Something to Ponder

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

I’ve noticed a new habit developing with my little dog, Nikos. Every time I take him out to potty, he runs back to his kennel, rushes in and looks up to me expectantly for a treat. I am, in part, responsible for this. Since being in his kennel was a habit I was trying to reintroduce after not using it for some time, I would give him a treat when he went in as instructed. Now, he expects it every time whether I tell him to or not. It’s no longer special to get a treat, it’s expected.

Are we like that with God? He, too, blesses us but have we gotten so casual about it we take it for granted?

I go to church, why didn’t God answer my prayer?

I give offerings, why is trouble always hitting me, Lord?

I show up and serve when others don’t, how come I’m not in a position?

I’m a good person, bless me!    

Like Nikos, have we gotten to a place where we think we should be rewarded for doing the things we are suppose to do? Has our service gotten goal-oriented where we are watching for and expecting a specific blessing; a tit-for-tat mentality with God?

Already we hear more and more people changing churches because they ‘prefer’ another way to worship. Music is too loud or not fast enough, the order or length of the service doesn’t suit them, my needs aren’t being met, no one is friendly to me, and ‘I’m not getting anything out of it’ is a common battle cry, too. It all boils down to, “Where’s my treat (blessing, acknowledgment) for showing up?”

When did the focus of worshiping God become all about us and our personal preferences? Who said we get to dictate the terms anyway? I’m NOT saying we should stay in a church where the foundational beliefs are not in line with ours, but when it comes down to choosing where we attend based on what we get out of it instead of what we put into it, something is out of whack. Going to church is all about corporate worship of the Lord. People have made it about personal comfort and preference for themselves.

I have a theory. I think some people only get into the Word of God on Sundays when in church and expect to get all their ‘learning’ there. If they don’t learn something, the church is letting them down. Their exposure to Christian music in limited to Sunday mornings, too, so they feel entitled to regulate that. They are coming to church expecting to be served, educated and entertained instead of coming to serve and worship the Lord with all that is in them. They are sitting at the kennel door looking up in expectancy for their treat for even showing up.

I think what we have here is a case of ‘the tail wagging the dog’. Is that really how we think God would have us worship Him?

Compassion and Friends

Psa 25:6 Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.

Mark 6:34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

James 5:11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

All of the scriptures above tell of God’s compassion for us. Thank God, literally, thank GOD, for His compassion. Without it, we wouldn’t stand a chance for we continue to come up with ways to do stupid, sinful things to need it. I shudder to think of the things I’ve done this week alone!

Compassion has a few constant ‘friends’ that work together. Empathy is one of them. Sympathy is another. One definition of compassion is "to suffer with another." (Heb. 4:15 and 10:34). Sympathy essentially implies a feeling of recognition of another's suffering, while empathy is actually sharing another's suffering. Empathy is often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes".

I recently was a backseat passenger. Viewing the world from that angle, rather than as the driver, I noticed things I usually miss. Sometimes we look at someone else's life and think they have it easy, or we criticize them for handling something as they did. Unless we have been through the exact same situation, though we think we understand, we probably really do not fully understand their pain, their frustrations, etc. God intends that we empathize with our fellow human beings and show them compassion just as He has given us. His word has this to say.

Romans 2:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 

Phil. 2:4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 

Gal. 5:1-3 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 

Col. 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

May we always walk with compassion for those in need. May our heart be full of empathy for our fellow man.

Living in His Power

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NIV)

At some point, all people have problems with other people. It’s just a fact of life in this world. When we believe others make us feel bad, fearful, anxious, downhearted, or any of the other negative emotions, we are, effectively, giving them control over us. Who wants that?! Our responsibility is to step back and look at things from a position of power rather than from a position of weakness.

In any difficulty with others, we cannot control, nor is it ultimately important, what others do to us. They have to answer for their actions. What is our responsibility and most important is how we respond to others.

When you live from a position of strength in your life, other people will not, can not make you feel negative emotions. When you live your life with an outward bound heart full of caring, compassion, and love, you will always be more concerned about others than you are in how concerned others are about you.

