31

Jump Start # 616

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 616

Daniel 3:16-18  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

This is an amazing passage of courage, faith and conviction. Many of us grew up talking about this in our Bible classes and VBS. This wasn’t written for kids, it’s for all of us. There are several interesting things about this passage.

First, these three Jewish men were young. Chapter 1 tells us that the Babylonian king took youths from Israel. They may have been teenagers. We often don’t expect much from young people. Staying out of jail and staying awake during church is about all that most older folks hope from them. How sad. Young people are awesome. They bring great energy and enthusiasm to all that they do. They ask incredible questions. Some are challenging to answer. They bring a freshness to prayer and an eagerness to learning. Don’t sell the young people short. Expect much. They can do it.

Second, they were away from home. This wasn’t by their choice. They were captives taken to Babylon. Today we may call them hostages. Kidnapped would be another word to describe them plight. Their names were changed to Babylonian names. They were taught the Babylonian language and the Babylonian way of things. The king was trying to change them from the inside out. He didn’t bring their parents. They’d resist. The future, he hoped, were in these new Babylonians. Away from home a person is often tempted to do what he’d never do at home. Away, without parents, it’s easy to slack off and not be what you ought to. These three demonstrated that they were believers in God. Parents or no parents. In Israel or in Babylon, they were believers. College students need to take this to heart. It’s easy away from home to not connect to a congregation, to let your spiritual life die and to become “Babylonian.” Not these three. They refused. They believed in God. Great lesson for all of us.

Third, they were alone in their convictions. It’s one thing to stand with thousands, but it appears that it was just these three. I don’t know where Daniel was at this point. It seems that the entire nation was poised to bow. The pressure was on to bow. There would be serious consequences if they didn’t. Young people face things like this. It may cost them a job. It may mean not passing a class. For these three, it meant life.

Have you ever thought how these three could have easily faked it. They could have bowed at the right moment and tied their shoes. It would look like they were in compliance, when they weren’t. They didn’t do that. They could have stooped half way, not fully bowing and not fully standing. They may have gotten away with that. They didn’t do that. They could have bowed and prayed to Jehovah. They didn’t. They stood. They were defiant. They would not compromise. They would not leave any doubt.

Even if God would not rescue them, they would not bow. They knew. The 10 Commandments forbade that. It was wrong. Completely. There is no way that bow to an idol could be right. Never! Such faith. Such assurance. Such confidence.

They stood and the king fumed. They stood and the furnace burned hotter. They stood and they were condemned. That same spirit is found years later in the apostles. They were told not to preach Christ. They defiantly said, “we must obey God rather than man.”

We need more folks like that today. Folks that stand with God. Folks that are willing to take the lumps instead of bowing to the wishes of others. Stand up to wicked and corrupt bosses who feel that they are beyond the law. They are not. Stand up to those who want to water down the message of God. Stand up to those who are make wrong a sport and love to put others down. Whimpy Christians won’t make it when a furnace is blazing hot. Those who are afraid of hurting the feelings of others, will only hurt God by their compromising ways.

We are not going to serve your gods…we are not going to lie….we are not going to cheat customers…we are not going to fudge the numbers…we are not going to be abusive and rude…we are not going to take advantage of others. We are not going to…

The king could throw those three Jewish men into the furnace, but he could not make them bow. They stood with God. How about you? Who are you standing with? Have you bowed down and sold yourself to keep a job…a marriage…a lifestyle…a reputation. It’s time to stand up, first for yourself and then to God. No one can make you bow. They can put you in a furnace but they can never make you bow.

That spirit drove the flames of reformation throughout Europe and the spirit of restoration throughout early America. It is the spirit that changes hearts, families and congregations today. What those three Jewish men did was brave. It was scary. It was the right thing to do.

Roger

 

30

Jump Start # 615

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 615

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Paul makes a couple of contrasts in this great passage. The first contrast is with time, “the present time,” with what is to be “revealed.” It’s a now verse later comparison. The second contrast is with conditions, “suffering” with “glory.” Putting up with bad with the understanding that the amazing is coming. What is happening now is nothing to what is coming. That’s a great thought for us. We get stuck in the present and we often can’t move beyond the sufferings of the present.

Few people lived with suffering for as long as Paul did. He suffered in many ways. He suffered the rejection of his country men for leaving the Jewish faith for Christianity. He suffered physically. He was hunted down and persecuted. Paul was beaten and imprisoned on several occasions. For many, that alone would have destroyed their spirit. They would have given up. The cost would not be worth it. Nothing is worth that kind of torture and abuse. Not Paul. He did not feel that way. What was happening was not worthy to compare with what was coming. Paul grasped what was coming. There was a glory to be revealed.

