31

Jump Start # 1321

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1321

Psalms 139:13-14 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

 

I had an interesting discussion with a doctor the other day. He was actually a veterinarian. He was doing a treatment on our little dog, actually my daughter’s dog. She’s a Yorkie. He was doing a chiropractic procedure on her back. He used a mechanism up and down the dog’s spine. A series of clicks would get her back aligned and adjusted. A vet in Seattle discovered this procedure and went on to teach others, including our doc. Taking a dog to the chiropractor! Yes, she is spoiled.

 

The doc and I were talking about backs, spines, procedures and important things like that. He said that this same procedure is used on horses and dolphins. That led to a discussion about the human back. Unlike our four legged friends, the doc stated, “we have a design flaw because we walk on two legs.” A design flaw? I expect that was a plug for evolution. I stated, “I kinda think God made us the way that He wanted us to be.” The good doc didn’t have anything more to say about that.

 

The rest of the day I was thinking about that one little line, “we have a design flaw.” Really? Our verse today shouts otherwise. We are not flawed. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are not the bottom rung of things, but the top of God’s creation. We are made in His image. We, alone, have a soul that lives on. We, alone, have the privilege and honor of having Jesus come and save us. We, alone, will spend eternity with God in Heaven.

 

Currently in our house, among the critters are two cats and the Yorkie. The dog and the cats are different. The cats have springs in their legs and they can jump high. This little dog must be lifted up and down. He chases one of the cats until it jumps up on the bed and the Yorkie loses the chase. He can’t jump like that. Now if humans could jump like that cat, short guys could stuff the basketball. But we can’t. Scientists will tell us that some gene skipped the tracks and didn’t get passed on to humans. That’s their answer. God’s answer is that He made us the way we are.

 

We are unique. We are special. We think. We reason. We consider. We have guilt. We have feelings. We have insight. We change. We are not stuck one way. We are not governed by instincts. We have self control. We have a conscience. We have a will that drives us. We have emotions that affect us. We have the ability to remember the past and the foresight to plan the future. Our lives are not set on autopilot. We control our destiny. Good people can have lousy backgrounds and terrible parents. They choose to be different. The opposite is also true. Some can have incredible blessings and amazing parents, but throw it all away on poor choices and selfish living. Some of the good kings of Judah came from bad kings. Some of the bad kings came from good kings. It’s a matter of choice.

 

There is no design flaw within us. The only flaw is our thirst for wrong things. Given the choice, we choose junk food, junk thinking and junk theology. It’s cheap. It tastes good. It’s easy to find. But it does little to help us, develop us or better us. The obesity problems in our country does not come from eating fruits and veggies. It comes from the junkie stuff. The problems with religion today does not come from the Bible, it comes from the junkie stuff that is being taught. Junk theology, like junk food, has little substance and little good to it. Our flaw is our own doing. We’d rather live for today, spend today, do things today, than to wait, save, and do the best. Our country, in the words of financial expert, Dave Ramsey, is overweight and broke. And I’d add to that, it doesn’t know God.

 

Our biggest enemy is self. Our biggest problem is self. Too much of self causes us to stumble and fall. We think more of self than others. Could this be the reason Jesus defined discipleship with “denying self.” It must start there. Following Jesus, taking up your cross, the other parts of discipleship, won’t get us very far, if we do not deny self first.  Following Jesus stops when self no longer likes it. Taking up the cross stops when self thinks that cross is too heavy or too costly. Self kills discipleship. This is why Jesus began with “deny self.” Empty yourself of self. Ditch the self. Fill yourself with God. Fill up on the word of God. Let God lead your life.

 

It seems to me that the dog’s vet made an evolutionary slip with his statement. If it’s survival of the fittest, and each species creates bigger and better species, how can we have a design flaw and the other animals do not? Evolution ought to say that man represents the best of the best. Design mistakes ought to have evolved out by the time it got to modern man. Sometimes theories just do not hold water and are very inconsistent.

