It's Maundy Thursday, 2009 and thousands of Philippinos are reenacting the last agony of Jesus. Barefoot, over the hot stone streets in scorching sun, they are dragging heavy wooden crosses, flogging their bare backs bloody with glass-studded whips, grizzly Lenten rituals in which at least a dozen people will be nailed to crosses, seeking through pain and suffering, redemption. It is tradition, so in a Moslem shrine in Bangladesh, a woman worshiper offering prayers extended her arms toward one of the crocodiles which live there; it bit off her hand and swallowed it.
People continue to do so many odd, self-humiliating acts, not understanding how to just receive the free gift of eternal life. Praise God, Jesus paid it all!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Praise God
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
--Psalm 34:2-4
Have you ever wondered why the Scripture instructs us to praise God? Three reasons can be found in the verses above from Psalm 34.
First of all, praising the Lord encourages others. I think you’d be amazed at how people, Christian and non-Christian alike, respond to something as positive as honest and sincere praise to God when something good or bad happens to you.
Second, praising God naturally brings fellowship. There is a closeness… a bond… that is created when you’re praising God together.
And last, praising the Lord gives you power for your day-to-day life. I don’t know what you may be facing today, be it a temptation you can’t let go of or a sin you can’t escape. Whatever it is, praise will bring you out of it!
My friend, God responds to your honest, genuine praise of Him. So I urge you to make praise a habit no matter what you may be going through today!
--Psalm 34:2-4
Have you ever wondered why the Scripture instructs us to praise God? Three reasons can be found in the verses above from Psalm 34.
First of all, praising the Lord encourages others. I think you’d be amazed at how people, Christian and non-Christian alike, respond to something as positive as honest and sincere praise to God when something good or bad happens to you.
Second, praising God naturally brings fellowship. There is a closeness… a bond… that is created when you’re praising God together.
And last, praising the Lord gives you power for your day-to-day life. I don’t know what you may be facing today, be it a temptation you can’t let go of or a sin you can’t escape. Whatever it is, praise will bring you out of it!
My friend, God responds to your honest, genuine praise of Him. So I urge you to make praise a habit no matter what you may be going through today!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Troubled Friendships
Psalm 15:1-3
Second to God, friends are a believer’s most valuable assets. Companions provide a listening ear for our troubles, support for our dreams, and a safety net when we fall. Our friends also give us love, even when we are unlovable.
Inevitably, though, some of these important relationships will go through troubled periods. If the friendship is worth preserving, a solution should be sought through the following steps:
Address the situation. Acknowledge to your friend that something is amiss and needs to be fixed.
Determine the problem. Together, discuss where the relationship veered off
course and what wrongs may have been spoken or committed.
Apologize. As believers and friends, we accept responsibility for our actions and
seek forgiveness.
Refuse to blame. In addition, we must avoid defending ourselves. There could be
a temptation to argue over who did what; however, the goal is not proving who is
right but saving the friendship.
Begin repairs. Ask, “What can I do to rebuild our closeness?” The key here is to do willingly whatever is requested.
Commit to rebuilding. Immediately start investing your time, energy, and love in restoring the friendship.
In order to have the blessing of a good friend who loves us, we must be willing to pay the high price of patching up a relationship. Walking away might seem easier, but in the long run, we would lose a valuable treasure.
Second to God, friends are a believer’s most valuable assets. Companions provide a listening ear for our troubles, support for our dreams, and a safety net when we fall. Our friends also give us love, even when we are unlovable.
Inevitably, though, some of these important relationships will go through troubled periods. If the friendship is worth preserving, a solution should be sought through the following steps:
Address the situation. Acknowledge to your friend that something is amiss and needs to be fixed.
Determine the problem. Together, discuss where the relationship veered off
course and what wrongs may have been spoken or committed.
Apologize. As believers and friends, we accept responsibility for our actions and
seek forgiveness.
Refuse to blame. In addition, we must avoid defending ourselves. There could be
a temptation to argue over who did what; however, the goal is not proving who is
right but saving the friendship.
Begin repairs. Ask, “What can I do to rebuild our closeness?” The key here is to do willingly whatever is requested.
Commit to rebuilding. Immediately start investing your time, energy, and love in restoring the friendship.
