A Game pf Freeze Tag

 

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hat do you do on a summer evening?  This was never a problem in our neighborhood.  In fact, it didn’t matter whether it was summer, winter, spring, or fall.  We never had any difficulty figuring out what we would do.  The only question we had to consider was which of our mischievous activities would provide the most fun and the least amount of trouble with our parents or the adults in our neighborhood.

One of my fondest memories was playing a game of freeze tag in our back yard.  All the kids from the neighborhood would come over and an evening of games would ensue.  These could be basketball, dodge ball, HORSE, or a variety and/or combination of other games.  However, a game of freeze tag proved to one of the most fun and challenging.

For those of you who have never played freeze tag, here are the rules.  One person is chosen to be “it.”  This is a very democratic process, usually involving the election of someone to the office of “it” who wasn’t really planning on running for the job!  Anyway, a certain place is designated to be “home base”, another democratic process.  In our backyard, a small piece of concrete served to mark the spot for home base.  It also doubled for home plate when we played baseball but that is another story.

The idea of the game was to leave home base and make it back without being tagged by the “it” person.  If you were tagged, you were considered frozen and had to remain in that position until someone who had touched home base tagged you.  Then you ran like the wind to return to home base for safety.  If someone was particularly far away from home base and the “it” person was very good, the other members could form a line and pass the “electricity” from home base to that person.  The “it” person was powerless to freeze anyone as long as contact with home base was maintained.  When touched by the living chain from home base, the frozen person was thawed and instantly welcomed back home. 

Is there a more vivid picture of sharing the gospel and the wonderful truth of God’s salvation than this?  People all around us are frozen in position because they have never heard the truth about Jesus Christ or because no one from home base has come to share the wonderful story of and power of salvation with them.  They are all around us, some near, some far, some we know, others we don’t, but they are all frozen because they have never accepted Jesus as Savor and Lord.

In the wonderful book of Romans, Paul shares with us the great freedom found in Jesus and the salvation he offers to all who are frozen in sin.  Romans 8:1-3 reads, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.”

This is one of the most wonderful statements in all of scripture.  From the first verse of this chapter, Paul teaches that we are no longer condemned by God if we know Jesus Christ as our savior.  The Law (the Old Testament sacrificial system) had no power to forgive sins.  People were still frozen in their sin, keeping them separated from God.  But when Jesus came and offered himself as a sin offering, true freedom, the freedom God intended for us to have all along, came into the world.

Today, the game of freeze tag is still being played.  The playground is anywhere you go: to the mall, to the grocery store, to school, to work, and to church.  All around us, we see people frozen by sin, living a life in view of home base but never touching it.  For those of us who know Jesus Christ as savior, our mission is clear.  We must share the good news of salvation with those around us and bring them to home base.  The power of the gospel will thaw anything sin has done but unless we are willing to reach out and share with others, this game of spiritual freeze tag will continue. 

Where are you in this game?  Are you safely standing on home base, unwilling to leave its security or are you out there, sharing the power of Christ and his salvation to those who are frozen in life?  Are you sharing the power from home base today?

That Water Is Not Hot Enough

There is an art to washing dishes, and my mom was—and is—a skilled artist.  In fact, she is one of the great masters of all time.  I don’t find washing dishes to be a terribly nasty chore, in fact, I find it quite therapeutic.  Before we go much further, let me respond to two quick questions that may have popped into your mind. No, I don’t have a great love of dishwater, and yes, I have a dishwasher.  With those issues resolved, let’s get on with the subject of todays devotional.

I distinctly remember learning the art of dishwashing at the hands of my mother, no pun intended!  The most important aspect of this activity is ensuring the dishwater is hot enough, especially when the dishes are rinsed.  I always wanted to rinse the dishes in warm or cool water.  Each time I tried to get away with this mom would always say, “Blake, that water is not hot enough!!!!”  And guess what, yep, I had to do the dish all over again!!!  This, however, did not thwart me in my efforts to rinse in cool water.  But, in the end, mom won, as usual!

Now that I am on my own and washing my own dishes, I understand what all the hubbub was about all those years ago.  Hot water—I mean very hot water—ensures the dishes are in fact clean from soapy film and germs that may linger on the dish after washing.  The hotter the water, the cleaner the dish; it’s just that simple.

The book of Daniel tells the story of 3 Hebrew men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who learned first hand just what being in “hot water” was all about.  The story is well-known, especially to children who learn about these men in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School.  But there are implications for adults as well; implications that teach us a great deal about our walk with the Lord.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a large idol constructed and placed where all the people could see it.  His orders were that everyone should bow down and worship that idol.  Our three intrepid heroes, however, refused to bow to any one but the Lord and this infuriated the king.  So angry was he that he ordered the three men to be bound and thrown in a large furnace.

Daniel 3:19-20 records this for us, “Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  You want to talk about hot!!!  According to Nebuchadnezzar, the “water just wasn’t hot enough!”  Notice that the king had the furnace heated seven times hotter, just for good measure.

