15

Jump Start # 1517

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1517

1 John 5:4 “For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

  Some things in life are unknown and undecided. The outcome of ballgames are that way. We can pull for our team and the odds can be in favor of one team, but things happen, such as injuries or fluke plays and the outcome can go to the underdog. Political elections are another example of things that are unknown and undecided.

 

Having said that, it is easily to conclude that all of life is that way. Nothing is sure. Nothing is decided. The outcomes are not known in advance. That is not the case, but we can be convinced of that. That thinking can then trickle into our spiritual life where one lives in constant fear of being lost or never feels sure about his salvation. The apostle Paul was sure that there was a crown of life awaiting him. Someone once argued with me that Paul knew that because he was an apostle. The rest of us won’t know until judgment. His conclusion was that we live not knowing if we are going to Heaven or not. That seems to be a troubling way to live.

 

Our verse today shows the victory that one has through faith. Whoever is born of God overcomes the world. The world, signifies all that is wrong and opposed to God. We remember that friendship with the world is enmity with God. We remember that we are not to love the world nor the things in the world. And now, here, we see a victory for the Christian. He has overcome the world. It is possible to please God. It is possible to not become a victim of temptation. It is possible to walk in the light. We can win.

 

These words are valuable to us. We need to see this. One can doubt this, especially in his own life. We can feel as if we are never getting ahead. We can feel as if God is always frowning upon us. But our verse speaks of overcoming. It shouts of victories. It is possible. It is for those who are born of God. Jesus was the first to overcome. He overcame temptation. He overcame death. He overcame Satan. He was truly the first victor. When we walk in His steps, living by faith, we too become victorious.

 

It is interesting that many feel as if the victory is exclusively Heaven. Until that point, the battle is on and the outcome could go either way. But that is not how the verse is structured. The victory is now. The overcoming of the world is not future tense, but present tense. While they were alive and on the earth, they were overcoming the world.

 

Now, we must ask, “What does it mean to overcome the world?” The Romans were told, “Do not be conformed to the world.” The world, through Satan, tries to mold us and shape us. The world set standards of right and wrong. The world has it own definitions of success. The world forces it’s false values upon believers. Modesty, as described by the world is not the way God defines it. Success, by the world’s standards, involves bank accounts, labels, square footage in a house and bling-bling. There is no room for character, compassion and godliness in the world’s use of success. God sees the poor man, who never went to school, but has that genuine love and faith in him as more successful than the rock star, the superstar athlete, the movie star, the headline grabber. The poor guy walks through this life unnoticed and ignored. His death is only felt by a few people. His name is quickly forgotten. He has no streets named after him. There are no foundations in his honor. He doesn’t leave a legacy of best selling books. He simply walked quietly through this life, doing what he could for the Lord. But at his death, Heaven noticed. His soul, cleansed by the Savior, is recorded in Heaven’s books. His place in eternity is with the Lord. Lazarus was this way. The rich man ignored poor Lazarus. The rich man was a mover and shaker in his time. When he died, his community noticed. Yet at his death, he was tossed far from Heaven’s gates because he did not walk in faith and he did not overcome the world.

 

Overcoming the world means to stick with God and not be swayed by the influences and definitions of the world. The world says anyone can marry anyone. Period. No questions asked. Happiness is the most important thing. You won’t get that from reading the Bible. Holiness is most important to God. God limits who can get married. Tolerance, acceptance and equality are the marching orders of the world today. Overcoming the world means I don’t bow to such nonsense. The world cannot have a good time without alcohol. It’s at the concerts. It’s at ballgames. It’s at restaurants. It’s even surrounding business deals. Overcoming the world—the child of God doesn’t need artificial stimulates to enjoy life. He can do it pure. Overcoming the word carries into the mind and the attitude. Selfish, negative, demanding are the tones we hear coming from those of the world. The child of God overcomes those things. He’s not like that. He doesn’t think that way. The child of God builds a worthy character that resembles the Lord.

