26

Jump Start # 2419

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2419

2 Kings 12:8 “But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.”

 

Our verse today is about King Rehoboam. He was the last king of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah. And, it’s because of our verse today that the kingdom split. He sought good advice, but he didn’t follow through with it. The elders had some experience. They were with his father, Solomon, as the kingdom prospered. A temple was built. Massive amounts of money flowed into the kingdom. It was time to give the people some breathing room. Back off of the taxes and enjoy the fruits of what was all around. The old men knew. But those words didn’t set well with the new king. He asked those who were his age. They presented a different picture. Raise the taxes even more, was their advice. And, that was enough. The people had enough. Judah and Israel split and they would never be united again. It was a civil war without any shots being fired.

 

From this we see lessons about advice. Advice about advice.

 

First, it is important who you ask. Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone ought to express it. If you wanted some financial advice, you wouldn’t ask your broke cousin. What does he know? If you wanted some advice about college, you’d not ask someone who never finished high school. What does he know? If you want advice about marriage, are you going to ask someone who has been divorced several times or is a registered sex offender? You want Biblical advice, who should you ask? Google it? A college professor who hates God? A guy who never goes to church services? A person who doesn’t understand the Bible?

 

Who you ask is important. Rehoboam’s buddies, those he grew up with, they never ran a kingdom. They never were involved with tax laws or getting tribute from foreign countries. They never saw how to finance an army. It could be that we get into messes because we are not asking the right people. Because a person is in the family doesn’t mean that they are qualified nor do they have any knowledge of what to do. If you had a problem, who would you talk to? If you need some input, who are you asking?

 

Second, the best advice may not be what I want to hear. I believe the reason why Rehoboam rejected what the elders said, was because that’s not what he wanted to hear. Had they said, “raise the taxes,” he might have gone along with them. Those that really love us often will have to tell us things that we’d rather not hear. We may not want to hear that we are spending too much money, or that we are wasting too much time watching TV, or that we are neglecting the kids. The doctor may tell us to lay off the soft drinks and exercise more. Probably, not what we wanted to hear. Moms and dads have been telling their children what to do since the creation. We didn’t want to go to bed when they said to. We didn’t want to do our homework. We didn’t like to eat anything green. But what they told us, was the best. It was for our good.

 

What Rehoboam heard from the elders wasn’t what he was looking for. Had he listened to them, the kingdom may not have split, at least not at that moment and maybe not under his watch. You need to get to church, may not be what some what to hear, but it’s the best. Need to forgive. Not what you were hoping for, but it’s the best. Need to be quiet and listen, not what you wanted to be told.

 

Third, what makes advice good or bad is not the age of the person who says it but the rightness of what is said. Just because someone is old, doesn’t make him right. And, just because someone is young, doesn’t make him foolish. Out of the mouth of babes, the truth can flow. We can discount what is said because of the age of the person. We need to hear what they say. They might actually say something worthwhile and right. This thought is often discounted both at home and in the church. The assumption that parents are always right, isn’t right. A child tells his sleepy parents on Sunday morning, “we need to go to church.” That child is right. The parents will have a lame excuse why they can’t, but the words of the child, even though he is young, is right. In the church, a new Christian can have fresh, good and Biblical ideas that could help the place. Too often, no one listens to him because he is “new.” The elders do not have a market on all good ideas. Listen to what is said before you dismiss it because of who said it.

 

Fourth, it helps to recognize when we have followed the wrong advice. Rehoboam should have noticed how dreadful he made things in the kingdom. He should have pulled back, reversed what he said and rejected the bad advice. But he didn’t. The kingdom split. He was to blame. If you find yourself going down a dead end road, how fall to you have to go before you stop and turn around? Just because someone is a Christian, doesn’t mean all the light bulbs are shinning in his head. I’ve heard preachers give some pretty insane advice before. As a young preacher, had I followed what they said, I would have been hung out to dry a long time ago. Some speak from emotion. They are worked up, angry and not thinking. They tell you to do things that you shouldn’t do. Others are firing from the hip and they don’t know what they are talking about. It’s amazing to hear all the advice non-preachers give to preachers. I know a few doctors. I would never dream of telling them what they ought to do or how to run their practices. I don’t have a clue what their world is like. But bad advice flows through the air all the time. It’s on social media. Put out a question or a situation, and volumes of advice flows. A lot of it is not worth even reading.

 

We must recognize when what we decided to do isn’t working out. We need to stop and turn around. There is no need to keep getting deeper and deeper into problems by following bad advice.

