Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Cross for Our Belief

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
John 3:14-15 (NASB95)

Why did Jesus have to go the cross?  That is such an ugly way to die, so inhuman, so vicious.  I am sure to the Israelites in the wilderness the "Serpent on the Stick" that Moses lifted up wasn't a pretty picture either.  But if we are going to turn to Jesus lifted up on a cross, we are going to come believing.  After all if we had our choice we would turn to something beautiful, sweet, something that gives us warm fuzzies.  There is nothing warm or fuzzy about the cross.

The cross challenges us to true belief.  Every Christ follower must understand that there is a difference between true belief and mental consent.  Many mentally consent to the idea of Christ on the cross.  But true belief is more than just acknowledging that something has occurred.  True belief shakes us and challenges us to the core and causes us to do something because of what we know or believe. 

That is the difference isn't it.  True belief calls upon us to live a different way because of our belief.  Jesus on the cross call us to true belief not just acknowledging an event in history.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Cross to Discover Our Need

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
John 3:14 (NASB95)

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to go to the cross?  It is a good question.  It can also be a mind blowing question.  One reason Jesus went to the cross is found in this verse for today.  The reason Jesus went to the cross is so that we will discover our need.

Jesus uses an Old Testament illustration from the Exodus.  Do you remember the story.  The Isrealites had sinned again and the consequences of that sin was snakes.  Serpents came from everywhere and when they would bite the people they would die.  Moses cries out to God for help.  God tells Moses to make a serpent and place it on a pole.  When anyone was biten by a snake if they would look to the serpent on the pole they would be healed.

Why did God give this consequence?  Because He wanted the Isrealites to realize the severity of thier sin, the cost of disobedience and that salvation or healing comes only from Him.

When Jesus went to the cross there was a similiar lesson to be learned.  When we think of Jesus on the cross it should help us to realize that sin has severe consequences.  It seperates us from God and if left to our own resources and answers we will die in our sin and spend eternity seperated from God in Hell.  When we think of Jesus on the cross it reminds us that the cost of our sin is pain, suffering and death.  When think of Jesus on the cross it reminds us that only Jesus has the ability to pay our debt and save us from our sin.  Salvation can come only through Him.

I hope that this week as every Christ follower looks toward Easter (Resurrection Sunday) we will be reminded of our great need and that Jesus has stepped in to save us when we could not save ourselves.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Fear of Kingdom work

So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy  slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.
Matt 25:25-27 (HCSB)

This is an interesting parable (Matthew 25.14-30).  The most striking thought came to me from the verses above.  Here is a slave, a supposed servant who was afraid.  However, the master did not acknowledge the problem as fear but rather a problem of evil and laziness.  I really thought about that.  For many Christ followers as we hear the call to Kingdom work shrink back and say I just can't!  I'm afraid!  But I wonder if Jesus doesn't see laziness rather than fear.
I'm not sure that we can really claim fear as a Christ follower.  I'm not suggesting we don't face scary circumstances in serving Christ.  But if we believe His promises and His Word, is there really anything to fear?  Is there ever a legitimate fear to hinder us from serving Christ?  There may be fear but knowing what we know, and serving whom we serve does that fear excuse us or are we just unwilling?  

Be careful that we do not excuse ourselves from true service expecting the master to buy our excuse!

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Cost

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:27 (HCSB)

 Milifred Minatrea writes, "Authentic discipleship is costly -it accepts responsibilities."  Jesus said our responsibilities were to bear our own cross, come after Him.  That is a heavy responsibility.  Jesus has a cross, or perhaps we would state differently, a plan for each of our lives.  If we are truly to bear that cross we must do two things:  Understand what the cross is.  Accept the difficulty it may bring.

Jesus never said it would be easy.  But we should remember the second part of what Jesus said, follow Me.  But Jesus went to the cross.  He was willing and prepared to lay it all down on the cross.  We too better be ready if we are claiming to be His disciple to follow Him by willingly laying ourselves on the line for His Kingdom.

It is a heavy cost.  But we are Christ followers!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Ready

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’7 “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’9 “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.11 “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘ I assure you: I do not know you!’13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Matt 25:1-13 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Christ's return?  Many Christ followers are anticipating Christ's return.  I was visiting one of the members of our congregation in the hospital the other day.  His room mate made it a point to tell me he too was a believer and that he thought Jesus was coming back any time.  Many Christ followers are taking the "I'm just waiting for Jesus!" approach.

