A Final Word

Many of us know the two great commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.

What about the third one?  In John 13:34 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

Jesus told this to his disciples as he was facing His last week before dying.  Ever have those times when you were having a conversation without someone that turned out to be one of your last with them?   Wish you would have paid attention better?  Sometimes death comes so unexpectedly there is not time to say good-bye or treasure final moments with loved ones.

Final words carry a lot of weight.

Jesus was telling his followers then and now that there is a distinctive trait that will demonstrate they are truly His followers.
We get caught up in things we can observe as opposed to an attitude of love.  We think people are good followers because they go to the right church, attend often, give some, have a position of leadership or something else we can observe.

Why is it important that believers love one another?

It is what the world needs and they are looking for authenticity…acceptance…unity.

It is fulfilling God’s ultimate intention. He wants to call and redeem a group of believers who will so walk in unity and love that the world will notice.

Recently in Slidell, this type of love and unity was demonstrated. With over 1,000 people participating in the Life Chain, we demonstrated a love for life, God and one another.  We took a stand and were not regarded as a collection of individuals, but a body of believers in which Christ lives.

May this happen more often.

The Menu is Never Enough

Hard as it may be for you to believe, I like to eat. Living in Louisiana makes it easy. Slidell offers a wonderful choice of restaurants. One can get seafood, burgers, Italian, Mexican etc.

What I’ve never done is go out to eat and be satisfied looking at the menu. I let the menu guide me where I want to go as far as ordering, but the menu is never enough. Sometimes I note how attractive the menu is, the words to describe the items and even pictures. Still, I want to eat.

Occasionally, the servers describe the items you are considering and stimulate your taste buds into overdrive. Still, bring me the food!

I think our spiritual lives are like the situation I just described.

There are many locations to get spiritual food here in town. A variety of denominations, traditions, speakers, styles of worship, etc. You get to the location, and they present the menu, that is the Bible in different formats. The servers or ministers can describe the wonders in the Word and the reality of Christ in a way that stimulates your desires.

Still, you want the meal.

Don’t stop short by just reading the Bible or taking another’s word.

Get to Jesus Christ Himself.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

The Bible is to point us to Jesus and guide us into a relationship with Him. So many believers are living below their opportunity. They study the Bible in classes, accumulate big notebooks and hundreds for principles for living...but miss the One Whom is the focus of the Word. He is the Word John 1:1.

You best know Jesus based on personal relationships, not a set of principles.

Get to Jesus…only He can satisfy you.

Commence…Committed…Completion

^“ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”. Philippians 1:6

Want to know how to be a good sculptor? Easy, get a picture in mind of what you want to have your sculpture look like, get some clay or better yet marble and chip away anything that does not resemble the finished product. Easy art lesson, huh?

Easier said than done.

This verse is from the last book Paul wrote. He may have written it while chained between two Roman Soldiers while he awaiting trial in Rome.

Yet, this book is one of joy, hope and glorious expectation.

Paul is telling us several things to keep in mind in this one verse.

Commence…committed…completion.

It is God Who began or commenced the work in us. His goal is to shape the life of Jesus Christ in us. It comes through growth, sifting, testing, pruning and sometimes inflicting pain. Not always pleasant but He does things in our lives with a purpose. Romans 8:28

He is committed more to our growth in faith than we are. He will see it through even if our commitment wavers. He loves us the way we are but loves us too much to let us stay that way too long!

God does thing to completion. He has a plan and design for you and your life. God does not abandon when we whine or complain or question. He has the end in mind from the beginning. He desires to form Jesus Christ in you and will remove that which does not resemble Him. He will strengthen that which does. We may not agree with His pace or path, but we can trust His purpose.

When we cannot see His hand, we can trust His heart.

Right question leads to right answer

Romans 14:7-8 “ For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.”

There is a question we face  in our lives.

“What am I here for?”

Good universal concept, but wrong focus.

It’s not WHAT but WHO am I here for is the focus.

The answer for believers…it’s Jesus.

To live for yourself is shallow…superficial…unsatisfying

To live for other people can bring temporary happiness but ultimate frustration. They will disappoint you. They will not be grateful for “all you have done for them”. They may turn on you…turn from you…turn you away.

