didn't realize I could ever achieve because I had told myself I wasn't "worth it".  That night transformed my life - not overnight, but it began a journey I haven't turned back from or regretted for even one minute!  I made the decision to come regularly to that church in Anchorage - the church on a hill - Abbott Loop Christian Center.  Yep, it wasn't a Catholic church and I was about to break all the foundational "rules" I had been raised within, but it was what I needed in order to grow up in Christ. I grew by leaps and bounds that year, realizing I was loved more by Jesus than I ever had known before.  I found myself embracing lively praise and hand-raising worship.  I noticed myself broken and yearning - something "giving" inside of me which hadn't "given" before.  It was the beginning of a new era in my life and I was grateful for the things I was starting to see, appreciate, and understand for the first time.  Most importantly - I was certain that God loved me - just as I was, without any merit of my own, and he wanted relationship with me.  

I tell you all this to remind each of us of one important thing - God doesn't care about which denomination we attend - because in his eyes there is no "denomination".  These are "communities" of our own doing - we made these what they are today, not him.  His idea from the very beginning was one people, in relationship with him, and growing closer and closer to his heart each day. Where we get to that point doesn't really matter!  I can attend the Catholic church, Assemblies of God, or the local non-denominational Christian church. What he does care about is a few things:

- The Bible must be taught in totality.  None of it is without merit - all of it must be taught.  It isn't up for our own interpretation and we must adhere to the rules of interpretation which makes up "good teaching".  

- Sinners must be welcomed.  None of us is without sin, but to look down upon some or exclude them because of their "particular sin" is not the example we ever saw when Jesus ministered on this earth. 

- A sense of community must be established.  This is where and how we grow. We need the privilege of "being real" with another group of individuals because this is how we learn from each other and grow in Christ.

Paul said it well in Romans - we don't create a place where others feel judged and we don't create a place where there is no chance of being who we really are.  We don't have to "condone" any particular action or behavior which is opposite to that which God outlines in scripture, but it doesn't mean the individual is rejected or excluded from our fellowship.  What it means is that we create a safe place for them to meet Jesus, discover his love for themselves, find out how much he cares about transforming their lives, and then helping them to grow in that relationship.  If you think about "denominations" as how we describe something such as our currency and coins, you might see "denominations" within the church a little differently.  We have call our differing "bills and coins" of our money systems "denominations" because they each carry a different "value".  In God's economy, none of us carries any different value!  Just sayin!

Valuable vs. Worthless - you decide

Valued vs. worthless - there are many factors which determine each.  One of the things you may not know is the origin of the word "value".  In terms of accounting, a coin was minted with a certain weight - this weight giving it the "value".  For example, if it was a brass coin weighing one-half ounce, it had a value, but not as significant as a coin minted from gold weighing the same.  Since coins were kept in pouches and circulated in payment for goods purchased, they would lose a little of their original weight because in the process of being circulated, they "wore down".  In time, the original value of the coin was not the present value.  You know, there are a lot of things in life I have considered to be of such high value at one time or another, only to find out as I look back on them now they just don't hold the same value to me anymore.  Whether it was the job I worked, the position I held, or the things I "owned", they just don't have that same value as time has allowed them to "circulate" through my life!  Rarely do the things we hold so dear at one time continue to hold their value, let alone increase in value.  Things are subject to wear and tear, supply and demand, etc.  Each plays a factor in determining the present "worth" of the object of our affection.  I collect older coins, not as a serious coin collector, but just because they are old. I don't even know what they are valued at today - but I know to some collector they might just be worth more than the nickle or penny value they were given when minted.  To me, they are just neat and I throw a few here and there in a drawer.  I don't live for the "value" they have, I just enjoy finding a rare treasure among the common!  I kind of think this is how it is when we serve Jesus - we get to the place of enjoying finding those rare treasures among the common!

But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life.  (Philippians 3:7-11 CEV)

We often come to a place in life where value is not determined by some external force in our lives, but by what we come to treasure in our hearts.  Maybe this is why scripture so often asks us to consider what it is our hearts are "in tune" to at the moment.  What our heart comes to treasure will soon become a driving force within our lives.  Given enough time, the process of allowing the process of "circulation", the things we considered so important of a focus often don't hold the same value in the end.  There is only one thing which "holds value" and in fact, you might just say it increases in value over the course of time - when our focus is held fast on Christ Jesus and his grace within our lives.  Grace is actually a "multiplying" thing.  In time, the value of grace is realized for the extent it is "added to" over and over again.  It doesn't decrease with time, but increases!  In fact, grace increases anyone it touches - for it is impossible for grace to decrease the value of anyone or anything!

