Brick Walls

We've all been there, trying to get something done, trying to achieve something, trying to make a difference. And there it is, right before us - a huge brick wall, a barrier to big to go over, to wide to go around and too thick to go through.

We say things like, "I just can't believe it!  I'm trying to do something good and this comes up!" Or "I need to make this happen for my family and now this!" Or sometimes, "Why me God, how could you let this happen when I'm doing my best for you?"  Why is this brick wall set in my way to prevent me from doing something good, something right, something to make a difference?

The problem isn't the wall and the problem isn't God's indifference or his interference, the wall isn't even to stop your efforts if the goal is good and righteous, the wall is there to challenge your motives and your faith. Is want you are seeking really a blessing and do you really trust God in bringing about your ultimate good?

Listen to what the apostle Paul had to say, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:9).  "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Rom 5:3-5).

The brick wall is not a barrier to keep us from achieving something good, it is a challenge to help us define what we're are seeking more clearly, to determine how much we want or need it more definitely and to place our trust in Good more deeply.

If the need is real and your heart is right and your hand is in God's, the wall will not stop you for “What is impossible with man is possible with God" (Lk 18:27).  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28). Jus' Say'n.

Looking Up

The Psalmist asks, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains--where does my help come from? (121:1); then answers, "My help comes from the LORD" (v. 2).

He further says, "He will not let your foot slip (v. 3)...The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (vv. 7-8).

Knowing that God watches over us so intently, promising to protect our lives both now and always, what should cause us fear?  What precisely ought we to worry about?  What can separate us from the watchful eye of God?  The answer: "nothing in all creation can separate us" (Rom 8:39).

So, why do we, as children of God fear?  Why do we get depressed and anxious and worried?  Don't we believe that God can provide?  Yes we do, but we too often don't look up to God, we look down on the danger, the threat, that thing which we fear.

Do you remember the Gospel Story of Peter climbing out of the boat, walking on the water at Jesus word?  Do you recall what happened when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm?  "He began to sink" (Matt 14:30).

The Psalmist, on the other hand, lifted his eyes to find the answer of who would be handling the threats to his life and well-being. He lifted his eyes and saw that it was the LORD, not himself who would face the threat.

What about you?  When you face a dangerous, threatening or unmanageable situation, where is your gaze directed?  May I suggest that we all stop looking around at the mess and start LOOKING UP to the Master?  Jus' Ask'n.

Amazing!

I was reading an article about a pack of wolves being introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 that changed the complete ecosystem.   The wolves hunted deer and elk, reducing their numbers allowing for the growth of needed plants and Aspens that attracted insects and the return of berries.

The insects and berries attracted birds and other small creatures such as the beaver, which built dams causing pools of water that attracted even more creatures.    The wolves killed coyotes that allowed for the increase of rabbits and mice,  which attracted foxes and birds of prey.  

Today, for all the reasons listed above and more, the Park is flourishing, which prompted the author of the article to exclaim, "Isn't nature amazing?"  But what resonated in my heart was, "Isn't God's design amazing?"  Nature is what God is doing in the natural universe.

Simply put, what we see in nature is a reflection of the Creator: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made..." (Rom 1:20).

God's power, his majesty, his presence is shouted by the glory above and the wonder below of our natural system that was created by his supernatural power and design.   Take a moment now and again to stop and smell the roses, observe the ant, marvel at birth, gaze into the heavens, or even read about a pack of wolves, which when allowed to live according to His design, is indeed an awesome thing.   Jus' Say'n.

Showing Up

After preaching at Gateway this past Sunday, I went to the  Veterans Nursing Home at Fort Roots where a small group was gathered in the activity center. After the service, one of the elderly veterans said to me, "I wish we could have had more people here for your sermon."

I smiled and thanked the elder vet and replied, "We didn't have a large group, but we had a good one. We are the ones who showed up. I showed up, you showed up and the handful of others showed up. That's were 90% of what happens in life begin - in just showing up."

In most every church, it is that relatively small percentage of members who keep showing up to set up, clean up, fix up, cheer up - you name the task or the need and the same small group will be there. Others may drop in and help from time to time but you know the faces and the names of the ones who always show up. They are the ones that get kingdom work done consistently, time after time.

This isn't something new, it's been the case from the start.  Jesus commented on this truth as he observed those who showed up: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Lk 10:2).