Sometimes in the Christian walk, we feel as if God is heating up the furnace.  No matter which way we turn, no matter what circumstances we face, it seems God is only content to stoke the furnace of adversity and maker it hotter than ever before.  At times like these, we wonder why God allows these circumstances in our lives. But there is always a reason, and in the end our lives are fuller and our walks and relationships with Jesus are richer.

The end of the story is drastically different from its beginning.  When Nebuchadnezzar looks into the furnace, he sees four men—not three—walking in the fire.  He describes the fourth man as looking like a “son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25).  When they exit, they are no longer bound, their clothes are not singed, and they don’t smell of smoke!

We must understand that taking a stand for God does not mean our circumstances will become easier.  In fact, just the opposite is true.  These three men took a stand for the Lord and found themselves in hot water!  But God was with them in the flame.  The great lesson here is that we do not go through trials and tribulations alone; God is with us even when our circumstances tell us differently.

How hot is the water where you are today?  Does it seem that God is stoking the furnace, making it unbearably hot for you?  Do you wonder if you have been forgotten or if God even cares about where you are?  Think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in that furnace.  God did not forsake them but was with them through the entire ordeal and brought them safely out.  When they emerged, their faith was stronger, their understanding of God was clearer, and they were greater witnesses for God.  So, is the water hot enough where you are today?  If not and if God is heating things up, just remember the words of Job, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

The Rest of the Story

 

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alk radio hosts have a very devoted following.  No matter their activity, people will drop everything they are doing to catch up on the latest news and gossip.  In fact, some will go so far as to schedule their entire day around a particular show, letting nothing interfere or come between them and the latest juicy morsel of social and/or relevant news.  Several years ago, Paul Harvey’s talk show was listened to by millions, especially his segment entitled, “The Rest of the Story.”

The segment ran every day and went something like this.  Paul would give the latest news and in the middle of his report, he would introduce the first part of a story, generally about someone doing a good deed. He would stop the story in midstream and continue with the daily news.  However, he would always come back to his tale at the end of the broadcast and he always began the same way, “…and now for the rest of the story…”

So now it’s our turn to complete the story the angel began yesterday.  We left the shepherds in mid-message with the angel promising to share good news that would be good for all the people.  Let’s pick up where we left off and find out, along with the shepherds, the rest of the story.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Can’t you just see them, their mouths hanging open, their eyes opened wide, and their faces glowing as the angel continued his message?  And then, as if that wasn’t enough, the sky is suddenly and miraculously filled with a “great host” of angels all singing praises and glory to God.

The message was one of joy and delight.  A baby had been born, and not just any baby, but the promised Messiah, he whose coming was foretold by prophets hundreds of years before.  He is here, God’s promise of salvation has come, and the world will be forever changed because of this night.

The angel instructs the shepherds to search for the babe in Bethlehem, just as the prophet, Micah, had said.  It should come as no surprise to us that he who would call himself the Bread of Life would be born in a town whose name means House of Bread.  It should come as no surprise that he whom John would later call the Light of the World, would have his birth announced with the light of angels splitting the dark night and it should come as no surprise that God’s message, sent through the angels, would promise peace on earth by the one who would stand on the turbulent and stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee and whisper “Peace, be still!”

And so, having received the rest of the story, the shepherds leave their flocks and head straightway into Bethlehem to see firsthand the fulfillment of God’s promise and the angels’ message.  Won’t you join them as they gaze upon the rest of the story?

Opening Lines

 

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all me Ishmael…” The opening line of Melville’s Moby Dick was indelibly etched into my mind by Miss Lois Hoyle who taught Junior English at our high school.  Throughout the semester we learned about symbolism, irony, foreshadowing, and a whole host of other literary devices that, at the time seemed useless, but later on became such an important part of my college education. 

First lines are important! First words are important because they set the tone for the message that is to follow.  And this is exactly the situation in which the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem find themselves. When we last left the shepherds, their tranquil evening had been interrupted by a blinding light and the presence of one of God’s angels. Now we find them frightened, not willing or able to move as they wait for the angel to speak to them.  What will he say? What will the message be?  No doubt, they are braced for the worst but what follows is anything but a threatening message.

In Luke 2:10, the angel’s opening line is: “Do not be afraid…”  I can imagine the shock and the astonishment on the faces of the shepherds as they looked to each other to make sure they had all heard the same words.  Notice the statement is not a request but a direct command.  Whatever the remaining portion of the message, God wanted them to be open and unafraid to receive it.

Let’s consider the shepherds’ world for a few seconds and understand the importance of this opening line against that backdrop.  Palestine was a conquered country.  The Roman army was everywhere as soldiers patrolled the thoroughfares, occupied every city and village, and kept the people under constant surveillance.  In addition to this, shepherds, as we have already mentioned, were the lowest rung on the ladder, having no social standing or influence.