As we examine what Paul was saying as he penned these words to the Philippian church, we find several key things he says about what adds value to one's life:

- Knowing Christ:  Value is added by the relationships we keep (as well as those we shun). The determined heart will make room for the very best of relationships - not being greater than the one we maintain with Christ Jesus himself.  When he is our "center", no other relationship quite measures up, but all receive increasing value because he is the center. It is kind of like he "adds to" every other relationship.

- Knowing we belong to him:  Something is often determined as "valuable" because it is appreciated by the one who has it.  I have those coins stashed away here and there - they have a "finders" value to me - I found the rare among the common and this was a treasure I claimed in the "find".  The true collector of coins might actually give a different value to the coin - such as telling me the penny was worth four dollars in trade because of the collector's value in adding it to his collection.   In considering our value in terms of belonging to Christ, I think our value is kind of like the value of my little coins - Christ finds value in "finding our hearts" among the "common" and making our hearts something of great "value" to him. We may not be "collected" by him, but we are treasured by him!

- Realizing there is nothing we do to "add value" to our lives:  Christ does it all.  When we realize this, we cease all the "worthless" effort of trying to "be" right and allow Jesus to actually "make us right".  The very presence of Christ adds value.  The grace he gives adds value.  The change he makes in our self-directed, hardened hearts adds value.  The closeness he provides in bringing us near to his Father in heaven adds value.  All Christ does within us adds value.  We are like a minted coin when we live our lives apart from Christ - one value at minting, but deteriorating in value the more life "circulates" us.  But...when we are the "treasure" he takes hold of, our value changes entirely!  All the "devaluing" of our lives through the things which have "worn us down" doesn't matter to him - he sees the original value in our creation - the value of being his child!

We don't determine our value - God does.  We don't "live up to" our value - Christ within is what gives us increasing worth.  Just sayin!

Principle 3: The Pot of Gold

All over the world people are hoping to hit the big winnings of the lottery or some contest.  They faithfully march to the local establishments selling the tickets in order to make their "weekly investment" into the "big ticket".  Some play the same numbers week after week, determined it will be THEIR week this week.  Forbes magazine published an article November 28, 2012 entitled "Why Winning Powerball Won't Make You Happy" written by Susan Adams.  In the article, she cites multiple studies which point out the IMMEDIATE high or exuberance of winning, but the quick return to a low point within just a short point in time.  Why?  She concluded that "while winning the lottery can make a difference, it won't affect the other conditions of your life".  This is so true! We can "bet" on the windfall, or we can count on the certainty of what God provides.  The choice seems pretty simple to me, but obviously there are a whole lot of others who actually don't believe this!

Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance.  The time will come when you have to pay up; you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.  (Proverbs 22:26-27 MSG)

Our third principle for ensuring our foundation is based on trust in God deals with where it is we determine our "windfall" or "riches" to rest.  It isn't in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or by amassing gambling debt up the kazoo.  The "lucky chance" many take will do little more than make them broke in the end.  We have all heard the stories of gamblers "gone bad" - losing it all - home, job, family, and self-esteem.  To me, it seems like pretty risky business to me.

My mother is from Scottish/English heritage, so one of her familiar sayings when something isn't quite right with me is, "My poor wee lassie".  My response to mom each and every time she says this to me:  "I no so poor". Yep, the grammar is wrong, I know, but you get the point.  I am not poor in any respect - in fact, I am as rich as I can be, blessed beyond measure in Christ Jesus - even when things may not be "quite right" in my life.  A lot of us determine our disposition in life based on the circumstances we are dealt. I think Solomon may have been trying to get us to look at the one who carries us through those circumstances, not at the circumstances themselves!

Where it is we look for our "worth" in life gives evidence of what it is we have come to value the most.  For example, if we look at wealth to give us a sense of "worth" in life, we will always be chasing an elusive dream, for today's "wealth" will not keep up with tomorrow's demands.  If we look at "image" to give us a sense of worth in life, we will also be chasing a pretty unmanageable dream, for our "image" will fade in time, no matter how much plastic surgery we have done!

