When Life Seems To Be Falling Apart

We all have days when it feels as if life is falling apart.  At times, struggles and disappointments appear to feed off each other and bad news seems to grow at an exponential pace.  For some, there are sicknesses that linger for a long period of time or turn chronic in nature, transforming each day into a challenge to simply keep moving forward.  For others, there is a job search that never seems to end.  All potential leads and interviews continue to produce no fruit.  There are other people who wake up each morning to the harsh reality of family pain: a marriage falling apart, prodigal children on the run, or elderly parents struggling with loss of mobility and diminished mental capacity.  

When the disciples saw Jesus crucified on the cross, it felt like their world was falling apart.  It was probably hard for many of them to get out of bed on the Saturday following Good Friday.  Depression and disappointment produced a confusing cloud over their lives because Jesus, the One they had followed for about three years--the One they believed was the Messiah, was dead and buried in the side of a hill.   A huge stone--a vivid reminder of the finality of death--had been rolled in front of the tomb entrance.  

On resurrection Sunday, two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a town located about seven miles from Jerusalem.  The exact location of Emmaus is not known today, possibly indicating the small, insignificant nature of the town in the first century.  Perhaps the disciples were trying to get out of Jerusalem to help clear their minds and try to make sense of a crucified Messiah.  But, regardless of their reasoning for heading to Emmaus, the risen Jesus encountered the two disciples right in the middle of their disappointment and confusion.  

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other,  Jesus himself came up and walked with them... (Luke 24:14-15)

In one of his amazing resurrection appearances, Jesus miraculously appears to these two disciples in their pain.  Jesus is present to them when it appears their hopes in life have all been destroyed.  Of all the places Jesus could have been at that moment, he chose to walk with two people who were trying to cope with incredible disappointment and unrealized expectations.  Jesus, full of compassion, desired to make himself known to two bewildered and battered souls on the way to nowhere.

In one of the most moving passages of Scripture, the Psalmist writes:

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways...

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast... (Psalm 139:1-3,7-10)         

These powerful verses remind us of God's omniscience (He knows everything about us, including our location and our mental condition) and His omnipresence (His presence is everywhere, even on the road to Emmaus).  

If some of your greatest hopes have been dashed recently...

If you are struggling to understand God's plan because none of your plans have become reality...

If you are feeling alone and abandoned...

Take your eyes off the dusty, rock-strewn road to Emmaus and look into the eyes of the Savior who is walking with you.  He comes to those who are feeling lost and provides a Way; He appears to those with tears of frustration and provides comfort; He walks with those who feel weary and don't know how they will have the strength to take another step; He comes to us.

The Transforming Word

For nearly the past two years, Crossroads has been journeying through the Gospel of Luke on Sunday mornings.  Our study together has revealed powerful truth about the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus.  While this has been the longest teaching series I have ever prepared (some may be hoping all future teachings will be much shorter!), I believe the discipline of working through a book of the Bible has its rich rewards.  Here are a few of the benefits that come to mind:

1)   Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible allows us to interpret Scripture in context.  I have stated many times, "If you take a text out of context, you are left with acon."  If you really want to understand the Bible more thoroughly, read lengthy passages instead of just picking a verse here and there.  

2) Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible helps us recognize important theological themes that will fuel spiritual growth.  For example, in our journey through the Gospel of Luke, we encountered many important themes, including: the connection between prayer, the Holy Spirit and empowerment for mission work; the topic of God's Kingdom in the preaching of Jesus; God's heart for the poor and oppressed; and, the theme of discipleship (what it really means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus).

3) Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible helps cultivate the spiritual discipline of daily study of God's Word.  Reading the Bible each day is an important ingredient of ongoing personal spiritual growth and maturity.  Consistent Bible reading is easier with some type of reading plan, and systematically reading though entire books of the Bible is a good way to stay on track and alleviate the "What shall I read today?" question. 

4) Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible helps us focus and fight against distraction.  Let's face it, there is no shortage of Bible study books, devotionals, and Christian books to help people grow in the faith.  However, there is no substitute for God's Word.  With the myriad of reading choices available, we need some way to focus in on the most important book--God's Word-- and establish solid priorities for our limited amount of daily reading time. Here are a few suggestions to help you along the way:

1) Make a commitment to read the Bible before you read any other book each day.

2) Select a book of the Bible and then prayerfully ask God to give you wisdom as you read through the passages.

3) As you read longer passages, stop on a word, phrase, or concept that seems to "jump off the page" and speak directly to your heart.  Meditate for a few minutes on the truth that is being communicated to you.  

