15

Jump Start # 498

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 498 

Mark 8:16 “They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.” 

  Our passage today shows how the disciples so often were not on the same page with Jesus and how the journey of faith is hindered by the physical. Jesus was warning the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees. The expression, “leaven of the Pharisees” meant their influence. Just as leaven spreads through dough and makes bread rise, the leaven of the Pharisees was a corrupt influence that led to false ideas about God. On another occasion Jesus was warning again about the leaven of Pharisees when he was interrupted by someone wanting Jesus to settle a family dispute about money and inheritances.

  While Jesus is warning, the disciples are worrying. Jesus is talking spiritual and the disciples are talking about lunch. Jesus is instructing about influence and the disciples are discussing the physcial. How this must have made Jesus weary with those men. He must have thought, “Will they ever get it?”

  Jesus reminds them about how he fed the 5,000 and how much extra they had and on another occasion He fed 4,000 and again they had baskets full of extra. Jesus always took care of them. They never squeaked by or barely had enough, with Jesus, the blessings overflowed. Do they not think that Jesus could feed them, only twelve disciples after he has fed thousands?

  So often the here and now, the physical stands in the way of the spiritual. We are dual creatures, both physical and spiritual and the physical is what is visible to us and it is the realm that seems to dominate. Our jobs, our finances, the weather, our health, even our moods so often stand in the way of the spiritual.

  This story from Mark seems so ridiculous but I see myself there as well. Concerned about lunch dominates the mind and it seems to be the most pressing issue at the moment. It wasn’t. Most can skip one meal. Jesus would take care of them, He always had in the past. Yet, the growling belly can close the ears to the spiritual lessons.

  That seems so shallow, but we know that’s the way it is. When we are that way, it seems that the need for bread becomes our obsession. It’s interesting that apparently all the disciples were in this discussion about lunch. No one said, “Hush, I can’t hear Jesus,” or, “We’ll talk about this when He is finished.” No, the hungry bellies seemed to be the topic of the hour.

  This bothers me from two standpoints. First, I know as a preacher, that when I am preaching, some are discussing bread. It may be the plans they have after church. It may be trying to figure out what more they have to do for the holidays. It may be wondering if they are going to get a bonus this year. It may be planning next year’s vacation. It may be where are we going for lunch. That bothers me. I guess it shouldn’t because the disciples did it to Jesus and no one preaches better than Jesus did.

  Secondly, it bothers me because I have done this myself. The mind wanders and it doesn’t pay attention and it tends to settle upon the lunch type of topics—the here and now kind of things. Been there and done that and not proud of that.

  Jesus didn’t give up on these disciples. He stayed with it. They eventually got it and would find themselves in the role of teaching like Jesus was doing to them. That is the same lesson for us. Jesus stays with us. He’s patient. He wants you to be spiritually minded. He wants you to see things as He sees them.

  Hungry bellies are no match for hungry souls. The belly can be taken care of so easily, the soul needs more attention. All of us must be reminded of this. We are more than physical. We have a soul that needs to be fed and a soul that longs for God. Some seem to have forgotten. They live for the physical and act as if they have no soul. Their conversations and their zest in life is only for the physical things. They get excited about the physical. They long for the physical. The physical brings them much joy. They have lived this way for so long that they have stuffed their soul away so deeply that they don’t even realize that they have a soul. It is not until they are forced to go to the funeral home and for a brief few minutes they wonder if there is life after death and if there is a Heaven, surely it includes football, food, shopping and all the physical life that they enjoy now. Even their Heaven is an extension of the physical world.

  This is not the way it is with the followers of Christ. Their souls, the spiritual, is as much a part of their life as the physical. They think about the spiritual. They think about how things will affect their souls and the consequences things have to their souls. Followers of Jesus are interested in growing spiritually. They enjoy discussions about spiritual things. They find satisfaction in Biblical classes and sermons. They want to know more about Jesus. And, not surprisingly, the followers of Jesus, tend to live a calmer, more peaceful life and they tend to be more thoughtful of others, kind hearted, and generous—and the reason is that they have grown in the spirit and have seen Jesus through the Gospels.

