Connecting Points

Friday, January 25, 2013

Today’s Topic: The Past is Sufficient          

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:127 (NLT) Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold.

Every Thursday evening I host a Bible Study for anyone interested in digging into the truths of God’s Word through a verse-by-verse study of a book of the Bible. Currently we are studying First Peter.

Last night we had a fascinating discussion about a passage that really wrapped me up in a blanket woven with threads of conviction and challenge. Here’s the passage:

¹ Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 1 Peter 4:1-3 (ESV)

Our conversation hinged upon two pins –

• We are to be willing to suffer in the flesh the way Jesus did because we understand the incredible nature of our salvation;
• We are to be so in love with Jesus for how He suffered for us that we would never go back to the way we used to live before we met Him.

Here is the van Gorkom paraphrase of this passage, including commentary:

Since Jesus was so willing to suffer any abuse of His flesh because of His love for us, we choose to allow ourselves to suffer any abuse of our flesh because of our love for Him. When we make that choice, sin no longer has any attraction to us. We will live the rest of our days on this earth completely sold out to the will of God for our lives, and no longer seek to fulfill the passions of the flesh that have now been crucified with Christ.

You see, we are so in love with Jesus for saving us from our sin, and we are so completely satisfied and fulfilled in our relationship with Him, that whatever time we spent seeking to fulfill the desires of the flesh in the past are sufficient for the rest of our lives. We’ve been there, we’ve done that, and we never need to go back there and do it again! Why would we ever go back to what cannot really satisfy us when we have met the One who completely qualifies and affirms us.

So we are ready to suffer the loss of anything connected to the flesh so that we might be found faithful in serving the One we truly love. When our eyes offend us, we will symbolically pluck them out. When our hands continually turn to sin, we will symbolically cut them off. When our ears hear the insults and abuse of other people’s words we will plug them up and listen only to the affirming truths of God’s words to us. Since we have found our complete identity in Christ, we will not allow anyone or anything else to define us.

As I reflected this morning on that study last night, I thought of an illustration that I wish I would have shared last night. Remember the days of your youth when you pursued the pleasures of the flesh. You indulged yourself in any experience available in an attempt to find completeness. That was especially true with relationships, especially those with the opposite sex as you sought the fulfillment of physical pleasure. But then you met “THE ONE”. The true love of your life, and all of that changed. You no longer wanted to pursue anyone else or seek intimacy with anyone else. Once you were married, the time spent in past pursuits was sufficient for the rest of your life, because you had met one whose love completely satisfies you.

There you go. Now you know what Peter means. The time past suffices for doing what sinners do, because you have met “THE ONE” – the true love of your eternal soul. No sacrifice of the flesh is too great to love Him in return, and you will never turn back.

Connecting Points

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Today’s Topic: True Humility           

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:124 (ESV) Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

Forgive me for not having a cute story to tell today. My heart is overwhelmed with a truth I have discovered this morning about myself – a truth that is probably the reality of your life as well. I must get right into it.

Today’s Scripture verse stands in stark contrast to what the author stated just three verses earlier. In that earlier verse he states “I have done what is just and right, so here’s what I want.” But now he comes to seek something from the Lord based not on what he believes he has earned but on the sole merit of God’s love.

My spirit cries out to the Spirit of God this morning with cries of brokenness and repentance for I have so often demanded from God and from people what I believe I am owed because of what I have done. I have become dependent upon what I have done to validate my life. I have stood in front of and beside people with the expectation that I will be recognized for my abilities and accomplishments. I have come before the Lord Jesus Christ with sacrifices that offend Him – sacrifices of my own doing designed for my own benefit. I have said with the Psalmist, “Look at what I have done, now here’s what I need you to do for me.”

I have attempted to justify my self-centered core with visible coverings of righteous obedience. But I know my heart, and it so frequently demands my own priorities even while perfecting the pose of surrender. What appears before men to be humility is in fact pride at its worst.

Oh brothers and sisters, we must each come before the throne of grace with nothing to offer, and ask the Lord to deal with us according to His steadfast love, not according to our works. Who of us could stand before God and be declared righteous based on what we have done? Which one of us has done so much good that the Holy One of Heaven should declare us holy? Where is there one person in the whole of human history who can ask God for anything based on their own merit?

But wait, there is One. The Righteous One of Heaven who Himself lived here as one of us. He alone was truly holy, and yet He refused to ask anything from the Father based on His own merit and only asked based on the Father’s love. In His great prayer of John 17, after asking the Father to meet the needs of His disciples, Jesus asks only one thing for Himself – that the followers given to Him by the Father would be with Him where He is and see His glory. He offers no work as the basis for His request. He does no bargaining. His request is not self-serving, but totally God-centered. He simply appeals to the love of the Father.