*Remember, daily personal time in the Lord's presence through the reading of the Bible is more about transformation than information.  Sure, gathering new information from Scripture is a good thing, but this information should not just be considered simply for intellectual purposes.  Reading, meditation, and prayer combine together to bring about life transformation:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  (Psalm 119:9-11)   


If you need a suggestion for a book of the Bible to begin reading, try Acts.  We will be starting 2014 with a teaching series through Luke's other New Testament writing and if you start reading now, you'll have a head start when we begin the series Acts: Seeing the Spirit at Work in January.

Remember to Focus

The word "remember" occurs 166 times in the New International Version of the Bible, a figure that reminds us of our propensity to forget things (perhaps you are reading this email because you had to take a break from searching for your car keys or wallet that you misplaced!).  Brain researchers tell us that multi-tasking adversely affects our short-term memory.  In other words, the more plates we're spinning in our lives, the less likely we will be able to adequately remember certain things.  I have found this to be true in my life.  Usually, when I find myself asking, "How did I forget that?", it is during a season of life that contains a to do list that is quite extensive, a season in which I'm trying to do too much.

 

One of the powerful aspects of Jesus' earthly ministry was his ability to hone and focus, even when the needs around him were practically infinite.  He always remembered to cultivate his relationship with his Father and he refused to let others set an alternative agenda for him that would have taken him away from the cross.  Jesus lived with a deep sense of purpose and mission.  Even the teaching of Jesus was incredibly focused so people could remember the truth he communicated:

 

One day a teacher of the law tested Jesus with a question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?  Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:37-39)

 

Jesus boiled down the 613 laws of the Old Testament into 2!  Love God and love others.  Jesus has given us only 2 theological plates to spin and he wants us to daily remember that our lives can be incredibly focused if we love Him and allow His love to flow through us into the lives of others.  Yet, even though Jesus has condensed the Law and Prophets into two commands, we still find ourselves forgetting the true focus of our lives.  We get distracted.  We get tired.  We get lazy.  We lose our sense of priorities.  We get mired in sin.  We need constant reminders to focus: love God, love others.

 

In January we will be starting a new teaching series called Acts: Seeing the Spirit at Work.  As I have been doing some preliminary study for this new series, I noticed something powerful about the early church that Luke (the writer of Acts) records in Acts 2.  When the Spirit comes at Pentecost, the newly birthed church is marked by an incredible focus.  Luke writes:

 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...all the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

(Acts 2:42-47)

 

Notice how the believers were focused on loving God (devoted to the teaching of the apostles and to prayer) and loving others (fellowship, sharing resources, sharing meals, etc.).  The result of their focus was more and more people transformed by the power of Christ.  I believe a mark of the Spirit moving in the church is an intense focus on loving God and loving others.

Let's be encouraged to remember that we have been called to live focused lives for God's kingdom.  If you're spinning 613 plates in your life right now, remember there are only 2 that Jesus has given you!

Greed and Giving

There is a television show called, American Greed, and, although I have never watched this series, the show's subtitle: Some People Will Do Anything For Money, pretty much explains enough to keep me from desiring to view any of the episodes.  I struggle to a great degree in my own life to sift through whether I really need certain things as opposed to simply want them; in short, I have a tendency toward greed, an inclination toward accumulation that, at the end of the day, actually serves to distract me rather than aid me in living a focused, Christ-honoring life.  Why would I want to watch other people doing crazy things for money (which is really amassed for one reason: to acquire more possessions) when I, too, can easily justify expenditures for more material things that aren't really needed?

Jesus spoke more about greed than any other sin.  He knew that where our treasure is, our heart would be there too (see Matt. 6:21).  We are bombarded on a daily basis with a large number of advertisements communicating that our lives will be less than fulfilled if we don't purchase certain products.  One of the ongoing challenges in our lives is to discern how to properly steward the money and material possessions God has placed under our care.  Certain material things are obviously needed for life, and God even allows us to have things for our enjoyment.  The problem is when the desire for things begins to overrule our desire for God.  

Peter Kreeft, in his book, Back to Virtue, writes:

Avarice (greed) is not desire as such, or even desire for temporal possessions as such, but the immoderate desire for them; for it is natural to man to desire external things as means, but avarice makes them into ends, into gods.  And when a creature is made into a god, it becomes a devil.

