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Jump Start # 230

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 230

Proverbs 11:13 “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.”

  We return to Proverbs for our passage today. Proverbs are truisms—not absolutes. We find Proverbs to be practical, plain and easy to understand. A Proverb a day is just good medicine!

  This passage, as many in Proverbs, is a contrast. Right and wrong are laid beside each other.  Here we find two different people: one, a talebearer; the other, trustworthy. The talebearer can’t keep a secret. He’s been told to, but the news is too great for him. He’s about to bust, he has to tell someone. Often, he puts conditions on the next person that he doesn’t keep himself. He’ll say, “No, don’t tell anyone this…” Yet he has. The talebearer is not the same as a gossip. The impression from the passage is that someone has trusted the talebearer and revealed their soul to him. These are not things that everyone needs to know. Confidence is the bond here. But the talebearer is not trustworthy. He broke confidence. He told others. Who knows if they will tell still others. Word is out. Many know the secret. Someone usually gets hurt. It’s hard to recover from this. Saying your sorry doesn’t stop the spread of the secret.

  Companies face this problem. Secrets that made a product successful are stolen and sold to a rival company. Who did that? An employee that was thought to be trustworthy. The government deals with this as well. Military secrets are sold to our enemies. These things make for exciting movies. Spies and espionage and undercover agents and double agents are the things found in a James Bond movie. The writer of Proverbs is talking about life, not movies.

  At stake here is trust, honor, and a pledge that you promise not to tell what you’ve been told. The trustworthy person can be counted upon. The talebearer is trouble waiting to happen. The talebearer drives wedges within the family. The talebearer hurts the church.

  James tells us to confess our faults to one another. Having a dear friend to confide in and seek advice is such a blessing. Many fear doing this because they fear the talebearer. Some have been hurt in the past and they refuse to open the door to their soul again. So they struggle along bearing all their pain themselves, keeping others at a distance because they dread the talebearer.

  Some of us have problem distinguishing the trustworthy and the talebearer apart. Still worse, some bare their soul to everyone and anyone and then they don’t understand why everyone talks about them. The solution is simple. Don’t trust the talebearer with secrets. They can’t handle it and they will hurt you, even though they don’t mean to.

  The other lesson here is for each of us to be trustworthy. If someone is about to tell you something, and they begin the conversation with, “Please, don’t tell anyone else…” but you’re not sure you can handle holding that information in, be honest. It’s better to say, “I’d rather you not tell me…” than, for you to promise to keep a secret and then tell someone else. Here is something else I’ve learned about the talebearer, they get very upset when someone else has repeated what they were not supposed to repeat.

  There is one more thought we must add here. There is one who we know is trustworthy, and that is God. There are no secrets with God. He already knows. You are not going to tell Him something and shock Him. He knows. He cares. He still loves you and wants you to walk with Him in righteousness. God is the one, in prayer, that we need to tell all to.

  Talebearer and trustworthy…which are you? Which do you want to be? Be the friend, that is a real friend. Be the friend that is trustworthy and helpful. Be the friend that supports, corrects and loves. Be trustworthy!

  Roger

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Jump Start # 229

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 229

Hebrews 9:27-28 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

  The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we all have a divine appointment. It is an appointment with death. This is the punishment that God placed upon mankind for Adam’s sin.  Paul told the Corinthians, “through one man came death…” It’s easy to say, that’s not fair, but the reality is by the time we reach adulthood, all have sinned.

  So we have this divine appointment. We know this, everyone dies sooner or later. A few reach 100 but sooner or later they keep that divine appointment.

  This passage does not tell us when that appointment will be. If you knew, you’d most likely be a mess just thinking about that date. In the back of our minds we know this appointment is coming, but we go on and do not worry about it much.

  This passage also tells us that death isn’t the end of the journey. After death, comes judgment. The judgment is before God. He is a righteous judge. The final chapters of Revelation show us the judgment scene. The dead stand before the white throne. The book of life is opened and God judges.

  An appointment with death…followed by a judgment by God. No one escapes this. You can’t opt out. You can say, “I didn’t ask for this,” but it will still happen. Now you can be obsessed with these thoughts and stay in bed with a blanket over your head and it will still happen. You can live recklessly and say, “I don’t care…” and it will still happen. Or, you can live in Christ! That is the answer. Death isn’t the end, because of the resurrection. Judgment takes a different look when one stands forgiven.

  The end of our passage today affirms that. Christ bore our sins. He will appear a second time. Those that eagerly await Him will find eternal peace in Heaven (the salvation without reference to sin).