 

Our verse today ends with a wonderful point, “and my soul knows it very well.” My soul knows that God made me. My soul knows that I am wonderfully made. My soul knows that God is the maker and creator. My soul knows that. Each of us are special to God. We are all different. Some of us are tall and some of us are short. Some of us are shy and others very out going. Some are good with their hands, others are thinkers and planners. Some are problem solvers and others are people people. Red hair, black hair, little ears, big noses, large feet, blue eyes, green eyes—made by God and special in His sight. He loves each of us. He knows each of us. I was sitting in the airport the other day. A couple of people were about to miss their flight. The loud speaker was trying to hurry them on. The announcer had trouble pronouncing their names. So glad I didn’t have that job. Long, unusual names for folks in Texas, but known by God, as we all are.

 

God has made you capable of worshipping Him, following Him, knowing Him and loving Him. All of us can do that. It takes some doing, but it can be done.

 

Fearfully and wonderfully made—that’s how God made you!

 

Roger

 

30

Jump Start # 1320

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1320

Philippians 2:7 “but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men”

  Our verse today is about the Lord, our Jesus. Paul describes the nature of Jesus. He is using Jesus as the ultimate example. The Philippians were told to have the same attitude or mind as Jesus did. The driving thought is humility and serving others. Have a heart like Jesus. This would united them in the same mind, giving them the same love and purpose as outlined in verse two.

 

Paul tells us that Jesus was equal with God. That thought is hard for many to understand. They see Jesus as Junior to the Father. They see the Father as the one in control and Jesus works for Him. The expression, “Son of God,” feeds such thoughts. That is all taken away here. Jesus was equal with God. Equal in power, position, deity, wisdom, insight and love. As John began his gospel, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.” Jesus is God. He has always been God. There has never been a time when Jesus was not God. He has always been.

 

Our verse is not about Jesus up there, but Jesus down here. In coming to earth, He humbled Himself. He became obedient. Hebrews says, “He learned obedience.” He clothed Himself like man. He was made like a man. He ate, felt, looked, walked, talked like a man. He was so man, that many couldn’t see God. Many still have that problem. The miracles and His words showed that He was more than a man, He was God.

 

The expression I want to look at is “emptied Himself.” That has been an interesting thought for hundreds of years. Disciples in the third and fourth century debated that. Gnostics misunderstood it. Even in our times, some have struggled with the implications of an “empty Jesus.”

 

It is thought by some that He emptied Himself of God. In other words, Jesus left His deity in Heaven and was merely a man and only a man. The trouble with that is that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. He allowed others to worship Him. If He was only a man and nothing else, that wouldn’t have been right. The demons knew who He was. They acknowledge his deity. So Jesus didn’t empty Himself of God. He has always been God.

 

He emptied Himself of the glory of God. Jesus didn’t walk about with a halo above His head, like the images of Him in the great artwork of the masters. He didn’t leave golden footprints. He seemed more human than God. Years ago, I got to see the President of the U.S. given a speech. He was running for re-election. I took my youngest two out of school to be with me. It was a big deal. The President doesn’t come to town very often. He seemed very Presidential. There was a helicopter  hovering nearby. There were men in dark suits and sunglasses on tops of near by buildings. There were a lot of police presence. Guards, security and distance are the common things among the famous. Sports stars, rock stars and politicians all have them. They keep everyone at bay from them. You can only get so close.

 

Jesus wasn’t like this. He didn’t travel in caravans. He didn’t have body guards. He didn’t have people roping off the crowds from Him. He didn’t have someone announce His name and then He rushed on to a stage and then hurried off, not to be seen. He didn’t seem very Heavenly in His presentation. His clothes weren’t unique. He didn’t speak a language that few understood. He seem regular. He seemed like the son of Mary and Joseph. He didn’t travel rich. He didn’t seem uppity. He didn’t act like we’d expect someone from Heaven to be.