 

The child of God is not shaped by the world. He walks to a different beat. His eyes are upon the Savior. He does what God says. In this, he overcomes. By this, he is victorious. And the means and drive that gets him through the world is faith.

 

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world…remember that song? It’s based upon our passage.

 

Don’t shuffle through life as if you are beat up and defeated. Hold you head up. Put a smile on that face. Put some sunshine in your heart. The world can’t stand you. The world hates you. The world thinks you are an idiot. The thinks you are a fool and that you are missing out. But you know better. You have your eyes set on a sure destination. You are victorious. You are winning and through Jesus you know this.

 

Keep it up and keep going. “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through…”

 

The victory belongs to the Lord!

 

Roger

 

14

Jump Start # 1516

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1516

1 Timothy 6:9 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

  It was announced today that there were three Powerball winners who will split the record 1.5 billion dollar prize. We talked about all of this in our class last evening. It was a healthy discussion. Many have never really given much thought to the Biblical side of things such as gambling. On the way home, I was listening to a national talk show and the host was talking about what he would do if he won the Powerball. First on his list was to buy every model of Corvette ever made. His co-host replied, “So you would have a shed with all of these old cars just to look at. That doesn’t sound very exciting.” She explained her desire to travel in style—first class all the way. The audience was being encouraged to call in with their number one thing they would buy if the won the Powerball. I turned the radio off.

Many have heard of the “love of money” verse. It follows our passage today. Our verse, reminds me of the flashing lights at a railroad crossing. The lights are flashing, the safety arms are lowered, the train’s whistle is blowing, and still, there are those who want to drive around all those things and go on their journey. Our verse is full of warnings. Stopping, listening and paying attention will keep us alive, especially spiritually. Ignoring them will probably lead to an ugly crash.

 

Let’s walk through some of these words and expressions:

 

Those who want to get rich: they are not rich. They may never be rich. They just have the “want to’s.” They want to get rich. They dream of all the things money will do for them. They see luxury, fun, buying and power. There is no question that those who have money can do things that those who don’t can’t. Good seats at ballgames and concerts are expensive. Once in a while, usually through a friend, I’ve sat in good seats. Most times, I’ve been in the cheap seats. Money moves you up. Luxury cars have a lot more buttons and gadgets than cheaper cars. Money buys a larger house. Money buys finer food. There is a desire for those things and they can only be had if one has money. The desire to get rich is fueled by selfish greed. It can make one feel as if they are better than others.

 

Fall into temptation and a snare: For the child of God, we are trying to flee temptation, not invite more into our lives. We have enough temptation without asking for more. This statement alone, answers the question about gambling. A snare is a trap. It’s a word used by hunters to bait things and then catch an animal. Here, it is us who are being caught. We are being caught by Satan. The bait he used was the desire to get rich. The snared or caught Christian is not pleasing the Lord. He’s slipped up. He’s messed up. His thinking has been affected and now his choices are not right. This all started with the desire to get rich.

 

Many foolish and harmful desires: If it wasn’t enough just to say that one falls into temptation and is snared, now there is more. There is more trouble than just that. Now, his desire to get rich has led him into foolish and harmful desires. These may be things that he could never get into before because the doors were closed. But now, with money, he could do anything. The book of Proverbs has much to say about the fool. It is not good. The fool doesn’t listen. The fool thinks he knows. The fool rejects warnings. The fool gets into trouble. Harmful comes with many colors. It may include things that are harmful to one’s health. It may involve things harmful for the family. The greatest would be those things which are harmful to the soul. There are choices that can ruin our soul. Again, all of this started from “those who want to get rich.”

 

Which plunge men into ruin and destruction. The declining picture here continues to grow worse. Temptation has been surpassed by harmful desires. That has now been passed up by ruin and destruction. So the man gets what he wanted, wealth. He is rich. The cost he had to pay has now ruined him and destroyed him internally. Money may well have become his god. His soul is lost. He is ruined.

