22

Jump Start # 632

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 632

Psalms 56:8 “Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book?”

The subtitle of this Psalm tells us that it was written by David when the Philistines seized him in Gath. David was being pursued by King Saul. He was running for his life. He thought he could cross the border into enemy territory and the chase would end. His thinking was that he could at least find some peace there. The problem is that Gath was the city of Goliath, the giant that David had killed. Others of Goliath’s family had been killed as well. The Philistines did not welcome David and he had to once again flee. He was being hunted. He was on the run.

The beginning of this chapter magnifies the intensity of what David was experiencing.

  • Man has trampled upon me (1)
  • Fighting all day long he oppresses me (1)
  • For they are many who fight proudly against me (2)
  • They attack, they lurk, they watch my steps (6)

David talks of fear. Our verse describes tears, “Put my tears in Thy bottle.”

My dad has been having some eye trouble recently. He went to the eye doctor and was told that there are three different kinds of tears. I didn’t know that. I haven’t given much thought about tears. I’ve seen women tear up at weddings. They are happy. I’ve seen tears at funerals. That’s hard to witness. I tend to think that women tear up more than men do, or at least they aren’t ashamed to admit it. The movie “Brian’s Song,” always got me. There is a scene where Gayle Sayers is in the Chicago Bears locker room and he tells his teammates about their fellow player, Brian Piccolo, who is dying of cancer. Sayers states, “I just love Brian Piccolo.” I’m bawling at that point!

David was aware that God knew of his troubles. God had witnesses his tears. Instead of saying dumb things such as “Man-up” or “big boys don’t cry,” God stored David’s tears in a bottle. He kept those tears. We keep things that are important to us. We keep ticket stubs when we were dating. We keep photos and souvenirs of trips we’ve taken. We keep the stick figured drawings that our children made when they were small. Henry Ford tried to capture the final breath of his idol, Thomas Edison. It sits in a glass test tube in a museum in Dearborn, MI. God was keeping David’s tears. They were important to God.

Remember, the Psalms are poetic. God doesn’t have real bottles in Heaven and how would David’s tears get from his cheeks to Heaven? This is a figure of speech to show the intimacy, closeness and compassion of God. Every tear is important to Him. The things that bother His children, bother Him. God understood. God cared.

Have you ever thought about how many times you have cried in your life? Seems to me that that older we get the less we laugh and the less we cry. Kids seem to be crying or laughing all the time. Maybe we could learn something from them. For many of us, our crying is limited to movies and funerals. Could it be that we ought to cry more? Could it be that things ought to bother us but they don’t? Have we just gotten use to wrong and it no longer causes us to shed any tears? Do prodigals no longer cause us to cry?

David wasn’t watching a movie, nor was he at a funeral. His life was upside down and the fear and stress caused him to cry. God noticed. God kept those tears in His bottle. David would get through those dark days. He did so with God’s help. When it seemed like the whole world had turned on him, God was still there. God was on his side. He was the anointed and God was not about to let him die. I’m not sure if David grasped all of that.

So, we must wonder, does God keep our tears in His bottle? Do we each have our own bottle? Again, don’t make these thoughts too literal, but in a sense He does. He knows. If He knows when a sparrow falls, He knows the tears upon your pillow. He is aware of what is hurting you. He longs for you to turn to Him. To find comfort in His word. To dedicate yourself to him. God allows the tears. Sometimes it’s the tears that bring us closer to Him. We like laughter, but tears are important.

There is a hymn that asks, “Does Jesus care…” The chorus answers that question. It says, “O yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touch with my grief. When the days are weary, the long night dreary, I know my Savior cares.”

This is not the only time David cried. Multiple places in Psalms mentions the tears of a heart that is scared and afflicted. You are not alone with your tears. Health issues, the coming of death, prodigals in your family, a marriage that is anything but bliss, a church that is at war with itself are all genuine causes of tears. God knows. He’s got them all in His bottle. I tend to think that some have more tears in their bottles than others. Life can be like that.

Keep holding to God’s hand. He loves you and will not forsake you. He knows what you are going through. He has your tears in His bottle!

