13

Jump Start # 3634

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3634

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing  one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing  with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Our verse today reminds us that we teach though singing. And, this passage puts to rest two common thoughts about the role of women in the church. Not understanding a statement, nor the context in Corinthians, some declare, “Women are to be silent in the church.” If that be true, then only men can sing. And, close to that, “women do not teach men.” Again, if that be true, then women shouldn’t sing because a man might be taught. More careful understanding of those passages keeps one from extreme and inconsistent positions.

There are a few ways that we teach through singing. One is to state and remind us of Biblical principles, such as “Jesus is coming soon.” Many of our songs will do that. As we sing those songs, they remind us of what the Bible teaches.

Another way that our songs teach are to remind us of the godly practices that we embrace. Love one another is such a reminder. O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, is another.

And, still another way our songs teach is by asking questions. Thought provoking questions. Questions that move us to actions. Questions such as, “Are you washed in the blood?” Or, “What will your answer be?”

One of the questions that we sing is, “Does Jesus care?” It’s a song about a heart broken by sorrow and pain. Does the Lord notice? Does the Lord even care? The chorus of that song loudly answers the question, “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares.”

I wonder why someone would ask the question, “Does Jesus care?” It seems that a person wasn’t sure. Maybe the Lord doesn’t care. And, here are some thoughts we need to remember:

First, the quality of my life is not a measure of God’s care and love for me. I think we have it in our minds, especially we Americans, in this time, that if God loves me then things ought to be easy in my life. Struggles, hardships, sufferings are an indication of something not right and very possibly, that God has looked away from us.

Yet, such thoughts are not the conclusion one gets from a careful study of Biblical history. Israel in Egypt, and they cried because of the oppression. Judah taken in Babylonian captivity. The suffering Jeremiah. The beheading of John. The murder of Stephen. The abuse of the apostles. The death of James and Antipas. Had God turned His back upon these people? Were they doing wrong?

Righteous suffering is a result and consequence of righteous living.

Second, when we think that things are not right because of hardships, we fail to realize that suffering is God’s classroom. We see more and learn more in the storms of life than we do in the sunshine of life. Blessings are wonderful, but it’s the pain that takes us to our knees in prayer. And, our culture doesn’t do well with hardships. We avoid them at all costs. We want a pill to take away all pain and all sadness. Give us counselors, therapists, funny videos and put all suffering out of our minds and ways. And, because of that we live on happy street and are none the better. No lessons learned. No character developed. None the better.

Third, if the storm clouds that roll in make me question my faith, then my faith wasn’t very strong to begin with. Our Lord went to the cross. He was the suffering Savior. Fair weather Christians don’t last when a loved one is in the hospital or death circles a family member. Panic, fear and doubt fill hearts where faith never had deep roots.

One of our hymns reminds us, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through.” Think maybe we ought to let that thought sink in more deeply. This world is not my home. My home is with the Lord. My home is His home. The passing of a Christian, though sad, especially for the family, ought not to move our foundation. They are the blessed ones. They are the ones we wish we could be. They are finished with this place. They have completed the course. They have a home with the Lord. We grieve with hope, the Thessalonians were reminded. The hopeless despair belongs to those who have no faith. That’s not us.

Does Jesus care? Yes. He has always cared. He has never stopped caring. His life is a demonstration of His care. A greater question we ought to ask is, “Do I care?” Do I care as much as He cares? Do I care about my soul as much as He cares about my soul? Or, is it that I care more about my money, my things and my fun than I do my soul?

Our songs teach us. There are many lessons that take place on a Sunday morning.

Roger

12

Jump Start # 3633

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3633

Proverbs 1:5 “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.”

I was in a local ice cream shop the other day. Hard to stay out of those places on hot summer afternoons. As I was sitting at the counter eating my treat, a couple of the workers were chit-chatting to each other nearby. The young female was complaining to the young man that he drove his car like her grandma. Since I’m in the grandparent league, I perked up and thought this will be good. I was surprised the young man had a license, he looked so young. He told his co-worker that he had been pulled over three times last week for speeding. That is why he was driving like a grandma. Three times—in ONE WEEK! Since I wasn’t invited in that conversation, and they had their backs to me, I kept quiet, but I wanted to scream “THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK!!! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING????” I’m surprised he was still driving. I expect his insurance rates will go through the roof. He acted as if it was no big deal and that the police were always looking for him. The thought occurred, he learned nothing through all of this.