Jesus never will.

When you live unto the LORD there are at least three things that happen.

God’s glory is magnified.   Your life points to someone higher and greater than you  He is the reason you work better and harder than anyone else. He is the reason you look at your classroom conduct and performance as a ways to honor Him with your best.

Your gain comes with it.  Jesus told his disciples that those who followed Him would be blessed and He would multiply their family and friends in this life.  Make sense right?  Who wouldn’t want to be around someone who walks humbly, tenderly and lovingly with God?  You  become like those with whom you spend the most time.

Your good can follow.  Jesus tells us to remember we are light of the world and a city on a hill. Our good works should refresh others and reflect on Him. The word says to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you.

If you are living to Him…the answer is Jesus.

Parenting for a Purpose

 One of the benefits of being a minister in the same town for over twenty years is seeing generations grow up and begin their own homes. We have celebrated weddings, children being born and then these children growing to love Jesus as well.


My wife and I attended a wonderful wedding on Memorial Day weekend for one of the families we have known for twenty years. The ceremony was spiritual and unique at the same time. The couple exchanged vows on an outside terrace of a hotel in the French Quarter. One of the most unusual sights was hotel guests pressing their faces to the windows to watch the wedding. 


Everyone loves a wedding!


The real celebration was at the reception from 7-10 p.m. Lively conversation between friends and families, great food and drink, live music and dancing! Little wonder Jesus did His first miracle at a wedding. When He turned water into wine it was taking something plain, infusing it with His life to make it something that was tasty, fragrant and intoxicating. He did the same thing when He joined these two young people into one.


As I reflected on the how the parents raised the young woman, the words of this song came to mind. It reflects the greatest goal parents can have for their little girls.


Somewhere in the world today
A little girl will go out to play
All dressed up in mama's clothes
At least the way that I suppose it goes
Somewhere in the world tonight
Before she reaches to turn out the light
She'll be prayin' from a tender heart
A simple prayer that's a work of art

Chorus

And I don't even know her name
But I'm prayin' for her just the same
That the Lord will write His name upon her heart
'Cause somewhere in the course of this life
A little boy will need a godly wife
So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are 
 
Somewhere in the world out there
That little girl's learnin' how to care
She's pickin' up her mamas charms
Or maybe, swingin' 'round in her daddy's arms
Somewhere in the world to be
Though the future's not real clear to me
Their's could be a tender love
Grounded in eternal love above lyrics by Wayne Watson


Parents, we have an awesome opportunity…don’t blow it!

The King’s Speech

I saw the Oscar winning movie The King’s Speech the other day. It is great movie except for one bit of language, but well worth watching to understand a little more of British culture. It also gives insight to something we in America can hardly fathom. That being the ways royals are treated by commoners.


The speech coach was not allowed to speak unless spoken to, had to back out of rooms and never turn his back on the royal presence and always address royalty with their title as their first name. “King this, Prince that.”


No wonder we went to war with them!


What struck me is something the king said. Basically the king said he did not know how to talk with a commoner because he did not know any. Talk about out of touch! I am so glad that can never be said of my King, Jesus Christ.


He created us commoners. To fully communicate with us, He became one of us. Philippians 2 says “5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”


Jesus came to earth and became the lowest common denominator in humanity so he could reach all of us. He did not come as a royal ruler, though He is the King of hearts. He came as a bondservant. What is a bondservant? One definition is, “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. On its basic level a bondservant is simply following your master to complete disregard of your own will, emotions, and desires.”


Jesus came not for his will but to follow the will of God with no regard for his own gain or reputation. If we were to follow this mindset we would have less disappointment and disillusionment. 


Give it a try.
.

"No...really. You go first!"

I John 4: 19 “We love because he first loved us.”

One definition of love I hear is “Giving of oneself to meet the needs of another without expectation of return.”

It is not "I love you if…"

"I love you when…"

"I love you because you make me feel…"

It is God kind of love.  "I love you (period)."

God’s is the great initiator.  He sought us, we never seek Him.  Jesus said he came to seek and save that which was lost…us.

