Dependability: Who Cares? Part Three

Luke 22: 25 – 30

Have you ever had anyone stand by you in your trials? Have you been willing to stand by anyone in their trials?

We must come out of our hot, tight little circle of friends and show others we care.

Jesus said, “I am among you as one that serves.”  That kind of servant attitude could have come only out of a fountain of love.

When people care, they share.  One of our members in a public place spoke to a lady in the same group in which he was waiting. Finding that she was new in the community he asked her if she had found a church home. She responded, “You folks around here really care about your churches.  A lady just a minute ago asked me the same question.”  She then said that she was a member of another denomination, but asked, “To what church do you go?”  When He told her, in astonishment she replied, “So does that lady that just asked me to visit her church.  If your church means so much to you folks, I will be there Sunday.”

People who care, share.

As a pastor I paused one Sunday to look through a window into one of our children’s areas.  There I saw a friend, one of our State Representatives lovingly attending to the needs of the little children. The need of one of them was for a ride on his back with a choke-hold around his neck. He cared so much for little children that he shared love with them.  Of all the people in the room, he seemed most happy.  That is the way sharing works.

Jesus once said, “In as much as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto me.”  An application of what He said would be, “You have served me, now go out there and imagine the person you find in need to be Me and help that one as though he or she were Me and you were helping Me.”

There is mutual strength in sharing.

I visited California’s giant Sequoia Forest. I was amazed at one tree known as General Sherman. It is over 200 feet high and is 70 feet in circumference. I thought surely the roots of that big fellow must go at least 100 feet deep. I was fascinated when the guide said they were just beneath the surface. I thought that must be wrong. If they are so shallow, a wind would easily blow them over. The guide explained that Sequoia trees grow only in groves. Their roots intertwine.  When the strong winds come, they each hold up the other.

Jesus intends for His followers to be Sequoia Christians.

There is a big blessing inherent in the doing of a good deed.

Have you anyone who has stuck by you in your trials?  Have you thanked them?  Have you thanked God for them?

Have you related to anyone who can say of you, “You stayed with me in my trials.”

There are many fringe blessings inherent in caring.  Jesus spoke to His disciples of the heavenly reward. However, He has made provision for His followers in time. By continuing with Him He is also with us. He has said to those who follow Him, “Lo, I am with you always….”

Dependability: Who Cares? Part One

Luke 22: 25 – 30

Jesus is looking for people who care. Do you?

He is looking for people to represent Him. Will you?

There have always been people who followed Jesus. Those who have can be divided into two groups:  STRAYERS AND STAYERS.

John 6:66 describes the first group. Jesus depicted the challenges and demands of following Him, and “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” Then Jesus turned with a broken heart and addressed a question to those remaining: “Do you also want to go away?”  (6:68).

They became His decals. They stuck. Near the end of His ministry in the upper room on the eve of His death He paid them one of the highest compliments He ever paid anyone.  He said, “You are those who have continued with me in My trials.” In effect, “You,” He said, “stuck with me.”

They were not much to brag on and they probably knew it, but one quality they had and He stressed it. “You stayed when others strayed.” They stayed because they cared.

I have seen loved ones keep long vigils in hospitals because they cared. I have seen families go without food and get little sleep in order to keep a love vigil in an hour of crisis because they cared.

If you really care about Jesus, you will stay, not stray.

The philosopher, Friedreich Nietzsche, is not one of my favorite writers; but in his book, “Beyond Good and Evil” he made a worthy observation. He wrote: “The essential thing ‘in heaven and earth’ is… that there be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.”

That is what results when one really cares about Christ and His cause. There is a long obedience in the same direction. There is no turning back.

If you care, you share. There is an old proverb which came from ancient Europe which states: “Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”

Clearly, the way of doubling a joy is by sharing it. When something good happens and you share it with a friend, the joy is doubled.

Likewise, when something sorrowful happens and you share it, the burden is lightened and the sorrow diminished.

That is the environment that the church must afford its members and the world.

