Words from the Well

The Essence of Righteousness

2012-02-20T08:44:00.003-05:00

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25 NIV)

During our church’s worship service yesterday, a woman announced she was collecting signatures for a petition to keep the Ten Commandments displayed in the county courthouse. Our pastor added he would like to start a petition to keep the Ten Commandments displayed in people’s hearts.

I am sure he has no objection with God’s Word being on public display, but realizes the power of it’s public witness is not in plaques or monuments but in the lives of those who claim to follow Him. The temptation for us is to settle for the semblance of righteousness instead of its essence. We place the emphasis on being in church rather than being the Church, or on having a clean reputation rather than a clean heart, or on spending time reading the Word rather than obeying it.

The result is we develop a false sense of confidence that we are right with the Lord, and, as James warns, are deceived. For true righteousness is that which flows out of a humble and contrite heart (Isaiah 66:2).

Today, examine yourself to see whether you are merely settling for the semblance of righteousness, the outward appearances, or the essence of it, which is a heart submitted fully to the Lord.

© Jim Musser 2012

An Example Worth Following

2012-02-17T08:23:00.001-05:00

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33 NIV)

It’s being called “Linsanity” by sports writers. People are going crazy over New York Knicks point guard, Jeremy Lin. Lacking a scholarship out of high school, he played four years at Harvard and then having gone undrafted by the NBA, signed as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors. He was released last summer, let go by yet another team, and then finally was picked up by the Knicks last fall where until two weeks ago, he rode the bench.

Then something, which Lin describes as miraculous, happened. His coach, frustrated with the uninspiring play of his team, inserted Lin into the lineup. During the course of the next five games, Lin scored more points than any other player in NBA history and hit the winning shot in one game. To date, the Knicks are undefeated since he became a starter. And so, New Yorkers and the media have gone “Linsane.” Lin jerseys have sold out, the seats at Madison Square Garden are filling up, and Lin’s Twitter followers have grown to over 350,000.

And how is Jeremy Lin reacting to his sudden rise to fame? In a recent interview, Lin said this: “My identity is in Christ and not in basketball. I love playing basketball, and it's my job. But at the same time, I still recognize I’m a sinner and that’s not going to change regardless of how well I play on the court.”

Of all the things he could have said, and perhaps what agents and publicity experts would have recommended him to say, he chose to give glory to Jesus and humbly acknowledge his imperfection as a human being and his need for a Savior. Not exactly what you expect to hear from a rising star.

Lin passed the test of Jesus. When given the opportunity, He acknowledged Him. When everyone around him is seeking to give him glory, he instead is giving it to the only One deserving of it. It is an example we would each do well to follow.

© Jim Musser 2012

Seeing Trials as Blessings

2012-02-16T08:24:00.005-05:00

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV)

I was listening to K-LOVE the other day as I was running errands in town and the deejay was doing an interview with Laura Story. She had just won a Grammy for her song, “Blessings” and was talking about the back-story to the song. Her husband, Martin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor several years ago and she wrote the song out of the experience of walking in that valley with him.

The song talks about our desire to be blessed, but asks the question, “what if your blessings come through raindrops?” In other words, what if God allows trials to come into our lives, which James defines as a blessing? The Storys say they have been blessed as they have walked together through the valley of cancer. They have experienced the faithfulness of the Lord in the midst of the suffering.

She went on to say that life is full of trials, so much so she joked that she and her husband have their mail forwarded to the “valley” because they know they will soon be there! Most of us are loathe to embrace trials in our lives. We whine, we complain, we pout about the fate that has befallen us. Yet, as Story’s song asks, what if the trials of this life are God’s mercies in disguise?

God is preparing us for a life that will last an eternity. From that prospective, perhaps a few trials now and then are not that bad if they are being used to ready us for a life without end. For what is a broken heart, the pain of dealing with cancer, or a profound failure compared to that? Painful for a time, but swallowed up by the joy of eternity.

Today, if you are experiencing a painful trial, embrace it, not because it is a pleasurable experience, but because the Lord has allowed it in order to better prepare you for an eternal life with Him. Instead of loathing it, see what He wants to teach you in the midst of it.

© Jim Musser 2012

Working Less, Accomplishing More

2012-02-15T07:23:00.000-05:00

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:18-21 NIV)

The other day I went to cut some firewood on a neighboring property. It was a small pile and I told my wife it would take me a half-hour or so to cut it up. As I put my chainsaw to the wood, I knew it would take me a lot longer. The chain was dull and I had to work and work just to get the saw through the wood. It’s not supposed to be that way. When the chain is sharp, it is the saw that does the work and it cuts through wood like a hot knife through butter. That day, however, it was me doing all the work.

Have you ever felt like living the Christian life is just so much work? I know there have been times in my life where I am striving and striving and not much is happening. I have continued to fall to the same temptation and have found the demands of the Christian life less than appealing.

This passage is a reminder that, like a cutting wood, we aren’t supposed to be doing all the work. We have power at our disposal that will make following in the footsteps of Jesus so much easier. The power is from the Holy Spirit and it is--get this--the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!

For many of us, the Holy Spirit is a mystery and the Person of the Trinity with whom we are the least comfortable and knowledgeable. But He is everywhere in Scripture, and Jesus said He would be essential in our ability to live the Christian life. (John 16; Acts 1:4) What happens is, because of our ignorance or discomfort, we do not seek to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, but try to live out the Christian life in our own power. And so we work and work.

If you have invited Jesus into your life as your Savior and submitted your heart to Him as Lord, you have the Holy Spirit within you, and thus you have access to His enormous power. Today, recognize the Christian life does not have to be constant work on your part. Let the Holy Spirit fill you and give you the power to live as Christ has called you to do. You will work a lot less and accomplish so much more.

© Jim Musser 2012

Yes, Jesus Loves You

2012-02-14T08:21:00.000-05:00

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV)

Whitney Houston grew up singing Gospel songs with her mother. The night before she died, her last song would be another one from her childhood, “Jesus Loves Me.” At a club in Los Angeles, she joined in an impromptu rendition of the beloved children’s song. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong.” It was to be her last performance.

Houston struggled for years with addictions to drugs and alcohol. Like so many talented and famous people, she had a difficult time handling the fame and the expectations that came with it. Still, she was trying to hold on to her childhood roots. She said in an interview once that in the midst of her addiction, she would still read the Bible. Trying to get back to the Light, she said.

It is another sad story of someone dearly loved by God, but never realizing it. Instead, always trying to find it or “get back to it.” Like the old Waylon Jennings tune, people look for love in all the wrong places. Yet, He is right there all the time, if people can only see. But that seems to be the problem; they so often can’t. They are blinded to how much they are loved by the Lord. So they seek love elsewhere or attempt to find a substitute that will give them satisfaction.

I believe that is why Paul prayed. It is only through prayer that anyone’s eyes can be opened to the breadth and depth of God’s love. The Enemy seeks to blind us, but prayer can remove the scales from our eyes.

Today, if you are struggling to grasp God’s love for you and are looking elsewhere (or know someone who is), then pray this prayer along with Paul. Yes, Jesus loves you. The Bible tells you so. All you need is to know it in your heart.

© Jim Musser 2012

Freedom for the Captives

2012-02-13T08:16:00.000-05:00

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’

Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (John 8:31-36 NIV)

Bill spent 41 years in prison; the last third of that sentence, he was a free man. A long-time drug addict, Bill came to know Jesus after years of incarceration. I had the privilege of meeting him this past weekend and to learn some of his story.

He was just 24 when he entered prison for a crime he did not describe. And it seems the drug addiction that helped put him there continued long after the prison doors closed. But then he had what he described as a miraculous encounter with Jesus. He said the Lord came over him and removed all desire for drugs, replacing it with an inexplicable peace. He was set free long before he was released last month by the State.

You don’t have to be convicted of a crime to be in prison, as the sad death of Whitney Houston over the weekend reminds us. She had been held captive by addictions for years. And there are countless others who are prisoners of addictions, bitterness and hatred, dysfunctional or abusive relationships, greed, etc.

When Bill went before the Parole Board, there were three present who opposed his release. He described them as the children of his victim. As hearing progressed, and they heard Bill’s testimony along with those from supporters, they changed their minds to supporting his release. They, too, had been set free from their prisons.

Today, know Jesus came to set prisoners free. If there is anything holding you captive, the Lord has the power to set you free. And if He sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Handling Difficult Times

2012-02-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13:1-6 NIV)

David often felt overwhelmed by his circumstances. He had many enemies and his life was frequently in danger. That kind of stress can wear on a person. Light can quickly turn to darkness, hope into despair.

We all long for a life that is easy and free of stress and hardship, and sometimes we tie our faith to the ease of our circumstances. When things are going well, we are excited about God, but when things are going badly, we struggle.

David provides the perfect example of how to hold onto our faith when life is dishing out a major helping of stress or hardship. When he felt overwhelmed, he expressed his feelings to God. He poured out his frustration, his fear, and his anger. He did not hold back. He knew God was big enough to handle his emotions. Having done that, then we see his heart and mind shift intentionally back to giving his situation over to the Lord.

Sometimes, we need a safe place to vent. Things build up and we need to express them. David demonstrates for us that we can do this with God. He's not going to cut us off by saying, "How dare you talk to me that way!" But David doesn’t just vent and then walk away. He says, in essence, “Okay God. I have expressed how I feel, but I still love you and trust you in whatever happens, and I rejoice that you have given me new life and have been so good to me.”

Life will often be difficult and frustrating, and we can learn a great deal from David on how to handle it. Today, know that if you are unhappy with the way life is going, you can express that to the Lord. He is big enough to handle it! But then, as David did, you can continue to love and trust Him because of who He is and what He has done in your life.

© Jim Musser 2012

The Road To Recovery

2012-02-09T08:01:00.000-05:00

“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:14-25 NIV)

Josh Hamilton, the All-Star outfielder for the Texas Rangers, was in the news last week when he admitted to getting drunk. It wouldn’t have been news except that Hamilton has a well-known history of drug and alcohol addiction and he is an avowed follower of Jesus. He apologized saying, “I cannot take a break from my recovery. My recovery is Christ. My recovery is an everyday process. When I take that one day off, it leaves me open for a moment of weakness and it's always been that way.”

I wonder if, before his news conference, Hamilton had read these words of Paul. It sounds like it. Our struggle with sin is a daily one. It is always right there waiting to bring us down. We can never take a day off.

It feels overwhelming and that is the enemy’s great ruse. It seems that sin is so powerful, so intertwined in our lives, that defeating it is impossible. That is what he wants us to think. We reach a point where we, like Paul, conclude what a horrible person we are. And we are tempted to give up. Yet, look what follows Paul’s conclusions about himself. “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Josh Hamilton got it right. Our recovery, or victory over sin, is dependent on Jesus. We can try on our own to defeat it, but we will come up empty and demoralized. It is only He who can deliver us, both from sin’s grip and the guilt when we fall.

Today, ask Jesus to help you overcome the sin that is right there with you, and when you feel overwhelmed by temptation, cry out to Him for help. And if you fall, know He is there to pick you up, dust you off, and continue walking with you on your road to recovery.

© Jim Musser 2012

Your Significance

2012-02-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1-9 NIV)

It is weeks like this where the night sky just shouts out the glory of God. The moon in its fullness lights up the night, like a lantern hanging in space. Yesterday morning, I was up early enough to witness a moonset. Its beauty took my breath away. Or this morning, watching the snowflakes softly fall to the earth, none of which are exactly the same.

How small and insignificant I feel when I see the awesomeness of creation. And like David, I am compelled to ask the Lord, “Who am I, Lord, that you consider me so significant?”

Yet, the Scriptures tell me that I am of great value to Him. I am the reason He sent His Son to Earth to receive the punishment for my sins (John 3:16). He has given me His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of my eternal relationship with Him (II Corinthians 1:22). And He has entrusted me with His message for the world (II Corinthians 5:20).

It is easy to feel insignificant by our smallness in this world, but through David’s words, God reminds us of our great worth to Him. Today, know how significant you are to the Lord. The One who hung that beautiful moon in the sky and makes the snowflakes fall is the One who created you and loves you more than you can imagine.

© Jim Musser 2012

Avoiding the Facebook Comparisons

2012-02-07T08:14:00.003-05:00

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (II Corinthians 10:12-18 NIV)

I spend time on Facebook, not hours, but usually a few minutes each day. In part, I do it because I work with college students and FB is one of their main cyber playgrounds. It is a good way to connect with them and them with me. But I have also enjoyed it as a way to keep up with friends and reconnect with long lost ones. Yet, I have always known that FB rarely reveals the whole story about people’s lives. In fact, a perusal of FB profiles reveals little or no negativity or trouble in life. Yet, I know better. Life in a fallen world is just not that great, but on Facebook you rarely get that impression.

A recent study (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2011.0324) concluded that people who are on Facebook often believe their FB friends have happier lives than they do. The reason? People on Facebook, and in general, portray their lives in a more positive light than what is actually the case. Thus, when we compare their lives, about which we do not know the complete story, with our own, we can easily conclude they have it better than we do. The study goes on to say that such comparisons can lead to greater discontent and to a sense of life’s unfairness.

Comparing our lives to others is usually a no-win exercise. Either we have a false sense of superiority or a wrong sense of inferiority. The truth is the only measure is the Lord. Nothing else really matters. Paul says, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” What matters is not how people view your FB profile, your popularity, or your perceived success in life. What matters is how the Lord views your life.

Today, resist the temptation to compare your life with others and to seek their approval. Instead, seek the approval of the Lord; seek to live in such a way that He commends. For what Creator of the universe thinks is far more important than the opinions of mere mortals.

© Jim Musser 2012

Defined, Not By Our Sin, But By Jesus

2012-02-06T08:53:00.001-05:00

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)

I was talking with some colleagues the other day and we were discussing church leadership and how some churches want perfect leaders, ones without any flaws. One spoke up and said, “Yeah, if they could, they wouldn’t let David write the Psalms.”

David, you might recall, committed adultery, tried to cover it up, and then had the husband of his mistress killed. Yet, David is described as a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). He faithfully led the Israelites, and he wrote beautiful poetry that has given encouragement and comfort to people for many centuries. He was a man of Godly conviction and passion. Yet, he committed adultery and murder.

Most, if not all, of us having read the account of David’s sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah (II Samuel 11) would find ourselves condemning David if we knew nothing else about him. It is quite easy to be defined by one sin in our lives. An abortion. An affair. A forged check. It is very easy for us to define a person or be defined by one failure.

Fortunately, God does not do that. He does not define our lives by our sin, but by whom we are in Jesus. Thus, an adulterer or a murderer or a thief or any other type of sinner can still make a wonderful contribution to the Kingdom.

The message of this passage is that your life need not be defined by the sin you have committed. Your life need not be invalidated because of the mistakes you have made. In Christ there is no condemnation.

Today, take comfort in knowing God has forgiven your sin. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are not condemned. He still loves you and desires to use your life in the work of His Kingdom.

