07

Jump Start # 874

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 874

 

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

 

It’s easy to get along with people who are kind, thoughtful and helpful. Getting along with those who are not so nice, that’s the struggle most of us have. In this section of Romans, Paul addresses that. The apostle identifies some difficult situations that the early Christians faced.

 

  • Bless those who persecute you (14)
  • Never pay back evil for evil (17)
  • Be at peace with all men, if possible (18)
  • Never take your own revenge (19)
  • If your enemy is hungry or thirsty, take care of him (20)
  • Do not be overcome by evil (21)

 

Not everyone is nice. We learned that years ago is school. There were bullies, cheats, and mean kids who were bent on breaking the rules. They picked on the good kids. They made life uneasy. We found that some remain mean and nasty all their life. The work place often puts us next to those who pick on the good guys and are bent on breaking the rules. Mean and nasty people are everywhere—the malls, the ballgames, in the neighborhood. They seem to have no conscience. They can say the most obscene and vile things without even blushing or being ashamed. Their minds are dark and they seem to love darkness. They have no respect, desire or concern for God. They mock God and blasphemy His name on a regular basis. Rotten to the core are some of these people.

 

When we encounter them it is often a very unpleasant situation. We don’t know what to say or do. We just want to leave the area and get away from them. That’s not always possible. It’s not easy to just leave your job and find another one. It’s not easy to move because of a neighbor.

 

The common feeling many of us have is “just leave us alone.” We’ll leave you alone and you leave us alone. Doesn’t happen. It’s easy to sink to their ungodly level and respond the way we have been treated. That only escalates problems.

 

Paul’s words are: “Overcome evil with good.” Conquer evil. Defeat evil. Not by force. Not by wits. Not by words. Not by muscle. Instead, conquer evil, overcome evil, with good. Be good to the bad, that’s what Paul is saying.

 

That is hard, very hard. That is a challenge that takes much faith and prayer. Do good. Do good to those who may not want your good. Do good to those who haven’t done good in a long time. Do good to those who don’t like you and you may not like either. Do good to your enemies.

 

Do good. Make cookies and take them over. When they are outside doing yard work, go over and ask if you can give them a hand. At work, leave a gift on their desk. Go out of your way to be kind, nice and helpful. Find ways to help them out. Why? They never help me out. They never stay late to help me finish. They never do anything nice for me. Why? Because this is what God wants you to do. This shows our faith faster than our words. This is the best way to build bridges. Will they be nice after that? Who knows. Will they come to church with me? Probably not. Will we be friends? Doubtful. But when the chips are down, you may be shocked to see them coming to you for help or advice.

One of the negative things that some say about Christians is that they are “do gooders.” That’s what Paul said here in our verse, “do good.” One who does good is a do gooder. It is better to be known for that than a trouble maker who every one avoids.

 

Do good, even to those who are not nice. Jesus talked about that. Peter talked about that. Paul talked about that. Christians are not in a secret and special club that only do things for each other. Some may act that way, but that’s not the way it is supposed to be. What better way to shine your light than doing good  for people who are not so good.

 

Start by speaking to them. Smile. Ask them how the day is going. They may snap at you. They may even say something rude or offensive. Let it slide off you. Don’t let that stop you. Do good. Do good. Do good. It’s not a one and done deal. It’s a continual practice.

This is a huge challenge for us. We can do it because God wants us to. Remember, when you do this, you are only doing what Jesus did long ago.

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 873

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 873

 

2 Peter 2:10-12 “Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed.”

Peter warns brethren about the rise of false teachers. This entire chapter reveals their dark intent and destructive ways. Their false words, crooked promises and deceptive ways will lead many off course and into error. The faith of many will be shattered. Others will put their hope in promises that are not true nor from God. These false teachers prey upon the ignorant. Those with knowledge will be able to stand firm.

