Who Are You?
A person is who they are to you. The reverse is also true, you are who you are to an individual. For example, person “A” may be kind, gracious, and thoughtful to person “B.” Thus, when person “B” thinks of person “A” that is the image that comes to mind.
Then person “A” encounters person “C” and is curt, rude, and unkind. Thus, when person “C” thinks of person “A” that is the image that comes to mind.
This means we build our reputation person by person. That necessitates consistency. Socrates exclaimed, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Aristotle went further saying, “The highest good for a man is self-realization.” That is a bit of an overstatement, but it does indicate it is important. With this challenge in mind, think of what image you would like for people to have of you. Pause and frame that image clearly. When you have that image clearly in mind, resume reading.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5: 14 – 16)
Be transparent, let Jesus showcase Himself through you.
We often say of an individual he or she is just like, and name someone we know. Live so that when you leave a person they muse over the likeness of Jesus.
In using the imagery of a city on a hill Jesus is saying be public about your faith. Don’t be a spiritual chameleon.
Let’s be realistic, there are times, places, and positions that demand harsh reprimands be given and authoritative commands expressed often with a loud and even stern voice, like a coach. It can be done in an affirming way.
The following text is as relevant as though written today. Read it observing the conditions prevailing and then consider the proper response in such a world.
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16)
Let your theme song be that old classic,
“This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
Glow on!
Who Me Worry?
Do you ever spend time worrying about some future event? Whatever the experience is, you engage in a big time worrying session playing, “what if.”
Have you ever thought about it, worry is simply negative thought, nothing more. Worry is the only sin we brag about. “I worried so much I couldn’t sleep,” or “I worried so much I couldn’t eat.”
Our beloved Lord has said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We muse, will it really be? Think about it, hasn’t it always been?
In the Medieval Era one of the Reformers was condemned to be burned alive at the stake. The night before his execution screams were heard coming from his cell. He was trying to see if he could stand the pain leading to his death. To do this he was sticking his finger in the flame of a candle. Each time he put his finger in the flame, he withdrew it in pain. The next day as he stood tied to the stake with the flames rising around him he was heard singing a hymn.
God’s grace was sufficient at the stake, though it wasn’t the night before. What made the difference? At the stake he needed God’s grace and had it, the night before he didn’t need it and didn’t have it, but was imposing on God’s grace.
The promise is “My grace is sufficient for you.” That is not future or past tense, it is perpetual present tense. It is not sufficient before needed, but every time when needed. Let that dispel your worry, knowing when needed His grace is sufficient. Now frame your thoughts in that light and confidently think positively.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12: 9
When Paul initially received that promise, he had been appealing to God to take away his thorn in the flesh. By God’s grace he learned:
Affliction is most often a time of great spiritual growth.
Apathy is a spiritual virus that overtakes us and consumes us.
Therefore, may we say with Paul, “I gladly glory in my affliction.” It is possible to transition from griping to glorying only if II Corinthians 12: 9 is applied. Remember who said, “My grace is sufficient.” If you need a reminder, it is the God of all grace who loves you, who desires, and designs good for you.
Oh, Give Thanks
This week millions will celebrate the grand holiday of Thanksgiving. Our heritage precipitated it and our gratitude perpetuates it. In certain circles the meaning has been diminished. In some public schools it is now represented as a time when the Pilgrims got together with the Native Americans to thank them for their help. Not so.
Out of hearts of thanksgiving in 1621 the Pilgrims met with 90 Wampanoag Indians for a time of thanksgiving to God for His blessings on them. For three days they celebrated and feasted on clams, corn, codfish, geese, ducks, turkey, eel, bass, barley, venison, and corn bread.
Such was the land of the Pilgrims’ pride.
Two years later in 1623 a drought threatened the Pilgrims. Governor Bradford issued a proclamation on November 29 that all the people should gather in the meeting house to “listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye God for all His blessings.” Before the meetings were held rains came and the services became times of thanksgiving.
In 1789 President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving proclamation setting the last Thursday of November as a time of giving thanks for the new Constitution.
In 1863 Sarah Joseph Hale, author of the well known poem, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” persuaded President Lincoln to establish a day of Thanksgiving. The fourth Thursday of November was set.
In 1941 Congress established the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday of Thanksgiving.