  During the second and third centuries there arose a philosophy called Gnosticism that affected many Christians. It was based upon knowledge and the belief that the physical part of life had no impact upon the spiritual side of life. This weird belief led to all kinds of false ideas, even about who Jesus was, but at the heart of all of this was a disconnect between the soul and the body. They missed it. The body and soul are connected. One affects the other. Living as if you have no soul is not wise. Living as if one does not affect the other isn’t wise either.

  We are both. We must pay attention to both. But when it comes to lunch or listening to Jesus, the spiritual side trumps every time. It is the spiritual that lives on. It is the spiritual that goes to Heaven.

  Roger

14

Jump Start # 497

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

Jump Start # 497 

Luke 16:27-28 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

  Our passage today comes from the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Powerful insights and pictures into what happens after we die. There seems to be some controversy as to whether this really happened or if this is a parable—either way, Christ is giving us a postcard of words into the next world. This is the most descriptive account of what happens to the soul when a person dies.

  I’ve been thinking about this lately, I guess because I might be preaching on this soon. The rich man was in torment not because he was rich but because he was selfish. Poor Lazarus was laid at the rich man’s gates. The only way in and out was through the gates. The rich man did nothing. He never sent for help, he never even gave a cup of cold water to Lazarus. They both died. Lazarus most likely dumped into a pauper’s grave and the rich man probably had a grand send off. Opposites in life. Opposites in death.

  In death, both men had a conscience presence about them, they had memory, feelings and identity. They existed. The journey doesn’t end at the cemetery. It ends with God.

  There are two simple thoughts I want to share from our verse today.

  First, the rich man lived as a practical atheist. That’s the worst kind. From the text it is apparent that he is a Jew. He recognized what Moses and the prophets meant—the law of God. He knew that. When he wanted word sent back to his family, the request was denied. He was told that they have Moses and the prophets. The same thing that the rich man had. He knew. Moses and the prophets had made no impression nor impact in his life. God’s law taught about caring for the poor. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandments, He said the second one was to love your neighbor as yourself. He got that from Moses and the prophets. Practical atheism is to live void of God. Each day is the pursuit of things here and now with no thought about God or the eternal. We call this “practical” atheism, because most don’t realize that they live like God doesn’t exist. They would never openly deny God. In fact, many continue to go to church, but in everyday life, there are no prayers going Heavenward, there is no thought to the law of God and the ways of Heaven have left no impression upon the hearts. So like the rich man, folks life for themselves. Selfish, material, greedy and close their eyes to the needs of those about them. The rich man may have been able to save Lazarus’ life. He could have tried. He did nothing. He realized, too late, what a terrible life he had lived. He also knew that his brothers were marching step in step right behind him. Could it be that we are no different? Could it be that the hymns we sing, the Scriptures we read have not reached our hearts and made a significant change? We must consider that.

  Second, I’ve often wonder what the rich man would do if he was granted one more day to live. What if he was allowed to return from the dead for one day and only one day, what would be different. I doubt that he would go to work and spend ten hours at his desk making one more day of profit. I doubt he would spend the day spending his wealth. Knowing what he had just experienced, I’d expect him to dash to each of his brother’s houses, with the Bible tucked under his arm and talk seriously about God and where they were heading. He would tell them that all their “riches” don’t matter in the next world. He would preach, beg and plead for them to bend their hearts to the God of Heaven. It was too late for him, but his brothers had opportunity. I think we could all see him doing something like that.

  Here’s the interesting thing. All we are given is one day—TODAY. We are not promised tomorrow, next week nor another twenty-five years. Only today is what we have. But I find too often that we live like we have all the time in the world. So we spend the day living like practical atheists, ignoring the immediate and the most important, for the trivial that doesn’t matter. Now if you and I knew that today was our last day, we do things differently. I’d expect we’d go the day without TV  – it really doesn’t matter. All the texting, emailing, social networking would probably not be touched if we knew this was our last day. We’d think more about the Lord. We’d surround ourselves with our family. We’d pray like we have never prayed. We’d read Scripture, probably our story from Luke 16.

