“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:6-7 NIV)
Our campus ministry association recently met with the university counseling center staff to discuss the latest trends and concerns for students on campus. They reported the number one problem for which students seek their help is anxiety. Causes ranged from family issues, such as divorcing parents, to relationship issues and academic pressures. They all agreed students are finding it increasingly more difficult to balance the demands and pressures of life in a healthy way.
Working with students as well, I, too, see this trend. But what I will often ask is: what difference does Jesus make? I work mostly with students who claim to have a relationship with Jesus, but I see them often getting swept along by the current of the campus culture which seems to elevate “stress-outtedness” to a badge of honor. Many times they seem to approach life’s difficulties no differently than do the students who claim no faith. So the question seems to be appropriate.
Jesus is supposed to make a difference in our lives, right? So why is it that it seems so often He doesn’t? I think Peter gives us the answer here. Humbling ourselves means acknowledging our weakness and our need for help. When my father died while I was in college, my grief was overwhelming, but I attempted to be strong and handle it on my own. It didn’t work so well because I refused to humble myself before the Lord and my brothers and sisters in the faith to ask for help. I tried to handle it on my own.
People are often crumbling under the pressures of life because they refuse to acknowledge their weakness. But Peter tells us (as does Paul—II Corinthians 12:8-10) this is the only way to manage what life throws at us. And we can do this with confidence because He cares for us. He’s not going to laugh at us or be annoyed with us because of our problems. Instead, He will take our anxieties and comfort us.
Today, as you consider your struggles, think about this: What difference does Jesus really make in how you are dealing with them? He should make all the difference in the world if you are willing to acknowledge you can’t handle your problems without Him.
© Jim Musser 2017
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV)
The key to a strong military is recognizing not only strengths, but weaknesses as well. The British knew they had overwhelming superiority over the colonists in terms of armaments and manpower, but their striking weakness was their inability to adapt to the colonists hit and run attacks. Their failure in this was one of the main reasons they lost the Revolutionary War.
As followers of Jesus, we, too, are soldiers in an army at war with a powerful enemy. And like any worthy opponent, he probes for weaknesses. The question is not will he find any, but rather will he find them totally unguarded.
As a young believer, one of my weaknesses was being totally controlled by my feelings. I would feel down one day and immediately conclude something was wrong with my relationship with the Lord. Or I would fall into sin and confess it, but still feel guilty and ashamed. Satan exploited this weakness and kept me on a spiritual rollercoaster for several years. Another was my insecurity as a man, which led me into relationships with women that were unhealthy. I was desperate for affirmation and approval and sought it through romantic relationships. Again, the enemy took advantage of this weakness time and time again before I finally recognized it.
It is the recognition of our weaknesses that is the key to winning the spiritual battles we face. When we do, we can shore up our defenses against them. They need not be fatal. The Apostle Paul, even though we view him as a spiritual giant, had weaknesses and he tells about one of them in II Corinthians 12. He pleaded with the Lord to remove it, but the Lord refused. Instead, He said this, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9). Most likely, our weaknesses won’t be removed, but, with the Lord’s help, we can overcome them. But we must recognize them in order to successfully fend off the enemy’s attacks.
So what are your weaknesses? A sordid past that the devil keeps reminding you of? An uncontrolled temper? A bent toward anxiety or fear? Holding grudges? No matter what weaknesses you have, the Lord is more than able to help you overcome them.
Today, take some time to think about areas of your life in which you are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. Make a list and take it to the Lord, asking Him for help in defending these vulnerable areas. This will not necessarily stop the attacks, but will insure that you are much better prepared to defend against them.
© Jim Musser 2017
“Now King David was told, ‘The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.’ So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’ David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.’
And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” (II Samuel 6:12-23 NIV)
There is man in our church who is mildly autistic. He does not like to be touched and he rarely will speak unless spoken to. But when the worship music is played, he never lacks expression. He raises his hands, claps, and, on occasion, he will go up front and dance during a song.
