"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 him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelations 3:14-22
In my day, which is not very much I’ll admit, I have heard quite a few versions of sermons on these verses. It is, as these preachers say, a note of guidance to wake up. The question for me is what does the part about being spit out mean? Does that mean we leave the arms of Christ altogether? I don’t think so. It says nothing can separate us from the love of God, so it would have to be a purposeful walking away to take us away from those arms altogether. I am talking about not being a Christian anymore.
Is it possible, I am not a pastor so I could be wrong, that this passage, the spit you out part, is about something entirely different?
One of the biggest questions, Christians get faced with, is ‘why do bad things happen to good people’. Now this could be just quoted in with the part about it ‘raining on the just and unjust’. I think it may be more than that.
It is incredibly rare to find a lukewarm Christian who has gone through trials. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing you faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).
Much of the time, it is possible to know when someone has been through something. When something tests the person’s belief that God loves them and he is powerful enough to cause the blind to see, the lame walk, the dead to rise, and heal the broken hearted. These things, not a miracle most of the time but a tragedy, causes the person to have to face the precipice like Indiana Jones and decide whether to take a step or not. It’s the decision to believe that God has everything under control even though for some reason he lets a ten year old girl watch her mother die of a brain tumor.
The question is what does this do to this little girl? Does she become bitter because she can’t stop remembering the look on her mother’s face when she realizes she can’t control her brain anymore? Or, does she become a better person for it because she has to rely on God every step of the way?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Losing Against Satan
“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.” Ephesians 6:11-12
One of my biggest battles is against my own mind, and what it tells me. When I was little I was sure, absolutely certain, no one wanted to sit next to me, talk to me, or be affiliated with me in any way. I considered myself a charity case. Through the help of God and friends, I have become better at this, but I still have troubles with these things. Notice how I said I was ‘sure’. I didn’t have the faintest doubt.
Sometimes I am sure that I am going to amount to nothing and in the end my friends are all going to leave me. I am sometimes sure that no man can like me because I’m too stupid, not cute enough, and so on. This list goes on.
It’s a losing battle.
I’m not going to win.
I’m sure of this.
Don’t we all have these ‘sure’ thoughts. Thoughts that are so embedded in us that we can’t believe anything else. Why, so often, do we not take these ‘sure’ things and lay them before God?
I’m right you know. I’m not going to win this battle.
God is.
God is the one who has given us the helmet of salvation in the first place (Hebrews 6:17). It is his gift of Salvation not ours.
When we get these doubts about ours we need to do two things.
1. Crash to the grown on our knees and ask God to change our hearts.
2. Believe God will do exactly that – it’s called faith. (John 14:13-14)
We can’t do this on our own. Satan knows everything about us. He knows all our weaknesses, and he knows which spots to push. It’s like in the movies where the bad guy punches the hero’s wound causing pain. It doesn’t make the hero any worse of a man, it just means the enemy knows exactly where to punch. That is why we need the armor God gave us. That is why we need to ask God to show each of us how to put it on, and that is why we always have to stand guard. God is not negative. He made us and loves us. He doesn’t let us feel like the guk sticking to people’s feet. That is Satan every time. God does tell us when we are doing wrong, don’t misinterpret me, but when you are feeling like a piece of crap in this world, it’s Satan, down and center. So my friends, pray and pray hard.
One of my biggest battles is against my own mind, and what it tells me. When I was little I was sure, absolutely certain, no one wanted to sit next to me, talk to me, or be affiliated with me in any way. I considered myself a charity case. Through the help of God and friends, I have become better at this, but I still have troubles with these things. Notice how I said I was ‘sure’. I didn’t have the faintest doubt.
Sometimes I am sure that I am going to amount to nothing and in the end my friends are all going to leave me. I am sometimes sure that no man can like me because I’m too stupid, not cute enough, and so on. This list goes on.
It’s a losing battle.
I’m not going to win.
I’m sure of this.
Don’t we all have these ‘sure’ thoughts. Thoughts that are so embedded in us that we can’t believe anything else. Why, so often, do we not take these ‘sure’ things and lay them before God?
I’m right you know. I’m not going to win this battle.
God is.
God is the one who has given us the helmet of salvation in the first place (Hebrews 6:17). It is his gift of Salvation not ours.
When we get these doubts about ours we need to do two things.