  Today is all that we have. Someday, today will be our last day. There is a good chance that we won’t know it is our last day. Sickness and disease may indicate that it’s getting close, but even then, most do not know it’s their last day. Today is all that we have. Today is it.

  • Pray more—because today is all that we have
  • Make meaningful conversation—touch lives, impact others, make a difference
  • Think about the Lord and what He wants you to do
  • End the day well. Make it productive. Make it good. If you are given another day tomorrow, use it wisely. Live it godly.

  The rich man never realized that each day, he was one day closer to the end. We live with one foot in Heaven. We live knowing that today we are one day closer to Heaven.

Roger

13

Jump Start # 496

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 496 

1 Corinthians 1:11 “For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.”

  The Corinthian church was a mess. It seems if there were two options, a right way and a wrong way, the Corinthians always settled for the wrong way. Chapter after chapter brings more troubles. Many of the troubles find their root right here with quarrels among you. Those quarrels naturally led to separation or division. It led to some favoring others. It is found in their pitiful attitude toward each other. The acceptance of the immoral brother (chapter 5), the lawsuits among each other (chapter 6), the problems of the Lord’s Supper (chapter 11) and even the fussing over the spiritual gifts (chapters 12-14) have a connection to our verse and quarrels among you. 

  Quarrels don’t just go away. People do. Unsolved, they grow worse and generally involve more people. The solution of course is Jesus. Act like Jesus. Be humble like Jesus. Think like Jesus. See the big picture like Jesus did. Quit being selfish, and be like Jesus. 

  Quarrels is not what the thought I want to really look at today. It’s Chloe’s people. I don’t know who Chloe was. Apparently the Corinthians did, most likely one of their members. The people of Chloe told Paul about the quarrels. That seems odd to me. First impressions, it seems like they are tattletales or even gossips. Paul doesn’t seem to get on Chloe or his people for telling him. We don’t know the whole story. Could it have been that Chloe refused to take sides in the quarrels? Could it have been that Chloe tried all he could to resolve the fussing but the brethren wouldn’t listen to him? Could Chloe have taught Jesus but the quarrels dominated the hearts of the people? Could it have been that Chloe was out of options and he saw the situation growing worse and the wellbeing of the church was at stake? Could it be that he understood the authority of the apostles, Paul’s love for that place and he felt that they would at listen to him?

  Maybe it’s none of those things. I see someone caring so much for his church family and what is right that he will do all that he can to help. It is that spirit that I love. Chloe didn’t have the option that many of us do today, and that is just leave and go to another congregation. Corinth was it. Leaving meant going to another city which wasn’t an option at all. Instead, the problems had to be addressed and worked upon. Chloe felt an obligation to do what he could. He longed not just for peace, but for unity and a family in Christ that would honor the Lord and be a light to the world. As they were, they were an embarrassment.

  Churches can get that way because we can get that way. We forget who we are and what we are about and sin and selfish ways take over and ugliness usually arises. No one likes problems—wherever they are. Problems in the marriage are no picnic. Problems with the kids are nightmares. Problems at work are stressful. And here, problems among brethren, affect worship, divert our attention away from God, and invites all sort of ungodly attitudes and actions. Something had to be done.

  Chloe took to heart the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the peace makers.” We love peace. We want peace. We enjoy peace. But to be a peace maker, means you make peace where it doesn’t exist. That’s messy, hard and stressful—but it’s right and necessary.

  Chloe doesn’t get preached very much. Most wouldn’t remember his name. He plays an important role in trying to save the Corinthian church. He did what he could do. Which brings all this to us. What about us?

