Getting close to God and staying close to God should be a priority for every Christian. As we get ready to start a new year, I thought it might be good to think together about a few things that help us stay close to the Lord. I hope these reminders will bring value to your life.
I’ve found that intimacy with God is a constant joy and a constant frustration. The closer we get to the Lord the greater our joy. Yet there is a frustration because the closer we get to Him, there is this awareness of how much closer we need to be. Even the Apostle Paul dealt with this in his life (Phil. 3). It seems we can never arrive at perfect fellowship with God because of our sin and our pride. We always have room to grow and the moment we start to coast is the moment we start to drift away. But as we keep moving in the right direction, there is great joy and delight in His presence. I guess we have to keep living with that tension as long as we are connected to a fallen planet.
Intimacy with the Lord is never accidental, but rather intentional. No one gets close to God by mistake. We have to do it on purpose. We need to have the daily discipline to stay in the Word and linger in prayer if we ever expect to enjoy real closeness with God. Of course the biggest barrier for most of us is our busy schedules. To carve out daily time is a real struggle. We have so many responsibilities and deadlines to meet. I’ve been at this a while and I still wrestle with trying to fit my quiet time into my schedule rather than building my schedule around my quiet time.
Intimacy is enhanced by trials, not hindered by them. It is the high winds on the mountain side that rock the trees back and forth. But as the trees are being blown around, the soil deep beneath their roots is being loosened by the rocking motion the wind creates. The high winds actually make it possible for their roots to grow deeper. Friends, that is also true of those things in our lives that blow us around. Of course much depends upon our response to those high winds, but the winds are never wasted on those seeking intimacy with the Almighty.
Intimacy requires times of isolation. We all know the account of Elijah’s great showdown with the Baal worshipers on Mt. Carmel in First Kings 18. After the great victory, Elijah needed an intimate time with God to hear His voice. It was only in the sound of silence that he could hear from God. As you prepare for 2010, I hope you will be able to find a place of solitude to get direction from the Lord for the New Year.
Intimacy is a spiritual battle. I am convinced that Satan fears the weakest Christian who gets on his knees. He will bring us every kind of obstacle, distraction and hindrance to keep us from getting closer to the Lord. He fears the damage we can do to his kingdom, but he also hates to see God communing with His child. He knows what great joy God takes in our closeness with Him and the devil hates God so much, he seeks to rob God of that intimacy. Let us determine not the give our enemy any such pleasure.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Leaving a Legacy
I write this article after a long night at the hospital. Our fourth grandson was born early this morning (Monday) at around 3:30 AM. Being the sentimental sap that I am, I can’t help but to reflect a little. My wife and and I have been blessed with five sons and a daughter whom we love and cherish. Now we have seen our influence extend to a new generation of grandsons. We are truly blessed of God. But it makes me ask, “What about our spiritual children and grandchildren? Are we leaving a spiritual legacy? Are the people I have led to Christ living for Him faithfully? Are they growing and maturing and touching other lives for Christ?”
Of course there is a limit to anyone’s influence. People do, after all, have the ability to turn their backs on the Lord and they may choose a path totally opposite of what we have taught and modeled for them. But how do we increase the chances of success for those who come behind us?
The first key is to consistently live out our convictions and to be an example of the life choices we teach. Clearly, if our lives are inconsistent with our teaching we will have little influence upon those who come behind us. Hypocrisy will cancel out the best teaching. Recently we have heard of a famous sports figure who has been involved in adultery. Not only will he lose millions of dollars he once made endorsing everything from Buicks to Gatorade; he has lost the respect of millions of people. His influence has been severely diminished due to his poor lifestyle choices. For those involved in teaching ministry, the lesson is clear. We cannot leave an effective legacy for Christ through our teaching alone.
Another key is genuine love for others. As we study real love from 1 Corinthians 13, it is clear that biblical love is much more than a sentimental emotion. Real love involves demonstrating kindness and courtesy to others. Genuine love shows up in our generosity toward others and in the way we encourage the people around us. Love is the opposite of the apathetic teacher who refuses to be involved in the lives of her students. People are flawed, but love covers a multitude of sin. People are insecure and need to be valued and affirmed, and love steps up to focus on the needs of others rather than self. May God help us grow in biblical love.
