The Truth vs. The Lie

The following scripture references are from the New International Version.

Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . .”

However, that does not mean if I can’t spend hours and hours at one sitting reading and studying, I should leave my Bible on the shelf to gather dust.

First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

That does not mean, however, if I don’t do it “always . . . continually” and “in all circumstances,” that I should throw up my hands and say, “What’s the use of even trying?”

Matthew 22:27 says, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.”

That does not mean I am not His child, even though I don’t love Him with my entire being. It is only in His strength that I can learn to live and love this way.

Matthew 22:39 says, “And the second (commandment) is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

However, when “my neighbor” is unlovable or when I’m not feeling particularly loving, it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t seek to bless others.

Matthew 22:40 says, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

And now we’re back to my first realization. In His strength, I must focus on loving God and loving others, even though I will not always get it right.

While 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” . . .

James 4:17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

While I must devote myself to more diligent study of God’s Word, that doesn’t let me off the hook from doing what I already know I should do.

And one of the most important truths I’ve learned is this:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus . . .” (Romans 8:1).

Though condemnation and conviction often feel the same at first, I’ve come to a crucial realization. Condemnation makes us feel weighed down, as if there’s no hope and no way out. Conviction by God’s Spirit, however, shines a light on the darkness within while shining brightly on the path that leads us out of that darkness.

And again I remember . . .

Twenty-twelve is my personal Year of No Excuses!

Am I a Thief?

This summer, the morning messages at our church have focused on The Ten Commandments. Many of us have a pretty good idea what they are. Some of us can even recite them. But do we really understand the full ramifications of these  “ten words” given by God Himself?

As our pastor said, we can’t just say, “Oh, I don’t steal chocolate bars from the corner store, so I’m good. ‘You shall not steal.’ Check.”

I wish it were that easy, but no.

I can’t shake my finger at you and say, “I know you’re a thief,” but I can point to myself and say that yes, yes I am.

No, I don’t take chocolate bars from the corner store – or anything else, for that matter. In fact, when I was a teenager – many, many, many years ago – I was accused of stealing $60.00 from a young woman at the factory where I worked. Thankfully, my mom was able to vouch for me, saying I wouldn’t even take a cookie without asking.

So, how am I a thief?

Let’s see . . .

Do I always use our money as I should? Most definitely not. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a spender, not a saver. Often, over the years, I’ve thought to myself, “I’ll do better tomorrow – or next month or next year.” If only I’d taken the advice I gave my children when they wanted something new. “Wait until next time we come to the store. If you still want it then, enough to spend your own money on it, then you can get it.” New and shiny soon loses it’s appeal and then I want something else that’s newer and shinier.

And my time . . . do I always use it wisely? Pardon me while I laugh hysterically – or sigh and get depressed. This doesn’t mean I’m working 24/7. Work has its place, as does family, friends, and rest. I can’t say I’ve found the right balance. As a Christian, I’ve heard about tithing my money. In the same vein, I’ve often thought it would be a good idea to tithe my time. Although this isn’t a biblical directive, I believe my life would be much different if I devoted from 1.5 to 2.5 hours each day to prayer and studying God’s Word.

And even if I got the time thing right, how about my attention? I can spend hours in a certain location with certain people, but my thoughts can be elsewhere. Can I, therefore, really say I’ve devoted that time as I should have?

As the fall TV season approaches, I will have to be careful. During the summer, it’s easy to keep my TV viewing to a minimum. After all, almost everything is in reruns. Like everything else, the appeal of TV is the appeal of relationships. I begin to care about the characters and then I want to watch as their story unfolds. That and sometimes I just want to veg. (grin)

Now, before you think this is all about legalism and condemnation, I want to stop and say this: Condemnation is like a soaking wet, heavy wool blanket. It keeps us down and there doesn’t seem to be any way out. Conviction, on the other hand, may feel the same at first, but it’s the polar opposite. I believe God convicts us of sin in our lives and, at the same time, empowers us to change.

And why does He do this? It really is for our own good. If we live the life He instructs us to live, He will be glorified and we will benefit in countless ways, now and for all eternity.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t believe we can earn God’s favour and a place in heaven. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Salvation comes by accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour (John 3:16). And when we do so, His Holy Spirit will enable us to fulfill the good works He prepared for us long before we were even born (Ephesians 2:10).