Yet God chooses to share the opening line about the birth of Christ with them and that opening line is one of comfort and peace.  As the shepherds stare and listen in certain disbelief, the angel continues the message: “...I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  

From the fall of man in the Garden of Eden all the way down to those shepherds, the history of man has been one of enmity with God.  Yet, God’s message is one of hope, carrying good news to all who will hear it.

This is the way God works.  When it is dark, when we are alone, when we are at our lowest and we believe there is no hope, he speaks, not words of condemnation, but words of hope and good news.  And so we leave the shepherds in mid-message waiting to hear the good news the angel has promised.  Are you willing to receive God’s good news today?

Basking In The Light

 

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ur house on Main Street underwent many transformations.  Every time our family grew, the house grew right along with it.  Every few years, or so it seemed, it was time to rip out something, rearrange several rooms, or add something to the house.  My mom and dad loved the end result but living through a remodel was, shall we say, challenging.

One of these remodels provided my brother and me with a new room.  Our sister, Heather, needed her own space so she took our old bedroom and the guest bedroom was transformed into a new bedroom, complete with new closets and a desk.  The carpet was royal blue and the wallpaper was a vibrant mixture of orang, blue, white, black, and yellow stripes.  It was very pretty and fun to see.  I remember our first night in the new room.  My brother and I had no problem falling asleep.  But the next morning, we learned just how “vibrant” that new wallpaper was.

Mom hit the lights at 7 a.m. sharp and with all those bright colors our closed eyelids provided no protection.  One minute I was snoozing in a velvety blanket of darkness and the next I was hit with a wave of light that jolted me into consciousness.  I opened my eyes and for a brief moment I didn’t know where I was.  Nothing looked familiar and I wondered if perhaps I was dreaming.

I believe this is the way the shepherds felt when the angel appeared to them.  Until that moment, everything had been routine.  The hills looked the same, the conversations were the same, the lowing of the sheep sounded the same, it was pretty much business as usual.  Then suddenly, from nowhere, the image of something they had never seen appeared before them.  What’s more, it spoke and there was light everywhere.

Luke records this for us in Luke 2 9b “…and the glory of the Lord shone around them…” Can you say hit the lights?  Just imagine how shocked these men were.  They were catapulted into reality and I’m sure they wondered if they were seeing things or even dreaming.  But notice that this light was all around them.  It dispelled all the darkness and left them only basking in the light of God’s glory.  How fitting this is.  The first thing created was light and the angel was announcing the birth of the “light of the world.”

No matter where you are on life’s road today I want you to grasp this truth.  The light of God’s glory dispels all darkness.  Wherever he is, there is light. Light to show you the way, light to dispel your fear, light to provide comfort, and light to assure that we don’t walk in darkness.  John said it best, that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.  Are you basking in God’s light today?

Do You See What I See?

 

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o the shepherds are in the fields with their sheep and it is dark outside.  There are no street lights. No glaring headlights from the nearby Interstate reflect on them, and the lights of the city are far away.  The shepherds are gathered around the glow of their fire, talking of the day’s events, sharing their hopes and dreams and frustrations with each other, preparing to face the long, dark night ahead.

But in a flash, everything changes.  In Luke 2:9a we read these few words, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them…”  There in the darkness, in the remoteness of those fields, God sent his messenger to share the good news of Christ’s birth. I’m sure the shepherds wondered what was going on and if they were seeing things.  I imagine none of them spoke, afraid the others may not be seeing this strange site and afraid to mention it for fear of being accused of hallucinating or worse!

And yet, all of them did see it.  The darkness around them suddenly grew bright and God shared with them the wonderful news that his promise had been fulfilled.  This is just like God, isn’t it?  When we think we have been forgotten, when the darkness is all around us, when we feel abandoned or rejected, just at the proper time God shows up.  Everything takes on a different look as God reveals to us the wonderful promises and plans he has for us.

Although on the fringes of man’s society, the shepherds were squarely in the center of God’s plan.  He knew where they were and he knew that they, above all others, would take his message to heart, accept his invitation to see the Messiah, and spread the good news to all they met along the way.

This is what God still looks for today.  Will you accept his invitation to come to Christ?  Will you respond to him with the heart of a shepherd? Remember, it is in the dark that God’s presence is felt the most.  Is it dark where you are today?  

Mission Accomplished

 

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nd she gave birth to her firstborn, a son” Luke 2:7b.  In other words, mission accomplished!  God’s purpose for moving Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem is now revealed.  It wasn’t because of Caesar’s decree that they made their move, it was because God had said centuries before that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2).

Here, in this small, unknown, unimportant corner of the world, God chose to fulfill his plans.  It is no accident that the Messiah, the heir to David’s throne, would be born in the City of David.  God’s plan is flawless, right down to the smallest detail.  But Mary and Joseph were probably not thinking about all of that. All they knew was that the baby had finally come and that their lives would never be the same.

