Thought for the Day – November 14, 2009

Text: Matthew 9:10-13

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  NIV

This text explains a key concept of interaction with others.  So often, when Christians come into context with non-Christians, they want to invite them to church.  Jesus never invited people to synagogue to hear him preach or to heal them.  Jesus went to them.  He went into their homes, preached on the hilltops, and healed people wherever or whenever He found them.  He was searching for those who were searching for Him.

 

Jesus went to Matthew’s house.  He sat with those despised by the religious community.  He ate with those who were unclean.  He was “at home” and made others feel “at home” with Him.  Jesus felt most welcomed by those who needed a doctor – those who knew they were sick with sin.  He healed them from the inside out.

The greatest lesson learned in the last few years of my life comes from this text.  As a pastor, everything was geared around the weekly worship service.  The key was bringing more people to church, so they would return and become a part of the church.  Today, I rarely invite someone to House Church.  I would much rather meet with them in their home, a restaurant or a coffee place.  These are safe places for them to talk about life and faith.  I search for those who are searching.  I listen to the wounded.  I want to make others feel “at home” with me.  I am learning.  I am growing.  God is honored.

Thought for the Day – As followers of Christ, Jesus asks us to go to others where they are found, not ask them to come to us.

Thought for the Day – November 12, 2009

Text: Matthew 8:5-10

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  NIV

This narrative is more about spiritual authority and faith than healing.  Those who have a military background understand the chain of command.  In the heat of battle, you must trust your superiors and the orders issued.  Orders are not suggestions.  They are not up for debate or mediation.  You simply obey or disobey.

Thus, the centurion believed Jesus had the spiritual authority to speak the word of healing.  Jesus was LORD . . . over everything, including the suffering of his servant.  The faith of the centurion out stripped any others Jesus had met.  Others believed.  Others had faith.  Others sought Jesus for healing.  Yet, the belief of the centurion stood above the rest of the nation.  Why?  His faith was driven by a clear understanding of authority.  Jesus had that authority.  Period.

How does my faith and your faith compare to the centurion?  What would we seek from Jesus that His spoken word can deliver?  Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who believe who have not seen.”

Thought for the Day – What would you believe Jesus to speak a word to answer?

Thought for the Day – November 11, 2009

Text: Psalm 17:3-5

3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

4 As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.  NIV

No slippage.  Holding on.  Staying steady.  Sounds easy.  Reality, one of the most difficult things in life.  Staying on the path for a short time – almost anyone can do that.  You can fake it.  You can tough it out.  You can pull together fragments of discipline.  The long haul shows the true colors.  When I counsel people about behavioral change, I look for sustainable patterns a year out.  If you are still on the same path in a year, you are probably on the way to real change.

This is a prayer of David.  He had a heart for God.  This psalm was written before his real screw ups.  David needed to follow his own prayer.  Three steps to sustainable obedience to the LORD.  One, evaluation and testing.  An invitation to probing, testing and evaluation keeps our lives transparent and clear.  Second, keep your association with others positive.  If you want to grow in Christ, be intentional about the company you keep, especially those who will challenge and encourage you.  Third, you need to know the Word to follow the Word.  Every day the Word of God keeps me on track, steady, and strong.  By practicing these three disciplines; evaluation, association, and absorption of the Word, your feet will rarely slip.  If they do, our Father remains ready to catch you.

Real change comes real work.  Lasting change comes from long work.  Let others evaluate you.  Let your association lift you.  Let the Word of God transform you.

Thought for the Day – The feet of those following the path of God do not slip.

Thought for the Day – November 10, 2009

Text: Genesis 28:16-17

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”  NKJV

 

Jacob is fleeing from his brother Esau.  He had stolen Esau’s blessing from their father, Isaac.  He lays down and falls into a deep sleep.  He dreams of a stairway rising to heaven with angels ascending and descending.  The LORD reaffirms His promise to Abraham and Isaac, and now Jacob, to multiply and bless.  He awakens with a powerful sense of the presence of God.  He is fearful, inspired, and awe-struck.  “God was in this place, and I did not know it.”