1. Crash to the grown on our knees and ask God to change our hearts.
2. Believe God will do exactly that – it’s called faith. (John 14:13-14)
We can’t do this on our own. Satan knows everything about us. He knows all our weaknesses, and he knows which spots to push. It’s like in the movies where the bad guy punches the hero’s wound causing pain. It doesn’t make the hero any worse of a man, it just means the enemy knows exactly where to punch. That is why we need the armor God gave us. That is why we need to ask God to show each of us how to put it on, and that is why we always have to stand guard. God is not negative. He made us and loves us. He doesn’t let us feel like the guk sticking to people’s feet. That is Satan every time. God does tell us when we are doing wrong, don’t misinterpret me, but when you are feeling like a piece of crap in this world, it’s Satan, down and center. So my friends, pray and pray hard.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Faith that Moves Mountains
"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder" James 2:18b-19.
As Christians, we continuously, though not always, say things like Jesus is risen from the grave and that God was the one who formed us. This faith is easy for there is nothing we have to do to show our faith in it. All we have to do is be Christians and go about our daily life. The whole deal with church, reading our Bible, and praying.
These things are all well and good but when we go about our Christianity as if that is what it is all about, simply believing Christ was risen, then we are stagnant. We don't live our day as if God is a part of our life. This type of faith is not a living breathing being that causes us to sit up and listen when God is speaking.
The faith, which Christ addresses the most is a faith that God is moving. We must have faith that Jesus fulfills his promises, is able and does miracles, continues to speak to us, and will pick us up when we fall. This is a vibrant living being. It forces us into action. If we truly believe (have faith) that God is always with us, we will do exactly what He tells us. If we truly believe (have faith) that God is in control and won't let anything happen to us without His permission, we will be more willing to step out in faith. This is the type of faith which creates miracles, which makes people be bitten and not hurt, beaten and laughed at, and filled with joy in the hardest of circumstances. With this faith, Moses crossed the sea, Peter spoke to the crowds, Paul went to Rome to speak to Caesar, and David wrote the Psalms. With this faith you can move mountains, you can love others, you can go to Africa with only a weeks notice, and you can tell your neighbor about Christ.
So the question is to all of us. Which type of Faith do you have? Does your faith cause you to climb mountains, or are you still singing hymns from your bench and never leaving that bench to tell others of this faith?
As Christians, we continuously, though not always, say things like Jesus is risen from the grave and that God was the one who formed us. This faith is easy for there is nothing we have to do to show our faith in it. All we have to do is be Christians and go about our daily life. The whole deal with church, reading our Bible, and praying.
These things are all well and good but when we go about our Christianity as if that is what it is all about, simply believing Christ was risen, then we are stagnant. We don't live our day as if God is a part of our life. This type of faith is not a living breathing being that causes us to sit up and listen when God is speaking.
The faith, which Christ addresses the most is a faith that God is moving. We must have faith that Jesus fulfills his promises, is able and does miracles, continues to speak to us, and will pick us up when we fall. This is a vibrant living being. It forces us into action. If we truly believe (have faith) that God is always with us, we will do exactly what He tells us. If we truly believe (have faith) that God is in control and won't let anything happen to us without His permission, we will be more willing to step out in faith. This is the type of faith which creates miracles, which makes people be bitten and not hurt, beaten and laughed at, and filled with joy in the hardest of circumstances. With this faith, Moses crossed the sea, Peter spoke to the crowds, Paul went to Rome to speak to Caesar, and David wrote the Psalms. With this faith you can move mountains, you can love others, you can go to Africa with only a weeks notice, and you can tell your neighbor about Christ.
So the question is to all of us. Which type of Faith do you have? Does your faith cause you to climb mountains, or are you still singing hymns from your bench and never leaving that bench to tell others of this faith?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Hiding of God's Word
“I have hidden you words in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
This is a common enough verse – a verse, which we learn at an early time period. The question is: how does God’s word keep us from sin? Don’t our actions keep us from sinning? Isn’t the word of God supposed to tell us what is sinning?
But then, this verse is not telling us to learn the word or memorize it, it’s saying to hide it in our hearts. Have we not at one time or another been on the brink of sinning and suddenly a verse from the Bible, no matter how fragmented, pops into our heads causing us to feel ashamed of what we have done? I think this is the secret to the verse.
We need to let the words of God, and this can only be done through the guidance and help of God himself, go into us in such a way that it will be a part of our every day.
In the Old Testament days, the Israelites were told to put verses from the Torah on their doors and foreheads, to talk about it while they ate, and think about it when they couldn’t sleep. It isn’t a matter of memorization but a matter of deep soaking in, contemplating, and knowledge of God’s word. It must become a part of our every day.
I don’t know about you, but that is commitment in it’s deepest form.
