Forgiving Self?

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV) Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

With age comes wisdom. With wisdom comes discernment. With discernment comes self-reflection. With self-reflection comes two possibilities: regret and shame, OR praise and progress.

Now, let’s put what I just said into context.

There is a lot of discussion today within the Body of Christ of the need to live in a constant state of brokenness. Scripture passages are quoted that seem to indicate that unless we are constantly reflecting on what we once were in our sin we will never know the splendor of God’s grace. This can cause a serious spiritual problem when it becomes so much the focus of our life that we forget to live in the victory over sin that Jesus has provided. It is very dangerous to fixate on why we are unqualified for eternal life and not live in the reality that the Father has qualified us! (Col. 1:12)

Just like anything in life, the problem becomes one of balance. The backward look at what we once were is necessary, but it must not become the standard by which we measure our spiritual sensitivities. The backward look is only necessary for one primary thing in our lives – to make us appreciate the current status of our relationship with Jesus Christ and live in the joy of our salvation.

The backward look at our past sin, when combined with the satanic influence of shame for that sin, can cause serious spiritual problems.  Yes, I said satanic influence of shame. You see, once God has forgiven our sin in Jesus Christ, ALL condemnation is removed. Shame is Satan’s weapon to condemn us. Shame is not the same as godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Shame is the chain with which Satan binds us to our past.

I hear a phrase coming from the lips of Christians far too often. It is usually used in a sentence that goes like this – “I know God has forgiven me, but I just can’t seem to forgive myself.” Nowhere in the Bible are we told to forgive ourselves. In fact, it is a deception of Satan to think that we must. It is how he holds us in spiritual bondage.

As long as we continue to look backward in a self-gratifying brokenness and believe we are still guilty and unworthy we have not truly accepted God’s forgiveness. We are choosing to look at our lives from our perspective rather than from God’s.

The person who believes they have not forgiven themselves is really guilty of not accepting God’s forgiveness. They are still trying to justify their own life and actions, when from God’s perspective they were justified in Christ and made to be His child forever. For some reason in their mind they believe their opinion of themselves is more important than God’s opinion of who they are. Their insecurities, guilt, and shame become the chains with which Satan holds them captive, and the only key he claims to have for deliverance is self-forgiveness and self-justification.

Unfortunately Satan never reveals the truth that he has no keys, and we will never be set free on those terms. Jesus said, I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. When God forgives there is no need for any additional forgiveness. The only way any of us could ever hope to forgive ourselves is for us to have sufficient resources to pay for our sin. We would have to be able to come before God and declare that we suffered the total consequences of sin and conquered it. The fact that we know we have a sin that needs to be forgiven makes us ineligible to pay God’s required price for that sin, which is a sinless sacrifice. We who try to forgive ourselves are in a hopeless state.

But the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect spotless Lamb of God, was poured out for the forgiveness of sin. None of us is required to or capable of forgiving ourselves. We can only – and wondrously – accept the forgiveness already provided by the Father.

My friend, if you are suffering today because you are trapped in the chains of believing you must forgive yourself for what you have done, you are in a futile pursuit. You will never be free. You must realize that what you are really doing is rejecting the forgiveness God offers you. When God says you are forgiven – accept it. When God says you are justified – accept it. When God says you are worthy – accept it. When God says you are qualified – accept it. There is no need and there is no way for you to improve upon what God offers. You do not make yourself worthy of God, so stop trying to make yourself worthy of people, including yourself. When you repent of your sin, God forgives. To believe anything else denies the very nature and character of God.

REJOICE! Your sins are forgiven, and God declares you righteous. Stop arguing with Him.

Pastor John

God’s Offer of Forgiveness

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

 2 Chronicles 7:11 – 14 ¹¹When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, ¹²theLORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. ¹³“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, ¹⁴if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

 The story is told of a rich Christian who had a large company of employees, many of whom owed him money. He was constantly trying to teach them something about Christianity, and one day he hit upon a plan. He posted a notice for his employees to see that said, “All those who will come to my office between eleven and twelve o’clock on Thursday morning to present an honest statement of their debts will have them canceled at once.” The debtors read the notice with a great deal of skepticism, and on Thursday morning, although they gathered in the street in front of his office, not one of them went to the door. Instead they gossiped and complained about their employer, and ridiculed the notice he had posted. They said it didn’t make sense.