President Washington’s proclamation contained in part the following:
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of All Mighty God,
to obey His will,
to be grateful for His benefits,
and to humbly implore His protection and favor,
to pardon our national and other transgressions,
to render our National Government a blessing to all of the people
by being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws,
discretely and faithfully executed and obeyed.”
Residents of the Land of the Pilgrims’ pride had reason for giving thanks and they did. How much more have we cause to give thanks. Be sure to do it.
Reflect on this little chorus:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
Count your many blessings see what God has done.
What Is Your Goal?
We are a goal-oriented society. Clinics, conferences, and seminars are held on goal setting. Yet, few people envision their life as having an overall goal.
Defined goals result in refined lives.
Scripture says, “if there be any virtue, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8) In other words, a diamond found in a pig pen is still a diamond.
A diamond from the French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, is worth our attention. He said, “You will never find peace and happiness until you are ready to commit yourself to something worth dying for.”
Life inevitably will end for all. An expression is used to describe the end of life: “the time of my departure is at hand.” The New Testament Greek word so translated is “analusis.” It was used in several ways that help our comprehension of death.
* It was used to describe a yoke being taken off a beast of burden.
* It was used to depict ropes being removed from a person who had been tied up.
* It was used to picture a ship that had been loosened from its mooring. Set free to sail.
In every sense of the word it depicts being set free for fuller use. Are you confidently heading toward such a destiny?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, one of our nation’s greatest former Supreme Court jurists, said, “The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.”
What is your direction in life? Where is it going?
Have you made a life coloring decision to follow and serve the Lord? If so, in what arena of thought are you invested? For what are you sold out? What cause is given your dedication? In what are you fulfilled?
Martin Luther said: “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however fondly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steadfast on all the battle-front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
Are you a football or a basketball? A football bounces around abstractly. It is hard to know which way it will bounce next. A basketball is predictable. You can know where it will bounce next. Are you exercising a predictable stand for the Lord?
“Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” (I Kings 8:61)
Don’t Mess With God
Hidden in the pages of the Old Testament is the little book of Nahum. It bears the name of one believed to have lived in Capernaum (Town of Nahum). He wrote of the long and painful oppression of Israel by the Assyrians. They were actually God’s means of disciplining His disobedient people. God said, “I have afflicted you….” (Nahum 1: 12)
Fast forward, the heart of Nahum’s message is epitomized in 1: 7 – 9. Therein God’s goodness and sufficiency is noted.
Nahum’s contemporaries Jeremiah and Zephaniah wrote principally of Israel’s reformation resulting from the judgment.
Regarding God’s moral judgment on both Israel and later on Nineveh it was slow to come, long deferred, but certain. Nahum accents the fact the judgment is not an act of capricious sovereignty, but the just reward for the two.
Nahum writes of the impending judgment of God on the Assyrian capital Nineveh. Chapters 2 and 3 detail explicit details regarding Nineveh (2: 8 & 3: 7).
The destruction of such a city seemed impossible. It was surrounded by 7 ½ miles of walls so thick three chariots could ride abreast on the top. It was populated by a sensual, ferocious, and diabolical atrocious race.
Nahum’s prophecy came true when the Medes, Babylonians, and Scythians razed the city. To facilitate the fall the Tigris River overflowed creating breaches in he wall. Seeing the end the king burned himself alive killing himself in his palace (3: 15 – 19).
Why all of these details? They reveal the universality of God’s governing. It reveals there is a just God, His judgment is a subordinate part of His grace.
Two verses in the book stand out like twin peaks on a sandy beach.
Before reading then reflect on their setting.
“Jehovah is slow to anger and great in power, and by no means will clear the guilty” (1: 3).
The second verse is one of my favorites in all of the Bible.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows them that trust [take refuge] in Him.” Nahum 1: 7
Many heartaches and lots of problems could be avoided if that were kept in mind. Amid all difficulties He is a citadel for those who trust in Him.
Discipline of nations and people is not an expression of punishment in order to inflict pain. The word discipline and the word disciple both come from the same root which means to learn. Israel in the era of Nahum learned from their discipline and reformed to become a better and blessed nation. May we individually respond to God’s discipline and learn to be better people.
I love two countries. America and Israel, may both learn from Nahum.