© Jim Musser 2012

Testing God

2012-02-03T08:01:00.001-05:00

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'  In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:8-10 NIV)

Call it a quirk, but I just love having things filled up. I get a great feeling when my wood shed is filled with firewood, the pantry and fridge is stocked full with food, and the bank account is replenished at the beginning of the month. I suppose it is the sense of security it provides, knowing that I need not worry about running out. Yet, there is also a danger that lurks in that desire for security. It can become more important than God.

When Malachi spoke the words of God, the Israelites were holding onto all they had, fearing they could not spare anything. Although they were back in their own land after years of exile, their memories were still fresh, like my parents who grew up during the Depression and were reluctant to part with anything. They remembered when things were hard and scarce.

Yet, God’s promise to Israel and to us is that He will provide abundantly for our needs. We do not need to cling to everything as if we will never be re-supplied. God’s storehouse is full and He wants to pour out His blessings upon us, and He calls us to test Him on this. How? By being generous with what we already have, not hoarding it for ourselves.

Most of us would not consider ourselves rich, but the Lord wants us to be generous with what we have been given. The tithe was a place for the Israelites to start, 10% of their income was to be given to the Lord. They were holding back and God said bring the whole tithe and I will richly bless you.

Are you holding back on giving what the Lord has asked? Know that your security is not found in material things, but in the Lord. He wants you to trust in Him for your security.
Test Him and you will not be disappointed.

© Jim Musser 2012

Dealing with the Stress of Life

2012-02-02T07:54:00.002-05:00

“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV)

Life can be overwhelming at times and the constant stress of world events and just day-to-day life can drain us. A common theme among students most weeks during a semester is how tired and stressed they are.

Yet, Isaiah 40 offers hope and a way out of this weariness. We are told of God’s overwhelming power and control. He created the heavens and the earth. He is in control of the nations. He is not oblivious to what is going on in the world, nor too busy to notice what is happening in our own.

When we are stressed or overwhelmed by life events, there is a sense of loneliness that accompanies it. It feels as if we are alone to deal with it. But the message of Isaiah 40 is that we are not. The Maker of the heavens is right there with us. And our trust and hope in Him will carry us through whatever we face in life.

Today, if you are weary of life’s stresses, put your hope in the Lord, for He has the power to renew your strength.

© Jim Musser 2012

The Hardest Forgiveness

2012-02-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’” (Luke 23:32-35 NIV)

Forgiveness is hard, even when the person is repentant. But what of situations where the person is not repentant, does not acknowledge his wrongdoing? These are the hardest circumstances in which to forgive, but Jesus left us a model. Faced with a mob bent on seeing Him die, Jesus appeals to His Father, asking Him to forgive them.

To receive a gift, one must be willing to accept it, but it can be offered regardless. Offering the gift reflects the attitude of the heart. In the case of forgiveness, we offer it because we love (want what’s best for) the person, just as God loves us. It is up to the person to decide whether or not to receive it. And by doing so, we are set free from the grip of bitterness and hatred.

We aren’t told how many standing at the foot of the Cross received God’s gift, but we know it was offered. That is all we can do, but we must do it if we are walking behind Jesus. And the offer is not limited by the severity of the offense. Jesus was being killed when He uttered His plea to the Father.

Are there individuals in your life who have wronged you in some way and have never acknowledged it? Offer them the gift of forgiveness, just as the Lord offered it to you long before you acknowledged having wronged Him. They may choose not to accept it, but there is freedom in making the offer.

© Jim Musser 2012

The Value of Stillness and Reflection

2012-01-31T07:50:00.001-05:00

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.   God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.   Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:1-11 NIV)

2012 might just be the Year of the Introvert, if January is any indication. Time magazine’s cover story in its latest issue is titled, “The Upside of Being an Introvert (And Why Extroverts Are Overrated).” And yesterday, on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” the author of a new book, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking,” was interviewed.

Both authors say that for decades Americans have given preference to the extroverted life. Type A personalities are viewed as winners. Those that stand out in a crowd are lauded and envied. Those quiet and reserved are often viewed as weak or lacking ambition. Thus, the overall effect upon our culture has been to take us in a direction of constant noise and movement. There is no time to pause and reflect because there is so much to say and do. Think about it for a moment: How much of your day is spent in absolute quiet and reflection? If you are like most Americans, then almost none. Instead, we are busy and surrounded by noise (music, conversations, videos, etc.) from the time our feet hit the floor in the morning until we turn off the light at night.

The cumulative effect of this is a dimming awareness of God’s presence and control in life. We are so busy and our lives so filled with noise, the Lord is crowded out and given a seat in the far corner of the room. We know He is there; we just don’t take much notice. So life can easily get the best of us. We get stressed and overwhelmed. Psalm 46 is a great place to start regaining a balance in our lives—to begin incorporating a more introverted approach of quietness and reflection. In it David reveals God’s wonderful faithfulness and protection, and encourages us to reflect on all the things He has done—“Be still and know that I am God.”

Today, recognize the value of being quiet. It is during those times you can best reflect on the character and wonderful works of the Lord. And through that reflection, you can gain a sense of peace and confidence of the Lord’s presence regardless of what life brings your way.

© Jim Musser 2012

Everything You Need

2012-01-30T08:42:00.001-05:00

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (II Peter 1:3-4 NIV)

What is it that you think you need? A romantic relationship? A great career that earns you a lot of money? To be popular, or even famous? Or maybe it’s just a new computer or a new car. We tend to think we need a lot of things. And through these things we seek satisfaction and contentment. Yet, Peter tells us that only one thing is ultimately needed—Jesus.

It is through Him that we will have all that we need, including food, clothing, shelter, relationships, etc. As He stated in Matthew 6, He knows our needs and will not neglect them, but the temptation always is to pursue our needs instead of Him. This is not to say we fail to acknowledge Him. We may indeed do that, but do we also trust Him to provide for our needs, or do we take control and pursue them instead of Him?

Often the difference between those who call themselves Christians and those who are truly followers of Jesus is the amount of trust they have in the Lord to provide for them. The former lack trust and so focus on providing for their own needs, while the latter so trust in the Lord that their attention is given fully to Him.

Where are you today? Do you trust the Lord to provide for whatever needs you have, or are you busy trying to fulfill them on your own? Know that the Lord is trustworthy. Through Jesus, He has provided everything you need to live life fully.

© Jim Musser 2012

Acknowledging His Love

2012-01-27T06:36:00.000-05:00

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” (John 1:10-13 NIV)

I was waiting to get my haircut the other day when a woman walked in and up to another man seated across from me. He was reading a magazine and, as she was talking to him, never looked up at her. She bent down and gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked out. His gaze remained fixed on the magazine. Though I didn’t know the nature of their relationship, I felt sorry for the woman. She seemed to care about this man and he barely acknowledged her. I could imagine the hurt she felt as she walked out the door, her love completely unappreciated.

We have probably all had that sinking feeling at some time in our lives when our love or care for a person is ignored or rejected. It cuts to the core because we offered something very dear to us-ourselves-and we were turned away.

As I sat in the chair and watched the exchange between that woman and man, I thought about how easy it is to treat God in the same way. He dotes on us, tells us how much He loves us, and, too often, we fail to show our appreciation. We get so focused in on our little worlds that we ignore Him.

Genesis 1 tells us that God created us in His image. This means, while we are not God, we have traits similar to His. And one of those is the desire for acknowledgement and appreciation from those we love. God walked into our world, into our lives, and said, “I love you!” And He backed it up by continually pursuing us even as we ignored and rejected Him. Yet, by looking at our own experiences of having our love dismissed, we can begin to understand how the Lord must feel when His love goes unappreciated.

Today, knowing how much God loves you, share with Him your appreciation. Tell Him through both word and deed how much His love means to you. You know how much it means to hear that.

© Jim Musser 2012

Hope: The Key to Freedom

2012-01-26T07:55:00.000-05:00

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:15-21 NIV)

The abject poverty in which the people live with whom I have worked in South Africa is almost beyond belief. And the woes that accompany it break my heart. Alcoholism. Drug addiction. HIV-AIDS. Abuse. Neglect. Hopelessness. And it is the last that feeds the seemingly endless generational cycle of poverty and despair.

Hope cultivates a new vision for one’s life, a vision that sees change within one’s grasp, even if the current circumstances seem to indicate otherwise. The Enemy’s strategy is to remove all hope from us, to cultivate hopelessness at every turn, to keep us in bondage to our discouragement and despair. But hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5) if we cling to it.

That is why I believe I felt compelled to speak about hope with the teens from the slum settlement in which we were working last month. Without hope, they will perish. Without hope that God can do immeasurably more than they can ask or even imagine, they will remain bound by the same chains that have bound their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. And these chains won’t be broken by a single talk (a seed planted perhaps); it will take devoted prayer. When the Enemy has a grip, he will not easily let go.

But hopelessness is not confined to slums or ghettos. It can be found in mansions, in corporate offices, on college campuses, and even in churches. In any of these places, there are people bound by things greater than themselves and beyond their own ability to break free. You may know some.

If so, the best thing you can do is to pray this prayer of Paul’s. The first step is for their hearts to be enlightened to the hope there is in the God who raises the dead. With Him, all things are possible. Once they truly embrace this, then freedom can become a reality.

© Jim Musser 2012

Finding Inspiration

2012-01-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

When reading Scripture and coming to a “therefore,” you need to ask, what is the therefore there for? And the answer will always take you back to what has been previously written. The writer is telling you that what he is about to write hinges on what he has just previously written. In this case, the writer just spent an entire chapter recounting the amazing faith of believers in the Old Testament and on into their own century. Now he says to his audience, because of the faithful way these people lived, the great examples of their lives, be inspired to live lives of faithfulness to the Lord, persevering through hardship and trials, never giving up.

It is a human trait that we need the inspiration of others to take us off the wide path of mediocre and purposeless living onto the much narrower path of a meaningful and eternally significant way of life. The Hebrew writer recognized this and wrote of the example of many faithful believers who followed the Lord with passion and perseverance.

Who are the believers that inspire you? Do you have anyone you look up to in the faith, who inspires you by his or her example? Anyone whose faith you can seek to emulate? If not, then you are at a distinct disadvantage in staying on that narrow path. To encourage us, we need the witness of others who live or have lived lives fully committed to the Lord.

Today, seek out those whose lives are testimonies of faith. Draw inspiration from their example, and seek to emulate it. They may be on your campus, in your hometown, or on the pages of a book. Wherever they are, their witness is waiting to inspire you, to ignite the flames of passion to live a life full of eternal meaning and purpose.

© Jim Musser 2012

Gaining a Fresh Perspective

2012-01-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

“The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.’ But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, ‘Do not do as they do.’” (II Kings 17:13-15 NIV)

Traveling to another country, experiencing a different culture, and seeing the Lord at work in fresh, new ways tends to put life into a clearer perspective. I know it did for me during my first cross-cultural experience just after graduating from college. Time spent in communist-controlled Eastern Europe among suffering followers of Jesus brought to light a life unfocused and lacking a serious view of what is of value.

While traveling in South Africa during the past month, I read Brother Yun’s book, Living Water. Yun was persecuted mercilessly in China for his faith. Again I was reminded of how easy it is to focus one’s life on mostly worthless things. Yun is quite critical of the western church getting caught up in a materialistic and self-centered faith that strays far from the teachings of Jesus and the example of the 1st Century church. His experiences in China brought him the realization of what is of true value in life.

The Lord gets to the heart of the matter when He warns that in following worthless idols, we in turn become worthless. Now our idols look different than those the Israelites and their neighbors constructed. Most of us don’t place high value in statues, but, like the Israelites, we do tend to worship man-made things. Sports, technology, music, movies and TV shows, and social networking all seek to grab for our undivided attention. And if Facebook and Twitter are accurate in revealing what people truly value, then there are definitely idols in our lives.

The question is, do we recognize those idols and what they are doing to our lives? Perhaps a change of perspective is needed. How about traveling to a different culture on a mission trip? Or if you can’t do that, how about a weekend disconnected from your normal life—no computer, no TV, no smartphone—and spending time alone with God or serving in a ministry that helps those in need. Sometimes, we just need to gain a fresh perspective on our lives to avoid having them become worthless. And it is much better that happen sooner than later.

© Jim Musser 2012

Opportunities

2012-01-23T08:53:00.000-05:00

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:9-15 NIV)

When I am traveling internationally, I prefer sitting in the aisle seat on the outside row, either sitting next to my wife or no one. As I climbed aboard my flight last week from Johannesburg, South Africa to New York, a 16-hour flight, I was really hoping for an empty window seat. As I looked down the aisle and found my row, I could see I was not going to get my wish. In the window seat was a twenty-something woman. I jokingly apologized to her, assuming she, too, was hoping the seat next to her would be vacant. She smiled and we just made small talk as the planed filled with other passengers.

She had just completed a “bucket list” trip that included summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. She was returning to home in New York City to resume her graduate studies. I told her I was returning from leading a group of college students on a trip to Cape Town. As the plane was taxiing to the runway for takeoff, she asked if I was a professor. I told her I directed a campus ministry and she asked, “What religion?” I responded that I helped students learn to follow Jesus. She replied, somewhat skeptically, “Well, that’s a religion, isn’t it?”

Thus began a half-hour discussion on Jesus, religion, and the Bible. What I discovered in that brief time was this woman was “forced” to attend church when she was young, that she had never read the Bible, and that she had an open heart to “spiritual” things. She asked me what part of the Bible I would recommend her to read, since she was unwilling to read the whole thing. I suggested the Gospel of John and, for a minute, she wrestled with how she would remember that. I suggested the name of the airport at which we would be landing—John F. Kennedy. And that was it, until we landed and I gave her my card with the following written on it: The Gospel of John, www.Biblegateway.com (she didn’t own a Bible), Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. She tucked the card into her purse. We walked together to the Passport Control area and then went our separate ways.

There is no doubt in my mind the Lord wanted me sitting next to this woman on that flight. There was Good News to share and He appointed me to share it. How often do we put our selfish desires ahead of what the Lord may have for us and miss the opportunities to tell others of the Good News of Jesus? If I had gotten my way, that is exactly what would have happened. Thankfully, the Lord had other plans and I submitted to them.

Today, recognize the opportunities the Lord may bring your way to tell others the Good News. And know they may come at unwanted times when you would rather be doing something else, but the sacrifice will be worth it. There is nothing more beautiful than sharing the Good News with someone who has never heard it or truly understood it.

© Jim Musser 2012

News that Sends the Heart Dancing

2011-12-16T07:29:00.002-05:00

(Author's Note: The semester comes to an end today and so I will begin my own short sabbatical. WftW will begin again on January 23rd. May you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New Year! JM)

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:8-20 NIV)

Imagine for a moment that you are a citizen of Somalia and someone appears in your village telling you that soon a leader will come to put an end to your suffering. Or imagine you are a North Korean, struggling to survive day to day under the heavy hand of a dictator, and you receive word that soon someone will come to rescue you. That indeed would be good news!

The shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth lived a very hard life. They were poor and on the lowest end of the socioeconomic scale. The culture found them of little note. Yet, there they were one night watching over their flocks when Heaven took note and delivered first to them the Good News of their Savior’s birth. When there is never anything even resembling good news in your world, even a sliver of something positive can give your heart a lift. But this was great news, and it was for them! This sent their hearts dancing!