To live in Christian strength, the emotional center and power of your life must be pointed outward toward Christ, not defensively pointed inward toward yourself. Believing others make you feel the way you do is an admission you have somehow lost power to be who God wants you to be. The ultimate truth of ultimate truths is this…Christ always wants you to live in victory.

Seen vs. Unseen

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

I love this scripture. It is full of hope and God’s promise. We all have times of affliction, be it physical issues, emotional pain, spiritual struggles, mental anguish or any number of things that weigh heavy on us. I think the ‘outer self’ it references is not just our physical bodies but the whole of us that is in this world; our life in general as we grow up in today’s mentalities and pressures to be successful, gain more material possessions and fit in with all that is contemporary and ‘in style’.

This scripture is also poignant to me as I continue to deal with physical issues. Chronic pain can do a number on your head, let me tell you. It is the promise of God that this is a temporary condition I endure in this time on earth and of the new ‘body’ I will spend eternity in as I praise Him that keeps me going on, especially painful days. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…who wouldn’t be encouraged and comforted by that? I am but a clay vessel to serve Him as He leads me and Though our(my) outer self is wasting away, our(my) inner self is being renewed day by day.

Jesus turned large clay pots of water into large clay pots of fine wine at the wedding feast. It was not the clay pots which were of value but what was in them. Same with us, our clay vessels are on loan to us from God above and we should take care of them but He cares far more about what is inside us. We judge the outer beauty or condition of the outer self of others, as well as ourselves. Many a beautiful clay pot holds stagnant water or vinegar, rendering it useless regardless of its outer beauty. It is our spirit being renewed day by day which is of real value and service to the Lord, preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. We can’t see ‘hope’ but we can see what it produces in the life of a Believer. The car you drive or the house you live in isn’t going to matter one fig in eternity. We worry about the silliest things sometimes. Having the ‘right’ name on the label of your clothes won’t open the gates of Heaven any wider. Standing before God on our judgment day isn’t going to go any smoother if your car is new and sitting in the garage of a house over which you killed yourself to pay the mortgage. These are the ‘seen’ and transient things. These are the clay pot trappings living in the world make so much noise over, yet none of them will make the journey into eternity with us regardless of where we spend it. Heaven or hell makes no difference to the material ‘seen’ things in which people put so much stock. 

If I’ve learned anything it is joy, peace and contentment are not byproducts of worldly living but are measured out by the trust and faith and hope in the Lord. I can’t see them but I know them by their works in my life.

Life is Not a Football Game

I’m not a big fan of watching football games on television….don’t shoot me, I know that’s practically un-American, but God made me unique…ha! I didn’t tell you that to defend my position but to use football terms in an analogy. We’ve all heard, said, and probably used in our own actions, “The best defense is a good offense.”

While this might be true in football (I don’t even know if it is), that’s not what God had in mind for the life of a Christian. Who among us hasn’t done that at one time or another? Some people make a lifestyle of it. It’s when we don’t own our actions and sins and divert the attention/focus to the actions and sins of others in an effort to defend what we have done/said. We attack the other person when we feel defensive. We go on the offense, usually in aggressive, angry ways. We become a one man team. We quarterback when we hurl ugly words and tones at the opponent. We become the offensive line when we tackle and rush at those we perceive to be trying to get at us. Intimidation can come in loud voices, rushing in to get in someone’s face, using physical size to our advantage, wounding with words, and making your opponent the enemy all in the name of defensive actions instead of owning our own shortcomings and failings.

Like in football, people and relationships get hurt and damaged. Scripture talks about this.

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Proverbs 17:27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
Proverbs 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
Matthew 7:3 And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own?
Proverbs 20:19 A gossip tells secrets, so don't hang around with someone who talks too much.
James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.
Proverbs 18:13 What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!
Colossians 3:19 And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly.
Ephesians 4:26 And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry.
Proverbs 14:29 Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes.
Proverbs 17:14 Beginning a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Don't be quick-tempered, for anger is the friend of fools.
Romans 12:19 Don't quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Romans 12:17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

Football may be a game where defenses and offenses make a difference. Life is not a game and living a Christian life means leaving all that behind. God’s Word says it all.