06

Jump Start # 2525

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2525

Acts 22:10 “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus; and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’”

A simple question, “What shall I do?” That question shows responsibility. Something must be done. Something must be done by us. In our verse today, Saul, also known as Paul, is asking the question. He was on a mission to wipe out Christians. He had letters with him giving him permission to bring back to Jerusalem man or woman who believed in Jesus. Saul was focused, intent and was going to do what it seemed that no one else was doing. He was going to put an end to this growing menace that claimed Jesus was the resurrected Messiah.

On his journey to Damascus, God had enough. A vision came to Paul. Jesus appeared. Paul didn’t fully understand who Jesus was or what was going on. And, it is here that Paul asks, “What shall I do?”

Other times in Acts the question is asked, “What must I do?” Same thought. Same question. And, that question takes us to some observations:

First, God expects us to do something. That’s life. Only the young get a pass. A little child knocks over a glass of milk and it’s the adults that coming running with paper towels to clean it up. He can’t. He’d make things worse. But for the rest of us, responsibility demands we do something. Not to jump into the muddy pool of politics, but this is one of the strongest arguments against socialism. A college student takes out loans to pay for their education. Yet, that student wants someone else to pay for those loans. Where does this end? Car loans? Some else pays for them. Mortgages? Someone else pays for them. Crimes? Someone else pays for them. The only time this really worked is with our salvation. Jesus did pay for our sins. He did so because we couldn’t. We were incapable of making right the wrongs we have done.

This thought transfers to other areas of our spiritual life. God expects us to grow and excel spiritually. It’s not the church’s job to do that. It’s not up to sermons to do that. I must be doing things myself. What must I do? Open the Bible. Turn the TV off. Put on your thinking cap. Put yourself into those passages. Learn. Become.

Second, doing something in regards to salvation really bothers some. They see it as a means of work, or earning your salvation. That idea is so disagreeable in their thinking, that the have concluded that we do nothing. God does it all. We sit back and enjoy the ride. That takes all obligation, responsibility and duty away from us and puts it completely upon God. Now, that seems very lopsided. We are sinners because we chose to sin. We are saved, in the thinking of some, because God chose to save us. Salvation falls squarely upon God, not us. If we go to Heaven, it’s because of God and only God. If we don’t, it’s because of God and only of God.

Yet, over and over, we find not only our question, “what shall I do?” but also the compelling need to believe. If we have no faith, we will not make it. God doesn’t give us faith. He gives us the reasons to believe. He shows us the consequences if we do not believe. But having faith, is up to us. That’s doing something. That is a responsibility upon our part. What must I do? You have to believe. No one is going to make you believe. No one is going to force you to believe. The devil will give you every reason not to believe. He’ll surround you with hundreds of people who do no believe. They are having the time of their life. They don’t need to believe, they believe. This is why Jesus sent the apostles into all the world. They were to preach and give evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. Believing what was preached would change lives.

Third, if one really believes, then he will do what that faith tells him. God told Noah about the coming flood. He told him to build the ark. Hebrews 11 states that by faith Noah prepared the ark. His faith led him to do what God said. Again, this is doing something. What shall I do, is the question. The answer, I must do what God’s word tells me. If I believe that Jesus is the righteous Savior and that I have sinned, then something must be done. I can’t stay the course that I am on. That path messed me up. That path took me away from God. I have to change directions. I have to turn around. Biblically, we call that repentance. We stop the sinning. We decide to live better. We choose to follow Christ. Now, is that doing something? Yes. What must I do? I’ve got to stop living the way that I have been.

Fourth, I must be immersed for the remission of my sins. That’s what Paul was told. That’s what the audience who heard Peter preach were told. Baptized. Baptized for the remission of our sins. Water salvation some declare. Salvation by works others say. Yet, it takes a cleansing element to get things the way they should be. You don’t turn on the dishwasher without first putting in the soap pod. You don’t just spray your car with water, to get it clean. You get out the bucket and with soapy water, you wash it clean. It takes the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from our sins. Where do we get that blood? It’s through the act of baptism that we obey the Lord in faith and God cleanses us. That’s doing something. Yes, it is. That’s earning salvation. No, it’s not. That’s works. So. Not all works are wrong. Not all works fall under the category of earning something. Jesus was baptized. Jesus taught baptism. Jesus says we need to be baptized. Jesus wants us to be baptized. Now, am I going to dig my heels in and declare “I’m not going to do it.”

The very man who asked, “What shall I do?” was baptized for the remission of his sins. Just read through the book of Acts. You will not find anyone who was saved without baptism. You will not find anyone who was called a Christian who was not baptized. If they believed, they were baptized.

