Inside Out Devotions

Day 40- Mark 16:1-8 (Sunday, April 4)

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Assuming that the book of Mark originally ended after verse 8, this is the most unlikely endings that we’ll ever find! It makes no sense to us. Throughout the whole book, Jesus continually tells people not to tell anyone who he is, yet people could not shut up about him. Now, finally Jesus has risen from the dead and the women who come to the tomb are commissioned to go and tell the others. So, of course they go out and tell everyone, right? Nope. It says in v. 8 that they told no one, because they were afraid! And then the book, at least in its original form appears to end! How can you end a book like this? This has to be the worst ending ever!

Or is it? I think this is an ingenious ending. It makes us angry by asking, ‘How could they not tell anyone?’, but eventually forces us to ask ourselves, ‘How could we not tell anyone?’ We start off by wanting to change the ending of the story, but end up wanting to change the end of our own stories. Rather than remaining silent about the risen Messiah, we are challenged to overcome our fear and go share the Good News with everyone! We are challenged to share in both word and deed, knowing that the resurrected life has changed us completely!

So do you want to change how this story ends, or will you let this story change how your story ends? Choose to share the resurrection in all that you do.

Day 39- Mark 15:42-47 (Saturday, April 3)

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The first Saturday after the resurrection was a day of great sadness and fear. The followers of Jesus were living in great fear and did not know what to think. The one who they had thought to be the Messiah was now dead. Everything they had trusted in and believed in for the past three years had been shattered. But only for another day.

Our pre-Easter Saturdays are probably much different now. We look forward to Sunday with great anticipation, knowing how the story ends. We start to get excited about worshiping our risen Savior together, as we also look forward to our own resurrection when Christ returns! We eagerly await the day when Christ will restore the earth to the way that he has always wanted it to be, and comes and lives amongst us again forever!

But let us remember this journey of Lent and what it has taught us. Let us not forget the sacrifices we have made so that we could rid ourselves of distractions and sin. Let us celebrate the change in our hearts and attitudes that this type of discipline gives to us! And let us not forget to share this wonderful, life-changing message that comes from the empty tomb!

Day 38- Mark 15:21-41 (Friday, April 2)

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Amidst all of the mocking that Jesus endured both on his way to the cross and while he was on the cross, Mark only records Jesus saying one thing: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus was using this as a way of pointing us to Psalm 22, which is also a fitting read for today. In it, the Psalmist starts off by stating how dire his situation appears, but yet ends by placing his trust that God would ultimately prevail.

What strikes me throughout the whole trial and crucifixion of Jesus is his silence. It is almost painful. When we read some of the accounts, we almost want to put words in Jesus’ mouth, so that he wouldn’t just hang there and say nothing. Yet there is something very powerful about his silence. It shows that ultimately he was trusting in God to bring about vindication, but also that he refused to retaliate.

As we strive to allow Jesus to live through us, let us remember that we don’t need to retaliate against the words and actions of others. We can simply trust God to bring about his vindication in due time. Ultimately, our responses only bring about more damage. However, when we remain silent, not only does God allow our lives to shine before others, he also molds us into people who are more like him.

Day 37- Mark 15:1-20 (Thursday, April 1)

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It is truly painful to read how Jesus was treated by the people that he came to save. The way he was continuously mocked and slandered, beaten and insulted can make us very angry. How easy it is for us to shout out, ‘How could you!’, without recognizing that we probably would have been just as easily swayed by religious leaders of the day.

When I was growing up, my Dad portrayed Jesus in our church’s Easter musical. It was a very demanding job for him to get crucified 6 times in one weekend! As intrigued as I was by his role, I was equally intrigued by the role of the crowds in the play. In one scene, they all cheered on my Dad as he portrayed the triumphal entry. However, just a few scenes later, they also had the responsibility to shout out ‘Crucify him!’ as he was on trial before Pilate. It was interesting to see how people who had never played that role before really struggled initially to shout those commands against Jesus, even though it was just a musical. But when they did, it often brought tears to their eyes, as it made it so real to them how responsible we all are for the death of Jesus!

We are all responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross. It was our sin that put him there. But let us also remember it was God’s plan all along. In spite of our wicked hearts, Jesus still chose to give freely of himself for our salvation. Let us remember our own responsibility in all of this, but let us not forget that God brought something wonderful out of this! Just as Peter says in Acts 3:15, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead!”

Day 36- Mark 14:66-72 (Wednesday, March 31)

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In Mark’s writing, we see that he often tells part of a story, then jumps to another story, only to come back and complete the first story. This story is a continuation of the discussion that happened in 14:27-31. The irony of this story is that Peter has emphatically stated that he would die for Jesus and never fall away, yet he denies Jesus so easily! It is not before Pilate or the Sanhedrin that Peter denies Jesus, but rather before the one of the servant girls of the high priest! Jesus stands firm through the cross, but Peter can’t even handle the scrutiny of a teenage girl!

It would be easy to leave Peter here in the mud, but what we see in John 21 is that after the resurrection, Jesus completely restores Peter. In one of the great stories of grace, Peter goes on to be one of the most influential leaders in all of Christian history. In fact, extrabiblical history even tells us that Peter eventually faced his own cross, choosing to be crucified himself as opposed to renouncing Christ. In the same way, as we face our own failures and times where we have been ashamed of Jesus, let us not hold the shame over our heads, but may we come to Jesus with great faith in his grace and healing power. God is truly not through with us yet!

Day 35- Mark 14:43-65 (Tuesday, March 30)

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As we read this passage, we see a rather odd person temporarily enter the story in v. 51-52. At first glance it seems that we have a streaker at the most inopportune time! Who is this young man who turns and runs away naked to avoid capture? Well, we don’t know for certain, but one guess is that this is actually Mark, our author, anonymously putting himself into the story. This might be similar to a director of a movie putting himself in one scene just to put his ‘signature’ on the film. For example, in ‘The Passion of the Christ’, Mel Gibson films his hand holding the nail driven into the hand of Jesus Christ in order to show his participation in the death of Jesus.

If this is truly Mark, it is worth noting that he does not write himself into the story as some type of hero, or as one who stood firm to the end. Rather, he shows himself to be one who turned and ran, just like all of the rest of the followers of Jesus. It is fitting in Mark’s Gospel that the only true hero is Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus’ disciples went on to do amazing things for God after the resurrection, they are shown to be authentic humans who were scared to death. In the same way, may we think of ourselves with great humility, recognizing that if we were there, we probably would have ran also. Yet, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are empowered to live—and to die—for him.

Day 34- Mark 14:32-42 (Monday, March 29)

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Only at Gethsemane do we get such an intimate glimpse at the full range of human emotions that Jesus Christ experienced. Here we see him frustrated with his disciples over their inability to stay awake at the most crucial hour. We see him wrestle with his calling, struggling to submit to God’s will. Most importantly, we also see him calling out to his heavenly Daddy (Abba is literally ‘daddy’) as a child would cry out to their earthly fathers in a dire moment.

I don’t believe that it is any coincidence that this crucial event took place in a garden. It was in the first garden that Adam succumbed to temptation, so God placed the second Adam, Jesus Christ, in this garden to submit to God’s will. Because Jesus chooses to submit to God’s will and offer himself as a sacrifice, he has freed all of us from the curse brought upon us by the first Adam! (For a passage dealing with the comparisons between the ‘first Adam’ and the ‘second Adam,’ Jesus Christ, please read Romans 5:12-21).

Our choice is simple: who will you follow? Will you choose to follow the example of the first Adam and choose your own will and death, or will you choose to follow the example of the second Adam, Jesus Christ, humble yourself under God’s mighty hand, and thus choose life?

Day 33- Mark 14:1-31 (Sunday, March 28)

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I wonder if you have a very important and costly heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation in your family. Maybe there is something of great monetary or sentimental value that it would cost you greatly to lose. If you can think about that one thing, then this might capture the significance of what this unnamed woman does for Jesus. This nard would have been made from the roots of plants and imported from India. It would have been sealed in an alabaster jar that could only be used once—it could never be sealed again. Yet she has the desire and faith to know that for as long as this heirloom has been around in her family, now is the time to use it!

Judas is obviously not happy about this. He has been skimming off of the treasury that funded Jesus ministry for some time. He sees this as an act of wasting, but Jesus sees it as an act of worship. She takes what is of greatest value to her and uses it to worship her Lord.

I suppose what we do for God probably looks pretty foolish to the world too. We ‘waste’ our time coming together on Sundays. We ‘waste’ more of that time when we study God’s word together and when we go out to serve those who others say will never change. We ‘waste’ our finances by giving generously to ministries that are going to further the Gospel, both here and abroad. But may I remind you once again that what the world considers to be wasting, God considers to be some of the most beautiful acts of worship!

Day 32- Mark 13:1-37 (Saturday, March 27)

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In this devotion, I want to tell you everything that I know about when Christ will return. Are you ready? Here it is: we don’t know. That’s it! Isn’t that refreshing! In fact, in today’s passage, the first 31 verses aren’t about his return. Instead they are about the destruction of the Jewish temple that happened about 40 years after Jesus’ life on earth. Only verses 32-37 are about his return.

I can’t tell you when Jesus is returning; neither can anyone else. I can only tell you that he is returning. So his commandment to us in this regard is not to figure it out, but rather to be ready (he says, ‘keep watch’). We don’t ready ourselves by having our bags packed and waiting by the door. Rather, we ready ourselves for his return by living rightly in this world.

Are there some things that you’ve been putting off in your life? Maybe it is a relationship that needs to be repaired, or by putting off your life’s calling to pursue your own desires. I challenge you to live like he’s returning tomorrow, because you don’t know when he’ll come or when your end will come. Only when we live with this sense of urgency can we truly live the abundant life that he has called us to.

Day 31- Mark 12:35-43 (Friday, March 26)

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If you read the newspapers and magazines, you will often read of philanthropists who give millions of dollars to an organization or cause. I always enjoy those stories, and secretly wish that I was able to give like that as well. We often set them up as models of giving in our culture. In other words, we look to the rich for our giving lessons.

In this story, Jesus does the exact opposite. Rather than looking to the richest, he looks to the poorest. Here he points to his disciples to a poor widow, who couldn’t even afford to give an entire penny. Instead of giving out of wealth, Jesus shows how she instead gives out of her poverty.

While it is definitely hard to even conceive someone this poor in our culture, we must acknowledge that her sacrifice is very inspiring to us. To the rich, even millions of dollars are not a sacrifice. But to her, pennies were all that she had. I’d suggest to you that when we determine our giving, don’t do it merely by calculating a dollar figure. Rather do it based on sacrifice—how much is it truly costing you? As C.S. Lewis said, “Give until it hurts, and then give a little more!”

Day 30- Mark 12:28-34 (Thursday, March 25)

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When we think of the Greatest Commandment of Christianity, often we think of ‘Love the Lord your God with everything you’ve got, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ However, I think we miss out an important aspect of Christ’s teaching. If we go back and look, it doesn’t start with the command to Love God. Jesus instead starts with what the Jews would have known as the Great Shema: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.’

I can understand if some of you are thinking that this seems a bit technical, but hang with me. When the Jews originally received this command in Deuteronomy 6, they were coming out of a period of time where they had seen God’s great provision. They had most notably seen his provision when God led them out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, while the Egyptians who pursued them were wiped out. It was then that God showed them that ‘the Lord is one’ by proving his strength over the inferior Egyptian gods who were truly just manmade idols.

What does this mean to us? Jesus was showing us that we love God in response to who he is and what he has done for us. We are not trying to earn God’s love. He has already given it to us. Just as the Jews were to love God in response to his great saving work that he did for them in Egypt, we are to love God in response to his great saving work that he did for us at the cross. We love God because he first loved us.

Day 29- Mark 12:1-27 (Wednesday, March 24)

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I suppose it is fitting that today’s passage comes as many of us are preparing our income taxes. On the surface, this appears to be a quite simple teaching. If you owe your taxes to the government, then you should pay them. It’s that simple. However, if we dig a little deeper, there is a profound spiritual truth here.

Whereas we have an image of presidents on our coins, the Romans would have had an image of Caesar on theirs. This is important, because Caesar would have been viewed as a god in Roman culture. This obviously conflicted greatly with the Jews. So Jesus sets up this picture beautifully in his teaching. He teaches them that if something has Caesar’s image on it, then they should be willing to give that to Caesar. However, if something has God’s image on it, then they should give that to God.

Genesis tells us that we are created in the image of God. Jesus reminds us that since we bear God’s image, we ought to give ourselves back to him for his purpose. I know that nobody likes to pay taxes back to those whose images are on our coins, but let me challenge you with this thought: Just as we all try to keep from paying any more taxes than we have to, do you also try to keep from giving any more to God than what you feel like you have to? God has not held back his image from any part of us. Don’t hold back any of yourself from him either.

Day 28- Mark 11:20-33 (Tuesday, March 23)

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It is very easy to become blind to the work of God. We can get so caught up in our way of doing things that we can miss when God is at work right in front of us. This is exactly what happened to the religious leaders who opposed Jesus. In 11:27 and following, we see that they refused to acknowledge the work of God in John the Baptist, even though all of the common people clearly could see that John was a prophet. This showed that their hearts were truly not in tune with God.

In this season of repentance, I would challenge you to look at some of the areas of your faith where you have been judgmental towards the work of others. Maybe it is those from a different denomination, those within our church, or even people within your own family. While we’re certainly called to live out biblical truth, sometimes we confuse truth with the way we’ve always done it, or with what we are most comfortable with. Confess your heart towards God, and ask him to show you how he is at work through those whom you have greeted with a hard heart. I think you will find that this will be a very rewarding experience for you that will reward your faith, and help to repair relationships as well. .

Day 27- Mark 11:1-19 (Monday, March 22)

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On the surface, this seems to be two of the most unlikely stories to be wed to each other. In the first story, we read of Jesus essentially being celebrated as the liberator of Israel (‘Hosanna’ simply means save), and yet in the next story, Jesus seems to be making opposition not against the Romans, but against the Jewish religious leaders. How could this be?

Once again, we see people who seem to have a misguided understanding of who the messiah was really supposed to be. They saw him as someone who would set their country free, as opposed as someone who came to be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:3). Often when I read the account of Jesus cleansing the temple, I focus more on the aspect of it being ‘a house of prayer’ and fail to notice that it is to be ‘for all nations.’ Here we see once again that Jesus’ heart was not only for his own country or race, but that it truly extended out to all peoples.

Here at Jeff Street, we have always strived to further the gospel of Christ not only here, but all around the world. We partner with many people who are committed to live in a foreign land so that the good news of Jesus will be shared there as well. Take some time today to lift up some of our Global Outreach Ministry partners in prayer.

Day 26- Mark 10:46-52 (Sunday, March 21)

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A few days ago, we read about how Jesus did not want us to hinder the little children from coming to him. Today, we see that Jesus also does not want us to stand in the way of the disadvantaged and underprivileged. As Jesus is leaving Jericho, a blind man is calling out for him. Apparently, this is rather embarrassing for the people around Jesus, so they try to silence him. Interestingly enough, Jesus uses the very people who are trying to silence this man to call him to be healed. How embarrassing this must have been to those in the crowd!

We must remember that we are not a club for the righteous, but we are a hospital for sinners. All of us are in need of God’s grace. We cannot think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Those of us who are healthy or wealthy cannot see ourselves as more blessed than those of us who are not. We must continually open up our doors to all people to be blessed.

