In Christ Alone

One of my favorite preachers of the Word, is John Piper. Also a very well known author, Piper has written many books. My favorite of all his books is Don’t Waste Your Life. I would like to quote from it now:

If Christ is an all-satisfying treasure and promises, to provide all our needs, even through famine and nakedness, then to live as though we had all the same values as the world would betray him. I have in mind mainly how we use our money and how we feel about possessions. I hear that haunting words of Jesus, “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). In other words, if we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look great. He will look like a religious side-interest that may be useful for escaping hell in the end, but don’t make much difference in what we live and love here. He will not look like an all-satisfying treasure.

I find this to be very encouraging, as recently I was waiting on an answer from the Lord. I found myself becoming consumed with this answer rather than consumed with my God. What I wanted more than anything was to have an answer to my question. This answer, by my own actions proves that I find more comfort, satisfaction, and worth in my circumstances than I do in the presence of my God.

It is God’s desire to be first and foremost in our lives. It is His will that we love him first, according to Deuteronomy 6:5, and Matthew 22:37. First place can only be occupied by one thing. Money, health, family, career, all good things, but none of them are worthy of first place in our lives. None of them are worth serving. Yet we, (I) put my faith, worth, and happiness in these temporary things. According to Jesus I when I do this I serve them, myself and this world (Matthew 6:23-25).

So what are you serving? What do you find as the source of your joy, satisfaction, and contentment? What is your bottom line? Is your happiness, joy, and worth found in? The next job, promotion, house, car, grade, what? Or is your joy in knowing, fellowshipping, and serving the only One that deserves it? As I now have the answer to my question, I am able to recognize that the lack of an answer was not a bad thing.  Instead, it was used by God to show me the condition of my idolatrous heart, a heart that ran from God, in pursuit of other things that promised contentment and satisfaction.

My prayer is this, “God, please help me to find all of my comfort, joy, meaning, and worth in Christ! Make yourself first in my life, and the only thing that I long for, and the only thing that I can’t live without"!

Amen

To the Glory of God

Not too long ago I was reminded how much our theology effects everything we do in our lives. From time to time our Christian School is visited by various Christian Colleges that are making their rounds, attempting to convince young students that their school is the school for them. More often than not, these schools send out young recently graduated and married couple as their representatives. This was the case today.

The young man, (we will call him Ted) began his spiel, by baiting the kids into shouting out what they wanted to be when they grow up. Then, Ted showed a series of slides that showed what other people had become when they grew up. One slide, showed every parent’s worst nightmare, the 30 year old couch potato that never left home and was sleeping in the middle of the day. Ted then compared this sluggard to a man in the next slide wearing a nice suit, reading over a report of some type. The second man was obviously a success. This was humorous and we got the point. It was the next comparison that caused me alarm.

The second set of slides started out showing a security guard on a Segway. You know that individual scooter with two wheels that was created for postal carriers, and law enforcement types, that spend lots of hours on their feet. Following this slide was a picture of a highway patrolman or deputy sheriff, I can’t remember which. The comparison was obvious and Ted was making his case that the security guard or “mall cop” as he referred to him, was not as successful because he was not a “real cop” and therefore was not living a successful life. Ted then went down his list of preferred vocations. You know the list; it’s the same one that you have probably heard over and over- doctor, lawyer, FBI agent, pilot etc.

Now, what was Ted communicating to these young students? Some professions are honorable and worth being admired and some are not, and worthy of ridicule. How does this stand up to good theology? If we recognize that it is God that rules over nations and he does so by raising up politicians, doctors, plumbers, electricians, waste water treatment workers, etc, then we really don’t have any room to prefer one over another.

Moses records for us in Exodus 37 “And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.” (ESV) Preserved for all of eternity are the names of these men, Bezalel and Oholiab, two men of many that God raised up for His divine purpose. Imagine what these men would have missed had they pursued a more “honorable” profession or desired to be prophets instead of doing what God had gifted them to do and put in their hearts to accomplish? They would have missed out building the Tabernacle of the Living God! Let that sink in…THE TABERNACLE OF THE LIVING GOD!