 

Recently, Prince Charles came to Louisville. He gave a speech, toured Churchill Downs, waved a lot, got on a plane and left. The press was enamored with him. Crowds flocked to see him. Royalty came to Louisville. He played the part very well. He behaved just as we expected royalty to be. Now, had he gone to Enterpise, rented a car, stood in line at the grocery store as the rest of us do, dressed like the rest of us do, mingled with the rest of us, there would be many who never guessed who he was. Royalty doesn’t do that. Jesus did. He emptied Himself. He became like a man. He was obedient like a man. He was humble like a man. He served others as a man does.

 

Jesus did just the opposite of what we do. We try to be the big shot. We try to impress others. We try to be bigger than what we are. You listen to a couple of guys talking about playing high school sports decades ago. The games are bigger, their parts were larger and their heads swell more than they ever have. We brag, Jesus didn’t. We try to impress, Jesus didn’t have to.

 

Jesus came to earth to be the sacrifice for our sins. His coming demonstrated that God cares. His coming proved that God understands. God has been there. God knows. God has experienced. Jesus was not kept from the dark side of life. He saw the gutters of the human heart. He was the ugliness of disease. The crippled was brought to Him. The sinful was cast at His feet. The crowds questioned Him. They challenged Him. The doubted Him. They accused Him. They laughed at Him. There was no distance between Jesus and the people. He touched. They touched. He saw. He felt for them. He wasn’t the CEO that walked through the plant with a bunch of clipboard followers and was finished with his tour in forty minutes. Jesus stayed over thirty years. He wasn’t in a palace, but in homes, their homes.

 

Jesus emptied Himself. He was even spit upon and eventually executed.

 

So when we sing the hymn, “Does Jesus care?” We know the answer. Yes, He does. He understands. He has been there. He knows. He left an example for us to follow.

 

My Jesus. Our Jesus. He emptied Himself, so we could be filled, not with ourselves, but with faith and love for Him. He became poor, that we might be rich. He did this for you.

 

Roger

 

27

Jump Start # 1319

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1319

Jude 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy”

  Jude doesn’t get a lot of attention. I suppose because it is such a short book, we often toss it in with other short books and have an odds and ends study of short books. There are great lessons in this book. The “contend earnestly for the faith,” found in verse 3, is probably the most famous verse in Jude. Many sermons have come out of that one expression.

 

I like our verse today. It is almost the last thing found in Jude. It shows what God does for us. God is mighty. God is active. God is engaged. God is wanting the best from us. God keeps you and God makes you

 

First, God keeps you from stumbling. The how of this is important, but before even that, the very fact that He does this shows that we might, we could, we can stumble. If we couldn’t stumble, never, ever, then there would be nothing for God to keep us from. We do stumble. We take our eyes off of Jesus. We listen to Satan. Temptation gets the best and most times, the worst of us. We can toss in our faith and we can be conquered by sin. It happens.

 

God is able to keep that from happening. The obvious question is, then why doesn’t He do it? It seems that some are always messing up. This is where the “how” comes in. God keeps us from stumbling, but it’s in conjunction with us. He doesn’t do it independent of us. He doesn’t keep us from harms way as we are kicking and screaming to jump into sin. In 2 Peter, when Peter listed the “virtues,” you remember, add to your faith…a whole series of adding to. That section ends with Peter promising from God, “as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” There it is. God is able to keep us from stumbling as we walk with Him. He warns us of dangers. He points things out to us. He strengthens us. This way keeps us from stumbling. It’s not the strong, but the weak that stumble. It happens when we turn off our spiritual radar, we back down from God, we start thinking more of self and Satan comes knocking. He is always knocking, but when we are not sharp, we open the door and invite him in.