One of the greatest joys I have in seeing people serve at Jeff Street is to look who we have manning our front doors on Sunday morning. While we have a rotation, two of our regular ‘first impressions’ of Jeff Street are Carl Boward and Phil Rogers. Both have had extremely serious health problems, but greet as often as they can. We have received so many positive comments about how this blesses people because they are a constant reminder that God is faithful no matter what our earthly circumstances may be. May we always be people who show just how much God loves everyone, no matter what our earthly circumstances may be.

Day 25- Mark 10:32-45 (Saturday, March 20)

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In this eye-rolling episode, we see Jesus instructing his disciples for the second time that he is going to be killed. Totally oblivious to what Jesus has just said, James and John present a completely selfish request to Jesus by asking that they would be seated at higher places of honor than those around them. Jesus responds by calling them to be great by becoming a servant and following in the example of Jesus.

Too often we make Jesus out to be more of a superhero of our faith than our Savior and Lord. We want him to give us our immediate needs and to bless us, but we don’t want to give anything up. What we learn from Jesus is that the greatest choice we can make is to sacrifice ourselves for his kingdom by serving others. We are not merely called to tell people about Jesus. We are called to live out Christ’s love and to show people Jesus by serving them.

Day 24- Mark 10:17-31 (Friday, March 19)

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Considering the fact that we live in the richest and most materialistic society in the history of the world, I don’t suspect that this passage gives us much comfort. It is tough enough to get thread through a needle, let alone a camel! Once again Jesus is using hyperbole to dramatically emphasize how important it is for us not to allow our lives to be controlled by wealth.

What we must take away from this passage is that we cannot allow wealth or the pursuit of wealth to stand in between us and God. While we must be wise in what God has entrusted us with, money must not become an idol. One of the easiest ways to tell whether it is an idol or not is to continually give it away. If we cannot bring ourselves to tithe and to look around and to bless those who are in need, then wealth has certainly become an idol.

Jesus concludes this passage by reassuring the disciples that anything that we give away in this age will not go unnoticed in the age to come. Remember, we are not called to live for the here and now. We are called to live sacrificially for the joy that God has set before us.

Day 23- Mark 10:13-16 (Thursday, March 18)

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A wise man once told me that inside of every man, there is a little boy who has either been blessed or cursed. What we see in this passage is that Jesus desires to bless all children. There are two points of application for us:

First, we must make every effort to make sure that we are blessing our children and not cursing them. This is easier said than done. When we discourage children or push them towards finding their self worth in something or someone other than God’s love, we curse them. When we neglect children by becoming so self absorbed that we do not give them the nurture that they need, we also curse them. However, when we choose to speak meaningful words to them, sacrifice our time for them, and affirm them with a loving touch, we bless them.

Secondly, we must understand that we have been deeply affected by the way that our parents have blessed or cursed us. This has directly affected our relationship with God either positively or negatively. If you are one who has been cursed, please understand that God wants you to be able to come before him without guilt or shame. He wants to give you the love and affirmation that you have always needed. May you be reaffirmed as God’s child today.

Day 22- Mark 10:1-12 (Wednesday, March 17)

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One of the greatest dangers in marriage is to harden your heart towards your spouse. It happens to everyone who is married at some time or another. Honestly, to some degree it probably happens to us everyday. When we sense that our heart is hardening to our spouse, the only way to overcome it is to choose to love and serve your spouse, especially when you do not feel like doing it. In the tradition of C.S. Lewis, when we act out our love towards our spouse, we will find that our feelings follow.

When I was in college, one of my professors shared with us a story about a couple that he and his wife knew quite well. One day, they overheard the couple joking with each other about getting a divorce. This didn’t sit well with my professor. Within a year, this couple who had joked about divorce ended their marriage. My professor’s simple advice to us was to not even joke about divorce. Don’t make it an option in your marriage. Continue to offer your hardened heart to God and let him shape you through choosing to love your spouse even when you don’t feel like it. If you do this, you will find your marriage to be quite blessed.

Day 21- Mark 9:38-50 (Tuesday, March 16)

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I don’t suspect that any of us are ready to go and cut off our hands or pluck our eyes out after reading this passage. Jesus is obviously using hyperbole—a dramatic overstatement in order to convey the seriousness of an issue. However, I think that we should take seriously Jesus’ call to make dramatic life changes in order to rid our lives of sin.

We must recognize though that the purpose of ridding our lives of sin is not merely for our own benefit and spiritual status. It is also for the good of those around us. Jesus warns us that there are extreme consequences for us when we cause others to sin by our own actions. This probably comes to play most in our lives when we are around children. Whether you have your own children or are closely connected to someone else’s children, take seriously the impact that you have on them. Encourage them and bless them. Just as Jesus let the little children come to him, so also welcome them with open arms. Live a life of exemplary character before them so that you can influence them to follow Christ.

Whether you live for Christ or live for this world, children will imitate you. Choose to give them the example of Jesus Christ.

Day 20- Mark 9:14-37 (Monday, March 15)

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In this passage, we encounter a demon-possessed child who is brought to Jesus. His father is apparently still unsure as to whether or not Jesus can heal him. He asks, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” It’s not exactly the sterling profession of faith that Jesus is looking for, so Jesus calls him on it. The man’s response is beautiful: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

What a wonderful confession for us as well. Rather than asking God “If you can”, we must have the faith that he can do anything he desires. He can truly answer any prayer that we ask. But the beauty is also in the transparency. We all have limits and doubts in our faith. We should not be ashamed of those doubts, but must acknowledge them before God and ask him to help us to overcome our unbelief.

My challenge to you today is to make a similar confession of faith in God in an area where you’ve been doubting. Choose an area of your live where you’ve lacked faith and boldly say, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

Day 19- Mark 8:27-9:13 (Sunday, March 14)

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One of the main themes so far that we have seen is that people continually are amazed by Jesus, but yet only the demons recognize who he truly is. Here, it seems that after all of the miracles that he has witnessed, Peter finally gets it right (although in Mark he only says that Jesus is the Christ, not the Son of God). What we see Peter really meant is that he thought that Jesus was the Messiah who would come and set the people of Israel free from the political oppression that they had faced at the hands of the Romans.

Jesus blows this idea of the Messiah out of the water when he immediately begins to teach them for the very first time that he must die. This seems like the dumbest thing that Peter has ever heard, and so he lets Jesus know about it. Of course, this doesn’t go well at all! The rest of the book of Mark is a gradual walk towards the cross, where God took one of the most humiliating symbols of the world and transformed it into his greatest victory.

Similarly to Peter, we have a tendency to make Jesus who we want him to be instead of who he really was, is, and always will be. We often try to make him out to be more of a sugar daddy than a savior, someone who spoils us with riches but yet calls us to no life change. His response to Peter is not only to teach him that Jesus must die, but that we must take up our crosses and die to ourselves as well. That is a big part of what Lent (and the entire Christian life) is all about: dying to ourselves and our own way of thinking. What false ideas of Jesus do you still hold on to today?

Day 18- Mark 8:1-26 (Saturday, March 13)

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In Jewish culture, yeast was seen as a metaphor for evil. In fact, before the Jews would have partaken in the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Directly connected to the Passover), they would have cleansed the entire house of yeast. Even the children were involved in this ritual cleansing in order to teach them this lesson. The idea is that it is impossible to let just a little yeast into the dough. It would spread throughout it all, ruining the entire batch (if you were striving for unleavened bread).

Jesus uses this imagery of yeast to show that the teachings of the Pharisees were extremely dangerous, because they would work their way in to every bit of our teachings. As we see in earlier teachings, the primary indictment of the Pharisees is that their hearts are far from God and they have followed the traditions of men rather than the commandments of God.

There are a few ways that we must guard ourselves against that spiritual yeast today. One is that we must continue to grow in our love of the word of God. We must make the Bible our sole authority, and not merely men’s interpretations of it. We can be so caught up with certain teachers that we wind up idolizing their teachings, rather than going back to God’s word. Secondly, in our love for the word of God, we must be careful to treat it appropriately. What I mean by this is that we cannot merely pull verses that back our position, but that we must study it in light of the grand narrative of the entire Bible, which is God’s redeeming work through Jesus Christ. Too often we make a stand on a certain issue and fail to love those on the other side, because we fail to remember that more than anything else, God wants to redeem those who are far from him.

Day 17- Mark 7:24-37 (Friday, March 12)

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After Jesus spends time in a primarily Jewish region, he proceeds once again to a region that appears to be primarily Gentile. At first glance, Jesus appears to almost insult the woman who comes to him, but as we read the story we see that is not what is happening at all. Instead we see someone who would have been looked down upon by most of Jesus’ contemporaries acting in faith towards Jesus. He responds by healing this woman’s daughter.

This is one of the many signs throughout the book of Mark that the Christ’s gospel is not to be limited only to the Jewish people. Indeed, that is where it started and where Jesus clearly spends a majority of his time, but his mission is to fulfill the Abramic Blessing in Genesis 12 and to be a ‘blessing to all people’.

Our challenge today is to continue to live out that blessing by taking the gospel to all people. This means that we must be the first to be willing to cross social boundaries in our culture, whether that is race, social classes, or any other man-made walls designed to divide people. What boundaries do you see between people in your world that you should tear down for the gospel of Christ?

Day 16- Mark 7:1-23 (Thursday, March 11)

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Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees in this passage is extremely important for us to consider during this season of repentance, confession, and fasting known as Lent. Have we thrown out God’s commandments for the traditions of men? So often we worry more about our traditions rather than what is truly important. Often times we complain if the music is too loud or too soft; or whine about if we take the Lord’s Supper a little differently than normal, but fail to remember the people who are in need around us.

Apparently the Pharisees had pitted one law against another in such a way that it would have been the elderly who were ultimately neglected for the pledge that their children had made. In response to this, Jesus calls their hearts into question. In the same way, we must constantly evaluate our hearts above our religious practices, keeping in mind that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Day 15- Mark 6:1-56 (Wednesday, March 10)

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While Mark is generally very short in his accounts, he seems to spend more time here describing what became a major shaping event in the lives of the disciples. Jesus had just learned of the death of his cousin and forerunner, John the baptizer. At about the same time, the disciples had just returned from their first ministry trip, so they all went away to rest. However, in the midst of all of this, the crowds follow. Rather than just sending them away, Jesus had compassion on the crowds, because they were ‘harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.’ So after a day’s worth of teaching, everyone was hungry, and the disciples were apparently hungry and tired. So their request of Jesus was simple: get them out of here so they can eat. But Jesus takes that moment of weariness and turns it into a faith lesson for the disciples.

Even after the miraculous feeding, they didn’t get it. It says in the next story that they didn’t understand because their hearts were hardened. So, Jesus shows them more than just another miracle; he reveals more of himself to his disciples.

I think the most important lesson that we can learn is not how to serve people better, but rather is to see Jesus as he really is—Lord over all. The disciples had just learned about ministry and had apparently did it effectively, yet Jesus wanted to show them more. He didn’t just want them to be able to do ministry, he wanted them to know the one who was truly doing the ministry through them.

God has empowered you to reach out to your world. But don’t settle for just doing ministry. Strive to know the one who is at work in you and through you.

Day 14- Mark 5:21-43 (Tuesday, March 9)

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The heart of Jesus always goes out to those who have no where else to turn. We don’t know how long Jairus’s daughter had been sick, but chances are, this had been a more sudden illness. Through this illness, Jesus brought about one of his most amazing miracles. As for the bleeding woman, her illness had plagued her for a dozen years. Even the best healthcare around couldn’t heal her. She was in dire straits. All she could think to do was to reach out to Jesus and to touch the robe of his garment, believing that a simple touch of his robe could heal her, and it did.

The world is still full of hurting people. Some are new to hurt, and some have been living through the pain for decades. The church must be there to walk alongside of these folks, constantly mirroring the compassion of Jesus. We may not be able to heal in the same manner that Jesus did, but we can be there to offer support and encouragement to those in their time of need. And yes, when we are hurting, we can turn directly to Jesus and his people as well. We should be the first to cry out in our time of need, not allowing our faith to be stymied by our embarrassment, but recognizing that God and his people deeply care for us.

Day 13- Mark 5:1-20 (Monday, March 8)

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This passage makes me angry when I read it. Here, this man is clearly both personally disturbed and a huge problem to the people around him, and Jesus has mercy on him. Yet the people were more concerned about their pigs than they were about this man. They beg Jesus to leave, and so he does. Yet it also makes me angry because I can see that I would be very uncomfortable with what Jesus did as well. I’m afraid that in many instances, this might be a little too much Jesus for me.

So, how much Jesus is too much for you? What cost is too much for you to pay to reach out to the needs of others? We will encounter times in our lives where we will have to immediately choose to give up things that are very dear and costly to us for the good of the Kingdom. Will we respond in faith?

Two closing thoughts: First, the crowds were amazed, but their amazement did not equate to faith. It is not enough to be amazed by Jesus. Amazement is just one step above amusement. We must have true faith. Secondly, even though the people did not believe, God still left a true witness of faith in their midst. Fortunately for us, even when our faith is not enough, God is still faithful to bring about his purpose.

Day 12- Mark 4:21-41 (Sunday, March 7)

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In this story, Jesus and the disciples go from being swamped by the crowd to being swamped by a storm. We should keep in mind that several of the disciples are fishermen and were very familiar with the Sea of Galilee. They would have known that very dangerous storms show up there almost instantly. Undoubtedly, they probably would have known people who died on that lake when such storms came up so quickly. So, it is natural that they are very afraid.

What strikes me here though is how the come to Jesus. He is tired and is sleeping right through the storm, probably because he knew that God wasn’t going to let him die before the cross. He trusted God. But what do they ask him? ‘Don’t you care if we drown?’ We’ve been there before, haven’t we? Maybe we have never been so bold to use those words, but we can identify with them. We have thought, ‘God don’t you care about what is happening to me?’

What is even more amazing than that though is that after Jesus rebukes the wind and waves at once—a double miracle—the disciples go from being afraid of the storm to being terrified of Jesus!

Our times of greatest adversity give God the chance to show us just how powerful he really is. We all have diminished the power of God to some degree in our minds. However, when we are at our time of greatest need, he takes that opportunity to show us his true strength. How does Jesus want to show his true power through the adversity that you are now facing?

Day 11- Mark 4:1-20 (Saturday, March 6)

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While the parable of the sower is one of the most popular parables that Jesus told, to a farmer the parable has to sound crazy. Jesus tells the story of a farmer who takes very expensive seed and goes out and plants it everywhere, even though he knows most of it will never bear any fruit. If we were telling this story in today’s language, we would talk about a farmer planting everywhere—trying to plant on parking lots and in deserts. What kind of a farmer would do such a thing?

The parable shows us a God who even though he knows where seed will grow, he loves us enough to plant it anywhere. For people who are committed to carrying out God’s mission on earth, this has significant implications for us. This means that it is not for us to try to determine where to sow, but rather that we must take God’s word everywhere! The great mystery of this parable is that when we sow everywhere, some of the ground that we thought would be the least fertile will wind up bearing the most fruit!

It is not our job to be soil testers. It is our job to sow everywhere. Have you written someone off as unfertile soil? Be faithful to sow there, and you may be amazed at what God will grow.

Day 10- Mark 3:7-35 (Friday, March 5)

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We often wonder how Jesus’ family responded to his teaching. Mary had seen and heard the angels announcing his birth, and stood beside him while he died. However, Jesus was such a revolutionary that he blew everyone’s conception of who the Messiah was supposed to be. His family would have heard all of the negative comments, and it is thought by many that they were coming to straighten him up.

When his family calls for him, Jesus instead says that ‘Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’ I think that it is most important for us to understand what it takes to do God’s will. While Mark doesn’t give us much of a definition, this story is also contained in Matthew and Luke. However Luke’s account does not say ‘whoever does God’s will.’ Instead, in Luke 8:19-21, we are told ‘Whoever hears God’s word and puts it into practice . . .’