 

Now, are we saying that all rich people are ruined? No. We know that’s not true Biblically. Abraham was wealthy and was considered God’s friend. Job sat high in God’s trophy case. Job had a lot. Even today, there are many brethren who have done well financially and their wealth has not changed them nor ruined them.

 

Remember, we are not necessarily talking about a wealthy person here. The discussion flows around “one who wants to be rich.” He may be sleeping in a tent on the street. He may live in an apartment. He may be me or you. It’s his dream to be rich. It’s what he wants. These warnings are fitting to a person whose mind is filled with riches and not God. He sees riches as his ticket to happiness, peace and security. He is wrong about all three. It is this thirst to “get rich” that drives the Powerball. Dreams of unlimited buying dances through the heads of those who bought Powerball tickets this week.

 

Hard work, savvy investing, keeping the right perspective in mind and soul, remaining generous will build wealth. The principles have been true. Many wealthy people that I know did not start out “to get rich.” They fell in love with what they were doing. They were smart. They learned and developed themselves. Their hard work led to the benefits of wealth. Now, many of these people that I know, are using their wealth to be the financial backbones of congregations. They are helping the kingdom grow. They are generous, sharing and open with their wealth.

 

Money isn’t the answer to what plagues us. Jesus is. There is a old saying that remains true: Money will buy a house, but not a home. Money will buy food, but not an appetite. Money will buy medicine, but not health. Money will buy entertainment, but not happiness. Money does not buy eternal life.

 

I like the saying, “Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.”

 

Those who want to get rich—that’s the problem. That’s where all of this started. That “want to” colors their choices. It fills their mind. It’s what they think about. It’s what they talk about. It becomes them. I was in a store a while back looking at watches. The salesman was dropping Italian and German names faster than I could understand them. I never heard of any of them. He thought I ought be impressed. I wasn’t. In fact, I was done. I couldn’t get the guy to hush up enough so I could politely leave. Another name. Then another name. My head was spinning with all those foreign names of watch makers. I finally said, “Do you have a “Ro-jay?” I was putting a little French into my name, Roger. It stunned him. He had never heard of that watch maker. That was my ticket out and I took it.

 

The problem is greater than “those who want to get rich.” What’s missing is any spiritual life. They are dead spiritually. They forget the soul. They have fed their carnal and secular passions but they have allowed their soul to die. Rather, it ought to be, “Those who want to go to Heaven…” Now that says something. Those who want to go to Heaven, that thought fills their mind. It colors their choices. It’s what they talk about. It shapes them and defines them. That’s what we need to be interested in. That’s what we ought to really want. That’s what catches the attention of God.

 

I think we are wired to want something. It’s a matter of wanting the right thing.

 

I hope those who won the Powerball do not let it destroy them. I’m glad the hype is over. People will settle down. Back to work. Back to paying bills. Maybe a lesson learned, but I doubt it.

What do you want?  The answer to that question reveals your character and your choices.

 

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 1515

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1515

John 9:34-35 “They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out. Jesus head that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’”

  Our verse and thoughts today are a continuation from yesterday’s Jump Start. John 9 details the critical examination that the Pharisees made of the man who was blind but received his sight from Jesus. The miracle itself is covered in just a few verses. The rest of the chapter surrounds the Pharisees attempt to discount this man’s claim that he was blind and to discredit Jesus. They not only quiz the blind man more than once, but they also question his parents. His parents’ feared these powerful Pharisees. It was known that if anyone confessed Jesus to be the Christ, they were put out of the synagogue. That very act of rejection would cripple their social lives. There was much at stake. The blind man’s parents found an easy way to avoid the sharp questions, “ask him, he’s old enough.”