 

Advice is a part of life. We give advice and we receive advice. Some advice we seek. Some is just given to us, whether we want it or not. The lesson of Rehoboam teaches us some simple principles about advice.

 

I hope this helps…

 

Roger

 

23

Jump Start # 2418

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2418

2 Corinthians 12:20 “For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, anger, tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.”

 

There is an old expression, when the cat is away the mice will play. This is what Paul feared. The list of nine sinful attitudes is enough to crack even the strongest of churches. These nine sins were all relationship problems. You don’t find drunkenness, drug abuse, porn among this list. These nine sins were about how brethren were treating, or more accurately, mistreating one another. Throughout the Scriptures we learn that we cannot be right with God while we are wrong with one another. If we do not forgive, God won’t forgive us. The way we judge, is the way we will be judged. Flying solo isn’t an option. We are all in this together which requires responsibilities, commitments, and obligations towards each other. We can bump each other. We can offend each other. We let each other down. We make promises and forget to keep them. We disappoint each other. That’s life. That’s work. That’s home. And, that’s church. But among brethren, we walk by a higher and more noble standard. Grace, forgiveness, patience, forbearance are all the qualities that keep us glued together.

 

For Paul, he feared that the glue was coming apart with the Corinthians. Now some lessons.

 

First, Paul thought this way because he knew them and he understood human nature. Paul was not negative in general. Some folks are always thinking the worst. Some would probably find something to complain about in Heaven, if they even made it. Paul knew these people. In the first letter, they were divided. In the sixth chapter of that letter they were suing each other. In the eleventh chapter, the Lord’s Supper was being withheld from some. In the twelfth chapter, there was jealousy over spiritual gifts. So, all through the Corinthian letters, the spirit, the potential, and the elements to separate is found. Paul had reasons to be concerned.

 

Second, when these relationship issues hit the surface, they tend to dominate our time and our energy and little else gets done. It’s hard to have an amazing worship service when the air is filled with strife and anger. It’s hard to invite a friend to come, when things are so tense, backwards and harmful. We get more excited about who said what rather than what God said. And, behind all of this is Satan. He will do all that he can to stop us in our tracks. False teaching is easy to recognize by mature Christians, but it’s these issues of feelings, relationships, gossip and slander that can make even the best among us a mess. Satan often accomplishes more through our picking at each other than he can in any other way. Get us mad at one another, and some will stop coming. Get us angry, and we’ll probably say things that we shouldn’t. And, arrogance will stop us from apologizing and it will keep us from forgiving.

 

Third, our verse tells us that Paul feared that they would not be what he wished and they would be what they didn’t wish. No right minded person wishes for trouble. No one likes to be slandered, gossiped about and to be in the middle of strife. Those things keep us up at night. They steal our appetite. They age us. But, simply wishing for good doesn’t make one good. Parents wish for their children to get good grades. Wishing alone won’t do that unless those kids are hitting the books at night and studying. We wish for our grown children to marry someone who is walking with God. But if they are constantly hanging out with the wrong people, that won’t happen. We wish for elders in the church. But every time names are mentioned, they are verbally assassinated and attacked, no one will go through the process. We wish for a strong church, but when members do not come to Bible classes, read their Bibles or engage in spiritual conversations, it won’t happen. We wish to go to Heaven. How’s that going to be accomplished? Finding four-leaf clovers? Wishing upon a star? Crossing your fingers? Lucky rabbit’s foot? There is a way, a direction, a path to be Heaven bound.

 

What’s the difference between a wish and a goal? The difference is found in our actions. Wish all day long, but if you sit there on a log, doing nothing, nothing is what you will get. Goals involve action, plans, specific steps. Want to grow a church? There’s a way to do that. Want elders who act like Biblical shepherds? There are specific steps to that. Want you kids to obey the Gospel? There are specific steps to that. There are a lot of folks who are in the wishing business, but not too many are in the doing. Wish or goal? There is a difference.

 

Finally, the way to stop these terrible things from happening are two fold:

First, each person must look in mirror and focus upon their walk with the Lord. Stop complaining about the other guy. Are you doing what you should be? Are you forgiving, kind, patient towards others? It starts with each of us. These nine sins reflect hearts that were not walking with the Lord. These things are all wrong. They are hurtful. Jesus never acted this way. We often want the preacher to blast the other guy out of his pew and then all things will be fine. That’s not the way to do it. We must start with ourselves. And, when we don’t, why should we expect the other guy to change. If we won’t, he won’t.