If you would like to listen to the sermon “The Heart of Stealing” and others in the series, visit efbc.net

 

Definitely Not Casual

It has been awhile since I’ve posted to Casual Theology. Today I read the last two chapters of Revelation. While it is incredibly exciting for believers in Christ Jesus, of which I am one, the warnings make me sit up and take notice.

If you are interested in learning more, I invite you to read the full post here.

Heart Treasures

The other night I was thinking through what may be a non-issue. When I asked the Lord if I should talk to a family member about it, He brought to mind the scripture that says, “Mary treasured all these things in her heart.”

I believe God was challenging me to treasure this particular uncertainty. As I posted on Facebook, “Hurdle or opportunity? It’s all a matter of perspective.”

Accepting that His plans are best – or at least, inevitable – is not the same as fatalism…especially when you come to realize that “God is love” and can be trusted 100 percent.

His perspective is not ours. Yet, He challenges us to take our thoughts “captive to Christ.” How can we do that? Well, as believers, God’s Word says we have the mind of Christ. He doesn’t ask us to do anything He doesn’t empower us to do.

As you may remember, I came to a place of total peace about my children’s future when I asked God to be glorified in their lives – no matter what that meant.

“Be anxious for nothing…” – not for my grown children’s future and not for my own.

How about the challenge to “give no thought to tomorrow”? Does that mean we don’t plan ahead? No, but worry and dwelling on the “what ifs” won’t do us any good. We must make the most of each moment. It’s too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and put off the truly important.

I have been challenged to once again, put first things first.

You may remember that 2012 is my personal Year of No Excuses. That means putting procrastination behind me, especially in the areas that matter the most.

I’ve also been challenged to “be still” and know that He is God. It’s too easy to keep busy – physically and/or mentally – in this age of iPads, smartphones, and e-readers. Are we ever really still? Do we take the time to quieten our hearts and minds? Too often the answer is no.

Today – and in the days ahead – I want to do just that. Then I will be able to treasure those things the Lord is teaching me. And, when the time is right, I will share my insights as He directs.

Enjoy this amazing season, the most amazing season in the history of mankind. Let us celebrate Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection – now and always!

Worship Matters

Thirteen members of our church attended the Worship Matters conference in Lansing, MI, in February. The conference was led by Bob Kauflin. (You can read more here.)

Although I wasn’t going to go when I first heard about it, I’m glad I reconsidered. It wasn’t that I was exposed to a lot of information I hadn’t heard before – though there was some. It was more about me being in a different place, a place where I was really ready to hear what was being said.

Although I’ve felt comfortable for years in settings where people expressed their worship outwardly, I hadn’t been bold enough to do so in a very long time. That being the case, I found, in many ways, my heart had grown hard and callused.

I’m not talking about clapping or raising your hands for the sake of doing so. I’m referring to expressing the overflow of one’s heart in a way others can see.

There is an old Sunday School song that says, “Our God is so big, so strong, and so mighty; there’s nothing our God cannot do.”

If, indeed, that is the God I claim to worship, it makes sense that others can see it.

One of the best parts of the weekend for me was our brainstorming sessions Friday and Saturday night. I enjoyed participating in the conversation and hearing what others had to say.

Here are some of their thoughts…

“He commands that I love and worship Him with all my heart (whole being), soul (emotions), mind (intellect), and strength (body).” ~ Pastor Doug

“I’ve also felt the change in the fact that we are now starting to realize that there is absolutely no need to be ashamed about how we should be worshiping, whether that be clapping or raising our hands.” ~ Sharon (first year Bible college student)

“I feel a shell has been broken off of me that had been restricting my worship. I feel free now to glorify Him and Him alone—the way I feel comfortable.” ~ Anette (worship team member)

“We must worship both vertically and horizontally, ensuring what is done is done for the glorification of God, as well as edification of the body.” ~ Aislinn (singer)

And finally, Bob Kauflin says, “Worship is all of me responding to all of whom God has revealed Himself to be.”

Worship really does matter, and there’s nothing casual about it.

Nothing Casual about Worship

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Jesus (Matthew 22:37 NIV)

We attended the Worship Matters conference in Lansing, Michigan this past weekend.

Bob Kauflin included a session teaching us the importance of truly worshiping with our minds, our souls, and our bodies.