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24 (ESV)

There are so many ways I have negotiated with God because I have felt deserving of His attention. I know the same is true of you. In the recesses of our minds we think that God owes us His help to get us out of the current predicaments we are in, when in reality the predicament may be the most complete expression of His love to us right now. We believe, even if it be minutely, that if we have served Him well enough in one area of our lives that He owes us His help in areas where we have omitted Him. In our prideful attempt to validate ourselves we have even turned to seeking the approval of like-minded people who will encourage us rather than confront us about our sin. We come before the throne of grace with what we determine to be offerings of value, when grace is only granted to those who come empty-handed.

Oh God, my heart cries out to you in repentance that I and your people have become blinded to the reality of our own pride. We have become people who demand payment for services rendered. We are guilty of asking you to fulfill your promises to us based on our own abilities to earn them. We fall on our faces before you today and receive your forgiveness, and we invite you to deal with us according to your steadfast love and no longer according to our own good. It is grace that we seek, because we are empty. And when we receive it, we will remain empty of all of self so that only You will be seen in us.

Connecting Points

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Today’s Topic: Keep Looking For It

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:123 (NIV)  My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.

Have you ever looked for something so hard and for so long that your eyes just wouldn’t stay open any longer? That happens to me many times when I’m at my computer. Don’t tell my office administrator, but there are times in the afternoon that I actually fall asleep in my chair because my eyes are so tired from reading and looking for truths as I study.

Last night after a long Elder meeting following a long day at my desk, I came home and sat next to Denise as we searched for the best deal on a hotel room for tonight. We are treating the three grandkids to a trip to the Mall of America. They’ve never been there. As we searched the hotel sights, my eyes were literally burning with exhaustion. Twice I got up from the couch to go to bed but sat back down at the urging of my wife. My eyes were failing looking for the right room when the right room was just a few steps away.

What bothers me a lot about this is that I can’t say that my eyes have ever failed because of constant looking for the return of Jesus. They have failed looking for the right car or house to buy. They have failed looking for the right vacation to take. They have failed looking for the right investment of retirement dollars. But when was the last time I put that much effort into looking for the return of Jesus? Can I remember even one day when I looked multiple times during that day for Jesus to come back?

What a sad confession I make. I, the pastor who loves prophecy, spend very little time actually anticipating the return of Jesus to complete my salvation. I think this is exactly what the Apostle Paul refers to in First Thessalonians 5.

² For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. ³ When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. ⁴ But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ⁶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

Eyes don’t fail during sleep, and we are mostly asleep when it comes to the expectation of the return of Jesus. Some of us are going to be surprised when it happens, but that is not what God intends. It should not surprise us because we constantly expect it and look for it. We are not surprised because we know when it will happen: we are not surprised because we know that it will happen.

No matter how the Devil tries,

Sinful pleasures to disguise,

Do not compromise.

Just open your eyes,

Keep constant watch on the skies,

Let His return not be a surprise.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Friday, January 18, 2013

Today’s Topic: For Future Delivery 

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:122 (ESV) Give your servant a pledge of good;

So far it’s been great. There may be rough days ahead, but to this point everything has gone very smoothly. The potential for sleepless nights and tension-filled days exists, but the present reality overcomes the temptation to fear what may or may not actually happen.

Having three kids around the house for nine days makes me feel young again. Well, actually, it reveals how old I am, but inside I feel young. Listening to a two-year old say “Hi Papa” when I enter the room just melts my heart. Hearing a six-year old granddaughter joke about my baldness doesn’t bother me a bit when she does it while cuddling with me on the couch. And watching a football game with a nine-year old who understands and loves the game (and the right team) the way he does is so enjoyable.

Now, if my daughter and son-in-law are reading this on the cruise ship today, don’t get any ideas about not coming back. I know they wouldn’t ever think that. But every once in a while, having these kids around for extended stays is a great idea. We’ll see how today goes after last night’s sleep-overs. Tired kids usually make for crabby kids.

Yesterday after church I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some things we needed – like milk. Boy can those kids go through the milk. When I go to the store I usually end up with more than what’s on the list. Yesterday was no exception. I bought two extra things. When I got home, I told the kids I bought them a treat. They came running with their expectations flying. They couldn’t stop asking what it was as I slowly and intentionally unpacked all the other groceries.

Finally I reached the bottom of the bag, and with a grand announcement I pulled out a bag of grapes. They love grapes, but it wasn’t anywhere in their expectations of what a treat should be. Their faces dropped with disappointment. They said thank-you, but in very reserved tones with no eye contact. They had been given a pledge of good and it had not been delivered.