 

Second, this is also a time for strong leadership. There are things that irritate sheep and found on that list is tension in the flock. It’s up to the shepherds to calm everyone down. It’s up to the shepherds to get us back to where we need to be. This is why shepherds carried rods and staffs with them. There are times that they had to use them. There are times when clear, specific words need to be spoken. There are times when discipline may be necessary. There are times when getting people together in a room and not allowing folks to leave until heart felt apologies and forgiveness has been extended. Sometimes the work of shepherds is messy. This is one occasion. Hurt feelings. Thinking bad towards each other. Talking out of turn. Messy times. But good shepherds will get right in there and be that clear, Scriptural voice that we often forget about.

 

I wish…Have you got any spiritual wishes? What are you doing about them?

 

Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 2417

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2417

 

Luke 12:15 “And He said to them, ‘Beware , and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when on has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

 

Our verse today is sandwiched between someone wanting Jesus to settle a family dispute about inheritances and the parable of the farmer who tore down his barns to build larger barns. The man who asked Jesus the question didn’t get the answer he was hoping for. Jesus turned it on him and taught about greed and materialism. The farmer in the parable, is a mirror of this man who asked Jesus the question. The farmer only talked about himself and he made no references to God. He died and all his stuff went to someone else.

 

I was thinking about this the other day. I’ve got an appointment down the road with an attorney. It’s time to draw up some specific wills. Up to this point our will has been pretty vague. If I die, it all goes to my wife. If she died, it all goes to me. And, we never really had much. Now, it’s time to put more thought into it. Life doesn’t consist of possessions. Our lives are not defined by what we own. Our souls, our love, our hearts are of much more value and memories than stuff. But, what does one do with all the stuff? And as one gets older, it seems that there is more stuff and sometimes this stuff actually is rare, historical and has some value to it. On top of this, being a preacher for nearly forty years, and a religious pack rat at that, I occupy two rooms at the church building with all my file cabinets, books and stuff. And, from what people say, millennials are not really interested in their parents things. I can see some of that. The way I have decorated my offices is not the way my kids decorate their homes. What is interesting to me, probably is not to them. What means so much to me, doesn’t move the needle for them.

 

So, I took out a blank piece of paper and started writing down some of the valuable things I believe we have. That was easy to do. Now, who gets what? That’s where I’m stuck. Some things cannot be divided up, such as a piano. Investments are easy to deal with. Just divide them equally among the kids. The house, sell and divide the proceeds equally. Furniture, take what you want, sell or donate the rest. Easy. But it’s the special things, the possessions that are hard to know what to do with.

 

Sometimes we spend a lifetime collecting these possessions. A person will hunt things down in flea markets, garage sells and on Ebay. They collect. They save. They are important to them. But, as in the case of the rich farmer in the parable, “now who will own what you have prepared?” Great question. Hard to answer.

 

But here are some things I learned in this process:

 

First, who I am is not defined by what I have on the walls. The memories of our hearts, our times we spent together, our love, the holidays, this is how I want them to remember me. Remember me by my lessons, my writing and what I believed in. I have a cool hour glass sitting on my desk. The grandkids love to turn it over and watch the sand fall. But that’s not me. It’s just something sitting on my desk. What if the kids take all the stuff and sell it on Ebay? I’ll be out of this earthly room and it won’t matter to me. These things have served me and they may not serve others.

 

Second, we can get really worked up about our possessions. I’ve been to funerals where literally, as soon as the amen was said at the cemetery, the wheels were squealing as the kids were racing to the house to get what they wanted. I’ve known families that sued each other over stuff. Somehow I just have to believe that mom and dad didn’t do a very good job of teaching their kids about what was important in life. If one doesn’t believe in life after death, then this is all that there is and they will try to grab all that they can. So you get grandma’s old rocking chair, if you had to crush your relationships to get it, is it really worth it? It’s just stuff. A quick Indiana tornado and it can all be gone in seconds. Too many families get worked up over stuff rather than building quality relationships with each other.

 

Third, someday all of it will be gone. Jesus is coming. That’s a fact. The N.T. teaches that from the first book to the last book. And, according to what Peter wrote, when He comes, the earth and all of its works will be burned up. So, Junior got the grandfather clock and you didn’t. It’s only for a short time. Before you know it, the Lord will come and no one will have it. As Job says, naked we came and naked we go. All that we take with us is our souls and the record of our life. So, in the big picture of things, it really doesn’t matter who gets what because before long, it’s all gone.