God works in our lives, sometimes in the most unforeseen ways.  We do not know his purposes nor do we understand all the details of his plans.  What we do know is that our God is faithful, that he keeps his word, and that everything, and I do mean everything, he promises, he brings to pass.

The birth of Jesus on that night to Mary and Joseph marked the soon-to-be culmination of God’s plan to save and reconcile mankind.  In the form of a helpless baby, the omnipotent God came to help helpless man.  In order to save us, he became one of us.  What could be more confusing to human reason?  The ministry of Jesus would reveal his care for the “least of these.”  He will always preach and proclaim that “the last will be first, and the first, last.”  What better demonstration of this than for the Son of God to be born to an unknown couple, in an obscure part of an obscure city, surrounded by animals, and visited by shepherds who had no social standing and were counted as those living on the fringe of society?

And so, here we are.  Mary and Joseph are now parents to the baby Jesus.  God has entrusted them with the care of his son and given them the responsibility of caring for him, teaching him, and bringing him into manhood. What an assignment!  We know that God will not place on us more than we can bear which means he trusts us, even when we don’t understand his actions.  What has God entrusted to your care today?

No Room

 

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xpectant parents the world over go through the same ritual as the time for the birth of their child draws ever nearer.  Baby clothes are bought and stored away, a plethora of “must-have” toys are purchased, and the all-important crib is selected, taken home, and assembled.  The nursery is prepared with a fresh coat of paint, a rocking chair, a bassinette, a changing table and whatever else the soon-to-be parents can fit into the room.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. also get into the act and before long, enough items have been purchased and stocked to supply the young couple and their child well into first year of life if not further.

As if this weren’t enough, parties are given in honor of the couple and more gifts are showered upon them.  The preparation for the arrival of the newborn child gets underway extremely early and the hardest part is waiting for the child to show up so all these things can be put to use.

The last half of Luke 2:7 stands in stark contrast to today’s ritual of preparing for the arrival of a newborn. Luke tells us “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Instead of a nursery, Mary had a stable. Instead of a crib, Mary had a manger.  Instead of new clothes, Mary used strips of cloth.  Instead of family and friends, Mary had only herself and Joseph.  And yet, unknown to the world, the Messiah, the King of Kings had been born. God’s promise was fulfilled.

Instead of making everything perfect for the child, God made the child perfect for us. In that manger, nestled in the hay, was the bread of life.  Bethlehem means “house of bread” so how fitting that the one who would bring us spiritual manna should be born there. 

Mary and Joseph used a stable because there was no room anywhere in town.  And yet, shepherds, wise men, the local town’s people, and millions of people since have found room in their hearts for the Messiah.  And how about you?  Is there room in your heart today for the child born in Bethlehem?

Timing Is Everything

 

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iming is everything! How often have you hear or said these words?  In today’s world, it is all about timing.  We run our lives by the clock.  Don’t believe me?  Just count the number of clocks in your house.  We are so enamored with time, we even strap clocks to our wrists and are constantly looking at them throughout the day. There is a time to get up, a time to get dressed, a time to eat, a time to leave for work, a time for lunch, etc.  The list just goes on and on. We like to believe that we control time but in reality, time controls us.

It was no different for Mary and Joseph.  No, they didn’t have clocks all around their home and Joseph, as far as we know, didn’t have a designer-label sundial attached to his wrist.  But time played an important factor in their lives.  However, the timing affecting their travel to Bethlehem was under God’s design and control.

Luke 2:6 tells us the following, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born…” On the surface this seems to be a very matter-of-fact statement.  We know Mary is pregnant and we know that their journey takes place just prior to the birth of Jesus.  But look very closely within this passage and locate the most important word, time.

The purpose of the journey now takes on a different air.  Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem in order to register for Caesar’s census.  But while they were in Bethlehem, the alarm on God’s clock sounded. From Joseph and Mary’s perspective, the time could not have been worse.  They are not at home.  Friends and loved one’s are not with them and the location of Christ’s birth is anything but what they had imagined it would be.

This is the way God works.  We have our time; he has his.  His timing is always perfect and always serves his purpose.  We may not understand—and in fact we usually won’t—his timing or the reasons for the circumstances he orchestrates; but rest assured that God knows exactly what he is doing and has selected both the time and place for his will to be accomplished.

Remember today as you go down life’s road that God is in full control of your life.  The little twists and turns, the detours, and the awkward and unseemly places into which you journey, are all hand-picked and designed by a loving father. The purpose he has for you may not be evident now, but when the time comes, he will work out his will for your life.  What is God up to?  Only time will tell!

Another Purpose

 

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hen I was a little boy, I hated going to the doctor.  Not that I love going now, but I really hated it then.  My only concern is whether or not the nurse would stick my finger in order to check my hemoglobin.  This singular event ruined my entire day and left me in a state of perpetual fear. I asked my mom over and over again if my finger was going to be stuck, knowing full well the answer would be yes.  I felt that the entire reason for my appointment was for the nurse to stick my finger when in reality there was another purpose, making sure I was in excellent health.

