30

Jump Start # 1091

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1091

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

  Forgiveness is hard. It is the most Christ like characteristic found in the Bible. A person can be generous and still ungodly. A person can help the hurting. A person can serve and not have the heart of Jesus. It is nearly impossible to forgive and not be like Christ.

 

Forgiveness is the reason Jesus came. He came to seek and save that which is lost. That involved the cross and that offered forgiveness. Forgiveness follows grace. Forgiveness isn’t letting go after the debt is paid. There’s nothing left, when that happens. Forgiveness is letting it go when something is still owed. It is releasing the debt.

 

Forgiveness is hard to understand. Forgiveness is harder still to apply. Jonah struggled with this. The elder brother in the story of the prodigal struggled with this. The forgiven servant struggled with this toward a man who owed him. We want to be forgiven but we have a hard time forgiving others. In the sample prayer that Jesus illustrated in Matthew 6, the one statement that He clarified and added additional thought involved forgiving others. If you don’t forgive, Jesus said, neither will the Father forgive you. Serious business is forgiveness.

 

There are three aspects of forgiveness. All of them are complicated and need to be understood.

 

First, God forgiving us. Doesn’t make a lot of sense that He does that, but He does. He loves us. He forgives not because we are so valuable to the kingdom, nor that we are so cute and adorable. He chooses to forgive. Forgiveness is always a choice. Forgive or get even. Forgive or remember. Forgive or revenge. God wants to forgive. Our trust and faith in Him, our coming home as the prodigal does, is the bridge upon which forgiveness is built and we can have access to the Father.

 

Second, forgiving others is hard. When hurt, we want blood. When hurt, we want someone to pay. Is it any wonder that there are so many lawsuits today. Forgiveness isn’t high on people’s list of things. They want money. They want to others to hurt like they hurt. Forgiving others is hard. Peter thought forgiving seven times was pushing the limits of generosity. Jesus said, “Seventy times seven.” Keep forgiving. Our verse today emphasizes the need to forgive “Even as” God has forgiven us. Have you noticed how God forgives? There isn’t a limit to how many times. There isn’t a limit on the same sin. God continues to forgive the broken and contrite heart. We are to forgive EVEN AS God forgives. Forgiveness costs. Forgiveness is hard. Without forgiveness there is no relationship.

 

Third, forgiving self can be the hardest. We expect more of self. We remember. We won’t let things go. Even after God has forgiven us, some of us continue to beat ourselves up. We refuse to enjoy the blessings of God because we do not feel that we deserve them. We turn down the offer for the best robe, the sandals, the ring and the meal of the fattened calf. We refuse to come inside. We stay outside. We stay in the barn. We walk along with long faces and downcast eyes. We looked and feel defeated. We refuse to let it go. This is a huge issue among many of us. We do not get back to business with God because we let Him down. The problem is faith. The problem is not forgiving ourselves. The problem is not believing that God forgives.

 

What can we do? First, believe the Scriptures. God promises. We need to trust the promises of God. We need to see that God still believes in us. God did not throw Jonah away. He could have kept him in the belly of the whale and allowed him to be digested. No more Jonah. God could have found another prophet. He didn’t. He didn’t give up on Jonah. The same is said of Paul. The killer of Christians could have been exiled  from God’s people. He wasn’t. The same could be said of each of us. We have let God down. We have served self instead of Him. We have been cowards when we should have spoken out. We have hid our lights under the basket. God hasn’t given up on us. He hasn’t closed the door on us. He’s looking. He’s wanting to forgive. He has forgiven. Now, do we believe that?

 

Our sins and failures can help others from doing the same thing. We hide our sins. We don’t like to talk about them. But those very mistakes are teachable moments. They can help us to help others. We learn when we went wrong. Now forgiven. Now useful in the kingdom. Now, using those dark moments, help others.

 

Forgiveness is not a feeling. Not everyday as a Christian will be jumping up and down like Tigger. Some days are plain and normal. Some days are hard. Some days are lonely. Are we forgiven? Yes. Forgiveness is not based upon feelings, but faith and trust in God.  Maybe we don’t think we are forgiven, because we “don’t feel forgiven.” Forgiveness is not like love. That first, young love, you can’t eat, sleep or think about anything but the one you are in love with. Forgiveness is not like that. If you are looking for that, you’re mistaken and may never “feel forgiven.”

