Wake Up and Live!

A funny thing happens when I get startled awake. I act (often rashly) before I am aware of my surroundings. A family member or friend will startle me out of a nap. I'll yell, flail, and rebel before I actually know what is going on. Though I respond instantly, it takes a minute to get my bearings so that I can respond appropriately.

That response can illustrate how we wake up in our spiritual lives. We fall asleep in our faith. Therefore, we aren’t as aware of God’s voice, God’s direction or God’s presence in our lives. Then, some circumstance jars us awake. We turn to Jesus like a knee jerk reaction. We pray for Jesus to fix the situation before we fully understand the situation. We demand God give us direction though we aren’t that familiar with God's voice. In other words, we jump to spiritual action before we get our spiritual bearings.

When that happens, God’s grace is sufficient. Though we return to Jesus like a startled napper, he helps us regain awareness in Him. Ephesians 5:13-15 promises it: “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’” We may not be spiritually aware when we wake, but we have the promise that Jesus will help us see by shining his light on us.

If you have fallen asleep spiritually, let me encourage you to wake up! Wake up and act spiritually even if it feels like you’re flailing. Pray. Read the scriptures. Worship with fellow Christians. As you do, Jesus will shine a light on you. He will help you discern His voice. He will help you recognize His will for your life. Though waking up may shock our system, He will help us see our situation for what it is and bring it to life.

Lamp and Light

A Gospel singer named Amy Grant was popular when I was a kid.  One of her big hits was a song called Thy Word.  The lyrics of the chorus to Thy Word quote Psalm 119: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.”

When I first listened to Grant’s song, the lyric didn’t make sense.  My thoughts went something like this: “Why do you need light on your feet and how can words be a light?  If you are in the dark, you should carefully walk to the closest wall and turn the light on.”  The Psalm writer’s symbolic language was lost on my grade school sensibilities.

As I grew older, I learned that flashlights and flood lamps were hard to find in ancient Israel.  In fact, they didn’t exist.  In the Psalm writer’s day, light was carried on candles and torches.  Carrying a light allowed a person to see where they were walking, illuminating a short distance in front of them.

That is the type of image of scripture the Psalm writer is trying to create.  We carry God’s word with us and it illuminates the path right in front of us.  We take steps of faith, trusting that the light will continue lighting our way.

As you approach this week, read God’s word in a way that allows you to take it with you.  You might even try memorizing a short passage of scripture.  As the words of the Bible become a part of you, ask how they apply to your life today.  You can take God’s word with you to work and allow it to inform your relationship with co-workers.  God’s word can come to mind during your family time this evening. 

The Bible is a lamp for your feet.  Let it light the path that is right in front of you today.

Culture Wars & the Christian Life

America’s culture wars have reached a feverish pitch. Facebook feeds are filled with mudslinging (aggressive and passive aggressive). The talking heads of 24-Hour news stations use inflammatory language to bludgeon silent opponents who were never invited to the conversation. The lines are drawn. The talking points are clear. Us verses them. Them verses us. To be on one side or the other, people must agree to the entire ideological platform.

Confronted with that, many Christians don’t know where they fit. Our faith won’t allow us to agree to an entire platform of ideologies. The scriptures, the traditions of the church and the direction of the Holy Spirit constantly call all human ideologies into question. As a result, we feel like we don't fit in.

If you are one of those folks, wondering where you fit in, you are in good company. The Apostle Paul described “not fitting in” as a natural part of the Christian life. Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul says, “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Our belief in Christ (and opinions that stem from that belief) may trip up some factions and be foolishness to others. Though it doesn’t always fit, it is our belief.

As you navigate the culture wars of the world around us, ask the Lord for wisdom. Consult the scriptures for wisdom about the affairs of the day. Study what the Christian church says about issues rather than consulting the talking heads of the media. As you do, you’ll find wisdom in the One who sits above the petty conflicts of people. You may also find that you still don’t fit in.

The Less and More of Life Abundant

In his sermon, The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis says this: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” In other words, God intends to amplify the lives of His people, not diminish them.

We see people who desire too little out of life every day. People ignore the high art of Shakespeare and Joplin in order to listen to Justin Beiber and Kesha. People neglect conversation with loved ones so they can scroll through their Facebook feed. In our spiritual lives, we forsake conversation with God so that we can watch hours of CSI – Tupelo. We are satisfied with too little. Jesus calls us to desire more out of life with Him.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes Himself as a Good Shepherd. In doing so, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” (10:10). So it seems that C.S. Lewis’ point has a biblical foundation. Jesus calls His people to have more life in Him – not less.

