14

Jump Start # 794

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 794

Hebrews 11:32 “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David ad Samuel and the prophets”

I sat in a class about Samson. My good friend, Josh did a great job of explaining the beginning of Samson’s life. Samson is a complex person and hard to figure out. He loved riddles and he loved Philistine women. His mistakes seem huge, such as keeping company with harlots. Yet, we find him listed in Hebrews 11, God’s chapter of heroes, as one who gained approval. The listing of Samson’s name in Hebrews 11 teaches us some valuable lessons.

First, most of us would not have included Samson in that list. We tend to remember the mistakes people make. But once we open that door, who would we include? Abraham lied and laughed at God. Noah got drunk. David committed adultery. Rahab wasn’t even from Israel and she is forever known, not as Rahab, but as Rahab the HARLOT. Jephthah made a rash vow that led to the sacrifice of his daughter. Everyone in Hebrews 11 had a past. They all had sins.

Second, we have a hard time not demanding perfection in others. Samson’s name in Hebrews 11 concerns us because he doesn’t seem to be a great example. In others, we have little tolerance for mistakes. We are quick to fire the preacher who made a mistake. We are ready to toss the elder who fumbled the ball. God doesn’t do that. God looks upon the heart, offers grace and forgiveness. These heroes lived by faith. They used faith in unbelievable circumstances, Samson included. Their approval does not come from being perfect, but being people of faith. Sometimes we can be hard on others because of their mistakes. It is easier to stand with the prodigal’s older brother, angry, refusing to go in to the house and participate than it is to be the forgiving father who rushes out to the prodigal to forgive and accept. Finger pointing at the mistakes of others is easy. Some even remember how many times a young person has messed up and tried to make things right. The media loves to show the failures of the famous. We get caught up in that and have a difficult time with those things. A Samson in our churches today would create more fear than rejoicing with many of us.

Third, it’s hard to see ourselves in the same category as others who make mistakes and sins. We tend to soften our failures while demanding the best out of others. If we spent as much time looking at ourselves as we do others, we would be better off. This has to do with judging. The headlights of the car coming at you always seem more glaring than your own. It’s easy to run through the names of Hebrews 11 and do a quick check list of all their failures. But do I do the same for myself? Do I cut myself more slack than I do the heroes of Hebrews 11?

Fourth, if we were making a list of Hebrews 11, we’d probably come up with different names.  There are some names that surprise us, such as Rahab and Samson. There are some names missing that also may surprise us. The first man, Adam, not there. The first high priest, Aaron, not there. The first king of Israel, Saul, not there. The first temple builder, Solomon, not there.  It’s not a fair conclusion to make that only the names found in Hebrews 11 represent the those from the Old Testament who will be in Heaven. This is not a complete list. These names are given as examples of those who endured tremendous suffering and overcame by their faith in God. These names are given as a lesson for the Christians who were suffering.

All of this reminds us that God’s list is often not my list. God is merciful, fair and just. I tend to favor my favorites. God knows the heart. I tend to be impressed by the outside impressions. God knows. I guess. Is it fair then to think that Heaven may be the same? There may be some that I think or even want to be in Heaven that may not be there. And there may be some that I think, no way, and they are there. If I can’t get the list in Hebrews 11 right, how can I get the roll in Heaven right. Maybe I ought to just leave that to God and not concern myself about who is and who is not going to be in Heaven. Maybe I ought to just spend my time working on myself and teaching God’s word to all. God will take care of Heaven. There is no one more fair and just than God. We do know that God wants us to follow His will. I need to do that. Just because I love mamma or a famous singer or the president doesn’t mean they will be in Heaven. God determines that. I need to make sure I’m walking by faith.

The Hebrews 11 examples were people, like you and I, who made choices every day, and their choices included God. They chose to live by faith. They chose to go God’s way in their world when most didn’t. They chose to believe. They chose to do what is right. They made mistakes, just as we do. They didn’t quit.