But finally, at 11:45, one man jumped forward, dashed up the steps into the office, and presented his statement. “Why are you here?” the rich man asked him. “Because you promised to cancel the debts of all those who would come as you instructed,” the other replied. “And do you believe the promise?” “Yes, I do.” “Why do you believe it?” persisted the employer. “Because, although it was too much for me to understand, I know that you are a good man who would not deceive anyone.” The rich man took the bill and marked it “Paid in full,” at which time the poor man, overcome, cried out, “I knew it! I told them so! They said it couldn’t be true, and now I’m going out to show them.” “Wait,” said his benefactor, “it’s not quite twelve o’clock. The others are not entitled to any special proof of my sincerity.” When the clock struck twelve, the forgiven debtor ran out waving his receipt in the face of his fellows. With a mad rush they made for the door, but it was too late. The door was locked.

God made a similar offer to the nation of Israel through King Solomon. While the primary application of this well-known and often quoted passage is for the nation of Israel, the fundamental principles of forgiveness that that are expressed apply to each of us today on an individual basis. We all have sinned, and fall short of His glory. We are unable to pay the debt for that sin. But God has posted a notice on the company bulletin board that has a striking resemblance to a cross. It says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their debt of sin.” It’s an incredible offer, but the conditions attached are difficult.

Humility – To stand guilty before the One who said he would forgive but who could also demand payment. Humility demands agreement with God about our condition and offers no self-defense. Humility relinquishes all rights and surrenders completely to God’s rulings. Humility trusts God’s grace and mercy. Praise God that the payment has already been made in full by Jesus Christ so that God’s justice guarantees forgiveness. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Prayer – To knock on the throne room door knowing that God will open it, we must renounce all human resources by turning in total dependence upon God, believing that He will do what He promised to do. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. (Titus 3:4 – 5)

Seeking God’s face – To submit to God’s purpose for our lives and become a witness of God’s grace. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 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.  (Hebrews 10:19 – 24)

Turn from wicked ways – To repent of the sin, turning from it with a sincere heart and desire to not do it again. Continuing in the Hebrews passage from above we read, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  (Hebrews 10:26 – 27)

When our hearts truly and sincerely reflect these four conditions, God completely forgives our sin. When we approach the throne of God with humble and broken hearts that cry out to Him in repentance of sin and submission to His will, He will forgive us completely and eternally. Hallelujah!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalms 139:23 – 24)

Pastor John

The Father’s Forgiveness

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

 Numbers 14:19 – 20 ¹⁹In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” ²⁰The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked.” 

 There’s a story of a father in Spain and his teenage son who had a relationship that had become strained. So the son ran away from home and fell into a life of sin. His father, however, began a journey in search of his rebellious son. Finally, in Madrid, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in the newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father.” The next day at noon in front of the newspaper office 800 “Pacos” showed up. They were all seeking forgiveness and love from their fathers.

Each of us is a Paco. We have rebelled against God. We are afraid of the consequences of our sin, so we try to hide ourselves and run away so we will not be found out.

Following the first sin ever in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves from God. They knew their relationship with their Creator was broken. They knew their guilt and felt its shame.

God came looking for them. He called out to them. “Where are you?” Now think about this. Almighty, Eternal, All-knowing God knew where they were. His question was not a fact-finding one. God’s question was an offer of forgiveness and restoration. The humans heard it with fear, but God was providing them an opportunity to respond in faith.

When the Father extends His arms of love in an act of forgiveness, we can run to Him in faith rather than run away from Him in fear. Even though the consequences of our sin may remain, the restoration of our love relationship with the Father completely overshadows any of the pain of our sin.

The human consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin were permanent, but the Father covered all of their shame and guilt with His sacrifice. His offer of forgiveness is so magnificent because the restoration of relationship with the Father far exceeds in value any of the lingering effects of our sin.

Imagine the joy you can bring to another person’s life if you were to see them the same way. They are suffering in their sin. They need to be forgiven. They need to know that someone will love them even while they are suffering the consequences of their sin.

