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Jump Start # 163

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 163 

2 Corinthians 7:5-6 “For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without and fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”

  Paul is telling the Corinthians of his journeys, or commonly called, missionary journeys. They were not vacations. They were not traveling like celebrities, staying in fine hotels, chauffeured about in limos, the streets lined with adorning fans. It wasn’t like that at all. They had riots caused by their preaching. They were arrested. On one occasion the crowds tried to kill them. The verses today show how these things affected Paul. They hurt him.

  Notice the language:

  • Our flesh had no rest
  • Afflicted on every side
  • Conflicts without
  • Fears within

  They were the center of a war zone of persecution. But God was there. God comforts. Paul would say this in the second chapter several times. God comforts the depressed. Paul said, God comforted us. Connecting the dots here, Paul was depressed. We have trouble thinking of a depressed apostle. Our image is that they were always smiling. Happy were they, even when beaten and struck down. Not so. Rejection, persecution has a toll upon the heart.

  You know Paul prayed. You know Paul sought God. That is just the way he was. And God came through. God sent comfort. How? By stopping the threats and persecutions? No. They continued on. God sent Titus. Comfort came in the form of a fellow Christian.

  Now this is a great thought for us. We don’t walk the same steps as Paul, but life bothers us sometimes. We get tossed about and end up scared and depressed, as Paul was. We want relief. We seek comfort. We pray. We turn to the Scriptures. We continue to worship. But the problems remain. The issues do not go away. Why doesn’t God do something we ask.

  Often He already has, we just failed to recognize it. We are expecting help to come in the form of our problems going away, but instead God sends us a Titus. A Titus is God’s comfort to the frightened and depressed Paul. And a Titus may be God’s answer for you. A fellow Christian who encourages. A fellow Christian for support. A fellow Christian to help.

  Titus was a preacher. He was converted by Paul. The book of Titus is written to this person. Paul was older and the mentor of Titus, yet it was Titus who was the comfort for Paul. Could it be our comfort is in someone younger than we are? Could it be in someone that we have taught or mentored ourselves?

  This brings two wonderful ideas: First, be looking for a Titus, they are Heaven sent to help us. Listen to them. Be encouraged by them. Allow God to use them to help you. Second, God may use you as a Titus. It may be that you are aware of someone going through a tough time. Could it be that God is comforting them through you? Your words, your attitude, your thoughts  may be the very thing that calms a scared and depressed heart.

  Titus—he played an important role for Paul. And you play an important role in God’s kingdom today!

Roger

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Jump Start # 162

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 162 

1 Corinthians 8:13 “Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.” 

This verse is the concluding statement of the apostle Paul after a series of arguments about the  issue of eating meats. The thought here is not about diet or is meat better than a vegetarian, it has to do with religious thought.

  The pagans often sacrificed animals to their gods and then sold the meat in market places. This was common in the Gentile world. With many Gentiles now becoming Christians, the thought and issue of these meats comes up. Similar thoughts are found in Romans 14. If a Christian ate meat that had been sacrificed to idols, is he participating in idolatry?

  Paul deals with this. He begins by saying, “there is no such thing as an idol in the world and there is no God but one” (4). Later he says, “food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (8). At this point it seems that Paul says, it doesn’t matter.

  But he throws in, “Not all men have this knowledge” (7). Some “being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” Paul then instructs those who do not have a problem with this, not to hurt the conscience of others. The rest of the chapter Paul shows how we need to be concerned about how others see us and not to mislead them.

  Then comes our powerful verse. Paul states that if eating meats causes another Christian to stumble, he would never eat meat again. Many would consider Paul to be extreme. Some would say, “it’s not fair. If nothing is wrong with eating meats, then he has a right to eat meat if he wants to.” The problem is we are so stuck on our rights that we often abuse the feelings of others. Christians don’t do that. They are concerned about others. They do not want anyone to lose their faith because of something that they did.

