19

Jump Start # 3559

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3559

Acts 17:2 “And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”

He carried a famous name and he was actually related to his name sake, Benjamin Franklin. But this Benjamin stayed out of politics and became one of the leading voices in the Restoration Movement, especially in Indiana. On eclipse day, last week, I happened to be in the area where he was buried. I have always wanted to make my to his grave. And, it was so fitting for the man who it honored. His grave stone looked like a pulpit with an open Bible on top. The years have weathered the inscription on his stone and it’s hard to make it out, but there is was, “Elder Benjamin Franklin.”

He died in 1878 at the age of 66. What a powerhouse he was. Some called him an old fogie. He was so conservative that he was labeled “ultra conservative.” The periodical he started, American Christian Review, beginning in 1856, quickly became the most read publication by brethren. After the American Civil War, another civil war took place among the disciples. In the north, a progressive movement advocating a brotherhood missionary society and instrumental music in worship was gaining momentum. His paper, the Review, as it was commonly called, was seen as the last hope of saving the Restoration. He often title articles, “Is it right?” or, “Is it in the Bible?” At first, Franklin supported the missionary society. He even engaged in a debate defending them. But in time, through a careful study of the Bible, he realized that the church was capable of doing all that God expected it to do. Any organization larger than a local congregation was not in the plans of God.

Franklin was a common man. His vocabulary was that of the man of the frontier. Not highly educated, he was often dismissed by intellectuals within the faith. He traveled extensively preaching the Gospel. It is thought that he baptized more than 10,000 souls and established many congregations, especially in Indiana.

Preacher Franklin was a giant that stood for the truth of God’s word. There are many resources about his life and the early volumes of his Review have recently been reprinted. He pushed against the coming tide of change that was harming many churches.

Our verse today, shows what Paul did for three weeks in Thessalonica.

  • He went to them. He didn’t wait for them to come to him.
  • He reasoned with them. He didn’t demand. He didn’t say it is so because I say it is so. He appealed to intellect, reason, proof and evidence.
  • He reasoned with them from the Scriptures. That was his source material. That was the proof. He didn’t appeal to feelings. He didn’t appeal to culture. He didn’t appeal to what everyone else was doing. Scriptures. What does the Bible say?

This is the same method that works today.

There are some important reflections about his life:

First, there are always those who are not satisfied with God’s way of doing things. They invite change. They want to do things that are not found in the Bible. It was that way with the golden calf. It was that way with Solomon’s idols. It was that way with the missionary society. And, it’s that way today. Some like to dismiss the ancient ways as traditionalism and they want no part in that. Those who are bent that way are constantly feeding on a diet of false teachers, advocates of ignoring Biblical authority and dismiss the past as absolute failures. Moses fought that kind of change. The prophets fought that kind of change. Franklin fought that kind of change. We, today, are hearing similar voices that would rather match with the devil than walk with the Lord,

Second, it is impressive to see that Franklin changed his views. What he once thought was right, wasn’t. He did not let pride, pressure or peers keep him for acknowledging what he knew the Bible taught. The “societies,” as they were referred to back then, were not way God chose to do things. Man must learn that we cannot improve upon God. What God states is always the best. It always works. It is sufficient to do just what the Lord wanted done.

Some will never change. To change, one admits that what they thought was right, wasn’t. That’s hard for some to do. It’s humbling. But better right with God, than to hold on to your dignity and image and stand in the wrong line.

Third, once he changed, Franklin became very vocal about whose side he was on. He blistered the progressives for their leaving the Bible only platform to embrace the societies. He didn’t hide in the shadows once he changed. Franklin was similar to the apostle Paul, who became so vocal and useful for the kingdom once he changed.

Historically, one could say that Franklin didn’t stop the coming changes that the progressives wanted. In the north, in Indiana, more congregations accepted the missionary society and the instrument than stood against it. But does that mean all was in vain? It was a wasted effort? Look at the mission of Christ. He said that the way to destruction is broad and crowded and only few are on the strait and narrow. So, do we conclude that the mission of Christ failed? Do we say what the Lord did was in vain? It was wasted effort? Absolutely not.