Instead of demeaning working class people that are earning a living in order to provide financially for their families, we should be encouraging people to follow the Holy Spirit. We should be calling people to the higher calling of working with all their might to the glory of God. Encouraging students and people to excellence, in whatever they do, to show the greatness of the Creator of this universe. King Solomon called people to do everything with all of their strength (Eccl 9:10). Why? He knew that we only have one life to live and when our lives are over our opportunity to serve the Lord will be over. Paul also told us that whatever we do in this life, we should do as to God Himself and not to man (Col 3:23).
The long and the short of it is this; good theology demands for us to recognize that God is sovereign and in His creativity has created billions of people on this earth for one purpose, his glory. He created the weak and the strong, the rich and the poor, the “professional” and the laborer, all for the purpose of subduing the earth for the glory of God. This theology requires that we approach each and everything that is to be done just the same as Bezalel and Oholiab. Our work is to show the wonder, majesty, and awesome beauty of our God.

So the next time we drive by a man digging a hole or holding a sign directing traffic; let’s think twice before we lean back and tell our kids that they need to do well in school so they don’t end up like that guy. Perhaps we should take the time to pray with them and thank our God for creating people with minds, hands, and skills to do what he has not skilled us to do.

Lessons In Leadership

Have you ever been put in charge of a project, new department or received a promotion that placed you in charge of your former peers? This can certainly be a time of excitement, joy, and great expectation of what lies ahead in your new position. On the other hand it can be a time of fear, second guessing, and feelings of inadequacy. I think that it is safe to say that one of the largest factors of your perspective is determined by those people that you will be leading in your new position.

In Deuteronomy 34, Moses dies and the Lord names Joshua the son of Nun as his successor in Joshua 1, to take the Israelites to the end of their 40 year journey and take possession of the Promised Land. Imagine, assuming this great position of Moses and which side of the fence Joshua must have been on. We can do this by recalling just a few of the things that the Lord used Moses to do in the life of Israel.

-Moses speaks to God – Exodus 3
-Moses speaks on behalf of God and ushers in the plagues – Exodus 7-14
-Moses parts the Red Sea in order for Israel to flee Egypt – Exodus 14
-Moses receives tablets of the law from God  – Exodus 31
-Moses strikes a rock and water comes out – Numbers 20

You get the point; Moses would have been a formidable figure for anyone to follow behind as a leader. Yet this is where Joshua finds himself. Smack dab in the middle of God’s will, leading the Israelites, a people that anyone would be happy to lead. Or would they? Not only must Joshua know just how unique a figure Moses was, it is also just as likely that Joshua must be thinking about what type of followers Israel had been for those 40 years in the wilderness.

Remember, Joshua was one of the spies to enter the Promised Land and one of only two to believe God’s promise to deliver them. Joshua was there when Aaron created the golden calf to be worshipped while Moses was on the mountain with God. Joshua was there when the crowds began to complain in Numbers 11, longing to return to Egypt because their conditions were uncomfortable. He was there when Miriam and Jethro sought to relieve Moses of his position in their jealousy.

Yet, like any good leader, Joshua set out the mission statement from the very get go. Joshua 1 tells us that he gathered the leaders of Israel together and established his command by telling them that God has told him. He laid out the overthrow of the Promised Land and the elders respond verses 16 through 18:

And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Now, if you can, imagine how confident he must have felt after this response. “Just as we obeyed Moses”, this statement must have filled him with complete and total confidence! If you believe that, then I have some ocean front property in Arizona I would like to sell you! I can’t imagine a more frightening situation for Joshua to be in; charged with leading one of history’s notoriously, rebellious armies into battle against fortified, walled, and prepared cities.

What does all of this mean for us? I mean really, these events happened thousands of years ago, what could we learn from Joshua taking over as the leader of Israel? May I suggest a few?

1. Don’t become known as a complainer. You know the type! It doesn’t matter what decision, the leadership makes there is always somebody that would have done it differently, or better, and they are never shy about saying so.