The idea of glory is often associated with Jesus. At the transfiguration He revealed His glory. Matthew states that Jesus is coming in all His glory. The idea is seeing Jesus as God. God is glorious. Paul’s thoughts are connected with Heaven. He understood that the trials and hardships of life do not last. They will end. The glory that is to be revealed is Heaven. Because of Heaven, we can endure another day. Because of what is coming, we can put up with difficulties.

There was something special about Paul’s way of seeing things. He saw what was coming. He saw that it was out of this world. He saw that glorious world called Heaven. The Colossians were told to “set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth” (3:2). The Hebrews were told to “Fix your eyes on Jesus” (12:2).  That’s easier said than done. When things aren’t going well, we tend to see the problem and only the problem. It’s hard to see Heaven when you aren’t feeling well. It’s hard to think of Heaven when you are struggling with your faith and problems are all around you. It’s hard, but it can be done. It’s a choice. It’s faith. It’s what we choose to dwell upon.

It seems that when a person focuses upon their problems, they tend to live with a dark cloud around them. They are discouraged and the motivation level is very low. They can’t see the end to their problems. It consumes them and over takes them. Doubt creeps in and fear and worry dominate their thinking.

Others see what Paul wrote as a sense of spiritual denial. They just ignore problems and pretend that all is fine when it is not. The false prophets in Jeremiah’s day declared, “Peace, peace, when there was no peace.” Paul was aware of his suffering. He mentioned it, but didn’t dwell upon it. The problems hurt him but they did not destroy him. His focus was upon the next world.

We sing, “this world is not my home,” but it’s hard not to act as if it’s that way. Heaven. Have you given that some real thought lately. Imagine all that you have done so far today that you will not do in Heaven. Turned on a light? Not in Heaven. Taken a pill? Not in Heaven. Locked a door? Not in Heaven. Driven past a cemetery? Not in Heaven. Got a doctor’s appointment? Not in Heaven. Got ready for work? Not in Heaven. Felt tired or weary? Not in Heaven. Hungry? Not in Heaven. Learned of some bad news? Not in Heaven.

The glory to be revealed was something that captured Paul’s thinking. He talked about it often. He taught it, lived it and longed for it. Won’t it be wonderful there, is a song that we sing. It will be. All the things that plague us today won’t be in Heaven.

We have something great coming. There is nothing like it here. Think about it. Long for it. Want it. The  glory that is to be revealed. Got problems? We all do. Got Heaven? That’s something else. That makes the problems seem like no problem. This is more than positive thinking, this is faith, hope and promise of God.

There is a great day coming…

Roger

 

29

Jump Start # 614

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 614

1 Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

Our verse today addresses the subject of modesty. That subject, for many, seems to be old fashioned, and something that belongs in grandma’s days. Well, it’s not. The problems associated with immodesty are just as alive as they ever have been. Prom dresses, wedding dresses and what some wear to the mall are shocking. It’s even more shocking that Christians are wearing these things without any reservations. Jeremiah 6 says that the people in his days no longer blushed. I wonder if we are there, ourselves. Modesty matters. Not just in church buildings, but on vacation, or anywhere else.

The thought I want to look at is not so much the theme of modesty but Paul’s statement, “making a claim to godliness.” That’s the problem with immodesty—folks aren’t trying to be godly. They are not making that claim.

Making a claim to godliness is a definition of life. It affects multiple areas of life. I have a friend who loves University of Kentucky basketball, bless her heart! She is a die hard fan. She attends the games. She listens to the radio discussions after the game and then she comes home and watches the game again that she taped on TV. She wears wildcat blue. I’ve never seen her with blue hair, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Everyone knows she’s a fan. She shows her colors. She’s proud of her team. She knows the players names, backgrounds and all kinds of information about the team. She is a true fan. She makes a claim! There is no doubt what team she pulls for.

Now, consider that thought spiritually, about Jesus. A person making a claim to godliness is going to be known as godly. What they do, what they talk about, what they know, what they are interested in is going to surround Jesus and godliness. Their true colors will be known.

 

There is a difference between a real fan of a team and someone who hops on the bandwagon at the end of the season. The true fan has been following the team all season long. They have been there through the low periods and the losses. They have stuck with them. Others get excited about a team near the end of the season. They become a seasonal fan—liking them only when they are winning big and about to head to tournaments. They do not know much about the team. They haven’t stuck with them long.

Making a claim to godliness—means a person will show it, talk about it, know something about it, be interested in it, follow it, and be excited about it. Making a claim…

Making a claim has two affects.

First, there is an internal affect. It doesn’t something to the person making the claim. They think about God and being godly. They seek to please God. Godly people are their people. They walk with God. They pursue godly things. They want to be godly.