The evening that I stood at Franklin’s grave, I spoke to a gathering of men about preparing to be an elder. Men from several congregations in that area came for that. It was a good study and beneficial and a tribute to the fact that some desire to stand with the Lord and believe in His ways.

The carved image of an open Bible on a pulpit marking the grave of one who dedicated his life to that is so fitting. I’m glad I finally made my way there.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3558

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3558

John 10:5 “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Within John 10, there are two different voices that are presented. One voice is that of the Good Shepherd. The sheep recognize that voice. The shepherd not only leads the sheep, but he calls them by name. He knows them. He knows them and they recognize Him. There is a bond of trust that is familiar and good.

We understand that with our family. Our phone rings and we answer it without looking who is calling. But immediately we recognize the voice of our spouse or our children. We know their voice. We trust that voice.

The other voice found in John 10 is that of the stranger. He calls the sheep, but they do not follow. Jesus said that this voice belonged to thieves and robbers and the sheep did not hear them. They did not pay attention. They did not recognize that voice. There wasn’t a familiarity with that voice.

Two voices—one recognized and one not. Two voices—one from a friend and the other from the enemy. Two voices calling—one wants to lead us to green pastures and quiet waters, the other leads to danger and death.

Contextually, Jesus likely is referring to His voice as the good Shepherd and the Pharisees as the voice of the enemy, but eventually, that voice belongs to Satan. The Pharisees were trying to pull people away from Jesus. They were convinced that He was not the Messiah. Voices calling, which one will you listen to? The voice of a friend or the voice of strangers.

Here are some thoughts for us:

First, the two voices are still speaking today. The voice of God speaks to us through the Scriptures. In these last days, God speaks through Jesus. The voice of God is the same for you as it is for me. God does not literally speak to you, nor does God speak literally to me. He speaks through the word of God. Consistent. Established. And, the same for each one of us.

But, there are other voices speaking today. It’s not the Pharisees, but the voice of culture. “You need to do this,” shouts through social media and commercials. You are not keeping up unless you do these things. You must do these things. You have to do these things. “Ten things to retire successfully.” “Five steps to raising balanced children.” The books are flooded with what you have to eat, how many steps you have to walk each day, how many hours you should spend watching TV. On and on and on the advice floods us. It’s overwhelming. And, some of that cultural advice crosses the line with God. Some are just wrong. Some are plain dumb. And, when we try to keep up with what everyone else is doing, when we try to stay in the margin of average, we find ourselves listening to others and doing what others tell us to do.

What’s popular, what everyone else is doing, is not the voice that we listen to. I don’t need social media to tell me how to be happy. I don’t need someone else telling me what I need to do to be content. I don’t listen to the voice of strangers. I listen to the good Shepherd.

Second, sadly, unlike our passage today, far too many do know the voice of strangers. That voice is telling them that the church is hopelessly stuck on the rails of tradition and can’t get off. These strange voices are introducing trends not found in the Bible. They are opening the door to practices that the apostles never participated in. They are changing Biblical definitions and the way people look at the Bible. Fresh. Exciting. Free. Those are the words racing through blogs, podcasts, sermons and books these days. Paul told young Timothy to teach sound men who will be able to teach the same thing (2 Tim 2:2). It’s not looking for something new. It’s the same thing. It’s not a different way of looking at things. It’s the same thing. Paul handed to the Corinthians what the Lord had handed to Him (1 Cor 11:23). There are a lot of radical voices today who have given up on the voice of the good Shepherd and the way of God. They want to forge a new path and go a new direction. Chesterton said, “Don’t ever take a fence

Our verse states that the sheep flee because they do not know the voice of strangers. Yet, that is not happening today. Instead, preachers are recommending the books of “strangers.” The sheep are not fleeing these strange voices—they are flocking to them and embracing them. Unstable, untaught and unconvinced, many are being sucked into a sewer of error without even realizing it. Changing the way we look at the Bible, using only the Gospels and not the rest of the N.T., allows “strangers” to offer a different voice. Why not use the Bible the way Jesus did? Why not use the Bible the way the apostles did?