And, that takes us to our verse today. A person of wisdom learns. He learns from the Lord. He learns from others. He learns from his mistakes. And, as sad and ridiculous as this young man’s driving story was, it only becomes worse when we think about us.

Consider:

First, some never learn from the mistakes they have made in their marriage. Marriage is a growing process. Two young people learn. They learn about each other. They learn about life. They learn to compromise. They learn to communicate. But sadly, some never learn. They bring the baggage of selfishness into a marriage and after a few long and sad years, the marriage falls apart. They divorce. They go their separate ways. They each find someone else. And, with no lessons learned, it’s the same song once again.

Second, some never learn from their experiences with a congregation. A family moves into town and places membership with a congregation in the area. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that this congregation is different from the one they were used to in their home town. They notice that people don’t cater to their every whims. They are not the center of attention and because of that they complain that the congregation is not friendly. The leadership doesn’t allow them to do everything that they want. And, as hard as they try to change this congregation into the congregation back home, it fails. Frustrated this family leaves. They leave with no lessons learned. They leave not understanding how fellowship works and how brethren are to be united. They leave upset because they are not the center of the picture. They find another congregation and with no lessons learned, the same sad story is repeated again.

Third, some never learn from their own sins and mistakes. A weak faith allowed them to make superficial choices based upon feelings and not faith. They succumbed to the lies of the devil and seeking pleasure over the glory of the Lord they messed up. Their sin led them to seek the forgiveness of the Lord, yet, they learned no real lesson. They confessed, but they really didn’t repent. Down the same path again, the same mistakes and sins occur. Like being stuck on a merry-go-round, the same sins keep coming back, over and over and over. Now, there are ways to break that sin cycle. Change your choices. Change the environment. Change your friends. Change your habits. Get stronger spiritually. But, many never do that. So, around and around, up and down, in and out they go. Never feeling confident for very long. And, never learning anything and never none the better.

The wise man listens, learns and will do better. Maybe it’s time for us to do the same.

Pulled over by the police, three times in one week. Any lessons learned?

Roger

09

Jump Start # 3632

Posted on August 9, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3632

Luke 7:47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Our Jump Start yesterday was based upon this section of Scripture, Dinner at Simon’s, as I like to call it. I want to return there. Three times in the narrative, we are told that this woman was a sinner. Luke introduces her that way. He states, “a woman in the city who was a sinner” (37). Then Simon declares, “what sort of person this woman is” (39). And, even Jesus says, from our verse today, “her sins, which are many” (47). We sure get the point—this woman was a sinner!

Now, let’s put some thought to all of this:

First, some sins are clearly seen and known by others. And, then, some sins are known but to the person and God. Almost without exception, everyone thinks that this woman was a prostitute. The disgust of Simon indicates that. He would have never invited her to his home. She crashed the party.

But, we must be careful in thinking and worse, judging, that “known sins” are worse than the “secret sins.” Both cripple our souls. Both insult and shame God. Both indicate a life lived without God. Sometimes those hidden, secret sins can be more destructive than the known sins. Because they are unknown to most, a person can delay or even refuse to stop them. No one knows. But those public sins often bring the voice of the righteous calling for repentance. Public sins may result in being arrested, expelled from school, fired from job, and shame and embarrassment that follows. The consequences may be greater and the pressure to change may be greater. It’s the secret sins that we don’t get serious about that can lead to hypocrisy and a judgmental attitude.

Second, although the Lord didn’t say it, I expect Simon from our story, being old enough to have a home, host a dinner, and be known as one of the Pharisees, had plenty of sins. The Lord easily could have said, “Simon, your sins are many.” This was not a contest about which person sinned the least. It didn’t matter. They both had sinned. “I’m not as bad as you are,” doesn’t put us safely on the shore of salvation.

What would have been a beautiful picture would be if Simon had gotten a towel for the woman to dry the feet of Jesus, instead of using her hair. Or, better still, had Simon himself dried the Lord’s feet. The two sinners working together to honor the Lord would have been a beautiful image. Instead, he stood looking at her, disgusted and embarrassed that she had ruined his dinner party.