I recall the old video clips of the French celebrating when the Allied troops entered Paris in victory over the Nazis. And images are still fresh of East Germans hammering away at the Berlin Wall in 1989 after hearing of the fall of their Communist government. Good news had come to those who desperately needed it and their hearts rejoiced.

For many of us, the Good News doesn’t generate a lot of excitement. We are caught up in living our own lives, and though we may acknowledge our need for a Savior, it lies there in our brain, far from our heart. Unlike the shepherds or the peoples down through the centuries who have suffered and have been desperate for good news, we often are very comfortable with our circumstances. But regardless, the desperate need for a Savior is still there because without Him, there is no hope.

Today, recognize the Good News is “good” because of our desperate situation. We are sinners, and apart from our Savior, we have no hope. As you celebrate Christmas this year, let that desperate need penetrate your heart. Then join with the shepherds and the countless millions down through the centuries whose hearts have danced when they heard the news: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

© Jim Musser 2011

Experiencing Rejection

2011-12-15T08:58:00.000-05:00

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.  He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,  yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;  the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;  and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:1-6 NIV)

Rejection is a hard thing. A friend recently shared with my wife how she had mentored a student for several years only to be told her approach didn’t work for him anymore; he was moving on to someone else. I remember a few years ago, my wife was meeting with a student on a regular basis and then, after the semester break, the student said she was too busy to meet and she basically never saw her again. And in my many years of ministry, I, too, have tasted the bitterness of rejection by people who didn’t like what I said or how I did things. I remember one woman, in a church where I served as an elder, would not speak to me because she disagreed with a decision the elders made. Even after I sought to reconcile with her, she would have nothing to do with me.

The truth is, a life well lived is going to include rejection along the way. It is part of the falleness of our world. And this will especially be true if we have chosen to follow Jesus. Peter warns us (I Peter 2:20-21) that following Him means walking along the path of suffering and, as Isaiah writes, this suffering includes rejection.

The desire to be accepted and liked is a powerful one. Yet, the pursuit of acceptance by others can lead us down the road to a compromised life, standing for nothing more than what others desire from us. The reason Jesus was despised and rejected was because he embodied, and spoke, the truth. He was only out to please His Father, no one else. And this, too, is the life to which we are called if we are following Jesus.

Today, remember the One you follow; He, too, was rejected. Yet, He remained faithful to the will of His Father. Through His strength, you have the ability to do the same.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Christmas Story: The Unsanitized Version

2011-12-14T07:43:00.000-05:00

“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’” (Matthew 2:13-18 NIV)

This is a part of the Christmas story that rarely, if ever, is talked about. And I understand why. The killing of hundreds of innocent children doesn’t quite fit our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Yet, there it is. Jesus is born and innocent children die as a result. So what are we to make of this account? As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, where does this story fit?

It seems to me the version of the Christmas story we hear year after year is a sanitized one. It contains the beauty of God’s Son coming to earth, but omits the realities of the world into which He came. That world, as it is today, was ruled by Prince of Darkness. The coming of Jesus was a grave threat and, with Herod as his instrument, he did his best to eliminate Him without regard to innocent life. In the Nativity, we see the stark reality of the Enemy. He is ruthless, uncaring, and merciless.

The birth of Jesus was God’s invasion of enemy territory, and the response gives us an understanding of what we believers are up against. As Peter wisely observed, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8 NIV) As he sought to devour Jesus, so also does he look to devour us, if not physically, then spiritually.

Sometimes we approach the Christian life with the same naivety as we do the Christmas story. It’s all beauty and wonder. Yet we do so at our peril. And this, I think, is where the story of Herod’s massacre fits. It reminds us of the ruthlessness of our enemy. He never has played nice and never will. His aim is to destroy the work of God and he couldn’t care less who he harms in the process.

Today, let this part of the Christmas story remind you of the reality of the battle you joined when you decided to follow Jesus. But never forget you are on the side of victory. Just as the enemy was unable to devour Jesus, he will not be able to get his ruthless teeth into you unless you let him.

© Jim Musser 2011

Not Such Good News

2011-12-13T07:51:00.000-05:00

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’

‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’ ‘I am the Lord's servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:26-38 NIV)

What the angel Gabriel was telling Mary may have become “good news,” but in her current situation, the news the angel brought was not necessarily good. She was engaged but unmarried, and now she was being told she would become pregnant, not by her fiancé or by any man, but by the Holy Spirit. How does a young woman go about explaining that one to her family or neighbors?

Mary lived in a culture steeped in strong mores where adulterous women could be stoned or shunned as a result of such behavior. And what to tell her fiancé, Joseph? “Hey Joe, you aren’t going to believe this, but I’m pregnant, and not by you, but by the Holy Spirit!” No, for Mary this was horrible news. She was respectful to Gabriel because he was an angel with a message from God, but it is easy to imagine the fear welling up inside her as she began to realize the implications of this news upon her life. She may have found favor with God, but I am guessing she found little comfort in this at that moment.

Yet, despite all her fears, she submitted to God’s will for her life. “May it be to me as you have said.” This is the very essence of obedience. One does not have to be all excited and pumped up about God’s will; just willing to submit to it, trusting that God knows best. At the time, Mary could not know the outcome of the events about to define her life, but she trusted the Lord knew and that was enough.

Today, if the Lord is laying on your heart His will for something specific in your life, you would do well to follow the example of Mary and submit to it. Though it may appear to be something less than good news, if it is from the Lord, it will be the right path to take.

© Jim Musser 2011

Hope for as Far as the Curse is Found

2011-12-12T09:03:00.000-05:00

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)

Next week, eight others and I will arrive in Cape Town, South Africa to assist missionaries in carrying this message to the very people for which it was intended—the poor, the brokenhearted, the prisoners held captive by the darkness. We will work with people, young and old, who live in what are known as formal and informal settlements, a combination of small houses built by the government and shacks built of just about anything imaginable. Almost half of South Africa’s nearly fifty million people live below the poverty line and the unemployment rate is nearly 25%. Alcoholism, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and violence are rampant. It’s what one, perhaps, would expect from countries in Africa and other “Third World” nations.

Yet, go to almost any city or town in the U.S. and you will find the same. This past weekend, my wife and I, along with several students, assisted a local ministry in a trailer park. We went from trailer to trailer handing out Christmas gifts. Many of the people we visited were unemployed, alcoholics or drug abusers, and living in very dilapidated housing. I have found people in similar circumstances throughout the country as I have taken students on mission trips over spring break, whether it be in urban areas such as Jackson, Mississippi and Philadelphia, or in rural areas such as in Kentucky or on a Native American reservation in Show Low, Arizona.

The truth is the poor, the brokenhearted, and those held in bondage by the darkness are not far away from us. This message that Jesus came to proclaim (Luke 4:16-20) is for everyone, both near and far. We are going to South Africa to proclaim it, but it is just as needed here at home. As that wonderful Christmas carol, Joy to the World, proclaims, “He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.” And it is found throughout the world, including in our own communities.

Today, realize you don’t have to go to the other side of the world to proclaim the wonderful message of Isaiah 61. There are people very close by who need to hear it. All they need are people willing to deliver it.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Scary Thought of Following Jesus

2011-12-09T08:19:00.001-05:00

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:1-11 NIV)

Let’s be honest. It can be very scary to follow Jesus. I am not talking about “accepting” Jesus as your Savior. Actually, that can be pretty easy because, as we typically understand it, we admit to our sinfulness and a desire to change and, voila, we’re saved! It is the following part that usually hangs us up. I know lots of people who say they are saved but are not really following Jesus. Why? I think they are terrified. They are scared of where He might go and doubtful they are up to the task. They would rather stay within the confines of their own comfortable and familiar surroundings than risk the unknown.

Peter was terrified by the presence and power of Jesus. And He knew Jesus didn’t just drop by to assist his fishing business. Jesus wanted him as His disciple. Peter knew his weaknesses and remembered the failures of his past. He was a devout Jew, but a sinful man. How could he possibly follow this Man? Yet, how could he not given who this Man was?

At that point, Peter had a choice. He either could give into his fears or trust in Jesus. That really is the choice for each of us. Jesus has called us to follow Him wherever He may go, and we have to decide whether or not we will follow. Peter decided to trust Jesus in spite of his fears. What about you?

Today, know that Jesus would not call you to follow Him if He did not think you were up for it. For it is by His power, not your own, that you will be able to do what He wants you to do. The only thing He wants from you is to lay aside your comfortable, familiar life and follow Him. He will take care of the rest. The proof of this is seen in that fisherman from Galilee.

© Jim Musser 2011

Making Room in Our Hearts

2011-12-08T07:17:00.001-05:00

“Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” (II Corinthians 7:2-4 NIV)

Recently, I met with a student who believed (mistakenly) that I was against him and a choice he had made in his life. As we began to talk, he shared that his heart had begun to harden toward me. We talked things through and ended up reconciled.

Paul was in a similar place with the Corinthians. He had written some difficult things to them and their hearts were hardening towards him. That is a natural reaction to people who may say or do things we don’t like. Yet Paul had a long history with the Corinthian believers. He asked them to “make room” in their hearts for him.

Making room is an intentional act that requires extending grace. We may not fully understand why a person says or does something, but making room for them in our hearts means we extend to them grace, believing their intentions were honorable or that they just made a mistake, hurtful perhaps, but forgivable.

Far too many relationships become strained or end because we harden our hearts instead of making room in them. We jump to conclusions, allow our hurt feelings to lead us, and forget the positives that helped nurture the relationship in the first place. Yet, grace is the hallmark of one who follows Jesus and it must be extended often.

Today, is there someone toward whom you have become hardened? If so, make room in your heart for them. Extend to them the same grace the Lord has given you.

© Jim Musser 2011

Joyful Generosity

2011-12-07T07:29:00.001-05:00

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (II Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV)

I remember a report several years ago that people of faith are far more generous than the general population of Americans. In one experiment, Salvation Army kettles were set up at two busy intersections, one in San Francisco and the other in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Average incomes in San Francisco are more than double those in Sioux Falls; yet the citizens of Sioux Falls gave twice as much as those in San Francisco. Why? The commentator’s explanation was that faith played a key role in the disparity of giving in the two cities. The Scriptures agree. Faith and generosity go hand in hand.

Followers of Jesus are called to be generous with their money, not as an obligation, but out of a desire to please the Lord. He loves the one who gives cheerfully. But we do have the choice. He leaves it up to us to decide how generous or tight we will be, but with this rejoinder: How much we sow is how much we will reap. And it is not based on how much we have (Luke 21:2-4; II Corinthians 8:12), but on our desire and willingness to be generous with what we do have.

I have learned much about this while traveling the world. In Eastern Europe, while visiting Christians living under Communist oppression in 1979, our hosts always provided our group of five with a wonderful meal, and often a place to stay. In Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, I saw Christians on Sunday morning participate in two offerings, one for the needs of the church and the other for helping the poor in the community. In Kenya, among poor Masaai Christians, I experienced wonderful hospitality from people who struggle to have enough to eat.

It is just the nature of those who love and follow Jesus to be joyful and generous givers. Their attitude is one that trusts God for their needs. They know He will supply what they need, even if they give a lot away. They are confident He will re-supply them.

Today, if you find yourself reluctant to part with your money to help others in need, it is time to go to the Lord for an attitude adjustment. For the way of the Christian is down the path of generosity, following in the footsteps of our Lord.

© Jim Musser 2011

Upgrading Your Spiritual Security

2011-12-06T08:21:00.001-05:00

“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” (John 10:7-10 NIV)

Everyday we take actions to prevent ourselves from being victims of thieves and robbers. In restaurants or stores, women keep a close eye on their purses or handbags. We lock our front doors, our windows, and our cars. We have passwords and firewalls. We live in a world full of thieves and robbers looking for opportunities to steal what does not belong to them. Thus, we take precautions.

Jesus tells us of a thief that wants to rob us of more than just our material possessions. He wants to steal our hope, our joy, and our very souls. Yet, how many precautions do we take against his schemes? We lock the doors to our apartments or our homes, but how often do we guard ourselves against falling to temptation?

Working with students I am often hear from those in relationships talk about their physical struggles, but then I am amazed to learn they are spending time on a bed, together, in the dark, watching a movie. Talk about leaving the door wide open for the thief! Or those who want to follow Jesus, but still feel it necessary to hang around their friends from their old life. It’s the equivalent of putting a sign on your car saying, “Please Take This.”

Satan is a liar and a thief. Always has been; always will be. And like a burglar, he is on the prowl looking for victims. If we only guarded our souls like we daily guard our possessions, he would be much less a threat.

Today, consider what precautions you are taking. Is there a need for an upgrade in the spiritual security of your life? If so, now is the time to make a plan and implement it. The thief is working the neighborhood.

© Jim Musser 2011

A Glorious Day

2011-12-05T08:47:00.001-05:00

“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. ‘Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:50-58 NIV)

During the worship service yesterday, we were singing the song, “Glorious Day,” and my voice cracked when we got to the last verse, “One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,  One day the skies with His glories will shine.” For some reason, an image of my mom came to mind and my eyes welled with tears. One day, when that trumpet sounds, I will be reunited with her.

Death is an unwelcome intruder. It intruded on my life when I was in college and again in grad school, taking both my father and mother. It intruded on the family of a beloved elder in our church last week. It intrudes daily on an average of over 150,000 families in the world. If it has yet to intrude on yours, it will, sooner or later.

For many, the Christmas season is a melancholy time, with memories of departed loved ones dampening the holiday cheer. For some, the paralyzing grip of grief never is released. This is, I think, what makes death such a threat to us. The loss seems too great to bear. We fear the grief and the emotional pain that accompanies it.

Paul knew about death, as did every believer in the 1st Century. They were constantly under threat by the Roman government and by the Jewish leaders. During Paul’s ministry, many died at their hands. And, of course, life was hard in those days and life expectancy averaged 40-50 years and infant mortality was very high. So death intruded in their lives on a regular basis. This is what makes Paul’s words so powerful and meaningful.

He writes to a church with full knowledge and experience with death and tells them to remain defiant when facing it. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The resurrection of Jesus brings with it the promise that death is not the end. Therefore, that hope is what can keep us going and remaining fearless when death brings its unwelcome knock to our door.

Today, know the power of the resurrection. In the face of death, do not fear or be depressed. Death has only temporary power to inflict pain upon us. One day, everything will be put right. And for those in Christ Jesus, that will truly be a glorious day!

© Jim Musser 2011

Pursuing Fame

2011-12-02T09:09:00.001-05:00

“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” (John 6:10-15 NIV)

It has been said that everyone will eventually get his or her 15 minutes of fame. It seems fewer people are willing to wait. According to a 2007 Pew Research Center poll, over half of 18-25-year-olds said one of their two main life goals was to be famous. The other was to be wealthy. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-09-gen-y-cover_x.htm)

That “15 minutes” just happened to high school senior Emma Sullivan, who tweeted during a speech by Kansas’s governor Sam Brownback. Brownback’s office considered it inappropriate and offensive and reported it to Ms. Sullivan’s school principal. When asked to apologize, she, with her parents backing, refused. That’s when the media frenzy began, and at last report, Emma had more than 10,000 followers on her Twitter account and numerous interviews with the national media.

