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Jump Start # 3647

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3647

Matthew 25:20 “And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.”

I was in the presence of a five talent man. I have been around impressive people before. I know a former major league baseball player. I’ve golfed with the president of a college. I’ve known those who have stood on some of the greatest stages in the world. And, I have laughed, talked and enjoyed the company of each of these people. But the other day, this five talent man was so different than anyone I had met before.

First off, and most importantly, the guy is a Christian. He uses his time and effort for the kingdom of God. He preaches whenever he can and listening to him, you see the great knowledge he has in God’s word and one knows he has spent a long time with his Bible. In this man’s house are many musical instruments. Guitars adorn one wall in his house. He picked one up and immediately started playing a Dan Fogelberg song that I mentioned to him. He is so talented in music. We then went to his basement where he had an art gallery of his paintings. His work was very, very impressive. He was featured in national magazines and his paintings have won multiple awards.

He can preach. He can play music. He can paint. And, he does all of those things with excellence. When I got back to the car to leave, the person with me said, “What do you think about all that?” I said, “Well, I can brush my teeth.” It’s easy to be intimidated when in the presence of superb talent.

Here are some things to remember:

First, all of us can do something. And, all of us can do something useful and purposeful in the kingdom. God doesn’t make junk. So you might not be multi talented, you can do something, because that’s the way God made you. Much too often, we compare ourselves with others or see how well others can do things and then we just give up without even trying.

Find what you are good at. Learn more about that talent. Talk to others who are good at that. Grow and strengthen your strengths.

Second, be thankful for all the ability surrounding you and tap into it for the glory of the Lord. The kingdom needs workers who can do things physically. The kingdom needs those who excel in teaching. The kingdom needs those who can lead others to Christ. The kingdom needs those who can show others the more accurate way without crushing them.

Third, don’t be jealous of others. Instead be their friends. Be their cheerleaders. Be the one who can support those who do things well. This is how our Jump Starts have grown so far and wide. We never had a big advertising campaign. It’s been word of mouth. One telling another and before long, these little devotions are circulating the planet. In a football team, the center doesn’t get much praise and glory. He hikes the ball to the quarterback who runs the offense. Yet, without that center, none of the plays would be successful. The QB throws the ball half way down the field to an open receiver who scores the touchdown. The fans go crazy. Did you see that throw, they’ll say. Did you see that catch, they’ll say. No one says, did you see that hike? The team high-fives the QB and the receiver and the center goes to the bench to rest. But he has done his job well and without him, nothing would have gone right.

We have QBs, receivers, kickers, coaches as well as those who play the center in the kingdom. Each is necessary. Each makes our worship run smoothly and seamlessly. There are those who could never speak in a microphone. They’d freeze in fear and fright. But, as the worship is going on, they are busy pushing buttons so a host of people worldwide could watch and benefit from that worship.

The kingdom needs five talent people. The kingdom needs the two talent people. And, the kingdom, by God’s design, needs one talent people. Don’t waste time trying to figure out how many talents you have. Just be busy using them to God’s glory.

All of us will feel inferior, out of place, and embarrassed to stand in the presence of the Lord. Yet, it is the Lord who invites us to Him. Find your talent, and get busy using it.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3646

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3646

Philemon 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

It came from a contemporary hymn that I was not familiar with. The words were used in an opening prayer recently. “I may not sing like David; preach like Peter; or pray like Paul,” but there is a balm in Gilead. What a great line. David, the sweet singer of Israel. Peter, the fiery preacher at Pentecost. Paul, the one who prayed as if he stood in the very presence of God.

Here are some thoughts about that:

First, I expect, David, Peter and Paul would tell us not to be like them. They’d point to the Savior. Be like the Son of God. People may not remember your singing, your preaching or even your prayer, but what they will remember is a heart that loved the Lord.

Second, bringing our best is always the best. Don’t try to be like others. You can’t. We are each one of a kind and our backgrounds, histories and journeys have shaped us to be where we are. The more we compare, the more we fail miserably. Just bring your best. Just do your best. Work on what you do well. Improve. Grow. Learn from others. Ask questions.

