Second Best

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.

Zech 4:6 (HCSB)

Do you really want to settle for second best? Have you worked to make yourself almost the best you can be? No, me neither. I want to be the best that I can be. I want to live my life for the Lord in the best possible manner. I don't want to look back at my life and say, "awesome! I was almost the best God wanted me to be." A word came to Zerubbabel. It is an important word not just for him but also for every Christ follower. It is not by your strength or by your might but it is by God's Spirit.

Here's where we tend to get off track. We are working really hard to be the best that we can be. The problem is that if it is in our strength and might we are settling for second best. If we want to be the best we can be then we must allow God's Spirit to do His work in us. We can try to be faithful, righteous and holy but if it is in our strength we will never be what God wants us to be. But if we surrender ourselves to Him and the work of the Holy Spirit, God will do a work that cannot be duplicated or bettered.

So stop trying so hard and just surrender to the Holy Spirit's work. God doesn't really want your best try. He wants your obedient surrender.

Brothers

“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you.

2 Sam 10:11 (HCSB)

Joab and Abishai were brothers. They teach us a spiritual truth about spiritual brothers. Joab looked at the enemies around him and he knew he could not win the battle before him alone. He would need a plan and help to win. Joab enlisted his brother Abishai with a simple plan. "If you need help I will help you and if I need help you help me." The concept is simple but absolutely necessary.

If you have forgotten let me remind you, you are in a spiritual Battle. The enemy wants to destroy you and your spiritual brothers around you. God's plan is for us to ban together and support one another. The fellowship of the church is critically important for every Christ follower. You need brothers and sisters who will lift you up, strengthen you and fight with you when the enemy overwhelms you.

It is important for the Christ follower to find some spiritual brothers for support. Look at those in your church with a new perspective. Find others who you can ban together with for mutual spiritual support. If you are not involved in a church fellowship get started immediately to find a church where relationships with brothers can be developed. Your spiritual survival will depend upon it.

There are no "Lone Ranger" Christ followers!

Hear and Do

But be doers of the word and not hearers only,

James 1:22 (HCSB)

The problem for many Christians and church goers is that we are really good at hearing the Word. In fact we have heard so much that we are over stuffed. Years ago Amy Grant sang a song about fat babies. Spiritual babies that is. We have been fed and fed and fed but we have not exercised what we have learned.

James says hear the Word that is great but now also do what you have heard. If we are not doing we have not given proof or evidence that we believe it.

The difference between a church goer and a Christ follower is this: a follower hears and does what he hears. The church goer hears but does not do. Which are you?

Follow the Word

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

James 1:21 (HCSB)

It seems so simple, right? James says get rid of it! Moral filth. Do we really need an explanation. Those many things in our lives that our conscience and the Holy Spirit clearly tell us are wrong. Get rid of it. And evil excess. Our culture, the Human condition really is full of evil excess. It may be sex, or power, or money or some other excess. It must go!

But here is the catch. Getting rid of it is one thing but something needs to be put in its place. James tells us that it should be the Word. For the Christ follower the Word not only tells him what moral filth and evil excesses are but it also replaces the bad. Out with the bad and in with the Word. If we don't replace the bad with the Word we will find ourselves right back in it.

So here is the challenge for the Christ follower get rid of the bad but replace it with the Word. This can make all the difference in our lives.

Simple

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

Mark 10:14-16 (NASB95)

Come to God like a little child! What most of us lack and need in our lives is simplicity. We have complicated life too much. We have scheduled ourselves out of joyous living.

I read this passage this morning for my personal time with the Lord and as I was reading I looked down to see my one year old playing on the floor. She was enjoying the simple pleasures of rolling on a very soft blanket, walking around the living room and kitchen "exploring" and giggling because she heard me laughing at her.

Wow! What we can learn from a one year old!

Discouraged?

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33 (NASB95)

Are you sometimes discouraged? Of course, we all face those times. Some of us more often than others. Jesus assures us, "take courage; I have overcome." For discouragement be reminded that Jesus has overcome and we belong to Him.

Be encouraged by this video of a song by Chris Tomlin.

Anger

My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

James 1:19-20 (HCSB)

James tells us to be slow to anger. I was giving that some thought and I have realized that perhaps the easiest emotion to express and perhaps the quickest to come to the surface is anger. I don't consider myself an angry person. I think I am rather easy going and for the most part easy to get along with but as I considered this admonition I realize I get angry a lot. In the car, at my kids, at myself. And then don't even start to talk about politicians! Anyway, I digress.

Anger seems to be something that perhaps we need to think more about dealing with. James tells us that man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. Rarely, if ever have I felt my spirituality, my righteousness has grown because of that emotion anger.

Isn't it the subtle things in life that trip us up? As a Christ follower I want to live a righteous life. I need to check my anger. What about you?

An Appreciation for Lord Jesus

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” 9 For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

Luke 5:8-10 (HCSB)

Do you appreciate Jesus? Most of us would say of course, absolutely! But which Jesus do you appreciate? Is it Savior Jesus, Miracle Worker Jesus or is it Lord Jesus?

Some appreciate Savior Jesus. We appreciate our salvation. That grace filled gift of eternal life. It certainly is a good gift.

