Friendship

One of the most difficult things to do is to look at yourself.  Lately I've had a glimpse at who I have been and have realized that the person I was is not the person I thought I was.  I have been fortunate to have friends - good friends that God has blessed and caused to prosper.  I have not been the friend to them I saw myself as.

I have been - and tend to still be - a man of negativity and selfishness.  How can I change?  How do I be different?  Can I change?  How do I become the man I think of myself as being?

I don't know.

I'll bet my life and character that God knows how to change me.

May God guide my thoughts and my actions.  May I finally begin to become the man He made me to be.

2 Corinthians 16-21 The Message

Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

Awake

The day was thick with mist and rain as the dull gray sky settled close to the ground.  Thoughts and feelings ran rampant in my mind as negativity began to consume all perspective.  Ideas of rejection, hate, depression, and worthlessness hemmed me in until the strangest of things occurred.  It was like a crack in the sky appeared in my mind and for a split second I could see what was really going on.  Then it happened.  I remembered.

It was like waking up from a troubled sleep where the dream has taken a bad turn and becomes a repetitive loop of frustration and confusion.  There was that moment of imbalance as the world came into focus and then the dream faded away.  Slowly I regained my mind.  My heart began to beat as if life returned to a dead body.  When I breathed it felt good like it does on a cool, crisp fall day - or when you finish exercising and your lungs relax as your breathing slows back down.  My eyes opened and I could see everything for the first time, again.  In that moment I remembered what I should never have forgotten.  I remembered that my huge world is nothing more than small ideas and ways of thinking I had fallen into and adopted from the world around me.  I remembered that God is big.  I remembered that God has a plan for me.  I remembered that God loves me so much that He became a man.  I remembered that I don't really care about my job.  I remembered that I care about the job He has given me to do.  I remembered that Jesus Christ died for me - in my place - and I belong to Him now.  I remembered how big things are and how little I am.  I remembered that I'm not as lost as I thought I was - He's not done with me, yet.  I remembered how much God loves me.  I remembered that with the right perspective I can choose to enjoy a rainy day.

"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord."
Psalm 40:1-3 NIV

How?

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace."    Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV

Peter was brash.  He seemed to spend most of his time during his discipleship either putting his foot in his mouth or showing his butt.  He was a tradesman - a fisherman.  He didn't likely have the finer education and high-class etiquette one might expect for the future head of the church.  Before Jesus was crucified he predicted that Peter would deny he knew him three times - which Peter boldly denied he would do.  Then comes Jesus arrest and trial.  We then find Peter out in a courtyard around a fire with some strangers who suspect him of being a follower of Jesus.  Boldly, and brashly, Peter denies he knows Jesus three times - just like Jesus said he would.  We can only imagine what Peter felt as he realized what had just happened as he hears the rooster crow. (John 18:15-27)

Have you ever been the one trying to do something the best you knew how and failing miserably at it?  Have you ever been the one in a position of authority watching someone you are responsible for struggle against the current dragging them towards the edge of the dam?  What do you do?  Odds are that we've all heard the phrase:  "It's for their own good."  We find ourselves in a position where someone needs help and we are the ones to give it.  It might not be nice.  It might not be pretty.  It might not feel good to the person getting helped, but sometimes medicine tastes bad.  It's for their own good.

I would offer one word of caution when following this train of thought:  How can the good of the person be truly preserved?  How can love be extended while practicing kindness and humility in this situation?  What is the best way to be patient and to maintain peace?  Often times we strike out against someone for their own good, but no good comes of it - except for us.  Think of a time you did something that had a large impact on someone who just wasn't getting along with the program - especially if the motivation was to help them.  Ask yourself some questions:

• What were the clear issues that needed to be addressed with the individual?
• What clear steps were taken towards a clear end with the individual?
• What followup was done to confirm that the 'good' was achieved for the individual?

We all have to step back and take an audit on our mentoring performance.  If we are doing something for the 'good' of the individual are we the ones in the proper position to provide the change.  Have we coached the person, or just told?  Was our approach complete - allowing for the person's emotional, spiritual, and entire well-being?  Have we been an instrument of healing or salt in the wound?  How is our relationship with the person since?