God always has another purpose, a purpose we don’t see or understand, for placing us into the various circumstances in our lives.  We see the difficulty but God sees the end result!!  It is that way for Mary and Joseph as they travel along the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Yesterday we focused on the arduous journey and the long and winding road leading to Bethlehem.  Today, we will see that there is a dual purpose for the journey.  There is Joseph’s perspective and then there is God’s.

In Luke 2:5 we read, “He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”  Please notice the purpose of Joseph’s visit. He goes to Bethlehem to register in accordance with Caesar’s edict.  Although we are told that Mary is expecting, at no place in this passage is it stated that Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem in order to give birth.  While the possibility of Mary giving birth may certainly have been on Joseph’s mind, and probably weighed heavily on it; it was not his purpose for her to give birth in Bethlehem.  Joseph certainly intended to register and return home as quickly as possible.

As we shall see tomorrow, God’s purpose was very different.  Bethlehem was the goal, the place where Jesus would be born and the world would forever change.  Already in Bethlehem, the shepherds who will hear the angels’ message are tending their flocks.  In the Far East, the wise men who will eventually make their way westward following a star are going about their daily lives not knowing the role they will lay in such a short time.  Herod is alive, and somewhere, in towns and villages all across the region, the men who will become Jesus’ twelve disciples are growing up or are soon to be born.  John the Baptist has already been born and Pontius Pilate, the governor who will condemn this child to death, is pursuing his political career.

Yes, they are all accounted for and Joseph must take Mary to Bethlehem to fulfill the purpose God has for him.  This is our encouragement today.  God has a purpose for all of us, for me and for you.  We cannot always see that purpose but when the time is right, God will reveal that purpose and we will understand the reason for it all.

Wherever you are today in your journey with the Lord, understand this that whatever you understand about your circumstances there is another purpose behind them that God is using to get you into position for him to use you.  Just keep walking!!

The Long and Winding Road

 

The Long and Winding Road

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ne of the last songs recorded by the band, The Beatles, was entitled The Long and Winding Road.  While completely removed from the Christmas story, the image of a long and difficult journey is most appropriate for today’s devotional.

In Luke 2:4 we read, “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.”  This verse has been read hundreds of thousands of times over the centuries and yet we can find within it fresh insight and encouragement for our journey today.

The road from Nazareth to Bethlehem represented an 80 mile journey.  On a good day, a man leading a donkey could cover approximately 20 miles before retiring for the evening.  This would mean that the journey could be done in 4 days.  Let’s put this into perspective, shall we?  Yesterday I put 60 miles on my car in the space of just 2 hours.  So, 80 miles for us could be just a normal day’s journey.  I can fly 1000 miles in a little over 2 hours and I can be half way around the globe in less than a day.  So, 80 miles doesn’t really affect us, or does it?

Let’s see if we can understand Mary and Joseph’s circumstances.  Mary is 9 months pregnant and almost ready to give birth. Even today, physicians discourage women who are close to term from travelling great distances.  Mary must ride on the back of an animal over roads that are not paved.  I imagine that the donkey didn’t have great shock absorbers and that she felt every dip and bump in the road.  Moreover, there were no hotel chains along the way to offer them comfortable lodging for the evening.  They may have had to sleep on the ground and for a woman at full term, sleep in a good bed is still a challenge.

But the passage says that Joseph went up to Bethlehem.  Despite the circumstances, despite the throngs, despite lack of comfort, Joseph went to Bethlehem.  And during the long journey which could have taken more than a week, God cared for them, provided for them, and kept watch over them because he had a purpose for their lives.

We have this same assurance.   God watches over us and cares for us.  His purpose, while unknown to us, can be trusted and he will ensure we arrive at our destination intact, on time, and ready to be used for his purpose.  In Isaiah, 55:8 the prophet reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts.  Mary and Joseph do not know what awaits them at the end of the road, but God is already there.  The same is true for us today.  Who knows where your road will lead?

All Dried Up

 

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here is nothing better on a cold, crisp morning than a piping hot bowl of oatmeal.  It gets the day started right, warming you on the inside, keeping the elements outside at bay.  In fact, when you are warm on the inside, life just goes better and cold, wintry days become less of an obstacle and more of a joy. 

I didn’t used to be like this.  As a little boy, I hated oatmeal and wouldn’t touch the stuff.  My brother liked it but I didn’t!  Actually, I never gave oatmeal a fair shake.  But now, it’s a completely different story.  Each week in the grocery store I spend literally fifteen to twenty minutes picking out oatmeal for the coming week.  Will it be maple, brown sugar and cinnamon, apple, raisin and almonds, or the variety pack?  No matter what flavor I finally select, I always buy the instant variety.  Standing over hot stove cooking oatmeal has very little appeal for me.  I love dumping the cereal into the bowl, adding hot water, and then stirring the mixture until the water works its way through the dry mix.  Then I’m ready to enjoy and reap the benefits of that bowl of oatmeal.

