JUMP START NOTICE
Next week, Jump Start will be taking a break. You can go to the Jump Start website (www.Jumpstartsdaily.com) to find a multitude of older ones to read. Hopefully, we’ll be back in a week.
Thank you,
Roger
31
Jump Start # 2648
Jump Start # 2648
Judges 16:21 “Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.”
Poor Samson. Once the strongest man of all, in our verse, is bald, blind and bound in a Philistine prison. The path that took him there was painful. Painful on the inside as well as on the outside. Humiliated. Mocked. Eyes gouged out. Unable to do anything about his situation. And, one can just hear ole’ Samson saying, “How did I get in this mess?”
But, couldn’t the same be said today?
- Sitting in the school principal’s office, waiting for parents to show up is a kid who has just been suspended. How did I get in this mess?
- Sitting in the back seat of a police car, in handcuffs, how did I get in this mess?
- A man driving home late at night having spent time with another woman. The deception, lies and cover up that has lead to all of this. How did I get in this mess?
- A person who has just spent an hour with the shepherds of the church. They are forced to withdraw fellowship because he will not repent and change. How did I get in this mess?
For Samson, as well as for us today, it was four steps that lead to a head-on crash.
First, he did what he wanted to do. He wanted to marry a Philistine woman. His parents advised him not to. He didn’t listen. He wouldn’t listen. God’s word was very plain about this. He wouldn’t listen to that either. His stubborn heart got him into trouble. That’s the first step. Pride. Selfishness. Unwilling to listen—to God, to parents, to godly advice. We make up our minds that we want something and nothing, not even the Bible will change us.
Second, he hung around the wrong people. There are three times in the Judges text where Samson is with Philistine women. The he-man had a she-woman problem. And, when you hang out with Philistines, you’ll do what Philistines are doing. The foreign wives of Solomon turned his heart, even though he was one of the wisest one in the Bible. You will never be strong hanging out with weak people. You’ll have a hard time being godly when you are always with ungodly people. This isn’t rocket science, yet, so many do not get this. Their ties to old friends in school, and worthless family members clouds their eyes to how they are being influenced. Their spiritual heart is dying and they do not even see it.
Third, he disobeyed God. Samson committed adultery. Samson married someone outside the nation. Once you start disobeying God, the floor drops out and you are on a steady decline. Angry, gambling, breaking his Nazarite vow, are just more of the issues and sins that surrounded Samson. How did he get in that mess? He didn’t follow God closely. And, when you don’t consequences come. Some come immediately. Some come eternally. God says what He does for a reason. Following God keeps us well, safe, healthy and of good mind. Bald, blind and bound are were the result of disobeying God. He knew. He just didn’t do it.
Fourth, he became weak and enslaved. This happened physically. But it happened spiritually, first. He lost his strength. He lost his vision. He lost his freedom. And that happens to all of us when we do not follow God. Not being strong, one makes choices that are based upon the here and now. Decisions are wrapped around what is fun, rather than what is right. Once we have lost our vision, our perspective changes. The spiritual and the eternal are replaced with this world. We no longer see what is wrong with things. And, then the addiction and enslavement to sin takes place. Habitual becomes our sins. Stuck on the merry-go-round of wrong, we can’t seem to find a way out. And, downward we spiral. Attitudes stink. Choices are wrong. Language rude and offensive. We start taking on the world more and more.
For some, they will die this way. Trying to convince themselves that they are having a time of their lives, they hide the pain of not knowing God and not knowing what will happen to them in eternity. Lost, and many do not even know it.
But for some, they get that spiritual wake-up call in their conscience. The prodigal did. The pigs were enough. No more. He came to his senses and he came home. Even our Samson did. He prays that God will triumph. He doesn’t ask God to spare his life. He wants to bring justice upon the wicked Philistines who have mocked God.
And, for all his failures and sins, the name Samson is found in Hebrews 11 among those who gained approval by faith. Most of us, if we were allowed to put names in Hebrews 11 would have left Samson out. Too much baggage there. Too many problems. Too many bad decisions. We’d toss ole’ Samson on the hill of rejects and failures. It’s easier for us to classify him as a failure than to see him among the saved. We’d make him the poster child of what not to do.
But, God say something different. God saw a heart that believed. God saw a child that wanted to do right. And, by faith, God opens the doors of Heaven for one like Samson. He’s certainly not the darling that we’d expect God to welcome in. However, it’s not perfection that saves us, but faith and God’s grace. And, could it be that there is yet one more lesson from Samson? He reminds us that we too can make it. We’ve stumbled and fumbled all along and much too often we doubt that we’ll make it. We bowed when we should have stood. We have been quiet when we should have spoken. We made a mess of things too. Rather than tossing in the towel and giving up, there’s Samson. He made it. You can make it. Keep doing what you know is right.
