The Today Series: April 2008 Archives
There is a tendency built in all of us to profess more than what we walk. Paul spoke of those people who are "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). The "knowledge" of the truth is "the full knowledge" or that which has been tested in experience. The most precarious thing about the truth is that it is all too easy to "intellectualize" it, thus divorcing it from our behavior.
All of us suffer to some degree just from being ourselves. Like Paul we don't understand what makes us like we are: 'For that which I do I understand not, for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that I do' (Romans 7:15).
All of us are born with our minds and personalities that may be thought of as a blank book. That book comes with the publishers imprint and design with some of what we are and what we do having been preprogrammed genetically. Although this may be nurtured or suppressed it still contributes to why we are like we are.
Other factors contribute to the makeup of our personality: those things we have observed in the examples set by others, things others have taught us, our own experimentation with life and the processing of all of the above through further study and meditation. Every experience and consideration we have shapes who and what we are.
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:14-15).
Attitude is tremendously important in any aspect of one’s life. It is an open window to the soul giving a much greater view of one's inner makeup than might be desired. God considered attitude to be so significant that He exercised extreme punitive measures on those of the Children of Israel who were guilty of complaining as they faced the harsh and difficult journey across the wilderness.
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved [brooded] upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2).
Unfortunately, the word "brood" has been saddled with a bundle of wrong connotations although it originally was a very powerful and positive word. Contemporary usages of it have it meaning "to mope, fret, worry, or to feel sorry for one's self." In its more primitive roots it has the idea of creative contemplation and meditation.
'Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith' (1 Peter 5:8,9a).
I find the life of faith to be extremely difficult—in fact, a life of warfare. Much of my ministry has been a faith ministry in that I have not been salaried or, when pastoring pioneer mission churches, extremely underpaid. I have been foolish enough (from the world's point of view) to take my large family into difficult situations where our only sure resource was our Heavenly Father.
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12 KJV).
The indicators of a healthy life have little or nothing to do with a trouble-free existence. Obviously, all of us prefer to avoid all of the problems we can but the bottom line is, they will come our way in various forms and at different times as threats to our well-being. A healthy life is one that is equipped and prepared to meet the difficulties that do come with grace and aplomb.
It is not a sign that things have gone wrong or that God doesn't care if difficulties do come. If we are properly tuned spiritually, these things will be little more than a "bump in the road" on the road we are destined to walk.
We tend to be results oriented. In our thinking a vision requires goals with the results of those goals demonstrating our progress in achieving our vision. I’m not quite so sure God sees it that way. God said: 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord' (Isaiah 55:8).
My friend, Kenny Ashley, shared about a man who was instructed by God to push on a huge rock in his yard every day. After years of being obedient the rock had still not moved. The man became discouraged and was complaining to God because he was unable to move the rock. To which God replied: 'I didn't tell you to move the rock--only to push on it.' He went on to call the man's attention to the changes which had occurred in him as a result of his obedience. That illustrates what I was trying to say yesterday and want to enlarge on today.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
I do not usually involve myself in political discussions and don’t plan to do so in this message. However, I was caused to give thought to a peculiar situation that has come up in the State of Indiana House of Representatives. A federal judge has prohibited the use of the name of Jesus in prayers given in the House.
I have no interest in getting into the politics of the situation or even the injustice of such a decision. What has occurred to me, however, is how fear is apparently struck in the heart of unbelievers when the Name of Jesus is properly used! What is there about that Name that should cause such anger or even panic?