God’s grace is available to all of us. Yet, not all of us will be saved. Why? It’s not because of God. He wants everyone to be saved. If it’s not because of God, then it must be on our doorsteps. It’s up to us. What shall I do, implies that there is something to be done. There is something that we can do.

Are you living any which way you want with the expectation that when this life is all over, God will swing the gates of Heaven open just for you. You didn’t have to follow Him. You didn’t have to worship Him. You didn’t have to obey Him. You didn’t have to do anything. Really? Can you find a verse that brought you to that conclusion? One is more likely to believe in the Easter bunny that that.

What shall I do? God’s got things for you to do. Are you aware of that? Are you doing them?

Roger

05

Jump Start # 2524

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2524

Psalms 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

The is the champion of all the Psalms. This is the most known of the Psalms. We read it at funerals and we see it printed, cross stitched and listed in so many places. Over verse describes both difficulties and blessings. And, such is life. It is rarely all one or all the other. Life is a mixture of hardships and blessings; good days and bad days; sunshine and darkness.

The verse begins with the Lord preparing a table for us. The setting is a meal. If God is making it we know that it will be wonderful. All that God does is good. It’s hard to imagine what the Lord would put before us on a plate. But it’s not the food that is emphasized here, but the setting. It is a difficult one. The table is in the presence of our enemies. We don’t like that. How can we eat, if our enemy is watching us? All of a sudden, a great meal is ruined. It’s ruined by the atmosphere and the presence of our enemy. We are not told why our enemy is our enemy. Did we do something to turn them against us? Or, as it often is, the enemy hates us because the enemy hates God.

Rather than hiding us from our enemy or keeping our enemy at a far distance, the table is in the presence of the enemy. Could the enemy join us? Would the enemy sit across from us? Most of us would no longer want to eat. Our enemy has caused us to lose our appetite. We can’t enjoy what the Lord has prepared because we must keep an eye on the enemy. At any moment, he might strike us. Danger lurks with the enemy near. Now, we wonder, why would God do this? Why would God put us so close to the enemy. How can we enjoy a meal with the enemy upon us?

It is these kinds of thoughts that make folks ponder about the big picture of things. How can God be for us if He is putting us around the enemy? How can God care for us when there is enemy nearby? Life isn’t always sunshine. Life isn’t always easy, simple and smooth. Dealing with the enemy makes us realize that this certainly isn’t Heaven. It teaches us to trust God. It reminds us to be sharp, watchful and careful. We must be on our toes. Don’t get careless. Don’t take risks and chances. The enemy is around us. We are in the presence of the enemy.

The other part of the verse describes a blessing from God. Anointed with oil, just like a priest or a king would be. Chosen. Special. And, in the context of sheep, how wonderful that would feel. It reflects the care of the shepherd and a longing to make the sheep happy and content. And, it wasn’t just a few drops of oil, but the cup overflows. Overflowing with blessings. Overflowing with generosity. Overflowing with love.

Blessings and challenges—that’s what this verse reveals. We love the blessings and we hate the challenges. But here they are, in the same verse and in the same sentence. Enemy and oil—and what these two together reveal are the major principles of trust and thankfulness. We trust God when we are among the enemy and we are thankful for blessings.

The trust factor keeps us from running. It is God who has placed us before our enemies. God wants us to be there. Possibly God wants our enemies to see something in us. God is giving us an opportunity to let our lights shine and to demonstrate trust in conflicts and trials. These are the times we pray deeply and often. These are the times when we stand upon the principles that we have learned and believed in. Trust God. As Noah did. Trust God as Daniel did. Trust God as the Lord did. No action statement is given here. He does not say, ‘Fight your enemy.’ Nor, does He say, ‘Flee from your enemy.’ Here is a table and God wants us to sit there. That setting may be where you work. You may be the only Christian there. Oh, how you wish to be somewhere else. Toxic, dysfunctional, worldly, ungodly, obscene, offensive and bathroom humor—and you certainly do not fit in. But there you are. Have you considered that possibly God wants you there. In all that darkness, there is you. In all that is wrong, there is you. In all that vain, superficial and selfish talk, there is you. Your table is among the enemy. It may be your family. Related by blood, but that is about all you have in common. Dog eat dog, well describes the drama and tension in many families. Why can’t you be in another family, you think. Could it be that God has you there for a reason. Possibly He wants you there. A table in the presence of our enemies.

The thankful factor is equally important. It’s easy to take blessings for granted. We have so many and as the passage tells us, indeed our cup overflows. God gives us more than enough. God is abundant in kindness towards us. And, for that, we ought to be thankful. We don’t deserve what God has done. Thankful for all that God has done for us. We express thankfulness by saying it, praying it and living it. The thankful person doesn’t complain, he’s thankful. The thankful person isn’t negative, he’s thankful.