Years ago I had a young man in my office who confessed to me that he has been stealing from local stores. He even stole a larger item from outside a business and dragged it behind his car to his back yard. He wanted to know what to do. I told him that he must immediately go and confess in person to the people from whom he had stolen and return the merchandise. He was scared. He knew that he could be arrested and charged with theft. He knew it meant paying restitution and possible jail time.

As we talked, I led him to understand that the pain of the guilt he would carry by not confessing would be much more severe than the pain of the court system. He also began to understand that his greatest need was to know that he and Jesus were in right relationship, and if that were true then nothing could separate him from the Love of God. He agreed that he wanted the love of the Father more than the stuff, and more than his image and reputation. He has confessed and faces stiff fines and jail time, but he is learning that the love of God is far more satisfying than what the world can offer.

As a part of our conversation, I promised him that I would go through this with him, and that nothing he has done could stop me from loving him and serving him. That was a key turning point. Even though he had not sinned against me personally, I was still tempted to separate myself from him until he got his act together. The Holy Spirit showed me that what he needed was someone to walk with him while he got his act together.

Maybe that’s what God is showing you also. Have you separated yourself from someone because of their sin when God may be calling you to forgive them and walk with them through the restoration process? Sure that takes time and energy, and it’s hard work that may not result in anything but more pain. But remember the cost of our forgiveness.

Go looking for that person. Call out to them as God calls out to you – not in a spirit of judgment that produces fear, but in a spirit of grace that offers forgiveness.

Pastor John

Monday, March 02, 2015

Today’s Topic: Another Box of Cookies

Today’s Scripture: Exodus 34:5-7 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”

I am in awe of the nature of God expressed in this passage of Scripture. The nation of Israel has rebelled against God. While Moses was receiving the law of God on the mountain, the people were making a golden calf to worship instead of God. Moses, in his anger at discovering their sin, had smashed the tablets of stone that had been personally engraved by the finger of God. His anger had caused him to disrespect and dishonor what God had given him. God punished the people who had sinned, and then He invited Moses back up onto the mountain to replace the engraved stones. When Moses received the first tablets they had been carved by God himself. This time Moses had to carve the tablets. With each strike of the hammer on the chisel Moses must have felt the guilt of knowing that he had allowed his anger to destroy something God had given him. He would have to carry those tablets to God with the shame of knowing that they were not God’s original design. No matter how closely he tried to duplicate the originals, they would still be man-made and not God-made. Imagine the fear and shame Moses must have been feeling as he approached the Presence of God on the mountain.

When Moses arrived, the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with Him. Then he passed in front of Moses and spoke. He did not destroy Moses’ spirit with words of condemnation and shame. He did not speak in anger. God did not strike Moses down. Instead, He declared His nature. It is a declaration of hope for us all. He said, “I Am the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” What incredible words of hope for all of us who have sinned. Spend a moment and review each statement and on the wonder of God’s forgiveness.

God is compassionate.

God is gracious

God is slow to anger

God is abounding in love

God is abounding in faithfulness

God has sufficient love for everyone

God forgives wickedness, rebellion, and sin

This also makes for an incredible challenge for all of us who have been sinned against. How do we respond when someone has hurt us with wickedness, rebellion, or sin? Maybe this illustration will help us apply God’s nature to our own choices.

A small boy at a summer camp received a large package of cookies in the mail from his mother. He ate a few, then placed the remainder under his bed. The next day, after lunch, he went to his tent to get a cookie. The box was gone.

That afternoon a camp counselor, who had been told of the theft, saw another boy sitting behind a tree eating the stolen cookies. He said to himself, “That young man must be taught not to steal.”

He returned to the group and sought out the boy whose cookies had been stolen. He said, “Billy, I know who stole your cookies. Will you help me teach him a lesson?” The puzzled boy replied, “Well, yes—but aren’t you going to punish him?”

The counselor explained, “No, that would only make him resent and hate you. No, I want you to call your mother and ask her to send you another box of cookies.”

The boy did as the counselor asked and a few days later received another box of cookies in the mail.

The counselor said, “Now, the boy who stole your cookies is down by the lake. Go down there and share your cookies with him.”

The boy protested, “But he’s the thief.”

“I know. But try it—see what happens.”

