Kingdom Fitness

“My Wife and I recently tried out a new gym. A new Planet Fitness opened in our neighborhood and we thought we would check things out. During the tour, (think sales pitch) we kept hearing the same phrase over and over again; “We are a judgment free zone.”

“Planet Fitness prides itself on providing a judgment free fitness experience. A place where anyone at any level can come and begin their fitness journey. The phrase was printed on brochures featuring athletes with optimal bodies. It appeared in large letters above the weightlifting equipment where intimidating biceps were curling impressive amounts of weight. So while there may have been no judgment, there was a good deal of, shall we call it, personal self-critique.

“Thinking that maybe one day we could look like the person on the promotional material, Kim and I decided that we would give the center a try. The representative then produced a contract with no commitment (pause and think about that for a few minutes). We were assured that we could cancel anytime, no matter what nobody was going to judge us.

“As we placed initials and signatures on paper, we were presented with a document labeled “Terms and Conditions.” Printed on this digital document was a list of do’s and don’ts, what would be permitted and what would be impermissible. Actions which the company had “judged” to be inappropriate and inconsistent with corporate objectives and customer safety. Then it dawned on me, at Planet Fitness, judgment free does not mean rule free” (Major Dalton, preaching.com).

Christians live in a “judgment free” zone.  Jesus Himself said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).  But that doesn’t mean that a life of faith is rule free.  Those who love Christ will endeavor to keep His commandments (John 14:15).  Perhaps we can call it “Kingdom Fitness.”

God loves you!

Mike

The Cost of Discipleship

“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66).

By the time you reach John 6, the large crowds of followers attracted to Jesus were beginning to thin.  Sure, the miracles like turning water to wine, healing a lame man, and feeding an enormous gathering with only five loaves of bread and two fish were impressive.  But now, Jesus was making some claims that were hard to accept.  “I am the bread of life which comes down out of heaven” (John 6:33-35).  “I have come down from heaven” (John 6:38).  “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:54).

Claims like these were making it much harder to be a follower of Jesus.  It’s one thing to follow a miracle worker.  It’s a much different thing when the miracle worker begins to require a commitment on your part -- to make a claim on your life.  The cost of being a disciple of Jesus was suddenly becoming much higher and many were leaving.  The departure point differs among individuals.  For Nicodemus, it was when Jesus told him he had to be born again (John 13.3).  For one rich young man, it was when Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor (Matthew 19:21-22).  For others, it is when troubles and persecution comes (Matthew 13:20-21).  In each case, the cost of discipleship became too high, at least at that point in their lives.

Every follower of Jesus needs to periodically count the cost of following Jesus in their own life.  Is there anything that could cause me to quit walking with Jesus?  Family?  Friends?  Job?  Trials?  Persecution?  Finances?  The time to ask these kinds of questions is BEFORE the particular situation presents itself.  That way, I can prepare beforehand to face the temptations that will inevitably come to give up.  Walking with Jesus is the only way to experience eternal life.  Don’t stop walking!  Don’t give up!

 

God loves you!

Mike

Essential

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word “essential” as something that is “absolutely necessary; extremely important” (www.lexico.com/en/definition/essential).  There is a word in the New Testament that carries the same idea.  It is the Greek word “dei” and it speaks of “...what must happen, i.e. what is absolutely necessary” (HELPS Word-studies).  It is used 104 times in its various forms.  Let me remind you of several things the Bible says are essential for the church as it interacts with the world around it:

• We must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
• We must help the weak (Acts 20:35).
• We must respond to all gracefully (Colossians 4.6).
• We must conduct ourselves properly in the church (1 Timothy 3:15).
• We must engage in good deeds (Titus 3:14).
• We must pay close attention to teaching so that we do not drift (Hebrews 2:1).
• We must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).

According to Jesus and other inspired writers, these are essential activities for the church, the people of God.  These are things we “must” do.  But some today would have us believe there are no “essential” functions of the church -- that in effect, society can do without us for a time, just as it can do without barber shops, nail salons, gyms, and theaters.  I respectfully disagree.

A case could be made that the church is preeminently essential in our modern culture.  In a time when fear, anger, and disillusionment are running wild, the church is needed now as much as ever.  The time may come when the church is driven underground once again.  But while we still have the freedom to do so, let’s stand firm as salt and light and endeavor not to be driven to the fringes as an irrelevant bystander.  Perhaps now is our time to shine instead of retreat.

God loves you!

Mike

Exceptional

“Having a bit of time on a Saturday afternoon drive through Virginia, Emily Schantz decided to stop and pick up a bag left in the roadway that a car in front of her swerved to miss.  Assuming it was trash, Schantz and her two sons pitched that bag in the bed of their truck.  After returning to their home in Caroline County, Va., the Schantzes discovered the bag was stuffed with about $1 million in cash.  Rather than hide the loot, Schantz phoned local deputies about the money.  Caroline County deputies believe the money belonged to  the U.S. Postal Service and was bound for a bank.  Maj. Scott Moser of the sheriff’s office praised the family for turning the money in: “For someone so honest and willing to give that almost a million dollars back, it’s exceptional on their part.”” (World Magazine, 7-18-20)

Kudos to Ms. Schantz and her sons for doing the right thing, especially when there were about a million reasons not to. Mr. Moser’s statement about it being “exceptional on their part” got me thinking.  Have we reached a point where such actions are the exception rather than the rule?  Or has it always been that way?  Imagine for a moment that 100 randomly selected American citizens were presented with the same scenario.  How many do you suppose would turn the money in?  Without any specific empirical data to offer, I guess it’s all conjecture.  But I wonder…

Perhaps a more important question to ask is: How do we develop the kind of integrity that does what is exceptional?  The Bible offers some help:

 

➢   Remember that doing the right thing pleases God (15:1-    2).

➢   Understand that doing the right thing builds our trust in the Lord (Psalm 26:1)

➢   Recognize that doing the right thing is truly valuable (Proverbs 28:6).

➢   Realize that doing the right thing starts with the small things (Luke 16.10).

 

So whether it’s one dollar or a million dollars, let’s always endeavor to do the right thing.  May God help us all to be truly exceptional.

 

God loves you!

Mike

Public Service Announcement

The following public service announcement is brought to you by the Bible:

“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

Wikipedia defines a public service announcement as “...a message in the public interest disseminated without charge, with the objective of raising awareness of, and changing public attitudes and behavior towards, a social issue.”  My purpose in sharing the verse above is the same.  While being respectful of the immediate context of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to its first century readers, there is a principle here that transcends time and culture.  It is this: Jesus Christ “...is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”  What is it that causes you concern?

“Evil is running rampant in our society.  What are we going to do?”  Find a way to make a difference and remember: Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.  That will always be true.

“Racial tensions are tearing our country apart.  What are we going to do?”  Find a way to make a difference and remember: Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.  That will always be true.

“Devilish forces are conspiring to rule the world.  What are we going to do?”  Find a way to make a difference and remember: Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.  That will always be true.

If this is starting to sound repetitive, good.  Because we need to hear it over and over again.  Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.  That will always be true.

God loves you!

Mike