  Would we say, “I don’t want to get in the middle of that mess?” Would we say, “It’s not my problem?”  Would we just let happen whatever happened? Chloe had invested his soul in that church and he was doing all he could to keep it alive. More folks like that and there would probably be fewer problems. Chloe strikes me as a roll up your sleeves and let’s get at it type of person. I think I would enjoy being with a Chloe. Chit-chat would quickly turn to the well being of the church and spiritual things. That’s the way he seems to be. He was interested and wanted to make the Corinthian church the best it could be. When we have that attitude, we soon find ourselves rolling up our sleeves and trying to do what we can to make the church the best that it can be. Far too many are long on talk and short on doing and far too many see  problems but don’t want to be part of the solution.

   Had Chloe not told Paul about the quarrels what do you think would have happened? Would the church had split? Probably not—that’s an American solution to church problems, which really isn’t a solution. My guess is that they would have become so consumed with fighting and arguing and dividing that they would have just quit and gone back to their Jewish and pagan ways. Worse, they would have died in their sins and the light would have gone out in that city.

  The situation was serious. Chloe knew it. Action had to be taken. He did what he could. How about you? Have you done what you could?

  Things to chew on for a while. We are one day closer to Heaven and that has a way of reminding us what is most important.

Roger

12

Jump Start # 495

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 495 

Luke 8:25 “And He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ And they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, ‘Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him?’”

  The three years that the disciples traveled with Jesus were unlike any thing they had ever witnessed before. Nearly every day there was something astonishing. I don’t know how they slept. Jesus said amazing things. No one taught like He did. Demons were cast out, the blind had their sight restored, the crippled walked. How do you witness these things and not talk and talk about them for hours on length. Jesus multiplied food and fed thousands or more than one occasion. Peter walked on water. The dead were raised. Event after event crammed in those three short years. Jesus had a schedule and knew what He was doing. The disciples were along for the ride, it was a faith changing and faith building ride.

  Our passage today is yet another page from those three years. Jesus and the disciples are crossing the sea. They did that often. They are caught in a storm. That had happened before. Somehow Jesus sleeps. The storm is very serious. They do all they can but that’s not enough. They fear that they are not going to make it. What a terrible feeling that is, when a person feels that all hope is gone. I’d expect Matthew was the first to lose it. He was a tax collector. He had a desk job. He didn’t know the sea like Peter and John did. But when Peter and John get scared and lose hope, panic struck them all. Jesus is awakened. He’s asked, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Then our verse. Jesus calms the storm but that didn’t calm the hearts of these disciples. They add another “wow” page to their travels with Jesus.

  How is it that He can speak to a storm and the storm obeys Him? No one has done that before. Jesus on other occasions spoke to the dead and they heard Him and came to life. Jesus is adding layer after layer of proof that He is the God of Heaven and Earth. If indeed He has all authority, then all things obey Him. Diseases obey Him. Demons obey Him. The sprit word obeys Him. The weather obeys Him. There is no force, no power, no person that is an equal to Jesus. The laws that govern us, did not govern Him. The forces that confine us, did not confine Him. He could walk on water. He could return from the dead. He has all authority in Heaven and Earth.

  It’s one thing to say that, it’s something else to show it and prove it. He had to get these disciples to see that. There is nothing Jesus could not have done. At the cross, all He had to say was one word and thousands of angels would appear. He didn’t do that, but He reminded them that He could. I expect if He needed to pull the moon right over to the earth so the apostles could touch it, He could have. He was unlimited. He had all authority. That’s on the edge of hard to believe. It was for the disciples.

  There is only one area that Jesus left alone—that was human faith. He never forced it. He could have. He never made someone believe. The winds, the waves, the demons, the diseases were all obedient to Him by His command. He wants us to choose Him. He wants us to come to Him because we want to. He demands obedience, but He doesn’t force it.

  Jesus wants you to experience what these disciples did, a journey of faith. The Scriptures provide for us the proof that we need. Jesus is God. He has all authority. There is nothing that Jesus could not do. When we get that, we believe. When we get that we obey. When we get that we are ready for Jesus to be our Lord.

  I am amazed at the apostles. They were just going through life as you and I do, raising their families, going to work when Jesus came into their lives. They followed when He told them to. They saw things nearly every day that no one else ever had. It was one or two isolated things. These miracles happened nearly every day, and in nearly every place they went to. Witnessing these things changed their lives. They went everywhere telling people about this Jesus.