 

Second, God is able to make you stand in the presence of His glory. Jesus said that He would return in glory with His angels. The presence of Jesus in all His glory is enough to make all of us hide. He is so holy and we are not. He is always right and we are not. He is so God and we are so human. His glory will manifest what He is really like. He won’t look like the carpenter walking down the dirt streets of Judea. He will look like God. The transfiguration was a peek. There, the face of Jesus was as bright as the sun. His clothes were bright. He was manifesting His holiness and glory. Jude tells us that God will make you stand in the presence of His glory. This implies that God will remove fear that we may have. God will make things right. Come boldly to the throne of grace is what the Hebrews were told. Not hiding like Adam, not running like Jonah, not up a tree like Zacchaeus, but standing, standing in His presence.

 

Jude adds a couple of other thoughts. God makes us stand blameless. That means grace. That means forgiveness. That means hope. That means love, acceptance and faith. The guilty are no longer guilty. The wrong have been made right. The blamed are now blameless. This is because of Jesus. Blameless. No past. Not finger pointer. No wagging tongues.

 

Then, we stand, not just blameless, but with great joy. Not standing in fear. Not standing with tears running down our faces, but rather, standing with smiles. Standing with great joy. Not proud. Not puffed up. Not with a big head. Not because we are the poster children of Heaven. Standing blameless with joy because of the saving blood of Jesus. Having been washed with Christ, we now stand with joy. We stand justified, righteous, redeemed, and saved. We can stand because of Jesus.

 

Great joy because God says, “Well done, good and faithful.” Great joy because God invites us into His home. Great joy because the battle is over, the journey is completely, we made it.

 

It is God who is keeping us from stumbling and making us stand. This is God’s work with us. This is how our story ends, with Him, in His place.

 

God’s not retired. He’s busy. He’s doing things right now, for you.

 

Don’t fight God. Don’t walk away from Him. He won’t do these things without your cooperation. But, my what He will do for us, if we allow Him.

 

Great is our God!

 

Roger

 

26

Jump Start # 1318

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1318

2 Samuel 18:29 “The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”

 

Is the young man safe? That’s how other translations state David’s concern. There was massive turmoil taking place in the capital of Jerusalem. The city was under siege. It wasn’t a foreign army that was threatening the nation, it was the king’s son, the rebel prince, Absalom, who was trying to take over the control of the nation. Some of this may have been the consequences from David’s adultery. Bloodshed would dominate the children of this great king. David, who had fought the giant, killed lions, subdued the Philistines, is now forced to flee the city because of his son. Not since the days of King Saul had David ran, but now he must. His troops were posed to defend the city. A battle was about to take place. David’s final orders were to be easy with Absalom.

 

The battle crushed Absalom’s troops. It was a major slaughter. Thousands died. Absalom fled, got caught in a tree and was killed.

 

Our verse today comes from David. He is getting reports about how the battle is going. He is concerned about his son, the rebel. He wants to know if Absalom is safe. Shortly after this, the grime news reaches David. Absalom is dead. David cries bitterly. His heart is broken. He loved his son, even though the love doesn’t seem to be mutual. David may have realized the regrets and failures as a parent in his home. He could conquer the world, but he could control his family. I don’t think it is a stretch to believe that Absalom, given the chance, would have killed his father. David’s men seem to think that was possible. That is why David is ushered out of the city.

 

That statement, “Is the young man safe?” is spoken and felt by every parent towards their children. I have little grandchildren now. They are the sweetest blessings from Heaven. Their bright eyes, curious minds and sweet hearts can just stop a busy day and makes one get on the floor with them and play. Parents wonder, “Is the young man safe?” First, it’s physically. The little cough, brings concern from parents. We wonder if they are growing according to schedule. Then, there are the days when they are outside playing and the parent thinks, “Is the young man safe?” Then it’s the school years and the parents wonder, “Is the young man safe?” Then they start driving and the parent really wonders, “Is the young man safe?” Then they start dating and the parent thinks, “Is the young man safe?” There are so many concerns and worries that can fill a parents hearts. The nightly news only heightens parents fears. Amber alerts, school shootings, bullying all makes parents want their children to be home and safe.