More that one time scripture records Jesus dealing with Peter in a way that seems harsh.  But we always find instruction and edification along with the reprimands.  After Jesus death and Peter's betrayal we find a few events that not only paint a picture of God's grace in saving us from our sin, but also the restoration of a relationship with a broken man.  The women went to visit Jesus' grave and they were met by an angel according to the account found in the book of Mark.  In that account the angel tells the women to go and tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus has rose from the dead.  God went the extra step to let Peter know that the relationship between them was not over.  Later on we find an account of the disciples fishing.  Jesus had already appeared to them and now we find him on the shore of the lake watching them fish from their boats.  What is really important is what takes place later on the beach with Peter.  Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?"  Each time Peter answers and is given instruction.  Jesus restores Peter from a place of denial and separation to a relationship of love and direction.  We find Peter later on in scripture preaching on Pentecost in the Spirit a sermon so moving that thousands come to faith and believe in what Jesus Christ did for them.  We see a man who had messed up and made mistakes having had God do what needed to be done for the good of him so that he could be restored to relationship with Christ and able to lead the church by the grace given him by God.

Weight

I imagine that the relationship between God and us is much more different than any of us can imagine.  We are looking at a holy thing (holy - utterly other, completely different) with a worldly perspective.  In the book of Isaiah God says:

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.
'As the heavens are higher than the earth
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"  Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

Does God look at us with disappointment and sadness when we continue to come to Him for help with something out of our past we just can't seem to let go of?  Or, does He look at us with love?  Does His heart break over the pain He sees us living in - and in many cases, putting ourselves through?

Jesus Christ - true man and true God - paid the price for our sin and failure through His death on the cross.  God saved us from the sin separating us from Him while we weren't worth saving.  Our sin and failure, our bad choices and poor decisions, no longer keep us from God.  Many of us live our lives carrying the weight of our pasts when there is no need.  We hold on to the ghosts of who we were instead of embracing the life that God has given us.  Does this excuse us from the consequences of our actions?  Are we protected from the effects of someone else's choices?  No, and yes.

We still live in this fallen world and are held accountable for our choices.  God can work in any situation for our good and His glory.  He has a plan for us and He knows just how long it will take us to walk any distance.  The purpose of this life is not to get somewhere.  There is no destination we will get to and then... ...whatever.  The purpose of this life is the journey to wherever we are going.  We can't say:  'Some day I have this and then...' or 'When I get to that place I will...'  We will live an unsettled life of little fulfillment.  It is an existence of attaining things and achievements only to seek after the next one.  The idea that is conveyed in that notion is not a walk with God, but chasing after Him.

Can we release our past?  I think that the better question is can we embrace God's plan for us today?  Can we allow God to change our focus from what was and might be to what is and can be.  Can we strive for that goal that lies ahead by running the race that is before us today?  Can we see that God's ways are so much higher than our that maybe He doesn't react to us how we would react to someone else?  Can we ask God to help us see Him as He is and not as we would have Him be?  What would this new perspective begin to change in your relationships, life, and faith?

Where?

On the way to pray, Paul cast an evil spirit out of a slave girl by commanding it in the name of Jesus to leave.  This evil spirit helped the girl predict the future and earn her owners a great deal of money.  Needles to say, the owners where upset.  They charged Paul and Silas with being trouble makers.  Soon, the whole community was joining in on the charges.  The men where stripped, beaten, severely flogged, thrown into jail, and placed in the stocks without a trial.  Once in jail they began singing hymns to God and praying and the Bible says that the other prisoners were listening to them.  An earthquake came and shook the foundations of the prison opening every door and loosening everyone's chains.  The jailer had been strictly ordered to guard Paul and Silas carefully.  When he woke up and saw what had happened he grabbed a sword and intended to take his life rather than face any punishment for failing to guard the two men.  Paul shouted to him not to harm himself - everyone was still in the prison.  The jailer was astounded and asked how he could be saved.  Paul and Silas shared with him the Good News about Jesus Christ.  The jailer cleaned their wounds and took them home.  He and his family believed and were baptized...