Who among us has not made a mess of things in the past? We’ve said things to our dear family that we should never have spoken. We’ve had a hard time forgiving and letting go. We’ve complained and fussed about life. We’ve not prayed enough. We’ve looked the other way when we could have done more. How in the world do we have any chance of Heaven? And, there stands Samson. We’ll make it the same way he did. God’s grace and our faith—that combination is powerful.
Bald, blind and bound—that’s how the Philistines saw Samson. He was in their trophy case of losers. But in the eyes of Heaven, Samson is a hero. God didn’t give up on him and He’ll never give up on you.
How did I get in this mess? Something to think about.
Roger
30
Jump Start # 2647
Jump Start # 2647
Daniel 3:17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”
In our Sunday video studies, I am teaching the book of Daniel. Our verse comes from a recent study. Nebuchadnezzar built a mighty statue of gold, likely a statement from his dream of chapter two. In that dream, the statue was of many different materials, representing coming kingdoms and nations. The head in that dreamy statue was gold, Babylon. But it wouldn’t remain. Other kingdoms would replace Babylon. In the real statue that was built, chapter three, the entire statue is gold, likely meaning that Babylon will always rule. Babylon’s perpetual future is guaranteed. There would be no other coming kingdoms. So, the powerful, violent and misguided king thought. His rule was through fear. Whoever did not do what he wanted, was executed.
This was more than a statue in the city park. This was an idol intended to be worshipped. Whoever did not worship was to be put to death. Zero tolerance here. The Jewish three, refused to bow. Rather than being executed immediately, which the king declared, they were brought before him. He gave them a second chance. Nebuchadnezzar boldly proclaimed, “What god is there that can deliver you out of my hands?” He positioned himself even above the gods. Greater and more powerful than anyone is what vain Nebuchadnezzar thought.
Our verse is the reply from the Jewish trio. Our God. The God we serve. Not your gods, but our God, He is able to deliver us. He is able to deliver us from the furnace of fire and He is able to deliver us from you. Our God is greater than your fire and our God is greater than you. Those words smoked Nebuchadnezzar and sent him into a rage. The furnace was heated up even more. Into the fire the three went and in a moment the three came out. They came out without any evidence of even being in a fire. No singed hair. No burnt clothes. No smell of smoke. God delivered. God triumphed.
A few lessons here:
First, all the Jewish trio had to go on was faith. It is very unlikely that they had ever witnessed a miracle before and even if they had, the miracles are being done by prophets. They were not prophets. How did they know God could deliver? He saved Israel from a Red Sea and an angry Egyptian army. He saved Gideon when out numbered in a battle. He saved David from a bear, a giant and an crazed King Saul. God has delivered. And, now, how do you know God will help you? It is by faith. It is based upon His word, His promises and your faith.
Second, God did not keep them out of the fire. In fact, from the text it looks like God did not stop the fire. Unlike Daniel, where God shut the mouths of the lions, these three were protected from the fire, but the fire raged on. That’s a lesson for us. We want God to put the fire out. We don’t want ugly consequences that follows our convictions and our faith. We want everyone to like us, tolerate us and let us be. But in fact, there may be fiery trials as Peter put it. And, going into a fire does not mean that God has abandoned us or ignored us. The three in Daniel did what they should have. They were respectful to the king. They didn’t trash talk him. They didn’t stir up the crowd and cause a big commotion. They didn’t rush the king and try to take him out. They put their trusts in God. Let God handle it. Let God deliver us. Because of your faith, you might lose a job, be defriended on Facebook or in person, not be included to family events. That may be your fire you go through. Convictions come with consequences, especially from those who do not accept your stance. Compromise always looms in our minds as a way to escape the trouble and have some conviction left. But for this Jewish trio, compromise doesn’t enter the picture. They weren’t bowing and tying their shoes. They didn’t bow and pray to God. They stood. They were noticed. They were reported. They had to answer for what they did. They had to encounter the consequences.
Third, they had no assurance that God would spare their lives. After our verse today, comes, “But even if He does not…” The “He” is God. The “does not” is deliver us. Even if God does not deliver us, that means they would die. Even if God allows us to die, we will not bow down. Faced with saving their own skin or holding on to what they believe, they’d sacrifice their lives. Putting these things in order, their faith and conviction came before saving their lives. Facing a fire is not near as bad as facing a God whom you let down, denied and disappointed. Bring on the fire, is what they would have said.