 

Have you had that experience?  God was there and you knew it not?  When the ordinary becomes the extra ordinary?  When the brush of God takes your breath away?  These are God moments.  You never know when or where they will come.  There was the time in the middle of the night rocking a foster baby back to sleep.  Then, there was the time at Cannon Beach with 70 pastors from west Portland.  We came to pray and meet with God.  The place became sacred.  I had God moments alone, very alone, and I had God moments with thousands of people in a stadium.  There is no rule, no guide, no map to God moments.  One of my earlier God moments happened on my first week of prayer, alone in my grandparents cabin in the Rocky Mountains.  God touched my life in a way that forever changed me.

Thought for the Day – God moments change us, define us, terrify us.  We were touched by God and will never be the same.  How is He changing you?

Thought for the Day – November 9, 2009

Text: Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”  NKJV

 

There will always be a huge gap between listening and doing in the lives of many.  I learned many years ago the challenge of actually changing lives just by preaching the Word.  When I placed people in small groups, and better yet, triads, and focused on follow through, I continually saw lives changed.

 

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a story depicting choice.  We can hear the Word and not allow it to penetrate.  Or, we can hear the Word and build our lives around it.  The second part of the story is the reality of life.  The rain will come, sometimes softly, sometimes in torrents.  And when the torrents of rain come with strong winds and lightning, the house build on the sand will not stand.  Sand is shifting.  Sand cannot hold firm in the face of wind and rain.  Jesus is the Rock, the Cornerstone.  He can sustain in the winds of cancer and rain of financial setbacks.  He is stronger than the floods of grief and devastation of heartbreak.

Thought for the Day – Jesus is the Rock.  Let us build our lives upon Him.

Thought for the Day – November 5, 2009

Text: Psalm 16:2-3
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!  NLT

These two verses from David’s inspired pen pack two great thoughts: gratitude and admiration.  We are approaching Thanksgiving.  I developed a habit of gratitude years ago in my daily journaling.  I always wrote a one sentence prayer of thanksgiving for someone or something.  I was amazed how that one little prayer could change my attitude for an entire day. “Lord, You are my Master.  Every good thing comes from You.” Or, as James wrote, “Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father.”

The second thought is admiration for true heroes.  One of the side benefits of a few reality shows is the ability to take ordinary people and thrust them into notoriety. People from all walks of life become the next American Idol, dancer, talent, survivor, or biggest loser.  Who are your heroes?  Who are the people you admire?  Who challenges you to become a better follower of Christ?  Some of my heroes include D.L. Moody, C.S. Lewis, David Brainard, William Wilberforce, Billy Graham and Mother Teresa.  Their lives challenge, inspire, and motivate me.

When children are small, almost exclusively, they will say a parent is their hero.  By the time they are a teenager, a very small percentage would say the same.  We need to become heroes to each other, our children, and grandchildren.  Let us build a legacy of the “saints of old, people who walked with God.”  We may never become an American Idol, but we can become a hero in the eyes of those around when we do heroic things for God.

Thought for the Day – Who is your hero that challenges you?  How are you becoming a hero to those around you?

Thought for the Day – November 4, 2009

Text: Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  NIV

We are not to judge one another.  We are told to inspect the fruit.  Jesus was warning against false prophets in this text.  However, the application is for all of life.  Inspect fruit.

When you look for a job – inspect the fruit of the company.  How do they operate?  What is the corporate culture?  How do they treat employees?  If you hire employees – inspect the fruit.  Many companies are going online and checking facebook, twitter, and lindedin accounts and status updates.  Social media can reveal more than you want about yourself – people can inspect your fruit.  When you seek someone to date, or eventually marry – inspect the fruit.  I know many accomplished young professionals who lower the bar of expectations when it comes to relationships.  I encourage them to raise the bar and inspect the fruit before pursuing a relationship.  Before I use someone as a referral to my clients, I meet with them to inspect the fruit.  I want people of integrity, competency, and character working with my clients.

If we should inspect the fruit of others, they should inspect us,  So, how is your fruit?  If people squeeze to hard, what comes out?  Are you green?  Over ripened?  Bruised?  Just blossoming?  Most of us cannot easily evaluate our own fruit.  If you truly want to know, begin asking plenty of people around you.  In business, this is called a 360 evaluation.  Include your family.  That is often the most revealing.  Once you discover the soft and underdeveloped spot, find someone who will help you change.  Announce to everyone the area you wish to address, and select a few to hold you accountable.  If you are determined, coachable, and willing to follow through, YOU WILL CHANGE.  With the help of the Holy Spirit seeking to ripen you into the image of Jesus, just imagine what your life can be!

