Paul’s Prayer

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“So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11, The Message).

I’ve said it before, but sometimes it helps to read a familiar passage in a different translation. It helps to bring out some of the nuances in the text that aren’t in your translation of choice. For me, it makes the passage come alive to read it in a more modern rendition.

I love this passage. We need to learn to not only love much but to love well. Our love needs to be based in faith not feelings and above all in truth. Otherwise, it becomes sentimental gush. We need to love the way God has loved is in Christ — He loves us as we are but refuses to leave us that way. Love does everything in its power to bring out the very best in the beloved.

Lord, help us to love in a way that draws people closer to You and in a way that brings out all that You created them to be. Help us to love them like You loved us. Amen.

Above the Circumstances

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I was listening to a book that brought up a conversation someone had with the late Vance Havner, a Southern Baptist minister and evangelist. Vance asked how they were doing and they responded with something like “I’m doing well under the circumstances.”

Vance responded with “Well, what are you doing under the circumstances?”

Basically, believers shouldn’t live under the circumstances as if they dictated or controlled our lives. We should be above our circumstances. We serve a God who is outside of time and is in control of every iota of our lives.

That’s the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial and depends a lot on what happens to me, as in how my day is going, what kind of mood I’m in, if I got enough sleep, etc. Joy is joy no matter what. Joy is also a choice that I can make every single day.

Living above the circumstances is keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus not my obstacles. It’s running toward the prize of the upward calling instead of being all over the place trying to put out a million fires or multitasking everything at once. It comes from a place of peace of knowing that the outcome is already assured.

I want to live above my circumstances because I know my circumstances will change as surely as the weather. I want to be so led by the Spirit that I am unfazed by any outward chaos, just as Jesus was able to sleep on the boat in the middle of a storm.

May each of us choose today to live above our circumstances and not under them.

Sinking Boats and Community

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 “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon answered “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink” (Luke 5:4-7, NET).

I believe God spoke to me this morning during the sermon. What He said wasn’t part of the sermon, but it was in the text that my pastor was reading. It had to do with the disciples in the boat as they obeyed Jesus’ command to cast out their nets.

I believe that this text shows the importance of community. Without the other boat nearby, Peter’s boat surely would have capsized. If he didn’t have the support of fellow disciples, there’s no way he could have brought in that catch of fish.

That’s how it is with modern disciples. Often, it’s not our failures that sink us but rather our successes. I think that is worthy of a repeat: it’s not when we fail that can cause us to go under as much as it is when we succeed without a proper foundation or framework underneath us.

We need community. We need people who will tell us the truth and not always what we want to hear. We need people who can help us put both failure and success into their proper perspectives. So many times, a believer alone can take his or her eyes off of Jesus when there’s an unexpected failure or success. We can focus on the event rather than on God. We need people around us reminding us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, not what’s right or what’s wrong.

Lord, help us to lean on each other in community so that we won’t give up when we fail or get puffed up when we succeed. Keep us in the humility that doesn’t make us think more or less of ourselves but rather helps us think of ourselves less and the people around us more. Amen.

Rejoicing While in Distress

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“You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6–7)
“Can a Christian greatly rejoice while he is in distress? Yes, most assuredly he can. Mariners tell us that there are some parts of the sea where there is a strong current upon the surface going one way, but that down in the depths there is a strong current running the other way. Two seas do not meet and interfere with one another, but one stream of water on the surface is running in one direction and another below in an opposite direction.
Now, the Christian is like that. On the surface there is a stream of heaviness rolling with dark waves. But down in the depths there is a strong undercurrent of great rejoicing that is always flowing there” (Charles Spurgeon).

A quick note to start. I am not in distress, but I imagine somebody reading these words is. Someone is going through something that I can’t even begin to comprehend. There is someone out there who would love to have one of my bad days because my bad days are way better than their good days.

But this promise is true. Underneath the current of heaviness is a counter-current of great rejoicing and peace. And underneath all that are the everlasting arms of Jesus. He gives a peace that transcends anything that makes sense to us or that we can comprehend. In Him we can have a blessed assurance even in the worst of circumstances because Jesus is mine.

I don’t know how it works. I know that the strength to endure only comes at the exact moment when it is most needed. God’s grace is like the daily manna in the wilderness that you couldn’t hoard for a rainy day or store up for the future. You had to trust in faith from day to day for the next day and not worry beyond that. That’s what faith in the midst of crisis is like. Strength for today and bright hope for a tomorrow beyond the pain and suffering.