If we want to know what it means to follow God’s will, I believe that ‘hearing God’s word and putting it into practice’ would be a great definition. It means two things for us: First, we must constantly put ourselves in the way of God’s word. We cannot come to God’s word looking for the answers we want, but must instead come to God’s word looking for our hearts and minds to be molded. Secondly, it is not enough to hear God’s word. We must also be doers of God’s word. It isn’t enough to know our Bibles well. We must do everything we can to live out God’s word. How can you hear God’s word and put it into practice today?

Day 9- Mark 2:18-3:6 (Thursday, March 4)

2010-03-04T00:01:00.000-06:00

In the passages that we read today, we see more opposition coming towards Jesus from religious people. In 3:1-6 we see the opposition coming to a head with those who are looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. I must admit that often times I hold other religious leaders in contempt and am looking for a reason to find something wrong with their ministries or their churches, rather than looking to see what I can learn from them. That is something I always have to watch about myself.

In this instance we see that the religious people are more concerned with not doing something wrong, as opposed to doing what is right. When Jesus heals this man, they are more concerned about not breaking the Sabbath than they are about this man who is hurting. It is easy for us to fall into the same trap, focusing so much about sins of commission that we forget all about sins of omission.

The two greatest commandments of our faith are not ‘do not’s.’ Rather they are ‘do’s.’ Love God with everything you’ve got, and love your neighbor as yourself. Who does Jesus want you to reach out and bless, but yet your religion is holding you back?

Day 8- Mark 2:1-17 (Wednesday, March 3)

2010-03-03T00:01:00.000-06:00

Jesus seems to befriend the people that we write off the quickest. In Levi’s case (also known as Matthew), he was a tax collector. Believe it or not, tax collectors were even less popular then than the IRS is now. They were responsible not only to collect taxes, but also to collect an extra amount to keep for themselves as payment. The Jewish people saw the tax collectors as friends of Rome, and thus held a lot of animosity towards them.

I have to wonder what was going on in Matthew’s mind when this happens. There’s no question that he would have heard of Jesus. I wonder if he had dreamed of following Jesus, but yet had written that off as a possibility since he was a tax collector. All that we know is that when Jesus calls him to follow him, Matthew leaves everything to do so.

Obviously, the Pharisees were not happy about this. They looked down upon Jesus for this and apparently even ridiculed him about it. This doesn’t phase Jesus though, as he knows his mission. It is here that Jesus gives us the very memorable line: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Our temptation as religious people is to hang out with a lot of people who look and act like us. While it is important to have Christian friends, we must constantly strive to build friendships and reach out to the ‘tax collectors’ and ‘sinners’ in our world. So how’s your life look? Who are you reaching out to that makes you or those around you feel uncomfortable? It is there that God does some of his greatest work.

Day 7- Mark 1:40-45 (Tuesday, March 2)

2010-03-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

This is an amazing story that shows Christ’s true compassion. The lepers were the social outcasts of the day. They were infected with a skin disease and were forced to live outside their cities and away from their families. Since they were contagious, they were so feared that they had to shout out ‘unclean, unclean’ every time someone would approach them. So what does Jesus do? Not only does he heal the person, but before he ever heals the person, Jesus touches him.

This is a powerful example for us to follow. There is no question that we have been given much power through the Holy Spirit. However, our power is useless if it is not guided by God’s love and compassion. In our quest to heal and redeem this world, we must never forget that this world doesn’t only need healing. It also needs to be touched by the love of Christ.

But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus clearly told the man not to tell anyone. However, that didn’t work. Instead, the man went out and told everyone what Jesus had done for him. As a result, the people so flooded Jesus with their requests and demands that he in essence took the role of the leper—being forced to stay outside of town in lonely places. In many ways, this foreshadows what is about to take place at the cross. By taking our sin upon himself, Jesus faces judgment so that we can be set free. It also models for us that as we bring Christ to people, we may also find that it costs us in some way as well. What are you willing to sacrifice to bring healing into this world?

Day 6- Mark 1:35-39 (Monday, March 1)

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We have already heard about the power and the authority of Jesus, but today we begin to see how Jesus was able to maintain his vibrant ministry here on earth. Jesus was continually refreshed and strengthened through his time with his Father in prayer. There are two aspects that we will look at today:

First, Jesus put a value on spending time with God in a solitary place. For us, that means that we need to get away from noise and distractions such as TV, the internet, cell phones, mp3 players, and yes, even people in order to spend regular time with God. It may mean you have to get up earlier in the morning or devote some time after the kids go to bed, but it is worth it.

Secondly, Jesus time with the Father allowed him to make a distinction between the voices of the crowds and God’s call on his life. Jesus was a man in high demand. It would have been very easy for him to have spent his life merely meeting the demands of the crowds. However, he knew that he needed to follow God’s will above all else. It has been said that you spend the first half of your life learning to say yes, and the second half learning to say no. We can learn from Jesus’ example the value of saying no to the crowds in order to say yes to God.

Day 5- Mark 1:29-34 (Sunday, February 28)

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The healing that we saw in yesterday’s reading was clearly very powerful. However, what we see today is more than powerful; it is also very personal. In the midst of the strangers and the nameless people that were brought to Jesus for healing, we read about a house call that Jesus makes for one of his disciples. It seems that Simon’s (soon to be Peter) mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. We don’t know how sick she was, but we do see for the first time how Jesus clearly cares for those who were close to him.

I don’t think we have to imagine how much this would have meant to Peter. He has dropped everything to go and follow Jesus, yet Jesus cared enough to go and show compassion upon his mother in law. My guess is that Jesus’ actions built even deeper loyalty within Peter than what Peter had for Jesus before.

It would be wise for us to reflect on the times that God has ministered deeply to us in our past as well. Was there a time when you sensed God coming very near to you to minister to your family? Was there a time in your life when you needed help, and God sent someone your way to encourage you? When have you seen God use the church to reach out and minister to you? Reflect on these times and let them compel you not only to a life of thanksgiving, but also to have eyes of compassion. Look around you and see who needs to be helped or encouraged, and reach out with the power of God and do it!

Day 4- Mark 1:21-28 (Saturday, February 27)

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In today’s reading we first encounter one of the dominating themes throughout the book of Mark: the people are constantly amazed by Jesus, but yet they fail to recognize who he is. Only the demons truly recognize him. However, we also see repeated twice that Jesus’ teaching had authority behind it, unlike the teachers of the law. This is not merely religious teaching that Jesus brings with him. He brings with him the power of God.

In this passage, we see that this power is made clear as Jesus frees those who are demon-possessed. In other accounts, we see Jesus freeing people from sickness and disease. If we are to teach with the power of Jesus, we must ask ourselves what social ills in our culture Jesus longs to heal. Religion is not enough to stand against addictions to alcohol and drugs, the decay of the family, and the poverty that we see so rampant in our community. People need the power of God. People need Jesus.

Ask yourself these two questions today: First, Am I living with the power of God, or am I merely being religious? Secondly, who am I overlooking or writing off that truly needs the power of God?

Day 3- Mark 1:14-20 (Friday, February 26)

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There is an immediacy to following Jesus that we must recognize. Throughout the book of Mark, we continually see that both Jesus and his followers take action ‘immediately’, ‘at once’, or ‘without delay’. Unlike the other gospels, we have no indication here as to how much these men really understood who Jesus was, or how much interaction that they had with him prior to their calling. We must assume that there was some. All we know is that they dropped their nets, along with their livelihood, and yes, even their families to come and follow Jesus.

I do not think that Mark is encouraging us to merely be free spirits here who leave our lives behind at the drop of a hat. However, I do believe that Mark is using the story of the immediate response of these men to show us just how powerful the message of Jesus really is. If these men were willing to leave so much behind so quickly, then we must consider the importance of this man as well.

While these men did not fully recognize who Jesus was, they did know that his message was not only what they had been waiting for their entire lives, but also what Israel had been waiting for hundreds of years. We must also recognize that what we have is not merely a religious figure, but we have Jesus, who has brought with him the kingdom of God. Along with Simon, Andrew, James, and John, he has also called us to drop everything and follow him.

Day 2- Mark 1:9-13 (Thursday, February 25)

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I must admit that Mark has always been my least favorite of the four gospels. However, today’s account brings out something that isn’t brought out in Matthew. When Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ baptism, he tells us that God the Father spoke from heaven to the people that were there and said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). It makes sense. Matthew wants those who are reading his gospel to know just who Jesus is. However, Mark’s account is much more personal for Jesus. Rather than the crowd hearing the voice, God’s affirmation is directed only to Jesus. He hears, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (1:11).

God the Fathers affirmation of Jesus helps us to connect with Jesus by seeing his true humanity. So often we hold Jesus on such a high level in our minds that we forget that he was every bit as much human as you and I are today. He was a person who faced the same temptations that you and I face, yet was without sin. He also was a person who needed and longed to hear his Father’s affirmation.

One of our consistent Lenten themes is repentance. We must take it seriously. However, we also have the tendency to beat ourselves up and to hold our sins over our heads for years to come rather than to accept God’s forgiveness. When you read this story, don’t forget that our heavenly Father is an affirming father. Just as Jesus was reminded of his Father’s love for him before his own 40 day journey into the wilderness, may you be reaffirmed of God’s love for you on this Lenten journey.

Day 1- Mark 1:1-8

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Mark’s writing style is very succinct. When he begins his gospel, he doesn’t waste any time. His readers were probably Christians who already knew the basics of the story, so he starts off very directly: If we are truly going to encounter Jesus Christ, we must be a repentant people. Just as John the Baptist was sent to ‘prepare the way’ for Christ, so must we also prepare the way for the work that God wants to do in our lives. We prepare by repenting.

Repentance is simply defined as ‘changing your mind’. Its goal is that as a result of a changed mind, every bit of us would be changed. We need a change of direction in our lives. That involves our hearts, our minds, and our whole being. Yet emptying ourselves is not enough. In Mark, we see people who repent, but still don’t figure it out. Throughout the gospel they continue to miss the point of the life of Jesus. While we can certainly identify with these folks, I’d suggest to you that Mark would want us to notice something different. He says, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (1:8). Since we are followers of Christ, we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to live the life that we were previously unable to live because of our sinfulness.

The Holy Spirit works in many ways in our lives. One way is that he convicts us of sin. As we go through this Lenten season, my guess is that the Holy Spirit will convict you of some sins that you’ve never thought twice about before, and maybe some others that you’ve been holding onto with a white-knuckled grip. My advice: let him do his work. It is painful at first, but it will result in you being the person that God has created you to be.

Lent Devotions starting on Wednesday, February 24!

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I was first introduced to the idea of Lent when I was growing up. All I really knew about it was that for several Fridays leading up to Easter we were going to have to eat nasty fish patties in the school cafeteria. That didn’t leave me with a very positive perspective. I just assumed it was some kind of torture that the Catholics did because they were kind of odd.

What I’ve realized since then is that we get so distracted by the things of this world that we need special times through the year to refocus ourselves on Christ. In its simplest form, that is what the season of Lent is all about.

You may feel uncomfortable with the name Lent. That’s okay. I’m not thrilled with it either. If you need to call it something else, please do. Several years ago, a pastor named Rick Warren started a program called ’40 Days of Purpose.’ I thought it was a very original idea. What I later realized is that he really just took Lent and repackaged it.

I once asked a wise man to define Lent to me in a sentence or less. He said he only needed three words: repentance, confession, and fasting. So over the next 40 days, that’s how we will work to refocus our lives on Christ. Repenting not only from our sins, but even more so from our sinful selves that have strayed so far from the image of God. Confessing our sin not to beat ourselves up, but rather so that we may find true healing. Fasting so that we would yearn for God in the way that we yearn for whatever else has been filling us, yet keeping us from ever being satisfied.

But first a word about fasting. We’re not going to ask you to fast from eating anything. Rather in the tradition of Lent we’re going to ask you to give up for these 40 days one particular thing that tends to consume your life. If it happens to be a sin, then you should give it up for good, not just for Lent. For example, if you’re having premarital sex, don’t give it up for Lent; just give it up all together. What are some things that you may want to consider giving up for Lent? Here’s a partial list to stimulate your thinking: TV, cell phone, chocolate, soda, coffee, caffeine, texting, facebook, myspace, American Idol, Lost, Sportscenter, Wii, surfing the internet, talk radio, MP3 player, etc. I’m sure you get the point.

Since our purpose is to focus on Christ, this guide will have daily readings from the book of Mark. It is perfect for Lent: it begins with repentance and ends with resurrection! Each day there will be a suggested reading, a devotional thought from the reading, and additional Scripture readings for all of you overachievers!

Enough talking! Let’s get started!

Restoration

2008-08-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, today will be the last day of our daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks again for reading!

“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” –James 5:19-20

Often when I’m talking to old friends, a name will come up that I haven’t heard in a while. In the midst of the conversation I will discover that the person is no longer following Christ. Sometimes it is a blatant rejection. Other times it was a gradual slip. However it happens, I can never get used to it. What is worse, often times I will wind up running across that friend either in person or online somewhere. There’s always this very awkward feeling that is tough to get over. But rarely do I know what to say.

James closes this book with a note of encouragement towards us who are striving to restore someone. He in essence tells us that our work with people who have fallen away may ultimately have eternal consequences. We can make a huge difference in their lives by bringing them back to God.

One thing is for sure: it is rarely easy to bring people back to God. Often times there are hard feelings, hardened hearts, and sometimes hard liquor that have to be overcome. There’s no guarantee that anything we do will work. But we are called to persevere and to continue to love no matter what happens.

It is fitting that this passage comes right after a section that focuses on prayer and healing. While most people who have fallen away are not yet ready to have us pray for their restoration while they are around, I think the principle is certainly there that we must pray without ceasing for them. We should pray that God would work in their lives in order to open their hearts back towards him in any way that he can. He will be faithful to work. Whether they are faithful to respond or not is totally up to them.

Have you noticed that someone has slipped away lately? Is there someone who has been on your heart that needs restored? If so, pray. Pray for opportunities to share with them. Pray for the courage to share. Pray that God would be working in every area of their life to bring them back.

May you experience the joy of seeing a dear friend come back to Christ when you are faithful to seek them out and to pray.

Praying the Tough Prayer

2008-08-05T00:41:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, tomorrow will be the last day of our daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” –James 5:17-18

Earlier in this passage, James mentions praying the ‘prayer of faith.’ This has often been abused to say that whether our prayers are answered or not are dependent upon the amount or quality of our faith. This, amongst other things, causes people to really twist their interpretations of events in order to protect their dignity. It also makes a lot of people feel bad because they didn’t get what they asked for.

Here we see that this is not at all the case. Unless Elijah was some kind of traitor, he would not have wanted to pray the prayer that he prayed. This was something that he did because he was able to discern the will of God for Israel. When he as a prophet made this decision, it was not popular. But it was for the best of God’s people. You must understand that a modern day equivalent would be for Christians in America to pray for the stock market to collapse so that people here would start seeking God again. It would not be a popular prayer at all.

I’m not sure how to instruct you to pray the tough prayer for our country today. But I can tell you that there are a lot of tough ‘prayers of faith’ for you to pray for yourself. Maybe a prayer for God to reveal any idols that you might have in your life would be tough. Or how about asking God to remove any distractions that you have in your life that keep you from him? I know a girl I went to college with prayed that prayer. She was an avid fan of music. The next day she went out to her car to find that her new car stereo and all of her music had been stolen. Now I know you can over interpret that one, but she got the point. Her music had been distracting her from God. She prayed, and she will tell you that he got rid of it. It wound up becoming a period of great spiritual growth in her life.