Just a few days before Jesus was crucified, he spoke out against the greed of the teachers of the law, a prominent group of religious leaders who, instead of making sure the needs of the poor widows were properly addressed, viewed the oppressed and marginalized widows' plights as opportunities for financial gain:

Jesus said to his disciples, "Beware of the teachers of the law.  They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.  They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.  These men will be punished most severely." (Lk. 20:45-47) 
  

Greed had infiltrated the hearts of those who were supposed to be upholding the Law and protecting the widows!  Biblical scholars speculate that the religious leaders may have taken advantage of the widows by: taking pay from the widows in exchange for legal aid; cheating gullible widows out of their inheritance; living off the hospitality of lonely women; and, accepting money from naive elderly women in exchange for special prayer.  The immoderate and extraordinary desire for financial gain in the hearts of religious teachers took precedence over their desire to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.  

Interestingly, in a powerful turn of events, Luke records a story of a widow's generous giving as a contrast to the religious leaders' greed:

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.   All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."  (Lk. 21:1-4)

The widow in this passage demonstrates a radical generosity, the antidote to a greedy heart.  

We can learn a lot about giving by looking at this poor, oppressed woman.

Here are a few thoughts:

1) The widow's motivation for giving was love.  Remember, the religious establishment had let her down.  Instead of being cared for as the Law required, she was taken advantage of and robbed.  Most people who had endured this kind of treatment would think of countless reasonsnot to give!  Yet, this woman approached the temple treasury with a humble, thankful, generous heart that simply wanted to honor God.  She wanted to love the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, and strength!  What is your motivation for giving?    

2) The widow's gift was based on sacrifice, not size.  The two copper coins that the widow put in the treasury were called lepta, a word that literally means peeled or fine and aptly describes the extremely thin nature of the coins.  Compared to the large gifts of the rich, this two-coin offering represented basically nothing because one lepton was worth about 1/400th of a shekel.  Two lepta is the equivalent of about 1/4 of a cent.  Jesus said the widow had put in more than all the others because she gave out of her poverty and there was a deep cost involved for her.  

C.S. Lewis wrote, "If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.  There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our charitable expenditure excludes them."  Sacrificial giving is marked by a generous spirit that is willing to delay or even eradicate certain worldly pleasures so more can be contributed to Kingdom ministry.  When is the last time you delayed a purchase for yourself so you could offer that amount of money to God? 

3) The widow's gift demonstrated radical trust in God's provision.  Jesus said the rich people gave their gifts "out of their wealth."  Literally, Jesus says, they gave out of their excess.  Their offering came out of the leftover pile;  they brought a doggy bag to worship.  However, the widow gave "out of her poverty and put in all she had to live on."  Literally, Jesus says, she gave "all the life (bios= subsistence) that she had."  When she finished walking past the temple treasury, she literally had nothing.  She was demonstrating radical trust.  She could have only given one coin (something I would have been greatly tempted to do!), but she gave all and based her life on the provision promises of God.  Are you demonstrating trust in God's provision with your giving?

As we seek to live generously in a culture of greed, let's remember the generous nature of God toward us...and remember a first-century widow who was captivated by the generosity of God as well! 

Authority

We have probably all had the experience of someone questioning our authority.  Parents, especially, can relate to authority challenges.  In the heat of the moment, a rebellious child may be heard saying, "You can't tell me what to do!"  

In his ministry, Jesus encountered religious leaders who behaved like rebellious children when they refused to recognize his power.  Soon after Jesus cleaned out the temple because of all the chaotic activity taking place there which distracted worshipers from being able to hear God's Word, the religious leaders approached Jesus and asked, "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things. Who gave you this authority?"  Their question was not an innocent inquiry, but rather a calculated, manipulative effort to catch Jesus in a trap that would, in their hopes, lead to his death.

At the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, just prior to his ascension, he said to the disciples: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me..." (Matthew 28:18).  Think about this staggering statement for a moment.  God the Father has given his Son, Jesus Christ,ALL authority!  Jesus is supreme and has complete authority over everything!  

In Luke's Gospel, we see how Jesus demonstrated authority with his word (people were amazed that he spoke with such authority while he was teaching), authority over creation (he rebuked wind and raging waters and brought about calm), authority over the demonic realm (the demons begged Jesus to let them go into a bunch of pigs), authority over disease (Jesus healed many people), and authority over death (Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead).  These examples reveal the supremacy of Christ over all things, yet it seems we often live like rebellious children, wanting to do life our own way instead of daily surrendering to the authority of Jesus.   

 

How about you?  Do you not only recognize the authority of Jesus but also have a deep desire to allow Christ's authority to guide you in all areas of your life?  Is your marriage relationship centered on the authoritative Word?  Do you daily surrender to Christ's authority in your place of employment?  If someone looked at your bank statement, would they be able to see the supremacy of Jesus?  How about your viewing history on the internet?