 

Samson’s life ends with him praying to God to use him one more time in the way God chose him—as a judge and deliverer for Israel. Blind, bald and bound, Samson did not give up on God, and neither should we. Our sins can cripple us to the point that we no longer believe that God wants us, loves us or will forgive us. Maybe that’s one reason why a Samson is in Hebrews 11. Many of us stumble along this journey with God. Some are walking so smoothly and so much in step with God that the rest of us think we might as well quit and go home. We stumble. We fail. We fall hard. We mirror Samson. Yet there remains hope. God hasn’t given up. The Samsons also gain approval through their faith in God. This is good news for us!

We need to be reminded of these truths. We love lists. The greatest movies, the best restaurants, the hottest stocks, the number one team in the standings…we love lists. Sometimes our lists might include who we think ought to be in Heaven. Be careful. You might be surprised. Above all, don’t think that you’ll be there just because you are a hotshot. It’s by faith that you will be there. It’s the only hope we have.

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 793

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 793

Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren”

God has a plan for you. His plan is not so much that you go to this school or that school. It is not so much that you work with numbers or that you work with your hands. It is not so much that you live in the mid-west or that you live overseas. God’s plans for you are much larger than that. God has a plan for your heart and your destiny. You can fulfill God’s plan while being a student or a stay-at-home-mom or retired or single or married. God expects and wants you to live the life that He has planned. It is the best life that you can possibly live.

We have been doing a series for several days about what God expects. We now have come to the last of this series. What we have seen is that God expects us to be strong, faithful, obedient, worshipping, influencing and manifesting a heart of quality and character. All of these lessons can be found in our verse today. The sum total of what God expects of you, the bottom line, as they say, is for you to be like Jesus. That is a grand task. Jesus was the greatest. No one cared as much as Jesus did. No one forgave as much as Jesus did. No one was more obedient, faithful, prayerful, honest, holy and perfect as Jesus was. There is no topping Jesus. God wants us to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Other passages teach this as well:

  • 1 Pet 1: 15 “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior”
  • Eph 5:1 “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children”
  • Phil 2:5 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”
  • 1 Pet 2:21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps
  • Eph 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Be like Jesus. So simple, yet so hard to do. When we have said something cruel, our hearts remind us, “Is that what Jesus would have said?” When we are tired and want to quit, we think, “Is that what Jesus did?”

There is no greater call than to simply be like Jesus. This is what God expects of each of us. God wants you to be like Jesus. When dealing with others, be like Jesus. When upset, be like Jesus. When tempted, be like Jesus. We wonder how many arguments, how many church fights, how many broken homes would have been different if everyone acted like Jesus. Jesus prayed. Jesus was a person of God’s book. Jesus was honest. Jesus cared. Being like Jesus kills selfishness. Being like Jesus invites, accepts and helps. Being like Jesus—nothing greater could be said of you.

Being like Jesus is not stuffy, stale nor a killjoy. Being like Jesus enjoys life. Being like Jesus brings life, hope and freshness to a world that has lost value, purpose and joy. Being like Jesus changes conversations. Being like Jesus is noticed by others. Being like Jesus will find people coming to you for help. Being like Jesus gives you confidence. Being like Jesus answers many things in your mind and heart. Being like Jesus is the task that every eldership has as they try to shepherd God’s people. Being like Jesus is the conclusion of every sermon that preachers preach. At the end of our journey, if it can be said that we were like Jesus, we have done well.

God expects this. It is not easy. Some days we act and think more like Satan’s child than God’s child. We recognize those moments. We put the brakes on what we are doing, thinking and saying and remind ourselves, “Be like Jesus.” We apologize. We learn. We jump back into life with more zest and earnestness to be like Jesus.

If this is the grandest of all things, being like Jesus, then spending time with the Gospels ought to be one of our greatest endeavors in study and life. Learn from Me, is what Jesus said in Matthew. Learn compassion. Learn faithfulness. Learn prayerfulness. Learn honesty. Learn to stand upon God’s word. Learn obedience. Learn joy.