 

Fourth, as our society prospers, we must be careful about passing on to the next generation large sums of money without godly instructions. Money can ruin some people and as the Bible states, it is the root of all ut sorts of trouble. Nothing wrong with leaving kids and grandkids money, but do them a favor and teach them about the power of money and the good that can be done with money. Money can ruin a heart and it can get a lot of people into trouble. So, while you are alive, teach your kids and grandkids about the value of money. I’ve seen people running through money, buying useless stuff and it’s gone as quickly as they got it and they have nothing worthwhile to show for it. They didn’t honor God with it. They didn’t use it wisely. They didn’t think about the future. It’s was shopping time and boy, it was gone in a flash. God is generous with us but he expects us to be good stewards and to use it properly. Should that be any different with the things we hand our children? Doors can be opened and opportunities created through generous giving, but in the wrong hands and with the wrong heart, much pain and sorry can come from money.

 

Now, let me say this, since I’m on this topic, and this is strictly, Roger’s opinion: I’m not a fan of willing money to a congregation. Some do that and that’s their choice. I’ve seen some who willed money to a church for new song books. The elders at that congregation didn’t want new song books, so the money was put into the general fund. That wasn’t the wish of the people who donated the money. I’d rather see a person give as much as he can while he is alive. Influence and see that the money is used wisely. Once you have passed away, who knows how the money may be used. That’s just my feelings.

 

Finally, all of this discussion ought to make us realize how blessed we are. We complain about this and that, but our closets are stuffed. We rent storage sheds because we don’t have room for all of our things. Our pantry is filled. It’s hard even to pray, ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ because we have enough food in the house to last us weeks. We make a lot of money these days. We live in large homes these days. Everyone of age, has their own cars. I saw a stat the other day that on this planet, more people have cell phones than tooth brushes. We need to be thankful. We need to be good stewards. We need to share. We need to realize with much, much is required.

 

Life is more than possessions and it is important that the possessions do not possess us. Do I own the stuff or does the stuff own me? As I looked over my sheet of paper, I realized I forgot all my ties and colorful socks. Maybe we’ll just pass them out at my funeral…

 

 

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 2416

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2416

Mark 10:21 “And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack; go and sell all your possessions and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.”

 

Our verse today is the conversation between a wealthy young man and Jesus. You and I are allowed to witness this conversation. There are many things that are remarkable about this meeting.

 

First, this young man some how and in some way accumulated much wealth. Luke tells us that he was a ruler. Did he inherit his wealth? Did he bust it as a young man and do well in business? Did his position come with much wealth? It’s not too often that you find young age and wealth together. That is often a deadly combination. Young athletes, fresh out of college, offered millions to play in the pros. Without guidance and wisdom, too many go on a wild spending spree and when the money runs out, they are in trouble. There have been many lottery winners that have ended up bankrupt. He was young and he had a lot.

 

Second, he came to Jesus with a question. His question is the best question that any one could ask. In his position, he might have asked Jesus a financial question, but he was the rich ruler and Jesus was the poor teacher. He may have asked how to live a long life. He could have asked how to be a better ruler. But his question was about eternal life. Not only did he ask the right question, the best question, but he asked the right person. He didn’t ask his parents. He didn’t ask his friends. He asked Jesus. This is why Jesus came, to save the lost. There’s not a better question to be asked and not a better person to ask it to.

 

Third, our verse today tells us that Jesus felt a love for him. This opens up a powerful thought for us. Jesus loved this person, yet he told him to sell all his possessions. That doesn’t sound loving to many people. Our culture today tells us that if you love me, you accept me as I am, agree with me and you say nothing negative about me. If you don’t, then you really do not love me. And, worse, you are prejudiced against me. Jesus loved, yet he said some things that he needed to hear. Jesus wasn’t hateful, prejudice, racist or any other term folks can think up. Jesus loves you, however He wants you to repent. Unless you repent, Jesus said, you will die in your sins. This is so backwards to our time. How can you love and say negative things? Our culture doesn’t understand love. If you really love someone you will care enough to help them and correct them. Accepting wrong is not love. Telling the truth is not hatred.

 

Fourth, what he was told to do was very difficult. He was told to liquidate it all and give it away. Sell all. Sell out. Jesus didn’t say, sell 50%. Jesus didn’t say, simply give more. Jesus said, sell all your possessions. Jesus noticed a heart problem. This man came to Jesus looking for approval. He was wanting a gold star on his paper. He was hoping Jesus would say that he already had eternal life. He was hoping Jesus would say, “You’re on the right track. Keep doing what you are doing.” Nope. That wasn’t the words of Jesus. Sell all. Give all. Then follow me.

