“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 NIV)
It is the time of year on college campuses where much study has wearied the bodies of students. It has been a long year, full of pressure, and where they have often wondered if there is no end to the books professors will have them read. They are tired and ready for the summer break.
It is easy for people under stress to be all consumed with the tasks causing all the pressure. Unfortunately, we live in a world where the pressures of life, be they academic, professional, social, or familial, never really abate. They are a constant presence regardless of our age or stage in life. To allow oneself to be all consumed by the pressures of the moment is to risk living a life that is both void of joy and absent of discipline. To borrow a quote from James, we are like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind. (James1:6)
In the world in which we live, the words of the Teacher are a good reminder of the importance of not losing sight of our purpose in the midst of the turbulent winds of life—to respect God and to keep His commands. It is in living out this purpose that we will find stability and peace in a life that tends to push us away from both.
So, today, regardless if you are a student, an employee, a spouse, a parent, or any combination of these, and are finding the pressures of these roles consuming you, don’t lose sight of your ultimate purpose. The Lord is your first priority and commitment. And it is in Him you will find relief from the pressures that are weighing you down. For it is He who says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)
© Jim Musser 2016
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:1-5 NIV)
Insecurity breeds self-centeredness. The less secure we feel, the more likely we are to focus on ourselves. Working with college students, I see this frequently. They put a lot of focus on how they look, how many “likes” they get on Facebook, and what makes them happy. When I was their age, I was insecure as well, so I understand. And for most of us, insecurity can be a lifelong struggle. The truth is, it is difficult to get beyond ourselves when we aren’t secure in who we are. Yet, if we want to follow Jesus, getting beyond ourselves is a must.
Jesus came into the world not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). And He left us an example so that we should follow in His steps (I Peter 2:21). Following Jesus, then, means to focus less on serving ourselves and more on serving others. But this is so much easier said than done, as evidenced by the vast majority of people around us. Our bent is to desire to serve ourselves far more than others. So what to do?
I think John gives us insight into overcoming the problem. He says Jesus “knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.” In other words, Jesus was secure in His identity. He knew who He was, and, thus, this enabled Him to serve others. Security leads to freedom. Jesus was able to do what He did, to endure the persecution and the suffering, precisely because He knew who He was.
So who are you? According to Jesus, if you have received Him and accept Him, you are a child of God (John 1:12), a child of a God who loves you and can be trusted to take care of you (Matthew 6:25-33). If you have trouble focusing on others and serving them, it is because you don’t fully understand who you are.
Today, reflect on these Scriptures and the example of Jesus. In order to follow Him fully, you need to know who you are, just as Jesus did. And the more you do, the easier it will be to focus more on others and less on yourself.
© Jim Musser 2016
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’
Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:19-29 NIV)
Even after seeing and hearing compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were still afraid. They had locked themselves inside a home fearing the realities outside of the walls. Then, out of nowhere, the risen Jesus appeared to them and reassured them. They should be at peace because He would be with them through the Holy Spirit and wanted them to go out into the world as His messengers.
A week later, we find them once again together and, once again, cowering behind locked doors. The message Jesus had proclaimed to them had yet to find its mark. Instead of moving about freely in the peace and confidence of the Lord, they chose to remain in their self-made prison, alone and afraid. Then Jesus appeared again with the same message: “Peace be with you.” He also demonstrated He wasn’t a ghost, but a real person. He had indeed conquered death! It was after this that the men found the courage to move out of their prison and into the adventure that would change the world.
How hard it is to allow Jesus to free us from our self-made prisons! It took two actual appearances by Him for the disciples to finally unlock the doors and walk into freedom. Is it any wonder why we, too, find it so difficult to escape our self-made prisons?
When I was first beginning campus ministry, I often feared making appointments with students. My introversion was my prison. I also had created another with my fear of singleness. It took me years to fully be free from both of these. I was slow to accept Jesus’ promise of peace and to set myself free.
Earlier in this gospel, Jesus promises us freedom through Himself (John 8:36), yet often we are loath to take it. Fear consumes us and we lock ourselves away. Instead of being ambassadors, we are prisoners. Instead of freely proclaiming the Lord’s message, we remain locked in prisons of our own making, fearing what is outside the walls.
Today, consider what fears you are allowing to imprison you, to keep you from freely proclaiming the message of the Lord. Imagine Jesus entering the room and promising you will experience peace outside those walls if you will only unlock the door and leave. Know the promise is true and freedom is yours if you will only accept it.
© Jim Musser 2016
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:1-4 NIV)
Someone I know to be a Christ-follower recently dropped the f-bomb into a tweet over some minor irritation. It seems to be a popular thing to do these days.
Obviously, obscene language has been around a long time and it is no surprise that people of the world make plenty of use of it. But what strikes me as odd is when those who follow Jesus drop those bombs, particularly in light of Paul’s straightforward command. Perhaps they think they are being “edgy” when they do it. Some believe, because of the stereotyped image of Christians, that this opens doors with unbelievers.
I once had a professor in seminary who loved to tell his students that when Paul wrote to the Philippians that he considered his past life “rubbish” or “garbage” (3:8-9), the word meant excrement and then for effect he would say, “In other words, he was saying Paul considered his past life sh**.” Then he went on to say that if our ears were bothered by that word, we better get used to it because that is the way the world talked.
Of course it does. In fact, I am well versed in the use of obscene language, having been a master of it in my teens. But when I decided to follow Jesus, new standards were introduced, including the content and tone of my language. Thus, I stopped dropping f-bombs a long time ago and don’t see any need to return to using them in order to impress people with how edgy or cool I am. Rather, I want my language to be speaking words of love, encouragement, and thanksgiving.