Some appreciate the Miracle Working Jesus. There are many in Churches today that only communicate, pay attention too or appreciate Jesus until they need something. Just whip me up a miracle today Jesus! I suppose Peter, James and John could be seen in this light.

But if we look a little closer we see an important truth. Their appreciation was for LORD Jesus. Peter says get away Lord because I am sinful. Peter recognized Jesus for something more than savior or miracle worker but Lord, Master.

There is nothing wrong with looking to Jesus for salvation, if fact you better! There is nothing wrong with recognizing that Jesus is a miracle worker and there are times that only He can meet the needs and problems of our lives. But He needs to be Lord and Master. A Christ follower will appreciate Jesus as Lord and will obey and be amazed at what He can do!

Going Deep

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Luke 5:4 (HCSB)

Jesus wants Peter to go out into the deep. I think that He wants us there too. Going deep means to go to a place that makes no sense except by faith. It is a place of deeper obedience, deeper relationship with Him, a deeper truth and growth.

Have you gone deeper with Jesus?

A Renewed Vision

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

1 Kings 19:13-16 (HCSB)

Elijah needed a time of personal renewal. But God also gave him a renewed vision. Elijah was tired and frustrated and allowed his fear to get the better of him. God reassures him that He is still in control but then He gives him a new assignment.

God says, "Elijah you have been faithful. Get up go back and finish the second half the way you have worked through the first half." God was not done with him yet. He needed to see the rest of the picture. God rarely shows us all that He wants us to do. If He did we would never take the first step. But at God's time we are given the second half game plan.

If God is giving you the next step, learn from Elijah. Get up and go in His strength and finish what He started in you when He called you to be a Christ Follower.

Time on the Mountain

Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard [it] , he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13 (HCSB)

For every Christ Follower there will be a needed time to get away with God on the mountain. Now you may never go to a literal mountain, although I love to get away to the mountains. The mountain is really a time for you to be alone with God and for you to hear from Him.

Elijah teaches us an important lesson here. God can come as a strong wind, or a strong earth quake or as a strong fire storm. But God is best hear in the still quiet whisper. When we need renewal usually God wants to meet us in a gentle wind and whisper. God does His greatest rejuvenating work in the quiet moments of life. Our problem is that we are often not still enough, quiet enough or attentive enough to hear His voice or to feel His gentle stirring.

Christ follower, it is time to be quiet and still and listen for His voice. It is time to go to the mountain!

Eye on the Prize

Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

1 Kings 19:9-10 (HCSB)

Was Elijah correct? Well yes he was. His assessment of the situation as best as he knew was correct. He had been zealous, they have killed other and are after him. But his real problem is much simpler and more severe. It is simple, he took his eyes off of God and on his situation. It is severe, because when we do this we are doomed to defeat. Eyes off the prize will always cause us to fall into failure.

Consider this: When playing baseball what are you told? "Keep your eye on the ball!" In golf, "Keep your head down." Why? So you are sure to hit the ball. In the Christian life God is whom we are to keep our eye on. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Keep your eye on Him and you will always be on track.

Our Pity Party

So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “[I have had] enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.”

1 Kings 19:2-4 (HCSB)

Elijah has a moment of weakness. Are you surprised? Did you think that only happens to you? You do have pity parties from time to time, don't you? I know I do. In my humanness I forget that I am a Christ Follower and I feel sorry for myself.

Elijah is threatened. He allows his fear to get the better of him. And then despair sinks into him. Despair can be the most debilitating emotion that we have. Despair is when are fears seem to overwhelm us to the point we just can't function and we don't really care.

Don't let that happen to you! When you start to throw your own pity party decide you just won't cut the cake. Don't send out any invitations. Promptly cancel the party. Fear and despair are real but you must choose not to participate. We must turn to God and seek His refuge, His strength, and His comfort.

He is there and He will help you. Cry out to Him!

When Fear sets In

Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

1 Kings 19:1-2 (HCSB)

Have you ever been bold and courageous as a Christ follower and then fear set in? I have and probably you have and Elijah certainly did. Elijah follows God, acts boldly, is extremely courageous and then is threatened by a godless queen.

By the way, do you notice who has the real power here? Elijah acts with divine power and strength. Jezebel can only threaten in her own strength. She even vows by "the gods" whom Elijah just proved were no gods at all. And yet we see Elijah react in fear.

Well here is the point for today's lesson. We all fear from time to time. Even Elijah had a shaking in his socks experience. So don't beat yourself up but do turn back quickly to the God who has the power to work mightily through His Christ Followers.

Blessing!

May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor 2 so that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Psalms 67:1-2 (HCSB)

Why does God bless us? In our human minds this seems like a simple question. In fact it seems like a question that doesn't really even need to be asked. In our humanness we assume God blesses us for us. The psalmist gives us a wonderful Kingdom truth for the Christ follower. It is that God doesn't really bless us for us. He blesses us for Himself.

Throughout the Old Testament and New we find this amazing (at least to us) truth that God blesses His people for His name's sake. Sure He wants us to be blessed but His primary reason for blessing is not us but it is Him. This might seem selfish to us but it isn't for the creator of the universe.

When God blesses it is for His name to be praised among the nations, that all people will know Him and His greatness. It is always about Him and as a Christ follower we need to shift our thinking to understand and reflect that truth in our lives.