 

Fifth, the young man grieved. He went away sad. One text says, “His face fell.” Now, some would say that it wasn’t nice for Jesus to make him sad. Jesus should have been nicer with him. The sadness was his own doing. It came about because he refused to do what Jesus said. You can’t be right with God and wrong with what God says. Not only was he sad, but he went away. He didn’t follow Jesus. He didn’t get the message he wanted, so he was finished with Jesus. He was disappointed with Jesus. You can imagine him telling everyone he knew that Jesus isn’t as great as you think He is. Disappointed. Sad. Frustrated. That’s how he left Jesus.

 

Sixth, we don’t know if he ever turned around. I suppose in eternity we will know. This wasn’t a story, but a real event. If he went home and thought about things and got his act together, we might bump into him in Heaven, but the way the Gospels end this, it sure wasn’t promising. That’s one of the disappointing things we find throughout the Bible and in life today. Someone comes face to face with truth and it will change them and help them, but they are not interested. It’s not what they wanted to hear. As the book of Acts ends, we are told that some would not believe what Paul was saying. Some are looking for approval, not change. Repentance just doesn’t fit in the language of some people.

 

We must see ourselves in the passage. This is where application is made. This is where truth intersects with our hearts. This is where the Bible makes a difference in our lives.

 

If you could have asked Jesus a question, what would it be? Would it be something silly and meaningless? Would it be just a curious fact that you were chasing? Or, would it be something that brings you closer to God? And, you and I get to ask those questions—it’s in prayer. It is in prayer that we get to talk to God. It is in prayer that we can ask for wisdom. It is in prayer that we can grow and connect with God.

 

And, what do we do when we find ourselves facing some tough Biblical truth? Do we, like this ruler, walk away? Do you argue with God? What about giving? What about forgiving? What about evil companions? What about divorce? What about setting your mind on things above? So many principles and so many truths. What do we do when God, through the Scriptures tells us the truth?

 

It’s hard to imagine walking away from Jesus sad. Jesus offers grace, hope and future. In Jesus there is forgiveness and Heaven. Jesus promises to be with us. Jesus wants us to cast all of our burdens upon Him. Jesus provides the tools to fight Satan and overcome wickedness. With Jesus we can make it. But walking away from Jesus sad? We ought to be racing towards Jesus with excitement and joy.

 

I wonder how many times we have done the same, walked away from Jesus rather than running towards Him? I wonder how many times we are sad rather than rejoicing and counting our blessings? I wonder how many times we go to Jesus to get just what we want rather than what we really need?

 

These events in the Gospels have a way of becoming our stories as well. Hopefully, we can learn…

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 2415

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2415

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

The most unusual thing happened to me the other day. It’s the only time in my life that this has ever happened. I was eating at my favorite bar-b-que place in this area. Great food. Great mission and good that they are doing for the military and first responders. Love going there. Every day at noon they play the National Anthem. Everyone stops, stands and looks at the flag, even the employees. I always put my hand over my heart and on this day I was singing, but not too loud. Those that know me, know that I cannot sing. My wife, my kids, even my grandkids, can all sing. But not me. So, I was just focused on the flag, singing the National Anthem. No big deal. We all applauded when it was over. I sat down and went back to eating. An employee came up to me and wanted to thank me. Now, I’ve seen them do that before. Usually, it’s to thank a vet for serving. I’m not a vet. I was getting ready to correct her when she said, “I want to thank you for singing the National Anthem.” Then she handed me coupons for free food. I got a prize for singing! That’s never happened. If anything, people would give me cash to stop singing.

 

There was a greater lesson here. While I was looking at the flag, she was looking at me. She noticed. I didn’t notice that she had noticed. And, that brings us to our verse today. Light shinning. A city on that hill cannot be hidden. People notice. People notice when you don’t know that they are watching. Sometimes it may not be the best times for us, but people notice. Now we expect people to be on their best behavior while sitting in a church building. But how about driving down the road? How about sitting in a boring meeting at work? How about while taking a test in college? How about when you are stressed, irritated and things are not going your way? After the National Anthem deal, I took a car to the dealership. I spent two hours in the waiting room listening to Dr. Phil and others on TV telling sad stories of terrible lives and terrible choices. I left with a headache. There were others waiting on their cars. People notice.