  These verses illustrate for us the closeness and love that brethren have for one another. They would rather do without than to hurt another. Their mindset was the big picture. They cared about unity, getting along and the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. Long ago, when they became disciples, they crucified self. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me, Paul would declare. Christ said, “if any one wants to come after me, let him first, deny himself…”

  That spirit is often missing today. When something doesn’t go just the way some think it should, off they go looking for another marriage, another church, or another god. It’s not about me! Have we forgotten that?

  I like meat. I like meat on the grill. I like beef, pork, chicken, lamb and maybe someday MOOSE. Could I give it up? Some only do that kicking and shouting when the doctor threatens them with a short life if they don’t. But to give it up willingly? To do it because of someone else? To do it so someone else who may be weaker in faith can keep going?

  Now meats sacrificed to idols are not an issue here in America. But don’t limit your thinking to just that. Be thoughtful. Be considerate. Be a team player. Be self—less. That is the driving thoughts that Paul is addressing. Powerful stuff. Hard to do! But possible through Christ.

 Roger

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Jump Start # 161

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 161 

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. “

  Last time we looked at the expression “salt.” Now Jesus uses another illustration to describe the disciples, citizens of the kingdom. Again Jesus begins this by saying, “YOU ARE.” You are the light of the world.

  These two illustrations of discipleship are borrowed from the common items found in nearly every first century home—salt and light. Had Jesus said, “You are the Pearls of the world” many would not understand that because they never had any pearls. Rather, Jesus used the items that everyone used nearly every day.

  Salt and light do not do the same thing. Salt enhances and preserves. Light attracts and makes visible. Both add to a lost world. The world is in darkness. The world doesn’t see what it is doing. Light makes things visible. From a distance, light can be seen.

 Part of discipleship is being spiritually attractive to a dark world. The world notices. The world sees. We are visible and witnessed by a world that doesn’t have light. What do people notice?

They notice you going to church services on a regular and consistent basis. We see cars leaving driveways on Monday mornings heading to school and work. That happens every week. But the neighbors notice you leaving every Sunday—even when it’s raining, snowing, cold or big ball games are going to be on TV.

They notice you are modest in speech and dress. Your language is carefully thought out and chosen. You don’t say the name “God” unless you are really talking about God. Your clothing is not suggestive and immoral 

They notice an attitude of kindness and helpfulness.

They notice a spirit that serves. You do things without asking. You are generous.

They notice a genuine love for God and His people.

They notice a family that is righteous and fun to be around.

They notice that you care. You ask. You help out when you can. You offer to pray.

They notice that no one notices them because they are like everyone else. You live differently, think differently and hope differently. You have Jesus. They see cars in front of your house. They are folks from the church that you have invited over. They notice that you invite them to come to services with them.

  There is an attraction to you. It is a light—the light of Jesus.

Shine. Shine. Shine.

Roger

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Jump Start # 160

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 160

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

  The salt of the earth and light of the world passages immediately follow the beatitudes. Jesus switches from defining the inner qualities of the citizen of Heaven’s kingdom to showing the response the disciple of Christ has to the world. The last two beatitudes illustrated how the world responds to the disciple—persecution. But here we see our response to the world.

  Jesus begins by saying, ‘You are salt…’. You are. He didn’t say, ‘you ought to be,’ nor, ‘you need to become,’ but rather, ‘you are.’ We become salt when we become a disciple of Jesus. We live in an age where many folks are trying to cut down on their salt. That wasn’t the thought in the first century world. Salt had two main uses: first, it was used to cake meat to preserve it. In a time before refrigeration that was the only means of keeping meat. The other use, as we do to, was to enhance flavor. Jesus said, if the salt has become TASTELESS. We put salt in food to bring out flavor.