The closest thing on earth is the love of a parent for their child.  Giving…loving…sacrificing because of the needs of the person who is the object of love and not just for what the parent can experience in return.

So it is with Jesus.

He loved and waited to see if it was recognized…responded to…returned.

He loves you.  What you gonna do about it?

Your Gap is Showing

I John 3: 18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Know what an example of frustration is?  When you know what to do and don’t do it.  It is also a source of tremendous stress in our lives.

Want to enjoy life more? Close the gap between what you say and what you really do.

This is also the definition of hypocrisy.  Saying we love Jesus and fellow man, but our actions don’t demonstrate it.

Many non-believers say they don’t like all the hypocrisy in church, and that’s’ why they stay away.  Let me share a Greek word for that….BALONEY!  If they had any interest in God or desired to be with His people they could learn to overlook inconsistencies, faults and failings.  They would look for a church where these kind of people are embraced.  People are looking for a safe place to be honest…vulnerable…imperfect.

So, do like a local Ford dealer says down here in New Orleans…”bridge the gap” between what you say and what you do.

You’ll be glad you did.

Lighten up!

I John 1: 5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Ever listen to kids brag on their Dad?  It is fun…endearing…intense.

“Oh yeah…well my Dad can…”

Their Dads become mythic and heroic with an air of invincibility. It would do their Dads good to hear it from their kids occasionally.

Jesus had a message about his Father…"He Is light…in Him is no darkness”

It’s not bragging if it’s the truth.

John was reminding his readers of a simple message. God is light.

Know people living in darkness?  Just point them to He who is light. Stumbling around in darkness… go to the light.

When you see the sun in the sky...remember the light.

What's it to ya?

John 21: 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

This is the nice way Jesus is saying, "Mind your own business.”

God has a design for each of us individually.  He has marvelous, miraculous things He wants to do through each of us.  He uniquely designed and gifted each of us for our place in the body of Christ.

We are to pray for and encourage one another, but what God has planned for others is His business.

I think Jesus was trying to keep Peter focused on his path and purpose. If Peter spent time comparing to others, he may have forgetten what he was sent to do.

He may have been like a jealous child thinking why does Jesus make life easier for them than me?  Why don’t I get a more prominent place in the ministry? 

That’s not our concern.

Pray for others to hear God for themselves but follow Jesus individually.

What if heaven were not promised?

John 20: 31 “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

What is the motive for telling others about Jesus?  What do we tell them is the main benefit for becoming a believer?  Do we sometimes get caught up on “fire insurance”?  We focus so on much effort on avoiding hell that we miss the real value.

The real value is to have life in His name.

In other words,  how many people would commit their lives to Jesus if heaven was not promised but only the relationship they could enjoy with Him in this life?  I fear the number would be a lot less.

Jesus promises eternal life.  That is life of quality not quantity.  It is life that has value, richness and meaning.

He still offers that life, His life to those who will believe and receive.

Life's not fair...Thank God!

John 19: 16 “So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.”

I have one thing to say about this cowardly, crowd pleasing act on the part of Pontius Pilate…THANK GOD!!!

You see, our potential for forgiveness was in the balance.  If Jesus Christ had NOT been crucified there would have been no shedding of the blood for  cleansing us from sin.

Did Pilate know he was doing God’s will?  No.

Is God’s purpose thwarted by man?  No.

Was if fair that the only One Who had lived a sinless life was in a mock trial and offered up to death to please the crowd?  No.

Am I glad He was?  Yes.

You should be too!

For Heaven's Sake

John 16: 27 “for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

You will gain the attention and affection of a parent based on how you treat their child.

Treat a child with love and tenderness and a parent will build a relationship with you.  Make a child unhappy or feel unsafe and you will bring wrath upon yourself.

The primary question God will ask people at the end of their life will be this, “How did you treat my Son?’

With undying devotion and affection or casual indifference and neglect?

SO, love, honor and do not ignore Jesus…for heaven’s sake.

Quit Trying so Hard

John 15: 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

We say we believe Scripture to be true, but we really do not believe the last part of this verse.

In American, the land of self-sufficiency and individuality, we believe we can do almost everything without Jesus.  Yet, Jesus assures us that we can do nothing that last or matters apart from Him.