But the bag was not empty yet. I reached down in one more time and grabbed what was still there. As I removed the items I asked, “So would this be better?” There in my hand was three bags of Skittles. There was an explosion of enthusiasm. They reached for them immediately, but I was still quick enough to pull them out of their reach. We hadn’t had lunch yet.

I told them the treats were for some time later – to be handed out at my discretion. I then placed them inside an out-of-reach cupboard. Of course I was bombarded with questions – “When can we have them?” “What do we have to do to earn them?” “Are they for after lunch?”

I simply said that they were for some time later. Since yesterday, they have not asked about them once. Have they forgotten that they are there? Not a chance. But they have accepted the pledge of good as a promise of delivery, and they are waiting for the Grandpa that they trust to make good on the pledge.

I’m waiting for the God I trust to make delivery on the good He has pledged. Some of it has already come. Some of it is still on its way. Someday, at His discretion, it will all be delivered. For today, I can just enjoy what’s going on, knowing that the God who made a pledge of good is incapable of failing to deliver His promises to me. His discretion as to when the delivery takes place is His way of teaching me faith and patience.

In fact, when I think about it, even the waiting for delivery of the expected good is God’s way of delivering to me the good that He knows I need right now – patience and faith. God is always making His good available to us!

Hey kids, the grapes are still on the counter. Eat up!

Connecting Points

Friday, January 18, 2013

Today’s Topic: It’s All On Loan       

Today’s Text:  Psalm 24:1 (ESV)  The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…

  Haggai 2:8 (ESV) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.

  Psalm 50:10 (ESV)  For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

One sunny spring day a wealthy man by social standards went into a bank owned by his long-time friend to begin the process of purchasing a new home. He sat at a small table and filled out all the necessary financial statements and application forms. When done, he handed the paperwork to the administrative assistant behind the desk. He was told that the loan officers would review his information and get back to him within a few days.

When the phone call came three days later, it was his friend who called. The bank owner was puzzled. He asked his friend to explain why he had not listed any assets on his application. “How do you expect to get a loan for this huge mansion you want to purchase when you state that you own nothing? I’ve known you for a long time, and I can see on your credit report that you are extremely wealthy. Why have you chosen to not list anything as a personal asset?”

“Oh, that’s easy to answer,” said the wealthy applicant. “I don’t own anything. It’s all on loan to me. By your standards it’s mine, but not by God’s standards. Everything I have is His asset, not mine.”

I thought of this story this morning as I was reading an email I received from a friend who shared what God was teaching him in his personal devotions. With his permission, I share his thoughts with you.

As I was reading a devotional this morning, the opening reading was Psalm 24;1-2 which basically says that it’s all God’s. This led to Haggai 2:8 and Psalm 50:10 saying that all money and everything on the face of the earth is His. What especially made me stop was a comparison. “Since God consistently reiterates that He is the exclusive owner of all creation, we should respond appropriately when using His resources–including money. In other words, we should have exactly the same response as when using something that belongs to our neighbors: ask permission to use it; honor the owner’s instructions and do as he has designated; take no unnecessary risks; handle it the way we would want others to handle one of our possessions; and return it in a timely manner, preferably in better condition or more plentiful than before. And then say “Thank you.”

Well that sure hit me like a ton of bricks. I immediately went to my garage and made sure I didn’t have anything of my neighbor’s that I hadn’t returned. But seriously, I did immediately begin thinking about what I claim to own and possess, and I discovered I was guilty of taking ownership of what had not been deeded to me. You see, it’s all on loan. So here’s my plan – actually it’s God’s plan that I’m choosing to make mine:

• I hereby declare that I own nothing, and that everything currently at my disposal is God’s, and He has assigned it to me to use solely for His purpose.
• As the Owner of all I have, He can ask for anything He wants at any time, and I will cheerfully give it to Him. This includes people as well as possessions.
• If I think I can use it in some way, I will ask God for permission to do it first, and wait for His response before taking action.
• I will not put His property at risk hoping to gain more for myself.
• I will not hide His property to preserve it, but will put it to use for the current needs of the Kingdom.
• I will invest His resources in ways that bring an abundance of eternal treasures. I will not invest in building earthly security.
• I will learn to say “Thank You” more consistently, and seek to minimize my complaining that He hasn’t given me enough.

See the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30

Connecting Points

Friday, January 11, 2013

Today’s Topic: The Bow Covers You

Today’s Text:  Genesis 9:14  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.

As many of you know, I’m an avid hunter of deer using a bow. I’m not the best bowhunter, but I love being in the woods. I have a good understanding of deer and I know how to use the bow to harvest them.

One thing I know is that I always want to be on the right side of the bow. I always want it curving towards me and not away from me. When the bow is curving away from me, I am in danger. When the bow curves towards me I am on the safe side and the danger is minimized.