Can you imagine the media frenzy around Jesus if modern day media had existed back in the 1st Century? The Twitterverse would blow up with every miracle. Someone would create a Facebook profile for Him and He would receive millions of friend requests. YouTube would have thousands of videos uploaded of Him teaching and performing miracles. And what would Jesus do? Probably walk away.

Of course, there was no social networking, as we understand it, in Jesus’ day, but news about Him did spread quickly. Crowds gathered wherever He went and many began calling for Him to be their political, as well as spiritual, leader. He easily could have had the following of the world as Satan promised Him in the desert (Matthew 4:8-9). Yet what did Jesus do when the crowds wanted to make Him king after miraculously feeding thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish? He withdrew from them. And this wasn’t the only time. Jesus did this on a regular basis (Luke 5:16).

How interesting for a whole generation whose primary objective in life is to be wealthy and famous to come to terms with what it means to follow Jesus, who was materially poor and repeatedly shunned the limelight.

Perhaps today would be a good time to withdraw from social networking long enough to contemplate the implications of following Jesus. The 15 minutes of fame can wait.

The Other Side of Grace

2011-12-01T08:03:00.001-05:00

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14 NIV)

Grace is often thought of in terms of escaping punishment. “I know I sin, but, whew, thankfully I am covered by God’s grace!” This is indeed a correct view, but there is another side to it. While we are wholly dependent on God’s grace, it doesn’t just come into play when we sin. It also is to lead us into a purer, more godly life. As Paul says, grace is to teach us how to avoid ungodliness and giving into worldly passions.

If we are destined to eternal judgment because of our rebellion against God, then is our only response to Him to be a “Hey God, thanks. Appreciate it.”? God does not show us grace just to let us off the hook. He shows us grace in order to give us the opportunity to draw nearer to Him and to become the man or woman He created us to be. He is not obligated to do it; He does it out of His deep love for us. But He will not be satisfied if His grace is accepted but there is no transformation in our lives.

God’s intent for His grace is two-fold: to bring salvation and, secondly, to bring transformation. They were never intended to be separated.

Today, know that if you have accepted God’s grace and received salvation, that is not the end of the story. He fully expects His grace to bring about a transformation in your life, where you are consistently and eagerly are saying “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. That is the other side of grace and it cannot be separated from the first.

© Jim Musser 2011

A Learning Opportunity

2011-11-30T08:23:00.001-05:00

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)

It is that time of year. For students, the final push to the end of the semester. For non-students, the tasks of holiday shopping and organizing or participating in holiday activities added to an already full schedule. Stress levels are high all around.

While much of this stress is self-inflicted (poor time management, too many commitments, too caught up in the cultural approach to the holiday season), the stress is still real and you can see it on the faces of so many. And when we are overly stressed, the temptation is to lose heart. Woe is me and my life! We see our lives through dark lenses.

Few of us experience the kinds of trials Paul did—beatings, imprisonments, death threats, hunger, etc. So when we are feeling overwhelmed, this passage is a must read. As Paul said in Romans 8:28, God works all things together for good, and so it is with the stress in our lives. He will use it for a greater purpose: to prepare us for eternity. Through those things that stress us out, through hardships and difficult times, the Lord teaches us dependence upon Him and molds our character into one suited for Heaven.

If you are stressed out today, recognize it as a teaching moment from the Lord. He wants to use what you are experiencing to further make you into a person who is ready for Heaven, a person more and more dependent on Him with whom you will spend eternity.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Danger of Greed

2011-11-29T08:26:00.001-05:00

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5 NIV)

A woman in Los Angeles used pepper spray on fellow Black Friday shoppers in order to gain the advantage in securing a coveted X-Box game deal. It reminded me of the time back in the 80’s when shoppers were literally wrestling with each other in the aisles to grab the coveted Cabbage Patch dolls. Or, more tragically, when a Wal-Mart security guard was trampled to death by a scrum of shoppers several years ago as the doors opened in the wee hours of the morning.

Jesus warns us to be on our guard against greed (Luke 12:15) because life consists of more than just what we can possess. And Paul identifies greed for what it is—idolatry. We in the West usually view idolatry as something practiced in ancient times or in primitive cultures. We picture idols as wooden or bronze statues residing in temples to which people bring offerings and bow down in worship. We don’t view ourselves as in danger of practicing idolatry.

But I can’t help get the image of idolatry out of my mind when I view video from Black Friday. People camped out in front of large buildings containing items they, obviously, desperately want, rushing through the doors to grab them, and then paying out hundreds of dollars to own them.

But this is not limited to Black Friday. Think of every time a new i-Phone or Harry Potter book is released. People line up in the thousands all across the country in order to be one of the first to own them. It is not much of a stretch to overlay these images on those of idol worshippers in line at their temples.

I think Paul added, “which is idolatry,” to draw our attention to the great danger of greed. An idol is something to which we give great value and worship. But the Lord warns us, “You will have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

You may not consider yourself an idolater, but if greed has captured your heart in any form, then you are guilty of idolatry. Today, examine yourself to ensure that you worship the Creator rather than the created. For your life consists of more than you can possess.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Way of Understanding and Transformation

2011-11-28T08:17:00.001-05:00

“We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (II Corinthians 3:13-18 NIV)

I remember the first time I tried to read the Bible. I was in high school and not a Christian. Having fallen madly infatuated with a girl who was a believer, I sought to imitate her interest in reading the Bible. I made it through Genesis, plodded through Exodus, and died in Leviticus. Some of the stories were familiar, but I just couldn’t make sense of most of it and gave up trying to figure it out. However, three years later, after becoming a Christian, I started again to read the Bible and, to my amazement, I began to understand what I was reading.

Have you ever wondered why so many who proclaim to be Christians show little understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and fail to grasp even the basic teachings of the Scriptures? Like the Jews Paul writes about, they have a veil of sin over their hearts that prevents them from understanding. They have the appearance of belief, but they have never truly turned to the Lord and, thus, the veil remains because only Jesus can remove it. The pews may be filled, but the hearts remain covered.

There can be no real transformation of the heart without surrender to Jesus. Faithful attendance at worship services won’t do it. Nor will daily prayers or Scripture reading (the Jews did all these things). No, the only way to be truly transformed is by surrendering our lives to Jesus. Then the veil of sin that covers our hearts will be removed and we will begin to understand what God has written and begin to see our lives transformed into His likeness.

Today, know the way of spiritual understanding and transformation is through surrendering our hearts to Jesus. Nothing else will do.

© Jim Musser 2011

A Culture of the Nine

2011-11-22T08:43:00.001-05:00

(Author's Note: As the Thanksgiving Break begins on campus, I will be taking a break from writing as well. Look for the next devotion on Monday, November 28th. Have a wonderful holiday! Jim)

“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’

When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’” (Luke 17:11-19 NIV)

The “Black Friday” fever is rising with every day that passes. Ads promoting deals on electronics, toys, and clothes are permeating every form of media. Forget being thankful. Let’s move on to getting what we want. At least that seems to be the message, which puts us in the same category as the nine lepers.

Ten suffering from leprosy cried out to Jesus and were healed, but only one returned to give thanks to the Lord. The rest went about their business. Jesus lauded the one for taking time to express his appreciation for what he had received.

Often the busyness of life obscures our vision of what we have received. We’re too distracted by what lies ahead. Sure, we might throw out a “thank you, Lord” but we’re not slowing down, and we’re definitely not inclined to stop what we are doing in order to give thanks.

In the 19th Century, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared a “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” A full day was devoted to giving thanks to God. Americans took time to give thanks to the Lord who had so richly blessed them. Today, not so much.

Black Friday is more the focus, so much so that this year it is creeping into Thanksgiving Day. Stores are opening on Thursday evening with their Black Friday specials. Yes, we’ve received much, but there is still so much to get!

The Apostle Paul tells us not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) We live in a culture that is very similar to the mindset of the nine lepers. They gladly received what the Lord gave them, but were too busy to express their gratitude. As followers of Jesus, we are to be different. We are to be like the cleansed leper, so grateful for what we have received that we can’t help but take the time to give thanks.

Today, and particularly on Thanksgiving Day, take the time to express your gratitude to the Lord for all that He has given you. The great deals can wait. What you have already received is worth far more.

© Jim Musser 2011

Truth-Telling

2011-11-21T08:44:00.001-05:00

“When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

‘Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.’

One of the experts in the law answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.’ Jesus replied, ‘And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.’” (Luke 11:37-46 NIV)

Sometimes, we just need a good kick in the rear. I am not talking about corporal punishment, but rather to be told the truth about ourselves when we would rather live in denial. This is what Jesus did with the Pharisees and when an expert in the Jewish law took exception, he spoke truth to him as well.

Jesus was not afraid to offend people. He didn’t go out of His way to do it, or get some unseemly pleasure from it. He just spoke the truth, and if people, even His disciples (John 6:60-61), were offended, then so be it. Truth brings freedom (John 8:32) and He was going to tell it no matter what because He loved people.

I am so grateful for the times in my life where people have confronted me with the truth. My campus minister pointed out some anger issues in my life when I was in college. While being totally distraught over a relationship break-up, a seminary professor pointedly asked me if I had truly given the situation over to the Lord. And just recently, the chairman of my ministry board challenged me on a personal trait that needed some adjustment. All three of these men spoke the truth to me and I am grateful they did. I desperately needed to hear it and I consider their truth-telling as acts of love.

We live in a world where, increasingly, people want to be told what they want to hear even if it is not the truth. There is a steep price to pay for that—bondage. If the truth can set us free, then the lack of telling it keeps us in slavery to bad habits, sloppy work, emotional immaturity, etc.

Today, know the great value of hearing the truth. If someone is loving enough to tell you the truth, then receive it. It can set you free from what’s holding you back to become what God created you to be.

© Jim Musser 2011

Never Omit the Cost

2011-11-18T08:38:00.001-05:00

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”

‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.’” (Luke 14:25-33 NIV)

It happens almost every year in campus ministry. A student commits to being a leader for the next school year, and then, sometime during the summer or just as school begins, he backs out of the commitment. The reasons vary, but usually it involves a lack of a time due to other commitments. Students are often very excited about being in leadership, but in their exuberance often fail to contemplate the cost in time and energy.

A similar thing can happen with new believers. They start out all excited to follow Jesus, but then they fall away. They aren’t prepared for how difficult it is going to be.

Often, I think, this is the fault of the church. We so desperately want people to become followers of Jesus that we try to make it easy for them. We tell them all they have to do is say the “sinner’s prayer,” or that if they only give their hearts to Jesus every problem will be solved in their lives. This is not what Jesus told people who were showing interest in following Him. Instead, He told them it would be a very costly decision and that they should consider carefully before making it. How costly? You should be prepared to give up everything in your life—your goals (Luke 9: 59-62), your family (Matthew 10:35-37), and even your very life (Mark 8:35) to follow Jesus.

This is a steep price and Jesus tells us we should consider carefully whether or not we are willing to pay it. As He implies in His parables, to make the decision lightly is to risk personal embarrassment and, as the Hebrew writer says (10:4-6), public disgrace for the Lord. We probably can all think of at least one person who falls into this category.

The cost of being a follower of Jesus is high. We do no favors to anyone by making it sound easy. If Jesus felt it important to explain the costs clearly, then we need to as well.

Today, recognize we serve a Lord who demands our willingness to give up everything to follow Him. When telling others about Him, you should not omit that fact because He never did.

© Jim Musser 2011

A Reality To Be Recognized

2011-11-17T07:58:00.001-05:00

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” (Jonah 2:1-10 NIV)

Few of us have probably been so desperate as Jonah. Trapped in the stomach of a humongous fish, he cried out in praise of his God and in recognition of His provision. Stripped of everything except his life, Jonah came to recognize this reality: God is the source of all good things, the greatest of which is salvation.

One thing a crisis will do is focus our attention on our neediness and vulnerability. Then comes the recognition of what we do have and, if our eyes are truly open, from whence they come. This is why so many who have gone through very difficult times are so thankful. A recovering addict is thankful for those around him who loved him while he was busy destroying his life. A cancer survivor is thankful for the new lease on life and more appreciative of those she had previously taken for granted. And the one who grew up facing hunger is always thankful for the food set before him.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving next week, let us approach it with this reality: If it were not for the Lord, we would have absolutely nothing. Everything we have, our home, our clothes, our jobs, our opportunities for education, the food we will eat today, and our hope of eternal life all come from His hand.

Today, this week, and every day of your life, give thanks to the Lord for His great provision. It does not have to take a crisis to be thankful.

© Jim Musser 2011

An Invitation That Can Change Lives

2011-11-16T07:58:00.001-05:00

“Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).

“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.” (John 1:40-46 NIV)

A 2006 study by George Barna revealed that 80% of high school students who claim to have an active Christian faith will dramatically lessen their involvement in Christian activities (i.e., church attendance, campus ministry participation, and Bible studies) upon entering college. And 60% will cease practically all involvement with the Christian community by the time they reach their mid-20’s.

When I meet new students to our ministry, I have asked them how they became involved with CCF. Nearly all of them have said a friend invited them. All it took for Peter to meet Jesus was an invitation from his brother. All it took for Nathaniel was an invitation from Philip.

Sometimes, all it takes is an invitation to change the direction of a person’s life. When I was a college freshman, several Christians over a period of a couple months invited me to various Christian events. As a result of those invitations, I came to know Jesus and made a commitment to follow Him.

Do you know someone who is seeking a new direction in his life, or someone who once was walking faithfully but now has gone off the path? Perhaps an invitation is all she needs. Just as Peter and Nathaniel found Jesus compelling once they met Him, so to can the exposure to committed Christians be just as compelling because they see Jesus in us. That was true for me as an unbeliever. I saw something in their lives that was missing in mine.

Today, is there someone you know who could benefit from seeing what a difference Jesus makes in life? Sometimes all it takes is an invitation.

© Jim Musser 2011

Coffee Grounds Faith

2011-11-15T08:16:00.001-05:00

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:14-20 NIV)

Yesterday, I was sitting in my office working and enjoying a cup of coffee from my favorite coffee shop in town. I lifted my cup to savor the last bit that was left. Suddenly, I found myself literally spitting it back into the cup. Unbeknownst to me, coffee grounds were sitting at the bottom and, in that last sip, I had sucked them into my mouth. It was a disgusting experience. And it gave me an even greater understanding of what Jesus was telling the Laodicean church.

The people in the church were completely satisfied with their lives. Obviously, they were participating in church gatherings and must have believed they were in good standing with the Lord. Yet, He called them lukewarm and said that though they thought they were rich, in fact they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement and not likely what they expected to hear.

It was a divine wake-up call they needed to hear and so do we. It is so easy, as the Apostle Paul implies, to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. (Romans 12:3) We grow satisfied with where we are in our lives and with the Lord. Where we once were “hot” for the Lord, we may have grown lukewarm. And like those coffee grounds in my mouth, Jesus finds lukewarmness disgusting. So much so, He would rather us be rejecting Him than tepidly following Him!

