10

Jump Start # 643

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 643

Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

Our Jump Starts return to this verse again. I have written about these six attitudes not long ago. Today, I am looking at another expression here—”put away.”

This is trash day at our house. All the waste baskets are emptied and the trash cans are rolled down to the curb. The trash truck rolls by, very early and very loudly, and all the trash is taken away. It goes to a landfill and we give it no more thought. The trash is gone, the house looks better and everything is fine. Next week, we’ll repeat the process. The dumping of the trash today, doesn’t end all the trash in our house. There’s always more. When I’m out of town, I remind the kids to get the trash cans down to the curb.

I tend to think that’s how our verse works. There are things that cause a person to be angry and that connects and leads to these other five problems, and once a person dumps the anger in a Biblical manner, he’s not done for the rest of his life. That would be nice. There will be more things and more anger. A person has to take the anger and all these other things connected with it out to the curb of his heart and get rid of it. But he knows there will be more next week. We get upset with many things—most of which are connected to other people. The way people drive, the way people speak to us, the service, or the lack of service that they provide, the bills they charge us, the way some dress, the attitudes of some—all of these can move the needle in our hearts to the red area and look out after that!

The putting away of these things is a continual process. You may have done that very well last week, but this week has already accumulated much more trash in your heart. It too, has to go out.

Our hearts are very interesting—not the organ in our chest, but the spiritual heart. When it is filled with righteousness, the ugly stuff is pushed out. When wicked things take over, the good stuff gets suppressed. It’s like a constant battle. Dumping the spiritual trash is a key to winning the battle.

The active part in putting away these evil attitudes is self. We have to do that. For that to happen, we must walk through the rooms of our heart and gather up what we’ve saved and collected and dump the stuff that’s not good. It’s just like trash day! When we get rid of anger and wrath and slander, we look and feel so much better. Those wicked things make us wicked. We become sour, hateful and mean. If you don’t take the trash out the whole place begins to smell. That’s true with real trash and that’s true with spiritual trash. Trash has a away of increasing without us realizing this. Toss an empty bag to the back of your car and then another and before long the whole floor board is filled with empty cans, papers and trash. One of my kid’s car actually looked like that. It was so disgusting that I threatened to take their keys if they didn’t clean it out. I was fearful that they’d be killed by flying debris. When they took my words seriously, they cleaned the car out—happened to be on trash day. The guys in the trash truck got out of the truck to watch. They enjoyed it. They made the comment that there was more trash in the back of the car than what they had in their truck. It was a lot of work getting that car cleaned out. Had a certain child of mine been cleaning it out on a regular basis there would be nothing to it. Are we much different? Not with our cars but with our hearts?

 

We wait until it’s nearly overflowing with stuff before we start to toss things. By then it is a major job. It’s hard. The anger has grown into wrath and slander. There is a lot of cleaning to do now. There are people we have to go apologize to know. What could have been a simple job is now very messy and very hard and often involves many people. The trash in our hearts, unlike the trash in the back of a car, hurts other people. Some times the damage we cause can be lasting. Just saying, “I’m sorry,” seems like a band aid to the severe wounds we’ve caused by our words, attitudes and actions. We get that way because we do not dump the junk in our hearts. Put away are Paul’s words. Trash day is another way of saying it.

Work on this. It’s hard and messy and not easy. But once the trash is taken out, it’ll make you feel so much better. Holding on to these things isn’t good. We dump the trash with the help of the Lord. Grace, forgiveness and love are the key. Without those, the trash remains.

Time of me to get the trash cans—wish the trash men would take them away, but I know I will need them. Unfortunately, I always need them. The same is true of our hearts.

Roger

 

09

Jump Start # 642

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 642

Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”

Our verse today comes from the introduction to the book of Revelation. Jesus is introduced to as by three descriptive terms: faithful witness; first begotten of the dead; and the prince of the kings of the earth. We are also told two powerful things that Jesus has done. First, He loved us and then, as if based upon that, He washed us from our sins in His own blood. The New American Standard version says that He released us from our sins in his blood. The idea is forgiveness. Forgiveness came about through the blood of Jesus.

That expression, “washed in His own blood,” says something about the blood of Jesus. We never turn to blood to clean things. In fact, we try to get blood out of things. We wash with water, better still, water and soap or some type of cleaner. Blood stains. Blood ruins things.  Blood on a white shirt is bad news.