 

When we willingly come under the power and authority of Christ and live in obedience to him, we are given an amazing gift---freedom in Christ.  In surrender there is freedom.  In death (to our sins, our selfish agendas) there is abundant life.  

New Season

Today started early in my home because my children had to catch the bus before sunrise to begin a new school year.  It's a new season.  There is a certain freshness that comes with turning the page and encountering something different.  New seasons provide opportunities for reflection on the past, but they also give reason to establish renewed vision for the future through the evaluation of priorities:  How am I spending my time?  Am I simply spinning the wheels and going through the motions, or am I living each day with a deep sense of purpose, mission, and Christ-centeredness?  Am I being faithful with all God has entrusted to me?

Jesus calls his followers to be faithful in the stewardship of their time, talents, and treasures. As we encounter a new school year and a new season of ministry at Crossroads, let's consider these truths so we can maximize our time for God's glory:

1) The time we have been given to use our gifts is limited.  

I was reminded of the fleeting nature of this life as I dropped my middle school daughter and high school son off at the bus stop this morning.  As all parents of teens would say, "It seems like only yesterday we were bringing them home from the hospital in a car seat!"  During his ministry, Jesus told a parable about a nobleman who was going to a distant country to be appointed king.  However, before he left on the journey, he called ten servants, gave them some money, and told them to put the money to work until he returned (see Luke 19:11 ff).  One of the key points of Jesus' story is that the king is coming back to see what the servants have done with the money.  What kinds of stewards would they be?  In the story, Jesus is describing himself and his return.  It's easy for us to get lulled into complacency or to put off using our gifts until a more convenient time.  Meanwhile, opportunities for service come and go, children grow up, time flies, and we fail to see each moment as an opportunity to put God's gifts to work.  This leads us to the reminder that....

2) The source of our gifts is God. 

This may seem obvious, but it's so easy to start thinking in terms of my talents, my money, my job, my family--instead of realizing that all those things and people are gifts from the Almighty.  If we take another look at Jesus' parable, we see that the king distributes the money to the servants.  The king is the source.  When we regularly remember that God has gifted each one of us in unique ways, we are given an empowering perspective from which to live; our lives become a worshipful response to the gracious and generous gifts of God.

3) We will face opposition when we seek to faithfully use our gifts.

The king in Jesus' parable is hated by his subjects: 

But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, "We don't want this man to be our king." (Luke 19:14)

Likewise, when we are fully committed to using our gifts to serve Christ, we too will experience opposition and persecution of various kinds.  This should not surprise us because Jesus said: 

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)

New seasons of life are wonderful times to evaluate whether we have been compromising our faith and giving in to the pressures of the world in order to avoid opposition.  Are you committed to faithfully use your God-given gifts--no matter the cost?

4) God will hold us accountable for the use of our gifts.

Jesus' parable continues...

He was made king, however, and returned home.  Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.  The first one came and said, "Sir, your mina has earned ten more."  "Well done, my good servant!" his master replied.  "Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities."  The second came and said, "Sir, your mina has earned five more."  His master answered, "You take charge of five cities."  Then another servant came and said, "Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.  I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man.  You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.  His master replied, "I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant!"  (Luke 19:15-22)

The coming judgment of God will be a time of accountability, and for followers of Jesus it will be a reckoning, an unveiling of our stewardship.  At this time of accountability, don't you want to hear Jesus say, "Well done"?  Don't you want to hear the Son of God say, "Thank you for putting the gifts I gave you to good use"?

If you feel like your life has been drifting lately and you have been lacking that deep sense of purpose to live each moment in honor of Jesus, it's not too late to cry out to the King and receive His empowering so you can use God's abundant gifts in a faithful way.  Just remember, at the end of the journey we can look forward to our Savior say, "Well done!"

Leadership

My wife emailed this quote to me yesterday.  It is a good reminder about the nature of leadership....

"The measure of you as a leader is not what you do, but what others do because of what you do." 

~Howard Hendricks

Prescriptions for Kingdom Living

Those who have placed their faith in Christ are given the privilege of living under the authority and power of God's kingdom in the present; however, there is a forward looking dimension to the life of faith as well--an expectation of the consummation of God's kingdom when God's final judgment will be delivered.  This reality begs the question: How are we then to live during this in-between time?  

Here are two prescriptions for kingdom living to consider:

Prescription #1: Don't live in anxiety while awaiting the fulfillment of God's kingdom.