2. Be an encourager to those in leadership. Your leaders have lots of the first type to deal with and could probably use your encouragement.

3. Recognize that it is the Lord that establishes the leadership in your life. Shouldn’t we treat those leaders like they were?

4. When it is your turn to be in charge, be in charge. It is God that raised you up to this position and you should lead like it. Don’t worry about the Nay Sayers, they will always be there. Just remember that when you’re not the one in charge!

So no matter where you find yourself right now; leading, following, or assisting it is safe to say your role has been ordained by God and it’s not so hard to identify with what the others in your situation might be feeling.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

What Is Leadership Really?

The world really makes much of leadership. We all do. Who hasn’t heard from their parents the grinding phrase “If all of your friends jumped off a cliff would you?” What were they really saying? In essence they were telling us to lead our friends rather than following them. But what is leadership?

For the last two years a small group of teens has gathered together (in a group called Torchbearers) to learn the answer to this question. Torchbearers have borrowed their definition for leadership from Henry and Richard Blackaby. “Spiritual leadership is moving people on to God’s agenda.” If you think about it, that is a pretty good definition; for what else could it be?

With nothing more than a little reflection on this simple sentence, it is easy to see that all Christians are called to leadership. God’s agenda is nothing less than to receive glory, honor, and adoration from every creature here below.

We, as Christians, are able to move people to this agenda within the sphere of influence in which we operate. Husbands influence their wives toward God’s goal for their family. Mothers influence their children to the knowledge of Christ as Lord and King. Children talk about the things that they learn at home while in the sandbox, karate class, or driver’s ed. Employee to employee, neighbor to neighbor, teacher to student; our influence and leadership is only limited to our recognition of where God has placed us in His world.

The world makes much of leadership. How well are we, the body of Christ, doing at leading those within our sphere of influence onto God’s agenda? Perhaps you don’t know where to start. May I use my influence in your life to point you to Deuteronomy 6?

Solace In Suffering

Weather old, young, rich, or poor we all need help deciding or coping in a matter at some point in our lives. Perhaps like me, you have heard the very good counsel that goes something like this, "If you are having car trouble then you want to talk to a mechanic, money troubles a banker, marriage a marriage counselor." This is very good advice, which recognizes that God has gifted different people with different strengths and gifts for the benefit of His Church according to Ephesians 4.

What about in matters of suffering? Is it equally good advice to encourage those that are currently suffering to seek out those that have suffered? Is it enough to have suffered in this case? Or should suffering well be a requirement for those looking for help in their suffering? Surely one that has suffered well and is able to articulate the grace of God in their experience is worthy of their counsel being sought out. Ask anyone of these people that have suffered well and they will share with you that it was God's grace that allowed their suffering and it was for their benefit and Gods glory. In fact, it is most advisable, especially in the midst of suffering, to only seek out those that have suffered well.

Paul, as he was facing the end of his life, encouraged Timothy to suffer well with him (2 Tim 2.) Paul must have attributed a certain amount of his own spiritual growth and maturity to the suffering that he had endured. Surely Timothy was able, in some way, to be comforted by the words of his friend, who had, like him, been through so much and in the end was able to declare in Phil 2 that he preferred to die and be with his Lord. He learned to find his joy in Christ and he learned that through suffering.

Perhaps then, this could be a lesson for all of us. We must prepare for suffering. It is, after all, one of the ways that God uses to grow us into a more mature relationship and obedience. We must establish those base line fundamentals for our lives. Then, when we are in the midst of suffering, we must not seek solace or refuge from those that haven't suffered. What could they possibly offer, other than a sterile text book answer? Instead seek Jesus, He suffered much willingly for our sin and God's glory. Seek out someone with credibility and can share how it is that God used their suffering for His Glory and your good. Seek out someone that will encourage you to crawl as close to the Cross as you can possibly get. Seek out someone that will encourage you to rid yourself of all worldly ambition and seek pleasure in Christ alone. Seek a real friend.