Jesus complimented them saying they had been with Him in His “trials.” The Greek word is “peirasmos,” meaning dangers, afflictions, troubles, or tests intended to prove. Some Christians whine, “It’s not easy being a Christian.” It never was and never will be, BUT it is fulfilling, victorious, and joyful.

The Docket of Witnesses

Let’s review the resurrection and the aftermath.

Jesus had died a quivering corpse on a cruel cross.

The Centurion thrust his lance into His side piercing the flesh, slitting the pericardium, and puncturing the heart.

Calloused Roman soldiers who gambled at the cross cursed and swore – – – – “He is dead.”

Elders, whose deception lead to His death attentively listened to the report – – – – “He is dead.”

Sadducees who shunned the supernatural rejoiced to hear – – – – “He is dead.”

Caiaphas, intoxicated with envy, sighed in relief at the account – – – – “He is dead.”

His lifeless body was placed in the tomb. Death reached a new depth.

For three days death celebrated around the tomb.

Death’s cold hand stamped His life – – – – “Fiction.”

Death’s dirge drowned out life’s song.

There would be no appeal from His lifeless lips. Then God said – – – – SURPRISE!

Jesus had forced open the old door of death that had been locked since the death of the first person. The Easter story does not end with a funeral, but a festival.

Not a casket, but a celebration. The resurrection deserves not our applause, but our allegiance. Not our compliment, but our compliance with His will. The resurrection is heaven’s amen and earth’s hallelujah. The courts of earth had condemned Jesus to death.

The appellate court of heaven reversed death’s decision and pronounced Him as being alive.

A variety of people walked with, talked with Him, touched Him, and dined with Him. He was seen indoors, outdoors, on a sunny beach, and on a shadowy roadway.               

Note these observances: “… He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then all the apostles, Then last of all He was seen by me…”  (I Cor. 15: 5 – 9a). He who was decidedly dead was obviously alive.

In light of these insights make certain you have asked His forgiveness of your sin and committed you life to Him for time and eternity so that you will hear from Him: “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25: 34).

Dependability: Who Cares? Part Two

Luke 22: 25 – 30

We need one another because inevitably we are going to have “trials.” Jesus warned “In this world you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul also reminded us of this truth when he wrote: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12).

Scripture gave us an example of the kind of care that is so filled with love for persons and truth that it risks the loss of friendship in order to defend the truth. Once the relationship is broken they reach out to work for its renewal.

Because of sin in the church at Corinth, Paul wrote them a letter exhorting, admonishing, and encouraging them. The admonition, that is warning of the consequence of their sin, temporarily broke their relationship with him. He then wrote them a second letter and in it gave insight regarding caring evidence that restored relationships.

Showing appreciation is essential in restoring appreciation. He wrote “… you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf… Now I rejoice… that your sorrow led to repentance” (II Corinthians 7: 3 & 9).

Psychologist/philosopher, Will James, wrote a classical work entitled “Principles of Psychology.” It is still a primary reference work in the field. He later admitted “an immense omission” in the pioneer work. He wrote, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” His regret was that he had not dealt with it at all in his book. Let’s not fail to deal with it in all of life. Make people feel appreciated. Show appreciation.

It is also expedient that separation be shown. “… let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God… godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted” (II Cor. 7:1).

Some well-meaning Christians have turned separation into isolation.  They have become so narrow they can’t even get along with one another.  Some have gone to the other extreme and will fellowship with any person or ideology.  Both are equally wrong.

A couple of teenage sisters slipped in the side door of their dad’s office in the governor’s mansion after school. They explained to him again a popular dress fad they wanted to copy knowing he didn’t want them to.  Then came their big clincher, “But, dad, everybody is doing it!”

Lovingly and patiently he wove one question into their conversation: “Whose daughters are you?”  After their acknowledgement of him as their dad he said, “Sure, you are the daughters of the governor. You don’t follow styles.  You set the styles.” As Christians, our impact for Christ would be more effective if we realized that by virtue of being children of the King of Kings, we don’t follow styles; we set them.  “Come ye out from among them…”

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.