It's always been that way; perhaps it always will. But you don't have to be one of the frequently or always missing in action. You can choose to be one the the few that consistently shows up and makes a difference in your community and advances the work of the kingdom.  Jus' Say'n.

All Things

If you've been in church much or around Christians in general, you've likely heard Philippians 4:13 quoted: "I can do all things through him [Christ] who gives me strength."    The discussion that would typically follow encourages us with the limitless power to accomplish whatever God calls us to.  And, the premise is true but the context is flawed.

Let me explain.  God does promise his children the power "to do more than all we ask or imagine according to his power at work within us" (Eph 3:20), but the Philippians 4 passage is not talking about accomplishing things, it is talking about enduring things.

To see its context, let's look first at verse 1: "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!"  Paul is calling us to rejoice in every circumstance, regardless.  In verse 12 he goes on to say, "I know what is to be in need, and I know what is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Now, in verse 13, Paul reveals the secret of "being content" in "all things," which is employing the Christ-given strength that all Christians have available to them - even you.  So, if your are a disciple of Jesus Christ and you are not able to find contentment in your circumstances, it is not what God is doing to you but what you are not allowing God to do in you.  Jus' Say'n.

A New Command

In John 13:34, Jesus told his disciples, "A new command I have given you: Love one another."  And, in the next verse (35) he continued, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

It is interesting that Jesus calls this command to love new as it was commanded in the days of Moses, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18).  And, God, who "is love" (1 Jn 4:8), would certainly have expected his children to love each other from the beginning.  Yet, Jesus does say, "a new command I have given you."  How so?

Look at the qualifier of this love as we read the rest of 13:34, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  Ah, this is the new, a love so deep it has no bottom.  A love so exhaustive that it cannot be exhausted.  A love that would give up everything, even life itself for the other, this is the new command.  He love loved us to the point of death, "even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:8).

This new command pushes the old command to love neighbors as yourself, to loving others more than self, to "in humility value others above yourselves" (Phil 2:3).  The "as much" is replaced with the "more than."  And, this love is not to be reserved for those who love you.

Jesus would further add, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies..." (Matt 5:43-44).  Wow!  This is a command so new that it hasn't quite caught on yet, has it?  This command from Jesus is still a shocker to most of us, even as Christians.  But it is his command and it is our commandment.

What will we do with it?  How will we fulfill this new command?  Will you keep it?  Jus' Ask'n.

Expectations

If you don't get a million dollars deposited in your checking account next week, will you be disappointed?  Probably not because you have no expectation of anyone depositing that amount.  But what if your paycheck is not deposited in your account?  In that case, "Heads will roll!"  Why?  Because you fully expect your paycheck to show up in place, on time and for the right amount.

Expectations play a larger role on our reactions than the actual action or event.  A million dollars would be better but we're only expecting our paycheck so we are not disappointed when we don't get a million bucks.

If you sat down at a restaurant and was served a perfectly cooked and prepared hamburger, would you be happy with it?  Depends.  If you were expecting lobster, there is not a chef in the world that could make your hamburger good enough.  If you were expecting a plain hotdog and a gourmet hamburger with all the trimmings came instead - well now, that's a different story!

This is one of the greater problems in relationships.  Wives expect things from their husbands that aren't being provided, husband want from their wives things that they aren't considering, parents want performance levels displayed in their children that aren't being achieved, bosses are insisting on outcomes that employees...  Get the picture?

In the church, we expect other Christians to behave in certain ways, live up to certain standards that we hold and hold over them in expectation.  When they don't act or talk or react in a manner that meets that expectation, we are disappointed with them and sometimes deem them unworthy.  Our expectations determine our reactions.

Sometimes there is a clear case of someone failing to keep biblical standards by lying, stealing, adultery, etc.  We do have to deal with those failures.  However, many times we are judging levels of commitment or amounts of giving or length of hair and so forth.  We are judging others based on our expectation of what we deem acceptable.

We need to approach expectations with great care because Jesus plainly says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judge.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matt 7:1-2).

I'm not saying we should not evaluate what people do, for Jesus goes on to say in verses 15-20 that we are to inspect the fruit people bear.  What I am saying is that we need to be very careful and err on the side of grace not judgement.  Be sure your expectations are biblical standards and not personal standards.  Consider whether the other is up to the standard by which you are forming expectations.  Just be careful and grace-filled in your expectations.  Jus' Say'n.