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 631

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 631

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Our verse today comes from that wonderful chapter about faith, Hebrews 11. It is often called the “Hall of fame,” or better still, “the Hall of Faith.” It is a stroll down the corridor of the Old Testament, starting with Abel and concluding with numerous examples of unnamed heroes who walked with the Lord and lived by faith. The chapter is illustrating the call to continue believing in God and staying with Him. The names listed in Hebrews 11 are those who made difficult choices, who struggled and often suffered, and in many ways stood alone, but they stood with God. “By faith,” is the key expression in this chapter. We do well to remember that we walk “BY FAITH,” and not by sight.

Without faith God is not moved. He’s not impressed with what we know, build, acquire or accomplish. Without faith, we journey alone. Without faith, we move and live in the realm of atheism.

There is an interesting expression in our verse. It states, “for he who comes to God must believe that He is.” He is. I’ve often thought that expression wasn’t completed. It seems like a word ought to follow He is. He is what? We must believe that He is something? We know that He is good. He is. We must believe that He is God. He is. We must believe that He is holy. He is. We must believe that He is a righteous judge. He is. He is.

 

He is—that’s similar to Moses telling Pharaoh that God’s name is “I am.” Both are present tense. He is—I am. It’s not, “He once was,” or, “He used to be.” When you come to know God, He’s at His best. The God that Abraham saw is the same God and at the same level that you know Him. We may see a ball player at the end of his career. He may not be as sharp as he once was. Age and injuries have taken their toll. It’s not that way with God. He never diminishes. He never fades. He never ages. He is.

The expression, “He is,” is also applied to Jesus. Jesus is, just as God is. Consider a few “He is” passages about Jesus:

 

· He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature (Heb 1:3)

 

· He is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15)

 

· He is before all things (Col 1:17)

 

· He is also the head of the body, the church (Col 1:18)

 

When the apostle John saw Jesus in the Revelation vision, the face of the Lord was as bright as the sun “shining in its strength.” Brilliant. Bright. Blinding. And John’s reaction to this? The Bible says “he fell like a dead man.” Remember John had walked with Jesus for three years. John saw Jesus transfigured. John was there at the cross. John spoke to the resurrected Christ. But here, in Revelation, in His full glory, John is overcome. He is.

 

When Moses spoke to God through the burning bush, God told him to remove his shoes for he was standing upon holy ground. The dirt around that bush wasn’t special dirt. It was holy because God was there. When God was in the temple it was holy. The presence of God makes common things, even dirt, holy. God in our hearts, makes us a holy people.

 

We must believe that God is. That reads positive to me. It’s not, “God can’t.” Nor, is it, God ain’t. Rather, He is. One of the many things that He is, is that He is for you. He wants you to be saved. He wants you to know Him. He wants you to choose Him. He wants you to be saved. He is…

 

I tend to think that when we walk with Jesus, because He is, we become. He is, and we are. God is—I like that. Don’t give up on God. He is. Don’t limit God. He is. Don’t feel that your problems are too big. He is.

 

(thanks to a special friend that I heard preach this recently. It helped me to see HE IS).

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 630

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 630

Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

This is a great verse! It is loaded with all kinds of principles and thoughts. Esther is a late book in our Bibles. It was written after the Babylonian captivity. It fits in with the books of Ezra and Malachi. The book of Esther unfolds much like a play. There are three key persons in this book. They are all connected to one another and they all need one another. Ahasuerus, is the king of Persia. Mordecai and Esther are Jews living in Persia. Mordecai is the uncle of Esther.

Earlier in the book, the king removes the queen and Esther is chosen to be the new queen.

Mordecai discovers a plot to assassinate the king, and tells that to Esther who tells the king. The king is saved. Haman, is promoted to number two position in the kingdom. He is proud, aggressive, careless and self seeking. As he parades through the streets, he expects and even demands that the citizens bow before him. Mordecai refuses. He is a follower of God and will bow to no one but God. Haman blows a gasket over this and deceives the king into signing a decree that will exterminate all the Jews. This is where our verse comes in. Mordecai understands the seriousness of this decree. Many Jews may die. Esther, being the queen, is in position to do something. She could possibly stop this tragedy from happening.

Our verse reveals three central principles.

First, God’s will cannot be stopped. If Esther did not step up, God would bring someone else. There were prophecies, especially about the coming Christ, that were still to be fulfilled. The Jews could not be completely eliminated. Nothing can stop God. No armies, no walls, no oceans can do it. The will of God will be fulfilled. That’s certain.