Half an hour later the camp counselor saw the two come up the hill, arm and arm. The boy who had stolen the cookies was earnestly trying to get the other to accept his jackknife in payment for the stolen cookies, and the victim was just as earnestly refusing the gift from his new friend, saying that a few old cookies weren’t that important anyway.

The Apostle Paul said it this way in Ephesians 4 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (emphasis added).

As you have been forgiven by God, go and forgive others.

Pastor John

Thursday February 26, 2015

Today’s Topic: Who Will Carry Our Sin?

Today’s Scripture:  Genesis 4: 13-14 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear.  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

We have a weight problem. We may be carrying around far too much weight: much more than are supposed to be carrying. You’ve probably not noticed mine, but it is a big problem for me. I’m not talking about my large belly. You’ve seen that, and it is a problem I am addressing in my new fitness program. But I’m talking about another weight problem we have – a much more serious one. I’m talking about the weight of sin and unforgiveness we carry.

This morning in my daily chronological reading of the Bible, the schedule called for reading several chapters in the book of Numbers. I came across an interesting principle based on the holy nature of God.

Moses is being given some of the laws for community life as the chosen people of Israel. He is specifically addressing the requirements of the Nazarite vow, a vow that could be taken to declare oneself completely separated unto God.

One of the requirements of the separation was that the person making the vow was never allowed to be in the presence of a dead person, not even if his wife, children, or parents died. This would make him unclean and the vow would be broken.

Then, in Numbers 6:9 we read an additional requirement concerning the dead. “And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it. Even if the Nazarite accidentally came in contact with a dead person, he was declared unclean.

Well that seems harsh. It wasn’t the Nazarite’s fault that someone near him died. He couldn’t help it. But the eternal principle at work here isn’t about whether or not we think we are right, but whether or not we highly respect the righteousness of God.

The point is this: God’s holiness is not to be taken lightly. We who claim to be in Christ have been called to be separated unto Christ. Therefore, absolutely anything that we do that is contrary to the righteousness of God is sin and places a huge weight on our lives.

Over the next few days or weeks, I am compelled to update a series a devotionals I wrote in 2007 on the subject of forgiveness. The Hebrew word translated forgive is used some 650 times in its root form in the Old Testament. The word means to lift, to carry, and to take away.  The first time the word is used in the Bible is in Genesis 4:13, where following the murder of his brother Abel, Cain is punished by God and responds to Him by saying, “My punishment is more than I can bear.” 

The weight of sin in our lives is more than we can lift or carry. Our attempts to be free from the burden are varied. We may deny that the sin really exists, as Cain did when God rejected his offering and he became angry at God. God gave Cain a chance to do the right thing, but Cain rejected God’s offer of acceptance. We sometimes do the same. We choose to believe that our way is right even when God calls it wrong. We try to convince ourselves and others that what we are doing is not sin. We try to earn our acceptance by making ourselves right, even if it means eliminating from our lives those that make us feel guilty for what we are doing.

Sometimes we lie in an attempt to cover our guilt and personal responsibility for our choices. When God asked Cain where his brother was, Cain responded, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”  He lied about what he had done. Denial is of the Devil. Satan is the father of lies. Lying begins in the heart of a self-centered person who requires approval and acceptance from people. Lying is the product of pride. Lies are designed by a deceived person in an attempt to avoid rejection and protect image. We fail to understand that the lie is yet another sin which adds to the weight of the burden we cannot lift. We quickly fall into the humanly inescapable quicksand of sin. The more we try to struggle against it, the deeper we sink.

Sometimes we seek the comfort of the world to relieve the pain of our sin. When Cain was expelled from the presence of the Lord because of his choice to protect his position rather than repent, he began to build a city. He put all of his energy into finding satisfaction from what the world had to offer. He even named the city after his son. He did not include God in any of his plans. The world became his opiate. The world offers many empty promises of relief from sin: promises we quickly and easily accept as truth. Financial success, social status, sex, alcohol, drugs, and on goes the list. Each promise proves itself addictive to the process of pursuing more promises. The temporary relief we may experience ultimately compounds the burden of our sin because we have failed to realize that each promise is itself another sin.

