I wasn't eavesdropping, but I was listening as I sat at coffee the other day waiting for the person I was scheduled to meet with.
Two fellas the next table over were talking about serving in their church and a recent decision that had been made.
What was refreshing (and quite stunning) was the fact that they were discussing it openly but without animosity. One of the two strongly disagreed with the decision that had been made.
Here is what stood out to me about what he said, "Since it is not blatant black and white, I can trust God with it even if I feel it is a misstep or mistake. Even if it was black and white...I could probably still do the same."
The maturity expressed in that statement greatly encouraged and challenged me. While I waited for the person I was meeting with to arrive, I meditated on that thought scripturally and personally.
Guarding and arming ourselves with this mindset means:
I know that the moments I heed temptations in the flesh are NOT the end of God's work in my life or usage of the same. Let us start on a high note! The devil and my flesh delight in writing my choices in fast-drying concrete whereas God's grace and mercy wash over them as if written in melting snow. God is benevolent to save us but His generosity also continues as we grow in our sanctification. While choices do indeed have consequences (both good and bad), God is greater than just a decision or even a series of decisions. When the apostle Paul told us to look to the OT saints as an example, it was not to sit in judgment of them or only learn lessons in a negative sense; their choices and whole lives often demonstrated God's ability to accomplish His desire in their lives and in the communities around them despite their shortcomings. Again, I am not discounting confession with God or man when we have sinned, but I am saying that such moments are not dead-end streets we are now relegated to live on for the rest of our days.
Phil. 1:6
I know I do not have to take offense to every perceived or real slight. It is ironic how many times the OT and NT repeat the idea or theme of forgiveness. Forgiveness is available from God to man and is to be practiced by humanity. I say it is ironic because one could assume that because the lesson is explicitly taught and implicitly demonstrated it would be a lesson we are prone to live out, not leave out. In my own heart, I find God had to repeat Himself because I am a poor student. Perhaps you are not like me, but as I grow in the Lord I discover just how absolutely selfish I am in my daily motivations or reactions. A car pulls in front of me- that is a real or perceived slight that needs my less than holy response. Someone taking too long at Kroger- well, that is a slight to also dwell on. My wife did not read my mind- how could she be so careless? One of the other pastors disagreed with me- maybe they should, "cool their jets" or find the next place to use their gifts. I am using some hyperbole...but perhaps not much. Think about your day filled with your motivational responses internally and your reactions outwardly to just life that day....the scorecard is perhaps a little messier than we wish it were.
Psalm 119:165
I know I do not have to live a "cancel culture" kind of life......We live in a weird time where mob rule can be whipped up overnight due to the reach and influence of the internet. If someone (celebrity or other) says or does "the wrong thing", then they can lose it all and be "canceled". What is ironic is that many Christians I meet abhor this fear-producing, fickle phenomena but will then live subject to such an ideology in other areas of their lives. Without saying it (sometimes without even recognizing it), their decisions are reactionary to their mistakes or the mistakes of others. In doing so, they often "cancel" themselves with what God is able to do in or through their lives or they "cancel" others that God has placed in their lives. They struggle in relationships God has given them or bounce from one to another, repeat, repeat, repeat. If God is greater and more able than mistakes, I can have flourishing relationships in my marriage, with my offspring, at work, and even at church. No one decision has the power to artificially shutter God's ability in these avenues.
Eph. 4:31-32
How able and big is your God?
Is He big enough and able enough to account for the mistakes you and others around you make?
Is He greater than your poor decisions?
Do you believe He is still able to work in the lives of those around you who may make poor decisions?
Do you have rest with Him and enjoyment with others because of this truth?
God>mistakes
Serving together,
Pastor Paul
Follow well, then stand firm
In my daily Bible reading, I have been working through 2 Chronicles. The Chronicles track the historical records of the kings of Israel and Judah. This week I was struck by this story in 2 Chronicle 24 of Joash and Jehoiada.