Today, think about the content and tone of your language. If you are in the habit of dropping f-bombs and s-bombs, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Following God’s example is taking a different path from that of the world and this includes the words we speak.
© Jim Musser 2016
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)
When the Scriptures talk a lot about a certain topic, you can be sure it reveals something about us, or God, or both. For example, the word “remember” is used countless times. Could it be that we have difficulty remembering God’s faithfulness or love? Or the word “obey.” It appears quite frequently. Could it be that we have a rebellious streak deep within us?
The Scriptures also speak a lot about fear. Fear of God, which is the healthy kind, and fear of people and circumstances, which is usually detrimental to us. Jesus, in speaking to His disciples, is talking about the latter and He has a simple message: “Do not be afraid.”
In talking with students on campus in recent weeks, I have heard many expressions of fear. Fear of the future as many prepare to graduate without concrete plans or to embark on post-college life; fear of disapproval from parents or others when deciding to follow the leading of the Lord; fear of stepping out in faith to trust the Lord for His provision. Being afraid is something common to us all. This is why the Scriptures give this explicit assurance more than 100 times—do not be afraid.
Do not be afraid because the Lord is in control. He is the Shepherd who leads you. (I Peter 5:4) He knows the plans He has for you. (Jeremiah 29:11) He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) There is no need to fear.
I have experienced fear many times in my life, such as when my parents died when I was in my early 20’s, when my first wife left me, and when I resigned from a long-held ministry position without any prospects of another. Fear attempted to get its grip on me, but I heeded the comforting words of Jesus: Do not be afraid. And, as it always does when we trust the Lord, everything worked out. It wasn’t always easy, but God always came through. He always will.
Today, what do you fear? Whatever it is, know the Lord has everything under control. He will lead you through it. Let His reassuring words envelop your spirit: Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
© Jim Musser 2016
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (I Thessalonians 1:4-10 NIV)
Something had dramatically changed with the people in Thessalonica. Having once worshipped idols and lived in ungodly ways that accompanied it, many were now acknowledging the Lord and living lives submitted to Him. They were now radically different and their transformation had an effect. There lives now “rang out” with the message of the gospel. Their faith became known, Paul says, everywhere.
There is a quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi that says, “Preach the gospel always. Use words if necessary.” The point being that words have little impact if not accompanied by action. What made the Thessalonian believers stand out was not what they proclaimed, but how their lives had been transformed by the message they proclaimed. The power of God is demonstrated, not by our words, but the transformation of our lives. The words of the New Testament would have little meaning if Jesus had not been raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:14). It is the power demonstrated by the resurrection that makes us take notice.
It is so easy for those of us raised in the church and Christian homes to talk a good game. We talk about love, about faith, about putting God first. The question is, how much do our lives reflect our words? Do our lives “ring out” with the message of the gospel, or do they instead have the hollow clang of hypocrisy?
Today, reflect on whether or not there is power accompanying the words you speak regarding accepting the gospel. True faith is accompanied by the unmistakable sign of a transformed life.
© Jim Musser 2016
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
What a grand, glorious, and hopeful mystery this is! I have lived it, but it’s still so hard to grasp: God can take the lousy things of life, both those completely out of our control and those which we have brought on ourselves, and turn them into blessings for us!
I was sharing some of my life story with a student recently and, as I talked, this idea formed in my mind of God as the master weaver who is able to take the poor, the unsuitable, and even the wretched pieces of our lives and weave them into a beautiful tapestry if we will only let Him.
The more I deal with students, the more I see how many view themselves as victims of life’s circumstances, and, thus, helpless to do anything but just to get by. They are crippled by their hopelessness. Campuses across our country are filled with depressed and anxiety-filled students who are overwhelming the counseling services there to serve them. On our campus alone, the Dean of Students office employs several caseworkers whose sole job is to follow up on troubled students and the Dean told me not long ago he thinks they need additional help.
This is a generation increasingly mired in hopelessness, seeing themselves as controlled by their pasts and powerless to gain their freedom, hoping only to learn to cope the best they can. But God offers us something miraculous—to turn our woeful pasts and circumstances into something beautiful. If only we will trust Him. And that is a big IF!
The currents of our culture flow in the opposite direction. The voices of influence scoff at this type of hope as unrealistic and even delusional. How can a man or a woman ever recover from the effects of molestation as a young child? How can good come out of being abandoned as a child or from growing up with an alcoholic parent? How can one ever overcome the consequences of being a murderer or a rapist? The world will say the best you can do is to cope with the consequences and limp through life saddled with the ill-effects.
BUT God says something entirely different. He CAN overcome anything that has ever happened to us or that which we have done. NOTHING is beyond His redemptive power. If only we will trust Him and submit these things to Him. Then He will weave these less than desirable, and sometimes, awful things into something more beautiful than we can think and imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Paul persecuted Christians and approved the murder of Stephen (Acts 7 and 8), Peter denied he even knew Jesus (Luke 22), Mary Magdeline engaged in prostitution (Luke 7); Zacchaeus was a thief (Luke 19); and the man possessed with demons suffered for years (Luke 8:26-39); yet all went on to follow Jesus and to be used for the glory of His Kingdom.
Today, what things in your life, those you have done or those that have been done to you, are you holding onto thinking that nothing can be done and with which you just have to cope? Turn them over to the master weaver and see what He will do. I have and continue to be amazed by His skill. I am confident you will, as well. He can be trusted to do extraordinary work.
© Jim Musser 2016
