Monthly Archives: September 2011

Wise in Our Own Eyes?

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One of my Small Groups has been walking together through the book of Proverbs. And I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the advice offered in this wonderful book.  Proverbs is filled with simple wisdom that, while it might not make your life perfect, will really help to steer your life in a healthy manner.

This past week, we were reading through Proverbs 3 and verses 3-7 have really resonated with me all week. Listen to what they say:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

So much good stuff here. We could spend a long time looking at this. But to me, it is some thing in the beginning and in the end that have stuck with me.

Trust in Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  And then in verse 7, be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn from evil.

Our wisdom, our ability to make wise choices, our very strength, it doesn’t come from ourselves. It doesn’t come from our own smarts, our own mind, our own power, our own “anything.”

Be not wise in your own eyes – turn to God.

Today, that thing you are dealing with. That choice you are trying to make. That struggle you are having, that thing that is robbing your sleep – have you given it to God?

Have you really sought His wisdom?  Have you really given it to Him?

Or, have you made the mistake that I make a lot – coming up with a plan and then asking God to bless that plan.  Instead of listening first to His voice.

Today, have you taken time to listen?  Have you taken time to really seek His will and His voice?  Have you humbled yourself to realize that you (nor I) don’t have all the answers? Only He has the answers.

And we can’t hear that truth until we humble ourselves and turn to Him.

Today, lean not on your own understanding. Turn to Him. Listen to Him. Seek Him. Find His knowledge, strength and wisdom.

Be not wise in your own eyes.  And in His wisdom and truth, we will find true life.

What Do We Lift Up?

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One of the things that I most dearly believe is this – it all comes down to Jesus. Everything. Everything n the church, everything in our lives, everything in our ministries. It all comes down to Him.  He is the center of it all, the cornerstone of it all, the foundation of it all.

It’s all about Jesus.

I had a professor in seminary that used to say that eventually every problem in our lives can be traced back to our walk with Jesus. I think that there is some real truth in that.  Everything comes back to our relationship with Him.

Listen to what Our Lord tells us today in  John 3: 13-16

No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Of course, we are always drawn to John 3:16, which is one of the key verses for Christian hope and eternity. But, look before that.  In that Jesus references something that happens in the book of Numbers in the Old Testament, when to save the lives of the people being bitten by snakes, God instructs Moses to make a snake and attach it to a pole.  In doing this, all that looked at the snake would live.

And He says that when He is lifted up, just as the snake was, all that look to Him will be saved.

He says later in John 12, when He is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him.

When we life Him up, with our words, with our lives, with our actions, with all that we are, people are drawn to Him. People are drawn to the hope and salvation in Jesus. He’s at the center, He is the heart, He is it all.

When He is lifted up, all people are drawn to Him.

So, today, a question. What do we lift up in our lives?  Are we lifting up Jesus? Do our lives point to Him?

It’s all about Him.  He is hope, life, and salvation.  And all are drawn to Him.

Today, as we live our lives, are we lifting Him up?

That’s our mission today.

 

Fear Not

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One of the things that we preachers try to do is share, present, and interpret scripture in a way that helps you. I want this daily reflection of scripture to a be a help to your day, an encouragement, a challenge.  I want it to be something that will enable you to know God’s love for you and to feel the challenge to go out and live in His grace.

So, sometimes I tell I story. Sometimes I try to relate it to your (or my) life. Sometimes I just talk about what it means to me.

Today, through, this reading is one of my favorites, and one of the most powerful in scripture.  So, I ask you right now to stop and listen.  Stop what you are doing (unless you are driving) and listen. Listen to what Isaiah 43 says:

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

God created you.  He formed you.  You are His.  He loves you.

Today, no matter where you are in your faith, whether you are where you need to be, whether you are walking daily with Him, or whether you have drifted.  Maybe you are just starting to come back to faith. Maybe you’ve never had faith before at any point in your life.

No matter where you are – know this. God formed you.  You are made in His image. And He loves you. He sent His son to redeem you.  And if wants to know you.  He wants a relationship with you. He wants to carry you.

He formed you.

And He wants you to trust in His strength and provision today. So that when you pass through the fire and the water, you will be ok.

Not if you pass through them. When you pass through them. There will be fire. There will be water. We will go through trials in this life.

When we cling to the one that formed us we know we will be ok. He will be with us.  He will uphold us.  He will strength us.

Today, know that God has formed you.  You are His.

Today, trust in Him.  Trust in His strength.  His might.  His power.  His comfort. His grace.

Fear not.  He has redeemed you.  You are His. Today, may we trust in Him, in all things.

Same Team

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I wonder what it looks like to the world when we as Christians can’t get along?

I wonder what it looks like when let real, but insignificant, theological disagreements cause us to separate?

I wonder what it looks like when we as Christians nuke each other?

I told my folks last night in our first Disciple Bible Study that I like my theology. I think my theology is right. I like what I believe and I think that it’s Biblical and grounded in what is right.

But, you know how much that matters?  Not much.  You know what matters?

Loving in Jesus name.  My folks have heard me quote Phillip Yancey before – “No one ever says, I became a Christian because I lost an argument one night.” I’ve met many who say, “I became a Christian because someone loved me.”

Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians:

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

We are on the same team. Through Christ, we are all brothers and sisters.

We have the same Father.  We have the same Savior. We are led by the same Spirit.  In spite of any disagreements we may have.  In spite of any different views on things.

If you are Christian, we are on the same team.

Imagine if the church worked together more? Imagine if we as Christians worked together more.  Imagine if we were to pull together and go on the attack against the forces of evil.

Just think what we can do.

Today, let there be no division among us. Let us work together. Let us pull together.  Let us serve together.  Let us love together.

Let us love each other.