Just like Jesus…that thought must ever be present. When surfing the internet, “just like Jesus.” When driving, “Just like Jesus.” When in a heated business meeting, “Just like Jesus.” That thought..that ideal…that concept…that is what God wants. That is what God expects. No one among us would dare say, “I have it. I’m there.” That proclamation alone would show that he did not have humility like Jesus. No, we are not there. No, we don’t have it yet. I’ve found through the years that it is not only a process, but it is a layered process. Some parts we do well. Some not so well. Some parts we understand. Some we don’t. It is a journey. It is a walk. It is a walk with the Savior.

God wants you to be conformed to the image of Jesus. What do you need to work on first? Language? Attitude? Worship? Compassion? Forgiving? Purity? There are many layers. Be like Jesus covers all of them. In all areas, be like Jesus.

Paul told the Corinthians, “we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image…” (2 Cor 3:18).

Just like Jesus…it is more than things you do, it is becoming. Be holy is what Peter said. Be…Be like Jesus. Inside and out. Sunday and Saturday. At home and on vacation. In buying and in selling. When I’m young and when I’m old.

 

Be like Jesus! That’s it.

 

(This series of seven lessons is being put together in a booklet entitled, “God’s Expectations.” If you would like one (or more) drop me an email: Rogshouse@aol.com).

Roger

 

 

12

Jump Start # 792

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 792

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

We continue our series on the things that God expects of His people. God always goes for the higher, nobler and better things. It takes time to develop into the people that God wants us to be. The quick and easy is not always the best. This series has shown that God expects us to be strong, faithful, obedient, a worshipper and an influencer. Today, we add yet another aspect to what God expects. He expects us to have a character of quality.

Our passage from Ephesians shows the kind of heart that God wants us to have. These qualities come from the heart. They are attitudes and choices that we develop from having spent time in God’s word. The Bible has an affect upon us. It influences us. It leads us to mold our heart and our mind to be more like Jesus.

 

Paul began this section by telling the Ephesians what they ought to leave or put aside. A person cannot decide to be kind while still holding on to sorry attitudes, sour dispositions and a “me-first” will in life. Paul says to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice. Those things darken our spirit, destroy our influence and drive Christ out of our hearts.

When we put those two verses together we learn some remarkable lessons. On one side there is bitterness, anger, wrath. On the other side is kindness. On one side there is clamor and slander. On the other side there is tenderness. On one side there is malice. On the other side there is forgiveness. These contrasts are connected. There seems to be a common thread running through those attitudes. They are all responses to how others have treated us. These are relationship words. Someone has done wrong to us. We can be bitter or kind. We can seek revenge or forgive. God expects us to take the higher road when others have been unkind to us. Those people may be family members. They may those in the congregation. They may be those in the community. It seems especially, when Paul uses the expression, ‘Be kind to one another,’ that he is driving at relationships among brethren. We hurt each other sometimes. We can be uppity toward one another. We can avoid. We can stare. We can whisper about others. We gossip. High class people can act very low class sometimes. These things injure and hurt. Sometimes it is intentional. Other times it is an accident. Either way, hurt feelings, rejection, shunning, stings our souls. We ought to treat each other better. God would expect that. But we often don’t. What then?

Human nature tells us to respond in the way it was given. If someone has ignored you, ignore them back. If someone gossips about you, gossip about them. If they are going to throw mud, get in there and defend yourself and throw some back. Don’t be bullied. Stand up. Pop the guy in the chops if you have to. Those thoughts and feelings are how many of us were raised. This is what we see in the work place and in the neighborhood. Everyman for himself. It’s a dog eat dog world, so dig in and stand for yourself. WRONG! Not any longer. You are a Christian. God expects differently from you, even when you have been poorly treated.