When Jesus taught about the fulfillment of the kingdom, he said to his disciples:

The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.  People will tell you, "There he is!" or "Here he is!"  Do not go running off after them.  For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.  (Lk. 17:22-25)

The spiritual climate of the first century was filled with speculation and sensationalism regarding the coming of the Messiah.  Theological fads and sensationalism--especially when dealing with the end-times/eschatology--have the tendency to breed an anxiety in people's hearts.  Jesus warned his disciples to stay away from false teachers and false teaching surrounding the coming of the Messiah.  God desires us as well to resist anxious thoughts and rather place our trust in the sovereignty of God's plan and timing regarding Christ's return.  Anxiety is crippling precisely because it represents a failure to trust in God.  

The Apostle Paul wrote these words about anxiety to the church in Philippi:

The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Phil. 4:6-7)   

I think it's interesting that Paul begins this section with the statement "The Lord is near."  When we are anxious about something, we easily forget about the nearness of God's presence.  We overlook Him.  There have been several times in my life when I have misplaced something quite valuable and important.  As the anxiety level increased in my body, I became increasingly "scattered" and unable to focus.  Consequently, the item I was desperately searching for was actually right in front of me, but I was too stressed to see it.  In a similar way, worry prevents us from seeing God's presence in the present!

Prescription #2: Don't live in the future while awaiting the fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Although we are called to live with an attitude of expectancy toward the future coming of Christ, we are also called to live fully in the present.  Our anticipation should never prevent us from seeking God now, in this very moment.  In the context of Jesus' teaching on the future fulfillment of the kingdom, he interjects the importance of living out God's mission in the present:

But he first must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. (Lk. 17:25)

The cross of Christ, which includes Jesus' suffering and death, represents a present reality for Jesus in this verse.  Jesus couldn't experience the triumph of resurrection without enduring the cross.  The consummation of the kingdom only comes as a result of the Messiah's obedience unto death--even death on a cross.  Jesus knew that to obey the Father meant to obey every step to Calvary.  Just think what would not have happened if Jesus wanted to somehow live in the triumphant future and skip the present mission before him.  According to Luke, these things would not have taken place: teaching more parables, blessing little children, healing a blind man, calling a man named Zachaeus down from a sycamore tree, moving triumphantly into Jerusalem, celebrating the Last Supper/Passover with his disciples, etc.  

Henri Nouwen writes these words about the importance of living fully in the present:

Patience is a hard discipline...Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are.  When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are.  We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else.  Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.

May we all seize the opportunities that lie before us today--opportunities to glorify Christ through our thoughts, words, and actions....right now.

The Kingdom of God---both "Now" and Later"

During some of my early years, my family lived in a neighborhood in Indiana that contained several homes that were under construction.  Due to the construction process, there were numerous fairly high dirt piles that were situated on various lots.  As you can imagine, these dirt piles represented a playground utopia for the neighborhood kids.  The most popular game utilizing the dirt was "King of the Hill," a game that had the sole purpose of determining who was the greatest in that particular dirt kingdom.  The rules of the game were quite simple: try to get on top of the hill and then remain on top by pushing everyone else down the dirty slope.  It truly was an exhilarating feeling to be the one who was able to conquer the hill and remain in power for an extended period of time!

Unfortunately, this game closely reflects our desire as humans to live in such a way that we believe we are actually in charge.  Our pride often rules the day; then, we forget about God's Kingdom and we fail to remember that God is the true Ruler over all.  When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom, he was clearly stating God's supremacy over all else in the world.  He was proclaiming himself to be the King.  Even the prophecy surrounding the coming of Jesus Christ foretold the nature of this King and the nature of God's Kingdom:

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. (Lk. 1:32-33) 

One of the characteristics of God's Kingdom--the reign of God--is that it has a now ("already") reality and a later ("not yet") fulfillment or consummation.  In other words, God's rule is definitely in effect now, but it will one day in the future be experienced in its fullness.  We are living in the present tension "between the times."  In Luke 17, the Pharisees approached Jesus and asked him when the kingdom of God would come.  This question reflects the anticipation of the Messiah, the Son of Man who is prophesied to establish God's Kingdom.   Theologian John Bright, in his book, The Kingdom of God, writes:

But if Jesus be indeed the Messiah, that confronts us with a further question: what is the nature of his Kingdom?  It is a question that follows inevitably.  To acclaim anyone as Messiah is to announce in him the coming of the Kingdom of God, for it is precisely the business of the Messiah to establish the Kingdom.  Messiah cannot be separated from Kingdom....when Messiah comes, the Kingdom comes.  If Jesus, therefore, is in any sense the Messiah, then he has come to make actual the victorious rule of God over his people which Israel's faith had long awaited.