I wonder, in these days, which is greater, our faith in God or Covid-19? Has the fear of a sickness caused some to walk away from God? Has faith grown these past few months or has it dried up and died? Fire or faith? Save your life or stand with God? It was easy for these Jewish three. No question. No discussion.
Finally, conviction is often not what others have. It’s easier to just lean the direction the wind is blowing. Not believing in anything in particular may make you get along with others but it is not the fiber which forms faith nor does it impress God. The conviction of these three is sprinkled throughout the Scriptures. The parents of Moses were not afraid of Pharaoh’s edict. Peter was not moved when he was ordered to stop preaching Jesus. Conviction stands upon principle and when that principle is right and founded in God, it cannot be swayed. Families have started congregations in their homes when the leadership and preaching where they once attended left God. Steadfast and unmovable is what the Corinthians were told. Stand firm is what the Ephesians were told. In our times of so many voices and so many opinions and so much social information and misinformation, it’s time to get to that Bible and stand upon something that is real and lasting. Storms come and go, but God’s word remains. Nebuchadnezzar’s statue of gold is gone. However, the divine dream he had about that rock becoming a mountain, that became true. Today, we are part of that everlasting kingdom of God. Powerful. Large. Enduring. Divine.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus. That song is not about our posture in church. It’s about our conviction and our heart in this world. All in for Jesus, that’s where we need to be. Willing to give all, give up all, including our lives, if necessary.
Hard to imagine what we’d say to this Jewish trio when we run into them in Heaven. The only words that come to my mind are, “Thank you. What you did, helped me.”
Roger
29
Jump Start # 2646
Jump Start # 2646
Matthew 27:22 “Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Crucify Him!’”
Black lives matter—that’s painted on the side of buildings, on streets and worn on t-shirts. Others say, ‘All lives matter.’ Some say, ‘Police lives matter.’ Then some say, ‘Unborn lives matter.’ But in all of this, what is forgotten the most is that Jesus Matters. And, indeed, He matters the most. He matters more than I do. And, He matters more than you do.
Our verse comes from Jesus’ investigation by Pilate. Pilate was the final step between Jesus and death. What Pilate said would determine if the Lord would live or die. And, Pilate was painted in a corner. He saw the trouble with Jesus as a religious issue among the Jews. He saw nothing that would require the heavy hand of Rome executing this simple teacher. But the Jews wouldn’t let go of this matter. They wanted Jesus dead. If He was dead, then things would quiet down and return to normal. Get rid of the problem and people would return to everyday life. Jesus was innocent in Pilate’s eyes. That’s because He was innocent. What a tough place Pilate was in. Execute an innocent man because people didn’t like Him or have the Jews riot and report him to Rome. If he couldn’t keep the lid on things, Caesar would have to send troops to keep peace. If that happened, it was certain that Pilate would be replaced. And, he didn’t want to go where they would likely send him.
What to do with Jesus? Great question. A question that needs to be considered and looked at today.
First, some just want to ignore Jesus. This is a passive form of killing Jesus. Ignore Him and He will go away. Don’t go to church. Don’t read the Bible. Just leave those things to religious people. Have fun. Chase your dreams. Make money. About the only time one would be reminded of Jesus is at an occasional funeral.
Second, some want to deny Jesus. They want to argue against Jesus. They want to use science, current events and misunderstood passages to show that Jesus wasn’t who He claimed to be. They want to do more than ignore the Bible, they want to destroy it. They do that by planting all kinds of ridiculous ideas in the minds of young people. They point to the injustice, the suffering of the innocent as reasons why there cannot be a God. God is not good, they claim, because the world is not good. Arrogant, loud and proud, these scoffers plague social media with offensive, false and inconsistent claims against Jesus.
Third, some want Jesus around when they need Him. Mama in the hospital, need Jesus to make her well. Lost a job, need Jesus to find you a new one. But most of the time, Jesus isn’t needed. He’s in a box on the shelf, nicely tucked away until the next crisis. There is no need for Jesus when things are going well. Why would I have Jesus around? I don’t need Him today. This person sees no need to be thankful or to follow the Savior every day. Jesus is just a big help when we need it.
Fourth, for some of us, Jesus has become the center of our hearts. Our lives have changed because of Jesus. Our attitudes, choices and behavior is all shaped around Jesus. We forgive, because He has forgiven us. We are patient, because He has been patient with us. We serve, because He served. We honor Him by living godly and righteously. We adore worshipping Him. His word molds our lives. His manner has caught our attention and we try to imitate that. Our perspective, our goals, our values, our future has all been changed because of Jesus. What shall I do with Jesus? Give Him to us. We want Him. We want to be like Him.