Many Christians – and non-Christians – focus on the intellectual aspect of learning. Yes, 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (ESV). In the King James Version, it says, “Study to shew yourself approved…”

However, our faith can’t end with an intellectual understanding of truth. That isn’t sufficient for the faith that truly pleases God Almighty.

We must “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22 ESV). Otherwise, the verse goes on to say, we deceive ourselves. After all, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14 ESV) No, our works do not save us, but genuine faith will be exemplified by good works.

If the truth we’ve learned sinks into our souls, it will change us. It will result in a change of attitude and actions.

Living out our faith is not the only way we express our worship of the One True God. The Scriptures overflow with physical responses to encounters with the Lord. People responded in a variety of ways. They sang. They knelt down. They lifted their hands. They clapped. They shouted. They played instruments. They danced. They stood unmoving in awe.

As denominations, as individuals, we are more comfortable with some of these expressions of worship than with others. But it’s not about our comfort. It’s about honouring God, about worshiping Him with everything we are.

It is for Him. Plus, it is for others. If they see that we internalize what we claim to believe, that it affects our attitude and behaviour, they will realize it’s real. If they see us bowing down in reverence and reaching up to the Father we so desperately need on Sunday and then living out our faith Monday through Saturday, they will realize our faith is more than a list of doctrinal statements.

It isn’t about choosing one over the other, but prayerfully tending to all three areas.

What will I do this week to increase my knowledge of God and His Word? What will you do?

What will I do to live out what I learn? And you?

And lastly, how will others who look on know that I serve the God of the Bible? How about you?

Nothing Casual about Wonder

I’m reading Jenna Lucado Bishop’s From Blah to Awe. While it was written for teen girls, there is much for all of us to learn within its pages. Our lives should truly overflow with wonder and awe, and the author gives practical steps on how to nurture and develop those traits.

I love the fact that she asks questions and leaves space for readers to journal right in the book. Although I’m reading an e-copy and write my responses on my computer, those blanks discourage me from sailing past the questions.

Some of the questions and comments really got me thinking…

Jenna asks readers to describe a time they were feeling blah about God. Most of us wouldn’t even admit this was ever the case, and yet the entire book makes us face our human tendencies to get bored with what and who we think we know.

She also calls us to look at “the ugly parts” of our hearts. While she writes with sensitivity and love, she does not pull her punches. And I am most thankful.

Questions like “What consumes your mind the most?” cause me to stop and admit that the greatness of God and the wonder of His Word are not always at the forefront of my thinking.

And while I am a proponent of the benefits of technology, I do recognize that I can allow myself to spend too much time on the social networks. I can only imagine what it would be like if I owned an iPod and/or an iPhone. Technology has quickly gone from being a means to accomplish our tasks more quickly and efficiently to something that keeps us from 1) being still and knowing that He is God and 2) interacting face-to-face with the people who are all around us.

And one question I hope to keep in mind each and every day is this: “What if that’s what you kept in mind…Every person you pass is eternal.” That plus the fact that God is to have the #1 place in our lives is the crux of the matter.

It doesn’t matter if people like me.

It doesn’t matter that I make them comfortable.

It doesn’t matter that I spend my time doing good things.

If I am not in awe of God – if I do not seek to make Him known – I don’t truly love Him and I don’t truly love those with whom I rub shoulders.

Jenna’s father, Max Lucado, has long been my favourite author. I am thankful to God that both of them have challenged me to live as God commands.

Soil Types

As always, I find reading Luke 8:4-15 very sobering.

Let’s look at the highlights.

When sown, some seed falls…

- on the path

- on rocky soil

- among thorns

- on good soil

As you probably know, the seed refers to the Word of God; the soil, our hearts.

In my life, did the Word fall upon the path? No, I believe the Scriptures are true. One down; three to go.

Is my heart filled with rocky soil? Well, at times I would have said yes. The times of testing – though, if I’m honest, haven’t been anything like what others face – tripped me up a little. Even during my darkest times, I knew there really was nowhere else to go. I might not understand the Lord or His ways, but I know I can count on them.

The next type of soil I’d rather not discuss. This is the part that always trips me up. Listen to it from the ESV. “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life…” (v. 14).

Ew, yuck!

How will I pay my bills?

Should I find a job flipping burgers?

Should we move into a smaller place?