The blood of Jesus, as referred to in this passage, isn’t in a spray bottle like our cleaners or in a handy wipe. The blood of Jesus refers to the cross. It’s the only time we read about Jesus bleeding, was the scourging, the crown of thorns and the nails.

Blood is important in the Bible. Cain and Abel had their differences concerning what to offer God—Cain offered vegetables, Abel offered a lamb, implying he killed it and sacrificed it. Blood was involved. The first time blood is found in the Bible is implied when God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins. God could have just made animal skins, but more likely, He killed two animals and took their skins for clothing. I don’t know if Adam witnessed that. If he did, it’s the first time he saw blood. It’s the first time he saw something die.

The priests in the Old Testament would take blood that from the sacrifices and sprinkle it upon different things. The Hebrew writer reminds us that the blood of bulls and goats could not remove sins. The blood of Jesus can. It does. It washes away our sins.

The washing in blood connects us to baptism. Baptism is for the remission of sins. When the people listening to Peter interrupted him and said, “What shall we do?” His answer was to repent and be baptized. The eunuch when listening to Philip about Jesus saw water he cried out, “Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” He knew. He understood. He wanted to be washed in the blood of Jesus.

The result of this washing is forgiveness, cleansing. Clean clothes. Clean rooms. Clean cars. There is a nice smell to clean things. There is a good feeling to clean things. The cleansing we are talking about is not on the outside but the inside. Clean minds, clean hearts, and a new relationship with God.

The Bible teaches that Jesus shed His blood. He was slaughtered and bled, much like an animal in the O.T. His blood is powerful, but it took His death to accomplish this. It was a prick and a drop like some use to check their sugar level. It was a small vial like you might have to give at the doctor’s office so they could test things. No, this was a pouring, a bleeding, a lot. It wasn’t pretty. Those that get squeamish at the sight of blood would not be able to look at what happened on the cross. It would be hard for any to watch. Some did. Some stood in silence. Some used the occasion to mock. Some were stunned.

The blood of Jesus—powerful, necessary and productive. There is an old hymn that fits this passage, “Are you washed in the blood?” Good question. Good things to think about. Blood is necessary to be right with God. Not our blood, but Jesus’ blood.

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 641

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 641

Acts 13:44  “The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord.”

Our passage is taken from one of Paul’s early preaching trips. He and Barnabas and Mark traveled to several places. They came to Perga. Mark left and went back to Jerusalem. That disappointed Paul and would later become a heated dispute between he and Barnabas. While in Perga they spoke in the synagogue. The reception to the word was amazing. The people begged them to remain. This is where our verse today is found. A week later, the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembled.

Can you imagine? Can you imagine nearly the whole city where you live coming to hear the word of God. Can you imagine what impact that would have. City officials, councilmen, school teachers, firemen, attorneys, doctors, mechanics, elderly, teenagers—what an amazing crowd. I’ve been to places that were so crowded that you’d think the entire city was there. Sadly, it wasn’t to hear the gospel preached. It was to watch a ballgame, listen to a concert, see a movie, or hear a the president give a speech. The city gathered but what they took away with them was a fun evening, a nice date, an exciting game, and if like me, now a distant memory. What the crowd of Perga heard would change their life. It would make a difference.

What they learned about Jesus would change what they thought about OT prophecies. What they heard would change their thinking about salvation, God’s love and even their responsibilities toward God. The preached message of God would lead them to godly living, better attitudes, godly behavior and a redeemed relationship with God through Jesus. Paul would have showed the audience that Jesus was the Messiah that was killed and resurrected. He taught that just about everywhere. The living Savior was now reigning at the right hand of God. Those thoughts would have led the people to obey Jesus in baptism.

What a message! What an audience!  When the powerful word of God reaches good and honest hearts, great things are done. People come to God and godly changes take place.

Nearly the whole city came out! That doesn’t happen much anymore, especially in this country. Truth is, it’s hard to get believers to come out anymore to hear the message. A man is invited to come speak at a congregation, and folks must be pleaded with to come. When the special preaching is done, so often, the leaders of the congregation are disappointed because so few came. So few of their own people came. Times are different we are told. Too many choices today. People are busy they say. Fact is, there just isn’t that burning desire to hear the message. Could it be that we’ve heard it so much that it doesn’t do much to us? Could it be that we are more interested in the messenger than the message? I doubt the people of Perga knew much about Paul. They came not to see Paul, but to hear the message he spoke.