 

Since Peter’s words were written, wave after wave of new ideas, fresh perspectives, “out of the box” thinking and new approaches have been presented. Some came from innocent people who did not know what they were teaching. Others, came from those who knew, but were twisted in their heart and soul and intended to be radical. Different things were presented about Jesus, His nature and His deity. Many different things have been presented about the end of time, the destruction of the world, and what the new heaven and new earth meant. Wild theories about resurrections, physical battles upon the earth, the prediction of modern events were all wrapped in Scripture and given the idea that they were God approved.
One of the greatest threats to our faith is error. Believing a lie will hurt us. The greatest threat to error is the truth. Study. Know. Overcome error with the word of God.

 

Our passage reveals the spirit and attitude of the false teacher. His demeanor is different than Jesus. He is not humble, kind and helpful. Instead, Peter uses the words, “Daring, self-willed,” and unafraid. It gives us the picture of someone who is arrogant. Someone who is opinionated. Someone who is stubborn. They will not listen. They are not exchanging thoughts. They are telling you. This is how it is. They are not open to discussion or even to listen to opposing thoughts.

All of this leads me to discuss three words: conviction…opinions…opinionated. Those are not the same. We can easily confuse them. Some of these words overlap. Some are not negative when used with God and truth. When used of self or error they are negative.
Opinion is what we think and how we feel about things. We all have opinions but not about everything. Get a car load of people and ask them where they want to eat and nine times out of ten you will get the response, “I don’t care.” They have no opinion. We have opinions about what TV shows we like, what outfits look good, what team to cheer for. Our opinions can change. Our likes change through the years. We have opinions about how we feel worship ought to be conducted. We have opinions about how a sermon ought to go. Most of our opinions are based upon our past experiences and our personal likes. For instance, being a preacher, I get suggestions, which are often opinions about what makes a good sermon. Some like long, detailed sermons. Others like short sermons. Some like a lot of stories. Some want just Bible and no stories. Who is right? In this, they are all. They have their opinion or what they like.

Conviction is stronger than an opinion. Conviction is faith in something. Conviction is firm belief and often unchanging. You see an old veteran at a ball game, and when the national anthem is played, he stands with his hand over his heart and just stares at the flag. The look in his face is different than others. He has a conviction. Spiritually, our conviction is based upon the word of God. It runs deep within us and is something that is not for sale. Our convictions define us and describe us. Evidence supports our convictions. These are more than wishes, wants or feelings about things. This is simply the way it is. God said, end of discussion.

Opinionated are feelings that are wrapped as conviction. Some have strong opinions about how they feel about things, but are wobbly about what they believe. They will not bend or consider other thoughts about how they think things ought to be. Peter’s words come to mind, “daring…self-willed.” The will of self. Not the will of God.

 

Learning the difference between these three is essential. Some get all steamed up about things that are only opinions. It doesn’t matter. They get worked up, hot and bothered and threaten to leave—often the work place, the marriage, or a congregation– because things do not go the way they think it should. Off to another job… another church…another relationship, until they find and encounter the same thing again. Opinions vary. There are different ways of doing some things. Not everyone sees what you see. Some don’t get that. Convictions are different. They are not, at least they should not, be based upon how we feel, but rather upon principles. Right, honesty, integrity, God’s word are common themes of convictions. I have many convictions. I will not bend on those. Paul in the book of Acts would not give the false teachers an hour of his time. He was not dealing with opinions, but convictions. God declared. God said. There is no opinion about that.

I have found that the opinionated are often loud in volume and quiet in proof. They feel that the louder they get the more evidence they present. I just want to put my hands on my ears. No one is killed by thunder. It’s the lightning that kills. Volume doesn’t mean proof. I have also found that the opinionated are often stubborn. They won’t listen. Their minds are closed. They scream and holler but have no basis for their opinions other than this is how I feel about it. The opinionated generally stirs the pot and causes trouble. They do that in the family, in church and at work. They are a pain to work with because it has to be their way or a war breaks out. They won’t consider anything but what they want. Selfish, stuck and stubborn. Those are not the traits of Jesus. That’s not the spirit of the New Testament.

