Versatility

Posted on August 25, 2010 by jesustrek

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams was known primarily for his hitting ability. The slugger is regarded as one of the best hitters to ever play the game. However, on August 24, 1940, Williams pitched the last two innings of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. He did a fairly decent job, allowing only one run on three hits.

Occasionally you will be called upon to do something that is outside your area of expertise. When Nehemiah and his co-workers rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, many found themselves performing tasks that were not their specialty. Goldsmiths, perfume makers and priests worked side by side doing construction work. So the next time someone asks you to do something you aren’t particularly gifted at, remember that sometimes you have to be versatile.

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Hidden Pollution

Posted on August 24, 2010 by jesustrek
2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

The recent reports coming from the Gulf of Mexico have been mostly positive. Much of the oil from the BP spill has been cleaned up by workers or dispersed by nature. This has happened much sooner than most people thought possible.

However, some scientists say that there is a 22-mile-long plume of oil that is lurking far below the surface of the water, and that it will probably loiter there for several more months. The oil breaks down at a much slower pace in the dark, cold depths of the sea, making it an on-going threat to marine life.

In much the same way, sin that lies hidden beneath the surface of our lives threatens to harm the spiritual life we have with Christ. John 3:19-21 says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Is there any sin lurking in the depths of your soul that needs to be brought into God’s light?

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Prepared to Speak

Posted on August 23, 2010 by jesustrek

On a recent episode of America’s Funniest Videos, there was a short clip of some children reciting memory work at church. After giving a short speech, each child was rewarded with some candy. One little boy stepped up to the microphone and said, “I did not prepare a speech. But I want my candy anyway.”

On the one hand, we Christians do not have to earn our reward. We are saved by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8). But on the other hand, God does want us to be ready to talk about how he has saved us. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…”

You may have a chance to speak today. Are you ready?

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Staying Humble

Posted on August 22, 2010 by jesustrek

I have something built into my life that keeps me humble. It’s called a wife. Not long ago, I got so sick that I finally gave in and let my wife drive me to see the doctor. She went with me into the examining room. After the doctor checked me out, he turned to my wife and said, “I don’t like the looks of your husband.” She responded, “Neither do I doctor, but he treats me very well.”

You have to stay humble. Jesus’ disciples often exhibited pride instead of humility. At one point they asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus promptly called a little child out of the crowd and had him stand among them. He said, “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt.18:1-4).

Little children must rely completely on adults for provision and protection. In the same way, we must trust our heavenly Father to take care of our spiritual needs. We are completely helpless without him.

Humility goes against the inclination of our sinful nature. We all struggle with pride to a certain extent. We enjoy being self-sufficient. We would rather rely on our own strength and wisdom. We don’t like to depend on others; not even God. But Prov.3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

In what ways are you struggling with pride?

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One Out of a Hundred

Posted on August 21, 2010 by jesustrek

“Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ”Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”—Luke 15:3-7.

Most churches with 100 members would be quite happy if 99 of them showed up for church every week. But Jesus says that we shouldn’t be satisfied with that. He says we should be concerned enough about the one missing sheep that we put forth a great effort to find it and bring it home.

Many churches are so inwardly focused that they show little concern for the lost. Oh, they say the right things about evangelism, but their actions speak something different. They show by how they spend their time, energy and resources that they are more concerned with the 99 than they are the one.

You probably know several lost sheep. Which one will you go after first?

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How Is the Fishing?

Posted on August 20, 2010 by jesustrek

The first people that Jesus called to be his disciples were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”. (Matt.4:19). Jesus still bids people to come and follow him, and no matter what your occupation might be, he still says that we are to be fishers of men.

Someone once posed the question, “Are we fishers of men, or merely keepers of the aquarium?” Every church should seriously and continually ask themselves that question.

Does the budget at your church reflect Jesus’ desire for you to be “fishers of men”?  How much time and energy is spent reaching lost people, compared to what is done for “the needs of the members”? (We often confuse “desires” for “needs”.) We convince ourselves that we are “doing the Lord’s work” when the majority of the church programs are for the benefit of church members, not lost people.

We are occasionally reminded of our priorities. We nod our heads in agreement, but soon forget Jesus’ plea and fall back into our same mindset and routine.

We need to hold one another accountable. Let’s ask each other from time to time, “How’s the fishing”?