But in the middle of all of this was a promise from God to Cain that is made to all of us as well – “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” 

There is a solution to our weight problem. God will carry the total weight of our sin if we will release it to Him and do what is right. It is in that moment of repentance that we find forgiveness. In the days ahead we will dig out many nuggets of treasured truth from the mine of forgiveness, but the first and foundational lesson we must learn is this – the weight of our sin is more than we can carry. We cannot take it away by ourselves. We must give it to the One who can carry it, and once we do, we NEVER have to carry it again. That means surrendering our rights, telling the truth, and living according to God’s purpose and not the world’s pursuits.

Isn’t it time to have the weight of sin lifted off of your life? God wants to do it, and He can. Turn to Jesus today and sincerely ask for forgiveness. Then accept His forgiveness as a done deal. Then offer the same forgiveness to others.

Pastor John

 Today’s Topic: How Delightful!

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ²  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

As I drove along one of the main avenues through Eau Claire this morning, I was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of joy. It started with a simple glance at a restaurant. Now before you jump to conclusions about my dysfunctional relationship with food, the joy I was feeling was the product of memories of many experiences with my wife at that restaurant years ago. I haven’t been in that eating establishment for a long time, but the memories of times spent with my wife brought a huge sense of delight to my heart.

Try something right now. Say the word DELIGHT out loud. Now say it again…and again. Great word isn’t it? It just rolls off the tongue and produces a smile as you say it. As you say it you there are memories and feelings being generated in your mind and heart. You are leaning into those thoughts right now, aren’t you? They feel good. They are a breath of fresh air in the midst of a polluted set of circumstances surrounding you. Enjoy them!

The word delight is of Latin origin, and means to charm. In the Bible, as in Psalm 1:2, the Hebrew word means to incline towards. In other words, to take delight in something means to be so charmed by it that you lean into it.

That’s what happened to me this morning. I was so charmed by the memories of time spent with my wife that I leaned into them. I actually called her and thanked her for making my life so delightful.

After my phone conversation ended, I began to wonder why I didn’t experience more delight in my life. The answer was instantly clear. It’s because I am looking for delight in the wrong place. Maybe you are too.

One place we look for delight is in relationships, hoping we can surround ourselves with people who are delightful so it will rub off on us and ease our pain. Trouble is, they tend to only be delightful when they agree with us, so we avoid people who challenge us.

Maybe we look for delight in our work. When think that if we get recognized as successful we can finally have some delight.

It’s possible that we search for delight in possessions. If we can look around at all the stuff we own, and the quality of our home, we can feel delighted.

Or is it the reality that we want the circumstances of our lives to be charming, and if they aren’t, we have no reason lean into them.

All of the above things can produce a sense of delight, albeit short-lived and unsatisfying. But the Psalmist knew the secret to living a delightful life. Blessed is the man who…delights in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.

Imagine this. Something unexpected happens to you. It’s outside the box of your control. It’s painful. It hurts. Would you dare to think that you could respond with a statement like this?

How delightful is God, who knows my way and what I need. I am a tree planted by streams of water, yielding the fruit of righteousness, and my leaves will not wither in this drought of emotional distress.

If your delight is in what flows* from the heart of God, then you can take delight in Him regardless of what is happening. You can be delightful even when everything around you isn’t. Now that’s good news!

*Flows – this is the root meaning of the Hebrew word for law. The law, or precepts of God (Hebrew is torah), flow from His heart and are pointed at us for our delight.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

 Today’s Topic:  What Do You Look Like?

Today’s Text:  2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

Well the remodeling job on my bathroom is proceeding slowly. It seems I can’t find enough time or energy to put in the work necessary to get it done. Every night, when I go to bed, the closed door to that room stares at me. I know that on the other side of that door is a room that is a mess. I know there’s a plan for that room, and I have all the materials available to complete the room. But unless I actually do the work, it will not get done. I just need to keep my eyes fixed on the finished look, and apply myself every day to making it happen.

For many of us, the remodeling of life proceeds slowly as well. We know there is a plan designed by the Owner of our lives to remodel us into the image of Christ. He has provided all the materials necessary to complete the job through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in us. But it is hard and slow work. The demolition of years of previous construction is painful, but it must be torn out. The replacement of all the new material takes time, but it takes even longer when we don’t invest the time to work on it. It’s easier to shut the door to that room and not look at it. If only we would fix our eyes on the finished look the Master has designed.