Third, the kingdom had room for both Peter and Paul. And, the kingdom has room for you. It wasn’t that all was to be like Peter. Nor were all to be like Paul. Peter brought passion, energy and boldness to his preaching. Paul brought a deep connection to the O.T. and glorification of the God who sent Jesus. Which was more important? Both were. Which is more needed? Both are.

Our verse today, written to the slave owner Philemon brings two powerful suggestions before us.

First, Paul was confident that Philemon would obey. Not everyone has such confidence in others. In fact, with many, it’s just the opposite. Paul had a history with Philemon. He knew him. He knew that he would take the steps outlined in the letter to him. Paul just knew he would.

Second, Paul also knew that Philemon would go above and beyond what the letter was requiring and asking. Paul knew that Philemon would do even more. He didn’t have the heart to just get by. His kind wasn’t the one that looked for the least that had to be done. He’d do more. He was just that type of person. He had that kind of heart.

And, when others know that about us, what a beautiful scene the church becomes. Folks going out of their way, because they want to. People doing above and beyond what is expected or asked of them. The good Samaritan is such a picture. He not only stopped and helped the wounded man on the road, he took him into the city, paid for lodging and stayed with him through the night. But, he still wasn’t done. He had to leave, but if there were any more expenses, he’d cover them on his way back. Why? It wasn’t his responsibility. It wasn’t his problem. It wasn’t necessary to do that. Driven by compassion, as the text tells us, he did more than was expected.

Now, how about us? Do we do just what we are supposed to and no more? Could God say of us, “I know that he will do even more than what I say?” Extraordinary Christians doing extraordinary tasks. Going out of the way to help. Going out of the way to encourage. Going the second mile with compassion.

No, we may not sing like David, preach like Peter or pray like Paul, but, one thing for sure, you can count on us to do more than what is asked. Making Sunday the best day of the week. Leaving the place better than you found it. Coming early and staying late. Making sure all the details are tied up and ready to go. Singing the best we can. Preaching the best we can. Praying the best we can.

We do all those things because God is the best. He deserves our best. He gave His best. And, nothing but the best, our best, will please us.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3645

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3645

1 Timothy 3:15 “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of truth.”

The church is often described as a family—the family of God. In our passage today, the apostle uses the expression, “the household of God.” God’s family, we might call that. In the model prayer, Jesus begins by calling God “Our Father.” If God is our Father, then we are not only related to Him and His children, but we are related to one another. We are brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I like thinking of the congregation as family, my family. I love my family. Love my kids and love all those grandchildren. Some days they fuss at each other, just as I did with my sibilings. Some days they can annoy each other with dumb jokes or hearing something that dad wants to tell them. All families have bumps, warts and blessings and challenges. That’s life. That’s family.

Some how it’s hard to translate that to our spiritual family. Some come to worship, saying little, leave quickly and are no where to be found during the week. The connections they have are not strong and not very deep. They don’t think about their spiritual family. They don’t include the spiritual family in their lives. And, as a result, fellowship is more of a word than a deep love for each other.

Now, in other congregations, it’s just the opposite. You can tell. The conversations, laughter, love and sharing of life runs very deep. You hear of people getting together often throughout the week. And, when it’s time to gather to worship, there is a deep and precious joy found in being with each other.

So, what can be done to bring the church into more of a “family” atmosphere?

First, it begins by understanding each congregation has a culture and that culture can change. Just because we are not that way doesn’t mean we can’t become that way. The culture begins to shift when the language changes. Use the word “family” more than the word “church.”  Express it publically. Say it in prayers. Preach it. And, not just one time, but over and over and over.

In our congregation, we say just about every single week, that Sunday is the best day of the week. That’s stated in our podcasts. It’s stated in sermons. It’s stated in announcements. Over and over and over. Our people say it on a regular basis. That’s the first step in changing a culture.

Second, start acting like you are a family. So drop the gossip, the complaining, the back biting and all the negative things that causes tension, strife and leads to dysfunction. Connect with each other throughout the week. Start doing things with each other throughout the week. Invite others to go with you out to eat after Sunday services. This is key for the leaders to take the leading role in this. Talk is cheap if no actions back it up. If we are family, let’s act like a family. Love for each other. Support and help for each other. Build and strengthen your faith with others. Invite a few over and play games. Invite some over and sing hymns. Enjoy each other’s company without being compelled to “fix them,” “change them,” or make them more like you.