This smacks dead in the face of our often “better than nothing” approach. At least we are in church every Sunday. At least we aren’t doing THOSE things. At least we are giving some money to the poor. Jesus finds this approach disgusting. What He wants is not half-hearted efforts, but humbled and fully committed people. Just like I want to be drinking the coffee and not the leftover grounds.

Today, know the Lord loves you and this is why He is warning you. Are you lukewarm in your faith? Then it is time for a change of heart only He can give. He is waiting and knocking. Will you humble yourself and let Him in?

© Jim Musser 2011

Pushing on Through

2011-11-14T08:44:00.001-05:00

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

To be honest, I didn’t really want to write this morning. I felt weary and a little discouraged. The motivation was just not there and I was tempted to take the easy way out—dig into my archives and pull out a gem from the past. It would be easy and you readers would likely never know.

That is what weariness and discouragement can do to us. We start to cut corners or give up altogether when the motivation and enthusiasm are lacking. It is easy to do and easy to rationalize. Probably one of the most overused terms in recent times is “burnout.” People tend to apply it quite liberally as an excuse for not following through on responsibilities or just not having much enthusiasm. While there are legitimate cases of burnout, where rest and pulling back from responsibilities are necessary, much of what people describe as burnout is just the normal grind of life in a fallen world.

Life is hard and, sometimes, we just need to accept this fact and push on through it. I didn’t want to write today, but that is what I have committed to do and so I am pushing through my own internal resistance to do it. And what helped to motivate me was this passage.

Life indeed was hard for the early followers of Jesus. They were persecuted and often killed as a result of their faith. The Hebrew writer sought to encourage them not to give up or give in and renounce their faith. He reminded them of the believers before them who had endured much the same, and then he pointed them to Jesus. He told them to fix their eyes on Him in the midst of all their struggles. He had endured much, but was victorious in the end.

Jesus never gave up, never got burned out. He can be our source of strength and encouragement to continue to push through when we grow weary. Today, if you, like me, are feeling weary and discouraged, don’t give in to the temptation of cutting corners or giving up. Fix your eyes on Jesus and push on through.

© Jim Musser 2011

Your Tarnished Legacy

2011-11-11T08:05:00.001-05:00

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (I Timothy 1:15-17 NIV)

It has been a very rough week for Penn State University and its beloved football coach, Joe Paterno. Rocked by child molestation charges brought against one of Paterno’s former assistant coaches, the school’s Board of Trustees fired the 84-year-old just before the last home game of the season. From what I have read, Paterno’s legacy as a coach has been forever tarnished.

We hear a lot about legacy in this country, including within the church. Fathers are encouraged to leave a legacy for their children, teachers for their students, pastors for their flocks. But the question I have is, with all this emphasis on legacy, is there ever any room to accept one that is tarnished? Or, as in Paterno’s case, is everything the man has ever done rendered worthless because he may have had cause to suspect one of his staff of wrongdoing and did nothing to stop it? It sure sounds like it.

It so easy to pile on when someone is caught in the act of something terrible, whether it be rape, murder, or adultery. Yet, when a woman caught in bed with a man not her husband was brought to Jesus, He did not condemn her. (John 8) Instead, he challenged her accusers to consider their own sin before throwing their stones.

The truth of the matter is none of us have or will have a perfect legacy to leave behind. It will be tarnished; therefore, we have nothing to brag about or the right to look down our nose at someone else whose legacy is more tarnished than ours. We are all sinners, as Paul rightly concludes. No one can doubt that he left quite a legacy, but he recognized fully how tarnished it was when compared to the Lord. That is why he says his legacy is the worst. He is not comparing his life to others, but to the Lord. When we fail to do this, then it is so easy to cast aside someone else’s achievements when they fail.

Today, recognize that while it is commendable to seek to leave a good legacy, it will always be tarnished. So when you are tempted to condemn others for their failings, consider your own before you join in on the stone throwing.

© Jim Musser 2011

Priorities

2011-11-10T08:37:00.000-05:00

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, hecame to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had asister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ButMartha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came tohim and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the workby myself? Tell her to help me!’

‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you areworried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed onlyone. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”(Luke 10:38-42 NIV)

This is a short story and it appears only in Luke’s gospel, but it is a must read for every member of a task-oriented culture. Jesus has come to visit the sisters of his good friend, Lazarus. Martha, being very aware of the cultural practice of hospitality, is busy preparing a meal for this special guest. However, she becomes increasingly frustrated at her sister for not helping with the preparations. Instead, Mary is hanging out in the living room listening to Jesus. Finally, Martha can take it no longer, and in a breach of Jewish etiquette, implores Jesus to scold Mary for her laziness.

I once knew a woman who would invite people to her home for a meal, but would spend the whole time preparing the meal and then cleaning up. She barely spent any time with the guests she had invited into her home. She was keen on hospitality, but then missed the essence of it. I think this was Jesus’ point to Martha. When we get so focused on the task that we miss the people involved, we have missed the point entirely. Here was the Son of God in the living room and Martha thought it more important to be in the kitchen.

It is easy to look at her and be critical, but how often do we do the same? How often do the tasks at hand overshadow the people in our lives, whether it be a spouse, our children, friends, people in need, or the Lord Himself? It is so easy to get distracted from what is truly important. What Jesus told Martha boils down to priorities. He didn’t criticize her for wanting to prepare a meal, but rather her failure to recognize the unique opportunity before her to spend time with Him.

There will always be tasks to complete, but what this story illustrates for us is those tasks can, at times, distract us from focusing on the people in our lives. As you go about your day, remember the story of Mary and Martha. You may have a lot to do, but don’t allow those tasks to distract you from more important opportunities that may come your way.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Weariness of Life

2011-11-09T00:07:00.000-05:00

You can see it in people’s eyes and in their demeanor. On campus, people are weary. The college semester, as with life in general, can be a grind. It wears on you. If one is not careful, the weariness can overwhelm the joy we have in the Lord. The focus can subtly shift from Him to our circumstances, slowly eating away at our joy like rust on metal. For our strength does not come from the circumstances of life, but from the Lord.

If you look at the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus, you see their lives were very difficult. They faced many demands and hardships, and they grew weary. Yet, they were able to keep going because they turned to God to renew their strength. He was their hope.

The temptation is to get caught up in our circumstances and wallow in them. We feel sorry for ourselves, like Elijah (I Kings 19), and want to give up. Yet the way out is to turn to the Lord who, like He did for Elijah, will renew our strength.

Today, if you are weary, seek the Lord. Put your hope in Him and ask Him for strength. He will indeed provide it.

Grabbing the Paddle

2011-11-08T07:52:00.000-05:00

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15 NIV)

There is an old saying, you’re up a creek without a paddle, which means you are in a difficult situation with no real control. Being on a creek, or river, in a canoe without a paddle means you are going to go wherever the current takes you. That’s usually never a good thing because any river contains dangers, whether it be protruding rocks, rapids, or even waterfalls. With no control, the current can lead you right into danger.

Life is a lot like going down a river in a canoe. The current of our culture is carrying us along. Joshua saw the danger of the current and decided to grab a paddle. He saw his fellow Israelites being carried straight into danger by the current of idolatry and made a choice. He would steer clear and instead follow the Lord.

The current of our culture can lead us into all kinds of idolatry—sex, greed, sports, etc. And most choose just to be carried along by the natural flow. To steer clear of where the cultural river is leading requires a choice: go with it or grab a paddle. Of course, the paddle is the Lord. Only He can remove you from the destructive pull of the worldly current. But it is you that has to make the choice to rely on Him.

Today, which will you choose? I know for me and my house, we will grab the Paddle.

© Jim Musser 2011

A Price We Cannot Pay

2011-11-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

“So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:4-6 NIV)

According to a story in the Washington Post, Joshua Blackwell grew up in a Christian home in North Carolina, the son of an alcoholic turned pastor. As an adult, Blackwell decided Islam was the true way. “I knew reading [the Koran] immediately that my life would have to change,” He found in Islam “a structure for better human life. It was almost like I was reading a plan for success.”

All god-based religions ever devised have one thing in common—you have to earn your way into the favor of the Deity. In Hinduism, one has to live many lives to eventually reach Nirvana. In Buddhism, it is similar. One’s Karma is made of actions, good and bad, and those actions determine one’s destiny. And in Islam, a divine scale will be waiting adherents to weigh their good deeds and bad. If the scale falls toward good, then heaven awaits; if towards evil, then eternal punishment.

When God presented the Law to the Israelites, it was not meant to be a way to earn salvation, but as a lesson about how, on our own, we can never live up to God’s expectations. Instead, it was meant to lead us to Jesus. (Galatians 3:24) Sadly, the vast majority has chosen to hold onto the Law, whether Judaic or some other legalistic system. There seems to be an innate need to earn one’s way rather than to accept a free gift of eternal life. It was true in the 1st Century as Jesus walked the earth and it has continued for the past 2000 years. Yet, the Scriptures say that all of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And Jesus said there is no other way to God than through Him (John 14:6). In other words, there is no way to earn our way.

Yet, so many, like Joshua Blackwell, continue to seek to earn their own way by pious living. In many ways, it’s admirable and that is probably its attraction. We always feel better when we earn something. But the truth is, eternal life is not something we can earn. The price, a perfect life, is beyond our ability to pay for it.

Today, recognize earning God’s favor by our own efforts is an old and failed way of living. Instead, know that in Christ you have been released from the old way and now serve in the way of the Spirit, not out of hope of earning God’s favor but out of gratitude for His wonderful love.

© Jim Musser 2011

Telling the Lord to Go Away

2011-11-04T08:33:00.000-04:00

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 NIV)

Many years ago, a student asked to meet with me. She had been involved in the ministry I directed but had dropped out a couple of years before. I had not seen her since, but had wondered about her. She told me she had walked away from the Lord during that time, but had now returned to following Him. During our conversation, she said something that, at the time, amazed me. She said she had seen me on campus a number of times, but went out of her way to avoid me because seeing me convicted her about the way she was living. The very sight of me convicted her!

It took me awhile to figure this out, but I finally realized, to her, I represented the Lord and seeing me reminded her of her life of sin. Now imagine Peter’s experience with Jesus. No wonder he told Him to go away!

The Scriptures tell us that light and darkness must be separate (II Corinthians 6:14) and Peter himself later says that believers are called out of darkness into the Lord’s wonderful light. (I Peter 2:9) Light, in the biblical sense, exposes darkness (sin), so when Peter truly realized who he was dealing with, he felt very exposed as a sinful man. His instinct was to tell Jesus to go away.

Isn’t that our instinct as well? Like the young student when she saw me on campus, we want to run from the Lord out of fear our sin will be exposed. Yet, we need to hear the words of Jesus, “Don’t be afraid.” We fear at least His scolding and at worst His condemnation, but we will receive neither. There is no need to tell Him to go away or to avoid His presence. As He did with Peter, He will accept us where we are, forgive us, and then use us in the work of His Kingdom.

Today, do not be afraid of the Lord because of your sin. He knows all about it. In spite of it, He still has plans for your life. Just don’t tell Him to go away and you will be amazed at what He will do!

© Jim Musser 2011

Making a Trash Run

2011-11-03T08:26:00.000-04:00

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 NIV)

Since moving to North Carolina more than seven years ago, I have lived outside the city limits. For the first time in my life, I became responsible for removing my own trash. Up to that point, the most responsibility I had was pulling the trash containers out to the curb. City employees would do the dirty work.

At first, I was taken aback by this new responsibility. Dispose of my own trash, really? But now, every week or so, I am loading up the trash and recycling and driving it down the road to the nearest “convenience center.” And I find that I actually enjoy it, particularly when it has been piling up and overflowing. There is a sense of satisfaction to see it gone and to see our receptacles at home empty.

The other day, while I was making one of my trash runs, I was thinking about how similar confession of our sins is to disposing of our trash. It is easy to let it pile up, but it feels so good to get rid of it. And, in both cases, it is healthy. If you have ever seen the show, “Hoarders,” or have known people who hang on to their trash, you know how unhealthy it is to have it around. It is the same way with sin.

Confession to the Lord and to others is the way to get rid of our sin and to clean out our “receptacles.” Hoarding it, either out of fear or pride, is spiritually (and often physically) unhealthy. Confession is the Lord’s way to bring healing to our lives when we have gone astray.

Today, is there sin in your life that remains unconfessed? If so, then it’s time to make a “trash run,” time to clear things out. It is your responsibility to get rid of it and you will feel so much better when you do.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Forgiveness Principle

2011-11-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

Andrew Madoff, son of the infamous Ponzi schemer, Bernie Madoff, says he can never forgive his father for what he did. His fiancée, Catherine, says it’s a matter of principle. His deeds, she implies, were so atrocious that they are beyond forgiveness.

Think about that for a minute. It seems reasonable that a man, who bilked thousands of people out of millions of dollars, and many of their life savings, should be condemned. Yet, we who make that judgment, have sins of our own. So what if the One who is without sin is willing to forgive him? Can we still, like Catherine Hooper, maintain a sense of outrage and refuse to forgive?

This question can and should be applied to any situation where we find ourselves struggling to forgive someone. Because He is holy and without sin, God has the right not to forgive any of us; yet, out of love He chose to make a path of forgiveness for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So Paul says we should consider this fact when dealing with the failings of other people, even if we view them as extreme.

Regardless of the depth of sin, there is only one principle to consider here—forgive as the Lord forgave you. You may not consider your sins nearly as bad as someone else’s, but God, who is without sin, decided to forgive you. That should be enough for you to be willing to forgive someone who has hurt you.

Today, put into practice the principle that has allowed you to have the hope of eternal life. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Real Power to Transform

2011-11-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

“So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’" (Acts 1:6-8 NIV)

Political power is always alluring. It holds out the promise earnest men and women can change our society for the better. In the early 80’s, Christians began to think the way to transform our culture was through political engagement. Beginning with the Moral Majority, led by Jerry Falwell, evangelical Christians thought they could flex their muscles of influence through the political process. And it worked, in the sense that both political parties began paying attention to what people of faith considered important, particularly the Republican Party. And Christians helped sweep them into power in 1994 and helped elect a Christian president in 2000 and 2004. Yet with all this power and influence, little about our culture really changed. We saw this again in 2008 when President Obama was elected. Many thought he would transform our nation and the world, and he promised as much. We now see the emptiness of that promise.

In Jesus’ day, the people of Israel were looking for a powerful man, the Messiah, to overthrow the Roman Empire and restore to Israel its sovereignty. The disciples were among them. And when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection, they were sure the time had come. I can imagine their hearts beating fast in anticipation of the long-awaited restoration to power. And Jesus did promise them power, but not of the political kind. He promised the power of the Holy Spirit, and that His power would emanate through their lives as they proclaimed the Gospel.

Herein lies the real power to transform lives and cultures—the witness of Jesus’ work in our lives. It is real and it is deep, and when people hear and see it, they begin to take notice. In the 1st Century they did and a great transformation of culture took place over the next several hundred years.

Political power can be a useful tool sometimes, but as history has demonstrated, when Christians grab for political power to transform the culture, a train wreck of corruption usually follows. Jesus had the opportunity to take political power, but chose not to for good reason. It can only attempt to produce change through coercion. Jesus knew culture could only change when individuals are changed from the inside out.