Biblical teaching and training also has significant influence. Contemporary self-help teachings based on humanistic ideas and pop-psychology seem to change every three or four years, but God’s Word is eternal. When we teach the life-changing principles of the Bible to others, we are unleashing the living power of the very Word of God. That is a powerful way to influence lives. There is amazing potential in just one Bible lesson or sermon. People have literally made life-altering decisions because of one Sunday School lesson that God used to speak powerfully into their lives. Many times we teach in more informal ways through casual conversations or simply sharing an insight to a friend over a cup of coffee. As we share biblical thoughts and insights, our influence grows and our life-message leaves a legacy of truth that can be passed on to others long after God calls us home.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Foundation of Our Faith and Practice
There once was a man who had some terrible cracks forming in the walls of his upstairs bedroom. He called various contractors, who repaired the cracks, but the repairs would only last a few months and the cracks would reappear. He was very angry about the faulty workmanship and finally called a contractor that was supposed to be the best around. He explained the situation and the contractor arrived and asked to see the door to the basement. The home owner was convinced that he should go upstairs and look at the wall in the bedroom—after all that was where the cracks were. The contractor insisted on looking in the basement first and quickly spotted damage to the foundation of the house. It was the damage to the foundation that had allowed the cracks to form in the bedroom walls. When the foundation was repaired, the cracks in the bedroom stopped occurring.
It is clear that there are many cracks in the belief systems of many people in our world today. Many have accepted bizarre beliefs about reincarnation, haunting ghosts and “channeling” dead people. With such strange beliefs it is understandable how so many “cracks” can occur in so many lives. The foundation of their belief system is built on something other the Word of God.
One foundation many build upon is tradition. That is, they believe a certain thing because it was passed on to them through a relative or a teacher or even a church. Many belief systems are like this. That is way some people believe they need to take the Lord’s Supper in order to be saved, they need to confess to a priest to have their sins forgiven, or they need to eat certain foods in order to be right with God. They believe it because it has been accepted as truth based on human tradition.
Some build on the faulty foundation of someone’s experience. Many cults are built on some beloved spiritual leader’s experience. This leader claims to have had a vision or an out of body experience of some kind. He has received a new revelation from God, he claims. Followers are amazed at the new teaching and are drawn in. The people will build their belief system upon this charismatic leader’s experience, rejecting the concerns of family members and friends.
Others build their belief system on their own personal hodgepodge beliefs that they have gotten from Oprah, Dr. Phil, the parts of the Bible that they like and maybe a little something they heard from a yoga instructor. They feel proud of their sophisticated system that makes them feel good about themselves, while convincing themselves they are extremely spiritual and in tune with God. They will claim to be close with God and confident that they have discovered the spiritual path that is right for them.
Of course Satan loves it when people build their beliefs upon anything other than the Bible. They are easily deceived into thinking that they are spiritually safe and secure, when, in reality, they have been duped by the father of all lies. All false belief systems are of the evil one. We must not be deceived. Every spiritual teaching must be based on holy, inspired Scripture. Everything else will only bring collapse when the wind and the rain of life begin to descend.
It is clear that there are many cracks in the belief systems of many people in our world today. Many have accepted bizarre beliefs about reincarnation, haunting ghosts and “channeling” dead people. With such strange beliefs it is understandable how so many “cracks” can occur in so many lives. The foundation of their belief system is built on something other the Word of God.
One foundation many build upon is tradition. That is, they believe a certain thing because it was passed on to them through a relative or a teacher or even a church. Many belief systems are like this. That is way some people believe they need to take the Lord’s Supper in order to be saved, they need to confess to a priest to have their sins forgiven, or they need to eat certain foods in order to be right with God. They believe it because it has been accepted as truth based on human tradition.
Some build on the faulty foundation of someone’s experience. Many cults are built on some beloved spiritual leader’s experience. This leader claims to have had a vision or an out of body experience of some kind. He has received a new revelation from God, he claims. Followers are amazed at the new teaching and are drawn in. The people will build their belief system upon this charismatic leader’s experience, rejecting the concerns of family members and friends.
Others build their belief system on their own personal hodgepodge beliefs that they have gotten from Oprah, Dr. Phil, the parts of the Bible that they like and maybe a little something they heard from a yoga instructor. They feel proud of their sophisticated system that makes them feel good about themselves, while convincing themselves they are extremely spiritual and in tune with God. They will claim to be close with God and confident that they have discovered the spiritual path that is right for them.
Of course Satan loves it when people build their beliefs upon anything other than the Bible. They are easily deceived into thinking that they are spiritually safe and secure, when, in reality, they have been duped by the father of all lies. All false belief systems are of the evil one. We must not be deceived. Every spiritual teaching must be based on holy, inspired Scripture. Everything else will only bring collapse when the wind and the rain of life begin to descend.
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Heart of the Human Problem
I heard about a little girl who got into a terrible argument with her younger brother. Her mother rushed into the room to stop the fight with great alarm. “How could you let the devil trick you into calling your brother names and spitting on him?” asked the mother. The little girl, still not quite repentant said, “The devil made me call him names, but spitting on him was my idea!”