Second, it has an external affect. Those around them know them to be a godly person. Their behavior is a bit different, it’s godly. They pray before they eat. They watch their attitude, words, and actions. They have a positive affect upon others. They are good to be around. They can be counted upon. Their word is their word. They are helpful, dependable and confident. They freely talk about things of the Bible. They aren’t ashamed to be seen carrying a Bible in their hand. People know them for their hard work. They are a resource for help with life. People tend to gravitate to them because of who they are.

Making a claim. It’s not showing off, it’s not pretense, it’s not “in your face” stuff. It’s something that they have found to be right, good and true. They want to be godly. They will make that their choice. They don’t waver when others, especially in the family, don’t make that claim. That doesn’t stop them.

Making a claim—it will make a person modest, in all areas. It will make a person prayerful, in all areas. It will make a person Biblical, in all areas. It will lead to pleasing God, in all areas.

Make the claim—have you? Do people around you know that? Fitting in and blending in are not as important as making the claim—first to God, then to self, and finally to others. I am a Christian! I belong to Jesus! I worship on Sunday. I give money, time and talent to the cause of Christ. I believe in Him. I stand with Him. That’s the claim.

It’s time to make it, if you haven’t.

Roger

 

25

Jump Start # 613

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 613

NOTE: Our Jumpstarts following the working schedule.  So when there is a holiday, we take a break from our Jumpstarts. There will be no Jumpstarts this Monday. We will be back with you again on Tuesday.

Psalms 65:13 “The meadows are clothed with flocks, And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing.”

The Psalmist is speaking of the good times and blessings from the Lord. The Lord had been good to him. His meadows were full of flocks. His fields were covered with grain. Those are sweet words to a shepherd and a farmer. Meadows empty and fields barren are their fear. These abundant conditions didn’t come about from his hard work, his wisdom or great plans. They came from the Lord. The blessings in this poetic passage are shouting and singing. They are excited. It’s as if they couldn’t wait to help and bless those who would receive it. There is a sense of excitement from the Lord to send these blessings. They aren’t given with reservations, concerns or an “do I have to” spirit. The meadows are singing and shouting.

This time of the year is busy and a happening time for many folks. There are graduations and weddings and family get togethers. These are happy occasions. Parents beam with joy. It is a time to be thankful. It is a time to connect to the Lord. Goodness and blessings from the Lord are not sparse, but abundant. God is a generous God. We may not see graduations or weddings as blessings, but they are. There have been many prayers answered to get to those points. There has been some battles fought, some hills climbed and some anxious moments. But now, it is the time to rejoice. I think God likes us to do that. God wants His children to rejoice in the blessings that He sends.

There are periods of our life when it seems that the burdens and the problems are greater than we can handle. Answers are hard to find. We seem alone. Stress levels seem to be to their limits. Those aren’t joyful times for us. But we get through them. We do that with the Lord’s help. That itself is a blessing. Then we come to seasons in which the meadows are clothed with flocks. The meadows of our health. We feel good. The meadows of relationships. We are getting along with others and they are getting along with us. The meadows of spirituality. We love our walk with the Lord. We are growing, learning, and loving our time with the Lord. The meadows of opportunities. There are so many things to do—good things, helpful things, spiritual things. The meadows of finances. We have jobs, are making money, and are able to store for the future as well as help others. Our meadows are clothed with flocks. What a great statement. It’s like saying, “I am blessed.”

I heard that the other day. Someone asked a person how he was. We expect the typical reply, “Fine.” He didn’t say that. He said, “I’m blessed.” That caught my attention. I like that. Here was a person who realized that his flocks were clothed with flocks. That spirit and that attitude colors the world you see. It brings God into what we are doing. It invites the Lord into our days.

Our meadows are clothed with flocks—I really like that phrase. God is good to us. He treats us better than we deserve. He shows that He loves us, over and over. Our meadows are clothed. They are naked. They are barely filled. They are clothed!

Let’s remember these things as we go about this weekend. God  is so good, he’s so good to me (and you).

Roger

 

 

24

Jump Start # 612

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 612

James 1:1 “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.”

The opening sentence to the book of James begins like most N.T. books. It tells us the author, the audience and a pleasant greeting. We don’t too excited about verses like that. Often in Bible classes our emphasis is figuring out which James this is and understanding who the twelve tribes are. Good stuff. We need to know those things. However, one of the greatest statements in this verse is overlooked, “a bond-servant of God.”

A better translation would be a slave of God. Servant carries a softer edge than a slave. Many could be servants, but few would want to be a slave. Servants work for someone else. Slaves are owned by someone else. At the end of the day, the servant goes home. For the slave, he cannot leave. He has no rights, privileges, no advocacy. Servants got paid. Slaves did not. Servants often became servants because of debt. Once the debt was paid, they were free. Slaves were slaves as long as their masters wanted that relationship. If a slave ran, he was hunted down. If caught, he could be branded, crippled or even killed. Slaves were viewed about the way we view a shovel, they were tools.