Today, know that your witness as a follower of Jesus is the most powerful tool of change you have. If you are concerned about the direction of our culture, then let your life be a witness to others of the power Jesus has to bring hope and change.

© Jim Musser 2011

Can He Kill It?

2011-10-31T08:22:00.000-04:00

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:5-11 NIV)

There is a great scene in C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce. Souls have gone to Heaven to check it out. They can stay if they want or go back to Hell; it is their choice. There is one soul that has a lizard on his shoulder. The lizard doesn’t like Heaven and wants to go back. The soul encounters an angel and immediately the lizard feverishly begs to return to parts down under. The soul begins heading that way when the angel says, “Do you want me to kill it?” A battle of wills begins between the soul and the lizard as the angel continues to implore to destroy the wicked lizard.

The lizard represents entrenched sin in our lives that keeps us from an intimate relationship with God. With it, people develop a comfortable, albeit destructive, relationship. When the Spirit of God begins to convict us and asks us permission to eliminate it from our lives, the lizard begins pleading and rationalizing with us to let him live. A battle of wills begins; we know what we need to do, but the fear of what will happen next or the sheer pleasure of the sin makes us reluctant to allow it to be put to death.

In the book, the soul agonizes over the decision, the lizard pleads for his life, but finally the soul gives permission for the lizard to be put to death. Immediately, the lizard is transformed into a noble stallion on which the soul rides off into a deeper part of Heaven. Once a slave of the lizard, he is now master of a wonderful steed.

What Lewis captures so beautifully is the power of God to do amazing things in our lives when we allow Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to put to death sin that is enslaving us, whether it be lust, greed, pride, hate, an addiction, etc. Sin, in a strange way, can be a source of comfort to us. It can become so an integral part of our lives that we gain some security and comfort from it. But, without a doubt, it is a huge obstacle in becoming what the Lord has in mind for us. We cannot fully know, but we can trust Him to have our best interests at heart. The soul in Lewis’ tale finally garnered the courage to give permission for the lizard to be put to death. The result was one he could not have imagined—he went from slavery to freedom and his cruel master was transformed as well.

Today, what is enslaving you? Will you let the Lord put it to death? He will gladly do it, but needs permission from you. If fear is holding you back, know death of that sin will transform your life in ways you can now not even imagine. Can He kill it?

© Jim Musser 2011

Isn't That Just Like Jesus?

2011-10-28T08:39:00.001-04:00

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31 NIV)

I have been reading the Gospel of John during the past several weeks. It’s my favorite Gospel because John does such a masterful job of showing Jesus as both divine and human. There are so many great stories that only John tells—the lonely and outcast Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), the woman accused of adultery (John 8), and Thomas’ struggle with doubt that Jesus was truly alive (John 20). But probably my favorite story is when Jesus appears on the beach while Peter and some other disciples are out fishing on the Sea of Galilee.

The disciples have been out all night and have had no luck. Not a single fish has been caught. As the sun begins to rise, Jesus appears on the beach and, as if He didn’t already know, asks if they have caught any fish. When they answered in the negative, He tells them they will find some on the right side of their boat. And sure enough, they did—153 large ones to be exact. We know this because the disciples were so impressed with what had happened that they counted every one! And then He offered to fix them breakfast. Isn’t this just like Jesus, to do the miraculous and the mundane all at the same time?

When He encountered the Samaritan woman at the well, it was a normal, human encounter. He was thirsty and asked her for a drink. But He knew all about her, her loneliness and her sins. His gentle probing into the depths of her life led her to faith and, in turn, a whole village. Isn’t that just like Jesus to transform a sinner into an evangelist?

And when the woman caught in adultery was paraded before Him by a host of male accusers, His focus instead was on the men. Which of them had never sinned, He asked? He then should be the one throwing the first stone of her execution. As they one by one left in shame, Jesus spoke gently to the woman, reassuring her that she was not condemned, but firmly telling her she needed to change the way she was living. Isn’t that just like Jesus, to speak the truth to both the self-righteous and the sinner?

When Thomas so firmly stated his doubts, Jesus appeared out of nowhere and told him to feel with his own hands the wounds of His crucifixion. He then rebuked him, saying, “Stop doubting and believe.” Isn’t that just like Jesus to show up sometimes and leave no doubt?

John says he tells these stories about Jesus so that we might believe in Jesus as Messiah and the Son of God and thereby find eternal life. He has certainly told some great ones and they have the ring of truth. To me, they sound just like Jesus, and I certainly believe He is the Son of God and my Lord and Savior.

© Jim Musser 2011

The Battle with Our Feelings

2011-10-27T08:16:00.000-04:00

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’  These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you  from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’  My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me,  saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42)

You can just sense the struggle within David to maintain hope and faith in the midst of his overwhelming circumstances. Like a rollercoaster, his emotions are up and down, twisting and turning within him. One moment he is praising the Lord and the next he is gripped by anguish and despair. He is at war with his feelings and it is palpable. You get the strong sense he is attempting to will himself to trust God when all things around him are pulling him in the opposite direction.

Sometimes this is life as a follower of the Lord. Circumstances can overwhelm us and our feelings pull us away into fear and anxiousness; yet David demonstrates how we need to fight through our feelings and engage our will to remain focused on the hope we have in God. Our culture has elevated feelings to be the ultimate guide in life, but feelings are not always trustworthy. For example, I may continue to feel guilt over a sin I committed and confessed to the Lord; yet the Word says if I confess my sin, the Lord forgives it. (I John 1:9) In which am I to place my trust: how I feel or what the Lord says in His Word?

It is a battle to override where our feelings lead us. David clearly demonstrates that for us. However, the Lord is trustworthy in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. They may feel overwhelming, but that’s just how it feels. The truth is the Lord has overcome the world and all the troubles it inflicts on our lives (John 16:33).

Today, regardless of what circumstances may be overwhelming you, put your hope in the Lord. While you cannot always trust your feelings, you can always trust in Him.

© Jim Musser 2011

Perfect, But Not Yet Holy

2011-10-26T07:52:00.000-04:00

“Day after day every priest stands and performs hisreligious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which cannever take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time onesacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time hewaits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he hasmade perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:11-14 NIV)

Nobody’s perfect. You have certainly heard that and most likely have said it at some pointin defense of your or someone else’s behavior. It is a basic recognition that people make mistakes, and ifyou expect perfection from anyone, you are going to be disappointed.

Yet, the Hebrew writer says that those of us who followJesus are perfect. Whoa! Now I know some Christians act likethey are perfect, but they fall far short of that reality. So what is he saying here?

According to the Old Testament Law, blood had to be shed inorder for sin to be forgiven. (Hebrews 9:22) Yet, it had to be shed over and over because it was impossiblefor the blood of goats or bulls to take away sin. (Hebrews 10:4) But when Jesus offered Himself up as asacrifice, it was perfect. He wasa man and perfect. Thus, those whosubmit to His Lordship are perfect because their sins no longer separate themfrom the Father. Perfection, then,is not the absence of sin in our lives, but the destruction of its eternaleffects on our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Thus, in the eyes of the Old Testament Law, we are perfect.

Though we are not yet holy. This means “to be set apart.” We are not yet totally different from those who follow theirown way. To be holy is to reflectthe nature of God in our lives. That is a lifelong process. We are perfect, but we are being made holy.

It seems to me, in order to be made into anything requirescooperation. If a coach wants aplayer to become a great athlete, it requires the player’s cooperation. He must listen to the coach and do whathe says. If a parent wants to makeher child into a responsible, well-behaved adult, it requires trust andsubmission on the part of the child. Obedience can only be imposed for so long. So, too, it is with us as Christians. If God is going to make us holy, itwill require our cooperation. Wewill have to trust and obey Him, submitting our desires to His.

Today know that you are perfect if you have given your lifeover to Jesus, but recognize you still are in process of being made holy. For that to work requires yourcooperation.

Guarding Our Deposit

2011-10-25T07:42:00.000-04:00

“What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of soundteaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that wasentrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”(II Timothy 1:13-14 NIV)

Last year, my wife and I decided to send some money to helpa friend in Zambia. When I went tothe bank to arrange the transfer, I was told the bank could not guarantee themoney would be received. Accordingthe bank official, banks in Zambia were on a security risk list. Money deposited there could easily bestolen.

Every month I go to my local bank and deposit mypaycheck. I do not really givemuch thought to my deposit’s security; I just assume it is secure. That is because I know banks in theU.S. take extraordinary precautions to secure the deposited funds of theircustomers. If they didn’t, theywould quickly go out of business.

Paul tells Timothy to guard the deposit given him, which isthe Gospel. There are severalthings we can learn from this. First, Paul says the Gospel was entrusted to Timothy. It was given with the belief Timothywas trustworthy to handle it and keep it secure. Its power would be enhanced, not diminished by hisconduct. It would be kept pure andnot distorted to fit his own desires. It would be proclaimed to glorify God rather than used for his ownglory. And it was entrustedbecause it itself is of great value.

Secondly, Paul tells Timothy to rely on the Holy Spirit forhelp in guarding the Gospel. As itis with banks, there are enemies out there seeking to steal away the depositgiven to us. A bank relies on asophisticated system to secure its holdings, not just on one person, such asthe bank manager. We, too, needhelp to guard our Gospel deposit, and that help comes from the HolySpirit.

As a Christian, you have been entrusted with something ofgreat value—the Gospel. God’sgrace that gives you hope for eternal life has been given to you. How secure is it? Jesus tells us our enemy comes to stealand destroy (John 10:10). Andamong many calling themselves Christians, he has done just that. He has cleanedout their accounts.

Today, know the Gospel was given to you because you wereconsidered worthy of securing it in your life, but realize you need the help ofthe Holy Spirit to guard it. Don’tlet the enemy steal it away.

A Debt We Could Not Pay

2011-10-24T08:25:00.003-04:00

“When you were dead in your sins and in theuncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us allour sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stoodagainst us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”(Colossians 2:13-14 NIV)

I recently read an article in Time magazine aboutthe enormous debt college graduates have incurred while earning theirdegrees. One woman took over$150,000 out in loans to earn a liberal arts degree. She is now living with her parents and working a low-wage,part-time job. Another had thechoice of going to an elite private school or a state university. Because she thought the private school wouldgain her a better reputation, and job opportunities, she chose it even thoughit cost three times as much. Thisgraduate is now working two jobs, not in her field of study, just to make themonthly payments on her student loans. She referred to herself as an “idiot.”

It is this huge indebtedness that has led some inthe Occupy Wall Street movement to demand that all student loan debt becancelled. Good luck on thatone! No one forced these graduatesinto debt. It was their choice togo to college and to choose a particular school to attend. It was also their choice of selecting amajor. Because going intodebt was their choice, it is unlikely banks are going to cancel it.

This makes the fact of our sin debt being forgivenall that more astounding. Likethose college graduates, we chose to sin, to rebel against God. No one made us do it. And our debt is so great; we will neverbe able to pay it off. Yet, unlikebanks with student loans, God chose to cancel our debt. Totally. Completely. Wedidn’t have to do a thing! Onemoment we were buried in debt; the next it was gone!

The only condition was that we stop trying to payit off and start a relationship with the One who cancelled it. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

Today, realize what a tremendous position you arein. A debt you freely incurred andcould not pay was cancelled. Younow owe nothing except your life.

Reclaiming the Excitement

2011-10-14T06:44:00.000-04:00

(Author's Note: I will be traveling all of next week and will not have the time to write. So look for WftW to return on October 24th. In the meantime, you can look at the many archives on this blog. Jim)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While wewere still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we besaved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him throughthe death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be savedthrough his life! Not only is thisso, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom wehave now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11 NIV)

Do you remember the first time you were able to drive onyour own? How excited you were toget behind the wheel and drive without parental supervision? I doubt if you feel that sameexcitement now, years later, with lots of driving experience behind you. Driving has become a routine part ofyour life.

We often get very excited about new experiences, but oncethose experiences become routine, we don’t give them too much thought anymoreand they don’t generate much excitement. Such as starting college, for instance. Those first few weeks or months are quite the experience,but then the college life just becomes normative. It’s not new; it’s life. This is true for so many things.

I think this explains why we often have a difficult timeremaining excited about the work of God in our lives through Jesus. Most of us have heard the story ofJesus dying for our sins since we were young children. It is a familiar story. It is not new; thus, it does not stir upmuch excitement for us. Yet, isthere any story like it? When Iread this passage the other day, the thought came to mind of President Obamagiving up his life to save Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It would be outrageous to think thatwould ever happen. The Presidentof the United States giving up his life to save the life of an enemy of thecountry he leads. It would be outrageous to think that would ever happen.

Indeed, it is inconceivable that God would give up the lifeof His Son for the sake of us, his enemies, except that we have grown up withthe story. Foolishness is how Pauldescribed it (I Corinthians 1:21) because it is so absurd. Yet, we so often treat it as mundanebecause it is familiar.

As believers, I think we have to re-examine the Gospeloften, not allowing its familiarity to dull the excitement of the reality ofwhat God did through Jesus. Whilewe were still His enemies, He willingly died that we might be saved.

Today, look at what Jesus did through new eyes. Look at it as if for the firsttime. A story like this shouldnever become mundane.

Washed Down the Drain

2011-10-13T08:10:00.000-04:00

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great ishis love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so farhas he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD hascompassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembersthat we are dust.” (Psalm 103:11-14 NIV)

At our Fall Retreat this past weekend, as we sang thesewords—“O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from thedead”—the vivid image of my sins washing down a drain appeared in my mind. Covered in blood, they disappeared!

So many of us are haunted by our sins. We can make claims of forgiveness andwe can sing songs about our sins being washed away, but how many of us trulylive that way? How many of us still live with the shame of past deeds clingingto our hearts?

When we continue to live in the grip of our sin, we fail tounderstand the love the Lord has for us and the whole point of the Cross. God desires us to be set free from theburden of sin and Jesus died to do just that. When we allow our confessed sins to continue to shame us, weare living as if Jesus never paid our debt.

When we confess our sins, they are forgiven. (I John1:9) God washes them down thedrain with the blood of His Son. They are gone, no longer there to weigh us down with shame. We have been washed clean and forgiven!

Today, remember Jesus paid the debt for your sins. If you have confessed them, recognizethey have been washed down the drain. They are gone and you are free from their shame.

The Gateway To Joy

2011-10-12T08:40:00.003-04:00

“They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then theyordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin,rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for theName. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they neverstopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts5:40b-42 NIV)

Damare was seven-years-old when he was taken captive in hisnative Sudan and sold into slavery. He was forced to care for his master’s camels. One day he snuck off to attend a Christian school in thearea. His master found out anddecided to punish him. He took aboard and some long nails and forced Damare’s legs onto the board, and thenhammered the nails through his knees and feet. As the master walked away, Damare’s agonizing screams echoedin his ears. Hearing the screams,a man passing by came to Damare’s rescue and took him to a nearby hospitalwhere the nails were removed. Having come to know the Lord, Darmare forgave his former master. He said Jesus was nailed to the Crossso that all sins could be forgiven.

