Friday, January 28, 2011

A new direction

Sometimes when I write, I feel very much that what I have to say will be less than profound. It doesn't stop me, but I just feel that way. It is a strange life as a Christian: some of our troubles and trials, we put on display for the edification of others; some we keep to ourselves, for the God who sees in secret and rewards openly; and like Mary, sometimes we see things and store them in our hearts with a sense of wonder. There is so much more in this Christian life, than I ever expected. Abundant life, isn't that what our Lord called it? It is so abundant, I sometimes don't understand how there are just twenty-four hours in the day. I have for years seen people just existing: and what bothers me most, is that for years, I have seen Christians just existing. I am compelled to ask in a similar manner to James; how do you have the hope of glory on the inside, and keep it there?

When we get, that we serve God, as those who are alive from the dead: it will change us. Now, I could explain the theology I have put in the last few sentences, but my hearts desire is that you will test what I have written against the Word of God, and find out what I mean by it.

With all of that said, I must abruptly present to you what is going on in my heart. I need to go to India, because plainly put, there are things happening over there that are not happening here. Many of you may know about my friend Brother Sankya, whom I have written about. In less that twelve years, he has started 17 churches, not missions: churches! Over here, we can't seem to start a church in seventeen years. You can take offense to that last statement if you want to, but there are people whom I love that are dying without Christ; and I need to know the best way to reach them. I am not going to be able to do this on my own; right now, I am asking that you pray with me about this, both in person and as intercessors. Right now, God knows all of the particulars, but I do not. So, there it is, it's out there in front of you, me and most importantly God. God bless you all, and all of you pray for me.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Shall I give what costs me nothing?

It seems any more that giving lacks the real act of giving. More and more we act as clearinghouses, and we think ourselves great givers. There is a principle I want you to get: giving is taking from your pile and giving it to another. Now, if you have your pile and then collect from others and create an auxiliary pile and give from the auxiliary pile, you haven't given anything. There is a cost associated with giving.

The Lord told David through Gad to go and build an altar on Araunah's threshing floor. Araunah offered David the floor, oxen and everything he needed for the sacrifice. But David said, "I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." He bought all of it, and then he offered to the Lord. Do we say that? I will not offer to the Lord what costs me nothing.

What would it look like, if we all gave like David? Not only to offer from what we have, but to make that a requirement of whatever we give. True giving is giving the best, because it does cost. Look at every commandment to give, and find me one instance where it is alright to give less than the best one has. You won't find it, because our giving reflects on the God we serve, and His gifts are perfect. When our hearts are right before God, there won't be a lack of giving; furthermore, it won't be giving that cost me nothing.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

But, that's not what a blessing is supposed to look like.

I wonder sometimes at the blessings people miss, that are just beyond what they are willing to commit to God. I see it often, but like many things, it is the beam in my eye and the speck in my brother's. I think that we, as we mature in the faith, recognize when another believer is traveling down a section of road that we know very well. We can see (from an outside perspective) that blessings are just on the other side of what our friend doesn't want. Blessings, sometimes to us and our friends, just don't look like that.

For most, any spiritual progress is thrown out when it crosses paths with "what I want." This is the difference between real and nominal Christians. Mature Christians do not go around looking for trouble, but in fact, trouble finds them with great frequency. It's the difference between the warhorse and the show pony! The clanging of metal, the rumbling of distant voices and the fear of uncertainty send the show pony running the other way to find a place to hide his pretty braided mane. Ah, but the warhorse, his heart starts beating, he paws at the ground and he can't wait for the moment that he is released to run into battle, into the unknown!

There is no big secret to spiritual maturity. It is that those who mature in the faith, do so because they will face difficulty, pain and loss to find a closer relationship with God. Ask yourself, am I a warhorse or a show pony? Are you driven, or are you content to sit in the same spot until Jesus comes back? Listen: the time has been coming and now is, when the redeemed of the Lord are going to have to stand up and say so, or as the NIV has it "tell their story"; otherwise our country will be lost forever. Are you going to let this country and the people you see everyday go to hell, because you are too afraid to stand up and be counted? Are you going to decide that me knowing God is going to change me?

I'm sure that I have used this before, but look at this quote from C. T. Studd, "Let us not glide through this world and then slip quietly into heaven, without having blown the trumpet loud and long for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Let us see to it that the devil will hold a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle." How about it? Are you going to slip quietly into heaven, or are you going to see to it that the devil holds a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets the news of your departure from the field of battle? Because when you choose the latter, you'll find out what a blessing looks like.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Transcendent Anchor

I know that from time to time, I go with a nautical theme in my writing. Those who know me best understand that my personal experience with sailing, runs in the opposite direction of my metaphors, unless I am speaking of shipwreck. Paul said that he had spent a night and a day in the deep, well, I've spent about fifteen minutes there. Though my vanity won't allow me to further comment on my experience; I do understand more of what I write, by experience.

Anyways, I have been writing about those who go through troubles, trials and storms, with no end in sight. Let's hit the highlights: trials hurt, they are difficult in every way and they are how God works to mature us. I have found that every significant trial that I have gone through, has found its way into my ministering to others. Years ago, when I would cry, "why, God is this happening to me?"; I didn't understand that He was preparing me for years down the road. Now, I can look back and see with great clarity that it is exactly why those things happened.

So, with the present storms, the pertinent question remains: How do we get through it? I must confess that reading another devotional was the impetus for this line of thinking. One of the things that I have marked about those who are where I want to be in my faith, is steadiness. So, how do they do it? There has to be something that stills your soul when you are overcome by fear. Here is where the anchor comes in; it is the experience of knowing God that quiets the hurting soul. Look at what Hebrews 6: 19-20 says. There is a ton of theology in those two verses. First, the hope we have as an anchor of the soul, so no matter what trial the body faces we have a hope that anchors the soul. Secondly, it is a hope that is sure and steadfast because it enters within the veil. Get the imagery of that: this is the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The high priest only entered here once a year on the Day of Atonement, but we have an anchor that is in the Holy of Holies, always. Finally, the hope that we have is Jesus; The High Priest for all time and eternity, not of the tribe of Levi, but from the tribe of Judah, according to the order of Melchizedek (all the way back to Abraham's time.) When Christ entered the Holy of Holies as The High Priest, the veil was torn in two top to bottom; so Christ went before us making the way for us to meet with the Father all of the time. When we accept Christ as Savior; He becomes the anchor of our soul, because what Christ did paid our sin debt for all time: past, present and future. So, what is going to steady your soul when the storms rage on? Knowing that your soul is steadfastly anchored to God.