 

From the bar-b-que story, I realized that one never knows who is watching. How we carry ourselves and how we show our attitudes, and how kind or helpful we are is noticed. It’s noticed as we sit in waiting rooms. It’s noticed as we wait in traffic. It’s noticed as we stand in the check out line.

 

There is always one person who begins the complaining campaign. Waiting too long. Heavy sighs. Looking around. And, then, the complaints begin. And, once one begins, others follow. They have felt the same, but they didn’t have the nerve to be the first. Gloom and doom darkens the air because everyone is feeling down. Right then, you either join in that sad parade or you are that city on the hill. You don’t participate. You don’t join in that chorus. In fact, you try to turn the subject to something better.

 

I see this with the trial of Jesus. When Pilate asked what should be done with Jesus, the crowds shouted, “Crucify, crucify.” The text doesn’t tell us this specifically, but knowing human nature, I expect one guy shouted that and soon, the whole group was doing the same. It’s called a mob mentality.

 

The same is found within a church. One person gets disgusted with the leaders and starts the rant to change the preacher or remove the elders, and you’ll find others who join in on that song. Rather than going to a person specifically, and talking face to face, the mob is ready to tar and feather and run a guy out of town. Mobs don’t listen to reason. Mobs run on emotions. Get enough folks stirred up, and you’re likely to have a cattle stampede.

 

A city on a hill. Jerusalem was a city on a hill. Folks would travel there to worship God. As they walked and drew closer, it could be seen. That’s the destination. That’s where we are going. You couldn’t miss it now. You could see it. And by connecting “light” with “city on a hill” we get the idea of traveling at night. It’s dark all around us. The stars shine. The moon may be out. But in that far distance, you could see a faint glow. As we got closer, it became brighter and brighter. There was an attraction to it.

 

You’ll notice in our verse that Jesus says, “You ARE the light of the world.” He doesn’t say, you need to become. Or, you ought to be. Or, you’ll grow and someday be that. But we are. We are now. People notice. People notice when we don’t know that they are noticing.

 

Your anger. Your choice of words. Your attitude. Your behavior. Your choice of music. Your choice of dress. Your spirit. Your reactions. The way you handle grief. The way you handle success. The way you deal with stress. The way you handle a bad day. The way you handle a good day. You are noticed. You are seen. There’s no hiding that city on a hill and there is no hiding you.

 

Now from this, we learn:

 

Because people notice, I may be the closest example to Jesus that some will ever see. That’s a lot of pressure, but we can handle it. This is why Jesus put this on us. You ARE, He said. Some may never open a Bible. Some see others who claim to be Christians, but then they talk about getting drunk on weekends, they gossip about everyone, they cheat if they can get away with it and people see this. They are a phony. But you are different. They see that. They appreciate that. Honest to the core. Refusing to talk bad about anyone. Spiritual. Kind. Hopeful. Optimistic. That’s how they see Jesus. They get that because that’s how they see you.

 

Because people notice, it’s a lot easier to talk about evangelism. They see you. They see sincerity. They see in you something that is missing in their lives. This is why so many of our children have grown to become Christians. They saw that city every day at home. They saw it on vacations. They saw it when it was difficult. They saw it when the easy thing to do was to hide things and make an appearance of what is right, but that didn’t happen. The demon possessed man was told by Jesus to go home to his people and report what great things the Lord had done. Talking to “his people.” People notice.

 

Because people notice, some will criticize. As I was singing the National Anthem at my bar-b-que place, I saw a man sitting nearly under the flag, who didn’t sing, and didn’t put his hand over his heart. He barely removed his hat. I felt like asking him if he was an American, but I remembered to be that city on a hill. Because you are that city, you are noticed. Not everyone will like what they see. They don’t like that you refuse to drink, laugh at smutty jokes, talk dirty, flirt around and have a good time. They see you as a bore. And with that often comes the snide remarks. The cutting things just loud enough for you to hear. The silence when you walk into a room. Being excluded and ignored comes with being noticed. Some Christians struggle with this. Some don’t do well, so they want to turn the lights out on that hill. They don’t want to be noticed. They would rather blend in and fit in, but that will never happen when we are walking with Jesus. We don’t fit in this world. We don’t belong here. This world is not our home.

 

People are watching. They are watching the way you worship. They are watching you at work. They are watching you at home. Some notice you when you do not even know. If you are that city, you’ll be fine.

 

Roger