You cannot rejoice if you cannot forgive. Forgiveness is the gateway to joy. The Apostles were unfairly punished forpreaching the Gospel. They knewthey had done nothing wrong; yet they rejoiced at experiencing something similarto what their Lord had experienced. And they put into practice what the Lord had said, “Father, forgivethem, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) In the same way, Damare forgave hisformer master and was able to put into perspective his suffering.

Joy and power come when we meet suffering at the hands ofothers with forgiveness. Whetherit be an abusive or negligent parent, a professor or employer with ananti-Christian bias, or the rejection of friends who don’t like what theyperceive as our “holier than thou” attitude, forgiveness is the means by whichwe handle such situations in order to maintain joy in our lives.

Today, if there is past or present suffering in your lifethat has robbed you of your joy, forgiveness is the answer. It is the gateway to reclaiming it,just as the Apostles and Damare have clearly demonstrated.

Façades of Strength

2011-10-11T08:13:00.000-04:00

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becomingconceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to tormentme. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said tome, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so thatChrist’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight inweaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. Forwhen I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:7b-10 NIV)

“I just want to get my emotions under controlbefore my small group tonight,” the student leader shared, having just learnedof her father’s cancer diagnosis. It brought flooding back memories of my dad’s death and how I tried tobe strong before my brothers and sisters in Christ. I was convinced at the time that strength was necessary todemonstrate faith. I couldn’t havebeen more wrong.

We live in a world that disdains weakness. We live in a country that glorifiesself-reliance. The two combinedcan lead us, as followers of Jesus, to the mistaken belief that any show ofweakness will be seen as a lack of faith. So we are tempted to put on the façade of strength when trials, such asthe death of a parent, come our way. But by definition, façades aren’t real. They are hiding what is really there.

The reality, whether we are willing to admit it ornot, is we are weak people. Lifein a fallen world is often too much for us to handle. Illness, death, and tragedies of a wide variety are visitedupon us along life’s journey and they are just too big for us to handle on ourown. Sure, we can attempt it andwe may fool some people, but reality lies just beneath the surface. When my dad died, my heart was brokenand aching. My attempts to actotherwise were, in a word, foolish.

I say this because of this passage, which, uponreading this shortly after my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer a yearafter my father’s death, literally transformed my thinking on weakness. God’s power is demonstrated through ourweakness and when we try to build a façade of strength, we impede its displayto those around us, and we lengthen and deepen our own suffering. And I suffered a lot after my dad diedmerely because I tried to hide my grief behind a façade of what I thought wasspiritual strength. “Dad is inheaven,” I declared. And then Iwent on with my life, impressing my peers with how well I was doing. But it was a sham. I was crying inside and, because of mypretense of strength, I only grew weaker and more depressed.

The Lord offered me His grace by leading me tothis passage upon learning of my mom’s terminal illness, because I was going tomake the same mistake again. Butthese words opened my eyes and penetrated deep into my heart. When I am weak, then I am strong.

Today, know you do not have to rely on your ownstrength to deal with life’s trials. In fact, you are too weak to do so. Rather, lean on the Lord because when you are weak, He willbe your strength.

Softening a Hardened Heart

2011-10-10T08:36:00.000-04:00

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passingthrough. A man was there by thename of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted tosee who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. Sohe ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was comingthat way. When Jesus reached thespot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I muststay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘Hehas gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if Ihave cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come tothis house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Mancame to seek and to save the lost.’” (Luke 19:1-10 NIV)

The “Occupy Wall Street” protests that beganseveral weeks ago in New York City are now spreading to other cities. It seems the main aim of theseloose-knit protests is to draw attention to the growing disparity between richand poor and to blame the Wall Street corporations and traders for it. They are tired of what they see ascorporate greed and corruption.

If anyone fit the description of greedy andcorrupt, it was Zacchaeus. A taxcollector for the Roman Empire, he knew how to game the system. While collecting oppressive taxes forthe government, he was also getting his take as well, at the expense of thepeople. And his victims knewit. When they saw Jesus inviteHimself over for dinner to Zaccaheus’ house, they were astounded. Here was a man they hoped was theirMessiah and that would soon overthrow Roman oppression having dinner with oneof its lackeys.

But that very act of acceptance (to have dinnerwith someone was viewed in that culture as an act showing honor and respect) byJesus penetrated the tax collector’s heart to such an extent that he repentedof his greedy and corrupt ways. Immediately, he promised to give away half of his wealth to the poor andto reimburse those he had cheated with far more than he had taken.

Hatred and bitterness are the natural responses tobeing hurt and taken advantage of. I can understand how many people today feel anger and hatred toward corporateexecutives who have laid off hundreds to thousands of employees while earningmulti-million salaries and bonuses. Yet, hate and bitterness rarely can change a heart. The people hated Zaccheaus, but hisheart remained hardened towards them and he continued to cheat them. It was only when Jesus showed him lovethat his heart softened and his life changed.

Today, recognize the power of love to changehearts and lives. Anger and bitternessmay feel a whole lot better and appropriate, but the odds of softening a hardenedheart are much greater with expressions of love.

The Nature Narrative

2011-10-07T07:30:00.002-04:00

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, andworshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is foreverpraised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25 NIV)

There is a narrative in science that continues tospread into our culture that “nature” has a mind of its own. I recently watched an episode ofDiscovery Channel’s “Planet Earth,” in which the narrator repeatedly inferredthat animals figured out on their own how to live in their environments. And earlier this week on NationalPublic Radio, I heard a piece focusing on engineering based on nature. The expert stated we could learn a lotfrom nature because plants are experts in design.

The narrative is one that worships the createdinstead of the Creator. We havegone from admiring nature as the handiwork of God to endowing nature with thepowers of creation. If there is a“creator” in this narrative, it is Evolution.

If you read Romans 1, you will realize the dangerthis narrative holds for all who embrace it. “You shall have no other gods before me,” is the first ofthe Ten Commandments. God hasnever tolerated His position as God and Creator to be usurped by that which Hecreated. Idolatry, in any form, isuntenable to the Lord.

Today, recognize the narrative we so often hearabout nature conceals a very dangerous lie. There is only one God and He is the Creator of allthings. When we begin to endownature with creative powers in and of itself, we have crossed over a line thatshould never be crossed.

The Value of What We Build

2011-10-06T08:23:00.000-04:00

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundationas a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one shouldbuild with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one alreadylaid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold,silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what itis, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, andthe fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been builtsurvives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builderwill suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping throughthe flames.” (I Corinthians 3:10-15 NIV)

Steve Jobs built things and he built themcreatively and well. Peopleroutinely lined up to buy what he created—iPods, MacBooks, iPhones, andiPads. By all accounts, he was acreative (and marketing) genius.

As the world mourns the death of this greatbuilder of things, I am reminded the Lord has a different view of what we buildin our lives. It is easy to getcaught up in the world’s view of what’s important, whether it be the latesttechnological advancement, fame, or some personal achievement. We can be lured into thinking we arebuilding something significant for ourselves. And by the world’s standards, we may be. However, the world is not the ultimatejudge of the achievements of our lives.

Paul says there is only one foundation on which wecan build that truly has any value and that is Jesus. That is a hard truth because there are a lot of people inthis world who are doing or have done a lot of great things. Are we to conclude that if they weren’tdoing those things on the foundation of Jesus, they are of no value? It appears so, at least for them ineternity.

There is no doubt people produce things of valueto us, whether good deeds or good technology like the MacBook on which I amwriting this devotion. But thequestion we all must ask ourselves is: Are the things we produce in our livesof value to God? For it is to Himwe will one day give an account of what we’ve done.

Today, remember that regardless of what the worldsays about your achievements, it is the Lord who will have the final say on thevalue of what you’ve accomplished.

Ear Scratching

2011-10-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

“Preach the Word; beprepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with greatpatience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not putup with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gatheraround them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want tohear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”(II Timothy 4:2-4 NIV)

I used to have a dog namedHarley. We gave him away a fewyears ago because of our traveling schedule. He just couldn’t tolerate the extensive kenneling and I didn’tthink it was fair to keep doing that to him, so we gave him away to a good,loving home.

I remember that he lovedto have his ears scratched. Alldogs do. I would scratch his ears and he would just groan with pleasure. In a metaphoric sense, people are thesame. They love to have their earsscratched—they love to hear others say what they want to hear. Whether it be political, moral, or justnon-descript opinions, we tend to want to hear people reaffirm our views onthings.

If you ever watch cablenews shows, you never see anyone who is interested in hearing the opinions ofothers with whom they disagree. They have their opinions and have no interest in listening to the otherside. And I doubt many viewers areopen to hearing anything but what they agree with. Either you see the one side as left-wing liberals or theother side as right-wing extremists. In the classroom, often the professor will only present research andopinions that reflect his own. Ionce knew a religious studies professor who acknowledged he would not referenceany scholar in his classes with whom he didn’t agree.

As Christians, we followthe Truth, and we always should be in pursuit of what is true. In other words, we should be teachableand not just want our ears scratched. Our hearts should be open to what is true, even if it goes against whatwe currently believe. And thattruth needs to be based in the Word of God, not merely on what others say or wehave grown up believing.

When I was very young, Iused to think the characters on the TV screen actually lived in the TV. When I was a teenager, I used to thinkpeople who raised their hands in church were weird. When I was in college, I was convinced that going overseason mission trips was not for me. Living life is about maturing and to mature you must be teachable. As I matured, I realized the folly ofthinking people lived inside the television; as I grew as a Christian, Irealized raised hands are a wonderful expression of adoration for God; and as Isurrendered my fears to the Lord, He showed me the wonders of His mighty worksthroughout the world and the beauty of His people across the span of many cultures.

Children and teens oftenthink they know a lot, but when they become adults, they realize how ignorantthey often were. Spiritually, weare still children compared to the Lord. We need to listen to Him in order to grow up and put away childish thinking.

Today, may your prayer bethat you have a teachable heart, one that is open to what God wants you tolearn, not just what you already believe.

Missed Opportunities

2011-10-04T08:18:00.000-04:00

“Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing agreat banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent hisservant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is nowready.”

‘But they all alike began to make excuses. Thefirst said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Pleaseexcuse me.”

‘Another said, “I have just bought five yoke ofoxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”

‘Still another said, “I just got married, so Ican’t come.”

‘The servant came back and reported this to hismaster. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Goout quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, thecrippled, the blind and the lame.”

”Sir,” the servant said, “what you orderedhas been done, but there is still room.”

‘Then the master told his servant, “Go out to theroads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will befull. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of mybanquet.”’” (Luke 14:16-24 NIV)

I was talking recently to some student leaders whowere discouraged that their attempts to help other students grow deeperspiritually were being rebuffed. Appointments were canceled, Bible studies missed, and opportunities tobe honest and authentic about what was happening in their lives filled insteadwith shallow sharing. I told themthis was the hard part of ministering to people.

As Jesus’ points out in His parable, not everyoneis ready or willing to seize the opportunity given them to go deeper with theLord. Sadly, it is an opportunitymissed, but a fact of life. We caneasily get caught up with what is right in front of us and miss what mattersmost. That may be school, work, arelationship, or just our desire to be comfortable rather than stretched.

For those of us who are trying to pour what theLord has given us into others, we learn from this parable the futility ofcontinuing to pursue those who are not interested in what opportunities we areoffering them. Instead of wastingour time and energy on people with all kinds of excuses of why they can’t maketime to grow spiritually, we are to focus on those who are eager and hungry togo deeper. This is not to say wegive up on the others. We cancontinue to pray for them, but our energy should be focused on those eager toseize the opportunity to grow.

Today, recognize the opportunities to grow thatthe Lord may be offering you. Theycan easily be lost in the midst of the busyness and attractions of life, butthey are opportunities not to be missed. And if you are one seeking to be used by the Lord to minister to others,don’t spend a lot of time pursuing people who have little interest ingrowing. Instead, look for thosewho want to seize the opportunity to go deeper with the Lord.

Taking God Lightly

2011-10-03T08:42:00.000-04:00

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know onwhat day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the househad known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watchand would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready,because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whomthe master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give themtheir food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose masterfinds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in chargeof all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself,‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellowservants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant willcome on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. Hewill cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where therewill be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:42-51 NIV)

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary lastnight by going out to a very nice local restaurant. Since it specialized in game meats, I decided to try thewild boar chop or, as our server described it, “pork with an attitude.” When it was delivered to the table, Iimmediately noticed a lot of fat on the edge of the chop. As I cut into it, I discovered one endwas literally nothing but fat. Iam typically not one to complain, but I knew this was not a good piece ofmeat. So I told our server and shesaid she would consult the chef. She returned to say, somewhat embarrassingly, that the chef was aware ofthe fattiness of the chop, but had decided to serve it anyway. She apologized and told me a new pieceof meat was being prepared. Myassumption is the chef, or his assistant, thought he could get away withserving that low quality chop. Perhaps he thought I wouldn’t notice or just wouldn’t complain.

I wonder if that is not how we approach sinsometimes. We think we will beable to get away with it because we think no one is watching or that, somehow,it will be ignored. If so, we takeGod far too lightly. And this isthe point of Jesus’ parable. Ifwe, as the Lord’s servants, are given a responsibility, He expects us tofulfill it. Just because He is notphysically present, doesn’t mean we are going to get away with being negligentor downright disobedient.

To be given a responsibility and thenintentionally not carry through with it is a sign of disrespect to the one incharge. There will alwayseventually be consequences for that. I have no doubt my complaint last right reached the restaurant managerand the chef got an earful.

Today, remember disobedience to the Lord is a signof disrespect. He is not a hardtaskmaster, but He does demand respect.

A More Balanced Prayer Life

2011-09-30T08:07:00.000-04:00

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 NIV)

Think about your average small group or church atthe time prayer requests are being shared. What requests are made? Typically, they involve people who are sick orstruggling. Sometimes, they aremade for people who are traveling or making important decisions. On campus, they often revolve aroundtests and projects. Rarely, ifever, do you hear a request made to have more love for the Lord and people,more knowledge and insight into the things of God so as to be able to discernthe best way to live each day.

Now there is nothing wrong with asking for prayerfor Aunt Sue’s struggle with cancer, dad’s search for a new job, or your weekfull of tests and projects due. Yet, like one’s diet, it’s good to have a balanced approach.

Paul’s prayer here is focused on long-termspiritual growth and transformation. That is to be the goal of every follower of Jesus, but in terms of ourprayer lives, we too easily become focused on what’s right in front of us—thetests, the illnesses, etc. What’smissing often are the deeper prayers, such as this one that Paul prays. When we focus solely on thedifficulties right in front of us, we can miss out on the resources thatultimately help us to deal better with the trials and struggles in life.

Any casual reading of Acts and the letters ofPaul, Peter, James, and John reveal a 1^st Century life full ofdifficulties. Yet, Paul’s prayeris not focused on any particular one. Instead, it focuses on the broader, and deeper, need to be “pure and blamelessfor the day of Christ,” which is the ultimate purpose of each of our lives.

Today, consider the content of Paul’s prayer. If you are like me, your prayer lifecould use a lot more balance. Thisprayer would be a good place to start.