Thought for the Day – Don’t judge.  Inspect the fruit.  Work to ripen your fruit on the vine of Christ.

Thought for the Day – November 3, 2009

Text: Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  NIV

This is verse is known as the Golden Rule.  I have heard many variations.  “He who has the gold, makes the rules.”  A great deal of truth in that statement, just ask any employee.  Or, “Do unto others before they do unto you.”  This is the mantra of some.  I have run into a few people in business who practice that rule.  I don’t believe they are building much of a business.  Unfortunately, this is often the attitude in divorce.  People become very egocentric and strike first worrying about the consequences later.

What is the Golden Rule all about?  Love, grace, gratitude, and generosity.  If you want to succeed in relationships, serve your partner, friend or family.  Let them all know they come first.  Marriages often crumble because a spouse is not treated like a priority in the life of his/her partner.  We wait for someone to treat us like we want to be treated, then we will return the favor.  Jesus said the first one to serve is YOU.  If you want to succeed in business or at the job, just treat others they way you would want to be treated.  If you are a boss, owner, or manager, treat your staff they way you would want to be treated.  If you are in sales or a sole proprietor, treat your customers/clients with the same care you desire from others.  Jesus says what we measure out and give to others returns to us. I have certainly discovered that in the few years of building a mediation practice.  I  try to go out of my way to bring clients to those in my network who earned my trust and respect.

Thought for the Day – treat others the way you want to be treated.  The Golden Rule is still golden.

Thought for the Day – November 2, 2009

Text: Genesis 22:1-2
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  NKJV

At first thought, one could easily wonder what kind of God asks an aging father who waited his entire lifetime for a child, to offer that only child as a sacrifice?  This is no ordinary father, no ordinary child, and one and only true God.  God the Father had chosen Abram to become the Father of many.  In fact, Abraham means the “father of many.”  From Abraham, an entire nation would rise to walk with their Father.  Abraham believed in the promise of God even when years passed with no evidence of fulfillment.  God credited that faith as righteousness.  Isaac was becoming a young man.  Soon, he would marry and the bloodline extended.

The faith of two men were tested; Abraham as the father, Isaac as the son.  Isaac was a growing, strong young man.  He carried the wood for the sacrifice up the mountain.  He willingly let Abraham bind him upon the sacrificial altar.  He could easily resist and bolt.  He trusted his father.  His father trusted the Father.

This was an extreme test for extreme outcomes.  A nation was at stake.  The extreme test brought extreme faith to Abraham and the young Isaac, the new leader of a nation.  The extreme faith produced a extreme man of God in Isaac.

Thought for the Day – Extreme tests bring extreme faith that produce extreme men and women of God.

Thought for the Day – November 1, 2009

Text: Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  NKJV

Remember playing hide and seek as a child?  There are two parts of the game: the challenge of hiding not to be found and seeking those hidden.  Do you remember the adrenaline rush of finding the one hidden?  Well, at least, I thought it was great!

Jesus invites us into a process of seeking Him.  First, we must ask.  James tells us we have not because we do ask not.  What keeps us from asking?  Usually, pride and stubbornness.  We want to do things ourselves.  Most of us hate to ask for anything.   Asking can be perceived as a sign of weakness.  So, we try and work things out by ourselves.  We have the God of the universe waiting for us to ask, yet we struggle and toil.  He is waiting o give us good gifts; strength, courage, faith, perseverance, discipline, patience, joy, grace, and much more.

Our Father desires more than a casual ask, He desires us to seek Him.  He promised, if we seek Him, He can be found.  I am a man.  When I cannot find something, I ask Sharlyne.  She can immediately find it for me.  Why seek when Sharlyne can find, right?  She tells me I seek like a man, that is why I never find anything.  God desires seeking with true effort and passion, like seeking for a lost coin or pearl of great price.  Finally, God welcomes us to not just knock, but pound on His door.  You know, that kind of annoying knock that makes you jump up to quickly stop the pounding.

Thought for the Day – What are you asking, seeking, and knocking on God’s for?