 

Peter tells us that Christ left us an example of suffering. He uttered no threats. No deceit was in His mouth. He committed no sin. He did not revile in return. God expects better from us, even when we have endured the worst in human behavior.

 

Among each other God expects kindness, tenderness and forgiveness. Does this mean I allow another Christian to abuse me, take advantage of me or bully me? No. When a Christian sins against you, go to him and discuss this. He may repent right there. If he doesn’t, God tells us to take two or three with us. If he repents, all is well. If he doesn’t, then take it to the church. These are the words of Jesus in Matthew 18.

What God doesn’t want is for you to become mean, bitter, ugly, hurtful because someone has been that way to you. There is a way to handle things. There is a way NOT to handle things.

 

Forgiveness or bitterness is a choice. Kindness or wrath is a choice. They are responses to ugly things that have happened to us. God expects us to choose the nobler qualities. This isn’t easy. It’s a piece of cake to be kind to someone who is first kind to you. Anyone can do that. Only a nut would be mean to someone who is kind. However, being kind to someone who is unkind, now that’s a different story. That’s what God is expecting.

It helps to pray about the situation. It helps to invite God to help you do right, think right and be right. It helps to ask God to open the door of the heart of the person who is hurting you. There is never a right time to do wrong! Never. There is never a right time when ugly attitudes are the right choice. Never. There is never the right time when hurting someone else is the right choice. Never.

 

The beatitudes, the fruit of the Spirit, the virtues of a Christian all illustrate the type of heart that God expects in His people. Patience, kindness, self-control must be at the helm of our heart. Those will guide us to right choices, right words, and right attitudes. In a perfect world, every treats everyone with love and kindness. Heaven is a perfect world. Down here, it is not. Down here we have folks with chips on the shoulders. There are those who are not trying very hard. There are those who haven’t figured out if they are with Jesus or not. There are those who are some days selfish and inconsiderate. There are days that I’m like that. Shouldn’t be, but it happens. There are days that others are that way to me. Shouldn’t be, but it happens. The choice is up to us to as to how we are going to respond.

God expects you…God expects me to have that character of godliness.

 

Roger

 

 

11

Jump Start # 791

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 791

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”

We continue our look at expectations—what God expects from His people. God expects us to be strong. God expects us to be faithful. God expects us to be obedient. God expects us to worship Him.

Today, we consider, God expects us to be righteous influencers. Our passage, taken from the sermon on the mount, identifies what God expects of us in relationship to the world. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…” and “You are the salt of the earth.” You are! God expects this from you.

 

Everyone, good or bad, has a sense of influence about them. It seems the stronger the personality, the greater the leadership skills, the more important the roles we play all impact others. Everything about us has the potential to influence. Music, style of clothing, books, friends, internet—these all have the potential to impact us in a positive or negative way. Hanging out with people who have sour attitudes will likely make us sour. Hanging out with those who are crossing the border of right and wrong will encourage us to cross those borders. Bad language often comes from being around those who are proficient in using bad language. The upside of influence is the teacher, the coach, the parent, the friend who took time and shared with us life lessons. They encouraged, they strengthened and they built character. They made us to be better people.

Our passage identifies some valuable points about influence.

First, light is visible and attracts. Light shines. People see light. Jesus expects us to be visible. The anonymous goodness a person may do has a place, but God expect us to be seen. Let your light shine. People are going to see you. The same light that attracts some, blinds others. Some do not like light. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that we are a people of the day. Some are not. This has nothing to do with clocks and time of day, but rather things that are good and things that are bad. Let your light shine.

 

Second, Jesus says, “in such a way…” That implies there is a right way and a wrong way. Let your light shine in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father. The goal and the end of the good that we do is so that people will connect with God. The good works are leading people to God. In the end, it is not we who get the praise, but God. That’s the hard part of all of us. It is so easy for the doer of good to be the receiver of the praise and the compliments that may follow. When this happens, God is left out. We are viewed as nice people or a good guy who helped out a fellow man. Nice, but God is left out.