The question then that must be asked and answered by each of us is this – “What does the Master’s design look like?”

The answer is easy to find, but hard to do; it’s more difficult than we are willing to admit. Over and over the Scriptures teach us one thing and one thing only that sets us apart as having been remodeled by the Master Designer – LOVE.

The fundamental principle of life in the kingdom of God is LOVE. The kingdom is not founded on one’s ability to interpret Scripture, or counsel people, or accomplish great things in the church. It is not founded on the power to heal or cast out demons or take authority over nature or even know and obey the law. The Kingdom of God is founded on the love of God for people who in turn love God and love others. This alone is the foundation of the Kingdom and is to be the focus of our every choice.

When we fail to keep our eyes fixed on the Designer’s intended “look of love”, the remodeling work stops.  That’s when we choose to shut the door to avoid looking at the unfinished mess.

So what do you look like? Is everything about your life reflecting the Designer’s love? Are you being daily remodeled into the image of Jesus Christ?

Here’s a poem I found in one of my devotionals from 10 years ago. It really speaks to the remodeling project of our lives. Make it the prayer of your heart today.

When we marvel at the grace

that has given us a place

where we will see His face,

we will by that grace

remember our place

and reflect His face

and not our own.

Monday, February 23, 2015

 Today’s Topic:  The Source of True Power

Today’s Text:  Acts 1:6-8 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Yesterday when I got up to share my ten minutes during our church’s Jubilee Celebration, I was suddenly overpowered by the Holy Spirit. I opened my mouth to speak and words came out from a place in my heart that erased and replaced what had been prepared in my mind. It was so overwhelming that I almost broke down in tearful speechlessness.

But the Holy Spirit had a message for me, and chose that moment to also deliver it through me to others. The message could be condensed into one statement – As followers of Christ we are empowered to accomplish every aspect of the commission of Christ.

 As I reflect on my own life and the life of the church I have concluded that we have participated in a disabling dialogue that goes like this – Some are called and gifted to go; some are called and gifted to witness; and others are called and gifted to disciple.

 We have adopted this dialogue as truth, maybe because it’s more comfortable for us. We all prefer to work within the boundaries of our comfort zones. But there’s a problem with that – a HUGE problem. All the power and provisions for working with comfort zones come from within us, according to our own strength and knowledge. Comfort zones are the product of sight. Comfort zones don’t require faith. Comfort zones eliminate the need for the Holy Spirit.

The disciples of Jesus were looking to pad their comfort zones after the resurrection of Jesus when they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” But Jesus refused to give them the knowledge they thought they needed, and instead told them that they were about to receive enough power to live by faith and fulfill an eternal purpose. He told them to live by the Spirit and not according to the knowledge found in the flesh.

Jesus simply tells us “You don’t have a need to know, you only need the power to be my witnesses.”  We don’t need to know what we are naturally good at – we will become great at what God does in us. We don’t need to live within the confines of our conditional comfort zones – we have the Power to go and make disciples and teach them to observe all things that Jesus has taught us. The Power is promised to do it all, not just part of it.

In the REAL church, knowledge does not produce power; the presence of God produces power. As individuals and as a church we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the fullness of God abides in us. We experience the presence of God, and we are equipped with the power of God to accomplish His eternal purpose of being witnesses to the resurrected Christ. We do not know the answer to how long we have to wait for His return, but we do have the power to do His work until He does. By faith, let’s step out boldly to accomplish God’s purpose. Not just part of it – but ALL of it.

Pastor John

Thursday, February 19, 2015

 Today’s Topic:  Open Carry

Today’s Text:  Acts 4:13 (ESV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

I had only been in my office for a short time when I heard a voice. I recognized the southern style of mornin’ and responded with the northern version of good morning. Pastor JAH entered my office.

He proceeded to tell me about a dream he had last night that made me seriously think about something. I haven’t had a lot of time to process it, but after I tell you about the dream, I will share my initial thought.

In his dream, James Alan said he was the pastor of the church. He laughed lightly as he assured me this was a dream. The dream took place during a morning worship service in which he was off-stage preparing to preach and the worship team was leading the congregation in a song.