I am sure some people think it odd and maybe some are even uncomfortable. In the church we tend to prefer a more structured, dignified worship service. There is nothing wrong with preferences, but sometimes we can allow our preferences to dictate our feelings towards others who desire to worship in a different way. And then our preference can become a judgment.
David’s wife, Michal, serves as a warning of this. She thought David’s dancing in celebration of the Ark’s return to Jerusalem was undignified for someone of his stature and position. Her preference became judgment and turned her heart against her husband.
Satan is always looking for ways in which to disrupt the unity of the church and preferences in worship is one of them. I think what we can learn from this story is heart-felt worship will often seem undignified by traditional norms, but if it is an overflow of joy we would do well to respect it if not embrace it.
Today, recognize there are many preferences in worship. Some may seem odd, even undignified to you, but don’t be quick to judge. The expressions of a heart overflowing with joy can lead people to do some interesting things.
© Jim Musser 2017
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)
For almost my entire ministry on campus, I have challenged students to take a look around them to see God, to see what the Apostle Paul describes as His “invisible qualities” that he says can be seen, if we only are willing to look. What has always been consistent is the students have rarely, if ever, done it. They struggle with the concept and find it difficult to recount where they have seen God. What about you?
If you are struggling with this as well, allow me to help by telling you where I have seen God in recent days. My wife and I live in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and it is October, which means the leaves have been changing color. I see Him daily as I look out upon the tapestry of colors and hues. He is such a creator of beauty. As the evening temperatures become much cooler, the night skies become clearer and the plethora of stars and planets practically shout out His awesomeness. The mountain weather is unpredictable and within the span of a few days we had both massive amounts of rain and high winds and snow, demonstrating the power of the Lord’s creation over which we mere humans have no control.
However, it is not just in creation that I see the Lord, but also in people and situations. As I am daily on campus or in town, I encounter numerous people, not one exactly the same. Billions of people have walked and are walking the earth and each one is different. Though students have similarities with some others, all are unique in and of themselves. God is the creator of uniqueness. Recently, I saw God in a situation of division between family members starting to be resolved that had been months in the making and His fingerprints were easily seen in setting into motion a reconciliation process. And every day my heart beats in perfect rhythm and functions normally, serving as a reminder of His healing power that I experienced over five months ago and all the gifted people He involved in it. God is all-powerful, but empowers humans as well to accomplish His will. I could go on and on.
As I try to explain to students, it is not that hard to see God; we only have to start looking. With a little practice, when we’re asked about our God sightings, we should easily be able to cite many.
Today, start compiling your own list. I guarantee you will start seeing Him in ways you never have before. And when you do, you will know how present He always is and how truly awesome is the God who created you.
© Jim Musser 2017
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NIV)
“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” (Acts 5:12-16 NIV)
Last week, I wrote about the fact that Jesus uses sinners and that our unworthiness before Him does not lessen His grace and His desire to use us, just as He did the 12 disciples. This morning I want to further that thought.
These passages in Acts reflect the transformation Jesus promised the disciples when He first called them (Matthew 4:19) These men were no longer who they once were. They no longer feared the religious leaders. They were continuing the work of healing the Lord had begun. And people were taking notice.
Following Jesus has that effect on people. If one is truly following Jesus, his or her life will be changed and people will notice. Many, like the religious leaders of the 1st Century, will be troubled by what they see and try to persuade the believer to back away from Him or reject him or her outright. Others, however, will be drawn to His light shining brightly through the Holy Spirit and put their faith in Him as well. Either way, the change is inevitable once one responds willingly to His command, “Follow me.”
Many believe that Jesus came to save us, which is true. But He came to do even more. He came to transform us into the men and women He created us to be. Like the disciples, we are sinners, unworthy of Him, but His command is the same to us as it was to them—“Follow me.” And if we do, not only will He save us, but, as with the 12 sinful and unschooled men, He will transform us in ways we can hardly believe and use us in ways that are now unimaginable.