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Living Joyfully

Posted on August 19, 2010 by jesustrek

Many people think that the church at Philippi was a joyful group of believers because of the many times Paul talks about the subject in his short letter to the church. However, some have pointed out that it is more likely that Paul wrote so much about joy because the people weren’t showing much of this fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Think about it; you don’t instruct a child to sit down and be quiet if he is already doing that! In the same way, it seems likely that Paul talks so much about joy because he wants the people to experience more of the fullness of Christian life.

The Philippians, like any church, had their share of troubles. The missionary they supported had been thrown into jail (1:13). Some people had the wrong motive behind their message of Christ (1:15-17). The members needed to be warned about complaining and arguing (2:14). False teachers threatened to invade their congregation (3:2-3). A couple of ladies in the church had such a major disagreement that Paul felt it necessary to address the situation in a letter that was to be read in public (4:2).

In addition to the problems that were recorded, the people at Philippi no doubt experienced the same difficulties that Christians everywhere must endure—sickness, death of a loved one, financial struggles, family problems, etc.

Yet in spite of all these difficulties, the believers were encouraged to live joyfully. 4:4 is a well-known verse—“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” It is a shame that we so often need someone to say it again. We have so much to be thankful for in Jesus! Let’s make a conscious effort to put aside whatever threatens to rob us of our joy, and let’s live joyfully today.

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A Forgiving Heart

Posted on August 18, 2010 by jesustrek

I heard a story about a baggage handler who worked for a major airline. One day while he was working, a customer became angry over the way his luggage was being handled. He loudly and profanely berated the worker. This tirade went on for quite some time. All the while, the baggage handler kept smiling and nodding–“Yes, sir. No, sir. I will, sir.”

Finally the angry customer walked away. Someone who had observed the entire episode approached the baggage handler and said, “I admire the way you took all that verbal abuse and never responded in kind. You must have a very forgiving heart.”

The man smiled and answered, “No, sir. I don’t have a forgiving heart at all. That man is going to Cleveland, but his bags are going to Detroit!”

Isn’t that the way we tend to be in our sinful nature? When someone sins against us, we want them to get what’s coming to them! And if we can in some way help them to get what’s coming to them, that’s even better!

However, Jesus teaches us that we are to have a forgiving heart. In Matt.6:14-15, he says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

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Jimmy Johnson on “Survivor”

Posted on August 17, 2010 by jesustrek

Former college and NFL football coach Jimmy Johnson will be a contestant on the reality show “Survivor” this season. CBS recently announced that Johnson will be one of the 20 castaways sent to Nicaragua. The season premiere of the show will air on September 15.

The contestants who excel on “Survivor” are usually young men and women who are at or near their prime physically. It will be interesting to see how well Johnson does in this competition. At 67 years old, he is one of the oldest to appear on the show.

Many of us who are on the other side of the halftime show of life are rooting for the old coach to do well. Sometimes people need to be reminded that senior citizens can still affect the outcome of the game.

The Bible contains many examples of people who accomplished a lot in their later years. Moses didn’t receive his greatest assignment until he was 80. Caleb felt just as strong and vigorous at the age of 85 as he did at 45. Then there’s that showoff, Methuselah!

Let’s follow the examples of those who never gave up, and keep on doing the best we can, however we can for as long as we can!

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Worshiping Like Israel and Bill

Posted on August 16, 2010 by jesustrek

Israel (aka Jacob) had lived a long and full life. Knowing that his time on earth was drawing to a close, he made preparations for his death and burial. With the end in sight, Israel kept his focus on God. Gen.47:31 says, “…Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”

The mental picture of an old man leaning on his staff as he worships God inspires me. I too, want to be a faithful worshiper right up until the time that I die.

I see modern day versions of Israel. One in particular that I remember is Bill Lewis, a man that I went to church with a few years ago. Bill died at the age of 98, and he had relatively good health up until the last few months of his life. Bill was in church every Sunday. I remember an especially wintry Sunday morning. There was already about six inches of snow on the ground and more was falling. The wind was whipping the snow so fiercely that it was moving horizontally. Many members chose to stay home that day rather than brave the elements. Not Bill Lewis. Thinking back, I shouldn’t have been so surprised when this faithful saint–in his mid-nineties at the time–walked into the church building, leaning on the arm of one of his family members.

If I live long enough, I want to follow the example of Israel and Bill, worshiping to the very end. How about you?

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