Pilate’s question is a question before us. What shall you do with Jesus? Ignore Him? Destroy Him? Use Him when there is a need? Invite Him into your heart? What really matters is not our lives, but His life. What is most important is Jesus.
Jesus Matters.
Roger
28
Jump Start # 2645
Jump Start # 2645
Proverbs 10:21 “The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.”
There are things in life that are hard to understand. And, with that, there are some things that people do that lack understanding. Here is a short list:
- I don’t understand how some can attend social gatherings, such as weddings, showers, cook-outs, yet they can’t come to worship.
- I don’t understand how some complain about some not having a mask in worship, but you see pictures of these same people on Facebook around others and no one is wearing a mask.
- I don’t understand how some can say that they don’t feel well enough to go to worship, but later in the same day you see them in restaurants, stores and they seem to have recovered quickly.
- I don’t understand how some who do so little can point the finger at those who do so much.
But here is what I do understand:
First, people will do what they feel like doing. They may be on death’s bed, according to them, but they’ll rally enough to go shopping, or even to work the next day. Has their health fluctuated that much? Possibly, but more likely, they do what they want to do. And, very tragically, honoring the Lord isn’t high on that list.
Second, folks are weak spiritually because they are content to be that way. It takes energy, effort, goals and determination to be strong spiritually. Any one can be strong. The Lord wants us to be strong. But many are happy to just put their big toe into the waters of Christianity and leave the rest out in the world. Church once in a while is enough, in their book. Too much and their worldly friends may notice and not like them. Too much and they probably cannot continue to watch the trashy shows on TV that they like. Too much and they would have to stop gossiping about others. No, for some, it’s not ‘gimme’ that ole’ time religion,’ but rather, just give me a tea spoon full and not too often at that.
In the world and barely in the world is not a great place to be. You don’t know enough spiritually to see the dangers that are facing you and the mistakes that you are constantly making. Your desire to be with your friends pulls you to choices that keeps you weak. Your friends would never know that you are a Christian, unless the conversation happened to turn to religion and then you try to impress them but you get things sideways, backwards and upside down, simply because you do not know. During this Covid time, the weak are prone to get so weak that nothing registers on the dial any longer. It takes effort to keep up with videos, livestream and all the powerful resources that congregations are putting out. But those who have no spiritual effort will simply shrivel up and die spiritually. And, worse of all, they won’t even miss their church family or worshipping with the Lord. They have replaced Sunday morning with sleeping in, meeting friends and it doesn’t even cross their minds about the Lord. So sad.
Third, it is amazing to me that those who are connected to the Lord will care more, pray more and be concerned more about the souls of these weak members than they are themselves. They don’t think about their souls. That is why they are weak. Others are worried. Others are trying to connect. Others are praying for them. And, those who are being prayed about, go about their day, happily as if they don’t have a care in the world. What a strange twist that others can care about a person’s soul more than that person does.
Fourth, when tragedy strikes, that weak person will reach out to someone in the church. They’ll want the preacher to come and do a funeral, and by all means talk about how their uninterested family member is now in Heaven with the Lord. They’ll want the church to pray for an upcoming surgery, even though they have never prayed for anyone themselves. They will want answers to fix a rebellious teen, even though they have kept that teen from the Lord for a long time. When their marriage falls apart, they will want assurance from the shepherds that they can marry another person. They usually do. And, much too often, it is to someone who has no spiritual interest or understanding what’s so ever.
Finally, so why are weak members weak? I don’t have all the answers and there may be several factors, but somewhere in this they have just enough to convince them that they will escape Hell. Rather than loving the Lord for all that He is and richly enjoying the spiritual blessings that abound all the time, their very little experience has convinced them that it’s enough to get them into Heaven. They do not even understand what Heaven is like. For so many, it’s roller coasters, chocolate fountains, kittens and puppy dogs, and having fun every day. And, if you were to ask them where they got this idea from, their shallow answer would be either TV or their friends. It certainly doesn’t come from the Bible. Just enough to get by. Just enough to pass. They’ve spent a lifetime talking their way out of tickets, being late to work, hiding behind this excuse, pointing the finger of blame on that person, that somehow they’ll talk their way into Heaven. They may believe that. They may boast about that. But, they will be shocked and surprised when they face the Lord.
Putting God first in our lives changes the order of things. It puts the spiritual at the top of the list. Seeking God brings out the best in us and being strong spiritually gives us hope, confidence and the right character in life.
Some things are just hard to understand…
Roger