Today, regardless of how you view yourself, Jesus is saying to you, “Follow me.” And if you do, He won’t just save you; He will transform you and use you in ways far beyond what you can imagine now. He did it for the disciples and He will do it for you.
© Jim Musser 2017
“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)
One of the biggest obstacles people face in the decision to follow Jesus is their sense of unworthiness. They don’t feel good enough, confident enough, or passionate enough. They compare themselves to Jesus, His disciples, and people whom they view as “super Christians,” and they don’t measure up. They may attempt to follow Jesus, but they often lag behind, weighed down by their perceived lack of qualifications, giftedness and worthiness, and without hope of moving up to the front, joining the spiritual leaders.
This is an attitude I see often among students and, as with anyone, it is spiritually disabling. The focus is all wrong. As we are prone to do as fallen human beings, we can’t see beyond ourselves. We can’t see anything much beyond our lives that seem so messed up. So when Jesus comes calling, as He did at the shores of Lake Gennesaret, like the disciples, we are intimidated by His glory and perfection. And, like Peter, we are prone to push Him away, not because we hate Him, but rather because our sin becomes so glaring when He is around. We are ashamed and our guilt overwhelms us. So, it is much easier and more comfortable just to send Him away or to follow at a safe distance where His glory is less intense. And the result is we fail to experience the riches of His grace.
Jesus was fully aware of the disciples’ sinfulness and imperfections. He knew about every person (John 2:25). Yet, He told them to follow Him and He would use them for the work of His Kingdom. They indeed weren’t good enough, but He was and that was all that mattered.
This is the truth we each need to internalize: The Lord’s love for us and His ability to use us in spiritually significant ways is not dependent upon our goodness or what we have done or not done. It’s solely dependent on His power to transform and use any life. This is the truth we see played out in the lives of the first disciples as depicted in the New Testament—sinners, all of them, being used by the Lord to do His work on earth.
Today, if you are struggling with your own unworthiness to follow Jesus, get over yourself and your inadequacies, for they are no match for the power of the Lord. If He can transform the lives of some 1st Century fishermen and tax collectors, using them to begin His Church, then He is more than able to transform you and similarly put you to effective use in His Kingdom. All that is required of you is to get up and follow wherever He leads. If you are willing, you will experience the amazing riches of His grace.
© Jim Musser 2017
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:1-8 NIV)
Within the church there is a culture of pretension. We want to give the appearance that we are dedicated to the Lord and we know the “Christian” things to say, but often the reality is much different. I have had countless students in my ministry over the years tell me how much they want to grow in the Lord and how they are trusting Him for their futures, but then a guy or a girl comes along and, suddenly, their trust is placed in someone else. I have known people who said they are trusting God for their finances, but they’re wringing their hands each day they go to work. And I’ve known individuals that have melted under the heat of persecution. Appearances don’t matter much when reality hits.
David’s use of the word “truly” is important in this passage. He is not offering up mere spiritual platitudes. He is declaring that his soul DOES find rest in God, that God indeed IS his rock and salvation. And the proof is not in his words, but in his life when reality strikes. Men are seeking to topple him from his throne. He finds himself in a time of crisis when words don’t matter much, but instead in how we respond. And in this crisis, he remains true to his words.
While a seminary student, I gave the pretense of one seeking after the Lord and trusting in him, but a break-up with my girlfriend revealed something quite different. In reality, I was an idolater who worshipped this woman much more than I did the Lord. It was a humbling admission, but a much needed one. And while on this narrow path, there have been other humbling times where my words haven’t quite matched the attitude of my heart, and that was revealed by the reality of life. Thankfully, we serve a God rich in mercy and grace.
Today, consider how you present your faith to others. Is it consistent with the way you actually live your life? One way or another the truth will be revealed when reality strikes. The question is, will you be vindicated or humbled?
© Jim Musser 2017
