14

Jump Start # 282

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 282

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

  This week, our Jump Starts are going to take a look at some of the radical statements of Jesus. They are called radical because of what they involve, what they require and how different they are to the norm of society. So often, Jesus is presented as a early form of a Mr. Rogers, nice, a bit nerdy, and offering grandfatherly advice. Who wouldn’t love someone like that? That’s not the image the Bible shows. Jesus made demands. It was His way or no way. He expected righteousness. He could read through the hype and pretense of the Pharisees. He was genuine, honest but God. He didn’t soften His views when He was rejected. He never changed His mind. He was God and He was on a mission. This week we will explore just a few of his radical statements. Some of these may shock you. You might find yourself disagreeing with Jesus—be careful!

  Today’s verses come from the sermon on the mount. They are found in the section on prayer. Jesus gave a model prayer. This is often called the Lord’s prayer and that leaves the impression that Jesus prayed this prayer Himself. Most likely not. He would not have had to ask for forgiveness since the book of Hebrews tells us that He was without sin. This is an example or a model of how to pray. It is short, God filled and touches upon the physical and spiritual side of man. Jesus offers only one further comment to the prayer and it is our verses today. In the prayer He said, “Forgive us our debt as we also have forgiven others.”

  Jesus shows that our forgiveness from God is conditional. It shows that the way we treat one another affects our relationship with God. And, it shows that God is aware of how we feel towards others. He knows if we have forgiven or not. Forgiveness is more than words, saying, “I’m sorry,” it is a change in relationship. Forgiveness is offered after someone has sinned against you. I cannot forgive someone for something they never did to me. Understand also, forgiving one another is not a replacement for God forgiving someone. A person should always seek forgiveness with God, first. Then, they should go about repairing a strained relationship with one another.

  This is a radical and serious statement. If we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us. Wow! I’ve heard people in anger state, ’I’ll never forgive you.” They better or else they don’t stand a chance with God. To forgive means to offer a second chance. It is to extend mercy and grace. Forgiveness isn’t deserved nor earned. It isn’t fair—that’s the hard part of all of this. We are know the expression, ’if you do the crime, then you do the time.’ Not so with forgiveness. You do the crime, but I forgive you. Why? First, forgiveness, is love based. You don’t love the wrong or the hurt done, but the person. Second, to forgive is to release what they owe you and it releases you from being tied to the sin. You give it to God. It’s gone. Forgiveness is not the same as restitution. It takes only one to forgive, it takes two to have a restitution. Forgiveness means you don’t hold the wrong as a trump card that you can pull out any time and remind the person of the hurt that they did to you. If you have forgiven them, it’s gone. Forgiveness is costly. Forgiveness is hard. It goes against human nature. When hit, we want to hit back. Turning the cheek isn’t popular, never has been. Forgiveness costs the one who has been hurt. Someone owes. Someone needs to pay. Someone needs to make it right. Forgiveness is to release all of that. The debt is paid. It is forgiven. It helps to think about how God forgives us. That is the model for us to follow. Look at the prodigal when he came home. His father forgave him. No threats. No sleeping in the barn until you’ve proven yourself. No secondary status. Forgiven and back at the table where he belonged.

  Many of us carry the scars of serious pain that has been caused by the sins of others. Parents that neglected the family. Emotional, physical, and even sexual abuse , often caused by family members or family friends. A mate that walked away from the marriage. Kids that grow up and have nothing to do with their parents. Abuse at work, neighborhood battles, victims of crime, victims of a prejudiced heart and on and on we could go. The list is long. The hurts painful and devastating. Scars carried for years. Some of these sins have forced us to alter our life. Divorce may force a stay at home mom to go back to work, possibly move out of the house into an apartment and struggle. Some of the scars are carried with us into marriages and they affect us the rest of our life. Forgive? Are you serious? Do you know what was done to me? How can I? Why should I? Never. Think again. Think about what our verse says. Think about what God has done in forgiving you. 