We are on the same team.  Today, may there be no division among us.

 

Follow Me – Depth Podcast

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The sermon podcast for Sunday, September 11, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website.  This is the next sermon in our series about discipleship and the transformed life entitled “Follow Me.”  It is about following Jesus to a life of depth and life found in Jesus Christ. The texts are Matthew 13:53-56, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, and James 1: 1-4.  You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

Where’s Your Head At?

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One of the things people say when someone makes a mistake is that phrase – where’s your head at?

When you do something you shouldn’t have done, something you knew better than to do, you may have heard the phrase – where’s your head at?  What where you thinking? What was happening?

That phrase is true, because our mind so often determines our actions. Our thoughts determine what we do, so many times.  That’s one of the reasons why the Bible says submit your thoughts to Christ. Where our mind is will determine what we do.

So, today, where’s you head at?  As we start this new day, where’s your head at? What are you thinking?  What’s going on up there? What are you thinking about?

Listen to what Paul says in Colossians about where our head should be at:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Today, set you mind on things above. Set your mind on the stuff of heaven, not the stuff of earth. It’s easy in life to get bogged down with the things of this world.

With the worries of this world and this day.

With our stresses.

With our to do lists.

With our temptations.

With our pride.

Today, where’s your head at? What are you thinking about? What are you focusing on? Where your head is at will determine what you do today.

Today, keep you thoughts on the things of God. And in that, may we find the strength and hope that we need to be faithful to God in all things.

 

Choices

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Each day is full of choices. There is nothing unique about that.

That’s the way that’s it’s always been.

In the Garden, Adam and Eve had a choice to make about eating the fruit. They chose to disregard what God had commanded, and they ate the fruit.

Noah had a choice to listen to the voice of God and start building the ark, even when his neighbors probably through he was off his rocker.

Peter and the other disciples had a choice to make when Jesus told them to “Follow Me.” The chose to follow.

The rich younger chose not to follow.

Choices are all throughout scripture. Choices run all throughout our lives. We have choices to make.  We have choices to make today.  Listen to the words of Joshua:

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Today, we have a choice to make.  Who will we serve? Will we serve and seek after God?  Or will we serve and seek after what the culture tells us we should be about?

Will we choose to be faithful?  We will choose to disobey?

Will we choose to follow God’s path?  Or will we choose to follow our own?

We will choose to listen to God’s voice? Or will we choose to listen to the voice of the evil one?

Today, I have choices, you have choices. I can’t make your choices for you, you cannot make my choices for me. We each have choices to make today.

What will we choose? Will we choose to serve and follow God?  Or will we choose to disobey?

Today, the choice is ours.

 

We Need Each Other

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Christianity is easy on Sunday.  Well, outside of getting out of bed and getting the kids dressed. That part can be a challenge.

But, it’s really easy to be a Christian on Sunday. There are folks all around us that are of the same purpose and vision and desire.  Everyone is smiling, everyone is together, everyone is supporting.  Everyone is trying to behave.

It’s easy on Sunday morning to be a Christian.

What about today?  Today will be a lot harder. Not everyone will be supportive.  Not everyone will be pulling for us. Not everyone will support you in a your faith. Some may mock you.  Some may laugh at you.

There will be temptation. There will be trials. There will be opposition.  It’s tougher to be a Christian on a Tuesday than it is in a Sunday.

Listen to what Paul says today about this in Philippians:

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Paul said that we are to live a citizens of heaven and live in a way worthy of God.

How?  How do we stand up to temptation and do these things.  He tells in us in the end of that passage.

Stand together as one.  One spirit.  One purpose. Fighting together for the faith. Stand together.

We need each other.  We need each other on Sunday, we need each other on Tuesday. The only way that we can stand as Christians is to stand together.

That is our calling today. That is our duty today. To be one.

Today, when you are tempted. When you are struggling. When you are in need. Turn to a fellow Christian. Let them help you. Let them pray for you.  Let them uphold you.  Let them be your strength.

And today, if you see a fellow Christian in need, help them.  Support them.  Help give them courage and strength. Be there for them.

We need each other. Today, and every day. We need each other.

Bring Your Cell Phone to Church Podcast

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This our podcast for our second “Bring Your Cellphone to Church” Sunday. I answered different questions that were text into my cell phone during worship.  The questions I couldn’t answer I’ll answer and put on our website later this week.  You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes

You are not Powerless

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Sometimes we focus in our devotional life about the reality of our sin.

We understand how sinful we are; our broken nature, and these things make us all the more thankful for God, for His salvation, and for His grace.

And those are all very good things. Those are all things that we need to know. We need to know that we are loved, no matter what we’ve done. We need to know that we need to never get too proud; it’s the pride that comes before the fall. We need to understand that only through grace can we stand.

It’s good for us to know these things.

But, it’s also good for us to read James.  Because James tells us to bow up. Do right.  Act right. Stop doing things that are wrong. Start doing things that are right.

Yes, we are sinful.  Yes, we have done things wrong. Yes, we will make mistakes.

But, you know what?  You aren’t powerless.

Listen to what James writes today in James 4:

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

Humble yourself before God.  Know that your strength comes from God, not from you. Without Him, you are powerless. Without Him, there’s nothing you can do. Without Him, we have no hope.

But, with Him, resist the devil, and he will flee.  With Him, we have the greatest power. With Him, we are not powerless and helpless. With Him, we are more than conquers.

Today, you are not powerless.  Today, you are not at the whims of the devil. Today, you have a choice to make.

Will you follow along with the plans of the devil? Or will you resist?

Today, you are not powerless. Today, through God, you have strength and power. Today, through God, resist the devil and he will flee.

Today, you are not powerless.  Today, you have a choice to make. What choice will you make?