  God tells us what will happen. It’s not an adventure into the dark. It’s not a surprise. We know. Christ is coming. I have an appointment with death. I will be judged. Those three statements help define my life. I live realizing life is precious. You only get one. I live responsibly towards God, He will judge me. I live with Christ, He is my Savior.

  These things are revealed not to scare us but to inform us and to motivate us to live in Christ. The journey doesn’t end at the cemetery, it takes us to God. There may be some who get away with murder, they will stand before God. There may be some things that don’t seem right, God will take care of it in His time.

  Why is it that some die young…some middle aged…and some very old? It must be that divine appointment with God. Life isn’t measured in how long you live but by how you live it. Each day is a blessing and a gift from God. Each day should be lived to the glory of God. Some day I will be out of days and what will matter is how I lived.

  This passage puts all in perspective. We need that. We tend to forget.

Roger

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Jump Start # 228

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 228

1 Corinthians 10:10 “Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

    In this section of Corinthians, Paul reaches back to Old Testament history and reminds the brethren the way ancient Israel acted. Paul said, “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things” (v. 6). He then identifies four things Israel did that the Christians should not do. The list includes:

  • Do not be idolaters (7)
  • Nor let us act immorally (8)
  • Nor let us try the Lord (9)
  • Nor grumble (10)

  The ends this section by repeating, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (11).

  The overall lesson is that we learn things from the Old Testament. We do not have to repeat the same mistakes and sins that Israel did. We learn from them. It’s not follow the leader, here.

  Our verse today, “nor grumble, as some of them did” is a good one to keep in mind after a national day of Thanks. Grumbling and complaining are just the nature of some people. It seems like the older some get the more they complain. With complainers, nothing is ever right. The weather isn’t. Politics aren’t. The economy isn’t.

  Today is known as “black Friday,” the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season. You may have been one who got up very early to hit the stores. But there is another “black Friday” that begins today…and that’s the season of grumbling. How easy and quickly we can forget that “thankful” spirit and return to a spirit of gloom and doom. I think our passage is indicating that Israel didn’t just grumble, they grumble against God—the ultimate ungrateful spirit!

  Folks will complain when the feel that God hasn’t been fair to them or that their lives are not happy nor turned out the way they feel like they should have. Hard times, the sin of others, broken homes can make us be bitter toward God. Most often, if not all the time, it isn’t God’s fault. He isn’t in Heaven thinking of ways to make your life miserable. What kind of God is that? No, usually it’s the choices we make, or the choices of those around us, that makes our live a mess. We feel that God should have put a bubble around us to keep these things from happening, but He doesn’t. So we gripe. We complain. We grumble.

 I’ve noticed something about complaining…it rarely changes things. Complain all you want about the weather, it doesn’t change it. Complaining kids just get on your nerves. Complaining doesn’t make you happier, brighten your day, or improve the mood of those around you. No, complaining is like a dark cloud that just makes everything dark.

  The solution? Do not grumble. But more than that, be thankful. Continue to count your blessings—that just kills complaining. It also helps to remember the first “black Friday.” It had nothing to do with shopping or Christmas. It was the Friday that Jesus died upon the cross. The sky became dark, and our Lord gave up His spirit and died for our sins. That act, and his resurrection that followed, changed the world. And, it should change you!

  You’ll hear a lot of grumbling this weekend. You be the thankful one! I saw a sign on a funeral directors desk years ago that said, “Everyday above ground is a good day!” How true!

Roger

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Jump Start # 227

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 227

Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

  One consistent theme found throughout the entire Bible is thankfulness to God. We owe everything to God. Spiritually and physically God is literally our life. It doesn’t take much to understand that. Our worship services praise God, and rightly so.

  Is God thankful for us? Have you ever thought of that? Now, we must be careful with this. We are not preaching the gospel of self. That’s a popular message today. Church services, in too many places, are shaped after what the crowd wants rather than what the Bible teaches. Too much of self, gives us the swelled head and a heart full of pride. We are not going that direction. No.

  Our passage today, taken from the parable of the talents shows the response the Master had toward the servants that were good stewards of what was entrusted to them. Notice the words of praise towards the servants, “Well done,” “good,” “faithful.” The Master was pleased. At the end of the day he would be thankful to have such trusted people working for him.

  It is in this sense that God is thankful for us. When He can depend upon us to do what He wanted, when He can count upon us to be there and to stand for Him, God is thankful. When we are busy being busy in His kingdom, God is thankful.

  Thankful for us. Really? Hard to imagine. Can God count on you? Are you dependable? Are you one to worship God as He desires, or are you content to just give God a few Sundays here and there. Are you busy being busy for God?