 

For the people of God, there comes another concern. It actually becomes a greater concern than the health and physical safety of the child, it’s the spiritual wellbeing. Is the young man safe spiritually? A child that grows up strong and tall like an Absalom, and grows into a defiant rebel like an Absalom brings shame and heartache to parents. The Proverbs speak often about the grief of parents over children who are not following wisdom and are not respectful toward others. More important than your child excelling in sports or grades, or nailing a phenomenal high paying job is their spiritual wellbeing. This is much more than about going to Heaven when we die. It’s about having the heart, the character, that molds one into a compassionate servant like Jesus. It’s how he will view life and define success. It’s how he will raise his family and treat his wife. It’s how he will walk with the Lord everyday. One of the greatest sorrows across this land is seeing parents whose grown children do not worship God anymore. Something happened. They got busy. It wasn’t important. For whatever the reason, they have gone a different direction. The sad look in those parents eyes can bring anyone to tears. Those grown children have no idea the years that have been sucked out of their parents because of the worry, prayers and concern over the spiritual state of their children. Is the young man safe?

 

It’s never too late until the Lord calls us. Continue to pray. Continue to talk. Continue to plead with them. They’ll fuss. They’ll find lame excuses. But sometimes they listen. Sometimes there is enough honesty in their heart that that seed can get in there and they come home to the Lord. It happens.

 

For those of you that still have children at home, think for a moment about each of your children. Name them and then consider where you think they are spiritually. Even the little ones, include them. Is it a fight to get them to pray, be helpful, and to talk about the Bible? If so, turn it up a notch. Get busy. Don’t shove it down them. Don’t threaten them. Help them. Walk them through things. As they get older, don’t always answer their questions. Get them to figure out the answer. Be there and drop some hints here and there. Get them to use those minds spiritually. Take them along with you and do things for others. Get down to the church building and help clean up on a work day. Let them see you pray and let them hear you say their names in your prayers. Show them that you love your mate. Make goodness good. Have folks over from your church family. Have visiting preachers sign their Bibles. Get them to draw pictures for the older folks. Memorize verses together. Talk about the sermon.

 

It seems to me that while David was out fighting the Philistines and bring peace to the nation, he wasn’t home much and he wasn’t seeing about the peace within his palace. Dads that travel must really work at this. You need to stay in touch with the kids. Call them and talk to them. Headship, as God gives that role to husbands, is not about controlling the remote, but it’s about leading the family to Heaven.

 

Is the young man safe? Could you answer that for your family?  Could you answer that for yourself?

 

Roger

 

25

Jump Start # 1317

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1317

Luke 2:46 “Then, after three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”

  Our passage today is the only glimpse into the life of Jesus between His birth and when His ministry started at the age of thirty. Thirty years without anything, except this reference. We’d like more, but more isn’t given. Jesus as a teenager. Jesus as a twenty-something. What did He do all those early years? Who were His friends? How did people view Him? Lots and lots of questions, curiosity and thoughts. The Gospels are not the biography of Jesus. They are not intended to show us every detail of His life. The intention is to show us that He is the Son of God who gave His life so that we might be forgiven of our sins. In doing that, many, many things are left out. John tells us that the world could not hold all the books detailing all that Jesus did. There were more miracles than what we find in the Gospels. There were more lessons. There were more people He met and encountered. What is recorded is enough. It’s enough to convince us and convert us to our Lord and Savior.

 

In our passage, Joseph, Mary and Jesus had been to Jerusalem to worship for the Passover. They were returning home with many other people. Jesus wasn’t with them but they assumed He was somewhere in the group heading home. They began looking for Him after the first day, but couldn’t find Him. They returned to the city, and now, three days later they found Him. He was in the Temple, with teachers, listening and asking questions.