 

Forgiveness is a relationship. Sins removed, we are now one with God again. That’s the basis of forgiveness. A price was paid, the blood of Jesus, to restore us back to God. No longer enemies, no longer separate, no longer not on speaking terms, God views the forgiven as His family. We belong to Him. That is a wonderful relationship.

 

Also understand that I can forgive myself, but that doesn’t mean I’m right with God. I must seek the mercy of God. I can be forgiven by others. That doesn’t mean I’m right with God. I must seek to be right with God first. Before I forgive myself. Before I seek the forgiveness of others. God first. He’s the one I have hurt the most. He’s the one that I belong to. Seek God’s forgiveness. Then work on others and finally self.

 

Forgiveness is hard…we can do it because God said so.

 

Roger

 

29

Jump Start # 1090

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1090

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

  One of the great lessons of the New Testament is that when we become a follower of Christ, things change. We are not just adding Jesus to an already busy schedule and lifestyle, things are different. The change takes place within us and it affects everything about us. We are different. Friends ought to see that we are different. We are God’s new creation. Formed and fashioned by Jesus and molded to look like the Lord.

 

Christianity is not simply becoming nice people. It’s not polishing what is already there. It is a new creation. Christianity is not simply ironing out the wrinkles in our character. It’s not finding happiness. It’s not just being part of a nice church family. If that’s what we are after, then we have hit the ceiling and we fail to become what God intends. God is rebuilding our lives. He is creating a new person through Jesus is us. Newness of life…renewed thinking…new are all concepts that describe the work of God in us.

 

This is why an old cranky guy, can become thoughtful, thankful, helpful and generous. He’s different. He’s a new person. When we tolerate someone who is mean, selfish, stubborn, prejudice, opinionated as a church member, we are not doing anyone any good. That person has been fooled into thinking because he believes the right doctrine, he doesn’t have to change himself. How wrong that is. We do not help the church when we look the other way to ugly attitudes and wrong spirits that offend and drive people away. The old things, our verse tells us ought to pass away.

 

Old things: old way of doing things. Old ways of thinking. Old attitudes. Old stinginess. Old, not because of time and dates, but old because not acceptable to God. Old, meaning not right. Old, implying our way before Christ. Old, involving sin and selfishness. Gone are the old ways. Gone is the old man. Paul told the Galatians that he “crucified” himself and it was no longer he that lived, but Christ lived in him. Paul was a new creature.

 

We give up too easy with God. We accept the clichés such as, “You can’t teach an old dog, new tricks.” That simply means, I am not changing. This is the way I am and that’s it. WRONG. You can change. You are not a dog. You are made in the image of Christ. You, by your choice, can invite Christ in you and be that new person.

 

You can forgive, even though you may have never done that before.

You can have a heart of a servant, even though in the past you were selfish.

You can be thankful, even though in the past you took things for granted.

You can be spiritual, even though in the past you were very worldly.

You can be godly, even though in the past you were very sinful.

You can please God, even though in the past you broke His heart.

 

New. New choices. New friends. New habits. New way of doing things. The old ways didn’t work. The old ways got us in trouble with God. The old ways left us lost, hopeless and miserable. God’s way works. It is proven. It stands because He stands.

 

New creation…a new model…a new you. The new you sees things differently. You are more careful about your influence and the consequences of what you do. The new you is drawn to the spiritual more than ever before. The new you sees things from God’s perspective. Death looks differently from God’s side of things. Worship takes on a new look when you see it from God’s side of things.

 

New creation…a new you. Does that describe you? Are you working that way? Are you allowing God to work within you? Redeemed. Saved. Sanctified. Justified. Reconciled. Glorified. No, it’s not the same you. You are different in Christ. You are a new creation!

 

Roger

 

28

Jump Start # 1089

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1089

2 Peter 1:6 “and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self– control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness”

  Our verse today comes from what is commonly called the “Christian virtues.” It is a section of Scripture which defines what the heart and character of a Christian ought to be like. Peter begins with faith. This is where all things begin. Without faith, nothing else will happen. Any religious activity that is missing faith, is just a sham. Starting with faith, Peter tells us to add. Add to faith. Faith isn’t it. Faith isn’t the end of the journey. You have faith? Great. Now add to it. That’s what Peter says. That’s what God wants.