God's direction to us is to look to him to give us our sense of worth - for this is truthfully the only thing which "imputes" value into our lives.  We could hold out for the windfall at the end of the rainbow such as winning big in the lottery, but honestly, I would rather have my value determined today, not some day down the road when I "hit it big".  In fact, I don't think there is anything "bigger" to "hit" than being redeemed by the grace of God from a life bound to live without him for all of eternity!

Keeping our focus on the "what if" of tomorrow will not benefit us any today. In fact, it serves to do nothing more than make us yearn for what we don't have and what we will be unlikely to ever achieve.  Rather than focus on the "what if" of tomorrow, we would be well served to focus on the "what is" of today.  We have been granted so much in Christ Jesus - it will take us a lifetime to actually realize the significance of our "windfall" we have in HIM! Just sayin!

The BIG Eye in the Sky

Did you ever stop to think about angels stopping to take notice of each and every word of praise and thanks you utter into the heavenlies?  Well, scripture bears witness to the fact they do (Psalm 138:1).  I never really thought about it before - the fact others are listening to my praise.  When I do, it makes me a little self-conscious at first, but then I realize they are just stopping to listen because these words of praise and thanksgiving are just a sweet, sweet melody in the ears of those who occupy heavenly realms - God includes his angels in that company!  The most "telling" part of praise and thanksgiving is being able to really "tell" God what it is you are grateful for - specifically and purposefully.  In the case of our psalmist, his purpose for his words of praise are quite specific:  The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.  (vs. 3)  He had laid his heart bare before God, seeking his intervention, and without haste, God stepped in.  In that moment of God taking over the controls of his life circumstances, David steps back and sees the greatness of God on his behalf.  Some of the most revealing moments come when we just step back.  To frame a picture right for a photo opportunity, I often practice this process of "stepping back" just so I can see how all "outside" of my focus in the camera lens looks in comparison to the small picture I see.  When I do, I often see a large expanse of other beauty which only magnifies the intensity of the shot I had been able to capture. There are times when I "reframe" my shot based on this having "stepped back" because it showed me a different perspective - one which I would have missed had I not stepped back a little.  In stepping back, we open ourselves to see the fullness of his majesty - something which only evokes greater and greater depth of praise, thanksgiving, and worship!

When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”  They’ll sing of what you’ve done:  “How great the glory of God!”  And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.  When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil.  With one hand strike my foes, with your other hand save me.  Finish what you started in me, God.  Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.  (Psalm 138:4-8  MSG)  

We don't "get" how God who dwells high above can keep everything here on this earth in his "perspective", so not even one frame is missed.  It is a concept our finite brains have a hard time getting hold of - we are limited by what we know, he is limited by nothing!  I find it both a little comforting and a little disconcerting to realize God sees EVERYTHING - and KNOWS everything about us.  Comforting because I know he is watchful and I am never outside of his care.  Disconcerting because there are times I would rather he not observe my responses, selfish actions, or misdeeds as they occur.  Somehow, I know he already knows those things, but knowing they don't escape his view has the ability to affect my "composure" in those moments!  It is one thing to look all calm, cool and collected in the midst of one of your moments of misstep, but quite disturbing to your self-composure when you realize the misstep didn't escape his notice!

The reality is God's care for the condition of my spirit extends way beyond my seeming need for maintaining composure!  I am so gratified by this revelation. Nothing I do escapes his recognition - nothing I need escapes his provision - nothing I desire escapes his notice - nothing I regret escapes his grace. Period!  In knowing everything about us, he also knows every step into his grace which is also so very necessary for our lives.  Our salvation is in an instant - our movement into his fullness is filled with steps of grace - each leading us a little closer to the realization of his fullness within.  Yep, we are given all we need for this fullness at the moment of our salvation, but it takes us a while to deal with our need for composure and our willingness to step into his grace where it is most needed in our lives.

God's constant notice of our lives is also a means by which he continues to reveal his love to us, within us, and through us.  He notices our sin because he has a provision of grace already prepared.  He notices our thankfulness at his provision because he knows how dramatically this moment of gracious acknowledgement of his intervention in our lives will bring the intimate connection between each of us and his tenderly beating heart.  God doesn't "notice" all that goes on just because he can - he notices with a purpose - to intervene with grace where no amount of effort on our own could ever produce anything of value or lasting worth.  Grace is just that way - it intervenes, permeates, and then begins to reveal the intense value/worth of that which it affects.  Since grace is directed toward us, that means we are the objects of great value he continues to lend value upon value, until we begin to see the extreme worth of creation within.  It is a worth we can know by no other means - for it is only found in realizing we are the object of his attention and his affection.  Just sayin!