Joash became king when he was only 7 years old. The rest of the royal line had been executed, but Joash had been saved and hidden in the temple. The high priest, Jehoiada, protected him as a child and was his mentor and advisor when he became king.
Under Jehoiada’s influence, Joash has the temple of God restored and once again fills it with offerings to God. The temple had been destroyed in the previous generation, but worship had once again been restored in Israel!
Then, Jehoiada dies. He was 130 years old. Blessed by God to live a long of faithful service. As a sign of the highest honor, this faithful priest was buried among the kings because of his service to Israel, to God, and the line of David.
If only the story ended there.
Immediately after Jehoiada’s death, the princes of Israel come to King Joash. Joash listens to the princes and leaves the house of God to worship idols. Joash- A man who was raised in the temple of God. Joash- A man who had an incredible mentor and priest to guide him. Joash- A man who had done great things for God in the past all of a sudden has completely and openly forsaken his faith and has led Israel away with him.
Joash did great things for God when he had Jehoiada beside him. A great teacher, mentor, or influence is such an incredible blessing. Yet Joash never took the step to stand firm and mentor others. When the princes came, he could have corrected them and led like the king he was supposed to be, yet instead, he simply followed their example and forsook God. God places mentors and teachers in our lives to teach, encourage, and give us an example of how to live faithfully. We must then take the next steps of transforming our lives to reflect the commands of God and then teach others to follow the commands of God as well.
Here are just two questions to reflect on in light of 2 Chronicles 24:
Am I making the conscious decision to stand on the Word of God in my life, or am I simply following the people around me?
When I am surrounded by the lost, or even by younger Christians, am I allowing them to influence me, or am I seeking to influence them?
Brother Tyler
Just a little cut
As I was shaving this morning, I was reminded why I dislike shaving. The concept of dragging metal blades across my face always brings with it the possibility of a nick or a cut. Man, do those hurt and bleed! It is so small in terms of our overall person, but so painful.
As I had that thought, I was reminded of the book of Jeremiah where I have been reading in my devotions. In Jeremiah, we are reminded that God takes our sin seriously! While we may make excuses for our sin, the “size” of our sin does not matter in God’s paradigm…it still carries consequences.
So, how does our sin, even the sin that we perhaps deem inconsequential, impact our lives?
First, when we harbor sin in our lives, we disrupt the Spirit’s work in our lives. When we allow sin to go unchecked in our lives, we are living in accordance with, as Paul describes, the old man. Christ has called us to a new way of life; one that is marked by the Spirit’s control. When we live in the flesh, we cannot produce good fruit, which is only a byproduct of God working in us and through us (John 15:5). When we harbor sin, we sap the spiritual life that God desires us to have.
Second, sin within our lives disrupts the effectiveness of our prayer life. The Psalmist reminds us that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us (66:18). The Psalmist wants us to understand how destructive unconfessed sin is within our lives. There is always forgiveness in Christ, but when we willfully hold onto our sin, the efficacy of our prayers is diminished. Yet, when we humble ourselves and seek His forgiveness, we find it.
Third, when we allow sin to reign in our hearts, we often destroy relationships around us. Part of the consequences of sin is that sin corrupts. Sin negatively impacts our attitudes and our behaviors often leading us to use and mistreat those around us. Beyond that, when we entertain our sin, we often selfishly ignore how our sin will impact those around us; the hurt and sorrow we will cause them. Our sin pulls us to look only after our own wants and desires which is the opposite of what Christ calls us to do…show care and thought on the needs of others rather than our own. The selfishness of our sin ignores others and ignores the consequences they might receive because of our actions.
Like a cut from shaving, sin may seem small, but it has massive effects. A cut from shaving seems to never stop bleeding, and it stings like crazy. Our sin has far-reaching effects, sometimes making impacts in ways we have never imagined and lengths of time that are shocking. As followers of Christ, we must take sin seriously because God takes sin seriously.
Serving Together
Pastor Derek