Second, Mordecai impressed upon Esther that possibly God arranged for her to be where she is. She now plays an important role in the will of God. That thought ought to impress us. Have you seen yourself in the same way? Could it be that you are where you are, at work, in that neighborhood, in that school, because God wants you there. Esther never saw here self as having that important role. Young David, when he was a shepherd, never realized that he would some day lead the nation. What you are doing today may well be getting you ready for what God has planned down the road. Many of us are in the position of influence. God may have us there to show others what is right. A selfish Esther would have never seen that. She may have thought it was her beauty or her talent or her ability that got her the job. It may be nothing more than God opening doors, so that He could have a person in position to fulfill His will. Makes you wonder doesn’t it? Makes you think that possibly God needs me where I am to accomplish something He has in mind.

Thirdly, we are connected to one another and we need one another. This is so true in this story. Mordecai needed an Esther to tell the King. The King needed an Esther and a Mordecai to save his life. Esther needed the king and Mordecai to change the law about killing Jews. The  king wasn’t a Jew. Still, he played an important role in God’s plan of things. God can use people who do not walk with him. You and I need others. We need each other. Ther are many connections and many things that are necessary to reach a person who is looking for Jesus, to encourage one who is quitting, to strengthen one who is new at all this. By himself, Mordecai couldn’t get anywhere. With others, great things were done

Build relationships. Use them as bridges to reach others and to fulfill God’s will. The Jews were saved. Was it Esther or the King or Mordecai that saved them? Actually, it was God using all three of those lives to fulfill that purpose.

Christians need non-Christians. Don’t have the monastery spirit that shuns all but fellow Christians. You need others. You need non-Christians to help you do the work God has planned. Mordecai sure did. Esther sure did. I expect if we thought about it, we’d come to the same conclusion.

For years, Christians have broadcast the gospel over the radio. That couldn’t happen without a radio station, owners, producers and a host of people, most who were not Christians to get the message on the air. The same goes with printing, publishing, internet, facebook and other forms of media. Christians need others to accomplish the will of God.

Who knows whether you have attained your position for such a time as this? School teachers. Principals. Police officers. Managers. CEO’s. Owners. Suppliers. Who knows whether you are in that position for the very reason that God needs you there to fulfill His will.

Sure makes a person look at their role differently. It makes a person realize that God opens doors that I may have never realized. It means that God may be counting on me to do more than just my job. Sure makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 629

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 629

1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Peter’s warnings here do not age nor grow obsolete. Be sober…be alert—be careful. Peter likens Satan to a hungry lion who is on the prowl. A sleeping lion is dangerous, but not a huge threat. A dead lion is no threat at all. But a prowling lion—look out. Peter uses two words for Satan.

 

First, “adversary.” This is the word that would describe the opponent in a lawsuit. He is your adversary. He is trying to win. He is trying to defeat you. It is not a win-win situation. Someone will lose. Satan wants it to be you. He is your adversary—your opponent. He is against you. He is against what you believe. He is against what you are trying to accomplish. He is against where you want to go. He is against you.

The other word Peter uses here is “devil.” This is often used as his name. He is called “Devil” because that’s what he is. Devil means to accuse or slander. Together, adversary and devil, these words bring the idea of someone who is against us and falsely accuses or challenges us.

The devil doesn’t play fair. He doesn’t go by the rules. Much like a crooked attorney who wants to win his case, he may misuse, misapply, and speak things that aren’t true to twist things in your mind. You have to be sharp. You have to be ready. You must be sober and alert as Peter puts it.

The lion is to be feared. Few, if any can out run a lion. Few can kill a lion. David did. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions. The young prophet was killed by a lion when he disobeyed God. The lion has a strategy. He knows what to do. He’s smart. He’s fast. He’s cunning. He’s able to hide where few see him.

The nature shows help us understand lions. Rarely do they leap in the middle of a herd. The antelopes would scatter and the lion would fall in the dust. Instead, he waits. He’s patient. He looks for the one lone antelope. The one that is careless and wanders from the pack. He watches for the young or the old—those he can kill quickly. He watches. He waits. When the careless antelope wanders too far from the herd and too close to danger, the lion springs into action. Within seconds he is on the antelope and quickly brings it down and kills it. By the time the antelope saw the lion, it was too late. He panicked in fear. He was too far from safety to be helped. He became the lion’s lunch because he was not alert nor was he careful.