  Discipleship isn’t putting sunshine stickers on a piece of paper. It calls for you to do what is not normal, expected or easy. It calls for you to walk as Jesus walks. It calls for you to do what only a follower of Jesus can. When all the people around you are screaming justice, hurt them back, Jesus says, forgive. A failure to forgive eats us up like a cancer. Our hearts become bitter. It changes us and dominates us. We think thoughts we shouldn’t have. Let it go or become consumed by it. Let it go or let it destroy you. Let it go or God won’t let you go!

   Radical? Yes. Impossible? No. Will you do it? That’s what you must decide.

Roger

11

Jump Start # 281

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 281

1 Timothy 6:20-21 “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge—which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.”

  The words of our verse today are the last sentences Paul wrote in 1 Timothy. Timothy was much younger that Paul. He was a preacher and at the time of the letter, he was in the city of Ephesus, preaching there. Ephesus had been a hot bed of issues. Paul said that he “fought the wild beast at Ephesus,” referring not to animals, but the Jewish opposition and trouble that others were giving him.

  Throughout this letter to Timothy, Paul encourages the young preacher to hang in there and fight for what is right. Loneliness, discouragement and the enormous up hill battle of trying to change attitudes to be pleasing to Christ are what young preachers face. It’s hard on them. The toll can be devastating. They just want to preach and teach Jesus. They want to convert the lost. They want to build and strengthen the church. So often, they run into stubborn hearts that will not listen, change or be reasoned with. Pushing against a brick wall that will not budge wears a person out. Paul knew these things.

 He wants Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him. Most likely, his role in preaching the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, but included in this is his faith. He mentions that some would go astray from the faith. In doing this, Timothy is to avoid worldly and empty chatter and the arguments of false knowledge, simply what I call junk. Avoid the junk! Where are those things coming from? First, the opponents of the gospel, but, also some of the brethren.

  There is a great thought here. We are responsible for guarding our faith. We need to take ownership of our faith. Our faith is fragile. It can be easily discouraged and it can easily be led to believe things that are not so. We can be influenced by so many things. Responsible for your faith. That is a thought we don’t talk about much today.

  We hear reports all the time about being responsible for the environment. Recycle, reuse and so forth. Good ideas. We are told to be responsible for our health. Eat well and exercise often is what our doctors tell us. We control much of what happens to our health.

  But what about our faith? Are we responsible for it? Are we careful what we are feeding it? This was Paul’s concern to Timothy. Avoid the junk. There are a lot of books that are not worth reading. Why? They don’t help you and more than that, they mess with your thinking. They plant ideas and suggest things that simply aren’t so. Do you remember how the serpent got to Eve? He didn’t just hand her some fruit and tell her to take a bite. No, he, first engaged in a conversation with her, messing with her mind, changing the way she saw God, and twisting things around so she would be confused, doubting and uncertain. Now all this happened after just one conversation. Do you see that? Guard your faith. Unsound books can mess with our faith. Certain college professors can do the same. Their hatred of Biblical things and their prejudice comes out so strongly, that a young faith can be led astray. And, if Eve got confused after one conversation, think what can happen after one semester with someone whose agenda is to destroy faith.

  So guard your faith. How? First, be careful what you allow into your mind and heart. You can’t stop all the junk that is on the outside, but you determine what comes on the inside. Don’t be afraid to be a bit weird.  Second, build your faith. That comes from spending time with the word of God. In Romans we find, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Thirdly, fight off the things that will chip away at your faith. Fourth, surround yourself with faith building tools and people. Guard, strengthen, protect…it’s up to you!

  Your faith is what will get you through the storms, if you have taken care of it. Your faith is what will give you assurance and confidence, if it remains strong. Your faith will motivate you, challenge you and keep you going when you don’t feel like it. You faith will allow you to see God some day. So, protect it. Watch it. Feed it. Guard it. Use it.

  Roger

10

Jump Start # 280

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 280

Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night our soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?”