Third, while the voice of the stranger is different and that voice offers a different path to follow, it takes one away from the Good Shepherd. That’s the point of John 10. Which voice are you going to listen to? One can’t go down two different paths at the same time. The Psalmist declared, “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice” (Ps 95:7). At the transfiguration, God declared, “Listen to Him” (Mt 17:5). Moses and Elijah were there. God did not say, “Listen to them.” He said, “Listen to Him.” His Son. His beloved. The Messiah.

The call for a new hermeneutics. The voice that ignores or denies the patterns of the Bible, sounds different, almost like a breath of fresh air, but is it the voice of the Shepherd or that of the stranger? Who is saying these things?

Two voices calling you. Which one will you listen to?

Roger

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Jump Start # 3557

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3557

Job 1:10 “Have you not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

I was thinking about ole’ Job the other day and this passage in particular. I wonder if Job knew that God had protected him so well? Satan viewed this as a hedge about him. The majority of the translations all use the word “hedge.” In my mind, I think of a fine estate or mansion that is surrounded by very tall shrubs or hedges. It keeps outsiders from looking in and in fact, it keeps outsiders outside. While we may use hedges as borders or landscape, often they were used in place of a fence. Hedges can grow thick and dense. They form a wall of protection.

As the book of Job progresses, we notice what happened when God allowed Satan to cut down the hedges. I don’t know if there was a series of different hedges around Job or just one massive one, but once the hedges were gone, Job was hurt. Without the hedges Job suffered financially. Crimes were committed against him. There was violence. There were storms. There was death. There was the loss of health. All of those hedges had kept those troubles away from Job. Now that the hedges were gone, Job was vulnerable. Job was a victim. Job was along for the ride.

From that, I’ve wondered if you and I have similar hedges around our hearts and lives. We don’t see them, but because of them, God has protected us from violence, crime, health issues, troubles, and financial woes. We may not even realize how these divine hedges have saved us from many tears and troubles. They have kept the devil at a distance from us.

Here are some thoughts from this:

First, we ought to be thankful for the years and years of protection God has provided. He has guarded our hearts from tears because of the divine protection around us. As Iran was blasting rockets towards Israel recently, their defense shield was shooting them out of the sky. They were protected.

For us, it’s just another day. It’s just like yesterday. And, it’s just like tomorrow. That’s how we think. But how has our Lord kept our hearts safe. How He has kept storms, trouble and trials from us. His hedge has kept us safe. Don’t take these days for granted, nor expect them. Be thankful for them. If we only knew, we’d likely be amazed. Troubles diverted. Accidents that never happened. Heartache that never got through to us. The hedges have protected us and it is the Lord who has made all of that possible. It’s not our strength, our wealth, our connections that has done this. It all points to the goodness of the Lord.

Second, there are times when God allows Satan to cut down the hedges around us. The testing of our faith produces endurance, we find in James. Sometimes that testing means allowing things to get through. Our faith and our trust is not in our 401s or our family, our health, or, even the church. It’s in the Lord. In Job’s book, it sure seems that just about all the hedges were dug up and removed. All Job had left was himself. But there was something Satan didn’t see. Job’s faith was not in what he had accomplished, what he owned, or how good life was. His faith was in the Lord. Even without any hedges, open to attacks and troubles, Job remained faithful to God. And, so must we. Our faith in the Lord is not only in the sunshine of life, but also in the darkness of storms. The measure of God’s love towards us is not in how nice our lives are. He loves us, no matter what.

Third, as parents, we build hedges around our children. We want them to be protected and safe. The world is dangerous and dark. But, there are valuable character lessons that come from not making the team, not getting the scholarship, not always having every door opened to us. Learning from our mistakes and sins can keep us from making greater mistakes and sins. Little ones need a lot of help. But there is a transition, where parents need to let them learn some things and that includes failures. Raising children is like flying a kite. Hold the string to tight and it might snap. Yet, holding that string too loose and the kite comes crashing down. It takes some doing to know just the right amount of pressure to keep that kite flying high.