It’s hard to keep the balance and to keep both of these principles alive within our hearts. It’s hard to be trusting and thankful. Challenges and enemies scares us. Blessings can spoil us. This is something that we must work upon to keep the right spirit within us.

Trusting and thankful—tables before enemies and oil upon our heads. Days are like that. Life is like that.

Roger

04

Jump Start # 2523

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2523

Romans 8:26 “In the same way the Spirit also helps with our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with us with groanings too deep for words.”

Our verse today is found in a series of verses about the Spirit. God is actively doing things in our lives even if we are not aware of it or understand it. Our verse is about prayer, that wonderful blessing and privilege we have of talking to God.

For a moment thnk about prayer. One can pray anywhere and anytime. There is never a place where prayer doesn’t fit. The remarkable idea that you and I can have the attention of God anytime or anyplace is hard to fathom. I love my dear wife, but there are times when I can’t talk to her. She’s a nurse and at work she doesn’t carry her phone around. In the middle of the night, she’s sleeping and that is much more important than anything I have to say. I adore my kids, but it’s the same with them. They are at work. They are busy doing things. I do not have a 24/7 with my family. Love my shpeherds, but it’s the same with them. I have some dear friends. I may shoot them a text or an email, and sometimes it’s the next day before I hear back from them. That’s life. That’s the world we live in. But it’s not that way in prayer. God is there. He is always there. You never bother God. You can catch God at a bad time.

Now a few things from this passage:

First, “we do not know how to pay as we should.” Such an honest statement. Oh, we understand Prayer 101 and reverence, God’s will, providence and such things as that. We hear sermons about those things all the time. But are we praying as we ought to? I’ve never met a Christian who confessed that he struggled because he prayed TOO much. Never found that guy. We admit that we do not pray enough. We do not choose prayer first. We do not pray deep prayers. That’s a problem. It’s a life long struggle for many of us. “Have you prayed about it,” is a constant thing we need to remember.

Second, we have weaknesses. We all do. We like to hide them. We don’t like to admit to them. We brag about what we are good at, but our failings haunt us. We all have them. The strongest, has weak points. The weakest, has many more, but they both have weaknesses. One of the great challenges is do we focus upon our strengths and get them even stronger, or do we shore up our weakeness and pour more attention upon those areas? Great thing to kick around and debate.

Thrid, God knows our weaknesses. The Holy Spirit was stepping in and helping. The Spirit was helping with our weaknesses. He knew we had weaknesses. He knew what they were. And, instead of being disappointed in us for having them, the Spirit helps us. God hasn’t left us alone to figure things out. God doesn’t say, “Get cleaned up, then get down to the church house.” He helps. And, when God helps, we are getting the greatest help of all—God. No one can help with your weaknesses like God can. No one can do as much as God can.

Fourth, God is doing things that we may not even be aware of. The Spirit is interceding for us. We are not told what the Spirit says or does. He is doing this behind the scenes. He is doing this because God loves us. He is doing this to help us. He is doing this because we are beyond words. Pain can do that to us. We hurt. We hurt on the insides. Often, it’s not physical pain, but the emotional and spiritual pain that comes from others. Families can do this so easily. Those we love the most, can hurt us the most. The pain of divorce and now the children and grandchildren are shifted about. You may be cut out from seeing your own family. There are no words. Death can also do this. A sudden death can take those that we are counting on so much. Empty. Alone. Hurting. Beyond words.

Fifth, what the Spirit is doing is not words, but grouanings. It’s that deep, internal feeling that cannot be expressed by words. The Spirit is groaning on our behalf. The Spirit understands. The Spirit is with us. He is on our side. We are groaning and the Spirit is groaning. The Spirit knows. God knows. And, what is comforting is that without this passage, we’d never know this. It just makes a person wonder what all goes on behind the scenes that we never realize. I have longed believed that when we get to Heaven, we will be amazed to learn all the things God did for us. People He put in our lives. Things that can down the pike just for us to help us, teach us, strengthen us and draw us closer to Him. God is not on the sidelines of life simply watching us in the game of life. He is engaged. He is there doing things that you and I would never imagine.

So, when the dark clouds row in, and they will, don’t give up. God is with you, if you are with Him. Don’t believe for a moment that you are alone in this long journey. Don’t fail to see God, even though you cannot physically see Him. He loves you. He wants you to get through those dark days of weakiness.

The Spirit is speaking in your behalf. He may be doing so even right now. So, rather than hanging your head down in sorrow, lift your eyes up to the God who loves you so much.

Roger

03

Jump Start # 2522

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2522

Ephesians 4:20 “But you did not learn Christ in this way.”