 

To faith is added virtue or moral excellence. Arete is the Greek word. It is that noble quality of doing right. Moral excellence. Morals that excel. Morals that are above board. No teasing where we shouldn’t be teasing. No under the table deals. No fudging numbers. Excellence. It doesn’t end there. Something must be added to moral excellence.

 

To that is added knowledge. Implied is knowledge of God’s word. The context is spiritual. The knowledge will be spiritual. Peter ends this book with the plea to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hit the books. Read. Think. Study. Faith…morals that excel…knowledge—these feed off of each other. The more of one you have the more of the others you’ll have. When you are lacking in one, it will affect the others. It doesn’t end with knowledge.

 

To knowledge is added, self-control. This is where our verse is today. The control of self. The control of your attitude, mouth, passions, anger. A car that is out of control will crash. A person who is out of control will crash. Paul preached to Felix. He mentioned three things: righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come. Interesting how those three fit together. The out of control person is rarely righteous. The out of control person, who is not righteous will fear the coming judgment. He won’t make it. He’s not right with God.

 

Peter adds more. To self-control comes perseverance. This is similar to patience, but more. It involves enduring hardships. Putting up with trying times. Hanging in there when the bad guys seem to be winning. Waiting on God to bring justice about. It’s easy to be a Christian in the sunshine. A Christian sitting in a church building full of fellow believers can seem very confident. Alone, under attack, under scrutiny, standing where Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego stood is hard. Standing and not participating when everyone around you is bowing and going along with what is wrong—that’s real hard. Standing when fingers are pointing at you-that’s hard. Standing when ordered to bow– that’s hard. Perseverance. This is not waiting on a stop light to turn. This is not standing in line at the check out. This is hanging in with your faith when it is so hard. It is refusing to wave the white flag. It is not giving up.

 

Following perseverance is godliness. How obvious that is. It is because of faith that you persevere. It makes sense that an attachment to God, godliness comes next.

 

My preacher Zack once said in a sermon, “Your choices in life are determined by your view of life’s length.” If this is it, our choices will reflect that. Our choices will tend to be selfish, self centered, and shallow. Those choices will be based more upon feelings and striving for happiness rather than what is right. If we have a view of the eternal in our hearts, our choices will reflect that. Self-control and perseverance become regular attributes of our life. We wait, knowing the best is yet to come. We remain true, knowing that God is upon the throne and in time, all things will be right.

 

Our times is not given to much self-control. Stats indicate this. Just looking around illustrates this. People say things and post things that they never should. Why? They lack self-control. They fail to see the big picture. There is a huge majority that has sexual relations before marriage. The numbers are enormous. Why? No self-control. No reason to wait. The problems of massive personal debt is connected to a lack of self control. Why wait? Why save up and pay cash? Charge. Dig the debt hole deeper and deeper.

 

Our times reflect a growing lack of interest in controlling self. No one wants to. There is an effect to all of this. The lack of self-control leads to folks quitting on Jesus because they have no perseverance. They cannot endure. Hard times means hit the road. Far too many are quitting. It’s too hard. It’s no longer any fun. It’s not what all my friends are into. So they quit. All of this drains the next word: godliness. Less godliness because less perseverance and less self control. Ungodly church members are the headache of every church. Folks sit in pews on Sunday with hearts and behavior like the unsaved and lost. Their interest in Jesus is little. They come to get a “feel good” pill, a pat on the back, and a free ticket to Heaven. Godliness—acting like God, comes from the inside out. It is all that we are. It affects everything that we do. A person can’t fake godliness. Either he is or he isn’t. Why is godliness on the way out? Self-control is gone and perseverance doesn’t exist.

 

Peter’s words are stair steps. They are connected and lead to each other. Missing one, collapses the rest. So how do I get that self-control back in my life? What comes before that? Knowledge. This is how I learn self-control. What’s before knowledge? Moral excellence. Morals that are right. Right choices. What’s before that? Faith. That’s the connection. That’s how you get it. More faith. More morals. More knowledge. Then more self-control. Start thinking before you say things. Consider how you are going to look to others before you fly off the handle. See the big picture. See God. This brings you to godliness once again.