 

At the conclusion of once again questioning the blind man, our verse is found. The arrogance of the Pharisees is exhibited in the snub comment, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” Then they “put him out.” The blind man was kicked out of the synagogue. He was removed. He was branded, labeled, accused and rejected. His relationship with his parents was now at stake. To associate with one who was removed from the synagogue put yourself in jeopardy. These Pharisees used fear to control people. In a small community made up of Jews, being outcast was as bad as having leprosy. The blind man could see, but what he saw wasn’t very pretty. He would see people turning their backs and walking away from him. He would see shop owners closing their doors as he approached. He would see people whispering as he passed. His new vision opened his eyes to the ugly side of prejudice, fear and rejection.

 

Even today, some use fear and threats as a way of controlling behavior. Some parents operate this way. Many places of employment function this way. And even in some churches, this seems to be the standard. Fear keeps folks quiet. People feel a certain way, but they certainly won’t express it because they are afraid. Fear keeps everyone in line. Every once in a while a rebel arises, but he is dismissed and dealt with so quickly that others would never dare try that.

 

So, the blind man was put out. It would be hard to know where he would go. Could he even go home to his parent’s house? How confused he must have felt. He didn’t do anything. People ought to be happy that he can now see. He could function again. He could work. He could add to society. Instead, he was the focus of a serious verbal attack and in these whirlwind encounters, he found himself put out of the synagogue. What was he to do now?

 

The next verse, so fitting to the character of Jesus, states, “Jesus head that they had put him out, and finding him…” Jesus found the man. Where he found him we are not told. How long it took Jesus to find him we are not told. Everyone in the synagogue turned their backs to this man, and Jesus went looking for him. How true this is to Jesus. The Lord is always looking. When one sheep wandered off, the shepherd took off to find it. When a coin was lost, the house was swept and lamps lit to find it. When the prodigal was a long way off, his father saw him and ran to him. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He is not on a seek and destroy mission but rather a seek and save mission.

 

The blind man received his sight. He now experienced the blindness of those around him. Blind to truth. Blind to making changes. Blind to confessing Christ. Blind in prejudice and fear. Jesus found the man.

 

In a wonderful twist of events, the blind man came to see who Jesus was. He confessed that he believed and he worshipped Jesus. The Pharisees caught wind of this and challenged Jesus. He told them that they were not only blind but in their sins. What a turn of statements! They had accused the blind man of being entirely in sins and yet Jesus used that thought on those narrow Pharisees.

 

Jesus found the man who had been put out. There are folks today who have been put out. There is that kid in school who no one talks to at lunch. Maybe he’s overweight. Maybe he’s not popular. He’s bullied, laughed at and has been put out. There are folks similar to that at work. No one likes them. They are alone. They have been put out because they don’t engage in the weekend party scene. They don’t talk about others. They sit quietly and every once in a while someone jabs them verbally. They are put out. There are those at church who feel the same. They may have been divorced and now they don’t fit in. They come from a different background than others. They have had issues in the past. When services are over, they quietly leave. They are not included in little conversations. They are not invited out to eat with others. They attend but truthfully, they have been put out.

 

Most of us can see faces to those situations I described. It hurts us to know that is the truth in too many places. We stand in the shoes of the blind man’s parents. Are we going to fear others and continue to ignore those who are cast out or are we going to stand with Jesus and find them, include them and welcome them?

 

Jesus did what others wouldn’t. Jesus welcomed the blind man. The blind man was of more value than the entire synagogue of stuck up Pharisees. They saw the blind man as not worthy to be among them. Jesus found him and included him. We must be careful with what we are doing. We must be careful that we are not guilty of “putting some out” that Jesus would include. Older folks ought to talk to the little ones…Teenagers and senior citizens ought to get together…married and single folks…those with families and those without families…everyone has a place. Everyone ought to feel accepted.

 

One of the worst things that someone can say about a church is that “I’m not like them.” That’s exactly what the Pharisees thought. They were better than the blind man. They had no use for the blind man. Jesus showed them otherwise.

 

Do you stand in the shadows of those who point to the exit or do you stand in the shadows of the Savior, who opens His arms to accept?

 

Great lessons from our verses. It gives us much to think about. Live as if one foot is already in Heaven.

