“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV)
I went to bed this morning at 1 AM and woke up at 6 AM, so we will see how this goes. Why was I up so late? Well, after 30 years, the Kansas City Royals major league baseball team had the opportunity to win the World Series and I wasn’t going to miss seeing it. I lived an hour away from the Royals stadium for many years and have been a long-time fan. And in typical Royals fashion, they came from behind to win the title in 12 innings!
After so many years of futility on the field, it has been fun to watch this team scratch and claw its way to the pinnacle of professional baseball. They never lose hope when the situation seems dire. They’re confident they can still win regardless of the circumstances. And they encourage each other to never give up. It sort of reminds me of what this passage commands us to do as followers of Jesus. But, of course, the stakes are much higher.
We who follow Jesus are in the midst of our season and it’s a long, hard one. While there may be moments of celebration, the challenges and struggles make it a grind. That is why we need to function as a team and not just as a group of individuals looking out for ourselves. We need the power of collective hope; the ability to look around in the midst of troubled times and see hopeful faces rather than dire ones. We need the strength to look beyond our present circumstances to give encouragement to our fellow brothers and sisters that much better times are ahead. And we need the humility to know we cannot go this alone. This is, in reality, the Church, or at least how it is supposed to be.
It may seem silly to compare the Church to a baseball team, particularly when sports metaphors are often overused. Yet, watching the Royals over the past two weeks, I can’t help but take inspiration from their example and see its application in my life and the lives of my fellow believers. From the start of the season, they had one goal—to finish at the top. They were in it together and worked together to accomplish it. And they had faith, not the blind kind, but the type that is built on evidence and experience (last season). Not all went smoothly or as planned. They lost five in a row in late August; they lost their closer for the season. Yet, they were undeterred and they kept encouraging one another along the way. Early this morning, they reached their goal.
In the Church, particularly here in the States, we need that sense of team. Yes, we each follow Jesus, but we together ARE the Church. It is less about our individual walks with God, and more about we as a community. For it is in the community of believers we are to find strength to maintain our hope and carry out our purpose.
Today, recognize how much you need other believers to maintain your faith and fulfill your purpose in this world. You may not be a Kansas City Royals fan, or a baseball fan for that matter, but there is a lesson for you to learn from these newly crowned champions—never lose hope, never give up. In the end, we will win!
© Jim Musser 2015
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘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 that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:7b-10 NIV)
I can still remember my late friend, Alan, telling me of an experience he had that was similar to this one Paul had with God. It was a year or so before his death while in the deep throes of his battle with cancer. He was alone at home complaining to the Lord about his circumstances, which I can attest were terrible. Much like Paul, Alan pleaded with God to remove his suffering and, he later told me, the Lord responded with this question, “Am I enough?”
It was one of those singular moments in Alan’s life, which he repeatedly talked about up until his death. What he learned and shared with many was that God is sufficient no matter what our circumstances. Alan had to remind himself of this in the desperate times of his illness. It was never easy; it never is.
Even if we do not have a terminal illness, this is a struggle we always face and the Lord is right in asking us: “Am I enough?” And for the vast majority of us, the honest answer is no. That is why we seek out other solutions to our pain and feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. We don’t trust that He can provide all that we need to make it in this life, so, like Adam and Eve, we take it upon ourselves to make up for the deficit. And like the first couple, we end up in a bigger mess and in a worse way.
The road of life is littered with broken and shattered lives of people who believed God was not enough for them. Alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, violence, suicide, eating and anxiety disorders, and on and on the list can go. The Enemy’s game is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). His goal is to steer us away from God, as he did Adam and Eve, because he knows that the Lord is indeed enough.
As Paul and Alan learned, God is sufficient. We don’t need anyone or anything else. What we do need, in relationships or material things, or anything else, He will provide. BUT we must first trust Him and not go seeking to meet what we think we need.
Today, whatever your needs are—friends, validity of your life, love and acceptance, money—know that the Lord is enough to provide for those. He is faithful and He is sufficient.
© Jim Musser 2015
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:20-21 NIV)
Was the Lord speaking through Isaiah about our age? The more you look at it, the more it seems to fit, and it is tempting to get enraged, depressed, or scared. What kind of world, society are we living in, we may ask, longing for a more comforting past.