Third, pray for each other. Do this in your private prayers. This little activity causes you to think about others. Thinking about how you can encourage others. Think about how you can lift the spirit of others. Think about how you can be a blessing to others.

Don’t wait for others to start this. You be the first. The atmosphere of a family takes time to shape. And, as new faces come in, they must be included. They must feel that they are welcome. All of this takes some time and a lot of patience. Remember, God has included you in His family. So, open your heart and find room for others.

The church is not like a movie theatre. At the movies, we go for what is on the screen. We don’t really talk to anyone around us. We hope no one sits beside us. We watch the movie and we go home. Little or no interaction with those in attendance. The church is not like that. We want connections. We want fellowship. We need the encouragement. It is those things that make the church more like a family,

Roger

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Jump Start # 3644

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3644

Matthew 15:22 “And behold, a Canaanite woman came out from that region, and began to cry out, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”

Our verse takes place in Gentile country. The Lord had ventured up there. It is here that this distraught mother begs the Lord to help her daughter. Two things immediately jump out as we read this story. First, how would this woman had known about Jesus? Doubt she was in the crowd when He preached the sermon on the mount. Doubt she was one of the five thousand fed by Jesus. Remember the man with legions of demons? Jesus sent the demons into the pigs and they rushed into the sea and drowned. Jesus told that man to go tell your people what the Lord has done. That man was likely the source of news that this mother heard. Second, Satan doesn’t have a heart. Once again, we read about children being possessed by Satan’s evil demons. How scary, difficult and challenging it would be to deal with a possessed child.

As this desperate mother is loudly begging Jesus to help, the disciples “kept asking Him” to send her away (23). And, it is here where we take our thoughts today.

First, there are times and situations in which some do not want us around. The disciples didn’t want this woman around. Send her away, was their suggestion. And, in doing that, she would be left on her own unable to have any hope for her daughter. When I fly, I often am asked, “What do you do for a living?” When I tell people “I preach,” the reactions are funny. Some are delighted and we have a little conversation. One guy got up and switched seats.

Co-workers, family members, they can be mean, unpleasant and unkind. Send her away, is what many would wish of us. And, I think one reason is we remind them of what they ought to be doing. There is a guilt factor and they know. Rather than changing, it is easier to just send them away.

Second, the words of the apostles lack compassion. They had Jesus. They had Jesus every day. This woman wasn’t asking to be an apostle. She wasn’t asking to follow Jesus as they had. She wanted help for her daughter. Parents will fall on a sword for their kids. They will go without so their kids can have. This woman wasn’t like the apostles. She was a Gentile, not of Israel. It’s easy to keep Jesus all to ourselves as if He is ours. Kept in safe in our church buildings. Keep Him safe from others. That seems to be the idea of the apostles. Instead, Jesus is for all people.

Third, this mother was persistent. She didn’t let the rejection of the apostles get to her. She didn’t walk away with her head hung down. She didn’t go home saying, “I tried.” She was like a mama bear. It wasn’t the apostles that she wanted to hear from. She wanted help from Jesus. Her words reflect an understanding of who Jesus is.

I wonder if you and I quit too early and too easily. We hear a “no,” so we just go home. Maybe we need to have a bit more courage as this Gentile mother did. We invite someone to services and they quickly respond, “No.” So, we walk away, often with our tail dragging in defeat. “I asked,” we tell ourselves. Maybe we need to ask again. Maybe we need to try a different approach. Maybe we need to just strike up a conversation. The disciples wanted to send this woman away. She stayed. Jesus was her only hope.

As Matthew ends this discourse with the Gentile woman, Jesus replies, “O woman, your faith is great.” It was a WOW moment for the Lord. The Lord marveled when a Roman soldier asked Jesus to save a dying servant. Jesus was impressed. Great faith—not found in those who have grown up with the Law, going to the temple and worshipping God on a regular basis. But instead, among Gentiles. Among those who ought to have had great faith, it was lacking. And, among those who probably wouldn’t have faith, there it was.

We can learn from this. That pure, innocent, trusting faith in the Lord, may be found among those who don’t know or understand things as we do. I don’t know if this Gentile mother fully understood what “Son of David” meant in prophesy and how the Lord fulfilled that. She needed help and the Lord could help her.