Peter doesn’t want that to happen spiritually. It can and it does. Too close to the edge of wrong. Hanging out with people who take us away from Christ. Tired. Lonely. Feeling neglected or cheated. The lion waits. He watches. He attacked Jesus in the wilderness when the Lord was alone and hungry. He sits by your computer monitor waiting. He’s in the back seat of your car watching. He’s under your bed. He’s in the closet. He’s in the backyard. He’s in your i-phone. He’s at work. There is no place that you can escape to that he’s not there. He’s waiting for you on vacation. He’s already checked into the hotel room on your business trip. He’s sitting in the church building. He’s there. He’s waiting. He’s watching. He takes no vacations. He observes no holidays. He never retires. He is always there. Waiting and watching you.

He knows your greatest weapon is the word of God. Jesus used that. It worked. He knows if he can separate you from that word then he has a chance. Too tired to read the Bible today? The lion sees that. Too stressed for the Bible. He’s watching. Too worried. Too busy. He waits. It won’t be long. He’s getting closer and you don’t see it. He’s getting your scent. He’s about ready to spring upon you.

Alert and sober—those are Peter’s words. Do you see why? The watchful eye scans for the lion. The sober spirit pays attention. He notices movement in the tall grass. He sees birds suddenly fly away. Danger is near. To Bible class goes the sober and alert. To worship services are the sober and alert. Before the day begins, the sober goes to God in prayer. Before the day ends the alert spends a few moments with the word of God. Stronger and stronger the sober and alert becomes. Watching. Ready. Alert. Careful. The lion is near and the alert knows it. The lion has been spotted and the sober is ready.

 

Some have said, “I never saw this coming…” They must have been asleep at the wheel. Others proclaim, “How did this happen?” Could it be that they were not alert? The lion will eat. He always does. Will it be you?

Sober and alert—simple words. Both contain five letters. Both mean survival. Both mean a tomorrow when there is a lion in the area.

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 628

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 628

Psalms 104:14 “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth.”

This Psalm emphasizes the activity of God in a way that is often taken for granted and that we sometimes forget about. We spend a lot of time talking about what God does spiritually – forgiveness, prophecy, salvation through Jesus Christ, Heaven, hope and things like this. Great things. Powerful. Impressive. It’s easy to think that the entirety of God’s work is spiritual. It’s not. This chapter shows that. This is not the only place. Remember all the questions at the end of Job? They ask about the activity of God in the natural world. Remember Jesus telling the disciples that God sends the rain upon the just and the unjust? God is busy in the natural world.

Psalms 104 begins with, “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great!” What follows is like an inventory list of what God does, starting with the heavens. He makes the clouds (3), the wind (4), the earth (5), the oceans (6), the mountains (8), the springs or rivers (10), the grass (14), the trees (16), the moon (19), the night (20), and food for the animals (27).

The young lions, we are told, roar after their prey and seek their food from  God. Our verse says that God causes the grass to grow for the cattle.  God is active in taking care of His creation. God is busy in nature. The grass grows for the cattle. Things are connected and serve a function.

God is busy doing these things – every day. A couple of  thoughts come from all of this.

First, God does many things right around us and before us that we often do not recognize. This time of year folks in my area are cutting their yards once a week. God is causing the grass to grow. We fertilize the yards and we water the yards, but God causes the yards to grow. The fingers of God area all about us. Every life has been touched by God. No one can say that they have not benefitted from God.

Second, the cattle are not aware of God. They do not bow and thank the Lord  before they eat. They do not praise him for green grass. They eat. They give little thought to that. We are different than cattle. Cows can’t help it, they are cows. We can. We ought to thank the Lord. We ought to praise God. We need to realize what He has done. To live without this acknowledgment is to live like the beast of the field. The cow neither fears God nor obeys God. He is not aware of his coming death. The beast lives for today. He lives for self. Filling his belly and being content is about all there is to a beast. Are we living any different than that? Do we realize that we will all stand before God someday. Do we grasp that our lives are but a vapor? Do we realize that God is doing things all around us?

God cares for those that cannot know Him nor acknowledge Him. He also cares for those who can but won’t. Those that could but chose not to. That’s something about God. That’s something about us.

Green grass – that’s God’s gift.

Roger