Did you realize that our spiritual lives resemble oatmeal in a very real way?  Without water, oatmeal is dry, bland, boring, and useless.  It needs hot water to change it into a form that the body can readily use and that makes it more appealing to the taste buds.  The writer of Psalm 42 knew all too well the effects of a life without God.  He understood how dry and parched our souls become when we don’t have a steady dose of God’s word and His presence.  In Psalm 42:1-2, we read the following, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Do you feel the dryness here?  Can you understand the longing the psalmist feels for God’s presence?  Like a deer searching for a cool pond of water where it can slake its thirst, so the psalmist is searching to satisfy his desire for the Lord.  Inside he is dry, parched, withered, and weak.  He needs to spend time with God, to drink deeply from His word, to drink in as much of God’s spirit and presence as he desires.  That is what God invites us to do.  He wants us to take in as much of Him as we want.  The pond of His word is deep, the streams of His blessings are always flowing, and the reservoirs of His love are never dried up.

When His word gets into our hearts, souls, and minds, we are changed.  When our insides are filled with Him, the outside elements of the world pose no threat to us.  We still must live in the world, we still must face its challenges and trials, but the word of the living God warms us, nourishes us, and prepares us for the road ahead.  But adding water to the oatmeal in my bowl does very little good until I stir it in and mix it all together.  The water must work its way through the dried oats until they are all changed from dry, parched, elements to a warm, creamy cereal that I can eat.  In the same way, God’s word must not only be read, but it must work its way into every area of our lives so that it becomes a part of us.

It is my prayer for you today that you will take time to have a healthy dose of God’s word.  Spend time with God, talking with Him, praying to Him, drinking of Him deeply.  The dry areas of your life will soon disappear and you will be ready to face life with all its hang ups and challenges.  Being warm and satisfied on the inside will always prepare you to face the world outside.  Anyone for a bowl of oatmeal?  I hear the kettle whistling!

Is It Ready Yet?

 

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he sound of the mixer was the single best clue that mom was in the kitchen baking.  The moment that realization took hold, all activity came to a grinding halt.  That single sound meant there would be a bowl, a spatula, and at least two beaters that had to be licked.  Who was better qualified for this job, than my brother and I?  Since I couldn't think of anyone better for the job, we applied in person!

We entered the kitchen and discovered mom was making a pound cake.  For those connoisseurs among you, you know there is simply nothing better in the world than warm, moist, pound cake.  My brother and I, however, knew the batter was just as good and competed for the right to lick the beaters and the ever-coveted bowl and spatula.  As mom filled the cake pan, we watched in horror!  She poured all of the batter into the cake pan.  Then she did the unthinkable; she scraped the remaining portion out of the bowl.  We just knew there would be none left to fight over.  Mom, however, never disappointed us and there was always batter left for us to enjoy.

Waiting for the cake to bake was the worst part.  As far as I was concerned, the batter was just fine the way it was.  However, mom didn't agree and when mom was in the kitchen, what she said was law!  We pelted her with the same question over and over, "Is it ready yet?"  And, of course, the answer was always, "In a few minutes."  Those few minutes were an eternity.  After all, all the ingredients were there, well mixed, and in the pan.  But the oven was necessary to turn the batter into the pound cake we were all waiting for.  Baking, I was to learn later, is a process which takes precisely measured ingredients and subjects them to heat so they can become what is desired, in this case, a pound cake.

Today's scripture lesson has much to do with the process of baking. Matthew 4:19 tells the story of Jesus calling the first disciples, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He found these men down by the Sea of Galilee, tending their nets and caring for their boats.  It was in this setting that Jesus found the mixture that he would use to create his disciples. 

Notice the words Jesus used as he called Andrew and Peter, "I will make you fishers of men." When Jesus found them, they were already fishermen. Peter and Andrew made their living by fishing, they were professionals. There was nothing about fishing which they didn't know and there was no trend or idea with which they were unfamiliar.  Like the batter in the cake pan, they were pre-measured and mixed but they needed the right environment to reach the stage of "doneness".  In other words, they weren't ready yet!  Jesus wanted to place them in the oven so they would be "ready" to achieve his purpose for their lives.

Jesus does the same in our lives today. The ingredients have been pre-measured, sifted, beaten, and placed in the cake pan.  Everything is present to make the cake; the only thing lacking is heat!  Although the oven is the final stage of baking, it is the most important stage. After the batter is heated and the liquid begins to evaporate, the batter gains texture and becomes a fresh, warm, golden pound cake. 

Becoming a disciple of Christ is a process.  Jesus is about the business of "making us" to be his disciples.  It is a life-long process which, when completed, yields a beautiful creation that can be enjoyed by others.  For those of us in the oven, waiting for the transformation to take place, patience is the most difficult part.  Yet, it is only through the baking process that we "become what he intended all along."  Please be patient with yourself and God.  He will determine when you are ready and when you have completed the task he will say, "Well done!"