 

It’s time we got our families under control. It’s time we got our congregations under control. More than that, it’s time we got our hearts under control. Controlled by Christ. Fill your heart with the word of God. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. That word brings knowledge. Here we go again. Knowledge will lead to self-control. Then perseverance. Then godliness.

 

Live your life as someone who is under control. Jesus ought to be at the helm of your heart. That makes all the difference.

 

Roger

 

25

Jump Start # 1088

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1088

Matthew 6:9 “Pray, then in this way: ‘Our Father who is Heaven, hallowed be Your name.”

  As we look at different ways the Bible refers to children to illustrate and teach principles, we come to one passage that is often overlooked. Here in this prayer, the relationship of child and parent, illustrating the disciple and His God is used. The word “child” is not specifically found, but with reference to God as OUR Father, it is implied and understood.

 

This prayer is commonly called the “Lord’s Prayer.” This is an example of a prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. There is a line in this prayer that Jesus would not have said about Himself. The sinless Jesus would not have asked for His own forgiveness. He did nothing wrong. There was nothing to forgive in the life of Jesus. There is no record of Jesus actually saying this prayer. This is a template, an example or a model to follow.

 

It is interesting to note how simple and brief the prayer is. The words are not complicated. The prayer is very short. God is moved by the sincerity of heart not the volume of words. Flowery phrases may impress an audience, it doesn’t God. Be yourself in prayer, yet remember who you are talking to.

 

The prayer begins, as our verse today shows, by directing the thoughts to God. Jesus said, pray this way, ‘Our Father…’ Not Your Father. Nor, My Father, but Our Father. If you and I both have the same father, then we are related. See the connection to each other Jesus is making. Referring to God as “Father,” was very rare in the Old Testament. It happened, but not often. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to God most times by the expression “Father.” Upon the cross Jesus used both terms, God and Father. In agony He cried out, “My God, My God…” His last statement was, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”

 

The word “Father” not only expresses relationship and connection, but it is a term of affection. We understand that with our physical families. We may use the word ‘Dad,’ or ‘Pop,’ but those words do more than identify, they are spoken with affection and endearment.

 

In 2 Cor 6 Paul wrote concerning God, “And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the Lord Almighty.” God has more than one son. Those who are converted, those who follow, are considered God’s children. There are some special things that come with being a child of God.

 

First, there is the blessing of intimacy with God. I share things with my kids that I do not with others. We are family. There is a blessing to that. God promises to help His children. God answers the prayers of His children. Won’t He answer all prayers, some may ask? Not necessary. When my kids were young and they would play in the backyard with their friends, on occasion we’d invite their friends to eat dinner with us. We didn’t do that all the time. Nor did I take care of the neighbor kids like I did my own kids. My kids were under my care and in my fellowship. Those in God’s fellowship have a special relationship with their Father.

 

Second, being part of God’s family means that we are heirs of God. The blessings of God are for God’s family, God’s people. Paul referred to this concept often in his writings. To be included as an heir was special. An inheritance awaited those who were heirs. They benefited from the blessings. Forgiveness, grace and hope are daily blessings from God. Heaven is what awaits God’s family. Jesus has prepared a place for us. Heaven is real. Heaven is nicer than anything we have ever seen. We do not deserve Heaven. We do not deserve to even visit Heaven for a weekend. God will make Heaven our home forever.

 

Third, being part of God’s family means we need to cherish and protect the things of God. My kids rally around me whenever I’m sick. I had a tick bite the other day that was looking like it was turning into Lyme disease. I didn’t discover it until late on a Saturday night. I was ready for bed. I had to get up and preach the next day. My youngest, who is also a nurse, wouldn’t have any of theat. Off to the hospital we went until the wee hours of the morning. He was looking out for ole’ dad. We need to do the same. Shame on us when we laugh at things that mock God, profane His holy name, or ridicule the things He believes in. How can we sit by silently and allow others to trash God’s holy book or pervert it. The homosexual community has twisted and reshaped an image of God that allows and supports their sinful lifestyle. They are wrong. Evolutionists mock creation. They are wrong. God’s people need to do their homework. Bone up on facts. Know how to answer false charges. Young David had a fire in his belly when he heard the Philistine Goliath taunting the armies of the living God. He wouldn’t have any of that. We need more young people and old people who get that same fire in their bellies when they hear others taunting the church of the living God or the holy word of the living God. Paul was set for the defense of the Gospel. Being meek doesn’t mean toleration of blasphemous and erroneous statements about God. Lincoln once said, ‘To be silent, is to be a coward.’  This is our family. This is our Father. This is the kingdom that we are a part of. Stand behind it. Support it. Defend it.

