One Thing at a Time

“I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3: 13, 14.

One thing possessed Paul.  He avoided all diversion. Athletes are often heard to say, “I have to stay focused.” Undivided and un-diverted attention to the task at hand is essential for success.

At Jesus’ feet Martha criticized Mary.  Of her He said, “One thing is needful” (Luke 10:42).

Nehemiah, the wall-building governor, replied to distracting invitations, “I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down!” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Caution, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

“One thing” is the inspiring unspoken theme running through every achieving life. We are not to limp between two opinions. We must learn to say both “yes” and “no.” Yes, to the things of Christ and no to the things of the world. Concentration is essential.

Jim Egan worked at the West Coast Computer Fair in 1977. His job was to help displayers by providing booths and decorations.

Egan was approached by a couple of long-haired kids who wanted some chrome displays to make their booth “look flashy.”  These guys were evidently under-capitalized entrepreneurs. Egan offered to rent them what they wanted. They explained they were low on cash but offered him stock in their new company of which he had never heard. Having such brash young men come and go, Egan said he would accept only hard cash. So Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs kept their stock in their small company they called Apple Computer. Presumably, Jim Egan is still decorating booths for hard cash only.

One thing should motivate us above all else. As one who delights to travel in the Bible Land I try to be observant. Shepherds and their dogs can teach us much. As Christians we should be like sheep dogs. When a shepherd is in the process of giving a command the dog lies down at the shepherd’s feet and looks intently into the shepherd’s eyes.  The dog listens without moving until the command is given. When the dog knows the mind of the master he jumps to his feet to carry out the command. There is another characteristic of the sheep dog. He never stops wagging his tail at any moment. He delights to hear and do his master’s will. So must we.

Keep your eyes on Jesus and delight to happily do His will. This results in a contented productive life.

Forget It

“…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” Philippians 3: 13.

In considering this theme it is not as though the past counts for nothing. Rather this is a statement about the overall outlook of life. On balance, the future is more important in our thinking than the past. This is not instruction to purge the mind of all memories of the past. It is an appeal to not live in the past, but contrast its insignificance with the present/future. This is not advising a memory wipe; it is telling us to focus on the present and the future, rather than the past. Don’t let the past hang over you like a shroud.

We must refuse to allow past successes to inflate our ego. We must not allow past failures to deflate our self-worth. We leave it behind and instead adopt our new identity in Christ. Focus instead on the “upward calling.”

A runner who leads in a race must concentrate on what is before, not the competitors and distance behind.  Paul had balance.  He remembered the good (Philippians 1:3) and put behind him that which would hinder. Remember “The load of tomorrow added to that of yesterday, and carried today, makes the strongest falter.”

A distance runner never considers the laps run, only what is ahead. That must be our preoccupation. Keep focused on what is yet to be done and do it.

In overcoming the hurdles in our lives we need to consider Olympic hurdlers. They do not allow themselves a split second to think of a hurdle they just knocked over, they focus on the next one to jump. We must divert our attention from past failures and direct it to the next challenge. The past can motivate us in our approach to the next, but it must not retain our attention.

Paul had been cleared by the courts of heaven and though he didn’t forget the lessons learned, he did not dwell on the past.  We break the power of the past by living in the present for the good of the future. Time flows from the future to the present and very fast into the past, therefore use it wisely.

In putting aside any bond to the past we are to press toward, that is, fulfilling our role regarding the “high calling.” It is God’s calling of us to Himself and our optimum in service.

An athletic metaphor is used in the text to emphasize the extent of pressing. It depicts an athlete approaching the finishing line. The image is of the runner engaging in all “stretchoutedness.” He leans forward, every muscle is tense, his nostrils are strutted begging for air, and his eyes are on the prize. It means to go all out in every effort to please the Lord.

Now, forget anything in your past, good or bad, the memory of which keeps you from pressing on for the Lord in the future.

The Joy of a Job Well Done

Rummaging through old files is something no one likes to do unless they really need something. In the process other items of interest are found. The following is from deep in one of my files found by accident.

“Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah’s Ark.”

        1.  Don’t miss the boat.

        2.  Remember we are all in the same boat.

        3.  Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah started building the ark.

        4.  Stay fit. When you are 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something big.     

        5.  Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job to be done,

        6.  Build your future on high ground.

        7.  For safety sake, travel in pairs.

        8.  Speed isn’t always an advantage. Snails were on board with the cheetahs.

        9.  When stressed, float a while.

       10.  Remember the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

Basics, every thought in that is basic to being productive. They add substance to Colossians 3: 23, the theme text of my life, “…whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” If you do a good job as to the Lord and He approves even if people complain you don’t get depressed. You didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

Suppose you do a job with your whole heart as to the Lord and He approves. While people brag on you, compliment you, pat you on the back, and add a few “adda-boys” you don’t go on an ego trip, you didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

If you are going to do something, anything, do it enthusiastically. Put your whole heart into it. The Seven Dwarfs got the message and it showed as they whistled and sang, “Just whistle while you work. And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place. So hum a merry tune, it won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace.”