What A Peel

 

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ne of the most intriguing areas of the grocery store is the produce section.  I am constantly amazed at the variety of fruits and vegetables constantly on display in this area.  As the seasons change, the produce aisle changes as well.  Fruits and vegetables, normally out of season in our country, find their way to our shelves from other areas of the world where they are grown in abundance. 

One of my favorite fruits is the banana.  No matter the season, produce managers in every grocery store proudly display this tropical fruit in abundance.  Almost everyone I see in the produce section stops to look at the bananas and most of these people pick up a bunch to take home.  Each week, I buy a bunch of bananas myself.  As a matter of fact, it takes me almost as long to find the right bunch of bananas as it does to complete the rest of my shopping.

Now, you may be wondering why it takes me so long to select a simple bunch of fruit.  Well, have you ever stopped to consider the process necessary for selecting a bunch of bananas?  Consider this!  When approaching the produce stand, you are attracted by the initial color of the bananas.  They all look so pretty, dressed in their brightest yellow jackets.  However, upon closer inspection, you find some of the bunches are still green, meaning they are not yet ripe, and others are dark, indicating they are past their peak.  Sometimes, the peels are very dark, almost black indicating the bananas are either way too ripe or, perhaps, rotten.

Yes, you can tell a lot about a banana by its peel.  After all, what you are after is on the inside but you make your selection based upon the outside of the fruit.  Hmmmmm, this sounds familiar, doesn't it?  Somewhere, Jesus spoke about fruit and its application to our spiritual walk with him.  Somewhere he made a connection between the type of fruit we bear and the type of person we are.

Matthew 7:20 is a small sentence but it packs a powerful punch.  In this verse, Jesus says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them."  In this particular passage, Jesus underscores a great spiritual truth, namely, that our exterior attitudes and actions indicate the interior conditions of our hearts and souls.  The way we act towards others, the way we spend our time and money, the way we care for those around us, all indicate the type of person we are.  Although we claim to be spiritual and truly concerned for others, our words are not the true indications of our commitment to God.  No, our actions indicate to those around us just how deep and true our commitment to God is.

The banana peel is the criterion I use to select the fruit I buy.  If the peel is too green, I don't choose it because the fruit is immature and not ready for use.  Likewise, if the peel is too dark, I know the banana is bad and will not serve my purposes well. However, the banana with the healthy yellow peel is my choice every time.  I know that the fruit inside will be good, ripe, and ready for use.

It is the same with us.  Everyday we are surrounded by people searching for answers to their questions.  Most of them, although they may not know it, are looking for God.  All around them they see people professing to be Christians, but their lives reflect nothing of what God stands for.  Like the initial approach to the banana display, they are attracted by what they see and hear about Christianity.  They are drawn to it and want to learn more about it.  However, upon closer inspection of Christianity's fruit, that would be we Christians, they find that some fruit is too ripe, some is not ripe enough, and other fruit is simply rotten.

What better reason could their be for us to take inventory of our relationship with God?  Let us come before God, before the ultimate fruit inspector, and learn the true condition of our hearts toward him.  Let him weed out every part of us that is immature or rotten so that we display only the best fruit.  Our lives, in all aspects, must be true and consistent.  The outward appearance of our lives will reflect the inward condition of our hearts.  The question then becomes one of good fruit or bad fruit, ripe or rotten, useful or not.  Jesus' words are true, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them."  What does your life look like today?

Meet Me After Class

 

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s a teacher, I occasionally request to see a student after class.  There are several reasons leading to my decision to have a conference; but usually the student is encountering difficulty in one or more areas evidenced by a low grade on a test or homework assignment. I notify the student by writing a small note which reads, “See me after class.”  This usually causes some alarm on the student’s part but it always gets his/her attention and allows us to meet and to discuss the student’s performance.

The underlying cause of the student’s problem could be one of several possibilities. It might be he/she failed to understand the directions.  It might also be the case that he/she failed to study properly or studied the wrong material.  However, in all likelihood, the student is having difficulty with a certain aspect of the lesson because he/she has not learned the material.  If the student doesn’t understand the concepts being presented, he/she will not progress in the learning process because a huge obstacle has fallen across the path.  This is the reason for the conference.  It lets me understand the student’s perspective and gives me an opportunity to revisit the material and to make sure he/she understands the material so that learning can continue.

Jesus held many after-class sessions with his disciples.  On more than one occasion, he met with them to explain the meanings of the parables he used in his teaching.  The crowds who followed him were drawn and captivated by Jesus and his method of teaching.  Never had anyone explained things like him and no one had ever spoken with such authority about the kingdom of God.  Still, there were things that escaped their understanding and for those who wanted to know more, it was necessary to visit the teacher after class.