  And the greatest miracle of all, was saving us from our sins! That is something we could not do. That is something that He continues to do. That is something I witnessed last evening as a young lady gave her life to Jesus and was baptized. The miracle worker. The one who could do what no one else could. The Lord. Our God. The one who has all authority—everywhere!

  Reading the gospels ought to make you say over and over, “Incredible.” “How did He do that?” Another miracle. Another example of all authority. Another “wow” page in the journal and journey with Jesus.

  Roger

09

Jump Start # 494

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

Jump Start # 494 

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” 

  I read this verse yesterday in a funeral service of a very dear man who walked with the Lord and served the people of God most of his life. His life leaves many incredible footprints to follow in faithfulness, compassion and devotion, to God and family.

  This passage in Revelation is interesting for a couple of reasons.

  First, the way it starts. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” Few understand that and fewer still would ever confess to that. We often do not view death as a blessing. We see it as it was given in Genesis as a curse. We dread it. We don’t like to talk about it. We do all we can to put it off and when it happens, our common words are, “it is a loss,” or, “they are gone,” or, “it’s a tragedy.” Less common expressions are, “kicking the bucket” or, “bought the farm.”

  That’s not how God sees it. From Heaven’s perspective, death is a blessing, that is, if one is righteous and walking with the Lord. Their journey has ended, not at the cemetery but in the arms of God who will take them home. Never again will they have to “fight the fight of faith,” or, “resist temptation,” or, struggle in this world. Those things are finished. It is a joy and accomplishment when one finally finishes college with their degree. They worked and worked for that. Many tests, papers, classes and quizzes. The goal was the degree. They stayed with it and finished it. The walk of a Christian takes us to Heaven. That’s the goal. That’s where we want to be. There are many things here that are part of getting there. We have responsibilities, we have worship, we have shinning our light, we have standing for good. Like quizzes, tests, and papers, these things are not our focus, our focus is completing and getting to Heaven. Blessed are those who die in the Lord.

  The second principle we find here is that those who die in the Lord “rest from their labors.” The labor is not going to work every day. It’s not rest from house work or cooking, or cleaning garages. The rest is connected to the Lord. These are those who labored for the Lord. They lived for Jesus. They taught when they could. They encouraged when they could. They put others first. They tried to help others see Jesus. They worked and worked and molded their family, helped the congregation and influenced their world. They never quit. They used their talents for the Lord. They made a difference in the lives of so many. Their impact is seen even after death. The passage says, “for their deeds follow them.” The good that they done live on even though they don’t. Another generation taught. Another person influenced. Commitment to the Lord, love for good, faithfulness to the word are qualities that shape families for generations, influence congregations for decades and whose memory live on in the hearts of God’s people.

  Jesus said we must work for the night is coming, and so it is. We labor for the Lord. We go out to visit someone when we are tired and don’t feel like it. We help someone when we’d like to stay home and watch TV. We teach yet another class. We preach yet another sermon. We invite yet another person. The righteous are busy doing these things all the time. They don’t even remember all the things they have done, and they wouldn’t want to, because they remember what the Lord has done for them.

  What waits these righteous at death is rest. Rest from their labors. Their weary hands, tired hearts finally get to stop as they are embraced by their Lord and they get sweet Heavenly rest.  Some would like that now. But now is not the time. It comes after death. Now, we must be busy. Now is the time for work. Now is when the Lord needs us and is counting upon us. Lift those weary hands and help yet another. Raise that tired voice and yet teach another. Soon the Lord will tap us on the shoulder and tell us we can rest but not now.

  I am thankful that my path crossed with such a laborer in the Lord. Dear Dauphus, enjoy the sweet rest in the Lord that God has promised to you. You only did what you were supposed to, but you did it well and you never quit, and it made a difference. You are among the BLESSED. Now it is up to us to pick up the spiritual tools and carry on.

  Thank you, my friend.

  Roger