This is a common enough verse – a verse, which we learn at an early time period. The question is: how does God’s word keep us from sin? Don’t our actions keep us from sinning? Isn’t the word of God supposed to tell us what is sinning?
But then, this verse is not telling us to learn the word or memorize it, it’s saying to hide it in our hearts. Have we not at one time or another been on the brink of sinning and suddenly a verse from the Bible, no matter how fragmented, pops into our heads causing us to feel ashamed of what we have done? I think this is the secret to the verse.
We need to let the words of God, and this can only be done through the guidance and help of God himself, go into us in such a way that it will be a part of our every day.
In the Old Testament days, the Israelites were told to put verses from the Torah on their doors and foreheads, to talk about it while they ate, and think about it when they couldn’t sleep. It isn’t a matter of memorization but a matter of deep soaking in, contemplating, and knowledge of God’s word. It must become a part of our every day.
I don’t know about you, but that is commitment in it’s deepest form.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Dishonor of Christ
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 15:26).
“Anyone who puts his love for father or mother above his love for me does not deserve to be mine, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37-38).
To our western way of thinking hating our father and mother seems a confusing thing. It always confused me. I tended to reason it out by saying it meant “in comparison to Jesus”. I think I may understand now.
I am currently reading a book about a Pakistani woman who becomes a Christian and she mentions the verses in Matthew (listed above). If you understand the culture of the Middle East than this suddenly makes since.
First off, let’s explain love and hate in the way the Bible speaks. In the Bible love is considered more of an action “love is patient love is kind…” etcetera. Why not hate. Hate as an action would be in theory the exact opposite of this.
Now to write about the Middle Eastern culture: In that area of the world, the Middle East and the area surrounding it, everything is about honor. You do wrong and it affects your whole family. Every member is put into shame because of one member’s action. This is the reason for so many drowning of women amongst Muslim families. It was to repair the honor the woman wrecked.
Ok, so now for the dent in this. In Muslim belief, the worst you can do sinfully wise, is believe that Jesus is the son of God. That is worse than even adultery. People are murdered in honor killings for less. If a member of the family becomes a Christian in the Muslim society the whole family is be implicated. No one would give their daughters into marriage into that family and no man would marry a sister or daughter of a Christian. People would ostracize the whole family not just the one. So in essence if a Muslim becomes a Christian in the Muslim world, they just gave their family hell on earth (at least until that family gets rid of the maker of the hell through death or shunning).
Now for the topper: in the time period of Jesus amongst the Hebrews, it was exactly the same (minus honor killings on the most part). Everything was about honor and the whole family was implicated in one person’s deed. Jesus was in essence telling the people to care more about Him than about the honor and livelihood of their family.
Tough choice.
Are we willing to risk so much for Christ?
“Anyone who puts his love for father or mother above his love for me does not deserve to be mine, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37-38).
To our western way of thinking hating our father and mother seems a confusing thing. It always confused me. I tended to reason it out by saying it meant “in comparison to Jesus”. I think I may understand now.
I am currently reading a book about a Pakistani woman who becomes a Christian and she mentions the verses in Matthew (listed above). If you understand the culture of the Middle East than this suddenly makes since.
First off, let’s explain love and hate in the way the Bible speaks. In the Bible love is considered more of an action “love is patient love is kind…” etcetera. Why not hate. Hate as an action would be in theory the exact opposite of this.
Now to write about the Middle Eastern culture: In that area of the world, the Middle East and the area surrounding it, everything is about honor. You do wrong and it affects your whole family. Every member is put into shame because of one member’s action. This is the reason for so many drowning of women amongst Muslim families. It was to repair the honor the woman wrecked.
Ok, so now for the dent in this. In Muslim belief, the worst you can do sinfully wise, is believe that Jesus is the son of God. That is worse than even adultery. People are murdered in honor killings for less. If a member of the family becomes a Christian in the Muslim society the whole family is be implicated. No one would give their daughters into marriage into that family and no man would marry a sister or daughter of a Christian. People would ostracize the whole family not just the one. So in essence if a Muslim becomes a Christian in the Muslim world, they just gave their family hell on earth (at least until that family gets rid of the maker of the hell through death or shunning).
Now for the topper: in the time period of Jesus amongst the Hebrews, it was exactly the same (minus honor killings on the most part). Everything was about honor and the whole family was implicated in one person’s deed. Jesus was in essence telling the people to care more about Him than about the honor and livelihood of their family.
Tough choice.
Are we willing to risk so much for Christ?
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