Mark 4:33-34 preserves for us one of these sessions with Jesus.  The passage reads, “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable.  But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.”  Do you notice the two different groups in this passage?  The first group contains all of Jesus followers as a whole.  They all heard his teaching and they all listened to his parables.  Like any good teacher, Jesus only explains as much as his students can understand.  He doesn’t overload them but gently leads them into knowledge.  However, for some of the students, namely his disciples, Jesus’ teaching leaves them hungry for more.  So Jesus sees them after class to clear up the areas of difficulty and to teach the points again in order to insure his students understand the lesson.

There is a great opportunity for us to learn from this passage of scripture.  Into which group do we fall today?  Are we in the larger group, hearing the teaching, hanging on every word, but leaving when the lesson is over?  Or are we in that inner group of students that lingers around after everyone else is dismissed so that we can learn even more?  Notice that only the second group has everything explained to them. Only they receive the full extent of Jesus’ teaching.  Only they had the privilege of being taught one-on-one by Jesus and learning directly from him.  So, do you feel the need to stay after class today?

Run Silent, Run Deep

 

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intage World War II movies and documentaries never go out of style.  As a young boy, I loved watching these movies and listening to my grandfather and other men who actually lived the various battles and circumstances portrayed in the movies.  I will never forget these conversations and the feeling I had as I listened to true accounts by people who had actually been there.

Most of the movies and documentaries recounting great naval battles always include footage or references to the role of the submarine. The ability to approach by stealth and attack while submerged and undetectable to an enemy drastically altered the way naval fleets engaged their enemies on the open seas.  However, the submarine was not without its limitations. 

I remember watching several movies where ships on the surface unloaded depth charges, in an attempt to force submarines to the surface or to utterly destroy them below the waves.  The charges could be set to explode at differing depths, making it very difficult for a submarine to make a fast getaway by diving to deeper water. 

As the ship’s captain continued his relentless pursuit of the sub by continually firing depth charges overboard, the submarine captain would order his crew to dive to deeper water.  In very dire circumstances, the sub commander would give the order, “Run silent, run deep.”  This meant that the engines were to be disengaged and the sub was to float freely and no one was to make a sound for fear of divulging the submarine’s location. However, one thing was clear, the deeper the submarine’s dive, the safer it was from enemy attack.

Life can be viewed in these terms, especially from a Christian perspective. The scriptures tell us plainly that we have an enemy and that he is in constant pursuit and on constant patrol.  He has only one goal in mind, to sink us, dead in the water.  The sea of life is full of his ships, loaded with depth charges, always at the ready, always willing to launch just when we least expect it. His salvos are dangerous and his attack is relentless.

Often times, his charges start off in shallow water.  They come in the form of daily frustrations, minor disappointments, and small obstacles blocking our paths.  When we encounter these difficulties, as Christians, we immediately head for deeper water.  The depth charges drive us deeper into God’s word and into a deeper relationship with Him.  That’s when the enemy really cranks up the charges.  They hit us deeper and are more powerful than we know.  Sometimes the death of a loved one is such a charge or the heartache of a broken friendship or relationship.  At other times emotional pain rocks our vessel and we feel as if the hull will collapse and the ship will sink.

At such a time we follow the sub captain’s advice and we choose to run silent and run deep.  We believe that if we make no noise, if we stop all forward movement, and if we come to a full stop, then the attack will cease.  This is especially true during times of greatest testing.  We choose to run silent when the pain runs deep, believing that it will pass when the enemy tires of the pursuit. Our enemy, however, will not tire and if we stop our forward progress we become sitting ducks, dead in the water, and easy prey!

King David was fully aware of the difficulties of life.  He was pursued by his best friend’s father and by his own children.  He was hunted, rejected, insulted, betrayed, and hated.  There were moments, I believe, in David’s life when he felt the shockwaves from the enemy’s depth charges as they fell all around him.  Yet David’s command would not be like our submarine’s captain.  Instead, they would be just a little different.

In Psalm 130:1, David gives us the proper order for addressing the enemy’s onslaught.  Here, he writes, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.”  Notice that David mixes the commands, encouraging us to run deep but not to remain silent.  He cries to the Lord from the depths of his trials and disappointments.  The enemy’s salvos have driven him deep and from this depth David calls out to God.  He calls out because he knows God will answer him.  David is on intimate terms with the One who leads His own “through the depths” (Isaiah 63:13).

 His advice is well taken.  When the trials, heartaches, and disappointments of life surround us, we must go deeper into God, calling out to Him from the depths and He will hear us. Although the charges run deep, and although they buffet us at every turn, we have God’s promise that they will never destroy us.  We are safe in the depths with Him because wherever we go, there He is. 

Whatever your situation today, it is my prayer that you will know and experience God’s presence in conflict.  Go deeper into Him; dive as quickly as you can to the safety of the depths of His love for you.  When the enemy is all around and your urge is to flee, remember David’s advice:  Run praying and run deep!