 

Today, an Amber Alert would have been sounded. Jesus was missing and they didn’t know where He was. That thought could be said of many homes and sadly, many churches today. Jesus is missing, and they don’t even realize it. Jesus has been replaced with other things and worse of all, many do not even realize that He is missing.

 

It is interesting what the text tells us about Jesus.

 

First, He was back in the Temple. He wasn’t on the ball field with other kids His age. He was in the temple, the place of worship. Now that the Passover was over and it was time to return home, Jesus had not turned off His interest in things spiritual. What an amazing twelve year old. Of all places, He is in the temple. But knowing Jesus, where else would we expect to find Him?

 

Second, He was sitting among the teachers. He recognized the scholars and that is where He wanted to be. He was learning. He was hearing what they had to say. He was interested in depth, content and things spiritual. He wasn’t in a children’s wing, singing songs, drinking Kool-Aid, and playing games. That’s where many today put 12 year olds. Too young to be in worship. They’d be bored. They need to play. Not Jesus. Maybe we don’t give kids a chance to be spiritual. Maybe they would want to sit among the adult teachers.

 

Third, He was listening. There was much discussion about Scriptures and things spiritual. That is what Jesus wanted to be a part of. He wanted to hear what they were saying. You wonder if the teachers were talking about the Messiah. They were always looking for the Chosen One to appear. Jesus was him. It wasn’t time to reveal that yet. Makes you wonder what the discussion was about.

 

Fourth, He was asking questions. Most twelve year olds that I know do not ask very deep questions. Jesus must have. He was engaged in spiritual dialogue. I wonder what the teachers thought about Jesus’ questions. I wonder if He made them really think.

 

We also wonder what these Jewish teachers thought of Jesus. They might have been bothered by “the kid” hanging around, but then to hear His interests and His questions must have turned heads. Who is this kid? How does He know so much?

 

Now after this brief scene, the next time we read about Jesus, He is thirty, and beginning His ministry. John, His cousin, commonly known as “the Baptist” baptizes Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends upon the Lord. A voice from Heaven declares that Jesus is the only begotten one. He is the chosen one. He is the Messiah. Then it all begins. The miracles. The sermons. The journeys. The encounters. The accusations. The Cross. The tomb. The resurrection. The church.

 

It would be in this same Temple, that a few years later, a woman caught in adultery would be brought to Him with the question of whether or not to stone her. It would be in this same Temple that Jesus would teach. It would be in this same Temple that Jesus, not once, but twice, would drive out the money changers. Jesus, referring to His coming death, would say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The disciples and others thought He meant the actual temple. He was referring to His life.

 

Joseph and Mary couldn’t find Jesus. Many today are having a hard time finding Him. They are looking in the wrong places. They are trying to find Jesus in pleasure and happiness. Others are trying to find Jesus in their own agendas and plans. Some are trying to find Jesus to justify whatever they want in life. They are looking but they can’t find Him. They won’t find Him. Joseph and Mary looked and looked among all the people for Jesus. They had to turn back and return to the city. I don’t know where they went first, but one of the last places they saw Jesus was in the Temple. They returned there, and they found Him.

 

Jesus can be found. Seek, He said, and you shall find. A person has to know where to look. Jesus is found in the Bible. That’s where you learn about Him. That’s where you see Him. That’s where faith is born, in the word of God.

 

Jesus responds to Mary and Joseph, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” The text tells us that they did not understand. Jesus was no ordinary person. He was God clothed in flesh. He was here for a reason and a mission. Mary would later get it. She would be at the Cross, witnessing Jesus die. He died for her sins. He died for your sins.

 

It’s the Father’s business that put Jesus back in the temple in Jerusalem when His family left to return home. It’s the Father’s business that put Jesus on the Cross. It’s the Father’s business that puts Jesus in your life.

 

Jesus was right where He was supposed to be. He always is.

 

Roger