Are you willing to pray the tough prayer? It may not be easy. It may even cost you now. However, in the long run it will be worth it.

Confession

2008-08-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, this will be the last 3 days of our daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” –James 5:16

Over the past few years, the idea of confession has become quite twisted. I remember hearing the advertisement for a show called ‘Taxicab Confessions’ where people would talk in front of a camera in a taxi and tell all kinds of raunchy details of their lives. But instead of this being a remorseful confession, it was almost a celebration of their depravity. It was more boasting than confession.

This type of behavior has continued today. Look at the shock treatment that we receive from our so called heroes from Hollywood and the rest of the entertainment industry. We celebrate their immorality, and then are shocked when they die young. This was very apparent to Kristen and me when we visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So many of the greats that we saw all seemed to die between 27 and 29 years old. Yet we celebrate their lifestyles.

Christian confession is much different. It is the willingness to open ourselves up to other people and to reveal our sins and sinfulness so that we might find forgiveness and healing. Often we dismiss confession to others and convince ourselves that we just need to tell God about it. However, there is great value in humbling ourselves to others and speaking words of forgiveness to each other. I’ve heard it called the physical representation of the spiritual reality. In some ways it is a lot like the Lord’s Supper. Is it symbolic? Yes, but it is not just symbolic. It is the physical representation of the spiritual reality. So when we speak those words of confession, it is very much a representation of us speaking the words to God. And when we hear the words of forgiveness, it is a representation of God speaking those words to us. It is quite meaningful.

Do you have someone you can confess to? This may be one of the single greatest needs in today’s church. Who is it that you can trust and relate to? I encourage you to find someone who would listen, challenge, and offer those words of forgiveness to you. I think you’ll find that in confession there is great healing.

Breakin' Out the Oil, Part 2

2008-08-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, this will be the last 3-4 days of our daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” –James 5:14

Yesterday we asked whether this passage is referring to a physical or spiritual healing. We looked at the inconclusive evidence surrounding anointing. Today we will ask what it means to be ‘sick.’ Well, here James uses the Greek word astheneo, which is also a very generic word that has a wide range of meanings. Paul uses it in 2 Corinthians 12 when he describes his thorn in the flesh (NIV translates astheneo as ‘weakness’). It can mean a physical or spiritual weakness. We also have to ask ourselves whether they would have even seen a difference between physical healing and spiritual healing. The answer to that is: probably not near as big of a difference as we do today, but there would have been at the very least a slight distinction. Unfortunately, the other pieces of evidence in the passage leave us as confused as ever. So what do we do with it?

I’d like to recommend that there are two very good sides to an argument over this passage. While I think it is important to take a look and figure out what we believe, ultimately there really isn’t anything here on either side that goes against scriptural teaching (except for the extreme views, which are, well, extreme). So, my basic philosophy is to say this: I think we should be more than willing to practice these basic principles when people call for us in both physical and spiritual sicknesses.

That being said, when I look at this passage, what I come away with more than anything is not the principles to guide me in praying, but rather that in every circumstance, I should pray! Prayer needs to be our first response in both times of pain and times of celebration. We should be quick to turn to God in prayer in all circumstances. How can you turn to God in prayer this week in a way that you did not last week?

Breakin' Out the Oil, Part 1

2008-08-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, this will be the last 4-5 days of our daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

Breakin’ Out the Oil, Part 1

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” –James 5:14

Since this passage has its fair share of difficulties and intriguing notions, we’re going to spend a few days on it. The first is simply asking the question, “What does it mean to anoint someone or something?”

The concept of anointing is very simple: It takes place whenever we set someone or something apart for God’s service. This was often done by pouring oil on a person’s head. Whenever someone was to become the king, they would be anointed. There are also many prophecies of Christ where he is referred to as the ‘anointed one.’ In fact, in the New Testament, the original word for anoint in Greek is chrio, which is where we get the name Christ (No, Christ is not Jesus’ last name).

So, it seemingly makes this passage simple. James is talking about a spiritual anointing here, right? Well, it would be that easy except for the fact that James doesn’t use chrio, he instead uses another generic word that can be used for a spiritual anointing, but is more commonly used for any type of the rubbing of medicine on a person’s body. For example, in the story of the Good Samaritan, it says that he anointed the person’s wounds. In modern words, he broke out the first aid cream.

So, is this referring to a physical or a spiritual anointing here? Well, there is more evidence to be examined later, but for today let us simply reflect on Christ, the anointed one. God set him apart so that we might be saved.

Choosing to Pray

2008-08-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, this will be the last 5-6 days of our daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” –James 5:13

At first glance this verse looks pretty simple: If things aren’t going well, you ought to pray. If they are going well, then praise him, which is really a form of prayer too. So, no matter what you are doing, pray. There’s nothing wrong with that interpretation, and it is certainly valid with Scripture. However, I think there is an even more significant meaning when we look at the book of James as a whole.

If we look at the immediate context of the book, we will see that the previous section just talked about how we are to be patient in the midst of suffering. When we look at the book as a whole we see that this is a recurring theme, from the beginning to the end. So, while it certainly includes praying always, it has a more significant meaning of choosing to praise God and pray in the midst of suffering.

Whenever we face hardships and suffering, we also find an open door for spiritual growth. Whether God causes or just allows these situations, we can always grow through them and become more like him as we endure. Sometimes we will even find ourselves cheerful (this is closer than the NIV’s ‘happy’) in the midst of that suffering. This is next to impossible to explain, but it happens. When it happens, we should simply praise God. But there are other times when in the midst of trouble and trial when it absolutely gets a hold on us. When this happens, our response should essentially be the same: pray.

When you face a trial, no matter whether you are cheerful or downtrodden, may your response be the same: turn to God in prayer and praise.

Trustworthy People; Trustworthy God

2008-07-31T00:28:00.000-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, this will be the last week of daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

‘Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.’ –James 5:12

We have all been lied to. We have all had people break their promises to us. Maybe it was an investment gone bad or something that someone never had the intention of carrying out. We’ve probably had a car or furniture salesman take us a time or two as well. And unfortunately, we’ve probably been on the other end of it as well where we are the ones who have broken our promises.

God designed our church, our family, to be a very vulnerable community. It is a place where God desires us to be able to share everything about ourselves in a trustworthy environment. We shouldn’t have to worry about people stabbing us in the back or gossiping about us. We should be able to depend on each other for support, encouragement, and nurture.

James is responding to a culture where there were very legalistic teachings about when a person could break their vows. It is very similar to the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Some have taken this to extremes to say that we shouldn’t take any oaths at all, such as in a courtroom or in any type of legal contract. That kind of teaching is missing the point. James is challenging us to be trustworthy people who keep our word based on who we are, not merely upon a legal document that we sign.

How do people take your words and promises? One of the best places to evaluate yourselves is in your home. Do your children and your spouse see you consistent with your promises, or do you way too often fail to live up to your words? The home is both the best and the toughest place to start, as it is there that you tend to be the most comfortable.

May you be a person who is absolutely trustworthy in everything you say and do, and through your words and your actions may both the church and the world know that our God is absolutely trustworthy too.

Hebrew Heroes

2008-07-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

******NOTICE******

Since we are winding down our “FaithWorks” sermon series on the book of James, this will be the last week of daily devotions for a while. As we evaluate this tool, please leave a comment below with your name so that we can discern who has been reading the blog postings and plan for the future. Thanks!

“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” –James 5:10-11

No two situations are exactly alike. Every time we suffer, it is a little different than what we have experienced before, and it is different from how others have suffered. Yet we can still find a common bond of identity in the experience. James gives two examples of Hebrew heroes that would have hit home with his audience: the prophets and Job.

The prophets were generally regarded as outcasts. They were people that were willing to be unpopular, even if that was hard on them. They considered the message that they had to share more important than their popularity. Often they suffered from ridicule and scorn. It seems that certain prophets even struggled with depression. Yet look at the mark that they left behind. They stuck it out and persevered without compromising who they were in the Lord. We too will face seasons of ridicule and scorn. May we find comfort from identifying with them.

Job’s situation was completely different. Here was a guy who was highly regarded in his days. He was rich. He was healthy. He was successful. He had a great family. And then Satan took it all away (of course, he only took what God let him take). He went from being visibly blessed to apparently cursed. His friends told him to curse God and die. They tried to talk him into a lot of bad theology. Yet he (for the most part) stuck it out. Ultimately, he saw God in the end. God finally brought about a great blessing for him. We also will face seasons where we lose our health, our wealth, loved ones, etc. May we find comfort from identifying with Job.

May we realize that perseverance is not just an extreme form of stubbornness, but rather is something we learn when we come near to Christ. May we not only identify in the great examples of the prophets and of Job, but most importantly, may we find our greatest example in the perseverance of Christ.

Patience with Others

2008-07-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

Patience with Others

“Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” –James 5:9

This last weekend at a softball tournament, the game just before ours got a bit heated. There were no punches thrown and the language really didn’t even get nasty, but people got pretty ticked off at each other. We really hadn’t seen it all year, but since this was the elimination game of a tournament and things got urgent, everyone started taking things into their own hands and were very impatient with each other. It is amazing how a little adrenaline really sets people against each other.

This Scripture interests me, because often times Christians get overly zealous when we start talking about the urgency of the faith. Sometimes we start getting pushy with each other. Other times we get extremely defensive of ourselves. I think that the urgency of the faith in and of itself can be a healthy thing. We need to understand the importance of what we do as followers of Jesus. However, we must be patient with one another through it all. We must be peacemakers, especially within the body of Christ. Before we can be peacemakers, we must first be peaceable people.

To live out this Scripture, we cannot merely wait until we are in the situation in order to make decisions as to how we will treat others. We must prepare our hearts and change our bad attitudes before we ever face the situation. Often that means guarding ourselves from gossiping about people who we have regular conflicts with as well. There is such a thing as wise counsel, but generally we overstep those bounds rather quickly.

Who is it that you have a tendency to ‘grumble’ about? Is it your parents? Your spouse or boss? A neighbor? Be patient and know that God wants to bring peace into the situation. He can change your character if you let him.

So When is it Going to Happen Anyway?

2008-07-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.” –James 5:8

I think we’d be lying if we said we weren’t curious as to when or how it is going to happen. I mean, look how many books have been sold that talk about the return of Jesus. While I don’t agree with the theology of most of them, it is impossible to deny their popularity. If you really wanted to simply boost attendance at your church, just publicize that you are going to be teaching on the end times, and you’ll perk everyone’s attention in a hurry.

But here’s the reality: we really don’t have a clue as to when it is going to happen. People have been speculating since day one, and nobody’s got it right yet. Jesus even said that only the Father in heaven knows when it is going to happen. But it will happen, and it could happen at any moment in time.

But there is something that has always intrigued me about the debate. It is that no matter what your end times theology is, anyone who has studied the issue will tell you that along with any prophetic passage about the second coming, there is always a biblical call to holiness. One of the most famous comes at the tail end of I Corinthians 15, and we see one here too. People like Dr. Lowery at Lincoln Christian Seminary would even argue that the entire book of Revelation is not about foretelling the future, but rather about making disciples of Jesus. I don’t suppose that is as exciting, but it is true.

So James continues here by not telling us when it will happen, but encouraging how we are to live until it does happen. It is simple: we must remain patient until it does. So here’s to not having it all figured out, but simply hanging in there until Jesus is revealed.

A Lesson from the Farmers

2008-07-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.” –James 5:7

OK, so Kristen and I both grew up in farming families, so I’ve got to confess: this Scripture makes me laugh. Really, James? Are farmers really that patient? I mean, I remember growing up around farmers, and it could quickly turn to panic time if we didn’t get a good rain. This year we even saw the opposite, where we got too much rain. The farmers were waiting for it to stop raining. But I wouldn’t call them all that patient.

But then I realized what James is talking about. You see, we seem to make patience into some type of feeling rather than a demeanor. When I think back to the seasoned farmers that I know, I realize now that while they always talked about the weather, most of them realized there wasn’t much they could do about it, except wait. That’s what they do. They probably pray more when they really need rain, and they can certainly get testy as well. But they wait, knowing that they are totally dependant upon God’s provision.

In the same way, this is what we are called to do. Just like the farmer plants his seed in the spring, fertilizes it throughout the year, and harvests it at the end of the season, so we are called to live out our lives in faithful obedience to serving God where he has placed us. But ultimately, just like the farmer, we have to realize that we are totally dependent upon God’s provision. While we will see much of that provision here in this world, we will only see it fully and completely when he returns. May we be patient until then.

Ouch.

2008-07-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

“You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.” –James 5:5

Ouch. That’s all I can really say when I read this. Ouch. I can get through the first part of this passage ok, because I guess I don’t consider myself rich—not that being rich in and of itself is a sin. I even do ok with the ‘hoarding wealth’ part, because I know that there is a balance to keep between being generous and saving for the future. I’m ok with that. But this is tough. Luxury and self-indulgence. That strikes right at the heart of America. And too often, it strikes right at the heart of Dustin.

I know what you’re thinking. Most of us really don’t live in luxury, right? I mean, I’m a sucker for the simple in many ways. I hate high-class restaurants. My father in law would call them ‘hoidy-toidy.’ I don’t live to extremes. But the trouble is I’ve been other places. I’ve seen people who have next to nothing sacrificing for the needs of others. I’m confident that what we often call necessity is really luxury. If you don’t agree with me, then that’s fine. But how often do we excessively hoard things for ourselves and call it God’s blessing rather than seeing if God really wants us to bless someone else with it. Which brings us to self-indulgence.

So maybe we aren’t willing to confess to luxury, but self-indulgence abounds in us. Maybe the best way to reveal this is by looking at how we over-entertain ourselves. Think about how much of our time we spend always listening to music, watching TV or movies, playing video games, going to concerts, or just overdoing it when we eat. Self-indulgence is something we take pride in doing here in America. Unfortunately, it desensitizes us both to God and to those who are hurting around us.

When I look at Jesus, I see someone who put his focus on God. While he still took time to relax and refresh himself, he was not someone who lived luxuriously or a self indulgent life. He had an excellent balance that we should also seek. So I would simply encourage you to do this: turn off the TV for a few days and pick up the Word. Take a look around you and see if there are people in need that you haven’t seen before. Take a look at your life too and see where you are living in excess and self-indulgence. Simplify. It will make your life much more useful to God.

A Heart for the Working Class

2008-07-24T23:58:00.000-05:00

“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” –James 5:4

My generation is one that has grown up with a large number of corporate scandals. The most famous one was Kenneth Lay and the Enron scandal that cost thousands of people their jobs and their retirement plans. As a result of this and other scandals, we have become very conscious about corporate responsibility, especially making sure that people are treated with honesty and respect in the work place. This is a very good thing.

What we see here is that this is a reflection of the heart of God. While there will always be differences in pay scales in this world, it does not mean that people should not be treated appropriately and fairly. God desires for business owners and bosses to treat their employees fairly, even when it may mean personal sacrifice.

It is tempting for me to drift to tangents in this discussion about when and where unions are a good or bad idea, but that is not the point of this Scripture. The point is that when we are put in positions where we lead others in the workplace, we are called to treat them fairly. If we cheat them, there will be both earthly and eternal consequences.

Does your heart towards those who have served under you reflect the heart of God, so that you treat them fairly and with respect?

Rusted Gold

2008-07-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.” –James 5:2-3

You might have to worry about a cheap ring turning your finger green. You might even have to worry about white gold turning yellow. But you should never have to worry about one thing: gold should never rust. Some people think that since James was most likely poor, he just didn’t know better, as the literal word here is not corroded, but rather is rusted. But I don’t think that is the case.