Where are you?  What's your situation?  Did your choices lead you here?  Did the decisions of someone else take you to this place?  What's your story?  Did God bring you to this place?  Can God use this situation in your life to bring you closer to Him?  Can God use this time in your life to impact the life of someone else?  Is He opening your eyes?

Are your eyes open?

God may not be the architect of this situation, but He is still God.  Our choices lead to the consequences we face, but God is still God.  He can use any place, any time, any thing, and anyone to work for our good and His glory.  Sometimes in the life of faith He brings us to a situation, or place, that makes no sense to us - but it is right where we need to be.


If you are hurting - if you are wondering why God would put you in this place - all you have to do is ask Him.  Maybe this isn't the way it's supposed to be - but He can use it.  Maybe this isn't the way you thought it should be - but He is using it.  Maybe it's a little less about you and yourself and a little more about us and Him.  Cry out to Him and be ready to let Him work - even if His work in you takes you doing a little work with Him.  Talk to Him.  He never left you.  He is right here - right now.

The Gap

Take a look at the world around you.  What do you see?  It's all typical, ordinary, acceptable, normal stuff - right?  We just all seem to keep doing what we do to make it from today to tomorrow.  What if everything is not alright?  What if the things we find acceptable are not acceptable to God?

We can't continue ignoring what God has called us to by keeping one foot in the world and the other in Scripture.  What happens when we give up the things that pull us away from the life God created us for and submit our lives to Him?  If we have the courage to call ourselves 'Christian' can we continue to live according to what the world finds 'normal'?  We can no longer remain lukewarm.  We can no longer acquiesce.  It is time to look at the world and see the gaps forming in Body of Christ.  It is time to look at ourselves - our justifications, our reasons, and our frailty.  It is time to admit that we are inadequate to the tasks at hand but we are no longer going to sit by and watch the next generation walk into the jaws of death.  God is the strong God of heaven and earth - the Creator of all things.  Jesus Christ - the Son of God, true God and true man - lived, died, and rose from the dead so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  His Spirit resides within those who believe in Him.  God is more than enough to handle the task at hand and He will overcome your weakness.  God has called His people to reach out to the lost, the hurt, and the dying.  We have been called to stand in the gap and say, "No further!"  


We serve the Almighty God.  There is nowhere you can go where He is not.  There is no one you can meet that He did not make and does not love.  He is so much bigger than we ever realize and it will take more than an eternity to learn all there is to know about Him.  Will you stand in faith?  Will you answer His call in your life?  Are you willing to stand in the gap and hold out the life He has placed in you to a lost world?  Will you give up preaching and begin showing?  Will you stop telling and start living?  Will you be who you were called to be - without reservation?


"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8  NIV


It's your choice.  Answer the call.

Identify

Something that I've been learning is that I am not who I think I am. I have an idea built up in my mind of who I am and who I should be. I have an idea in my mind of how the world is and how things should work. Many of my ideas may be the naivete of youth, but I'm learning. Despite my best efforts to learn, God teaches me and I am beginning to find that the largest hindrance to my learning is - me. My ideas and knowledge are not always advantageous, but almost adversarial. I am also learning that I must become very cautious of how I label myself and others. If I say, "I'm just outspoken." - it's no surprise that I end up speaking my mind without a thought to my words. If I say, "I am depressed." - I fall into the pit of despair where depressed people reside. I believe that God desires for us all to realize that we are nothing but who He says we are. As His children, our identity is wrapped up in Him. For me to say that 'I am this, or that' is to remove myself from who He has called me to be. I find that by applying a label to myself I apply myself to fulfilling the label. I don't know if this is absolute truth, but as far as I am in my walk I am finding it to be helpful and convicting. I believe we must all take great pains and care in watching what and who we label. Our actions will reflect our attitude and our attitude will come from what we hold in our heart. I pray that the joy and peace of Christ abounds in the hearts and mind of all our family. I hope that no matter what it is that we are experiencing we do not identify with it. What is happening is a situation - who we are is in Christ. Pray for one another. Hope with each other. Cry with your friends. Rejoice with the Body of Christ. Do not be troubled with the matters of this world but take heart in the life and love that overflows in us that is from God.

Romans 8