Don’t we so quick to discount someone because they do not worship like you do. Be patient with them. Don’t throw water on their faith because they do not understand concepts such as authority, autonomy, eldership, trinity, resurrection and even worship. Be thankful that they love Jesus. Work with them in love and show them the way of the Lord. Don’t be like the apostles and send them away because they are different than we are. It may well be that we could learn a thing or two from them.

A mother who believed. Because of that, her child was helped. Lessons that the apostles needed to learn. Lessons that I need to learn.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3643

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3643

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus, in many ways we have traded places with Him. He died, when we should have died. His death gave us life. The wrath of God was poured out upon Him, so we might receive the blessings and forgiveness of God. And, as our verse states today, Jesus, rich as He was, became poor, so that we, who were bankrupt, might become rich.

Now, some thought needs to take place. How was Jesus rich? He had no place to lay His head. He never owned property. He entered Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey. There was a coin in the mouth of a fish that was used to pay the tax He owed. Sure doesn’t sound like He was rich. The problem with this reasoning is our starting point. Jesus came from Heaven. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. He is the creator. The cattle on a thousand hills, the Psalmist wrote, are His. In deed, this is My Father’s world. He became poor when He left all that. He never hungered in Heaven. He did on earth. He never had someone spit on Him or kiss Him in betrayal in Heaven. He did on earth. Jesus became poor by giving up His position and becoming like us, yet without sin.

Now, we are the other hand, with closets full of clothes and pantries full of food, cars in the garage and more stuff than we know what to do with, are poor. Although we are the richest county in the world and we have more than most people in the world, we are more than poor, we are bankrupt. The apostle is describing our spiritual state. This is why the beatitude states, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” That has nothing to do with bank statements and financial planning, but everything to do with our sinful life before the Lord. Without Jesus, we are hopeless and helpless. Lost in our sins, is our condition.

But because of the grace and sacrifice of Jesus, who was rich and become poor, we who were poor are now rich. What a flip flop. If our poverty refers to our spiritual condition, how are now we rich spiritually? Have you thought about that?

First, we have the Lord as our Savior, help and friend. Anytime and any place we can call upon the Lord. The Lord has left a path for us to follow. Our way is clear. God has not left anything for us to find on our own or to figure out. The prodigals that we are, know the way home. It’s just a matter of getting up and getting there.

Second, we are rich in that God has included and invited us to work in the greatest endeavor of creation, His amazing kingdom. Unlike walking through a museum, where one sees things, but is not allowed to touch, God has put His perfect word about His perfect Son into our imperfect hands and has entrusted the kingdom to us. We are God’s A team. We are the varsity squad. There is no one else that will support, defend and protect the kingdom, other than God’s people. If we sit on the sidelines, if we quit, there won’t arise something from the business sector, or government that will ensure God’s kingdom. No. The Lord has put that into our hands. It’s up to us to make sure in our times, we remain faithful, strong and committed to the Lord.

You and I won’t get a call from the White House asking for our help. We won’t get a call from a major sports team asking for our help. We won’t get called from Hollywood, wanting help on a movie project. Car designers won’t be asking for our input. Paris fashion designers won’t be reaching out to us for our thoughts on style. None of those things will happen. Yet, God has placed the kingdom into our hands. Don’t think you are important? You stand in the shadows of those long ago apostles. We don’t have miracles as they did, but we don’t need miracles. We have the word of God. Teach it. Live it. Share it. Show it. The eternal kingdom of God in our hands. Amazing.

Third, we are rich in that our future is only getting better and better. Our home is not here, but there. Eternally, we will be with the Lord. Heaven, His home, will be our home, one day. No one can take that away from you, except yourself. Those poor first Christians, many of them slaves, that had very little and lived pitiful lives, are rejoicing in Heaven’s home. Poor Lazarus, laid at the rich man’s gate, no food, no mercy, and no help, was carried by God’s angels to the comfort of Abraham in paradise. Poor in life, rich in eternity.

As a believer, you don’t have to check your 401 status to see if you are rich. God has made you rich in ways money can never provide. Count your many blessings, the song tells us, and name them one by one.

The gift of salvation—the greatest demonstration of God’s love for us, ought to remind us that we are blessed to be in the care of the Lord.

Roger