A Good Prayer from Spurgeon

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“We long for a humble and sincere faith in our divine Lord. Lord, if it is necessary to break our hearts in order that we may have it, then let them be broken.If we have to unlearn a thousand things to learn the sweet secret of faith in him, let us become fools that we may be wise, only bring us surely and really to stand upon the Rock of Ages—so to stand there as never to fall, but to be kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.
As Christians, we should be humble. Lord take away our proud look; take away the spirit of ‘stand by, for I am holier than thou;‘ make us condescend to people of low morals. May we seek them out and seek their good. Give to the church of Christ an intense love for the souls of men. May it make our hearts break to think that they will perish in their sin. May we grieve every day because of the sin of this city. Set a mark upon our forehead and let us be known to you as people who sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of the city.
Amen” (Charles Spurgeon).

I had a couple of takeaways from reading this prayer earlier today. First, man this Charles Spurgeon could pray! Second, I wonder when was the last time my heart broke over someone who is lost without Jesus in this world. I wonder when was the last time I was grieved over the sinfulness of my city.

It’s easy sometimes to get into my holy huddle and stay in my sanctified circle and never see how lost the people around me really are. I can pray for them. That’s the best course of action. But then I could also pray for God to open up opportunities for gospel conversations in my daily life.

The world would be more open to the Church if they knew how the Church loved and wept for them. If they saw the Church crying out to God on their behalf instead of pointing fingers in their faces, might they not be more receptive to the gospel we preach?

Again, I go back to something my pastor said. The world hates the Church not because we’re too different from them but because we’re not different enough. There’s often no discernible difference in the lives people who profess Christ and those who don’t. When our words don’t match our walk, they don’t listen to what we say. They listen to what we do.

God, help our hearts to be broken over our lost city. Help us to weep for those around us who are dying without Christ. May we not just be people who talk about loving our neighbors but be people who actually love them in a real and tangible way. Amen.

A Man Like Jesus

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“A twitter hashtag about masculinity got me to thinking: If I’m to be a man like Jesus, what will I be like?

I will be a healer.

I will defend the powerless.

I’ll absolutely frighten and enrage the self-righteous.

I won’t be impressed by those with celebrity, credentials, or power.

I’ll be tremendously patient with people, well beyond what they ‘deserve’.

I will not take advantage of women.

And I’ll take them seriously.

I’ll subjugate my ego for the benefit of others.

The government will consider me, and my kind, a threat.

The religious power structure will consider me, and my kind, a threat.

I’ll attract people with bad reputations, and the seemingly worthless.

I’ll welcome children.

I will exhibit meekness – power, under control. And whatever power I do have will not be used to crush people, but to set people free” (Brant Hansen).

I think all of these perfectly describe Jesus during His earthly ministry. And I think they should also describe every man who aspires to be godly and seeks to be like Jesus.

It’s really not about climbing Mount Everest or jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet. It’s not bench pressing 500 pounds or running an Ironman triathlon. It’s about how you treat those different than you and especially those who can’t possibly pay you back.

It’s not about doing good works to be seen by others, but doing them in secret so that only God and you know. Sometimes, living a simple life of faith will result in good deeds that even you aren’t aware of because they naturally flow out of a heart full of grace and generosity.

Being a man means doing what’s right even if the majority says it’s wrong. It means holding to biblical convictions when that gets you ostracized. It means standing in the gap for the least of these when it can’t possibly benefit your career or your brand or your image.

Being a man means loving your spouse and your family well. Even if you’re not married, you can still choose to love your family and those around you well. That means you love others more than you love yourself and put them first instead of you. It’s about sacrifice and generosity.

Being a man most of all means being like Jesus. It’s living out Philippians 2:5-11 every single day and having this mind in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Rejoicing in Trials

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“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:3-5, NLT).

That’s not my default setting. I don’t normally rejoice when things go wrong or when I’m tested by tough circumstances. Normally, I whine. I complain. I wonder how much longer this is going to last. But rarely if ever do I thank God for what He’s doing.

But trials lead to endurance. Endurance leads to strong character. Strong character leads to confident hope. And that leads to unwavering trust. And in the middle of it all, the knowledge that God is working all things together for good helps us not to give up.

That’s what I want, God helping me. I want to rejoice no matter what. I don’t want to give thanks for the hard and bad stuff. That would be weird. But I can give thanks in the midst of it, knowing it leads to something good and something unexpected. And I can rest in the peace of God knowing no trial or problem He allows is ever wasted.