Now, all of this comes to you and I. Convictions…opinions…opinionated. I tend to think we have a mixture of all of those in us. Some have more of one than the other. The more our needle points to the conviction side of things, the more God-like we are. The more the needle points to the opinionated side of things the more of a pill we are to others. The man with convictions has a voice. He is unmoving, which may appear stubborn. The difference is that he holds what he believes to be true based upon facts, principle and evidence. The opinionated one stands upon how he feels things ought to be.

Some of the troubles in families and work come from opinionated people not convictions. When we look in the mirror it helps us to see what we are standing upon—evidence, God’s word, or just how we feel things ought to be. There is a time to stand up and speak out for what is right—that is principle. Not getting my way is opinion.

Daring…self-willed…not the character qualities that builds a future with God. We must watch for those things, especially in our self.

Roger

 

05

Jump Start # 872

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 872

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

 

We grew up hearing the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never harm you.” That might have been thought up to deal with bullies, but it didn’t take very long to find out that the phrase was flawed. Words do hurt. They sting, cut, take the wind out of your sail and can cripple a person. It doesn’t have to a string of words, nor even deep or complicated words that affect us.

 

Consider a few of these words and you’ll see what I mean: malignant; fired; broke; guilty; cancer; cut; divorce; hate; dead; gone; failed; flunked; separated; withdrawn; dumb; useless; alzheimers; unwelcome. Those of you that have experienced those words know the pain and sorrow behind them. Only words, sure, but they changed and affected you deeply.

 

Now consider some “life” words. Single words that build and encourage. Words like: yes; hope; forgiven; trust; love; like; invited; accepted; approved; promoted; graduated; needed; helpful; awesome; great; thanks; please; friend; fun; joy; happy; smiles; laughter; giggles; sunshine; Sunday; worship; God; faith; peace.

 

The right word can make all the difference. It can be the fuel to keep one going or it can be the very thing that causes a person to quit. Finding and using the right word is essential. Sometimes in anger or haste a person will use the wrong word. Hurt results. A person then apologies by saying “I used the wrong word,” or, “I didn’t mean it.” Too late. Damage done. You stuck a knife into the heart of someone and then think the apology will fix it. Usually, it doesn’t. The right word is the key.

 

Now some application:

 

  • Parenting: choosing the right words, especially when dealing with teenagers is important. Their reckless, lazy and indifferent ways can make a parent scream. We often do. Then we open the barn door to a list of harsh words that belittle and beat down the spirit of the child. Right words. It’s best to say little when angry. Remember what James said, “Be slow to speak.” Think about the big picture. Win the war. You are dealing with head and heart issues. Often the teenager knows (head) but he doesn’t want to (heart). Right words. Right timing. This is hard for parents. There is no where for you to resign. God needs you in the thick of it to guide and help that child of yours. Right words.

 

  • Correcting someone. Choose right words. Somehow we’ve gotten the idea that if I am correcting someone who is wrong, especially religiously wrong, all bets are off and the gloves come off and I can let him have it with both barrels. We justify such harshness by saying, “I only told him the truth.” Right. You destroyed the person. You unleashed harsh words, critical tones and judgmental attitudes that weakens your position and makes the other person go farther the other way. Choose right words. The N.T. tells us to correct with gentleness. It calls upon us to be kind. Those are not options, kind or correct; gentle or truth. They go together. Help the person, not destroy them. Making fun of what a person believes, telling them that a doctrine is dumb, or that everyone can see that they are wrong doesn’t prove your point. Show them with Scripture. Let the Bible be the power, not your tongue!  Let God work on their soul, not psychology. The manner this is done will help or destroy a person. Be gentle with the young preacher who makes mistakes. He’s trying. He may not know as much as you do. He may have meant one thing and said another. He is young and nervous. I know this. I was there many times. Kind people helped me. I know of too many others who quit because the right words were not chosen. The spirit of the young preacher was destroyed. They felt that they were failures in the kingdom because they made a mistake. Shame on those who in the pretense of correcting someone, destroys them because they used the wrong words and the wrong tone.