 

The “in such a way,” has a lot to do with how we conduct ourselves, what we say and the manner in which we shine our light. There is a way that leaves God out. There is a way that draws the attention to us. There is a way that makes us think more of ourselves than we ought to. “In such a way,” can lead to pride and self righteousness if it is not right. Shine your light in such a way tells us that we must be mindful of how we are doing things and the impressions it leaves upon others.

Thirdly, Jesus says, “that they may see your good works.” Works are things that we do. Works are things that make a difference in the lives of others. Works are more than thoughts. Works are more than nice plans and hopeful ideas. Works are doing things. Works are rolling up your sleeves and spending an afternoon helping someone move. Works are showing up unexpected with some food for a family that is going through hard times. Works are improving the lives of others. Works takes effort. Works take time. Works are often not one and done but instead, with some, long and involved. People are noticing your works. People see you doing things for others. People recognize the good that you are doing. Visible. Busy. Doing.

 

Finally, and most important of all, from all this, they glorify your Father who is in Heaven. God gets the credit. God gets the praise. God is worshipped. What we say when we are doing our good works enhances this or covers this up. Our attitudes. Our words. Our motives. These all tie in with God getting the praise or the praise going to us.

 

Do good to all, Paul told the Galatians. Go and do the same is what Jesus said at the end of the parable of the good Samaritan. Our faith is a “doing faith.” It is a blue collar, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, doing religion that is about helping others. Some have turned Christianity into a white collar, thinking man’s religion. For them, thinking, discussing, debating, talking is what it’s all about. In so doing, nothing gets done. No works are done. Just a lot of talk. That’s not what God wants. That’s not what God expects. Shine that light. Do those works. Give glory to your Father. Also note that the tone of this passage is toward the disciples. This is something that they would do on their own. Some have lost that. Some have to tie everything they do through the church. They have to put labels on all that they do. They especially love the word, “ministry.” They add that word to whatever they are doing, and get funded, approved and noticed by the church. So there are bike-ministries, cooking ministries, camping ministries…just about any word you can think of, there is a ministry connected to it. This is missing the point of this passage. The church doesn’t get the praise, God does. These good works are done by the goodness of our heart, not as an outreach program from the church. They are funded by the individual, not the church. Some have to make everything big and glamorous. When Jesus talked about giving a disciple a cup of cold water to drink, He was not thinking that the water was purchased and supplied by the church. He was not thinking that there would be a cold water ministry. It was nothing more than one person giving a thirsty person a drink of water. That’s all. Can’t we simply do what Jesus said? Go and shine for others.

Everyday presents opportunities for us to engage in the principles of this passage. Some are huge and you can’t miss them. Others are small and you have to keep your eyes opened to see them. Every day. There about you in the office are opportunities for you to shine and help others. In the neighborhood, even today, there are opportunities. In your family. Among those in the church. Opportunities to help others are all around us. “Do gooders” is often viewed as a criticism, by those who hate Christianity. Actually, it is a compliment. We are doing good. We are engaged in good works. We do this because Jesus wants us to. God expects this. The good you do may lead one to becoming a follower of Jesus.

I’ve known some that have helped pay for college for those who couldn’t afford it. I’ve known a family who helped pay for the funeral for someone’s family member. I’ve seen food taken to new neighbors. I’ve seen people lending others their cars. I’ve known people to spend the night sitting in a hospital waiting room with someone who had a loved one in ICU. Good things. Visible things. Big things. Little things. Godly things. Doing things. Light shining.

Look around, I expect you’ll get the chance today to do something.

Roger

 

08

Jump Start #790

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 790

John 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.”