 

Roger

 

12

Jump Start # 1514

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Starts # 1514

John 9:1-2 “As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”

  The ninth chapter of John opens the hood to one of Jesus’ miracles. A blind man receives his sight. Throughout the chapter a heated dialogue takes places between the Pharisees and this man. They will interview him and question him many times. They even question his parents. A man got to see for the first time in his life, yet he had to endure the painful verbal abuse from those who could not accept who Jesus was.

 

All of this began with our verses today. Jesus passed a blind man. He was blind from birth. So easy to read that and think, “too bad.” Stop! Don’t do that. You are doing right now what he couldn’t do, read. He never got to see his mother’s face. He never saw the color red. He never saw birds, cows or people. When I was in college, I had a friend who was blind. We used to do mean things to him, such as rearrange his furniture without telling him. He made it up by coming in our room in the middle of the night and scaring us. We were friends. He had a date with a lovely girl. I never forget walking him from our dorm to where the girl was waiting for him. As we walked he held on to my elbow. She was waiting. He asked me to describe her. She was wearing a beautiful red dress and her hair was pulled back on top of her head. I was trying to describe red to someone who had never seen red. But when I told him that she was beautiful, the biggest smile came across his face. The man in our verse was blind from birth.

 

The text follows with the disciples asking a question, “Who sinned?” Since the days of Job, it has been believed that disease and handicaps were the punishment for sins. It is interesting that none of the disciples asked Jesus to heal this man. None of them seemed to have compassion to change his situation. They simply wanted to know the cause.

 

The disciples asked the wrong question. Why did it matter if he sinned or not? To follow their thinking, if he sinned and was blind because of that, then he got what he deserved. He should have known better. Now, there are two problems with this thinking.

 

First, the text tells us that the man was blind from birth. Maybe the disciples didn’t know this at the moment of their question. If they did, were they implying that this man was born a sinner? That doesn’t happen. Sin is a choice. Sin is the result of disobeying God. Ezekiel reminds us that one does not bear the punishment for another’s sin. Inherited sin has been a long standing thought in Christendom. It is not supported by Biblical truth. It is contrary to what the Bible teaches.

 

Second, even if he was blind because of his sin, he was blind. Deserving or not, where is the compassion. I find we can feel the same for those who are homeless or are addicts. Had they not chosen that lifestyle, then they would not be where they are. Some have lost their jobs, homes and families because of addictions. Their lives have been ruined by the choices that they have made. It’s so easy to be smug and cold toward such people. It’s easy to turn the caring eye from such people. Why help them, they will be right back where they are now. They don’t want to leave the streets.  Common thoughts that come from the wrong questions.

 

Like the disciples, we tend to be looking backwards at things trying to find out the “why?” My wife is an oncology nurse. She deals everyday with cancer patients. They ask her that question daily. Why do I have cancer? They are looking backwards. They are hoping someone would say, “You sat too close to the TV set” or, “You didn’t wash your hands.” There are some obvious things, such as booze and smoking, but most times, the answer is not known. Even if it was known, it doesn’t take away the fact that one has the disease. Looking backward is an exercise in pointing fingers and finding blame. This is why this happened.

 

Jesus took that away from the discussion. He answered the disciples by saying, no one sinned. “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” No blame here. No fingering point. No cause other than God was going to use this to magnify Jesus.

 

Looking backward and finding blame doesn’t help a person out. It may be a reason for us to do nothing but the person remains as he is. Had Jesus said, “this man sinned,” it wouldn’t change the fact that he was blind. He was a beggar. He was helpless. He needed Jesus.

 

Compassion helps a person. Asking the wrong question only finds blame. It is walking with Jesus that we start looking forward with a caring heart. It is with Jesus that we learn to do what we can. Compassion and care were the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry. There were many people Jesus encountered that didn’t deserve help, but He did it anyway. He cared. He showed the love of God is extended to those who made wrong choices and were suffering the consequences of their decisions.