We may never know all the hedges the Lord placed around us. While we are quick to complain about the weather, the traffic, high prices, and rude people, we forget to thank the Lord for His loving protection and care through the years. God has blessed us abundantly. God has forgiven us multiple times. God continues to be good to us.

Hedges around us…what an interesting thought.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3556

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3556

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

We sing, “God will take care of you.” And, He does. Our verse today states that God will supply all your needs. This follows a verse where Paul had received financial help from the Philippians. God helped the Philippians. The Philippians helped Paul. He helped you. And, you have helped me.

And, often when this Philippian passage is read, our minds think of physical blessings such as health, jobs and finances. Our pantries are stocked. Our freezers are full. God has taken great care of us.

There are some lessons to be seen here:

First, unlike Israel in the wilderness, our blessings do not come like manna from above. God gives you ability. You use that ability to get a job. You are paid in that job. God has taken care of you. Within that lies responsibilities on your part. If you don’t go to work, you don’t get paid. If you take that paycheck and spend it all on stuff for yourself, waste it gambling, or give it all away, you’ll be in need. You’ll cry, ‘Why won’t God help me?’ He has. He did. What did you do with it?

Second, sometimes our needs are not items we can hold in our hands or food we fill our bellies with. There is a greater need which God supplies help to. We see this in the life of David:

  • When a lion appeared as he was watching sheep, God helped him
  • When a giant appeared, God helped him
  • When Saul chased him for years, God helped him
  • When his own son tried to steal the kingdom, God helped him

This help involved fighting beasts and giants. But God helped him. This help meant fleeing and hiding, but God helped him. In each of the four situations listed above, David could have been killed. But he wasn’t. God was his help.

Your greatest need may be dealing with an aging parent or a sick spouse. Your greatest need may be getting through the day with toxic co-workers who just want to gossip, blasphemy and expound upon the wonders of getting drunk every weekend. Your greatest need may be trying to fellowship someone in church who irritates and bothers you.

The help of God may be, as in David’s case, standing and fighting for what is right. It may be in getting away and getting out of that situation. It may be in having to go face-to-face with someone and correct them for things that are wrong. We’d rather God just chase the lions and the giants away from our lives. But the help God provides may mean facing those things and being bold and courageous.

Third, the help God provides often comes through the hands of others. It did for Paul here in Philippians. Another time, Paul was depressed. God comforted him. He did that by sending Titus to him. We may miss the help God provides because we are looking for manna to fall from the skies and the help is standing right next to us. The help comes in the form of a brother or a sister in Christ. The help is not a powerful angel, but a simple child of God. Don’t limit God by tying His hands. Don’t expect God to only help you in the way that you want and in the way you expect. Allow God to do things His way. And, don’t be quick to cry out, “I’m all alone and there is no one to help me,” when in fact God has sent help, but we didn’t like the package it came in.

Fourth, it seems from the flow of the Philippian passage, that as God helps us, he wants us to help others. Today, we hear the expression, “supply chain.” Getting the part from the manufacturer, to the store, to your home—a supply chain. And, it seems there is a spiritual supply chain. We are helped to help others. We’ve been taught so we can teach others. We have been encouraged, so we can encourage others.

All of this reminds us that we are connected to one another and that we need one another. I need you. You need me. We need each other. The teacher of God’s word supplies the needed lessons from the Bible. The student listening to that teaching encourages the teacher by learning and allowing the word of God to change his life.

During the pandemic there was a massive breakdown in the physical supply chain in our country. New trucks sat for months, waiting on chips that were on back order. Appliances were back ordered and people had to wait and wait. Spiritually, we must make sure that the spiritual supply chain is running smoothly and fully operational. This is accomplished when we each do our part. God supplies. We must get those supplies to where they are needed. A kind word. A good deed. A lunch bought. A gift given. A card mailed. Keep the supply chain moving by doing your part.