That harmless wad of gum

I think we all have times when we just cannot avoid the quarrel - we step into it like we might just find an old piece of chewing gum on the bottom of our shoe after walking through the parking lot.  We did not intend to step on the gum - it was so small and almost unnoticeable on the ground.  Sure enough, the sticky goo latches onto the bottom of our shoe - and we are left with the mess of cleaning it up.  That one tiny piece of gum can leave a huge spot of sticky residue, can't it?  If not caught quickly, we can track it into our cars, leaving the sticky mess attached to floorboard carpeting, foot pedals, and the like.  Quarrels are a little like the chewing gum in the parking lot - no one really thinks about the consequences of just throwing something down.  We cast things around like they will not affect others, but in truth, what we think will go unnoticed and not really be all that harmful has the potential of becoming a huge mess with a lot of residue left behind which takes a whole lot of time to deal with!

Anyone who thinks and speaks evil can expect to find nothing good—only disaster.  An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.  Those who are sure of themselves do not talk all the time.  People who stay calm have real insight.  After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut. (Proverbs 17:20, 24, 27-28 GNT)

Scripture is quite clear - if you love the quarrel, you are actually saying you invite or enjoy sin in your life.  It is like you love to just chew up gum, spit it out on the ground and then watch for the poor, unknowing suspect who will be the recipient of your careless deed.  One of the things which can incite a quarrel quickly is the boastful attitude.  Boastful people actually invite disaster - their prideful display creates the atmosphere where quarrels begin. God's warning is clear - the crooked heart will not prosper.  

Control the tongue, or you will not prosper.  In fact, God refers to the one who cannot control his tongue as one who has a "twisted" tongue.  The one who exhibits this "twisted" tongue is actually an expert at altering the words that are spoken - changing the meaning of those words by their manipulation. Quarrelers use this skill well - so as to use the words spoken to turn the situation around to their way of thinking, altering the other person's perception of the issue.  The end - disaster.

As we have explored on many occasions, emotions play such an important part in our lives.  It is by emotion we respond.  It is by emotion we experience through our senses and intellect.  It is by emotion we connect with each other.  So, it makes sense that it is also by emotion we are roped into engaging in quarrels, or avoiding the sticky goo all together!  The condition of our heart determines our course.  We often rely upon our emotions too much to determine our course.  This is why we study so much about how our emotions can get us headed in the wrong direction if we allow them their full rein.  

Sensible people keep wisdom before them.  It is like they have "intuitive sensors" built into their shoes which immediately sense the gum and then take a side-step to avoid the sticky mess.  Sensible people don't just rely upon some "sixth sense" or "intuition" though.  They have come to practice sensibility - through learning how to make wise choices, take careful steps, and enjoy the journey.  Attentiveness is probably one of the hardest things to maintain in life.  We tend to wander in our focus, go off into some thought about the next thing we will have to do, etc.  Being present in the moment is quite difficult sometimes, but in truth, it is the only way we will ever spot the quarrel just waiting to unleash its mess on us!

A truly wise person exhibits:
- A correct focus.  They aren't just "focused", but their focus is correct.  When we want to affect the outcome of the circumstance, we often just need to change the focus.  
- An ability to use their words sparingly.  Wisdom is not manifest in the vast number of words spoken, but in the sincerity, integrity, and uprightness of the words chosen.
- A control on their temper.  There is a "governor" over their temper.  They don't "blow", but allow the "steam" to escape before it does damage.  They don't direct the "steam" at another, but allow it to be taken upward, dissipating as it is.
- A willingness to honor and submit to authority.  Many a quarrel is a matter of rebellion against some authority in our lives.  If it isn't some "natural" authority such as parent, boss, or the law, it is usually some type of rebellion against the authority of God.
- A tactful method of dealing with disappointment. The wise don't focus on the person, they don't hold the grudge because the event didn't have the outcome they desired.  They have learned to release and re-engage.  Let it go and then focus on making it right.
- An attitude of acceptance when facing the test.  Testing is a matter of life. None escape it - but to accept it as the means by which we grow, this takes wisdom.
- A genuine concern for the other guy.  Maybe this is why the wise will avoid the quarrel instead of engaging in it.  They are skilled at diffusing the situation because they focus more on the value of the other person than on the object of the quarrel.