James introduces a section of Scripture that speaks about the ‘last days,’ which generally in Scripture is not speaking of an immediate coming of Christ, but rather an eminent return, meaning it could happen at any moment. It may not be for 1,000 years, or it could be before you finish reading this sentence. But yet James does not say that moths will eat your clothes and that the gold will rust. He says it is already happening.

I believe that James is warning us that even though our gold might not rust now, it really is rusting. In other words, it is becoming less and less satisfying every day, or they are corrupting us more and more every day.

Have you noticed how money changes people? Have you seen people get corrupted by putting too much trust in their stuff? It doesn’t take being rich—it can happen even with middle class and poor people. It could happen to you.

Gold may not rust, but it sure can corrode our hearts. How much are you trusting in wealth and stuff instead of God?

A Little Harsh?

2008-07-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.” –James 5:1

Now before we look into James 5, I think we may have to do some damage control first. I can hear what some of you are saying: “Isn’t James a little harsh in his language?” It’s a fair question. But James is referring to the language that the prophets regularly used in order to call the people to repentance. In all reality, we don’t look at this type of literature nearly enough. So, let’s simply spend today reading some of these Scriptures where the prophets use similar language to call the people to repentance:

Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. –Isaiah 13:6

"In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "the songs in the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies—flung everywhere! Silence!" –Amos 8:3

They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me. –Hosea 7:14

Wail, O pine tree, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down! –Zechariah 11:2

In the streets they cry out for wine; all joy turns to gloom, all gaiety is banished from the earth. –Isaiah 24:11

For Me, or for Humanity

2008-07-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.” –James 5:1

I remember being stressed upon me from the very earliest days of my life that “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” Now this is great, and in and of itself I don’t have a problem with it, when it is understood in its right context. However, the problem is that we understand it within our plan, and not God’s plan. In other words, we think that God blesses us so that we can live in the upper tier of society, or so that we can one-up our neighbor when it comes to having the most or the nicest toys. All this and yet we claim to have a sacrificing God. We claim that Jesus came and denied himself so that he might die for our sins, yet we can’t see past ourselves.

It seems that we focus an awfully lot on God’s will for my life without ever taking into account God’s will for humanity. This has to change. To think that we are favored above the poor in God’s eyes is a farce. If there are people living in poverty around us and yet we have an abundance, we have to consider what we can sacrifice to improve their lives. And this cannot be forced upon us, but come from our own desire to see the basic needs of humans met.

It just can’t stop with our neighbors either. We must also look to how we can make a difference around the world. There are millions still going hungry and without clean drinking water, not even to mention the billions who have never heard the Gospel, let alone don’t even have a Bible in their own language.

So are you looking for God’s plan for your life, or are you looking for God’s plan for humanity? Because what you are looking for will greatly affect what you find.

The Haves and the Have-Nots

2008-07-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. . . . Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.” –James 5:1; 6

There is something very appealing about wealth. There is a sense of power when we can totally disregard any concern for the cost of anything and simply live the way that we want to live. But yet wealth never lasts. Either we’ll lose it here in this world, or we won’t be able to take it with us.

One of the more interesting stories over the past couple of months was that Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s long-time sidekick, was going to lose his house because he couldn’t make his house payment. The 80+ year old McMahon explained that he hadn’t been able to work lately because of a neck injury. He was several hundred thousand dollars behind on his payments. But just how long did he think he was going to be working anyway? I mean, was he planning on retiring at 95? It just didn’t make sense.

James chapter 5 begins with a word of warning to the rich, but continues with a word of comfort and hope to the Jewish-Christian believers, most of who would have been impoverished. On the surface, this looks like a story of the haves and the have-nots. And it is, but not like you might think. You see our definition of the haves are those who have financial wealth. But in God’s eyes, those who have nothing, yet have him, have everything. It is the rich who are the have-nots, as they have so often found comfort in their wealth and cannot see their need for God.

Are you content being a ‘have’ if your definition of ‘have’ has nothing to do with wealth, but everything to do with God?

A Little Batman

2008-07-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow we’ll get back to the book of James, but today I want to talk to talk a bit about Batman . . .

Throughout the book of James there has been a continuous theme of the need for our humility. We must realize how desperate for God we really are, which means understanding how little we can do without him. For leaders, it also means that we need to understand that we can’t be a one-man show, but that our goal must be to equip and empower others to do the work.

So what does this have to do with Batman: The Dark Night? Well, this Batman was different, as a continuing theme throughout the movie was that Batman was not the answer to stopping all the crime in Gotham City. Rather, the people had to emerge and step up to the plate themselves. But that transition has to work in two ways. First, Batman has to get out of the way. Secondly, the people have to step up and take responsibility. But how tough it is to get out of the way . . .

In our Christian lives, the temptation of leadership is to make everything revolve around us, so that we are the only ones who are empowered to do anything. Rather than people seeing a need and meeting it, they are simply trained to call the leader. I suppose part of the problem is tradition—you know, it goes all the way back to the priests being the only ones allowed to do ministry. We have never fully gotten over that. But a huge part of it is that often leaders need to feel needed. Too often we get our self-worth from the ministry that we do for others, rather than the sacrifice that Christ has made for us.

So, do you stand in the way of others doing ministry, or are you constantly walking alongside of others and encouraging them to get their hands dirty too?

Are You Ready?

2008-07-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” –James 4:17

I have heard a great deal of excitement both in our church and in our community about our upcoming Together for Lincoln project on September 28th. On that day we will worship at each individual church in the morning, go and serve out in our community in the late morning-early afternoon, and gather that evening for a combined worship service at Lincoln Christian College. We currently have about 13 churches participating, so it should be a real hoot.

But before we go and serve together in the streets of Lincoln, I feel like I need to warn you as well. What we are doing is basically taking a one day mission trip into our own community. We will go and serve people we may or may not know. We will go to parts of town we might generally just ignore. We will go and meet needs that we never even realized existed before. When we do that, God is bound to do something even larger than us. As much as we are hoping and praying that God does something through us, we are also hoping and praying that God does something even bigger in us.

Our prayer is that while this is technically only a one day event, that it will plant a seed within us for something much greater. We hope that we would begin to see the needs in our community not just when an application for help comes in, but whenever we go out. Chances are, if we really let God move, this could radically change the way that we live. We will begin to have a greater passion to serve people that will require us to either bury those desires or to choose to go and to live them out by serving others. This could be a very costly day.

Are you ready? Are you prepared to see Lincoln like you’ve never seen it before. Are you willing to let God move in your life in order to meet the needs of others? Are you ready to truly be the hands and feet of Christ?

The Good Samaritan Law

2008-07-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” –James 4:17

I must confess that my favorite television series of all time is Seinfeld, although The Office is quickly catching up. In the very last episode of Seinfeld, Jerry finally lands a contract with NBC, so they offer to allow Seinfeld and his friends to use the corporate jet to fly anywhere. Well, on their flight, they have engine trouble and have to land in a small Massachusetts town. After they land, they decide to take a stroll around town. There on the town square, they see an overweight man being mugged. Instead of helping, they instead start laughing and making fun of the man. People see them laughing as the thief gets away, and the police arrest Jerry and his friends for breaking the town’s ‘Good Samaritan Law.’ In other words, if you can help someone and don’t, you are breaking the law. They are arrested, and at their trial, they bring several of the past season’s characters to testify against them in a humorous trial. Of course, they are found guilty and sent to the clink, where Jerry does stand up comedy for the inmates.

It is an absurd notion, isn’t it? Do you really think that we could be arrested for the things that we don’t do? Well, I’m sure a law like that would never stand in America. However, the Bible tells us that we are not just held accountable for the things that we do, but also for the opportunities that come our way to help others.

This verse is in the midst of a passage that talks about our own plans and how foolish they are compared to God’s will. It is here that we read James saying, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” It is an interesting notion, isn’t it? After we stop trying to control every aspect of our lives, we start to see that God has a bigger plan that includes others. And we just can’t say, “Nah, no thanks. Maybe later.” When we see people in need and don’t help, we sin.

I want to be careful here because I think that we could easily think that we must go overboard and spend every second out helping everyone that we possibly can and berating others who don’t. While God definitely puts people in our path, we could easily develop a ‘messiah complex,’ thinking that we are the only ones who can make a difference and wind up taking too much on our plates and burning out. That isn’t healthy either. Chances are, you and I don’t have that problem though.

Would you consider taking a look around you and observing whether or not you are doing the good that you should? How often have you diverted your plans in the last year to help someone in need? Maybe it’s family. Maybe it is someone you work with, or someone you don’t even know. Remember, sins aren’t just things that we do, they are also things that we know we should do, yet don’t.

Not Where, but Who

2008-07-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. –James 4:15-16

I hate it when people ask me questions about the future. People often ask me, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Or, “How long do you see yourself living here in Lincoln?” Of course the worst and most frequent question of all is, “So when are you going to have kids anyway?” I would love to tell you that I hate these questions because we’re just trusting Jesus to guide us and we don’t ever worry about the answers to them. I suppose that would be the Sunday school answer. Perhaps we do live that out to a certain degree. But the real reason that I hate them is because there is a certain part of me that thinks that I do have it all figured out, and I’d love to give my answer based on my plan. And it isn’t even that it is a completely pagan plan. However, it is me trying to discern how God will lead, rather than me simply being faithful.

James says, “As it is, you boast and brag.” When we think we have God’s plan cornered, that is really what we are doing. When we share with others the lofty plans that we have, we are often encouraged and celebrated as people with great plans, rather than rebuked as people who aren’t leaving enough room for God to work. Kristen and I were at a conference this past year where they introduced a boy who was around 8 years old who knew every presidential fact that you could ever imagine. It was his dream to be the President of the United States—and he had it all figured out how he was going to get there. In fact, his plan had him landing in the White House at a ripe old age of 35! Everyone in the arena clapped for him and celebrated his plan. Now, I hate to be the sour puss here, but really? Do we really want a 35 year old president? Shouldn’t someone have the guts to say to this young man, “Hey, don’t you think you should wait until you are at least 45 or so and have a little more wisdom?” Now granted, I know you are thinking, “Easy, Dustin. The kid is not even 10! Give him a break!” I understand that, but the problem is not the kid, but the culture that we have created.

I have mentioned before that I am not against planning. In fact, I am very much in favor of wise planning, so long as it is made by people who are seeking after God’s heart and is open to his continued leading. But here is a challenge for you: rather than planning where you are going to be or what your career will look like in 5 years, wouldn’t it be a better investment of your time to discern who you would like to be in 5 years? You know, how you would like to deepen your walk with God, how your character would be better, how you’d treat your spouse differently?

More importantly than where we are is who we are. I don’t know where God will send you, but I can promise you this: whenever and wherever he sends you, he wants you to be like Jesus.

A Lousy Night to be an Atheist

2008-07-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

In honor of baseball’s All-Star Break, we’re going to take a little break from our postings in the book of James. So here’s a story that has refreshed me a great deal:

I normally get sick of Christian athletes who talk about how Jesus helps them hit home runs. It generally borders on health and wealth teaching. However, Josh Hamilton’s story is far from typical. Josh was selected as the number one overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. But Josh’s personal life was a mess, as he quickly became addicted to drugs and alcohol. From 2002-2006 he did not even play baseball, as he was even barred from baseball at one point for failing multiple drug tests. By all accounts his career was over. Even worse than that, he regularly overdosed with the hopes that he simply wouldn’t wake up.

But God didn’t give up on him, and neither did his wife or grandma. His wife, a devout Christian, often told him that he wasn’t done yet, and that he would play professional baseball again someday. Eventually, Hamilton surrendered his life to Christ. He is very specific about that word ‘surrender,’ as he acknowledges that of all his natural abilities that he has, there is no way he can overcome the addiction on his own. Since his surrender, God has done an amazing work in his life, as he has been clean since October 6, 2005. Through this time, God has also restored his relationship with his wife, Katie.

But we can’t forget the baseball! In 2007, the Cincinnati Reds picked up Hamilton and he had a successful rookie season. More importantly, his witness was incredible, as opposing players and even the umpires regularly encouraged him. His teammates even did not make him perform one of the rookie duties of making him carry the beer onto the team plane, as they were aware of his addictions and wanted to see him succeed. Over the off-season, the Reds traded Hamilton to the Texas Rangers, where he has simply been stellar. He was elected as a starter on the All-Star Team and was also selected to hit in the Home Run Derby on Tuesday night, which was simply amazing.

Back when he was still strung out on drugs, Hamilton had a dream that he would be hitting in the All Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. He didn’t even know that there would be an All Star game at Yankee Stadium, as it had not even been selected yet. In the dream, he also gave glory to God for his performance. Well, Tuesday night that dream came true as Hamilton stepped up to the plate as the eighth hitter in the home run derby. The leader at the time had 8 home runs, and Hamilton absolutely shattered that lead by hammering 28 out of 38 swings as home runs. These were no cheap home runs either, as many of them were over 500 feet. Just as the players and umpires had been behind him before, the 56,000 fans in attendance were going crazy. While he didn’t eventually win the contest, everyone will remember his performance, as he obliterated the previous one round record. After the derby, he shared this account of his dream a few years back:

“I was at the plate, I saw all the guys sitting around and then I was at the plate walking toward them and actually a lady came up and interviewed me,” Josh said. “I was able to show everybody how I was there, why I was there and that was because of God's grace.”

Well, all of this happened and more. Here is the quote from the interview Hamilton had with the ‘real’ lady who interviewed him on Tuesday night: “It's amazing in the past few years what God has done in my life and how quickly he has done it. I just really want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all of this. I just want to glorify him.”

As powerful as Hamilton’s words were, the quote of the night came from famous sportswriter Rick Reilly, who simply said, “It’s a lousy night to be an atheist.” A lousy night indeed!

Hamilton has not let his success go to his head. His addiction definitely keeps him humble. He has three drug tests a week my MLB, which he welcomes because of his self-awareness as an addict. He also keeps a busy schedule of going and sharing his message with other addicts, as well as young people. And with a story of grace like that, why not? If he keeps playing like he is and sharing his story, there cold be a lot of lousy nights for atheists for a long time to come!

To read other articles about Josh Hamilton, click on one of the following links:

Sports Illustrated Cover Story from June 2008
ESPN.com - Hope is Never Lost

Are we seeking God's will or God himself?

2008-07-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." –James 4:15

It is easy to read this verse and to think that this verse is just talking about words. You could say that James just wants us to talk about God’s will, like we are putting God’s approval upon our plans. But this isn’t what James is talking about. When we look at the verses around this one verse, we see that James is referring to people who are boasting in their own plans, rather than trusting in God’s plan. This is especially true in America today, where we simply separate out God’s will into some different area of our lives instead of really applying it to all of our lives. We try to have control of everything, from when we’ll have kids to the exact day that we will retire without really seeking God through prayer, Scripture, and godly wisdom.

Let me be clear that I am not discouraging planning. God does not want us to just ‘wing’ everything. However, a little trust wouldn’t hurt anyone here. We could all use more discipline in seeking God’s will.

But while we’re talking about God’s will, let me caution you here too. I do believe that we are to seek God’s will in our daily decisions and for major guidance in our lives. I’m just concerned that all too often we seek God’s will without seeking God. We want more of God’s blessings and more of his wisdom to keep us from falling flat on our faces, but if we’re really seeking him, then maybe it begins when we are flat on our faces, humble before him and longing to know him for who he is. My guess is that if we are truly seeking God in all that we do, we won’t have any trouble seeking God’s will.