Suddenly there was a very loud commotion. So loud in fact that the music was drowned out by the noise. He stepped out of the room he was in and immediately saw two rival gangs engaged in a big fight. He immediately asked the ushers to clear out the room of everyone except the gang members and get them to safety. Then they locked the doors, so he was alone in the room with the combatants.

As pastor he proceeded to the pulpit with his large hard-covered Bible. He raised it over his head and slammed it down on the pulpit so hard that it made the sound of a gunshot and almost broke the pulpit. Silence came over the room as the gang members’ attention was drawn to the stage.

Then the pastor said, “This thing is loaded, and I’m not afraid to aim it at your hearts.”

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Immediately after hearing that line in the story, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart with two words: CONCEALED CARRY. Here’s what I’m processing:

Why do so many of us believe that the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is to be carried in concealment when Jesus Christ has given us an open carry permit?

I am going to spend some more time today thinking about that. I will do some reflection on my attitudes when I am out in public to see if I am intentionally trying to conceal Christ. I will evaluate the fears that keep me from openly carrying the character of Christ and openly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone I meet.

I’m sure the difference between how I live and how the early Apostles lived in boldness and courage and never backed down from any opposition is this – THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

Let’s remember that the constitutional right to carry weapons in America is not the most treasured right we have. The most cherished right we have as followers of Christ is to openly carry a Sword, and use it to save people from their sin.

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By the way, there was a tagline to the dream. After stating, “This thing is loaded,” Pastor James Alan Hall told the gangs to sit down, and gave them the Gospel that death precedes life, and that until you die in Christ you will never live. At the conclusion of the dream, both gangs got saved.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) That includes gangs at war.

Pastor John

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

 Today’s Topic:  Model Love

Today’s Text:  1 Thessalonians 3:12 (ESV) May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.

I am surrounded with princesses. (Or is it princi. I get confused over the plural spelling of some words.) Either way, I am surrounded with several young girls who all believe they are a princess. One of them is my granddaughter, one has captured my heart as if she were a granddaughter, and one is a friend of theirs from the church.

As often as possible, these three girls dress up in princess dresses. They twirl and leap and parade around with such joy as they put form to their fantasies. But their favorite thing to do is to model their dresses for us. Their little lives are not complete until grandpa or someone else comments on the beauty of their dress and the perfection of their princessness. (I know, I made up another word, but it fits the mental picture)

Prior to last Christmas, my wife spent hours making two dresses for our youngest granddaughter. They were the perfect replicas of the dresses worn in a now-famous movie called Frozen. She opened the first one and immediately had to model it for us.

Then she opened the second one, and it had to be modeled as well.

Modeling comes naturally to a princess. Actually, we are all models of something or other whether we are aware of it or not. Moms model what it means to be a woman. Dads model what it means to be a man.  Children are molded by our modeling, and what they see in us is what they will grow up to believe is “normal and right.”

Modeling is God’s preferred method of motivating people to get fit spiritually. Of course there are other things that motivate, like teaching, correction, discipline, encouragement, and even gentle rebuke. But let me draw your attention to one verse that captured my heart on this subject. It happened as I was preparing for a pastoral leadership class I teach.

In our class study we are evaluating the Book of Acts and how the Apostles and the early church were directed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill Christ’s commission to go and make disciples. To see it the principles in practice we are studying the books of First and Second Thessalonians. As the Apostle Paul writes to them, he spends some quality time affirming them and encouraging them. Then he writes this in chapter 3 verse 12 – May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.

I asked the class to list some ways that the Lord makes people increase and abound in love. After some discussion, I directed them to the one answer provided in this verse – as we do for you.

Modeling motivates growth.

Paul said to this local church in Thessalonica, The Lord wants you to increase and abound in love for each other. Use us as the model of how to do that.

Here’s how Eugene Peterson puts it in The Messasge: And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you.

Here’s my point – What are you modeling to others?

Are you so thrilled with the gift of God’s grace that you can’t wait to put it on and show it off to everyone around you?

Is God able to use your life right now as a model of His love so that He can accomplish His work of making others increase and abound in love for others?

Think on these things.

Pastor John