  Our verse today comes from the parable of the rich farmer. He was successful in many ways. The story begins by telling us that “he was very productive.” He had such a large harvest that he had no place to store his crops. He comes up with a plan. He’ll tear down his current barns and build larger barns. He then reasons, ‘I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many good laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’” His life was all planned out. Everything was set. Retirement was on the horizon. He had positioned himself well. Except, all of his plans necessitated that he be alive. His life surrounded the present and not the eternal. God called him that night. He died. He had prepared his fields, barns, and retirement but not his eternity with God. Preachers often point out the number of times the rich farmer refers to himself—”this is what I will do;” “my crops;” “my barns;” “my grain;” “my soul.” The word “I” is used 6 times and the word “my” is used 5 times. All this in four sentences. He sure liked to talk about himself.

  Jesus told this story to answer a request. Someone wanted Jesus to settle a family inheritance problem. Grown kids and inheritance—a recipe for a good old fashioned squabble and fight. Jesus wouldn’t get into that. He was not the “law of the land,” first of all. More than that, He didn’t come for that reason. Had He gotten in the middle of that dispute, He would have opened the door for every land issue, neighbor problems, and people complaining that someone’s dog bit them. The mission of Jesus would have been greatly derailed. He knew that. Instead of jumping in the inheritance battle, He tells the story of this rich farmer.

  The parable ends with this principle, “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” That’s the point. That’s the main point of just about all that Jesus taught. That’s the point that most miss today. The newspapers, the TV commentators, talk radio are all concerned about the massive debt this country is in. If nothing changes, we’re on a course of bankruptcy, they tell us. I’m not an economist, balancing the check book and running the household budget baffles me some days, but more alarming that all this is the bankruptcy toward God. How many are just like this rich farmer? They have zero in their God account. They’re busted and broke spiritually, and worse, they don’t know it.

  What is Jesus talking about? He’s not talking about earning Heaven, because we can’t do that. He’s not implying a giant balance in the sky and as long as the good side has more than the bad side, we’ll be ok. No. All sin, any sin, one sin is deadly. Just ask Adam and Eve. Just ask Lot’s wife. Jesus is talking about a life that includes God. The rich farmer was stuck on himself. His plans included tomorrow. But he does not control tomorrow. He was not given a tomorrow. Our passage says, “THIS VERY NIGHT.”  This reminds me of a neighbor who baked a cake for a shut in. The gift was so well received that she decided to bake another cake the following week. This continued on for several weeks until one day the lady stopped. She didn’t bake a cake. Her shut in neighbor called and bitterly complained, “Where’s my cake?” We are so used to having a tomorrow that we almost demand it. Each day is a gift, a gift from God.

  Being rich toward God includes a life that is thankful for each day. It is a life that includes God in the plans. James teaches us to say, “If God wills…” We are not in control, God is. Being rich in God means having a life that reflects God. Such a person is obedient to God. They consider what their decisions would do to the glory of God or their relationship with God. One who is rich toward God reflects the spirit and attitude of God. Compassion, kindness, generous, thoughtful—these are a few of the characteristics of a heart that is rich toward God.

  Some have suggested that the farmer should have given extra grain to neighbors, possibly. What about the poor? Possibly. But more than that, here is a person who is busy, his schedule is full and his dreams involve everything but God. He thinks if he can get the new barns built, then he can sit back, take it easy and everything is set. Life is not defined by the car you drive, the brand name of clothes you wear, but your relationship with God.

  He died. He had nothing in his God account. God didn’t cross his radar. God wasn’t in his plans, schedule nor heart. All his barns went to someone else. His crops? Someone else got them. His house, his stuff—all gone. All he carried with him across death was an empty soul. It makes you think doesn’t it? Sometimes we get too wrapped up in stuff and trying to be somebody and forgetting about the most important one and that is God.

  You need God. You need Him today. You need Him in your plans, your schedule, your home and mostly in your heart. You need to talk to God, today. You need to remember God, today. You read to thank God, today. You need to walk with God, today. You need that because you may not have a tomorrow. The rich farmer didn’t. You may not finish school. You may not get married. You may not retire. You may not build those barns you need. You may not…but if you’re rich in God, it’s ok. If not….well, you know the outcome.

  Today! Not tomorrow. Today. Rich toward God, today!