 

Fourth, being a part of God’s family means we have hundreds and thousands of brothers and sisters world wide. It’s not a small world, it’s a huge family. God’s family comes in all sizes, colors and ages. They love the Lord and want the world to know Jesus. My travels take me to many places that I have never been before. In these new places, I find faces that love God and cherish the opportunity to worship and walk with the Lord. What a great family God has. Perfect? No. Dysfunctional? Sometimes. But they are the best people on the face of the earth. They’ll go out of their way to help one another. They pray for others in the family that they never met. They will donate time, money and resources to help those in the family. They rally around each other when there is pain and turmoil. They support each other. They forgive each other. They carry the characteristics of their Father.

 

Sly and the family Stone sang a song years ago, “We are family, all by brothers, sisters and me…” And so it is spiritually. We are family. We are God’s family. What a wonderful family it is. It is an honor to be in God’s family.

 

Our Father…what a powerful, delightful, warm and wonderful expression. Our Father –

 

Roger

 

24

Jump Start # 1087

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1087

Matthew 18:2-4 “And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.’”

  We can learn a lot from children. God knew that. Children are used as illustrations and examples throughout the Bible. Our passage today is yet another example of this.

The background, the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom. This wouldn’t be the only time that question was in their minds. Later, they would argue about who they thought was the greatest among them. We are obsessed with rankings. The best movies of all time…the greatest athletes of the decade…the ten best places to put your money…the safest cars to buy…the happiest cities to live in…the best restaurants…the best diets…the best sellers list…on and on and on these things go. We love lists. We can be obsessed with who and what we think are the best. The disciples were in that mode of thinking. Who is the greatest in the kingdom?

 

Let’s explore their question for a moment. They asked Jesus this question. “Who then is the greatest,” implies in their mind, that there is going to be one answer. One person would be ecstatic and eleven others would be depressed. What purpose would there be in having such an answer? The “I’m better than you are” club is not the stuff that Jesus is made of. Arrogance feeds that question. Peter may have thought, ‘It has to be me. I’m one of the special three He always invites. I answer His questions the most. I speak up the most. It has to be me. I was one of the first one’s He picked to be an apostle. It has to be me.” Then there is John. “He loves me more than the rest.” Then Andrew, “Yet, I’m the one who He can count on. I’m the one who is always bringing people to Him. Remember the feeding of the 5,000. I was the one who found the boy with the food. It has to be me.” The air would have gotten pretty thick and stale with all the self promotion that their question could lead to. So they ask Jesus. Settle this for us. Tell us who is the greatest. If Jesus had given a name, what then? Would that person get to walk first in line behind Jesus? Would that person sit next to Jesus when they ate? Then there is lowly Bartholomew. We don’t hear much about him. He may have had the Eeyore complex.

 

Jesus answered their question. It wasn’t what they were expecting. He didn’t give a name. He invited a child to come to Him. We don’t know who the child was. Using the innocent child as an example, Jesus told the disciples that the greatest is one who is humble like this child. The way up in God’s kingdom, is down. Self promotion, arrogance, pride, stepping on others to get to the top is a sure way to the basement in God’s book. That’s not how it was to be. Jesus wanted His disciples, Jesus wants you and I, to be humble, like a child.

 

There are things about children that bother us and we are not to copy. Kids can complain and whine. Not good. Kids can fuss at each other. Not good. Kids can cry a lot. Not good. But kids can be humble—and Jesus saw that and wanted that in His people. Humbleness.