We don’t like the concept of slavery. Our history has moved away from that concept. All are equal. All have rights. All are free. The spirit of freedom breeds irresponsibility. Some in thinking that they are free, use that to say anything, even if it is offensive or crude. Others feel like it give them the right to be their own law. I’ll do what I want, when I want. Such thinking and such living is more irresponsibility than it is freedom. The last thing most want is to be a slave.

Most of the apostles referred to themselves as slaves of Christ. This was not negative. This wasn’t complaining. This wasn’t said to seek sympathy or pity from others. This was a choice, their choice. They wanted to be slaves of Christ. They were glad to be slaves of Christ.

First, no one could have a better Master than Jesus. He was kind, helpful and loving. He is good to all.

Second, the concept of slavery to Christ means discipleship. It is becoming like the Master. It is the surrender of your life for His life. It is doing things God’s way. It is, as Paul told the Galatians, “Christ lives in me.” That’s what James meant. That’s what all Christians should want. We belong to Christ. Christ is our Master. We do His will, not ours. We do things His way, not our way.

The process of becoming a slave is surrender. We give up. We release. We let Christ take over the wheel. We sing a song that says, “I surrender all…” Easy to sing, tough to do. The thought of the slave is pleasing the Master. If the Master is not happy, life is not good for the slave. If the slave did what he wanted to do first, and then got around to doing what the master wanted, he would be in trouble—lots of trouble.

Our biggest enemy is not atheism, Eastern religions, socialism, or even Satan. Our biggest problem is self. Self gets in the way most times. Self wants to be first. Self wants to be recognized and praised. Self seeks to do what it wants to do. In defining discipleship Jesus said that anyone who wanted to follow Him had to first, Deny self. Following Christ without denying self won’t last long. You’ll come to an intersection where Christ wants you to go one way and you feel like going another. Who wins? Which way will you go?  Without denying self, you’ll follow the path that you want. Christ, right then, becomes second place to self. Other situations will follow. This will be a battle the rest of your life—self or Christ. Self usually wins.  This is why we must start with denying self. Denial. Refusing. Saying “no.” In basketball, the expression, “denied” is used when a player blocks the shot of someone else. He was denied a basket. Spiritually, denial takes place when we put Christ first over self. It’s hard to do that. It takes faith. It take realizing that what Christ wants is far better than what we want. It takes knowing that pleasing Christ in the end is the best that can happen to us.

James was a slave of Christ. He was glad. He loved to serve Jesus. He was happy he could be used. God doesn’t need a room full of volunteers, He need’s an army of slaves, those that will put God first. Those that will sacrifice for Him. Those that will deny self. Comfort, ease, happiness, and fun are the concerns of volunteers. Slaves are about getting things done right for the Master. Volunteers think about what they will do once they are finished volunteering. Slaves don’t think those thoughts. They don’t see beyond being slaves. They are slaves and they will remain slaves. They want to be slaves.

I have volunteered for a few charitable events in the past. You give a few hours on a Saturday, get a cool t-shirt, meet some folks, move a few tables, answer a few questions and then it’s over. You go home and you tend to forget about it. Not so with slaves. Slavery defines who you are. You are a slave.

Will you do anything for Jesus? Even if it costs money? Even if it takes time? Even if involves your lifetime? I think it’s time we got back to the slavery concept. Sitting in a church building on Sunday, but being a different person at work on Monday isn’t the image Jesus has in mind. You belong to Him. Everywhere. All the time. That means on a date, you belong to Jesus. Behave yourself! That means on vacation you belong to Jesus. None of this “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” No. You belong to Jesus. That means at work, you belong to Jesus. Office gossip, corporate cheating, walking over others—not in your plans any longer. You belong to Jesus. That means, you’ll be at worship services, even on days when you don’t feel like going. Why? Because you are a slave to Jesus. It means you’ll shake the salt and shine the light of godly influence because you belong to Jesus. Slavery isn’t about what I feel like doing or what I want to do, it’s all about the Master. It’s seeking the Master first.

 

Members of organizations come and go. They join and then they quit. Slaves don’t do that. They don’t quit. They belong. Years ago, we had a kid in the neighborhood who would give us some of his toys for our birthday presents. I remember a green plastic army truck that he gave one of us. On the bottom of the truck was his name. It was a used toy that he didn’t want anymore. His name was still on it.  In many ways, that’s us spiritually. We carry the name of Jesus on us. We belong to him.

James belonged to Jesus. Do you? How much of you belongs to Jesus? Remember He said to love God with ALL your heart, mind and soul. ALL—that’s denial. That’s surrender. That’s slavery. That’s freedom in Christ. That’s the only way you’ll be anything with the Lord—is to give Him your all.

Roger