Roger

09

Jump Start # 279

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 279

1 Kings 3:24-25 “And the king said, ‘Get me a sword.’ So they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, ‘Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.”

  Our passage today comes from one of the great stories in the Bible. It demonstrates the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon was the son of King David and after David died, Solomon became the king. God granted him a wish. Solomon chose wisdom. And now he is faced with a situation in which he has to use that wisdom.

  Two prostitutes who lived alone in the same house both had babies, just three days apart. One of the mothers accidently rolled over one baby while it was in bed with her and the baby died. That mother then switched babies and took the live baby. Both mothers claim the live baby is hers and the dead baby belongs to the other. So they come before the king to settle the matter.

  Today, a DNA test would be done and the case solved. Solomon didn’t know about DNA. Both women present their side of the story. He doesn’t know. One is lying, he’s just not sure which one. His wisdom leads him to this, spilt the child in half and give each a half. The result would be that both babies would be dead and neither would have a live baby. The mother of the dead baby agreed to the plan. She is a lying prostitute who is willing to allow an innocent baby to be killed—what a twisted and sorry character she is. The mother of the living child protests. She is willing to surrender her parental rights and give the child to the other mother if it meant sparing the child’s life. Her concern was with the child. Solomon saw that. He awarded her the child. I’d hope that this woman found new housing arrangements after that.

  Solomon’s wisdom test was really a test of character. Even though both were shady in character, being prostitutes, one was dishonest through and through. Jesus said of the false teachers, “You will know them by their fruits.” He went on to say that a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. The character of a person is demonstrated by their actions. Young people get this mixed up and often adults do the same when it comes to talking about family members. I’ve heard people say, “He’s really a good person,” he just happens to be sitting in the back of a police car with handcuffs on. Or, he has just been kicked out of college. Or, he has just been fired, again. I knew a family in which an adult child was stealing from other family members by using their names and social security numbers to get bogus credit cards with no intention of paying for what was purchased. The family was adamant that he was good at heart. Really? Didn’t show it, did he?

   Years ago, some came to the conclusion that they “just came that way.” They’d use the expression, “bad seed,” as if the person couldn’t help it. All the other kids were honest, decent and noble, but this one, well, “he’s just came that way. But he’s really good at heart.” Get real! No way. We don’t come this way or that way, we choose and our influenced. A lack of training, terrible role models, ungodly influences, and a lack of Jesus Christ running through the hearts in the home all play a role. Character is who you are—all the time. An honest person is honest, even when the police pulls him over, even when the boss calls him into the office. He’s just that way. Sometimes he has to take his share of lumps for not doing what he should have, but he’s honest to the core. The same goes for righteousness and purity.

  The prostitute whose child had died was not honest. Solomon found that out quickly. A dishonest person will lie to get out of trouble and they will cheat to get ahead. That is how they function.

  God is more concerned about our character than anything else. Our character defines who we are. You’ll notice that Peter says, “Be holy as He is Holy” not do holy things. A person can do holy things without being holy. Be means become…it is a state of being. Our character will take care of our behavior, motives, attitudes, language and a host of other things. All of this tells me, I can sit in a church building every Sunday, even wearing a tie and everyone can think that I’m a great Christian, but my character is what will show it. What do I do when I am in that church building? How do I behave on the way home? What’s running through my mind? What am I longing for? It’s a matter of character.

  Solomon could tell after a sword was handed to him. God can tell without a sword. There’s no fooling God. Who you are is determined by what’s inside of you. The more of Christ you put in you the more He has an affect upon you. Good trees…good fruit. That’s just the way it is.

Roger

08

Jump Start # 278

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 278

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.”

  The book of Daniel—the last of the major prophets and the book that gave us the story of the three Jewish boys in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lion’s den. As a child in Bible classes, the book of Daniel was exciting, especially for boys who like to get on the floor and fight the lions, even though that never happened in the story.