North of Covington, Louisiana is a vineyard that hosts wine tastings and Jazz concerts.  One time, when my wife and I were driving around, we discovered the location  and drove onto the property.  It was beautiful...peaceful...relaxing.

Know what I noticed?  I barely heard any sound. I did not hear the branches saying, “Make a grape…make a grape”.

You see, a branch has one simple responsibility…to abide on the vine.  To draw nourishment…life…purpose from the vine. The vine will supply all the branch needs to be productive…as long as it stay hooked in.

Jesus will grow our lives into what He wants us to be when we abide.

Get aside with Him today.  Just believe and receive.

Time for a Check Up

John 13: 35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In the last 12 years my family and I have attended about 10 churches form various denominations.  Some Baptist, Pentecostal, AG, Lutheran, Non-denominations charismatic, non-denominational Bible teaching, Methodist and even a Baptist church who changed their name to look more non-denominational.

Each has traditions and expression of their faith they consider unique and probably even biblical.

Know what Jesus said is the sign of His disciples?  Love for one another?

A disciple is more than just an occasional attender, a one time baptized or confirmed convert.  A disciple is one who patterns their life after their teacher.  They commit their life to study the way and words of those they follow.

Jesus says the end product, the lifestyle of His disciples will be love.

Based on this, how are you doing as a disciple?

Faith or Fear

John 11:47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

This was the response of the religious leaders to witnesses telling them about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

You would think they  would respond in faith but they chose fear.

Fear of what?

Losing their place…position…power.

The same thing happens today.

Some religious leaders fear individuals who don’t’ “follow the faith”.  That is, they don’t line up with the particular teachings of the church they are in and experience more freedom than they think is safe for most people to have.  They seek to control the behavior of others by using their interpretation of the Bible to limit them.

I won’t tell what the Apostle Paul said these guys can do to themselves.

So, let the power of Jesus to raise people to new life prompt your faith and not your fear.

Who's in Charge Here?

John 10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Every day we wake up with a question looming over us.

“Who’s in charge here?”

Jesus is.

In this passage He states without doubt His life can only be given when He chose and not when someone sought to take it from Him.  Others may look like they have the upper hand, but nothing was done without His permission…His purpose…His plan.

Even more incredible is the fact that He announced He would be back.

He laid down His life and He took it back up again.

Man’s ultimate fear, death, is no longer to be feared.  Jesus has been there and back and lives. 

During this season when much of the Christen world commemorates the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s remember there was never a moment when he was not in charge.

He still is.

Can You Hear Me Now?

John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.

This was the response of a man born blind whom Jesus healed.

Want to be heard by God?  Two words: worshiper and will.

Worship Him and give Him ultimate value in your life.  Prize God and a relationship with Him above all things.  

Want to know what most people worship? Ask to see their calendar or checkbook.   Where we spend our time and money reveals what or who is most important to us.

As you develop a life committed to worship Him, you will want to do His will.  You will choose to serve others, to bless others, to tell others about what God has done for you. You will come to treasure God so much and be consumed with how amazing He is, you will develop a deep passion for others to know Him.

When you develop a consistent walk with God, an ever deepening relationship with Him and do His will, you will know He hears you. 

And you will hear Him as well.

Freedom is not Free

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32

We long for the freedom mentioned in this verse, but forget freedom always has a price.

Jesus says we are to abide in His word, that is to read, know and apply His teachings and this will set us free.  You can't really know something until you act on it or obey.

You don’t learn the word by someone else always digesting it for you. We  all need to read the Bible on our own.  Perhaps just do what I am doing, read a chapter a day out of the Gospel of John.

As you read, ask “Lord, what do you want me to do with what I read?”

Then tell Him what you want based on what you read.

Today, for me, it is learning to abide and asking Him to show me the truth about areas of my life.

Living for Others

John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

What picture comes to mind when you think about a river that flows?

It carries away junk and sediment.

It refreshes.

It provides plants and vegetation what they need to grow.

Jesus says that if we believe in Him, rivers of water will flow out of us.

Our lives will be refreshing to others around us.  The river is not for ourselves but is to minister His life to others.

Use this Monday to believe in Him and let Him touch others through you.