You may have heard the saying, “The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.” In our society we see problems that are much more serious than spitting on your little brother. To some it may sound too simplistic to say that the problem is a spiritual heart issue, but that is exactly what it is. In Romans chapter one, the Bible explains that the terrible consequence of refusing to respond to God and His truth is spiritual darkness; further refusal to acknowledge God results in a society that embraces immorality, violence and hatred.
As Christians we have a tremendous responsibility to represent and share God’s light to our dark world. It would be easy to throw up our hands and say that it is too late to make a difference, but God is able to bring beauty for ashes and hope from hopelessness. He can change hearts!
You may have heard the saying, “The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.” In our society we see problems that are much more serious than spitting on your little brother. To some it may sound too simplistic to say that the problem is a spiritual heart issue, but that is exactly what it is. In Romans chapter one, the Bible explains that the terrible consequence of refusing to respond to God and His truth is spiritual darkness; further refusal to acknowledge God results in a society that embraces immorality, violence and hatred.
As Christians we have a tremendous responsibility to represent and share God’s light to our dark world. It would be easy to throw up our hands and say that it is too late to make a difference, but God is able to bring beauty for ashes and hope from hopelessness. He can change hearts!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Priorities in the Church
I heard about a happily married couple who had certain struggles because old Aunt Emma showed up at their door one day needing a place to stay. Emma was loud and demanding, and generally ungrateful. The couple held back their feelings because Aunt Emma was family; and besides, Emma could really lay on the guilt trip any time there seemed to be any hesitation in meeting her many needs.
After seven long years, Aunt Emma died. On the way home from the funeral the husband said, “You know dear, if I did not love you so much, I don’t think I would have put up with your Aunt Emma all these years.” The wife looked at her husband in total disbelief and said, “My Aunt Emma? I thought she was your Aunt Emma!”
I have noted that some times churches can be bamboozled by the enemy into accepting responsibilities that are really not theirs. God has created and designed the church to do three basic things: Worship God, Build up Believers and Share Christ with a lost world.
Because we are people committed to being loving and compassionate, we can sometimes be drawn toward activities and causes that are very good, but may be a distraction from the real priorities of the church. We are a people of conviction and moral standards, but we need to be cautious that we are not sidetracked into social or political activism when the lost are dying without hope. If we are not careful, even our desire for personal holiness can take us down a path of legalism, causing us to neglect the Great Commission.
Yes, we must remember to be salt and light to the world, but we must also remember why.
After seven long years, Aunt Emma died. On the way home from the funeral the husband said, “You know dear, if I did not love you so much, I don’t think I would have put up with your Aunt Emma all these years.” The wife looked at her husband in total disbelief and said, “My Aunt Emma? I thought she was your Aunt Emma!”
I have noted that some times churches can be bamboozled by the enemy into accepting responsibilities that are really not theirs. God has created and designed the church to do three basic things: Worship God, Build up Believers and Share Christ with a lost world.
Because we are people committed to being loving and compassionate, we can sometimes be drawn toward activities and causes that are very good, but may be a distraction from the real priorities of the church. We are a people of conviction and moral standards, but we need to be cautious that we are not sidetracked into social or political activism when the lost are dying without hope. If we are not careful, even our desire for personal holiness can take us down a path of legalism, causing us to neglect the Great Commission.
Yes, we must remember to be salt and light to the world, but we must also remember why.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Power of Prayer
I read a story recently about a lady who had a terrible morning. She had just put a pie in the oven when she received a phone call from the school that her son was very sick and needed to come home. She thought she would have time to pick him up and get back for the pie, so she got in the car to leave. On the way to the school, her cell phone went off—it was the school nurse. Her son was getting worse, so the nurse called the family doctor and the woman needed to immediately go to get a prescription for her son. She quickly changed course and ran into the drug store. She hurried back to the car only to discover that she had locked her car keys inside. Just then the phone rang again. Her son sounded terrible. Before he could finish his first sentence to her he said, “I’m going to be sick again.” And the phone went dead.
She walked back toward the drug store hoping to get some help when the phone rang—it was her son calling back. She quickly told him about the keys when he suggested getting a wire coat hanger to get the keys. The phone went dead again. She looked inside the drug store which had plenty of wooden and plastic hangers, but nothing made out of wire. She walked out of the store and saw along the curb a wire coat hanger! She was overjoyed, but quickly realized that she had no idea how to use it. That was when she remembered the pie in the oven. She sat down on a bench and prayed, “Lord, my boy is sick and needs his medicine and my pie is burning and my keys are locked in the car, and Lord, I don’t know what to do with this coat hanger. Please send me someone who knows how to use this thing.”
She wiped her eyes, got up from the bench when a beat up old car pulled up. A young man with stringy hair tattered clothes and a long unkempt beard got out. The woman walked tight up to him and said, “Do you know how to use this wire to unlock a car?” The young man was a little startled, but took the hanger and said, “Where’s the car?”