As you go through the coming week, ask how the Lord might be calling you to more. Ask Jesus to help you desire more of the life He gives rather than less. As you do, you will find richness and steadfastness beyond the limits natural human wants. You’ll also step away from the mud pies of the slum, toward an eternal holiday at the sea.

                       

Dads and the Blessings of God

A few years ago, Penn State University published a study celebrating the benefits of spending time with Dad. The study tracked 200 families, studying one-on-one time between parents and their kids. The research found that the more time kids spent one-on-one with their fathers, the better their self esteem and social skills. Susan McHale, director of the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State, says this: "Our research shows that, well into the adolescent years, teens continue to spend time with their parents and that this shared time, especially shared time with fathers, has important implications for adolescents' psychological and social adjustment."

For Christians, that makes sense. The scriptures teach us that Dads are good for kids too. Ephesians 6 tells Christians to honor their fathers (quoting the Ten Commandments), justifying the instruction by saying, “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Dads are good for kids.

This Father’s day, honor the Dads of your church family.  They may be biological dads, adoptive dads or a mentors in the faith. Either way, biological and spiritual Dads are good for their kids. Praise the Lord for them this Sunday. Enjoy time with them. Thank them. As you do, you will reap the benefits of time well spent (according to the research). You will also be following one of God’s instructions intended for your greatest good.

Books & the Unchanging Christ

With the rise of the internet, people predicted that local book stores would become a thing of the past. The logic was simple: electronic books are cheaper to publish and less expensive for consumers.  Multiple books can be stored and read on one electronic device and more convenient for consumers.  Therefore, hard copies are no longer needed and neither are the retailers who sale them.  With time, book stores would become obsolete.  That was the logic.

Evidently, the logic was wrong. A recent news report claims a 25% rise in local, independently owned bookstores. As the number of book retailers has increased, so have sales. Though technology has changed, the desire for a time-tested, trusted resource is on the rise.

Hearing that story, I am reminded about predictions about the demise of Christianity. People say that the world is changing. Those changes will make faith in Jesus obsolete. Much like books, Christianity will be obsolete because of the rise of newer and better things.

Yet, the scriptures talk about Jesus as if His time-tested, unchanging, trusted qualities are strengths that last forever. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. That unchanging, time-tested quality about Jesus assures Christians that faith in him isn’t going anywhere. Like books, the time tested qualities lead to growth, even when fads claim to be replacing them.

As you go through the coming week, seek the unchanging God, Jesus Christ. Participate in the time-tested practices of the faith. Pray to Jesus. Read the scriptures about Jesus. Turn off the computer, set down the phone and listen to Jesus. As you do, you will find riches in the time tested blessings of relationship with Jesus. You’ll also find that relationship with Jesus gets better the more He stays the same.

Above Financial Ups and Downs

I follow the stock market from time to time. I read news stories about financial markets around the world and corporate earnings reports. If you follow financial news over time, you’ll notice that the values of stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities are always changing. They are never constant. Assets are either becoming more valuable or less valuable. The name of the game is betting on whether things are rising or falling.

A frustrating part of following the ever-changing market is the way in which it is reported. If stocks plummet and the NYSE has a bad day, the story is a front-page headline hi-lighted in red. If the Dow posts strong gains, the story gets mentioned in passing with little fan fare, somewhere in the margins. People love to hear bad news about money.

The world’s financial markets are a constant reminder of my need for Christ. I would go nuts if my family’s welfare ultimately depended on the roller coaster world of money. Every up and down of the ever changing, preferably bad financial markets would make me a nervous wreck.

Good thing Jesus offers an alternative. Jesus meets the ever-changing bad news of money with the unchanging good news of the Gospel. He is in control, He is good, and He will take care of His people. Financial markets may crash and global economies crumble, but Jesus will still be in control and care for you. Count on it. Take it to the bank. Cash it in.

As you worship today, take comfort in God’s unchanging promise to His people. It is old (goes all the way back to Moses), but it does not change. He will see His promise through. The money of this world will never compare with the surest investment in human history: faith in Christ.