Some of the sticky messes we are left with could have been avoided if we'd have just been a little more focused, directed our disappointment toward the one who can actually do something with it, and then shown how much we value the other individual over all the silliness of the mess which has been trying to lure us in.  Just sayin!

Face value is seldom real value

Good guidance comes sometimes through the quietest voices.  If you have ever listened to the loudest voice, you might just have realized the loudest is not always the clearest!  It just got your attention!  As we have been studying our way through the Book of Proverbs over the past couple of days, we have discovered there is good advice which awaits those with hearing ears and a responsive heart - but it is not always the loudest voice we hear!  The instructions of a father's heart are of value to us in making us ready for what life sends our way.  We are reminded - follow them and you will live; learn from them, and you may not have to experience everything for yourself; love the, for wise words will guide us when times of trial come our way.  

Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.  I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.  I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.  Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake!  Don’t take Wicked Bypass; don’t so much as set foot on that road.  Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. (Proverbs 4:10-15 MSG)

We have discovered getting wisdom is the most important thing we can do - for wisdom is not a thing, but a person - Jesus.  Coming into a personal relationship with him begins a journey of wisdom's development within.  Along with wisdom, we need to develop good judgment - learned and practical knowledge go hand in hand.  A life guided by wisdom keeps us from limping along or stumbling along the way.  One of the most prevalent warnings in the first four chapters of this Book are those which warn against keeping company with evil doers and the wicked.  The luring calls of those who would desire nothing more than to trip us up, pull us away from the stillness and peace of deep, intimate fellowship with Jesus are to be avoided at all cost.  

We avoid the places they hang out - because the surroundings we frequent soon become the "norm" by which we do our business.  Interestingly, the focus is not on the people in the surroundings as much as the influence the surroundings can place upon us.  There is a "place" of influence in all our lives; we just need to figure out where that is!  The way of the righteous - the place of their "influence" - is like the gleam of the first dawn.  Dawn does something dusk does not.  Dusk begins to "cover over" the things we find it so hard to avoid in darkness - things which cause us to stumble and fall.  Dawn actually begins to shed light on what once was hidden - dispelling the fear of the unknown.  

Our advice today is to guard good advice - guarding your heart against the dark places, the surroundings which will only entrap and trip us up.  Really, I think God may be telling us to guard our intellect - for all action begins with thought.  We begin this process of "guarding" by testing all teaching - not all teaching is worthy of our attention, nor our embracing.  Face value is often not the "real" value of something. I learned this when I had a Canadian Grandmother who would send a new two dollar Canadian bill to me each birthday.  I thought I was rich until someone told me the "value" of the bill was about sixty cents on the dollar!  

The face value of the bill made no difference - it was what was behind the bill - the backing of the Canadian banking system and government - all those things I don't really understand. If I had just gone on thinking I possessed two dollars, I might have been sorely disappointed when I counted on it to actually fulfill some payment down the road!  Too many times we count on something we had heard in our past, laid up in our hearts, to keep us safe later on.  Truth is - if we don't test it now, before we lay it up in our heart - we might just be disappointed in its ability to fulfill something we counted on to be there at a later time.  God's truth is of great value - but many distort truth with personal opinion, making it a little "grey" in areas.  We need to remember to test all truth - not just accept what we hear at face value.

Not only are we told to guard our intellect, but the heart encompasses our emotions, as well.  Two things which trip us up and get us into the wrong surroundings, listening to the wrong people, influenced by the wrong teachings quicker than anything else - not using our intellect, and responding to our emotions!  Emotions "sway" us - they are like those branches on the weeping willow - easily swayed by the lightest winds, gently brushing back and forth at first, but quickly whipped to and fro when the winds pick up speed.  Emotions have more power over our lives than we give them credit - they influence our "whereabouts" and our "think abouts" more than we'd like to admit.  Learning to place a guard over them is critical to avoiding the places we'd do well to avoid, the influences we'd do well to not be swayed by.

Two thoughts as we close today - we need to look straight ahead and we need to mark our a straight path.  Wisdom helps here - for keeping our gaze firmly fixed on the one who designed the path will ensure we don't lose sight of the goal.  Blinders on a horse serve a purpose - to direct the focus. Instead of being influenced by the things around him, he keeps his attention on the goal.  Maybe we need some intellectual and emotional blinders - helping us to think on the things which matter and then responding to those which will help us "stay the course", rather than being "swayed" by the course.  Just sayin!