Our passage says, “…for such people the Father seeks…” God is looking. God is looking for “such people,” a certain kind of people. He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

We continue a look in our Jump Starts at the things that God expects from His people. It shouldn’t strike us as something strange to think that God has expectations for us. We do for each other. Parents have expectations for their children. They expect them to learn and graduate from school. They expect them to grow into responsible and godly people. Bosses have expectations of workers. They expect them to accomplish the work assigned to them. Workers expect a paycheck for what they do. We expect those in positions of honor to be honorable people. And thus, God has expectations for His people. God has expectations for us. So far in this little journey we have see that God expects us to be strong. God expects us to be faithful. God expects us to be obedient. Now we consider the thought that God expects us to worship Him. And it’s not just any worship that He expects, but worship in spirit and in truth.

 

Worship is such a powerful and incredible blessing that we have. Worship changes us, reminds us, helps us, and connects us with God. Our English word ‘worship’ comes to us from the Latin expression, ‘worth-ship.’ Worship is recognizing the “worth” or value of something. From the Greek language, the word literally means to “kiss forward.” It’s the idea of bowing before a king and kissing his hand. It carries the image of reverence, loyalty and devotion.

Through the years we’ve sort of lost that idea of worship. Many equate “going to church” as the same as worship. They are not the same. A person can sit in a church building and sleep, play games on their phone, text a friend, day dream and do about anything but think about God. They may have “gone to church,” but they didn’t worship God. It seems the modern church has turned worship into a spectator event where people come and “watch” worship.

Worship is participation. Most times in the New Testament, the word worship is in the verb form. It is an action word. Worship involves me doing. Worship is not watching, but me giving. Worship is my heart telling the God of Heaven how incredible, awesome and amazing He is. Worship is thanking God. Worship involves emotion, energy and effort. All the stuff that bothers and clutters my mind and heart will affect my worship. Worry, fear, being tired, stressed, all those things affect me and thereby they affect my worship. When I’m off, my worship is off.

 

Understand our worship is not confined to the church building. There is a worship that we do when the church gathers. But I can worship God every day, any where. Praying, thanking, praising God ought to be an everyday part of my life. When I open my eyes in the morning, and realize that I’m still here, I can thank God for another day and then get about that day.

 

Our passage unites two concepts that God is looking for. He seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Spirit may well be attitude. Attitude can make worship right or wrong. “In truth” represents according to His word. God defines how He wants to be worshipped. Some have gotten the idea somewhere that anything you do is ok with God. IN TRUTH. According to His way. The story of Cain and Able reminds us that God doesn’t accept every worship. He rejected Cain’s. The story of Aaron’s sons offering God a strange fire is another example. God not only rejected that, He consumed those two in the very fire they offered.

 

God has defined the way He wants to be worshipped. He is seeking those who will worship Him that way.  He is wanting those who have the right attitude and are willing to follow His way. That’s what He is seeking. Worship is not about us. It’s not what I get out of it. It’s not about being excited or fun or thrilling. Worship does not compete with movies or TV. It is not a comedy show. It is not a talent show. It is not a time to say, “Look at me and how great I am.” Worship is about honoring God. It is about showing love, respect and devotion to God. It is about you and I telling God how much He means to us.

 

When we worship the way God wants, it has a way of getting our order in order. It reminds us of what is important in life. It humbles us as it exalts God. The Psalmist said, “Come let us magnify the name of the Lord together.” That’s what worship is. It’s being with God. It’s remembering God. It’s honoring God. It’s learning from God.

Worship is incredible. It’s good for the heart and the soul.

 

God expects us to worship Him. He is looking for that. He is wanting that. He is expecting you to worship Him in spirit and truth. How are you doing with that? Do you find long periods of time rushing by without any thoughts about the spiritual, the eternal, the God of Heaven and earth? Do you fight getting to the church building to worship with others? Has your church left the “truth” part out of worship and turned the time into a show for the audience?

Maybe it’s time you’ve taken a serious look at worship in your Bible. Maybe it’s time you spent some time alone with God in prayer. Maybe it’s time you really worshipped. He wants that and you can do that. It is good when you do!

Roger