And, it makes me think about our times. Someone walks down the isle during the invitation song, tears streaming down their face, and they sit alone on the front pew, while the rest of us sing, and try to guess and wonder what’s going on. There is an awkward moment and silence when the preacher sits by this person and tries to get her story. He stands and says some words, offers a prayer and the tearful person sits alone with all the eyes behind her staring at her. What a wonderful picture if someone walked right up behind her and sat with her.

Her sins were many, Jesus said. So, were Simon’s. She was forgiven. Nothing was said about Simon’s forgiveness.

Third, we must be sure that we do not allow our congregation to look like Simon’s house. The drug addict. The drunk. The ex-con. The divorced. The bankrupt. They don’t need someone to tell them their sins and mistakes. They wear the scars. They know. What they need to know is that they are welcome. They don’t need a Simon saying, “What is she doing here?” If that is asked, couldn’t also ask, “What are YOU doing here?” Or, more accurately, “What are ANY of us doing here?” We don’t belong, but unlike Simon, the Lord has invited us. One doesn’t go to the hospital when they are well, but when they are injured and sick. One doesn’t wash a car when it is clean, but instead, when it is dirty. If we keep people away from Jesus, how will they get clean and healed?

Simon had an incredible opportunity to show the love of God and the grace of Heaven. He blew it. His judgmental eyes could not see that Jesus loves all of us. That includes the best among us and the worst among us.

Dinner at Simon’s. Most went home with food in their belly. One, the woman who anointed Jesus, went home with forgiveness in her soul. Simon stands with the prodigal’s older brother and Jonah. They’ll take all the grace you will give them, but they won’t extend it to anyone different than they are. Judging others more than self, Simon and his kind, would do well to look in the mirror once in a while. Keeping the church pure does not mean keeping people out.

Dinner at Simon’s—sure is something to think about

Roger

08

Jump Start # 3631

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3631

Luke 7:36 “Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him. And He entered the Pharisee’s house, and reclined at the table.”

Our lesson could well be staged as a disastrous dinner party. Most of us have witnessed the best of plans blow up. Burnt food. No one shows up. People show up on the wrong day. So many things can go wrong when hosting others. Jesus had been to a wedding when the wine ran out. This is where He changed the water to wine, His first miracle.

But our passage takes on another kind of disaster. Jesus has been invited by Simon to come have dinner at his house. Simon is a Pharisee. Jesus had been thumping the Pharisees pretty hard, for their callous, indifferent ways. Earlier in Luke, Jesus has gone to the home of Matthew, a tax collector. We are not told Simon’s intentions. Was he a believer? Was he wanting to put Jesus on the spot and accuse Him? Jesus goes. And, things fall apart.

Three scandalous events take place.

First, Jesus is not treated like a guest. Typically, when one is invited, you’d welcome the person with a kiss on the cheek. You’d offer to wash his feet. You’d make the person feel like a guest. Simon didn’t do any of those things. No welcome. No kiss. No washing of feet. Simon invited Jesus, but he was treating the Lord like an enemy.

Second, an uninvited person shows us. An unnamed woman, who has a bad reputation. Simon says that she is a sinner. Most think she was a prostitute. She’d never be invited to such a dinner. Somehow she crashed the party. Crying, she anoints the Lord’s feet with perfume and dries His feet with her hair. Once married, Jewish women did not let their hair down in the public. This woman did. And, a woman who was known for stolen kisses, is now kissing the feet of Jesus.

Her presence and her actions has totally crashed this dinner party. All conversations would have stopped. Everyone would have their eyes on her. “What is ‘SHE’ doing here, would be whispered loud enough for her to hear. She speaks no words to the Lord. Crying and bowing at His feet, she goes about cleaning His feet. Jesus doesn’t stop her.

Third, in the course of what takes place, Jesus rebukes Simon for being a terrible host. No kiss. No welcome. Nothing from you and you are the one who invited Me. Yet, this uninvited woman, sinner as she is, has done what you should have. The Lord then praises the woman and declares her sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, Jesus says.

That is a declaration and right that only belongs to God. Jesus understood that. Jesus is God. He could forgive sins. He forgave the crippled lowered through the roof. He forgave the thankful Samaritan leper. He forgave the penitent thief on the cross. Here, He forgives this sinful woman. She has demonstrated faith, courage, conviction and remorse. The Lord was moved by these things.