 There are some wonderful qualities about salt. First, salt works in so many different things. Think about it—on popcorn, in mashed potatoes, on watermelon, on corn on the cob, on roasts. Salt doesn’t have just one application –there are many. Secondly, salt isn’t visible. When you mix it in you can’t really see it. You notice it when it is not there, but it does it’s work without being seen. Thirdly, salt doesn’t get much praise. We don’t thank the cook for the great tasting salt, but rather, the great tasting roast. The salt added to the great taste, but it doesn’t get the praise. There are no restaurant reviews that praise salt.

  You are salt. You work in many different applications. In a dying and rotten world you are preserving it. You add flavor to the world. You make the world better. You are salt. You do not get attention or praise. What you do may not be noticed, but it is certainly noticed when it is not there.

  Jesus said, if salt becomes tasteless it is good for nothing. I’ve never experienced that. The salt I’ve used has always been tasty. Tasteless salt can’t be made better by adding more salt to it. That won’t work. What do you do with old salt? In Jesus’ day, you couldn’t just throw it out the back door, as my grandmother used to do with table scraps. The reason is, there would still be just enough salt to ruin the ground. The grass would die, no crops could grow because of salt in the soil. Supposedly, General Sherman in his march to the sea, had some of his troops plow salt into the southern soil to destroy crops. That was mean. It was effective.

  Jesus said, the only good for tasteless salt is thrown it on the road or path where it will be trampled under foot of man. It no longer adds any value. That is the image of the disciple who is no longer influencing the world. He has become tasteless. He has become of no value to the kingdom. How sad.

  You are salt. You add flavor to a dull world by showing Jesus. Your attitude, choice of words, and connection to the Lord, enhances a world that is decaying. We need you! We need salt. Doctors want you to cut down on literal salt. Preachers want you to increase your spiritual salt. Just don’t get these reversed!

Roger

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Jump Start # 159

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 159

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in Heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

  Of all the beatitudes, this one is the most unpleasant to us. This is about us! The verse before showed that others have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Now it’s our turn. The word “you” appears 5x and the word “your” once in these two verses. The Lord is telling His disciples what will happen. This is the world’s response to the gospel of Christ.

  The New Testament tells us this over and over.

  • In Revelation 12, Satan went off to make war with those who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
  • Peter would say, “do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you.” He then said, “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.”
  • Paul said, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
  • Paul also said, “to this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless…when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have be come as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things”.
  • Jesus said, “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
  • Jesus also said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

  We are part of something that the world can’t stand. There is a temptation to make our faith more pleasing with the world, to be less offensive and more tolerant of what the world is doing. The modern church has done that. Church doesn’t seem so “churchy” in many places. Preachers wear Hawaiian shirts, put on skits and tell jokes while the audience sits in laughter eating donuts. Little is said about the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Holiness and righteousness are rarely mentioned and God appears as our great big buddy. Don’t go there! That’s not what the New Testament teaches. God’s message is central. It is to be taught in kindness but without alterations.

 Insults, speaking evil, and persecution is what comes from the world. It happened to the prophets of old. It happened to our Savior. It happened to the apostles and early Christians. You may not be invited to some after work parties. So be it. Some may whisper about you. Some may spread false rumors. Many do not understand. Some are jealous. Some fear. Most do not want anything to do with it, because it means changing, and they certainly are never going to do that. Most are looking for a religion that is all about them having a good time. You won’t find that in the Bible. The Bible points to God. It is all about God.

  Our response to rejection, hatred and persecution? Rejoice. Jesus said that. Peter said that. That’s hard when you are hurting. It doesn’t matter whether the hurt is on the inside or outside, it still hurts. But it’s not you, it’s Jesus that they hate. They wish He never was. They’d rather die in their sins than to have the hope of Heaven. How sad! The reward for those persecuted—HEAVEN! Wow! That’s amazing.

  So, stand in there. Don’t back down. Don’t run. It may come from roommates at college. It may come from teachers. It may come from family members. It doesn’t matter. Rejoice. Pray. Continue on. Someday this will all end.

Roger