Seek First His Kingdom

We have just endured another election cycle.  It seems like they never end anymore.  The minute one election ends, the campaigning starts for the next one.  The airwaves are filled with candidates making various promises.  “I will cut spending and balance the budget!”  “It’s time for a change!”  “I won’t be swayed by special interest groups!”  “I will not raise taxes!”  “It’s time to take back America for God!"

In February of this year, John Frye took issue with the idea of “taking back America for God.”  I think he provides a good reminder for us.  Note the following: “If the USAmerican evangelical church would get its eyes off America and fix them on the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we might discover some surprises. Surprises like: God really doesn’t want America. He already has it. Not that everyone is converted to Jesus, of course. The Great Commission is not targeted at and limited to America. The redemption of lives of the people of the world and the renewal of the cosmos is what the Gospel Jesus is after. We do not read anywhere in the New Testament, “Go, make America Christian.”  Then he ends his post with this powerful sentence: “Getting Jesus right, not getting America right, is the great challenge we face."

From what we read in the Bible, Jesus spent a tiny fraction of his time concerned with the affairs of state.  And even when he did, the sense we get is that he had more important things to think about (cf. John 18:36; Mark 12:17).  But to listen to some of his followers today, you can get the impression that it is the most important thing.  Fellow believers, there is a kingdom that should be our first priority and it is not America or any other earthly realm (Matthew 6:33).  Nationalism, patriotism, or any other “ism” may have their place, but they should never be higher than second place in our lives.

God loves you!

Mike

Scars

In a post on Scot McKnights’ blog (Jesus Creed) titled “Every Scar Has A Story,” Josh Ross writes of a difficult and painful period in his life.  A combination of ministry stress, the tragic death of his sister, and other blows led to what he calls a “faith crisis” in his life -- a time when he wrestled with God.  Journaling provided an outlet for him to address with God what he refers to as the “scars” that life had inflicted upon him.
Ross reveals that his experience taught him some things about scars.  I won’t list them all, but one in particular resonated with me.  He said: “Thirdly, we live in a culture that spends billions of dollars trying to cover up scars.  But that’s not the way it has always been. Scars haven’t always been something to be avoided. In fact, the Jesus-story tells us that scars are stories meant to be redeemed.  I think the local church is sometimes at its best when we don’t suppress scar-filled stories, but rather we provide space for these stories to be told. This isn’t for people to wallow in the misery of physical or emotional pain, but to point to the beauty of how God joins us as we walk through it.  After all, when Jesus was raised from the dead, His scars remained, because they helped tell a story that is still capturing the world.”
Is it possible that we have we become too adept at covering up our scars in the body of Christ?  Why are we fearful of displaying the marks of our healing?  Is there any way that scars could be attractional to those outside of Christ?  What creative ways could be envisioned for the people of God to share the stories of their scars in redemptive ways?  Do you have any “scar stories” that you would be willing to share?  I don’t have all the answers -- I am just asking the questions.  What do think? (Joss Ross’ journal entries became a book he wrote entitled “Scarred Faith”)

God loves you!

Mike

Galactic Cannibalism

Just when you think you have enough to worry about, here’s something else to add to your list: “Only 5 Billion Years Until The Milky Way Gets Gobbled Up.”  This is the title of Rachel Feldman’s article published on the Washington Post’s website on September 19.  Feldman reports on a recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.  Unbeknownst to most of us, apparently “...galaxies turn to cannibalism when they get too big to keep growing on their own.”  The threat to our little corner of the universe comes from the “nearby” Andromeda galaxy.  “But the Milky Way isn’t going to be able to outrun Andromeda.  In about 5 billion years we’ll collide with the nearby galaxy, which contains at least twice as many stars as our own.  To Andromeda, we’ll be nothing but a cosmic candy bar.”

While the prophet Habakkuk lived in pre-scientific times and knew nothing about galactic cannibalism, he knew something about having his world crumbling down around him.  He saw the sin of his fellow Israelites and prayed to God for an answer.  But the answer proved to be even more terrifying: God was bringing the Chaldeans as judgment upon Israel!  Habakkuk struggles with all of this, but ends the book that bears his name with a great statement of faith: “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places: (Habakkuk 3:17–19).

Those with faith in God do not have to worry about galactic cannibalism.  May God help us to have the kind of faith that trusts and rejoices in Him regardless of the threat we face.

God loves you!

Mike

Humble Greatness

“The concert impresario, Sol Hurok, liked to say that Marian Anderson hadn't simply grown great, she'd grown great simply. He says: "A few years ago a reporter interviewed Marian and asked her to name the greatest moment in her life. I was in her dressing room at the time and was curious to hear the answer. I knew she had many big moments to choose from. There was the night Toscanini told her that hers was the finest voice of the century. There was the private concert she gave at the White House for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England. She had received the $10,000 Bok Award as the person who had done the most for her hometown, Philadelphia. To top it all, there was that Easter Sunday in Washington when she stood beneath the Lincoln statue and sang for a crowd of 75,000, which included Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and most members of Congress. Which of those big moments did she choose? "None of them," said Hurok. "Miss Anderson told the reporter that the greatest moment of her life was the day she went home and told her mother she wouldn't have to take in washing anymore”” (Alan Loy McGinnis, The Friendship Factor, p. 30).