 

I wish we could be more like Jesus. I wish we quit standing in the shadows of the disciples, asking the wrong questions. I wish we could open our hearts more and regardless of how and why something happened, start helping those who need help. This is true physically, as well as emotionally and especially spiritually. Sometimes there are just too many questions. Sometimes we are talking when we ought to be doing.

 

The disciples asked questions…Jesus did something. Had the disciples had their way, the man would have died blind. Jesus changed his life forever. The hymn Amazing Grace, “I once was blind but now I see.” That speaks not of physically, but spiritually. Now I see spiritually. Now I see truth. Now I see love. Now I see purpose. Now I see forgiveness. Now I see hope. And someday, I will see His face. I see Jesus.

 

Roger

 

 

 

11

Jump Start # 1513

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1513

Psalms 32:7 “You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance. “

  I’ve been working on memorizing verses. This is one of my latest ones. I like the concept of God surrounding us. That focus is what drew me to this verse. There are three simple statements. Each statement begins with “You.” The “you” is God. We see the activity of God. God is busy in this verse. The Psalmist recognized great help coming from the Lord.

 

You’ll notice in this verse that this is presented more as a prayer than a teaching. He is not talking about God. That would be “theology,” a study of God. Instead, he is talking TO God. This is a prayer. He recognizes what God has done for him. He is thankful. You have done this rather than God has done this. It seems that we’d be better off if we talked to God more than we talked about God.

 

You’ll also notice that God was helping the Psalmist. Three different ways the Psalmist found relief, hope and help in the Lord. Now, let’s look at these three expressions:

 

1. You are my hiding place. We remember playing “hide and seek” as a kid. When my boys were little, I used to take them down to the church building with me. They’d find those little tucked away places in closets to hide in. I couldn’t find them half the time. Sometimes a person hides when they are in trouble. Adam and Eve did that. But here, for the Psalmist, God was his shelter and place to go to. God was were he was finding protection. God was his hiding place. Other expressions from Psalms are rock and refuge. For the traveler out in the open who was caught in a sudden storm, a cleft in the rock was a great place to ride out the storm. God is viewed as this way. God understands. God can do things that no one else can. God is for us. Three words in this verse describe the scene and the times: hiding, trouble, deliverance. This person didn’t blame God for the trouble that was around him. He didn’t run from God. Rather, it was to God. We sing, “Take it to  the Lord in prayer.” Have you? Will you? God was his hiding place.

 

2. You preserve me from trouble. Preserving means to keep or save. Trouble wasn’t going to triumph. Not here. Trouble wasn’t going to win. Not now. God was preserving the Psalmist from trouble. God still does this. One way, is through the guidance of His word. His word can keep us from getting into trouble. But more so, His word gives us hope and help when trouble follows us. Jesus left us an example of one who suffered. The heroes of Hebrews 11, all suffered yet continued with God. Jesus said, ‘Do not fear the one who can kill the body and then do no more.” Trouble. Trouble follows because trouble doesn’t like Jesus. Trouble doesn’t like things that are good and right. Trouble comes upon those who walk with the Lord. Blessed are those who have been persecuted, comes from the Lord’s beatitudes. God preserves me from trouble.

 

3. You surround me with songs of deliverance. That’s hope! Songs of deliverance may be the victory songs of those who conquered. The Daniels, the Joshuas, the Pauls of the Bible. Great men of faith who overcame and were courageous in the Lord. Surrounded with these stories and these victory songs, encourages us and helps us. We too, can overcome. We too, are loved by the Lord. We too, can please the Lord.

 

You are…You preserve…You surround. God is our help. God is the one we must run to. But there is one final thought before we leave this great verse. Three statements about God compliment three personal pronouns. My hiding place…preserve me…surround me. Me. It wasn’t the nation. It wasn’t the world. It was ME. God was looking out for ME. There was much to be thankful for because of what God had done for him. He saw that God has been there for him. It was personal. It was real.

 

You and God. The Lord is MY shepherd.

 

You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance.

 

Simply amazing!

 

Roger