Vapor Trails

2008-07-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” –James 4:14

When I was a kid, I used to love to sit outside and look into the sky and watch the jets fly overhead. I got to be pretty good at identifying the different types of planes. I especially enjoyed when an occasional B-52 would fly over with its 8 jet engines. But what always fascinated me was that as each jet flew over, it would leave behind a white vapor trail. The vapor trail would be solid and unbroken at the back of the jet, but as the jet moved along, the vapor trail would start to dissipate. Within just a few minutes, it would completely disappear.

If James were writing this Scripture today, he might say, “You are a vapor trail that appears for a little while and then disappears.” Interpretation: Your life is short and quickly forgotten. If we could only truly understand just how short this life really is, we would be much better off.

But what are the benefits of truly understanding how short our lives really are? There are several. Here are a few: 1) We are more humble 2) We learn to rely on God more 3) We don’t waste as much time on meaningless things 4) We value our relationships more. These are just a few, but they all are significant in shaping our lives.

Have you embraced the brevity of your own life? We won’t be here for long, but when we submit to God, we can make a huge difference while we are here.

The Wisdom and Folly of Planning

2008-07-13T00:14:00.001-05:00

‘Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.’—James 4:13-14

In the Bible, planning is commended as a wise action. Yet here, we see that planning without seeking God’s wisdom is a very foolish thing. This hypothetical situation that James brings up is a very structured business plan. It describes the when (today or tomorrow), the where (that city), the how long (spend a year there), the what (carry on business), and the why (make money). It looks like wisdom to me! This is a plan that I could see myself buying into. Yet James seems to consider it foolish.

So what are we supposed to do? Are we just supposed to make it up as we go along? Do we need to even have an idea about what we are supposed to do in life? I think it is safe to say that planning in and of itself is wise. However, we have to ask ourselves, where is God in all of our planning? Are we seeking his will, or just doing what we want?

God may or may not allow you to be successful at your plans. Sometimes our plans fail so that we have to learn to rely on him. On other occasions, we simply are never content, no matter how successful we may be. God will do everything he can to get our attention without violating the free will he has given to us.

So, here’s the question: how has God ‘ruined’ your life? Are you willing to listen when his plan goes against your plan?

At the Mercy of God

2008-07-12T08:50:00.001-05:00

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” –James 4:10

There is nothing worse than being at the mercy of someone that you have offended. We see it in movies where the warrior is captured by the enemy and as he kneels before them in humility, the only thing he can do is hope that the enemy shows mercy. We see it in our own lives, as what we have said or done to offend someone comes back to bite us, and we have to go and humble ourselves before them. While we have to reveal what we have done to offend them and apologize, ultimately the course of action is largely up to them. Either they will choose to pass down some type of repercussions upon us, or they will choose to forgive us. It is up to them.

When we come before the Lord, the situation is similar, only the consequences are greatly magnified. We have to humble ourselves before him, but we are dependent upon his character. How will he respond? James tells us that when we humble ourselves before him, ‘he will lift us up.’ He will not push us farther down. He will not hold a grudge. He will forgive us and restore us through his unconditional love, just as Christ restored Peter after Peter had betrayed him three times (John 21). When we humble ourselves before God, we can be completely restored, not because of who we are, but because of who he is.

When you approach God in humility, are you able to trust in his character, or do you still see him unhealthily?

The Rarity of Repentance

2008-07-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.” –James 4:7-9

When I read this passage, I immediately think back to a specific time in my life when I was awakened to the reality of how I am supposed to live for Christ. I was going into my senior year in high school and while I was known as the ‘good kid’, I was not taking holiness all that seriously. I had a great experience at a Christian conference, and I responded to the message that night in a very emotional way. I remember weeping in repentance and how absolutely freeing it was to experience God’s grace. It was so odd: complete brokenness, weeping, wailing, and complete freedom all at the same time.

While I have had other times where I have been brought to my knees like this since then, I must say it has not been often enough. I have not taken to heart the biblical commands to truly mourn over my sin. While to some degree I repent everyday, most of the time it is not a complete brokenness. Now please hear me: if we had these experiences everyday, it probably would not be healthy. However, not having them at all is not healthy either.

Let’s face it: true and complete repentance is a very rare thing in our society. We don’t like to do it, and we really don’t take it all that seriously. I believe that part of this is due to our focus on self-composure. We are way too proud to admit that there is anything wrong with us. While we don’t always need to publicly repent in front of others, we must confess that we cannot truly separate who we are publicly from who we are privately. So often our pride is not only found in how we act in the presence of others, but also how we act in the presence of God.

So, how is your repentance? Do you practice a steady diet of it, or is it a rare occasion for you? Repentance can be a very painful experience, but I have always found it extremely freeing and empowering to the life that Christ has called us to live. May you be willing to weep, mourn, and wail before God, and yet come away dancing as he frees you from your sin.

God's Opposition

2008-07-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." –James 4:6

Sometimes when you say something too much it isn’t heard, but when you say it less, it is heard louder. During the whole book thus far, James has never mentioned the word ‘grace.’ He seems more bent on calling people to personal and communal holiness mixed with very practical application. Martin Luther even called the book of James ‘the epistle of straw’ because its theology seems at a distance to be so contrary to that of Paul. But here, in one verse, James gives us something that helps us remember how we can really live out what he is teaching. How do we live it out? By God’s grace. What attitude must we have to receive his grace? Humility.

Now let’s be clear here that we can’t earn our salvation. It is still a free gift. But we can’t come to God in our arrogance. In the spiritual progression that we see in the beatitudes (Matthew 5), it starts with “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” If we are going to live the life that God wants us to live, we have to both be humble and receive God’s grace.

But if God truly opposes the proud, this has a profound impact on the religious community. Ultimately, we can have a great systematic theology, have great programs in place, and have the most talented people, but yet are arrogant and proud, then God is not for us. He is opposed to us. The essential trait in every leader is humility. How are you living out God’s grace through your humility?

The Jealousy of God

2008-07-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? –James 4:5 (ESV)

It is difficult to understand the meaning of this Scripture. Some wonder whether ‘the spirit’ that James refers to is the human spirit or God’s Holy Spirit that he gives to believers. While I haven’t completely figured that out yet, the portion of this Scripture that jumps out at me concerns the jealousy of God. Now, this is not a jealousy that someone would have in an impure way, such as being jealous over your neighbor’s new car. Rather it is more like you being jealous in a pure way if some guy was flirting with your wife.

This week in church I discussed how God loves us like the very best of husbands love their wives. The language in the original Greek here displays us in a feminine sense, which reinforces the idea of us being God’s bride. He longs for us to be intimate with him and only him. When we sin against him and ‘cheat’ on him, it destroys the purity of that relationship. Yet, he keeps taking us back.

I heard another discussion that I also appreciated concerning the jealousy of God. The idea is that because God is all knowing, he knows what is absolutely best for us. To put it in very human terms, he has huge dreams for us because he created us to live out those desires. When we are not living out those desires (which are pure), then he is very jealous because we are not being the people that he has created us to be.

Who does God most desire for you to be? I can promise you it is not about the talents that the world sees but about the character that God sees. When we develop that character, then God can greatly use those talents for his glory.

Going Old Testament on You

2008-07-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” –James 4:4

Well, there’s nothing quite like coming right out and saying it. James has been very blunt so far in the letter, but nothing is quite like what he says here. You can call someone a lot of things, but you call them an adulterer, and you’ve probably crossed the line. So what was James thinking? Well, he was just going Old Testament on them. By going Old Testament, I mean that James was bringing up imagery that the prophets used in the Scriptures that would have immediately connected with his Jewish Christian audience.

Here’s the picture: in the Old Testament, the prophets often conveyed the image that God is a completely faithful husband, but yet his ‘bride’, Israel, is like a cheating wife. The best picture of this is in the book of Hosea, where Hosea himself is acting as this faithful husband towards his cheating wife, Gomer (I’m not making that up). At one point, he actually goes and buys her back from her pimp. The whole point is that this is the same thing God does when we continually sin against him.

James has already used the term ‘double minded’ in his book. Maybe the term could be ‘two timing.’ Here we read that when we have friendship with the world, or living as the world lives, we are really two timing God. I know it isn’t comfortable to think about it this way, but we must consider the serious nature of our sin against God. So, here’s a challenge for you: take a stab at rethinking how you view sin. Do you view it as something minor, or do you see it as something that dramatically affects your relationship with God. Over the next couple of days we will talk about some of the ways we should respond to the sin in our lives, but between now and then, would you be willing to consider the thought that when we are sinning against God, it is like committing adultery against him?

Two Extremes

2008-07-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

“You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” –James 4:2-3

There tend to be two extremes in Christian circles when it comes to ‘getting stuff’: people who tend to be overly self-reliant, and those who think that God will give them anything they ask of him, like he’s Santa on steroids. Neither extreme is healthy. So, let’s take a glance at each one and figure out a remedy.

First, extreme self-reliance. There is nothing wrong with hard work, but along with it often comes a tendency to forget that no matter how hard we work, if it weren’t for God we wouldn’t have it. He supplies every breath we take and every drop of water that we drink. Yet so often we let our pride get in the way and forget that. One of the ways that I have found to combat this in my life is to force myself to thank God for very specific things when I pray. When we bless the food, we remember that no matter how hard we worked for our money, it is still God who provided, and we thank him for that. When we come to this realization, we can begin to ask God for what we do not yet have, understanding that if we are to have it, it will come from him and not from us.

The second extreme is also rooted in pride. This ‘Jesus is my Sugar Daddy’ view doesn’t have a problem asking for things in prayer, but the problem is that we are asking for our own good, neglecting God’s will and other people as well. In this view, we tend to think that we are God’s favorites and treat everyone else as second class citizens. God has a way of responding to this: he stops giving us what we want. We have to learn the hard way. If we don’t respond well, it can even damage our view of God. But we must remember that just as our parents disciplined us and didn’t let us have everything we wanted, so God disciplines us and does not spoil us for our own good.

Which extreme do you tend to slide towards? Neither is healthy. If you are willing, either viewpoint can be transformed through prayer. Humble yourself beneath him, and remember who he is. You will see his provision in due time. And even more importantly, you will know him more intimately because of it all.

hedonism at its Worst

2008-07-06T00:06:00.001-05:00

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.” –James 4:1-2a

When I look back at all of the disagreements and arguments that I have had with people in the past, there is one common thread: selfishness. Either I was too proud to admit I was wrong, too self-centered to see things from their perspective, or too impatient to listen to what they actually had to say. Granted, the other party isn’t always innocent either, but that’s beside the point. When I’m selfish, it affects my relationships with others—and of course, with God too.

James tells us that our desires ‘battle within us.’ This word for desires is where we get our word ‘hedonism’ from. Hedonism is the quest for happiness at any expense. It is a form of selfishness that only cares about meeting one’s desires. It doesn’t think about other people. We don’t need to do a lot of discussion about these desires that battle within us. We all experience them everyday. We struggle with killing off the old self. And it doesn’t only affect us.

So here’s the skinny: how are your selfish desires affecting your relationships with others? It is a simple, but painful evaluation. So, today simply take some time to think about how your selfishness affects others. Start to take steps to determine how you can get your desires out of the way. Remember, this whole section focuses around verse 6. Don’t forget the grace!

Hot Dogs and Hypocrisy

2008-07-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” –James 3:17 (NASB)

Not only was yesterday the celebration of the birthday of our nation, it also was the day when one of our great American pastimes was celebrated—Yes I am speaking of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Each year, the best eaters in the world get together and see how many hot dogs and buns they can scarf down in 10 minutes. If you have ever watched this, it is one of the most disgusting things you’ll ever see. However, in the pre-competition interviews, one of the contestants, who in 2007 downed 49 hot dogs, revealed his real profession. He is actually a chef for a food service that specializes in preparing healthy meals for those who are trying to diet! Now, imagine the surprise you would have if you knew that this man who downs 49 hot dogs in 10 minutes is the man preparing food so you could lose weight! Sounds like hypocrisy to me!

Today we take a look at the last trait that James teaches us comes from wisdom. The NIV translates it positively as ‘sincere,’ while the NASB treats it in a negative (and slightly more accurate) way as ‘without hypocrisy.’ I am convinced that the toughest thing for any ‘religious’ person to do is to keep from being a hypocrite. This was the biggest downfall of the Pharisees and the other religious leaders in Jesus’ day. If you want to hear how he addresses them, take a close look at Matthew 23.

So, how do we live a life free of hypocrisy? I see two simple ways. The first comes to mind immediately, and that is to simply live a holy life. The word hypocrite is an old Greek phrase used when an actor would put on a different face. We have to realize that we are not who we used to be. We are different people by God’s grace. The second way seems contradictory, but it really is not. Not only must we live a holy life, but we must also be very humble and honest about our shortcomings. Yes, we are new creations, but the old self keeps coming back around. We cannot act like we are perfect. We cannot demonstrate self-righteousness. We have to be willing to let people to see us for who we really are. This humility is refreshing to a lost and fallen world.

Holiness and humility. They may seem like they are worlds apart, but they really go hand in hand. In order to live the holy life, we must practice humility. Anything else is just religion that both Jesus and people who are genuinely seeking God despise.

The Stable Life

2008-07-04T00:03:00.000-05:00

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” –James 3:17 (NASB)

Today’s word is one of the most difficult to carry over into English. The NIV translates this word as ‘impartial,’ the NLT makes it a bit wordier by rendering it ‘shows no favoritism,’ and the always accurate NASB simply says ‘unwavering.’ The word is only used here in the New Testament, so we have nothing to really compare it to. However, this much we do know: it carries a quality about it that we see very rarely anymore. The idea is that we are not swayed by people, life circumstances, or any other factors.

Now let’s be clear that we are not talking about stubbornness. You could argue that bullheaded people also are unwavering, but this is not the stability that God desires. I have seen addicts who are simply stubborn enough to walk away from their drug of choice, only to deeply battle overcoming a serious case of pride.

What we are talking about here is a steadiness to our faith that does not succumb to popular opinion. We are the same no matter who we are around. Our language, attitude, and faith remain steady, even when we are ridiculed. It also means that when we face trials due to situations that arrive in our lives, such as illness or persecution, we still hold fast to Christ.

If we are to make a difference in our world for Christ, we must have this unwavering and impartial quality about ourselves. In a world of chaos that many people live in, we must be a steady and faithful voice, even in the midst of our own trials. Chances are that our greatest moment to reach people won’t be when everything is going right, but rather when everything is going awry. Just remember the cross. It was in the midst of such chaos that Christ worked to save us all.

More Than a Feeling

2008-07-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.—James 3:17

I know that not all of you like to ask technical questions about the Bible, but I beg you to be patient with me for just a moment. As I have been looking at this verse all week, this one phrase has been bugging me: “full of mercy and good fruit.” Now of all the words that James lists here, why would James choose to put mercy and good fruit together? I thought at first that maybe these are the only things that you can be full of, but that isn’t true. So why? Am I just reading too much into this, or is there really something there?

The conclusion that I have come to is that mercy and good fruit are intrinsically linked. You see, if mercy is the heart, then the good fruit would be the hands and feet of the body. I guess another way to put it is that mercy isn’t just a feeling—it has to manifest itself in actions if it is truly mercy. So while mercy may begin with a compassionate feeling, it has to get its hands and feet along the way too. As our faith grows, there may even be periods where we grow more merciful in certain areas, but we haven’t figured out yet how to live that out. That is ok. But the important thing is that we wrestle with that and continue to grow and learn how to live out that mercy.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Aren’t we thankful that Jesus did not merely feel merciful for us, but that he chose to come to earth and show us mercy through his life, and ultimately through the cross? May our mercy be a reflection of the mercy that he has shown to us.