In a short time the door was unlocked and the keys were in her hands. She gave the young man a big hug and said, “Oh, the Lord sent you. You’re such a good boy. You must be a Christian.”
He stepped back and said, “No ma’am, I’m not a Christian, and I am not a good boy. I just got out of prison yesterday.”
She hugged him again and said, “Praise God! He sent me a professional!
Life’s tough—pray hard.
She walked back toward the drug store hoping to get some help when the phone rang—it was her son calling back. She quickly told him about the keys when he suggested getting a wire coat hanger to get the keys. The phone went dead again. She looked inside the drug store which had plenty of wooden and plastic hangers, but nothing made out of wire. She walked out of the store and saw along the curb a wire coat hanger! She was overjoyed, but quickly realized that she had no idea how to use it. That was when she remembered the pie in the oven. She sat down on a bench and prayed, “Lord, my boy is sick and needs his medicine and my pie is burning and my keys are locked in the car, and Lord, I don’t know what to do with this coat hanger. Please send me someone who knows how to use this thing.”
She wiped her eyes, got up from the bench when a beat up old car pulled up. A young man with stringy hair tattered clothes and a long unkempt beard got out. The woman walked tight up to him and said, “Do you know how to use this wire to unlock a car?” The young man was a little startled, but took the hanger and said, “Where’s the car?”
In a short time the door was unlocked and the keys were in her hands. She gave the young man a big hug and said, “Oh, the Lord sent you. You’re such a good boy. You must be a Christian.”
He stepped back and said, “No ma’am, I’m not a Christian, and I am not a good boy. I just got out of prison yesterday.”
She hugged him again and said, “Praise God! He sent me a professional!
Life’s tough—pray hard.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Avoiding Spiritual Laziness
I heard a story of a group of sailors on a ship at sea. A discussion broke out over who was the laziest man on board. After many opinions were given one man found a way to end all the arguments. He shouted out, “I’ll settle this right now. I have a 50 dollar bill that I will give to the laziest man on this vessel.” Several of the men stepped up quickly to claim the 50 dollars, but the winner was obvious. He was the one who stayed in his bunk and said, “Could one of you guys just roll me over and shove that 50 in my back pocket?”
Laziness is something the book of Proverbs rebukes over and over again. Diligent labor is something that is praised in the Proverbs. In the New Testament we are instructed to do our work as unto the Lord. It is clear from the Bible that a strong work ethic is a spiritual issue!
It is important that we do not allow laziness into our spiritual lives as well. We all know how easy it is to neglect spiritual things. We do not intentionally set out to drift away from that close fellowship with the Lord. It is usually a slow fading away of closeness to Christ, like the gradual evaporation of water from a glass over a period of time.
How does it happen? It is a form of spiritual laziness! We get slothful concerning Bible reading and prayer. We get to liking that extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning more than the fellowship of our Sunday School class. Nothing is better than watching football on Sunday, so why not skip Sunday evening service? Plus, we work hard all week; we don’t have much time for ministry anymore. Because we are not diligent about the things of God, we find ourselves saying and doing things we know hurt others and we begin to damage our intimacy with the Lord.
Of course the devil is involved, but the reality is, we let much of it happen to ourselves through simple neglect. The good news is that God is all about giving us a fresh new start. He is ready to forgive and begin the rebuilding process. He is patiently waiting for us to admit we have been gradually wandering away and turn back to Him. No one can “roll us over” and put godly passion back into our hearts. It is up to us to allow Him first place in our hearts and our activities.
Laziness is something the book of Proverbs rebukes over and over again. Diligent labor is something that is praised in the Proverbs. In the New Testament we are instructed to do our work as unto the Lord. It is clear from the Bible that a strong work ethic is a spiritual issue!
It is important that we do not allow laziness into our spiritual lives as well. We all know how easy it is to neglect spiritual things. We do not intentionally set out to drift away from that close fellowship with the Lord. It is usually a slow fading away of closeness to Christ, like the gradual evaporation of water from a glass over a period of time.
How does it happen? It is a form of spiritual laziness! We get slothful concerning Bible reading and prayer. We get to liking that extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning more than the fellowship of our Sunday School class. Nothing is better than watching football on Sunday, so why not skip Sunday evening service? Plus, we work hard all week; we don’t have much time for ministry anymore. Because we are not diligent about the things of God, we find ourselves saying and doing things we know hurt others and we begin to damage our intimacy with the Lord.
Of course the devil is involved, but the reality is, we let much of it happen to ourselves through simple neglect. The good news is that God is all about giving us a fresh new start. He is ready to forgive and begin the rebuilding process. He is patiently waiting for us to admit we have been gradually wandering away and turn back to Him. No one can “roll us over” and put godly passion back into our hearts. It is up to us to allow Him first place in our hearts and our activities.
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