Yes, we live in a time when so many see the need to save unwanted pets or endangered animals, but offer little or no outcry to the millions of unborn babies being killed in the wombs of their mothers, or go as far as to declare it a right. We live in a time where universities restrict or prohibit Christian ministries on campus because of their perceived discrimination against homosexuals, while welcoming and lauding Islam, which in the nations where it is the state religion, is used as a basis to imprison or kill those engaged in homosexual acts. And while NASA’s telescopes and probes show just how unimaginably large the universe truly is, and microbiology continues to demonstrate how incredibly intricate and complex the make-up of life is in its various forms, the vast majority of scientists contend there is no evidence for the existence of God.
And one could go on with a myriad of examples of how our world has turned truth on its head, feels quite clever and good about it, and mock those who would call their conclusions and actions into question. This is life in a fallen world and it is nothing new. The ancients carved idols out of wood or stone and worshiped them. They made sacrifices out of their children in order to placate their gods. They trusted in their own wisdom and might. And when challenged, they persecuted or put to death those who refused to agree.
So we should not be surprised by what we see and hear today. While we may be shocked, a look at history will reveal many similarities. It may be new to us, but it is certainly not new. And what has been true throughout history and remains true today is that God is in control. Regardless of how crazy and out of control things may seem in our world, His hand is still on the wheel. In fact, in this passage it is God who makes the observation and issues the warning. He knows exactly what is going on and will respond in His time. Thus, we need not be anxious about what is happening around us.
In fact, our calling is to remain faithful to His calling to love our enemies and do good to those who seek to persecute us (Luke 6:27-28). Our job is not to save the world, but to live in it as His light (Matthew 5:14-15). He will do the saving—of those who are willing to open their hearts to Him.
Today, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the fallenness of this world, remember that God is in control and you do not need to be afraid or panicked. You just need to remain faithful. He will take care of the rest.
© Jim Musser 2015
“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:9-10 NIV)
A student shared with me not too long ago that before she came to know the Lord, she had felt completely alone and on her own. It was at that desperate moment, she said, the Lord spoke to her these words, “You have me.” From that moment, she began to pursue the Lord and, as this psalm promises, the Lord has never forsaken her.
It has been my experience that when we trust God in even the most desperate of times, He is faithful to stand with us. I remember when my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer while I was in college, sitting at my desk reading the Scriptures searching for comfort, not knowing how I could handle losing her just a couple of years after my dad’s death. I came upon II Corinthians 12 where God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Those were exactly the words I needed to hear at that moment and they enabled me to persevere through a very difficult time.
I also recall another time, not so many years ago, while I was on a three-month sabbatical, when I strongly felt God’s presence beside me. My first wife had decided to abandon our marriage and I was in New Mexico spending time trying to regain my emotional equilibrium. I was out hiking one day and in the middle of the barren path (it was in March), I saw a flower. It was the first and only one I saw, and I felt the Lord was telling me that at some point along the difficult path I was on, He was going to bring to me something quite beautiful. In the midst of deep hurt and despair, this gave me hope and assurance that the Lord was in control and good things would eventually come (and they did).
When desperate times come in our lives, it is tempting to forsake the Lord and, sadly, I have seen many do so. However, it is exactly at these times when we need to trust in Him and seek Him. And I know from my own experience and the experience of many others, He is true to His promise. He will be there for us.
Today, know that the Lord is faithful. Even in the worst of times, if you are seeking Him, He will be there beside you giving you the help and encouragement you need.
© Jim Musser 2015
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
Often preaching focuses on topics of various sorts and youth group messages deal with what is perceived relevant to teenagers. The goal is to speak to where people are, to get their attention and keep their interest. It is a worthy goal, but it has a significant downside. When the preaching and teaching of the Church focuses primarily on what is perceived as relevant, often the Scriptures play a secondary role in the message. Done enough and the audience has little or no experience with the raw power of the Word of God.
I experience this often on campus with students who, having grown up in the church, demonstrate little knowledge or experience with the Scriptures. I have also experienced this with many adults, even elders in local churches, who have difficulty navigating the Word of God and understanding its basic teachings and experiencing its transformative power.
If we look back to the beginnings of the New Testament Church, the Apostles made clear their priority as its leaders—teaching the Word (Acts 6:2-4). It should be noted that this was in the context of needs in the congregation that were unmet. When faced with a choice, they maintained their commitment to teaching the Scriptures and appointed others to meet the needs.
There are a lot of needs in any church or campus ministry, and the society at large. The temptation is to focus all of our attention on those at the expense of the Word. But the Apostles set a standard that we in the church should always follow—the teaching of the Word should never be abandoned regardless of what needs there are among the people. And from the writer of Hebrews, we understand why.