How can we help our kids when we have debt to pay off?

And on it goes.

What do I want?

I want a heart of good soil. I want to hear the Word, hold fast, and bear much fruit.

What can I do about it?

I can read the Scriptures and meditate on them. I can pray. I can fellowship with believers.

And…

I can trust Him to provide for our needs and show me what steps to take.

Mostly…

I have to count on him to work up the soil and bring forth an abundant harvest for His honour and His glory.

Spiritually Worthy of Imitation

There is lots of great information on the Spark People site, but with all the books and blogs on my To Be Read list, most of the time I simply delete the messages that come to my inbox, but not the one that came yesterday.

I haven’t read the article.

I might not read the article.

But I will likely keep it around for a while.

The reason…

The title…

Be worthy of imitation.

Wow!

That hit me upside the head; gave me food for thought; got the wheels spinning…and all sorts of other cliches.

It got me thinking about the apostle Paul. How could a man say, “Follow me…” and still be a servant of Jesus? (Philippians 3:17)

But that was why he could say it. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul lived out his days sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone who would listen – and many who would not.

He could say, “Follow me…” because he was walking in step with the Creator of the universe, the Saviour, the Redeemer. To follow Paul meant to follow Christ.

The apostle lived a life worthy of imitation, but he was clear that he wasn’t cultivating disciples for himself. If listeners referred to themselves as followers of Paul, he was quick to point them to the Only One worthy of their devotion. (1 Corinthians 3:3-5)

Second Corinthians 11:24-28 lists those things Paul endured for the sake of the gospel. Beatings. Stoning. Lost at sea. Hunger. Thirst. Exposure. Anxiety.

Am I willing to do the same? Hardly.

As I shared earlier this week, if I’m honest, one big reason I don’t share my faith is because I’m afraid people won’t like me. To quote the younger generation, “How lame is that?”

So, I want my life to be worthy of imitation in all areas. But the #1 area is my devotion to Jesus Christ.

I, indeed, want to live a life worthy of imitation.

Not So Casual Calling

I called one of my early blogs Casual Theology, not because the lessons I was learning were unimportant, but because I chose to share them in an informal way.

Now I share highlights of my daily Bible readings and sermons I hear, things that “hit me upside the head.” Maybe they’ll do the same for you.

If you read my post a while back titled An Ah Ha Moment, you will remember I felt challenged to surrender my grown children to the Lord, which I did – and remind myself of often.

Last week I had another ah ha moment. Though not as surprising, it was every bit as crucial – in some ways, likely more so. I’ve known for a long time that I should be more deliberate about sharing my faith.

If my worries and concerns about my kids meant God was not in the #1 spot in my life, then my failure to proclaim what I believe is further evidence.

Why don’t I share?

Because I don’t truly believe what the Bible says? No, that’s not it.

Because I don’t think He’s big enough to meet everyone’s needs? Nope, it’s not that either.

Because I’m not sure if God loves others as much as He loves me? That’s just silly talk.

Because I don’t think it’s my responsibility? I know better.

Because I believe there is more than one way to discover the Ultimate Truth, the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me”? No, I believe that completely.

So, what is it?

I can communicate.

I know what I believe.

I know I should tell others.

I know God gives me opportunities, courage, and strength.

And I know the results of even my fumbling attempts are up to Him.

What are the real reasons I don’t share?

There are several.

I abhor conflct.

Too often I assume people don’t want to talk about spiritual matters – especially if their personal beliefs are going to be challenged.

In other cases, I assume they’ve heard the gospel and have rejected its claims on their life.

I love to encourage and build up, and sometimes discussing matters of faith makes the hearer feel uncomfortable and upset.

When I haven’t done something for so long, sometimes it’s easier to continue doing what I’ve always done rather than admit I’ve missed countless opportunities and make a fresh start.

I’ve often fretted, “What if I get it wrong? What if I say the wrong thing and turn them off?”

And simply put, I like people to like me. There, I’ve said it.

WARNING!

Do I really value another’s opinion more than God’s? If the answer is yes, I have to lay this down, just like I did my three kids.

Do I love others enough to share the most incredible news – EVER?

The Bible says the two most important commands are 1) love God and 2) love others.

If I really do love, I will share my faith…even if I get the words wrong sometimes. The results, after all, aren’t’ up to me.