  God’s people have always been busy people. Moses was busy when God called him. David was busy when God called him. Saul (Paul) was busy when God called him. These people weren’t sitting around idle. They had busy lives, just as we do. God called, and they made time for the Lord. They put God’s agenda at the top of their list.

  God is thankful for the men and women who really try to make a difference. After working all day, and coming home to be a busy parent, they stay up at nights looking over Bible lessons because they have chosen to teach Bible classes. It’s hard. They feel stretched. But they are doing what they can. God notices. God is thankful.

  God is thankful for the men and women who come to worship Him on a regular basis. With these folks, it’s not a hit or miss thing, but each week, and often during the week, they travel down to the church building to hear sermons, to sing praises, to pray and thank the Lord of Hosts. Often, they come with heavy hearts. Problems at home, problems in the world weigh on them, but they come. Others come and they don’t feel so hot. They ache in their legs. They are tired. But they come. They carry a smile and their Bible. They love the Lord and want to praise Him. God notices. He is thankful.

  God is thankful. Shouldn’t you try a bit harder? Shouldn’t take a deep breath and keep going? God is counting on you. He needs you to be that light in your family. He needs you to be the one who is true to Him. He needs you to be that source of strength and integrity. God is counting on you. Can He depend upon you?

  God is thankful. We especially ought to be thankful.

Roger

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Jump Start # 226

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 226

Luke 17:17 “Then Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?’”

  Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. He has an appointment with the cross. As He passes through a village, a group of ten leprous men, from a distance, raise their voices and beg Jesus for mercy. Jesus tells them to present themselves to the priest. He are cured of leprosy. As they go, one stops. One returns and falls at the feet of Jesus and gives thanks. Luke tells us that he was a Samaritan. The rest go on to the priest to get clearance to return to society and to their lives. In a statement of reality Jesus asked, “Where are the nine?”

  The very fact that a Samaritan is among these lepers tells you the serious condition they were in. Jews do not associate with Samaritans. But here, all that is dropped. There is no one that will associate with them expect fellow lepers. A contagious, usually fatal disease that meant isolation from all people, except other lepers. They stood at a distance. Family members would drop food off, ring and bell and leave. The future for lepers was bleak. Toes and fingers lost feelings. Often they would break a bone and not realize it. Infection followed. The numbness spread. Open sores, whitening of the skin were common among lepers.

  It is impressive that the Lord had the most important event on His mind, His death at Calvary. This is the reason why He came. Yet we find Him still helping others, all along the journey to Jerusalem.

  The healed Samaritan is the poster child of thankfulness. He returns. He falls at Jesus’ feet. He thanks and glorifies God. His life has been saved. Death has been pushed back. He can return to his family, his job and his life. He will again be shunned by the Jews, but he is so thankful for a second chance.

  Being thankful is more than just a feeling. It is more than getting what you want or a happy feeling. It is important, as illustrated in this passage, to return and thank the person who helped you. Thankfulness needs to be spoken—you must say it.

  Now, are we to think that the other nine were not thankful? In other words, were they complaining, now I have to go home and have to go back to work. Never. They shouted for Jesus to have mercy on them and He did. They wanted to be healed and they were. How come they didn’t thank Jesus?

  Could it be that they were doing what Jesus said, going to the priest? Could it be that they thought, “He knows. You don’t have to say it”? Could it be that they were so excited, like a child at Christmas, that they failed to stop and thank? There may be many reasons we could come up with, but the fact that nine didn’t return and thank Jesus, caught Jesus’ attention. He noticed. He knew. How does that make a giver feel? You go out of your way to help someone and they don’t even say ‘thank you.’ You feel used and taken advantage of. Think Jesus felt that way?

  All of this tells us that we need to be thankful, and we need to say it, especially to God. Your life may be in a valley right now. You may feel like you have been slapped in the face by hard times and unfairness, but you have life, you have a God who loves you, you have been blessed. There is much to be thankful for.

  At the end of this section, the thankful Samaritan is told by Jesus to “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” Wasn’t that true of all of the ten lepers? Possibly. But, possibly, this one Samaritan received something the others didn’t , forgiveness of his sins. It is one thing to be well in the body and to have the leprosy cured, it is something else to be well in the heart and to have forgiveness extended. He received a cured heart and body.

  There is no price that you can put on forgiveness. There is no where else you can receive it other than in Jesus. What a gift it is. It is not earned, deserved nor something that God has to do. He doesn’t. It is something that changes your present and changes your future.

  Paul said, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor 9:15). Have you told God that? Today, would be a good day to start.

Roger