The Word is living and active; thus, it is not just an old book with cool stories and moral precepts. It has the power to penetrate our hearts, expose what lies deep within us, and to dismantle the facades we have so carefully built. And as Paul writes, it teaches us, rebukes us, corrects us, and trains us in righteousness so that we are fully equipped for everything God has for us (II Timothy 3:16-17).
And perhaps this is why churches have often played down the Word because it often makes us uncomfortable and challenges us in ways we find intimidating and troubling. For many, soothing words are more palatable and better received, and, thus, the incentive to say what pleases people and scratches where they itch. But just as children will never develop into healthy adults if they are only told what they want to hear and always get what they want, neither will we grow into mature spiritual men and women if we never become fully adept at handling the Word of God (II Timothy 2:15)
This requires that we first trust that God knows what He is doing. We must believe He has our best interests at heart (and, if we are teachers or preachers, of those under our leadership), even if He requires us to face some painful truths or asks us to do things far out of our comfort zones. If the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God, then we cannot afford to shy away from knowing them and obeying them if we want to be spiritually healthy and mature.
Today, as the original Apostles did, make the Word of God a priority in your life. Read it, study it, and become adept in knowing its truths and putting them into practice in your daily lives. For this is the reason God gave us His Word, so we can grow into the men and women He created us to be. Without knowledge and experience with it, this transformation will never happen.
© Jim Musser 2015
“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)
The writer of Hebrews has just spent a whole chapter writing about the great people of the faith—Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, as well as others not mentioned by name but by their demonstrative faith. And he uses these individuals who lived many centuries before his audience’s time as sources of encouragement to continue in the faith.
In our culture today, we tend to dismiss the past as irrelevant to the present and the future. And believers tend to look to current figures for encouragement rather than those who have gone before us. Perhaps it’s because we think we have little in common with those who lived decades or centuries before us. With the rapid advances in technology how could we ever be able to relate to those who lived without computers, smart phones and social media, or even without cars, planes, and electricity?
Yet, people of faith for nearly two millennia have read the words written above. The same can be said for all of the New Testament. One constant for followers of Jesus down through the centuries is the Word of God. It is the same today for us in the 21st Century as it was for people in the 4th Century, in the 10th Century, and in the 18th Century. While in those early centuries, it was read aloud rather than read individually, it is the same Word.
So now imagine a crowd gathered around a church leader listening to him read and teach on the Sermon on the Mount as Matthew or Luke records it. Imagine Martin Luther, the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, diligently translating the Bible into the common German language of the day, or John Wesley preaching on Ephesians 2:8-10 to a 17th Century crowd. It is the same Word that we read and hear today.
Thus, as the Hebrew writer is pointing out, there is a common thread between believers through all of history. We share the faith in the Lord Jesus and have the Word to guide us and encourage us—the unchangeable Word that has spoken to believers down through the ages. While the world has undergone unfathomable changes since Jesus walked the earth, His Word has remained the same.
So today, as you read the Scriptures, realize people who have lived hundreds, even thousands of years ago, read or heard the same words. And as they were encouraged by them and obedient to them, so may you be as well.
© Jim Musser 2015
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” (Proverbs 19:20 NIV)
I have been on both sides of advice—giving and receiving and know how hard it is to accept it. I remember during my freshman year when I had broken up with my unbelieving girlfriend and started dating a believer. I found myself wanting to go back to the old relationship and an older, more mature friend told me not to do it, that I would regret it if I did. I didn’t listen to his advice and, as he had warned me, I later regretted the decision.
I have sat with many students and encouraged them to make good decisions only to see them ignore my advice and do the opposite, convinced their judgment was better than mine. One student I met for counseling several years ago had a lot of issues from the past. I recommended a female counselor for her to see and told her it was a great opportunity for her to deal with the issues while she was single as opposed to carrying them with her into a marriage and motherhood. She listened and nodded, but didn’t follow through; instead she continued her pursuit of yet another romantic relationship.
Too often we only trust our own judgment, or that of others whose life experience and spiritual maturity are no greater than our own. As Proverbs 15:22 says, there is wisdom in having wise counselors in our lives, people who have greater experience and knowledge. They can help us succeed in what the Lord has for us in our lives and to avoid the many pitfalls that inevitably await us.
Today, recognize, particularly if you are young, that your judgment may sometimes be flawed. So look for the wise and more mature people the Lord has placed in your life to help you navigate through the tough decisions and issues you are facing. And, most importantly, take heed of what they tell you. God has put them there to help guide you. That will only work if you accept what they have to say.
© Jim Musser 2015