Many are seeing similar things happening today –but it’s not here, it’s overseas. Huge crowds, powerful message, amazing change in people’s lives

The preached message is still the means God uses to turn hearts and convict sinners and bring people to a restored relationship. Don’t give up on preaching. Don’t throw out the preacher. The message is still alive. Great things still happen. That word is sharper than a sword and is the power unto salvation.

Nearly the whole city turned out. Think about that.

Roger

 

05

Jump Start # 640

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 640

Psalms 33:17 “A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength”

Our passage today speaks of hope. Hope is as important to life as oxygen. It’s what keeps people going. Without hope all is lost. When miners are trapped underground and rescuers stop their search, all hope is lost. When a doctor determines that nothing more can be done to save a patient, all hope is lost. When a person doesn’t have hope they give up. The student who has no hope of passing a class will quit trying. He may even drop the class. There is no hope he declares. When a team is getting beat so badly that there is no hope of a victory, they often pull the starters and let the guys who sit on the bench in the game. On election night, when a candidate realize that he has no hope of winning, he will concede the race.

Hope is motivation. Hope is future. Hope is believing that things can and will get better. Some don’t see much difference between hope and wishing. There is when it comes to the Bible. A wish may be a fantasy, a pipe dream, waving the magic wand type of thinking. We can spend time dreaming what we would do if an unknown rich uncle left us millions. The reality is that we don’t have an unknown uncle and if we did, he’d most likely try to bum money off of us! Hope is not like that. Hope is substance. It is based upon true facts and real promises. In the Bible hope is built upon a God who cannot lie. Prophecies and promises were more than guesses and wishes, they were things that could be counted upon. They were going to happen because God said so.

I expect there are many folks who wish that they would go to Heaven when they die. For them, it is a wish, not much differently than wishing that some unknown uncle would leave them millions. Fortune cookies, wishing upon stars, rabbit’s foot, good luck charm, four leaf clover are nothing more than pipe dreams that have no basis, substance or hope. There’s nothing to them. There’s nothing behind them. There is no power in them.

Our passage identifies another type of hope—a false hope. It’s false because it’s based upon the wrong thing. It’s based upon that which cannot be counted upon. “A horse is a false hope for victory…” It picture here is not a horse race, but a battle. Those with horses, we call that a cavalry, are swifter and can cover more territory than the foot soldier, or the infantry. But a horse is a false hope. The horse can be injured or killed. The horse can fail. The horse isn’t a sure thing. Just because you have an army with horses does not mean you will win the battle. History tells us that. Custer had horses. He and his men were killed at Little Big Horn. Placing your hope on the horse is a false hope.

There are other things that are false hopes.

Money is a false hope. We save, invest, plan and hope that it will be there for our future. The market’s up and down and it makes our nerves go up and down. Money is a false hope.

Power is a false hope. Strength can do things, but it can’t be depended upon. Our passage states that. A strong nation can fall. A great team can be beaten. The underdogs do win from time to time. Strength fails. The unbelievable happens. Upsets and the unexpected are part of life. A person can’t count upon strength for their hope.

People are a false hope. People let us down. They get busy. They forget. They break promises. We see this in marriages. We see this in business deals. We get disappointed because others do not live up to what they said.

God is a sure hope. He never lies. He keeps His promises. He fulfills all that He said. He loves. He is compassionate. He is Almighty. Our hope lies with God. With God, Paul said, I can do all things. God forgives. God opens doors. God restores. God heals.

This is why we pray. Because our hope lies with God. This is why we trust God—He knows. He can. He does.

There just isn’t many things that can be counted upon any more. Things change. Things just aren’t the way they used to be. We can count upon God. Heaven is more than a wish for those who walk with God. Paul knew that He had a crown awaiting him. He knew because God had promised. His hope was based upon that who does not change. God is a rock, not a small rock, but a massive mountain. He remains through the ages. He is there during the harsh times. He is there through the bountiful harvests, the cool springs, and the bitter winters. He remains. He can be counted upon.

Hope—you gotta have it but you need to make sure that it’s in the right thing. Don’t be counting upon horses to get the job done. They’ll fail you at the moment you need them the most. God is the one that you can count upon. He’s on the throne and will never leave it!

Roger

 

03

Jump Start # 639

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 639

Note: Tomorrow is a holiday and we will not have a Jump Start. We hope to pick up again on Thursday. Thank you!