There is a great analogy to life in this simple illustration. It is found in God’s design of the bow – the rainbow. In your mind’s eye you can visualize it right now. Maybe you are even blessed enough to be seeing a double one. Now notice, which way does the curve bend? Towards us, right? We are on the safe side of the bow. Most certainly there are clouds of trouble have invaded your life, but every cloud holds the promise of the bow – a promise of God’s safety and protection. The bow is not aimed
at you, but as an umbrella it covers you.

This morning as I read my daily promise devotional from Charles Spurgeon in his classic book “Faith’s Checkbook,” I discovered this simple yet profound truth.

Just now clouds are plentiful enough, but we are not afraid that the world will be destroyed by a deluge. We see the rainbow often enough to prevent our having any such fears. The covenant which the Lord made with Noah stands fast, and we have no doubts about it. Why, then, should we think that the clouds of trouble, which now darken our sky, will end in our destruction? Let us dismiss such groundless and dishonoring fears. Faith always sees the bow of covenant promise whenever sense sees the cloud of affliction. God has a bow with which He might shoot out His arrows of destruction. But see, it is turned upward! It is a bow without an arrow or a string; it is a bow hung out for show, no longer used for war. It is a bow of many colors, expressing joy and delight, and not a bow blood-red with slaughter or black with anger. Let us be of good courage. Never does God so darken our sky as to leave His covenant without a witness, and even if He did, we would trust Him since He cannot change or lie or in any other way fail to keep His covenant of peace. Until the waters go over the earth again, we shall have no reason for doubting our God.

So if today it appears that you are being hunted, and that you are on the wrong side of the bow, remember God’s promise. The clouds that hunt you are God’s delivery system of His promises, and you are on the right side of His rainbow of blessing and protection.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Today’s Topic: Why Do I Keep Doing It?                                          

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:109 (NIV) Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

I love the little games I can play with my grandkids to make them giggle. Some of them only work for a short time, but while they do it is so much fun.

One of the simple ones is what I call “Give and Take.” This is probably the shortest-lived game of them all, and is confined to a very narrow age span. Here are the simple rules:

• Give the child a small toy, or what’s really fun is to use their blanket or pacifier…sorry, nook.
• While smiling and with a playful attitude, take the item away from them and say, “It’s mine!”
• Then IMMEDIATELY give it back to them and say, “It’s yours!”
• Repeat and repeat until the giggles stop.

I have discovered that after only a couple of repetitions the child is handing the item to me rather than me having to take it from them. Then after handing it to me, they are reaching out to take it back. That’s when the fun really begins, because they have decided to participate in the game.

After a few months the window of opportunity closes. Not because they tire of the game, but because the desires of the human heart take over. “It’s mine” totally dominates the little one’s mind as “It’s yours” becomes an unacceptable option. As they grow, the parents are faced with a constant challenge to teach “It’s yours.”

I wonder how much easier the teaching would be if “It’s yours” was consistently modeled by the teacher?

• Are my possessions yours? Can you borrow and use anything I have when you need it?
• Is my time yours? Can you have my time anytime you have need of me?
• Are my plans subject to yours, or are do your plans always have to fit into mine?
• Are my desires and dreams yours, or do I reserve the right to fulfill self first?

But let’s go one step further and look beyond the horizontal relationships we have with family and friends, and let’s see how this applies to our vertical relationship with Jesus Christ. You see, the Psalmist was admitting that no matter how many times he had surrendered his life to the Lordship of Jesus, he kept taking it back. He was playing the “Give and Take” game.

“It’s yours.”

“No wait, It’s mine!”

“That didn’t work out, so here, it’s yours again.”

Unfortunately, that conversation usually ends up with our lives being ours. We constantly take life into our own hands. We claim to have faith in Jesus Christ to bring fullness to life, but when the first circumstance arises that seems to contradict fullness we jump up and reach out and take back what we had given away.

Why do we do that? Does it ever really turn out all that well when we do?

From now on, imagine yourself with a nook in your mouth. Everywhere you go you have to have it. You have it in your mouth while you are driving. You have it in your mouth at the checkout lane in the grocery store, and have to take it out every time the clerk asks you a question. It’s constantly falling on the ground while you talk to people because you are also reaching for your wallet, credit card, or keys. Your attention is immediately diverted from whatever you were doing or saying because your nook is so important to you that you have to get it back immediately. You don’t even care if it got dirty, and it’s popped back into your mouth as soon as you find it. “Ahhhh, I can relax again because I’m in control of my nook.”

No, your nook is in control of you. And so is your life if you haven’t ever sincerely said, “It’s yours!”

Pastor John