  Let’s fill in some background information about the book. The book takes places in the 500’s B.C. The nation of Judah has ignored prophet after prophet that God has sent. They are bent on worshipping idols and doing what they want to do. God warns, the nation ignores. God says enough and sends the Babylonian armies to punish Judah. It is destructive and devastating. The walls around Jerusalem are smashed. The Temple is ransacked and burned. Many are killed. The best of the young are carried off to Babylon. They are given Babylonian names and taught Babylonian ways. This punishment lasts for 70 years, a generation. After that, a new nation takes over and some of Judah are allowed to return. The walls are rebuilt and a new temple is built. This is where the Old Testament ends.

  Bible history is fascinating. Don’t be afraid of it, nor ignore it. There are lessons. Understanding it is key to understanding the message of the Bible. Often ideas we have are not true historically. For instance, it is generally thought that Daniel was a teenager in the lion’s den. Not so. He was captured as a young man by the Babylonians in chapter 1. Seventy years pass, a new nation takes over in chapter 5. It is in chapter 6 that Daniel winds up in the lion’s den. Daniel is in his 80’s, at least. Now that’s a little different that the images we see drawn for Vacation Bible School and other places.

  Our verse today takes place soon after Daniel is taken to Babylon. He is a youth. He has been captured. He is not treated as a prisoner. The Babylonians are trying to turn the Jewish youths into Babylonians. Away from home, in a different land with different customs and not wanting to be there make all the ingredients for someone to be rebellious to God. The Jews had laws about foods. Certain foods were considered “unclean.” But Daniel is away from home. He doesn’t have a choice. Yes, he does.

  The passage says that “Daniel made up his mind ahead of time.” I wish all could do that. I wish I did that more. That means, first of all, Daniel knew what was right and what God wanted him to do—even away from home. College is a wonderful time to shine for God or to act like an idiot and do all the things you would never ever do when at home. There is an abundance of alcohol floating around college campuses, even the “Christian” colleges. Why? Students haven’t made up their minds or else they have made the wrong choice. Away from home, without any guidance, it’s see how stupid you can become. And many do. Wasting opportunity, tons of money and getting themselves in trouble with the law but more so, starting a dangerous and addictive path away from God.

  Daniel made up his mind. Even though he was away from home. Even though no one may ever know. Even though he wasn’t in the position to do much about it. He knew what God expected. He was old enough to know what he should do. God was counting on him and he wasn’t going to let God down, even away from home.

  Imagine, this morning, before you get your day going, you, like Daniel, were to “set your mind.” Imagine saying, “Today, I will not tell a lie. Period.” Now, as soon as you say that, you’ll be challenged. Something will happen. Will you keep that promise? Imagine saying, “Today, I will not take God’s name in vain.” Or, “I will not look at pornography.” Or, “I will not have a sorry attitude.” Or, “I will not talk mean about others.” Even at work. Even on a road trip. Even in a text message. Even in the dorm. Or, the positive side, “I will thank my God for giving me another day.” Or, “I will read  one chapter of the Bible today.” Or, “I will tell one person about Jesus.” But it’s not Sunday? But I have a lot to do today. Make your mind up ahead of time.

  When we don’t make our minds up ahead of time, we are forced to act upon the moment. We become “reactionary.” At those moments, we generally choose what is easiest, safest, and hurts the least—and often, not what is best. Standing for what is right can get you in trouble. It did for Daniel later on. That’s why he was in the lion’s den. And that’s why the Jewish boys were in the fiery furnace. There are some things that just ought to be settled in the mind and heart of a disciple. For instance, church services shouldn’t be determined by looking out the window and seeing if it’s a nice day or not. Doesn’t matter. I made up my mind ahead of time. Living righteously, is something that a disciple makes up their mind to do ahead of time. Keeping your promises, first to God, then your mate, then your family, then your church. You make up your mind to do those things.

  I have found, living this way makes things a lot easier. I already know what I’m going to do. It’s not always easy. I have found that it keeps me out of trouble as well. In making up my mind ahead of time, I say some prayers. That helps me and strengthens me. It seems that when your mind is made up ahead of time, you walk with a sense of purpose and determination. You tend to see the big picture in life.

  Got your mind made up yet? Daniel did . Give it a try today. Stay with it. Think about it. You might find this is a great way to start every day…making your mind up for God.

Roger