The Christian "S" Word

2008-07-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.—James 3:17

If there is an “S” word in Christian theology, it is the word ‘submit.’ It is probably so controversial because we so often use it in the context of gender issues, quoting Ephesians 5:22, where Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands, while often forgetting the previous verse where we are all instructed to submit to one another, and the following verses, where husbands are to ‘give themselves’ for the good of their wives. So what does a purely submissive attitude look like? Let’s break it down a little:

1. There is a specific submission to authorities. While there are certain ethical limits here, as a general rule, we should submit to the leadership and decisions made by government officials, church leaders, parents, bosses, etc. This doesn’t mean we agree with every decision, nor does it mean we do anything that goes against our conscience. I believe we even have the biblical freedom to discuss ethical issues with our leaders. If we are called to do something unethical by our employers, then we should confront them peacefully and humbly about the issue. If they don’t budge, then we should look for a different job. While this is specific, I think there is a larger issue here to discuss.

2. There is also general submission to one another. While I could give you certain examples, I believe it is more important to talk about the attitude of submission that also applies to our submission to authorities. The attitude of submission is rooted in absolute humility. It is a respect for other people that calls us to listen to people because of who we are, not because of their title or position. Ephesians 5:21 tells us, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Having a submissive attitude means that we don’t always have to be the ones who are heard or to the ones who always get our way. We don’t need to be ‘pushy’ with our attitudes. We don’t need to get things done at the expense of relationships.

Simply put, Christ is the perfect example of a submissive attitude. He was submissive to the will of the Father, even when it was painful and unpopular. Even though he was God in human flesh, he even had a submissive attitude towards earthly authorities. Before Pontius Pilate, he remained mostly silent because he knew that the only power Pilate had was because it had been given to him by God. We must also choose to follow this attitude of Christ and to carry a submissive attitude about ourselves that is not just a respect for earthly authority, but also as an act of faith that God is in total control. Ultimately he will make all things right.

All Things Considered

2008-07-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.—James 3:17

Often when I think about God’s call that he has for us, I start thinking about the things he wants us to do. I think about how we dream too little about how God could use us. I start to wonder if we’re doing everything that God has for us to do. But somewhere along the line, I start to realize that it isn’t just about the things that God has called us to do, but it is more so about the character that God has called us to have.

When I consider all of the things that I think God wants me to be, I must admit, being considerate generally doesn’t top my list. But James mentions it here as one of the character traits that we must make sure we have about ourselves. You can simply call it good manners, but it is more than that. Being considerate towards others is a part of our obedience towards God.

So, do you want to live out God’s will for your life today? Take out the trash for your wife. Leave a good tip whether the waitress does a good job or not. Let the person in front of you in traffic, even when they are driving like an idiot. It may not seem that complicated, but it doesn’t have to be rocket science to honor God. If we were simply considerate towards others, I think we’d be amazed at how God would use our character for his glory.

Lovers of Peace

2008-06-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.—James 3:17

I must confess that I grew up thinking that peace was something for hippies who drove VW vans, wore tie died t-shirts, and didn’t shower nearly enough. But what I learned is that peace is a lot more than just getting along with people or being tolerant of others. Peace is something that takes a lot of hard work and a change of worldviews.

Being a lover of peace does not mean that we let people walk on us. It does not mean that we are weak. Sometimes bringing peace into a situation can be the toughest thing that a person will ever have to do.

Peace is not merely an absence of evil, but it is the presence of God. In the beatitudes, Christ calls us to be peacemakers. When we say we are peacemakers, it means that we intervene in situations where there is no peace and bring the peace of Christ. We live out our lives in such a way that rather than seeking revenge, we seek to make peace with our enemies.

But before we can be peacemakers, we have to be peace-lovers. That means we have a heart for peace. Our hearts break for people who are not living at peace with one another. Rather than celebrating violence through everything from war to video games, we mourn for the fallen state of our culture.

Is there a part of you that does not crave for peace? Do you still secretly enjoy some aspects of conflict? Are there certain situations where God may want you to bring peace, but yet your heart is not in the right place to do it? Remember, only God can redeem us and give us hearts for peace. May he develop your heart for peace this week in ways that you never before imagined possible.

Purity and Wisdom

2008-06-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. –James 3:17

This verse is absolutely loaded with wisdom. In many ways it reminds me of the passage that talks about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” So, each day this week, we’ll take one of the attributes listed here and talk about it more. We’ll start today with purity.

Purity is set apart at the top of the list for a reason: it is not necessarily the fruit that comes from wisdom, but rather the motivation for us to seek God’s wisdom. We all have turned from God. Evil is a part of our nature. But when we surrender to God, he washes our sins away and works to purify our hearts. In the beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in spirit, for they will see God.” (Matt. 5:8)

There is something remarkably refreshing about the presence of people who are pure in heart—those who do not have bitter envy or selfish ambitions (see James 3:14). This morning in church we prayed for two missionary couples, Chris and Lori Urton, who serve in Papua New Guinea, and Matthew and Rachel Grossman, who are going to serve in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. There is no question that they are very talented people. But what stands out about both couples is not their talents, but rather their hearts. They are amazingly trustworthy people. There is a very pure nature about them that is apparent from the first time that you meet them. That is probably why God sends people like them to faraway places, even if it is for a short period of time. He knows they will be received and trusted, because they are trustworthy people.

This world is hungering for those who are pure in heart. If we want to see our communities transformed for Christ, we must be willing to surrender to him and to see our own lives transformed first. The world does not need more religious people. The world needs more people who live as Christ lived. May you be one of them.

Reflections of the Heart

2008-06-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. —James 3:11-12

There are only a few things more refreshing than coming across a cool mountain stream on a hot summer day. There is something very pure and healing about it. On the other hand, there are only a few things worse than getting a gulp of saltwater while swimming in the ocean. It can dehydrate you, and leaves a very nasty taste behind. Saltwater has its purposes, but drinking it is not one of them.

What James is saying is that what comes from our mouth is reflective of what is in our heart. One of the easiest ways to tell how much we have hatred towards a person is to reflect upon what we have said about them. It isn’t easy, and we may not like it, but it is true.

What we have to realize is that change comes from both the inside out and the outside in. In other words, if we want to change what we say, we have to focus on the heart. There is a deeper issue than just the words. However, our hearts are also changed when we bite our tongues. It is a two way street.

If people were to determine whether your heart is a spring of fresh water or salt water based solely on your words, what decision would they come to?

A Consistent Tongue

2008-06-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” –James 3:9-10

One of the easiest things to do is to come to church on Sunday morning, sing praises to God, and then walk right out the door and start speaking negatively of others. We see an exceptionally rowdy child and we slander the parenting skills of the child. We hear a rumor about a person that we look down upon, and we play the telephone game and pass it on. We get into an argument with someone, and before we know it, we are telling them all of the areas where they are failing in their lives.

Sometimes we justify the things we say because we know that what we are saying is true. The parents really are that bad. The person really is bringing this upon themselves. And hey, I’m just being honest with this person to their face rather than talking behind their backs. But the problem is that it isn’t the character of the other person that James is talking about. It is our character that is supposed to be setting the standard. James encourages us to recognize the image of God in each person—it is put there by God, not by a person’s achievements.

So, how consistent is your tongue? Does it sound as edifying during the rest of the week as it does on Sunday morning? God desires that we worship him, but not just when we sing songs. God also desires that the way that we speak of others would be holy and pleasing to him as well.

The Wildest Beast of All

2008-06-26T00:04:00.000-05:00

“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.” –James 3:7-8

I remember always thinking that it would be really cool to have a lion as a pet. I mean after all, they would really just sleep most of the time. They’re just a big cat. OK, a big, wild cat. Apparently though, some people just don’t think about this, they actually do it. I’m not just talking about the circus either. People have a small farm, so they decide to get a lion. They go out and pet it like a little kitten. It almost always seems to end in the same way, too. The animal either turns and attacks its owner, or it gets loose and causes a great deal of harm. My dad always said, ‘You can take the animal out of the wild, but you can’t take the wild out of the animal.’ If you raise a lion in your back yard, you’d just better expect trouble.

But according to James, the tongue is the wildest beast of all. Of all the things we can tame, the tongue isn’t one of them. I took this verse the wrong way for a while—it almost seems fatalistic. It almost seems like James is saying, “Why even try?” But I don’t think that is doing the Scripture justice. I think what we have to realize is that the tongue is untamable, but what do you do with an animal that is untamable? You put it in a big, secure cage. You don’t let it out. You have very clear boundaries that keep the animal from getting out of control.

Well, it is kind of tough to lock up our tongue and throw away the key. We do have to communicate, after all. But one of the things that they teach people who handle wild animals is to always remember that no matter how much that lion cuddles up to you, that he’s still a lion, and that he could kill you at any time he chooses. He is wild by nature. So, never get complacent around him. In the same way, we must never get complacent with our language. We must constantly be aware of the destructive nature of our tongues. We must always be very cautious with the words that we use.

What kind of reminders can you put in place to remind you about your tongue? Maybe committing a Scripture such as this one to memory would help. Or perhaps there are other subtle reminders throughout the day—a post-it note on the computer monitor or just a word that you remember whenever you feel the need to spout off. Whatever it may be, may you always remember the venomous nature of your tongue.

Garbage

2008-06-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” –James 3:6

When we read the word ‘hell,’ we immediately think of Satan and demons, or at least, pitchforks and flames. However, this isn’t quite what the Jewish people would have had in mind. The word for ‘hell’ is actually gehenna, which referred to the Valley of Hinnom. In the Old Testament, this valley was a place where there was a great amount of idolatry, until King Josiah instituted reforms. So, the Valley of Hinnom was viewed as a defiled place, and eventually became a garbage dump. They brought everything from trash to dead animals and criminals to be burnt there. In the days of Jesus, the fire would have burnt non stop. The stench would have been unbearable.

When James says that our tongues are set on fire by gehenna, it refers to the impurity of this world, or maybe you could say the ‘trash of this world.’ So, what is the ‘trash of this world’ that affects our tongues and our hearts? Well, whenever I would watch wrestling or some other questionable program on TV, my mom would always tell me to “Turn that trash off.” I suppose if we evaluate our TV watching, we can see how violence, foul language, and sexual immorality negatively affect our lives. Often we don’t even notice it is happening. We can’t just limit this to TV either. There are so many other forms of media out there that form us. Whether it is the music we listen to or the books we read, they all affect us in some way. We can have bad personal influences as well. We all have coworkers, friends, or family that tend to bring us to a place we shouldn’t be.

If you know me well enough, you know that I am not an advocate of total isolation from the world. But, here’s the question: do you recognize the trash that corrupts you? Are you able to sort out what is good and what is harmful? This is why we must continue to allow Scripture to mold us in every way. When we take every thought captive for Christ, we can see what is helpful and what is harmful. Then we must ‘take out the trash’ and let God mold us into his image.

What trash is stinking up your life right now?

Combustible Words

2008-06-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:4-5

I recall having a conversation with a youth minister about a group of girls in his youth group who were simply known as the ‘freshman five.’ There was not a youth group meeting that went by where there was not some type of conflict with at least one of these girls. It was either someone gossiping, saying something harmful to another, or flirting with the other’s boyfriend, but they all had one thing in common: It all involved words. If only they had learned to control their tongues, my friend’s job would have been much easier!

If only freshman girls were the limits! We all are deeply controlled by our words. What great explosions we have because of the times we cannot keep our mouths shut! How extremely combustible our lives become when we open our mouths!

I wonder if you would simply evaluate your day today and the words that you said. What words do you regret saying? Are there some words that you wish you would have said that you didn’t? Did someone say something to you that impacted your day? Then ask yourself this: How can I improve on my words tomorrow? Would it be pausing before you respond so quickly? Would it be not verbally responding at all? You will find that your responses will not only shape your relationships, they will also shape you.

In Full Control

2008-06-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” –James 3:2 (NLT)

One of the ways that James has been kicking my tail lately is in the area of words. James seems to keep bringing up the issue from time to time to the point that it seems to be one of his main concerns throughout the letter. Then, in this one passage it all seems to come together. It shows us the centrality of learning to control our tongue. When we learn to control our tongues, it seems that we can control everything else too.

I’ve been experimenting with this lately. While I did not question that this was true, I didn’t realize the depth to which this affects me. This especially affects my humor. It keeps me cautious about the jokes I tell and how much I bring humor into situations. So often I cover up the depth of personal conversations by simply adding humor rather than going deep. I have realized that it is next to impossible to be the jester and the prophet at the same time.

But what I also realize is that when I focus on guarding my tongue, the other parts of my life tend to mature as well. Taming my tongue is a great way to whip the other parts of my life into shape as well. I’d challenge you to consider it as well. What does your tongue tell you about the rest of your life?

Teachers

2008-06-22T00:05:00.001-05:00

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” –James 3:1

Most of us have had a person other than our parents in a position of authority who have made a huge difference in our lives. Often times it is people who we label as teachers. For me, I had several. They ranged from coaches to science teachers to shop teachers. But there is something about the way we are created that makes us especially moldable by influential teachers.

In the Jewish culture, the teacher (or Rabbi) held the most influential role within a community. Often, they would command even more respect than one’s own parents. Whereas many of our teachers spend a few hours a day with their students, often a Rabbi’s disciples would follow him around for years eating every meal with him and hearing every word that he spoke. Jesus even said, “It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” (Matthew 10:25)

This is why James puts such a strong warning here addressed towards those desiring to teach. He is not trying to discourage the gifted. He is attempting to weed out those who are in it for their own selfish ambitions. A teacher can do a lot of good or a lot of harm, or maybe even a little of both. As teachers of God’s Word, we are not merely to be influential or powerful, but to be first and foremost, like Christ.

It makes us ask some tough questions of ourselves: Do our actions match our words? Are our words reflective of Scripture, or are they laced with our own agendas? Do we think twice before we open our mouths? Are we helping people to seek God’s will for their lives or our will for their lives?

Whether or not you are an official ‘teacher’ of God’s Word, you may be in a position where you will heavily influence others. Think twice about your responsibility. Do your best to become like Christ.

Finding Faith in Unusual Places

2008-06-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

“In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” –James 2:25-26

During my first ministry in college, I had the opportunity to preach each week to a very patient and gracious church. So, when Mother’s Day came around, I did not think that maybe I should do something special. I just preached the text that I was going to preach, which happened to be about Rahab, a prostitute turned servant of God in the book of Joshua. About halfway through the sermon, I realized that maybe it was not the best idea to preach about the faith of a prostitute on Mother’s Day. I paused in the middle of the sermon, and let’s just say we all had a good laugh about it.

So when I read this passage in James, I feel a little better. But I don’t think this is any accident. Here is James, writing to Jews, and he has just used father Abraham as a prime example. All of them would have identified with and completely revered Abraham. He’s got them hooked. So what does he do next? He brings up the example of a Gentile—and not just any Gentile, but one who is a former prostitute, and uses her as a great example of faith.

I wonder if we fail to look outside of our comfort zone to find true faith. We probably like the examples of people who look a lot like us, who are similar in social status and skin color. But what if we chose to look in other places to find true examples of faith? Now I am not suggesting that we look outside the bounds of Christianity to other religions, but what if we learned to look to the single mom, the grandpa in the nursing home, the father standing in the unemployment line, or even the migrant worker? What can we learn when we take a look at their struggles, and how they respond with faith in Christ?

Where can you look this week to find an example of faith that may stretch you? Maybe there are newer Christians, who have a seemingly unquenchable zeal. Perhaps it is someone who comes from a different denominational background and whose slightly different take on the Christian faith stretches and encourages you to reexamine your life. Whoever it is and wherever you find them, may you see Christ in them and be encouraged to live out your faith all the more.