Our verse today is a simple reminder of what we read and find in the Gospels. Jesus, as the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us, is the Jesus that we are to imitate, believe, follow and obey. It’s the Gospel’s Jesus that is the true picture. And, this is what Paul was reminding the Ephesian brethren about.

The Ephesians were told to walk differently than the way they once walked. They were to be a changed people. They were to be a new people in Jesus. Lying, anger, unwholesome words, bitterness, unforgiving were the old ways. They were to be done with that. They did not learn Jesus in this way. Following Jesus would not take them down those dark streets. Jesus is all about holiness and righteousness.

Such a simple concept. You did not learn Christ this way. There are different ways of learning. Some learned to play the piano in private one on one lessons. My wife learned in a group setting. When I was a kid in school, all the talk was about “new math.” It was a new way of learning math. I don’t know what the old way was like, but I learned math. That was important in the home I grew up in. Dad was an engineer and math was important. So, we learned it. But what Paul is driving at here is not the manner in which you learned, but the information that you were taught. The Ephesians did not learn that Jesus promoted ungodliness, selfishness and sinfulness. You didn’t get that from Jesus.

And, for us, don’t turn Jesus into what He is not. Don’t manufacture your own version of Jesus. Don’t try to merge Jesus and sin. They won’t fit. They never do.

There are a few thoughts that spring from all of this:

First, Paul knew how they had learned Christ. He was one of the instrumental teachers that introduced them to Jesus Christ. Paul knew. He knew that he had taught Jesus correctly. He knew that following Jesus included repentance, and changes. Don’t try to say, “We didn’t know.” Paul taught them. He knew what they knew.

Second, for us, this reminds us of the important value of teaching accurately, correctly and as God has stated. Don’t spend class time chasing rabbits of speculations, theories and ideas that are not based upon Scriptures. Teach the word of God. Don’t teach doubts. Don’t teach worries and fears. Don’t teach things that are not there. Faith is built upon a solid teaching of God’s word. Build your faith and not your doubts.

Thirdly, who teaches you can be as important as what is taught. If someone is misguided, dishonest and has an agenda, he may with fancy words twist things, change things and present ideas that are not supported by the word of God. In these times, feelings replace facts and faith. Folks assume that if they like it, then God likes it. And, this fuzzy, confused teaching opens the door to all kinds of ideas that lead us away from righteousness and holiness. So, who are you allowing to influence you and teach you? What are you reading? What podcasts are you listening to? Do they get what the Bible message is all about? Do they understand fundamental concepts such as baptism, miracles, organization of the church, worship, Heaven and Hell? Do they get it about those ideas? If they are wrong about these simple things how can you trust them about other things? You did not learn Christ in this way.

Fourth, we all have a responsibility for our own faith. We must take ownership of our own faith. I can’t allow my faith to be shaped by someone else. We wouldn’t allow someone to talk us into buying a car that we didn’t want, yet, would we allow someone to tell us what to believe about the Lord? Search the Scriptures. Do your own homework. Look carefully and deeply. Think things out. Lower your nets into the deeper waters. Know. Understand. Make up your own mind.

Fifth, when you build your faith upon the Scriptures, you’ll soon see others who have a faith, but it’s not Bible based. Their faith is based upon what they wished the Scriptures said. They have no real foundation and there is no rock supporting what they believe. Their evidence is in that God loves me. That broad and inclusive concept has allowed folks to wallow in the mud of sin without any guilt or shame. It’s allowed leaders to ignore what God says about worship and leadership. People are flying solo and it’s all under the giant umbrella of “God loves me.” He does. The Bible says that. And, the same Bible that says that, also says that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. That shuts the gate on all the free lance thinking that goes on today. Build your thoughts and faith upon the word of God. Go to the book for your hope, evidence and proof. Be a people of the Bible. You did not learn Christ that way.

Finally, if we all learn Christ based upon the Bible, then we ought to all believe the same. There ought to be a unity of thought which translates into a unity of action. The Bible speaks of one mind. How can we have that one mind? We all come from different backgrounds. We all have different stories. We all have different experiences. We get that way when we all have learned Christ the same way, the Bible way. Our faith rests upon the same Scriptures. A person in the first century, who barely knew how to read, had the same understanding of Christ as you and I do with all the books, software programs and information at our finger tips. The Gospel story doesn’t change. Our hope is not in finding something new out there. Our delight is seeing the Jesus that is revealed to us by God. What God wanted us to know is in the Scriptures, not in some newly discovered article written long ago.

You did not learn Christ that way. That’s a great reminder to folks who once knew Christ but have started to walk away. It’s a great reminder for those who once knew Christ but now they have embraced some wild ideas that are not in the Bible. It’s a great reminder for those who want culture to be the standard rather than the word of God.

It all starts with learning. We must learn Christ. And the way to do that is to open up the Gospels and jump in.

Roger