In the midst of all of this, Jesus tells Simon a parable about forgiveness. He who is forgiven much, loves much. He who is forgiven little, loves little. And, I wonder if that thought needs to be thought out more in our hearts and minds. Could it be that many of us have been pretty good people and there was little to forgive? As a result it is hard for us to love much, because not much was forgiven. Yet, the sinful woman, is illustrated by the person who is forgiven much. Simon, likewise had much to forgive. Our sins may not have been as damaging as others. Our sins may not be on the scale of others, but they are there. Sins. Too many to count. And, when we realize this, we’ll appreciate the forgiveness found in Christ.

The woman who loved much, didn’t care what others thought or said. The woman who loved much, didn’t care that she was using perfume on the feet of the Lord. The woman who loved much, came with a broken heart and tears in her eyes. She loved much. She showed that.

And, as I read this, I must wonder how much love have I shown the Lord?

It wouldn’t surprise me if Simon’s wife told him after everyone went home, we are never inviting anyone over again. What a disaster. But, what faith demonstrated. What love expressed. What a great God who forgives.

Dinner at Simon’s.

Roger

07

Jump Start # 3630

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3630

1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

As I was driving into the office the other day, I was listening to the morning news. There was a stabbing in the UK that injured many young people. A bombing in Israel killed several children. The President wants to make changes to the court system. I know of brethren in many places that are going through cancer treatments and are in hospitals. A couple of preachers I know are moving to work with brethren in different states. I know of several congregations that are looking for a preacher. In my area, storms raced across the night skies. Schools are starting up and parents are hoping for a safe and successful school year.

So much going on. But as all of this was spinning around in my head, I thought of those early Christians. How limited their news was. How little they knew what was going on in the world. Even in the small European villages in the 12th century, information came slowly. How limited their prayers must have been. The head of the empire or the nation could change and these simple people may not have known about it for months. Yet, they prayed.

Because of quick and accessible news and information, we can pray globally. A post on Facebook tells of someone having emergency surgery. Prayers are requested. That person lives miles and miles from us, but we do that. And, those early prayers of those first Christians must have been limited to the people around them. That’s all they knew.

Here are some thoughts:

First, I wonder if our prayers ought to be longer and in more depth because we know so much more. We know about brethren across the seas. We know about troubles globally. God has always been there, but now we know what’s going on the other side of the planet.

Second, it is easy to get overwhelmed with so many things to pray about. Troubles in Africa. Wars in Ukraine and Israel. Folk in our home congregation needing prayers. Folks in neighboring congregations also need prayers. Statewide, this is true. Nationally, this is true. Globally, this is true. We can feel guilty if we forget to pray for someone. We left someone off our prayer list. Prodigals that need to come home. The gospel that needs to be spread. “Will you pray for me,” is the call.

Sometimes it seems our hearts can only hold so much. We feel that we will burst, like that little balloon that one continues to blow air into.

Here are some thoughts that I hope will help:

  1. It is impossible to pray for everything. The world is big and there are so, so many things. The Lord knows this. The Lord is bigger than our prayers. And, even if all we ever did was pray, we’d still not get everything. And, there are things beyond prayer, such as raising our families, spreading the Gospel, letting our light shine.
  1. Prayer is more than running through a check list. I wonder if this is what we do much too often. A list of bullet points and we simply mention a name or a situation and run through dozens and dozens of those things. Would it be better to pick out one or two names and pour some thought, love and heart beyond just stating their name? Don’t feel that it’s all up to you. Don’t feel guilty if you didn’t pray for something. You did pray, but maybe not for that one person.
  1. Without you realizing it, others are also praying. Wihile you may not pray for someone, there is a good chance that others have. Our prayers ought to be comfort and a blessing and not a guilt trip and a burden. Talking to the Lord ought to help us, not make us feel worse.

Local prayers…global prayers—thank the Lord, praise the Lord and beseech the Lord. Prayer is not so much asking for what you want but for the Lord’s will to be your will. Be a person of prayer. If you don’t know what to pray about, open your eyes and look around. Turn on the news—pray for those you do not know. Pray for those who hurt. Pray for those who need to find the Lord.

In everything, the Thessalonians were told, give thanks.

Roger