Isaiah 49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”

Our passage today is set in the midst of God’s concern for Israel, His people. For many years the nation had been led away from God through the influence of kings who were not committed to the ways of God. But blame alone doesn’t lie with the kings, many of the prophets, priests and even the people themselves were willing to embrace idolatry and all that came with it. These things infuriated God. He sent warning after warning. Without any response, God would punish the nation by allowing other nations to attack.

The setting of our verse is the future. God would not forget the nation. They would be delivered, hopefully with a lesson learned. Our verse sets the tone and defines how God cares for His people. The relationship between God and the nation is set in the terms of home. God used this concept often. The prodigal son is another example of this. Here in Isaiah, God is placed in the role of a loving mother. Israel is her son. God is reminding the nation that He still loves them and will never forget them.

The image is of a mom toward her son. Moms are special about things like that. Get a group of people together and the kids can be off playing somewhere else. If one of the kids hollers, “Dad,” ever man there turns around and looks. But if one of the kids starts to cry, his mom recognizes that cry and comes running. Moms are like that.

Even when a nation has disappointed God, there remains compassion from God. The mother never forgets her child, and God never forgets His people. From that concept we learn:

1. God thinks of us often more than we think about Him. He never forgets. He remembers. As we age we tend to get dates, events and sometimes even names all jumbled up. My grandmother would often get the names of me and my brothers mixed up. She knew who we were, she just had to go through the list of everyone in the family before she got it straight. God’s not like that. He doesn’t forget you. Even the prodigal, who was away from home was not forgotten by his father. We take the Lord’s Supper so we will not forget. I fear that we would. God doesn’t need a reminder of us. He doesn’t forget. He doesn’t need a photo on the frig, a ribbon from our hair, a torn ticket stub as a reminder of our times together, who we are and what we mean to Him. His relationship is like a mother to her child. Moms never forget!

2. God loves us. He loved his nation, even when they were headed the other direction. God loves. He is compassionate. He is forgiving. God doesn’t love us just because we are good. The implication of that thought would be then God doesn’t love us as much when we are not good. Also, that thought leads to the conclusion that God loves us more when we do things to please Him—therefore we can earn God’s love, or make God love us, by doing what He likes. That is the way we operate, not God. God loves us when we do well. God loves us when we don’t. God loves us, not based upon what we do, but by His nature. We can’t make God love us any more than what He already does. That is hard for us to grasp. We would tend to love the son who stayed home more than the prodigal who left. Not God. We’d tend to love the family who gets up and comes to the church house on Sunday more than the family that sleeps in. We’d think the guy who contributes money ought to be loved more than the guy who gives nothing. We’d expect the guy who tried to be loved more than the guy who doesn’t care. Not God. He loves us all. He loves us all the same. Now, don’t allow God’s love for us to think that He tolerates or even doesn’t care about wrong. Oh, He does. He expects us to follow Him. He wants that. He has done everything to show us that. He warns. He reveals consequences. He leaves examples. He wants us to follow Him.

Israel was loved by God. Israel was punished when they refused to follow. Here is a very hard point for us to grasp. Most would think that God loves those who will be in Heaven, but does not love those that He sends to Hell. Not so. God loves those who will be forever lost. He loves, yet He punishes. Those are not opposites. Love and justice are not extreme ends from each other. God loves us when we are in the far country. Does He think it’s ok to stay there? No. Does He hope that we have a great time there? No. Does He wish that we’d just settle down and make a life there? No. He wants us back home with Him. Does our journeys to the far country mean that He no longer loves us? No.

These words were reminders to the nation and to us, about the nature and compassion of God. John reminds us in the New Testament, that we love because He first loved us. God won’t give up on you. He will not lock the door and keep you out. He will not turn off the porch light. Not God. As long as there is breath in your body, God is looking, longing and loving you. There is no one like God.

When a person finally gets this, and they take a deep look in their heart, it makes them realize how terrible we have treated God. There have been times that we ignored Him. There have been times that we have not even thought about Him, living as if He never existed. We disobeyed and broke His laws. He were selfish and rude. We may have even cursed His name or blasphemed His holy ways. There may have been times we should have worshipped Him, but we didn’t. There have been times when we were having too much fun to invite God into our hearts or our ways. God has every reason to toss us out. No one would blame Him for turning His back on us. But He doesn’t. He hasn’t given up. He’s looking. He’s hoping. He’s wanting you to run back to Him. There is no one like God.

Thank you, Lord.

Roger