Therefore, in the coming of Christ is the coming of the Kingdom, and Jesus speaks of this truth when he said to the Pharisees, "...the kingdom of God is in your midst" (Lk. 17:21).  Jesus is the embodiment of the Kingdom and he was standing right in front of the religious leaders who failed to recognize him as Messiah, and, consequently, failed to recognize his kingdom authority.  

Since we are living between the now and later aspects of God's kingdom rule, one of the questions we often ask is: "How long?"  This question gets fleshed out in many personal ways:

"How long must I live in this pain?"

"How long until the wrongs of the world are set right?

"How long must I live with tears, mourning over the effects of sin and evil that I see all around me?"

The Psalms in the Old Testament contain several references to this "How long?" question.  Here are a few examples:

"Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.  My soul is in deep anguish.  How long, Lord, how long?" (Psalm 6:2-3)

"How long, Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?" (Psalm 13:1-2)

The "How Long?" question is even posed in Revelation 6 by the martyrs who are wondering when they will finally be vindicated:

They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"  Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. (Rev. 6:10-11)

There are a couple interesting aspects of this passage.  First, the martyrs are given white robes.  According to many scholars, the robes represent justification by Christ as the martyrs await the final judgment.  In other words, the robes are a "now" experience of justification as they wait for the "later" fulfilled justification.  Second, the martyrs are told to wait a little longer.  Even though our seasons of waiting may seem to be extremely long, we need to remember that from God's perspective, it's just a little longer.  No matter what you are going through that's causing you to cry out, "How long?", you can know that you won't be waiting forever.  It's a temporary season of waiting that will one day come to an end and these words will be fulfilled:

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  (Rev. 21:4)

Enter with the password: "Thank you!"  

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.  

Thank him.  Worship him.

[Psalm 100:4 from The Message]

In our culture, the word thanksgiving tends to be associated primarily with a holiday when people take time off work and eat excessive amounts of food.  For Christ followers, thanksgiving is to be a way of life, an overarching attitude that continuously discovers God's grace and miraculous provision throughout the various seasons we walk through.  I think we sometimes struggle to live with thankful hearts because we develop a sense of entitlement in our relationship with God.  We somehow come to believe that God owes us a certain type of  life, standard of living, level of health, and amount of income.  Then, when something happens to us that bursts our plans and agendas, we become bitter and forget to thank God for all his blessings and benefits that remain constant and true through the storms.  King David wrote these powerful words about the importance of remembering to be thankful:

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5)

We would serve ourselves well to regularly meditate on these verses.  

When a job is lost due to cutbacks in the company, maybe the earthly benefits (paycheck, healthcare) are gone for a season, but we can know that God's benefits will never end.  There is still forgiveness and healing in Christ.  

When an unexpected diagnosis alters a life and becomes a potential source of anxiety and depression, we can know that God delivers from the pit of despair and he reaches out with hands that are loving and compassionate.  

When a marriage is strained and seems to be on the way to a sure divorce, we can remember that God satisfies our desires with good things and there remains the possibility of renewal and reconciliation for those who humbly seek him.  

Are you living with a heart of thanksgiving?  

Do you daily remember God's benefits?

Take a few minutes and write a "Thank You" card to God and list some of these benefits.  It will give you a renewed, hopeful perspective for the day! 

  

Details of Discipleship

Walking with Jesus in a life of discipleship is an all-encompassing journey that affects every area of life.  A commitment to follow Christ is not just a spiritual orientation; a true commitment to pursue Jesus will make a difference in how one lives in the nitty-gritty of life's realities, including in our relationships with other people. 

When Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders, he often rebuked them for the way their behavior sought to exclude the sick, the poor, the sinners, and the oppressed.  The legalistic theology of the Pharisees was exclusivist and had no room for outcasts.  Yet, when Jesus spoke to his own disciples, he also reminded them of the danger of becoming Pharisaical because the temptation toward self-centeredness is a daily battle for lovers of Jesus as well.  In Luke 17, Jesus lays out some details of discipleship and reveals to us how the gospel is translated into daily living.  

Here are some of the discipleship details from the mouth of Jesus:

1) Followers of Christ are committed to lead others toward spiritual maturity.

Whereas the Pharisees were working against the proclamation of the gospel and, consequently, people were encountering "spiritual maturity roadblocks" in their teaching, Jesus says, "Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come" (Luke 17:1).  The judgment pronouncement ("woe") of Jesus is directed toward the attitude of the Pharisees.  They were trying to keep people from Jesus and were serving as stumbling blocks to the spiritual growth of others.  Their self-serving religion was so damning that Jesus shockingly states: "It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble." 