 

This was first demonstrated by Jesus. Humble, to allow Himself to be interrupted. Humble, to be asked questions. Humble, to spend time with outcasts like Zaccheus. Humble to go to places like Samaria. Humble to be touched by a widow who was burying her only son. Humble to notice what a poor woman put in the treasury. Jesus didn’t travel like the President or the Queen of England. He wasn’t surrounded by a group of body guards that kept everyone at bay. When the woman with the issue of blood touched Him from behind, He didn’t scold her. He blessed her. People felt like they could come to Jesus. They felt welcomed by Jesus. Jesus wasn’t bossy. Jesus wasn’t demanding. He didn’t act like a Rock Star. No one could say that Jesus was arrogant. No one walked home disappointed saying, “He didn’t have time for me,” or, “I wasn’t important enough for Him.” Not Jesus. You may get that impression from the CEO of your company. We get that impression from politicians, who sadly are supposed to represent us, but seem more interested in representing those who have money. Not Jesus. He makes time. He hears your prayers. He cares about you.

 

Mr. McGee was someone that impressed our family years ago. He was our kids grade school principle. Every day, he was at the side walk greeting the kids coming into school. He’d wave, shake their hands, high five them. He knew their names and called them out. He called our house one day to say that one of our kids, who was in kindergarten had been in to see him. I thought, “Oh, no.” He was happy to report that at that young age my child was reading a book to him. A kindergartener was reading a book to the principle? True humbleness. To this day, my kids speak with great affection of Mr. McGee. He was special. What was beneath all of it was humbleness.

 

Be humble like a child. Here are some things:

 

  • Don’t be too busy for others. Allow people to interrupt your schedule because they seek your input. Your presence at the hospital, the funeral home, and other places is valuable. Don’t put off the important things. Skipping golf, a movie, or a game because someone needs you is much more important. Your choice shows that. It shows you think more of them than those other things.

 

  • Don’t be too big to learn from others. This is sometimes hard for us preachers. We can believe that we have a corner on knowing the most about the Bible. Wrong. We can think that the sweet widow or the young college kid really doesn’t know much. They do. I’ve learned tons from others. It’s good to hush and listen. The humble heart learns and grows from others.

 

  • Don’t be too full of your self to apologize. Drop the excuses. Don’t justify your fumbles in life. Admit them. Apologize. Be humble. You are not perfect. Stuff society in a box. It tries to present the perfect body, the perfect marriage, the perfect lifestyle, the perfect happiness, the perfect family. And the definition of what is perfect keeps changing and it never includes Jesus. Quit reading those dumb magazines that drive that kind of thinking. It’s shallow and IMPERFECT. We sin. We let others down. We don’t feel like doing what we ought to. We get selfish. That’s us. That’s the way we are and we must work on being like Jesus. When we are wrong, admit it. Flat out. This is hard for guys. We don’t like saying the words, “I was wrong.” Something in our wiring wants us to fight that. We never admit we don’t know what direction we ought to be driving. We never admit that we can’t put something together. We never admit…that’s the problem. Be humble. A child will ask for help. Be humble. A child, with tears coming down his cheek, will say he’s sorry. Be humble.

 

  • Don’t think of yourself as being too good or too important to talk to outcasts, or to do lowly jobs. I have seen important engineers, who run multi million dollar projects, cleaning the toilets at the church house. I’ve seen elders, stoop down and talk with small children. They smile and make a big deal out of the child. Don’t think that the preacher has more faith than the janitor. Not so. Don’t think that elders are more spiritual than the deacons. Not so. Don’t develop a pecking order. Don’t make a list of most important. It bothers me that the preacher’s name is one the sign out front, the stationary and everywhere. It seems that we promote the preacher. Being a preacher, this bothers me. We are given special parking at the hospital. I never use it. My visit is not more important than the rest of the church that visits. My name is not greater than anyone else’s. We can feed the arrogance of the preacher by the treating him better than the rest. He’s not. There are men in the congregation where I’m at who are much better preachers than I am. I just happen to be the one that gets paid for it. There are several who understand the Bible better than I do. I just happen to be the one who is called upon to teach. The congregation I am a part of has been around for over 100 years. It was around and doing well long before I got there and it will continue on well long after I am gone. Until we grasp humbleness we never get to where God wants us to be. We are servants of Christ. We do all that we can. We give our best. It is not a competition nor a striving for praise. We want God’s kingdom to grow.

 

Be like a child. It’s hard. The disciples struggled with this for a long time. We do the same. Looking to Jesus is the key. Being thankful that God includes us is important. Take your eyes off of self and put them on Jesus.

 

Roger