 

  • Comforting someone. Choose the right words. Often a person means well, it just doesn’t sound that way when you listen to what they said. Think. Be careful. Fewer words is the best. There are difficult situations that we find it hard to know what to say. What do you say to a young woman who miscarried a baby. You have tons of kids. She can’t have one. Choose the right words. What do you say to someone who has stage four cancer? Say the right words. What do you say at the funeral home? I’ve stood by the widow before and have heard what people say. They don’t know what to say and feel like they have to say something. Usually it’s the wrong thing. Often it comes out sideways. “How are you doing?”  isn’t the best words to say to a woman standing besides the casket of her husband. Do you really want to know? “Did he have insurance?” isn’t appropriate. What follows? How much insurance did he have? Those are personal and private matters. If you want  to hand her an envelop with a check in it just do it. No questions asked. “Are you going to stay in the house?” Not at the funeral home. Too soon to think those thoughts. That’s something that the family must work through. We are just nosey and curious. Right words. Comfort. Hugs comfort. “I’m praying for you,” comforts. “I’m here for you,” comforts. “I love you” comforts. Few words. Right words. Words of life, not words of death.

 

Right words. Think first. Say the best words. Use few words. Be thoughtful. Stand in their shoes. Remember the golden rule. This works in parenting, correcting and comforting.

 

Right words. I like, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Those words of Jesus sure sound good, don’t they. Try helping others today with right words. Everyone has a story. Everyone is going through things. For some, this is a great day. For others, this is a terrible day. Be mindful of that. The right words are life. The wrong words are death. Choose life!

 

Roger

 

 

 

 

 

04

Jump Start # 871

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 871

 

Luke 10:25-26 “And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?’”

Our passage today finds Jesus being tested once again. This time by a lawyer. This was not our type of lawyers, but a religious man who studied “the law.” He was an expert in the law of Moses. His question is based upon what he had studied and what was comfortable to him. Many will do that. They will ask what they think they already know the answer to be. They may ask a comfortable question that will not move them far from what they are familiar with.

What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Good question. If that question were asked today, there would be a variety of answers that people would give. We need to learn what Jesus did here. See His answer. It is the best way to answer questions.

Instead of just answering the question, which this lawyer expected, Jesus made the lawyer answer the question. Jesus asked two questions.

First, What is written in the law? What does the Bible say? Great response to the lawyer’s question. The lawyer was asking. The lawyer supposedly knew the law. Just what does the law say. Many will ask, “What does your church teach?” Instead of answering that question, which really doesn’t matter all that much, we need to take people to the Bible. It is a common thought today that the church trumps the Bible. The Bible may teach certain things about purity, modesty, homosexuality or divorce, but the modern church doesn’t go along with that. The modern church is not that strict on those things. The modern church has another thought. People are interested in what the church teaches. Answer like Jesus, what is written in the Bible? Taking people to the Bible is the key. The Bible always trumps all other thoughts, including what a church thinks, votes or chooses to do.

Notice, Jesus didn’t just tell this lawyer what the law said, he made him state the answer. Today, we may have to help people. Most don’t know the Bible. Most don’t understand the difference between the O.T. and the N.T. and worse than that, most don’t have any interest there. We are no longer a people of the Bible. Ignorance in God’s book  is enormous and vast. Common foundation principles such as inspiration, the role of the apostles, the mission of the church, the work of the Holy Spirit is not grasped by most people. This is why phone call after phone call is received at church buildings by people wanting financial help to pay their water bill, or are looking for free food. These same people would never dream of calling the post office with those questions. The post office would not pay your water bill. They will deliver that bill to your house, but they won’t pay your bill. Why? Cold hearted postal workers? Indifferent to the needs of the community? No. It’s not their job. Their mission is to deliver the mail. Folks get that. They don’t understand the mission of the church, and worse, too many inside the church do not understand the mission of the church. The church is established to help people get to Heaven. It’s a spiritual mission. It is not to pay water bills, feed the community, provide activities for teenagers on Friday night. All good things, but not the mission of the church.

 

So, when friends ask, what does your church teach, like Jesus, take them to the Bible. You may have to show them. You may have to help them find it in their Bibles. You may have to explain it to them. Let them read it in their own Bibles. Let them see the words themselves.