One important question for us to consider is: Do our words and behaviors guide others to Christ and facilitate spiritual maturity?  Or, are we steering people away from Jesus and offering stumbling blocks to others?

2) Followers of Christ are committed to reconciliation and forgiveness in relationships.

We have all been deeply hurt by others at some point in our lives.  If these wounds are left unhealed, they will become an underlying infection that will contaminate all our relationships.  When someone wrongs us, we are tempted to demonize or dehumanize the offender in order to feel some type of moral superiority over that person.  In essence, we are tempted to become Pharisees.   

In Luke 17:3, Jesus said, "If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them."  In the first century, the number seven symbolized fullness or completeness.  In other words, Jesus is saying that if someone sins against you to the greatest extent imaginable, you are still commanded to forgive.  The fact that Jesus attaches an obligatory statement to the topic of forgiveness indicates that there must be a power at work which can make the "impossible" (forgiving those who deeply hurt us) possible.  This leads us to #3....

3) Followers of Christ rely on God's grace to live by faith.     

Immediately following the command to forgive, the disciples cry out to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (see Luke 17:5)   I believe they recognized the human impossibility to obey Christ's command and they were, in a sense, throwing themselves at the mercy of Jesus.  The response of Jesus is significant because he states, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."  Mulberry trees were known for their extensive root systems so this example is a powerful one that really communicates more about the power of God than the faith of men.  Small faith in a big God can accomplish more than we could ever ask or imagine!  Essentially, this is God's grace proving sufficient for us because His power is perfected in our weakness.  The only way we can truly live out the life of discipleship is through the empowering grace of Christ.  Remember, it's not about how great we are.  It's about how great He is! 

Religion, The Law, & The Gospel

As I interact with others in the community, I encounter a large number of people who have a checklist spirituality.  In other words, they are striving to be better people and exemplify goodness, at least to some degree, but they are seeking to do this through human effort alone.  Often times, Christianity is seen as a list of activities that, if we are honest, are really geared to present a religious image rather than lead to lasting life change.  Form (such as getting to church on Sundays) often takes precedence over substance (desiring to really know Christ and develop a dynamic relationship with him).  

During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke out against an externally based religion that valued works righteousness and self-justification.  In contrast to religion, the life of Jesus penetrates and transforms the heart, renews the mind, and manifests in Spirit-empowered living that results in fruitfulness.  The Pharisees turned God's inside-out transformation process into an outside-in approach that was rendered powerless due to the fact of placing trust in human effort instead of in God's grace.

The Apostle Paul clearly describes the difference between trusting ourselves vs. trusting God for salvation and life change when he wrote these words to Titus:

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7)

One of the reasons the Pharisees focused on the externals was because they had forgotten one of the key functions of the law: to point out sin and drive people to the recognition that they cannot fulfill God's perfect standard in their own strength and will.  Once again, the Apostle Paul is helpful on this point:

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Romans 3:20)

What shall we say, then?  Is the law sinful?  Certainly not!  Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law...  (Romans 7:7)

Thus, one of the key purposes of the law is to point out our sinfulness and lead us to the cross of Christ where we can find grace, justification, forgiveness, and righteousness--all through the person and work of the Savior.  Instead of seeing the law as a standard to strive for apart from Christ, we are to see Christ as the one who fulfills the law and the prophets (see Matthew 5:17).  

Christ as fulfiller of the law leads us to the message of the gospel (Good News) because, in the words of Paul, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  The righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" (Romans 3:21-22).  The gospel message proclaims that the righteousness of God is given through faith in Christ--not through human effort.  The divine righteousness--and, consequently, fulfillment of God's perfect standard-- comes as a result of being united to Christ the law fulfiller.  This union is the result of faith, not works.  The life of obedience (works) flow from the union with Christ; the works don't come first, faith does.

The reason the gospel is good news is because Christ is righteous and he clothes us in his righteousness, a truth that is strikingly painted by Jesus when he describes a loving father clothing his prodigal son in the best robe anyone could find (see Luke 16:22).  This picture reminds me of an older song by Wes King called The Robe.  Here are the lyrics:

Anyone whose heart is cold and lonely 
Anyone who can't believe 
Anyone whose hands are worn and empty 
Come as you are 

Anyone whose feet are tired of walking 
And even lost their will to run 
There is a place of rest for your aching soul 
Come as you are 

Chorus: 

For the robe is of God 
That will clothe your nakedness 
And the robe is His grace 
It's all you need 
Come as you are 

Anyone who feels that they're unworthy 
Anyone whose just afraid 
Come sinner, come and receive His mercy 
Come as you are 


Will you let Christ clothe you in his grace and righteousness?