Which side of the fence are you on?

In conversation today, you might hear words such as accountability and responsibility.  Newscasters speculate about who will be held accountable for certain actions.  Others postulate about what responsibility some aspect of society had for the actions of another.  Yet so many times, there is very little reference to the actions of one being called into account simply on their own merit.  We see shooters destroy innocent lives - then blame the lack of gun control as the "responsible" party.  When "breaking down" the influencing factors in the shooter's life, we gravitate toward what the parents did or didn't do, who should have recognized the mental health issues apparent in the shooter's life, etc.  We rarely gravitate to the place of saying this man or woman was totally accountable for their own actions.  Why?  Society today seems to want to "share" accountability and responsibility for the actions of individuals - not because they want to "own up" to the ugliness of the actions, but because there is some sense society "failed" the individual.  This may be true in a sense, but ultimately we are all held accountable for our own actions.  We don't stand on the merits of another - unless those merits are those of Christ in us.

The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!  (Revelation 3:19 MSG)

The Church of Laodicea is being "called into account" in this passage, but the message rings true to the individual believer, as well.  The issue as Jesus puts it is the believer is neither hot nor cold.  They are lukewarm - tepid at best.  In other words, they have not decided which side of the fence they want to stand on.  They have a foot on each side, so to speak.  On one side is the independent way of life - managing one's own life, choosing one's own destiny, living pretty foot-loose and fancy-free.  On the other side, in direct contrast, is the dependent life - not on society, but on Christ.  The situation as Jesus sees it is the issue of "staleness" or "stagnancy".  The one who is neither hot nor cold is really at a place of "staleness" in their lives.  

The ones who "ride the fence" really don't want accountability in their lives - they want to be able to choose the "side" based on the circumstances they are presented with.  If the offer on one side seems beneficial, they choose it over the other.  Then, as quickly as they might have chosen one action, they might determine the action did not produce the results they hoped for, so they "swing" to the other side.  It is both difficult to see oneself as responsible for the choices we make, nor accountable for the outcomes of those choices, when we are "swinging" back and forth all the time.  We have very little stability.

Don't lose sight of what Jesus says about these "fence-sitters".  He calls them the people he loves.  I don't think we realize how much Jesus loves those who have allowed stagnancy, or provided a way for the heart to grow stale, almost cold.  He loves them so much that he calls them to an "accounting" of their actions.  If you struggle over that one, let it sink in a while.  God loves the cold heart enough to prod it, correct it, and guide it back into warm and passionate pursuit again.  He brings the one who has drifted into lazy repose, resting on the ease of complacency, into lively pursuit.  He gets them back on their feet - turns them squarely around - then calls them to him.  

In order to pursue, there has to be an accounting of the present condition.  The one standing squarely on the "wrong side" of the fence must take responsibility for where they stand.  The one riding the fence, neither in nor out, is called to account - it is in making a choice to be "answerable" for the place we find ourselves that we take the first step in the right direction.  It is in choosing to stand not in our own merit, but in and upon the merit of another, Jesus Christ, that we find our life doing an "about-face".  It is in turning, we come face-to-face with the one who will turn up the heat in our lives - bringing us to a place of "full-boil" - disturbing both our stagnancy and staleness.

Jesus uses three terms:  Prod - Correct - Guide.  First, he prods - in order to stir us from our complacency.  Then, he corrects - not to point out the "wrong", but to "make true" what he sees in each of us.  He sees what he is in us, not what we are in ourselves.  In other words, in the removing of the errors and faults of our sin, he places himself squarely into those gaping holes in our character.  When he sees us, he sees himself - not the errors of our ways.  Last, he guides - taking us through what is unfamiliar and sometimes a little uncomfortable to us.  These three actions belong to him.  Yet, before all of these actions, there stands one action which belongs to us.  We become accountable for where we stand.  We take responsibility.  In this moment, we no longer stand on our own merit, but fully walk into the merit of the one who calls us into this place of accounting.  

Where there is complacency, there is opportunity for staleness and stagnancy to overtake every aspect of our lives.  The call is to take account of what we are producing - if it lacks life and vitality, we may just be on the wrong side of the fence!  Just sayin!