Faith, Works, or Grace?

2008-06-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. –James 1:23-24

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:8-10

When we read the two Scriptures, they seem at first to contradict themselves. One seems to say that our works justify us, while another seems to say that it is all about grace. So, is it a contradiction, or is there something else?

One thing we have to remember is that James and Paul (the author of Ephesians) were writing to two different audiences. James was writing to Jewish Christians, while Paul was writing to a church with many Gentile believers. Paul was emphasizing that in coming to faith in Christ, we do nothing to earn that salvation—it is a free gift that we accept by faith. However, that faith fuels good works within us (Ephesians 2:10).

We must understand that James was writing to exhort people to live out their faith in a meaningful way. They had grown up in the faith, and had seen it made complete through Jesus Christ. James wanted them to understand that this newfound faith was a free gift—but that it was a gift that bears fruit when we truly have faith.

There are obviously more issues than this that we could look at with this text, but the common denominator rests in the fact that our faith propels us to do good works—not so that we might earn our salvation, but so that we might live it out.

Training with a Purpose

2008-06-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” –James 2:20-22

I’ve got to confess that I have become quite interested in a few new Discovery Channel shows. Two of my favorites are Factory Made and How It’s Made—they’re really the same. So far tonight I’ve learned how potato chips and combines are made. Now, that’s knowledge that will come in useful. It’s a little bit like sitting in on the most exciting parts of on the job training without ever having to work. Which got me thinking, could you imagine how frustrating it would be for a boss to train an employee for a full week and then for them to not act like they knew what they were doing when they started out on their own? It would be painful!

But think about how our church culture often works. We teach and train people each week through worship, small groups, classes, etc. While these activities are much more than just training, that is certainly a vital part of them. But the faith is really not complete until we actually do something to live it out.

What is your attitude towards church? Is it just a place to learn, or is it a place that teaches you to put your faith in action? God desires that we serve both inside and outside the church, and the best training for service comes from the Word of God. When we put what we have learned to work in our lives, we will begin to see our faith being made complete as well.

Monotheistic Demons

2008-06-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” –James 2:19

What is it that is important for a person to have true faith in God? Let’s consider two things. First, good theology seems essential. Monotheism—a belief that there is one god—is a great start. It was at the core of the Jewish belief system. Deuteronomy 6:5 would have been their John 3:16, and it began with the understanding that ‘the Lord is one.’ They were taught about this just before they entered into the Promised Land, where they would encounter many false Gods. But apparently, good theology in and of itself is not enough. The demons had good theology too. I don’t think they are the best examples of faith though.

How about fearing God? After all, we hold the fear of the Lord as an essential part of our faith. In the Old Testament, we are told many times over to ‘fear the Lord and keep his commandments.’ How many times have you heard people describe someone as a ‘God fearing man?’ It is meant as a compliment. But while the demons hardly kept God’s commands, James says that they had a definite terror of God.

This hits me personally in a couple of ways. First, as a pastor, I have a deep love for theology. I love to discuss it, argue it, and share it. But often I forget that theology is meant to be lived out. If we don’t live it out, then it really has made no difference in our lives. Secondly, it hits me with my interpersonal relationships. I have several friends who have ‘good theology’ or that would be described as ‘God-fearing people.’ They have a silent belief in God that they rarely share and really doesn’t affect them all that much. When I understand this Scripture and others, I realize that I need to make sure not only that they ‘ask Jesus into their hearts,’ or that they are baptized, etc. I also need to make sure that they are living out their faith towards others.

I guess I can’t just limit that to people outside the church though. We as a people of faith must constantly guard ourselves against this temptation to have good theology that doesn’t change us. That is simply not good theology at all.

Evidence that Matters

2008-06-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” –James 2:18

I have always enjoyed apologetics—the defense of the Christian faith through intellect. One of the books that I enjoyed the most was called “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell. In the book, McDowell gives numerous examples for why we can believe that Christianity is true, ranging from the virgin birth to the resurrection of Christ. His philosophy is simple: if the evidence is true, we have no choice but to accept it or to reject it.

I wonder how our impact on our world would be different if we took on a similar philosophy not just with our apologetics, but with our actions. What if our lives gave such evidence of Christ’s transforming work that we left nothing to doubt—either people would have to accept that Christ’s work is true, or they would have to flat out reject it. People wouldn’t have to even hear us speak to know that there was something drastically different about us. They could simply tell by our actions.

What evidence does your life give of Christ? Does it give evidence that demands a verdict, or is it just a little above average? How about the way you treat your spouse? Your boss? Your employees? Your kids? How about the way that you spend your time? Your money? May your life shine this week in such a way that people have no choice but to admit that there is something drastically different about the way that you live.

Faith and Works

2008-06-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” –James 2:15-17

Dead faith sees the needs of people around us, yet is unwilling to lift a finger to help. Dead faith can wish people well. It can even pray for people. Maybe it can even discern what should be done. But if it doesn’t reach out and give physical help, then it is dead faith.

We should notice a few things about this passage. First, clothes and food are the two most basic human needs. They are the two basic necessities that God provided for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (not counting of course, each other). Secondly, it uses the words ‘brother or sister.’ We can assume that God wants us to expand our definition of who our brothers and sisters are by reading the Parable of the Good Samaritan. However, we must assume that James is speaking of those who are closest to us—our blood relation and our church family. If we can’t meet their needs, then our priorities are seriously skewed.

As I read this passage, I think back into my own life to how my theology has change. I used to be very much about the ‘spoken gospel’ without understanding our call to meet humanitarian needs. I never understood much about God’s call towards social justice. This passage and others have helped me to see that church isn’t just about Sundays and small groups. Rather, it is about the whole gospel message—which includes social justice issues and meeting basic human needs, whether our neighbors are next door or on another continent.

This past Sunday in church, Craig challenged us to put our faith in action by calling us to get involved in ministries in the church, as well as ministries in our community, such as our Together for Lincoln campaign. As we read this passage, let us remember that reading it is not enough. We must now live it out.

Scissors and Submarines

2008-06-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” –James 2:14

It seems that in our culture, we have a tendency to separate faith and works. Faith tends to become a simple set of beliefs that don’t affect our actions. Our works seem to be completely separate from our faith. This is simply not a biblical view. So, before we get to deep in discussing the difference, I simply want to give you two useful pictures to aid you in understanding this concept.

The first comes from C.S. Lewis. When explaining whether faith or works is more important, Lewis responded by saying, “It does seem to me like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most necessary.” About the only thing that I’ve used one blade of the scissors for is when wrapping presents. But scissors need both blades to operate according to their design.

The second picture is a bit different. It comes from the late great Rich Mullins. Here are the lyrics to his classic camp song, Screen Door on a Submarine:

It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works baby It just ain't happenin'
One is your left hand, one is your right
It'll take two strong arms to hold on tight
Some folks cut off their nose just to spite their face
I think you need some works to show for your alleged faith

Well there's a difference you know b'tween having faith and playing make believe
One will make you grow the other one just make you sleep
Talk about it but I really think you oughtta
Take a leap off of the ship before you claim to walk on water
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine

Faith comes from God and every word that He breathes
He lets you take it to your heart so you can give it hands and feet
It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive You gotta put it into practice otherwise....

It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works, baby it just ain't happenin'
One is your right hand, one is your left It's your light, your guide Your life and your breath
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine

Mercy or Judgment?

2008-06-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” –James 2:12-13

I must confess, I have had to stand in front of the judge on more than one occasion. Fortunately, they have all been for speeding, so I haven’t gotten into too much trouble. But, I must say, every time I have to stand there in the courtroom, it is intimidating! I don’t know if it is the high bench or the black robe, or just simply the fear of what could happen, but it is not fun.

Judgment is not fun. The Bible tells us that each one of us will be judged according to our actions. The only plea that we have is in Jesus Christ (and what a perfect plea!). But this mercy that we receive is not merely ours to hoard. Because we have received his mercy, we are to show it to others.

Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18, where a servant of the king was shown great mercy, but yet he in turn went out and punished another for a much lesser debt. When the king heard of this, he was not happy, and in turn showed great judgment upon the man.

This Scripture challenges us to put things in perspective and to start showing mercy towards others. Is there anyone who has really offended us to the level that we have offended God? Of course not! So, here’s the challenge: is there someone whom you have been unwilling to forgive? Are you having difficulty letting go of something that they have said and done to you? Remember, God has forgiven you and set you free from sin. May you reflect His character and choose to forgive.

Where's the Grace?

2008-06-13T00:01:00.001-05:00

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.” –James 2:8-11

One of the most powerful concepts in all of Christianity is that of grace—God’s unmerited favor. Grace holds such a powerful place in our belief system. When we think about some of the great Scriptures, so many are focused around grace. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

What is most interesting to me about grace though is that Jesus never mentions the word! James only mentions it twice, and it certainly isn’t a major concept in his writing. In the way that we believe here in America, it seems that this passage almost contradicts grace. So what is going on here?

Well, we must remember that grace was not really a Jewish concept—it was a Greek concept that Paul recognized was more than just a social concept, but the very way that God acts towards us. Did Jesus ever use the word ‘grace’ in the Scriptures? No. Did he teach about it and show it to others? Absolutely.

When James speaks of the law, he speaks of it as the ‘royal law’ and the ‘perfect law that gives freedom’ (see 1:25; 2:12). We understand that Christ did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, as only he could (Matthew 5:17). When he healed and showed grace, he often gave the command, “Go and sin no more.”

What we must understand is that we are not merely sinners who are forgiven so that we can keep on sinning. We are also not self-righteous people who earn our salvation. Instead, we must learn that grace empowers us to conquer the sin in our lives and to walk in pure righteousness and holiness. If our actions are not changed, then we have not truly encountered grace.

The ‘royal law’ is how we are called to live in the Kingdom of God that Jesus inaugurated in his coming. It is not a law that burdens us, but rather one that sets us free.

How do you view your walk with God? Is it merely about a forgiveness that enables you to keep sinning? Is it just a set of legalistic rules? Or is it grace that empowers you to live?

On a Pedistal

2008-06-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

“But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” –James 2:6-7

Do you remember when corporate scandals used to be an oddity rather than the norm? Most of us who remember the name Enron associate it only with the scandal. Most people may not even be able to tell you that Enron was in the natural gas industry. What is sad is that the people who paid most dearly for those scandals were the common workers, who lost most of their retirement, not to mention their jobs because a few people in high offices were padding their own wealth and security.

James mentions here that it is not just a financial issue. In their culture, many of the rich were the first ones to insult and persecute Christians. It isn’t just the rich in our culture. It certainly includes the powerful and the famous as well. But often it is the people who we hold in the highest of esteem that are the most oppressive towards Christianity. Think about the stances of most of Hollywood, which has become increasingly antagonistic towards biblical Christianity. And yet we continue to pad their wallets and defend them.

Are we putting the rich and famous on a pedestal in our lives? Do we glamorize Hollywood and any other sector of the entertainment industry (or in my case, professional athletes) to the point where we neglect those who are less privileged? Think about the shows you watch, the people whom you listen to, the magazines that you read and ask yourself whether they are having a positive effect in your relationship with Christ. If not, we ought to drop them.

I must clarify-I never have been one for Christian boycotts. I have a lot more important battles to fight than that. But I do believe that we each need to make conscientious decisions about what we ingest and the message that it is portraying. How aware are you of the message that is portrayed through much of what we support through entertainment?

Learning from the Poor

2008-06-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor.” –James 2:5-6a

On my first mission trip overseas, I had the opportunity to travel with a Christian basketball team to the Philippines. It was my first encounter with extreme poverty. People were living in homes that literally about the same size of our dog houses here. The average per capita income was about $700 per person. Yet, it was amazing to see how many of them were so solid in their faith in Christ.

After we played a game in a community a few hours outside of Manila, we were invited to one of the church member’s homes. We assumed it was the nicest home in the church, as that generally was the case. Even at that, it was under 1,000 square ft. for a large family. We were absolutely amazed at how generous they were. They continued to bring out more and more food for us. It got to the point where we started to feel bad because we knew that this would surely cut into how much they could eat in the near future. Our missionary who traveled with us could tell what we were thinking and told us that if we stopped eating, we would take away from their joy in serving us. He told us that years from now, they would still remember us coming to their town. I don’t know if they still remember us, but I sure do remember them.

I learned a lot that day about how God works amongst people who daily depend upon him for their every need. I saw a depth of faith in the midst of poverty that I had not seen before. I saw people who were overflowing with generosity even when they had very little for themselves. I saw people who very well may have sacrificed a meal themselves so that we would be well fed. I won’t forget it.

While the poverty is not as rampant here in America, we can still see this kind of faith from people who have very little in our land. As much as we glamorize the wealthy, some of the most faithful people are those who have so little. May we learn from them as we see their dependence upon God. May we live it out whether we have a little or a lot.

Is it Just Wealth?

2008-06-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” –James 1:2-4

During my last ministry, I had a family come into my office who had just started coming back to church. On the surface, they appeared to be very unchurched. Their language wasn’t the best, they didn’t seem to know what was coming next in church, and they were pretty biblically illiterate. Not only that, but they had led a very rough life.

As we chatted, the husband told me that his family had started going to church when he was about 10. They had a salvation experience and everything seemed to be going fine. However, about 6 weeks after they were baptized, one of the church leaders came to his father and said “If you guys want to keep going here, we need your family to start wearing suits and dresses.” His family was poor, so he chose to stop going to church. I can’t say I blame him.

James writes mainly concerning wealth, but are there other ways besides wealth that we show favoritism today? I suppose that we also show favoritism when it comes to talents, popularity, and appearances. But I’d like to throw out one more idea that is especially applicable in a smaller community such as Lincoln. That is reputation. Once a person burns a bridge in a church or in a community, it seems like they can never break out of that mold. But if we are going to see our church turned inside-out, it is essential that we learn to give people a second chance. Sometimes this is with people with whom we have had previous run ins. Maybe it is old classmates or former neighbors. Other times it is people whom we have ‘heard about.’ In either case, the way we respond may make a difference in whether they keep coming and growing in the Lord, or whether they walk away from the church, and maybe from God altogether.

I have heard a lot of very positive compliments from people who have been greeted very warmly by people from JSCC. However, we must always stretch ourselves in this area. Here’s a challenge for you this week: Pray that God would put at least one person in your path that is often looked down upon by church folk. When you see someone, make a point to go and greet them and converse with them. It may happen in the grocery store, or it might be in church. Either way, they need God’s love, and they need to see it through us.

Playing Favorites, Part 2

2008-06-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.” –James 2:1

The people who are most affected by favoritism are those who are looked down upon by our culture because they aren’t the most popular, the most talented, the best looking, or the most wealthy. It could be the quiet guy at the office, the kid with acne in the classroom, the underdressed person in the worship center, or the boy who can’t hit a baseball. Whatever the case may be, it just isn’t right.

We all know of people who have struggled with their self esteem because people constantly put them down. We have seen the effects of children who seem to crumple under the comparison to their siblings. We even know people who have struggled with suicide largely because they have been neglected by the world around them.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can make a difference. It all starts with taking a look at our hearts and seeing why we don’t treat people equally. Then, we look at the people in our lives and ask two questions: 1) Who am I putting down or showing disfavor towards? 2) Who am I simply ignoring or not even noticing? I think we would be amazed at how far a little love goes. When we are obedient to showing impartiality, we can see not only our attitudes and the demeanor of those who are looked down upon change, but also our entire work and classroom environments change as we begin treating people the way that Christ would treat them.