Master and Teacher

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“Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully. It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind. Jesus wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that all we know is that we are His to obey” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).

We are all disciples of something or someone. You can tell who is discipling you by your calendar and your checkbook. Where do you spend the most time and who or what gets your money? It’s not a matter of if you’re being discipled, but by whom.

Too many are being discipled by social media and the news. They’re getting fed a worldview that is not of God nor does it promote God or a healthy view of life and morality. Some are discipled by celebrities or influencers. Some by sports or hobbies. Some by their peers.

I’d rather be discipled by Jesus. I’d rather turn off the TV and the social media and spend time in God’s Word. But often, I don’t. Often, I find myself turning to Facebook instead of Scripture. I end up doing what I don’t want to do and not doing what I should.

But a question my pastor asked still haunts me. All who are believers need to have people to disciple them and to have people to disciple. The question is this: Who are you discipling and who is discipling you?

That’s it. That’s the question. Who are you discipling and who is discipling you?

To Those Who Grieve

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“Look upon each of us now. There are so many families that have been bereaved, that we pray for all. You take away a mother here; you take away a husband there; you remove a child there; you are smiting on the right hand and on the left. We would kiss the rod and the hand that wields it, but we pray that the richest consolation may be given, especially to those who suffer much.
We pray that richer consolation than usual may be given where it is most required. Sanctify their bereavements. May the whole of the flock feel that when the Shepherd is taking away one after another, it is time for us to be ready for his coming.
Amen” (Charles Spurgeon).

Right now, I’m thinking about Erika Kirk, the widow of recently assassinated Charlie Kirk, who spoke the words “I forgive him” about the person who pulled the trigger and prematurely ended Charlie’s life. That’s not a natural response to loss. That can only happen under the power of the Holy Spirit and in someone whose heart is ruled by the peace of Christ.

There’s something so unnatural about death. It wasn’t in the original design, but sin entered the world and brought death and decay with it. So now we live in a world where life is temporary and fleeting. But we have the hope and promise of the resurrection.

Because Jesus was dead and is alive forevermore, so can we. We can face death with the knowledge that it is a defeated foe and won’t have the final say. We can grieve the ones we love with hope because we know that they currently more alive than ever but have merely changed their address (as the late Billy Graham once said).

I love the illustration about a man told a famous doctor that he was afraid of dying. The doctor responded by pointing to the office door where they both could hear a scratching sound and a whining voice behind it. Once the doctor opened the door, his dog came joyfully rushing in to embrace his master. The doctor said that the dog knew nothing about the office before he entered — only that his master was there.

And so it is with heaven. We know snippets. We don’t know a lot of details. We may not know much about what happens when we die. We just know that our Master is there. And that is enough to give us joy in the midst of our fear. We can rest in the assurance that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. What we know see dimly through eyes of mustard seed faith we will see clearly by sight one day. And Jesus will be there. That’s enough.

A Prayer for Sunday Worship

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“Oh Lord God, we earnestly seek your help in truly worshiping you. We thank you for this occasion and bless your name for setting apart this sacred season. Lord, would you please shut the door on the distractions of the world for us? Help us forget our worries and concerns. Enable us to rise above the worldly tendencies that weigh us down. May the allure of earthly things fade away, and may you draw us close to yourself. Amen” (Charles Spurgeon).

Lord, help us to enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise. May we worship You in spirit and in truth and not just in singing and lifting hands. May our entire lives become offerings of worship as You commanded in Romans 12:2.

We enter Your presence with a myriad of distractions and a multitude of things coming at us from all sides. We who are programmed into anxiety by every other voice in our heads seek after Your peace that will calm our fears and give rest to our souls.

Help us not to be conformed any longer to the thought patterns and ways of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the reading and hearing of Your Word. Help us not only to retain new information but to put it into practice by obeying what we hear. May we truly be doers of Your Word and not hearers only.

Help us to be mindful of those who are struggling or hurting within our midst. Help us to see them through Your eyes of compassion and to invite them into the circle of our fellowship. May we be Your hands and feet to them just as others have been Your hands and feet to us in our time of need.

Above all, help us to remember that Your Church is not a location or a building but a community of flesh and blood believers gathered together for a unified purpose. Remind us that as we exit through the sanctuary doors that we are still as much the Church as we were inside. May we bear in mind that as we drive off the parking lot of the church building, we are truly entering the mission field where the harvest is ripe and ready but the workers are few. Make us Your workers tomorrow and every day. Amen.