  

Stewardship

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, famously stated, "Gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can."  In other words, "Work hard, be a disciplined steward of God's resources, and live with extravagant generosity."  During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke often about money and wealth, presumably because so much of our time can be easily consumed with thinking about bills to be paid, jobs to be completed, debts to be paid off, and investments to be made.  Followers of Christ are called to be faithful stewards or managers of God's resources.

In developing a biblical theology of stewardship, we should strive for balance.  Proverbs 30:7-9 says:

Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die.  Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?'  Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

The wisdom of this proverb leads us to a place of contentment whereby we simply ask God to provide for the specific needs of the day.  Worries over future days has no place in the life of a disciple.  The proverb warns of the danger of extremes, either in the direction of wealth or poverty.  Those who have much are often tempted to place their trust in possessions rather than in the God who rightly owns all those material things.  Conversely, the poor are also in danger of coveting what the wealthy have and then stealing things, wrongly thinking that material objects will somehow bring lasting joy.  There is wisdom in balance.

However, to go a step further, there are those who think that poverty directly equates to a deeper level of spiritual maturity and to have few possessions means an increased level of God's favor.  On the other end of the spectrum is the prosperity gospel, a false gospel that connects God's favor and blessing with wealth.  Since we as humans usually gravitate toward extremes, what is a balanced view of stewardship?  

1) Biblical stewardship is intentional.  

Without an intentional plan, we will fail to be faithful as God's managers.  This is where strategic budgeting comes into play.  Those who don't know where their money is going from day to day, week to week, month to month, will most likely find themselves perpetually frustrated about their personal financial situation and, more often than not, discover that they are woefully in the bondage of debt.  The Bible teaches that we will be asked to give an account of the talents and treasures that have been entrusted to us and the rewards given to us will be dependent on how we have stewarded God's resources.  Good, wise stewards know how to intentionally budget and plan so they can gain, save, and give all they can.

2) Biblical stewardship requires a future orientation.

A worldly perspective on wealth focuses on the moment and encourages impulse purchases.  A biblical focus teaches stewardship with an eternal perspective.  Instead of continuously pouring money into items that will not withstand the test of time, Christ followers are called to store up treasures in heaven.  

In Luke 16, Jesus tells an interesting parable about a shrewd manager who was being fired for the mismanagement of his rich boss' estate.  In his last hours on the job, the manager has an idea that will give him some security in the future since he has burned the bridge with his boss and will not be able to use him as a reference in securing future employment.  First century Jewish culture contained a "reciprocation factor" in interpersonal relationships and people relied heavily on having favors returned.  The shrewd manager's idea was to lower the debt amounts on the rich man's debtors so that when he was thrown out on the street the debtors would return the favor by providing him a place to stay and make sure his needs were covered.  In response to this dishonest, crafty action, Jesus makes the following startling statement: "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly." (Lk. 16:8)

The "shrewdness factor" was the forward-thinking aspect of the manager's plan.  He was wanting to maximize future rewards.  Jesus, in his use of this illustration, is not commending dishonesty or shadiness in the realm of business practice.  Rather, he is using the manager to illustrate the importance of investing primarily in the eternal future, not the temporal present.

3) Faithful stewards are wise in using God's resources to develop relationships and bless others.

Jesus, in the same parable of the shrewd manager, says, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings" (Lk. 16:9).  When we spend money on the development of Christ-honoring, evangelistic relationships, we have the hope of someday seeing the eternal dividends on those investments.  Jesus says faithful stewards can look forward to the day when they will be welcomed into their eternal, heavenly dwellings by individuals who have been transformed by the gospel message--a message that went forth powerfully due to the faithful giving of wise stewards.  It is amazing to think about people we don't even know welcoming us into our eternal home because of money that was sent overseas to a missionary in another country.  When we invest in relationships and choose to bless others, God will take those gifts and multiply them beyond our wildest dreams.  Eternity will tell the full story!

4) Faithful stewards understand the temporary nature of wealth.

Regarding wealth, Jesus says, "...when it is gone..." (Lk. 16:9)  It's not a matter of if our possessions will fade away, it's a matter of when.  Do we live our daily lives with the temporary nature of material possessions at the forefront of our minds?  Do we make our financial decisions based on the truth that what we are about to purchase will not last forever?  

5) A faithful steward is blessed with an increasing level of responsibility. 

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy  with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?  

(Luke 16:10-12)