It is difficult to resist the lure of self-importance when others are heaping praise upon us. It is very easy for fame and fortune to go to our heads.  Rare is the individual who remains humble when the accolades begin to pile up.  The admonition of Peter remains just as important today as it was when it was first written.  He reminds believers to “...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time…” (1 Peter 5:5–6).

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking of yourself less” (C.S. Lewis).

God loves you!

Mike

Target Practice

          Matthew Emmons was a key member of the U.S. shooting team which competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece.  Having already won the gold medal in the Men's 50m Rifle Prone event, he turned his attention to the 50m Three Position Rifle event with high hopes for another medal.  But it wasn’t to be.  “With one bullet left to shoot, all Matt Emmons needed was a score of 7.2 to win his second gold medal of the Olympic Games. On his first nine shots in the finals, Emmons' lowest score was a 9.3. He took careful aim, fired ... bull's eye.  Only Emmons' shot pierced the wrong target — known as a crossfire — resulting in a score of 0.  Instead of gold, Emmons, 23, of Browns Hill, N.J., was left trying to explain the rare mistake that left him in eighth place” (Steve Rivera, Gannett News Service, USA Today, 8-23-04).  A momentary loss of focus made the difference between a gold medal and eighth place because a bullseye on the wrong target doesn’t count.
          Focus is important in any successful endeavor, including being a disciple of Jesus.  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2).  Is it any wonder that Satan does his best to distract us?  If he can tempt us to take our eyes off of the right target and focus on anything else, he has gained the advantage.  Remember: a bullseye on the wrong target doesn’t count!
          “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in.  Aim at earth and you get neither” (C.S. Lewis).

God loves you!
Mike

Civil War

The Civil War has the distinction of being the deadliest conflict in U.S. history.  Due to the lack of detailed records, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact death toll but historians have commonly claimed that around 620,000 lost their lives.  Recent studies suggest that the number could range significantly higher.  But regardless of the number one uses, the loss of human life was staggering.  To put it in perspective, the combined U.S. casualties from World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War total just short of 620,000.  U.S. military deaths for the entire Vietnam War are listed at 58,209.  The deaths attributed to just one battle in the Civil War (Gettysburg) are estimated to be 51,000.  The purpose of these comparisons is not to discount the human cost of the later conflicts, but to help us wrap our minds around the terrible consequences of the Civil War.

Civil wars tend to be bloodier than other kinds of conflict.  One would think that brothers would be kinder to brothers and sisters would be more tolerant with sisters, but such is not always the case.  When we reach the point where we can shoot at each other, it seems that restrain disappears.  Family squabbles are often the most volatile and dangerous.  Perhaps that is why the Scriptures are so adamant about maintaining peace, unity, and tolerance within the family of God.  Jesus calls upon us to love one another, not fight with each other (John 15:12; cf. also v. 17).  We we fail to love each other, it becomes easier to attack and destroy each other (Galatians 5:14–15).
Civil war is always deadly.  That is why we must always work hard at preserving peaceful unity (Ephesians 4:3).  Let’s drop the weapons that we use against each other and join forces to fight our common enemy (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan is the only winner when we fight among ourselves.

God loves you!

Mike

Do You Know The Lord?

          The phrase “...then you will know that I am the Lord…” (or something very similar to it) is found 63 times in the book of Ezekiel (NASB). Recurring words or phrases provide us with a key to understanding the purpose behind a biblical writing. The book of Ezekiel speaks of God’s efforts to reach out to His wayward children. The people of Judah had forgotten who God was. Oh sure, they probably would not have denied God’s existence but their words and actions revealed that they really didn’t know or respect Him.
          This situation was unacceptable to God. He refused to abandon His people without a fight. So he set out to provide them with the knowledge they lacked. This knowledge would come to them when they experienced the coming judgment God promised if they refused to repent. “‘For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the LORD!” (Ezekiel 7:4). But they would also gain knowledge when God kept his promises of restoration following the judgment. “Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord GOD declares” (Ezekiel 16:62–63).
          Do we truly know the Lord? I’m talking about more than just acknowledging His existence. I’m speaking of the kind of knowledge that causes us to speak and act in ways that bring honor to Him (cf. Romans 1:21; Titus 1:16). It’s the kind of knowledge that leads us to actively love others (1 John 4:8). It’s the kind of knowledge that prompts us to obey Him (1 John 2:3-4). It’s this kind of knowledge that leads to eternal life (John 17:3).

God loves you!
Mike