While we are to be watching we are also to be ready.  This parable tells of 10 Virgins (young ladies) who were waiting for the grooms return.  Here's what we need to understand.  They were waiting but they had a purpose, a job, for when the groom returns.  The virgins were friends of the bride.  They were to watch for the groom and light the path for him and his party as he returns to begin the feast.  5 of these virgins were ready to light the path and 5 were not adequately prepared to light the path.

I firmly believe Jesus is returning.  The Bible is clear.  Every Christ follower should be waiting.  But while we wait we have a job to do.  We are to be telling others about the groom, Jesus.  Are you doing your job?  Are you ready?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

What we Should learn in Grief

Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 "I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'
"Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

4 'Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.'
5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
6 Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42:1-6 (NASB95)

Have you ever truely been grief stricken?  When it seems that everything has gone against you, have you ever cried out to God?  Maybe accused Him?  Maybe asked, "Why Lord?"  When we are in the midst of grief, and at some point all of us will be, what should we learn?

Job points out several lessons we should learn.
  1. God can do all things and there is nothing we can do to stop His plans and purposes.  In situations of grief it is obvious that these are things happening to us that we really didn't ask for and probably don't want.  But trust Him, He does have a plan. 
  2. We may never understand His plans and purposes.  But because He is God we recognize that His ways are higher and greater and we can only trust Him.
  3. We should just be quiet and let God teach us what we need to learn.  I don't know about you but sometimes I just can't be quiet and let God speak.  Grief has a way of getting our attention.
  4. It is in grief that we really get to know God intimately.  We may know of Him but in grief as He comes to comfort and care for us we know Him at a deeper level than ever before.
  5. We should humble ourselves and repent of our attitudes and actions.
If you are experiencing grief, allow God's Spirit to minister to you and teach you.  Yes it is a difficult time but as Pastor Rick Warren is known to say, "God doesn't waste any of our experiences."

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Revive Us

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Tim 1:6 (NASB95)

Our church just had a weekend of revival services.  Why do we do this?  It is one of those church things we do that sometime are done without thinking of the why.  Revival doesn't just happen because we have a set time of services.  It happens because we say to God, "Lord, I need to be renewed in my walk with you.  Revive me!"  It may happen during "revival services" or it may happen as you commit to some time with Him.  Either way we need that time.

That is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying to Timothy.  Timothy revive the gift of God in your life.  Renew your heart, mind, body and spirit to the masters call.  "Kindle afresh", sounds like revival to me.

Do you need to be renewed in your commitment and walk?  Do you need to be refreshed and rekindled in your passion for Him.  It starts in your heart.  You don't have to have a set schedule of worship services to do.  Just spend some quality time with Him.  He will renew you if you come before Him expecting and open to the work of His Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Roots

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
2 Tim 1:5 (NASB95)

Not all of us have them but those of us who do should be grateful.  What am I talking about?  Roots!  Some of us have not grown up in Christian home.  Some of us do not have the legacy passed on of serving the King by our family.  But for those of us who do we should rejoice.

Paul reminds Timothy, a young Christ follower, who was serving as a pastor, of his roots.  He had been raised by a godly grandmother and mother.  They gave to him a foundation to build his life upon.

Today rejoice and say thanks for the godly roots that you have.  If you came from a background without those roots make a commitment to yourself and to the master to lay that foundation for your family.  You be the beginning root in your family tree.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The trap of "rewards"

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said* to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'7 "They said* to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said* to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'
8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said* to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' 9 "When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius . 10 "When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 "When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 'Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous ?' 16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last."
Matt 20:1-16 (NASB95)

We all like rewards.  It feels good to be rewarded for hard work or a good job.  Yet in Kingdom living the Christ follower needs to evaluate and be careful that we are working for the master for the right reason.  In Kingdom living and Kingdom work it should not be about the reward but about serving the master.

Jesus told this parable to remind his followers that He decides who serves where, for how long and what the rewards will be.  There are really no big servants and rewards or little servants or rewards.  The idea that the Kingdom is comprised of Super Christians and normal Christians is just not accurate.  The real test is are we obedient and faithful.

Rewards are nice and they are promised.  But the Christ follower must beware of the trap of looking for the reward rather than loving and serving the master.