Embracing Change

2011-09-29T07:39:00.003-04:00

"When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven ina whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah saidto Elisha, 'Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel .' But Elisha said,'As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.' Sothey went down to Bethel . The company of the prophets at Bethel came outto Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the Lord is going to take yourmaster from you today?' 'Yes, I know,' but do not speak of it.' Then Elijah said to him, 'Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.' And he replied, 'As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I willnot leave you.' So they went to Jericho . The company of theprophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, 'Do you know that the Lordis going to take your master from you today? 'Yes, I know,' he replied,'but do not speak of it.' Then Elijah said to him, 'Stay here; the Lordhas sent me to the Jordan .' And he replied, 'As surely as the Lord livesand as you live, I will not leave you.' So the two of them walked on."(II Kings 2:1-6 NIV)

You have to admire Elisha. He was indeed loyal to hismaster Elijah. But what was behind the loyalty? I think he was afraid. Each time other prophets spoke of Elijah's imminent departure, Elisha toldthem, in effect, "Shut up! I don't want to talk aboutit!" He had become very dependent on Elijah, to the point he did notwant to leave his sight.

For many of us, change is threatening. Like that seatin your class in the 10^th row on the aisle. You've sat thereall semester and don't want to give it up. Or one's senior year that canproduce much anxiety as college life comes to a close and the future of acareer looms large. We want to hold on to the present because it iscomfortable.

Yet hanging on to the present is to allow fear to controlus, and by doing so, we demonstrate distrust in God to watch over us and guideus. Life is not something that is static. It is dynamic. Change is a core part of life. If we embrace it, we acknowledge God'spower and love. We trust Him to take care of us and to use change as anagent of growth in our lives. If we resist, we cheat ourselves. Weare filled with anxiety and our growth stagnates.

When the inevitable happened and God took Elijah from Earth,Elisha was endowed with great power. He had not been abandoned as he hadfeared. God took care of him in spite of Elijah's absence.

Today, know that whatever changes are coming in your life,God will not abandon you. He will stay right by you, giving you thestrength and ability to cope with the change. And He will use the changeto make you more the person He desires you to be.

The Effects of God's Grace

2011-09-28T07:09:00.000-04:00

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserveto be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by thegrace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, Iworked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was withme.” (I Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV)

Recently, I have had some discussions about salvation,whether or not one can lose it, what it means to be saved, and the tensionbetween the role of faith and works in the Christian life. As I read this passage, one line jumpedout at me: “. . .and his grace was not without effect.”

Many Christians get caught up in the theological argumentsinvolving eternal security and salvation. Can people be saved merely by saying the “sinner’s prayer” or is it moreinvolved than that? Do “works”play any role? Can a person whoonce walked faithfully in the Lord turn from that path and lose theirsalvation? And the arguments involvingthese questions can be heated. Yet, honestly, I think they miss the main point: The grace we receivefrom God should not be without effect.

Can we not all agree that a relationship with Jesus shouldmake a profound difference in the way we think and live? If so, then it seems more important tofocus on the effect God’s grace is having in our lives. And if there is no evidence of effect,rather than debating if one’s salvation is secure, we should be encouraging oneanother to remove whatever is hindering the impact of His grace.

With regard to salvation, God is the only Arbiter. Neither you nor I can judge a person’seternal destiny. However, if theperson claims to have accepted God’s grace, then we can rightfully expect avisible effect on his life; for the effect of God’s grace is to be increasinglytransformed into His likeness (I Corinthians 3:18). It was apparent in the life of Paul; it also should beapparent in each of our lives.

Today, consider what effect God’s grace is having in yourlife. For the essence of beingsaved is to be transformed into the image of Jesus.

Listening To Jesus

2011-09-27T08:14:00.000-04:00

“About eight days after Jesus said this, he tookPeter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance ofhis face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash oflightning. Two men, Moses andElijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, whichhe was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companionswere very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and thetwo men standing with him. As themen were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to behere. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one forElijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.)

“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared andcovered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying,‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ When the voice had spoken,they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and didnot tell anyone at that time what they had seen.” (Luke 9:28-36 NIV)

If you have ever been to Washington, D.C., youknow it is a city of monuments and memorials. The most famous probably are the Washington Monument and theLincoln Memorial, but there are dozens of others including the Viet NamMemorial and the just opened Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. These monuments and memorials are tohonor the great figures and events in American history. And that is what we do when we want tohonor or memorialize someone of significance. We build a monument.

So we can understand Peter’s urge to buildsomething in recognition of what he had just witnessed—the glorious appearanceof two of Judaism’s greatest heroes, Moses and Elijah side by side withJesus. So why then does Lukeinclude the parenthetical statement, “He did not know what he wassaying,”? Honestly, probably noneof the disciples questioned it at that moment. Only when God the Father spoke out of the cloud did hissuggestion then become ridiculous.

By wanting to build monuments for all three, Peterwas equating Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Without thinking, he was creating a Jewish Trinity, equal, butdistinct. There was only oneproblem. Moses and Elijahwere mere men, while Jesus was the Son of God. The Father quickly reminded Peter and the other disciples ofthis fact and the idea of building monuments was quickly dropped.

How easy it is for us to put people or experienceson equal level with Jesus, and allow them to have equal influence or authorityin our lives. I have seen peopleput friends right up there with Jesus, or a girlfriend or boyfriend. I have seen some allow a certainexperience, like a mission trip or a summer camp, to become their guide forlife. Yet, we always need to bereminded of the words of the Father, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen;listen to him.”

Today, recognize there are a lot of good things inlife, including great relationships and experiences, but none deserve a placeequal to Jesus. He is Lord and youneed to listen always to Him above all others.

The Bridge of Grace

2011-09-26T08:14:00.001-04:00

“Bear with each other and forgive one another ifany of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”(Colossians 3:13 NIV)

While I was working on my master’s degree incounseling, I worked one semester as a teaching assistant and taught my ownclass. It was a freshman-levelclass for students interested in exploring career options. As with all classes, there wereprojects and papers. I thought Idid a decent job, but I was demanding.

At the end of the semester, the students filledout the required class evaluation forms and my supervising professor warnedthat students are often very negative in their critiques. When he handed me the stack of forms,he said, “Don’t take these personally.” Well over half said something like this: “Jim is anice man, but…” and what would follow were their criticisms of how tough anddemanding I was.

I was thinking about this the other day afterhearing a student criticize another ministry. “They’re okay, but….” I admit saying similar things sometimesabout people, ministries or situations. However, what I am also learning is grace is the bridge over the“but….”

None of us is perfect. We all have our flaws, idiosyncrasies, andshortcomings. In other words, weall need to be on the receiving end of grace. Since that is the case, Paul says, we should be quick toextend grace to others when their imperfections irritate us or even offend us. It is so easy, perhaps even natural,for us to descend into the valley of criticism, but recognizing our own needfor grace can help us to take the bridge instead.

This is not to say we are to ignore people’sshortcomings. In fact, “bear with”implies a full knowledge and experience with imperfect people. Yet, despite the imperfections, we areto continue to love and accept our brothers and sisters. We are to take the bridge instead ofgoing into the valley, remembering the words of Jesus, “By this everyone willknow that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35 NIV)

Today, as you interact with fellow believers andencounter their shortcomings, remember the bridge of grace is always the bestpath to take.

Speaking the Truth

2011-09-23T07:33:00.000-04:00

“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth andsomeone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from theerror of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”(James 5:19-20 NIV)

When I was asked by a couple to meet with them forpre-engagement counseling, I knew where I had to start. Their physical relationship was out ofcontrol, and so at our first meeting I confronted them. I told them they had to make achoice—either begin honoring God by working to change their behavior or just goahead and sleep together and stop the hypocrisy. It was time to get off the fence. Either live for God or live for yourselves.

I recall another student who had been involved in theministry for two years. She hadcommitted her life to the Lord, but she lived a double life. She would come to our meetings, but onthe weekends was with other friends drinking and often getting drunk. My co-worker confronted her duplicityand then they came to talk to me. The student felt guilty and was struggling, but she was not ready tochange. She was scared of losingher friends. I sensed from theHoly Spirit it was time to speak the truth. I told her she had to make a choice on who she wanted toplease—God or her friends. If itwas God, then she had to give up the friends who were dragging her down; if itwere her friends, then she had to stop pretending and live life apart fromGod.

In today’s world, to confront people is to risk offendingthem and we are led to believe that is the worst sin. But which is worse, risking offending a friend or allowingthat friend to offend God without challenge? And which would you rather see, a friend once again livingin right relationship with the Lord, or a friend living a life of hypocrisy andon the path that leads to destruction?

When it comes to confronting sin in friends’ lives, we haveto put our love for them above our own fear of rejection. We must speak truth to them, not in a“holier than thou” way, but in love because our desire is to see them onceagain in right relationship with God.

The couple I met with told me later my confrontation was awake-up call for them and saved their relationship, not only with God but withone another. The other studentmade the decision that day to seek to please God and immediately phoned her“drinking buddies” to tell them she would no longer be hanging around withthem. Today she serves as a campusminister.

Is there a friend you know who has gone astray, who isliving a life that is offensive to God? A true friend is one who speaks the truth when necessary. While you may risk the friendship, youmay indeed help to transform a life. I think it is a risk worth taking.

Becoming Properly Trained

2011-09-22T08:11:00.002-04:00

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful forteaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that theservant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy3:16-17 NIV)

Last night, I watched an episode of “RestaurantImpossible,” which was the first time I had seen it. The premise is the host comes to the rescue of a failingrestaurant and seeks to turn it into a successful one in just two days. The featured restaurant last night was asmall, family-owned one in South Carolina. The owners literally knew nothing about the business andwere serving up mostly frozen, canned, and pre-mixed items. They were losing around $10,000 permonth.

So the host, chef Robert Irvine, comes in with hiscrew and does a total makeover of the restaurant, creates a new menu, andattempts to show the owners and staff how to make their restaurant a morepleasant experience for customers. I admit I was skeptical from the start after seeing how little thepeople knew about cooking and running a restaurant. That was all going to change in two days! I doubted it.

Well, according to the show, the restaurant had asuccessful reopening and Mr. Irvine could claim another success story. However, I went online and checked outsome of the reviews of the restaurant months after the show was filmed. While there were a couple favorableones, most cited poor service and poorly prepared food. The most consistent favorable commentsrelated to the décor, which was totally redone by the Mr. Irvine’s crew.

The lesson learned here for me is you can’t becomeskilled in something without proper training, and that a two-day course willnot make you qualified, particularly if you don’t have even a base knowledgethat goes with a certain skill.

The same applies to being a follower ofJesus. I know many who put outtheir sign, “Follower of Jesus,” but have no clue of how to really do it. Like the South Carolina restaurant owners,they may be sincere but they have never sought to be properly trained. So what they serve up is canned farethat attracts few people. Andhearing a sermon once a week or spending a weekend at a retreat is not going tochange that. Only through thoroughtraining can we effectively learn how to follow Jesus. And the first step is to becomestudents of the Scriptures. It isthe most effective tool in establishing a base knowledge of what is involved inliving the life Jesus wants us to live. Obedience to what it says is the important next step, but you can’t beobedient to what you do not know, just like a cook can’t prepare a certain dishwithout knowing the recipe.

Today, recognize you cannot truly follow Jesuswithout the base knowledge of what that means. Getting thorough training from the Scriptures will put youon a successful path of following Jesus.

Get Behind Me, Satan!

2011-09-21T07:39:00.000-04:00

"He thenbegan to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejectedby the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must bekilled and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, andPeter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned andlooked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' hesaid. 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men'"(Mark 8:31-33 NIV).

PoorPeter. He was just trying to show support to his Lord. I canimagine him saying something like this: "Master, have you forgotten whoyou are? You are the Messiah. You shouldn't talk this way. You are a conqueror who will restore Israel to her previous glory. Whatis this talk of suffering and death that comes from your lips? You arediscouraging the people with such words." And what did he get inreturn? Jesus accused him of beingSatan himself!

What did Peterdo wrong? He sought to persuade Jesus to avoid the path of suffering anddeath and instead pursue power and glory. Following His rebuke, Jesus gatheredthe people together and told them the path He was taking included suffering anddeath. Those who wanted to follow Him, He said, must be willing to endurethe same.

Jesus' rebuke ofPeter was so harsh because the path of self-service is such a strongtemptation. How easy it would have been for Jesus to ride into Jerusalemon a powerful steed, and with heavenly power, to establish His throne.

It is aguarantee that Satan will come to you through others, perhaps very close familymembers and friends, to persuade you to take an easier path than the one theLord is calling you to take. "Why go to some Third World countrywhen there are plenty of needs right here at home?" “You spent fouryears getting a college degree and now you are going to do something where youhave to ask people to give you money to support you?!” "You don'thave to say what you really believe. Just answer the way the professorwants you to."

And what makesthem so dangerous is they most often come through people who mean well and careabout you, just as was the case with Peter. He truly thought he hadJesus' best interests in mind, but he was deceived.

As a follower ofJesus, it is your desire to obey Him. Satan's intent is to derail you from that path by any meanspossible, even through family and friends. Today, be readyto say, "Get behind me, Satan!" to whomever might be getting in yourway as you seek to do the Lord's will.

Seeing Troubles Through the Lens of Eternity

2011-09-20T08:03:00.000-04:00

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to showthat this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressedon every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, butnot abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, sothat the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always beinggiven over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed inour mortal body. So then, death isat work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I havespoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and thereforespeak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the deadwill also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this isfor your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people maycause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we arewasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troublesare achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen iseternal.” (II Corinthians 4:7-18 NIV)

People I have been talking with lately have beenhaving lots of troubles. Lots ofillness car problems, and financial stress. Others are dealing with family stuff—parents sick andsiblings dealing with issues. Sofocus on school and on ministry is difficult. Troubles, at the very least, are a distraction, and, atworst, can suck the life right out of us. And they are nothing new. Troubles are part of living in a fallen world.

In the 1^st Century, Paul was dealingwith troubles of his own. He wasbeing persecuted both physically and emotionally because he had abandonedJudaism and embraced Jesus. TheJews were furious and the Romans were annoyed. Everywhere he went, the Jews harassed him and stirred up thecrowds. The Romans, who held civilorder in the highest regard, then would have to come in and quell thedisturbance. His life wasconstantly being threatened and there were times he reached the breakingpoint. (II Corinthians 1:8-9)

Yet in these times, Paul learned a lesson—to fixhis eyes not on what was going on in his life, the troubles he was enduring,but on his hope in Jesus and the promise of better things to come. In comparison, then, his troublesseemed, in his words, “light and momentary.” In fact, he viewed them as a means to achieve a greatereternity because his troubles compelled him to lean more heavily on God.

We don’t normally think that way, do we? When troubles come our way, we usuallybecome consumed by them. We don’tlook beyond them because they fill up our entire view. But Paul shows us a better way to live. Rather than be consumed by ourtroubles, let them propel us into a deeper dependence on the Lord. Rather than letting them fill up ourentire view, see them through the lens of eternity and thereby reduce them towhat they truly are—light and momentary distractions.

Today, while it may seem very difficult, begin tolook at your troubles through the lens of eternity. If you can do it, then what you are going through will nolonger look so big or so terrible.