Secondly, Jesus asked the lawyer in our passage, “How does it read to you?” Be careful here. Jesus is not saying, nor implying, that every passage means something different to every person. To you it means this, and to me it means something else. No. Truth doesn’t work that way. What Jesus is asking is the application. What does the law teach and how does that apply? Specifically, how does that apply to you?

 

That second question is as important as the first. The first, takes a person to the Bible, God’s answer. The second, takes it from the Bible to their doorstep. Application of what the Bible says is as important as understanding a passage itself.

 

A question is asked about divorce. A person is taken to the verses that show what God says about divorce. THEN, what does that mean to you? Having read what God says, what about your situation? That’s what Jesus was driving at. That’s the application.

 

Knowing what the Bible teaches, but doing the opposite doesn’t help a person nor make them right with God. A person must do what God says.

Jesus’ simple two question approach is a great illustration for us to use when we are asked questions.

 

Try this, it will be helpful to you.

Roger

 

03

Jump Start # 870

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 870

 

Matthew 21:15-16 “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that H had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what things these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”

 

Yesterday, in our morning church service, a good brother read this passage and made some good thoughts about how quickly and easily children know and praise God. It’s the adults who fight this. It’s the adults who are slow and stammer around, while the children rush in with innocent hearts loving God.

The chief priests were steaming in our passage. Jesus was popular. People were rushing to Him. People were being healed. And now, children were shouting praise to Him in the temple. This was all fulfillment of prophecy which they didn’t get. Jesus referenced this by, “Have you never read…” They never made the connection. They failed to see and failed to believe.

 

Out of the mouth of babes is a common expression. Children know. Children don’t beat around the bushes, they’ll just blurt out a question. There is something we can learn from children.

 

It’s hard for a dad to come up with a reasonable answer that will satisfy a child’s asking why he doesn’t go to church with the rest of the family? Their pointed question stings. The pleadings of his wife are nothing compared to the innocent questions of the child. “Don’t you love God?” Out of the mouth of babes.

 

When dad gets mad and says a word that he shouldn’t use and the innocent child in horror asks him why he says that, it’s hard for dad to come up with a reasonable answer. Out of the mouth of babes.

 

When that sweet little child slips his little hand into dad’s big rough hand there are fewer things more precious as that.

 

Author Philip Yancey tells the story of a child in church services on Sunday. He was turning around facing the people behind him. He wasn’t talking or doing anything, only smiling. He kept smiling at the people behind him. His mother saw that, jerked him down in the seat, slapped his little leg. A tear came down his eye and his mother said, “that’s more like it.” Yancey made the point, if you can’t smile in church, where can you smile?

 

Have you noticed little children in church? They come out of a Bible class with papers in hand so proud to show their parents. When they sing, it’s loud. They have a happiness about them. Sure they fidget, talk, and get restless during a sermon, but they are generally glad to be there. I love the little kids at church. They come dressed up. They love to high five this preacher and they have a goodness about them.

Out of the mouth of babes. Children knew. They did back then, and they do today. It seems they begin with a belief in God. It is as they get older that they abandon what they knew. It is as they get older that they question and become grumpy in life. It is as they get older that they smile less. Around the dinner table, children love to say the prayer. It’s a big thing for them. They will thank God for the food, the family dog, the dandelions in the yard, the UPS man who brings packages, and for their toys. They don’t know about North Korea, Boston Bombings, and crime in the neighborhood. They don’t know about jealousy and cliques in the church. They love everybody. They don’t know racism, hatred or grudges. They don’t understand why some won’t talk to others. They see the world though innocent, pure eyes. A small child will bring adults back to that world where important questions such as “why is up up?” are explored. They are curious. They want to know why leaves turn color in the fall. They are not looking for a botany 101 answer but just a simple, “the days are shorter” will do it for them. Children will look at a bug for a long time.

 

There is much to a child’s world. When the Lord said to be converted as a child, he may have had the curious, innocent, trusting ideas in mind.

 

Out of the mouth of babes…listen to the children. Look at children. They brighter your day, make you laugh, and help you to see that there is still good all around us.

Roger