God will take care of you…Our past proves it. Our present witnesses it. And, our future believes it.

Roger

15

Jump Start # 3555

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3555

Ephesians 5:4 “and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

One of the scenes on the landscape these days are storage units. You find them everywhere. They are in big cities, as well, as small towns. Sometimes you’ll pass two or three different ones in a day. How is it that these places stay in business? The answer is simple. We have too much stuff. There is more stuff than can fit in our homes.

And, that thought takes us to our verse today. There are things the apostle tells us that just do not fit. They do not fit with being a disciple. They do not belong in our hearts any more. Filthiness, silly talk, coarse jesting—those things don’t fit. Don’t try to squeeze them in, like putting on a tight pair of pants. They simple do not fit.

Others uses the following words for “fitting”:

  • ESV: out of place
  • KJV: not convenient
  • Phillips: not fit subjects for Christians to talk about
  • CEB: aren’t acceptable for believers
  • CSB: not suitable

When Paul wrote Philemon, he stated that he had confidence that he would do what was proper. Proper fits. When we try to force what doesn’t fit, to fit, it sends a mixed message. It leads to the charge of hypocrisy.

Now, here are some reminders for us:

First, we should not expect the world to act, nor talk like Christians. They won’t and they don’t. The world doesn’t have a moral compass other than itself. The world answers to no one other than society, which is shallow, changing and without a conscience. So, don’t be surprised when some earnestly says, ‘I’m telling you the truth,” when they are actually lying. The world cusses. The world doesn’t get embarrassed. The world doesn’t act like Christians.

Second, there are certain things that just do not fit in with being a Christian. We must stop trying to build a bridge between right and wrong. We must stop coming up with excuses for bad behavior and improper attitudes. Some things are out of bounds because God said so. Moving the boundary markers only disappoints God.

Third, there are certain things that do fit in the life of a disciple. We must make room for those things. Paul told the Corinthians, “Make room for us in your hearts” (2 Cor 7:2). Our hearts can do that. We can find room to include prodigals. We have room to include the young as well as the old.

A common practice many go through every spring is to clean out their closets. Clothes that no longer fit are tossed out. There is no need to hang on to things that will never be used again. Every once in a while we need to go through our junk drawer in the kitchen and toss out things that we no longer need. Old manuals and instruction books for appliances and things we no longer have need to be pitched. Spring cleaning we call that. It feels good and looks good to rid ourselves of the clutter of things we no longer want or need.

It’d do us a lot of good to have a good ole’ fashioned spring cleaning in our hearts. Get rid of the junk that no longer fits. Get rid of the negative attitudes that we have kept for too long. Time to toss the memories of hurts that we have been holding on to for decades. They don’t fit and we certainly do not need them. What hurtful thing someone said years ago, needs to be deleted from our minds. It doesn’t fit and why are we holding on to it?

There is a story about the founder of nursing, Clara Barton. She was ripped to pieces in an editorial of a local newspaper. At a banquet she was attending, a friend told her that the editor who wrote those critical and cruel words would be there. Barton said, “I distinctly remember forgetting that.” It didn’t fit, so she got rid of it.

As brethren, we need to get rid of the spiritual storage units that house all the hurts and negative things that have come our way. Why keep those things? Change where you need to change, and then get rid of those things. We need to stop storing attitudes that are sour, depressing and harmful to the cause of Christ. Mean spirits do not need to be stored. Prejudice. Hatred. Anger. Selfishness. Pride. Harshness. Judgmental. Wicked. Toss them. They do not fit. They will never fit. Why hold on to them? They only keep you from growing and pleasing the Lord.

What fits? Is it time to clean out the closets of your heart? You might find that you have been holding on to things that just do not belong in the heart of a disciple. Get rid of them and do not look back. Toss them without any regrets.

One can never be in the right shape with the Lord as long as he tries to squeeze into the things that no longer fits. I’m done with these things—that’s a great place to be spiritually.

Roger