OK, OK you don’t have to whistle and sing, but it helps to have the spirit expressed by the thought. Remember, “A merry heart does good like a medicine.”

Finishing a task is a fulfilling experience. Remember, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Good advice, you might enjoy it so much today you will want to do it again tomorrow.

The Apostle Paul wrote to friends who had worked diligently when he was with them. Leaving them he said, “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence” (Philippians 2: 12). In summary, don’t just be people pleasers.

Get out there now and heartedly do whatever it is you have to do.

The Ice House

Take this virtual trip in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland from the quaint village of Griendlwald to the Jungfrau. The first part of the trip is by conventional rail to Eigergletscher, the rail stop where passengers transfer to the rack railway going up to the Jungfrau at an elevation of 11,332 feet. It is spoken of as the “Top of Europe.” From here there is a panoramic view of much of Europe. Avalanches can be seen cascading down large mountains. A highlight of the visit to the stunning visitors center is the intriguing ice palace. It is an entire house carved into the glacier. Each room is framed by an ice wall. A constant temperature below freezing preserves the palace.

Make sure the ice palace is not a physical depiction of your home spiritually. With the King domiciled in your house warm hearts will exude “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5: 22, 23).

Let’s trace this backwards to determine if the King is in residence. If those traits typify your home or personal life the King is in command.

PAUSE and reflect on each of the “fruit” one at a time. Determine if each does it needs accenting?

I enjoyed visiting the ice palace at the Jungfrau, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

Physically make it evident to any guest that might come into your house that Christians live there. This can be done by having a nativity all year. Having a Bible visible sends a message.

The late great basketball player Pete Maravich told me he had John 3: 16 carved in the front door of his house. He said he did it so that anyone who came to his house would know a believer lived there.

Make it evident believers live in your home by the spirit of those living there.

Galatians 5: 22 lists nine aspects in our lives. The text says “the harvest of the Spirit is…” Grammatically that appears to involve a singular noun, harvest, and plural verbs.

The solution is found in the Greek word “karpos” translated “fruit.” In 1611 in England, when the New Testament was translated from Greek to English, harvest time was called a time of “fruiting” so they translated it “fruit.” Today the word “harvest” is a better translation. All nine traits are to be incorporated in the life of each believer. Keep them in mind and enact them daily to avoid your home being a spiritual ice palace.

Servants Not Celebrities – Part Four

 Matthew 24: 44 – 47

Astronauts David R. Scott and James B Irwin were the focus of worldwide attention July 30 through August 1, 1971. Having landed on the moon in their spacecraft Falcon, they proceeded to set unimaginable records. They had explored 17.4 miles of the moon’s surface in their electric car. They were doing what mankind had dreamed of for centuries. As a result of their heroic exploits their names would forever be etched in the annals of space travel.  Virtual deification awaited them upon return.

After piloting their spacecraft on their 250,000 mile journey back to planet Earth, James Irwin noted, “As I was returning to earth I realized that I was a servant —- not a celebrity. So I am here as God’s servant on planet earth to share what I have experienced so that others might know the glory of God.”

A primary characteristic of a servant is he is under authority.  Philippians 2:8 says of Christ, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”  Christ’s optimum obedience is noted in this same passage in that He was “obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”  Our Master, Jesus Christ, was under authority and so should we be.

When it comes to examples of servanthood consider Pilate and Jesus. When Pilate had a matchless opportunity to perform a service at the trial of Jesus he called for a wash basin and washed his hands of the entire affair. With the approach of Jesus’ crucifixion amid His quarreling apostles Jesus called for a basin and washed their feet. Which do you aspire to emulate?

Jesus’ presence is not just for our comfort, but for His control over us.

When we are under His control, we are under all that is His.

A wealthy antique collector whose only son and wife had died some years before also died.  He left a large estate containing many valuable antiques. His meticulous will detailed how everything was to be disposed of.  According to the provisions of the will, a well-publicized auction was set.  Major collectors came from great distances.  Their disappointment was visible when the first item offered was an amateurish oil painting of the son of the deceased.  The first bid came only after considerable prodding from the auctioneer.  $25 was the first bid.  The auctioneer knew how to motivate bidders and soon got a $50 bid.  Bids rose:  $100, $125, and finally $150.

With the awarding of the painting, an envelope was to be opened according to the instructions of the will.  The brief note therein stated, “All that is here belongs to you.  He who gets the Son gets it all.”

If we have the Son of God, we have all that is under His authority.  We have it when He has all that is under our authority.

The Lord is mindful of the actions or lack thereof of those who profess to follow Him. He has a good memory. “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).

Trust the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.