In order to have the blessing of a good friend who loves us, we must be willing to pay the high price of patching up a relationship. Walking away might seem easier, but in the long run, we would lose a valuable treasure.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Poverty and Riches
There a story in history about the king of England who was out hunting with friends when he disappeared. They looked for him four days without success. Then, shopping in the marketplace, one of them spotted the king - working as a mere servant, a porter in the market.
They reprimanded him for serving in such a demeaning way, but the king responded: "Gentlemen, the load I have quitted is far heavier than the one you see me now carry. I have slept more in the last four nights than I have in all my reign. Elect whom you choose; for me it would be madness to return to court."
Remenber that, Jesus can be your best friend.
They reprimanded him for serving in such a demeaning way, but the king responded: "Gentlemen, the load I have quitted is far heavier than the one you see me now carry. I have slept more in the last four nights than I have in all my reign. Elect whom you choose; for me it would be madness to return to court."
Remenber that, Jesus can be your best friend.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Without Asking
WITHOUT ASKING
Read Job 2:11--13
Friends care enough to come without being asked to come. No one sent a message saying to Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar, "Would you please come and bring a little sympathy and comfort for Job? The man is dying in this crucible of anguish and pain." That wasn't necessary, because real friends show up when someone they love is really hurting. Friends don't need an official invitation. Spontaneously, they come.
Friends respond with sympathy and comfort. Sympathy includes identifying with the sufferer. Friends do that. They enter into his or her crucible, for the purpose of feeling the anguish and being personally touched by the pain. Comfort is attempting to ease the pain by helping to make the sorrow lighter. You run errands for them. You take care of the kids. You provide a meal. You assist wherever you can assist because you want to comfort them.
Friends openly express the depth of their feelings. They have ways of doing that, don't they? It's not uncommon to see a friend standing nearby in the hospital room fighting back the tears. It's not unusual for the friend to express deep feelings. Casual acquaintances don't usually do that; genuine friends make their feelings known.
Friends aren't turned off by distasteful sights. On the contrary, they come alongside and they get as close as possible. Friends are not offended because the room has a foul smell. Friends don't turn away because the one they've come to be with has been reduced to the shell of his former self, weighing half of what he used to weigh.
Friends see beyond all of that. They don't walk away because the bottom has dropped out of your life and you're at wits' end. On the contrary, that draws them in. These men literally tore their robes, sprinkled dust on their heads, and raised their voices and sobbed as they sat down on the ground with Job. They demonstrated the depth of their anguish by staying seven days and seven nights without uttering a word.
Friends understand, so they say very little. Words are not always what they need. What they need is you.
Read Job 2:11--13
Friends care enough to come without being asked to come. No one sent a message saying to Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar, "Would you please come and bring a little sympathy and comfort for Job? The man is dying in this crucible of anguish and pain." That wasn't necessary, because real friends show up when someone they love is really hurting. Friends don't need an official invitation. Spontaneously, they come.
Friends respond with sympathy and comfort. Sympathy includes identifying with the sufferer. Friends do that. They enter into his or her crucible, for the purpose of feeling the anguish and being personally touched by the pain. Comfort is attempting to ease the pain by helping to make the sorrow lighter. You run errands for them. You take care of the kids. You provide a meal. You assist wherever you can assist because you want to comfort them.
Friends openly express the depth of their feelings. They have ways of doing that, don't they? It's not uncommon to see a friend standing nearby in the hospital room fighting back the tears. It's not unusual for the friend to express deep feelings. Casual acquaintances don't usually do that; genuine friends make their feelings known.
Friends aren't turned off by distasteful sights. On the contrary, they come alongside and they get as close as possible. Friends are not offended because the room has a foul smell. Friends don't turn away because the one they've come to be with has been reduced to the shell of his former self, weighing half of what he used to weigh.
Friends see beyond all of that. They don't walk away because the bottom has dropped out of your life and you're at wits' end. On the contrary, that draws them in. These men literally tore their robes, sprinkled dust on their heads, and raised their voices and sobbed as they sat down on the ground with Job. They demonstrated the depth of their anguish by staying seven days and seven nights without uttering a word.
Friends understand, so they say very little. Words are not always what they need. What they need is you.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Being a Watchman
We have been looking at the apostle Paul’s different descriptions of the Christian life in Acts 20. We have seen the Christian compared to a runner in a race, a steward, a witness, and a herald.
Let’s look at one final picture: the watchman.
To the leaders in the church of Ephesus, Paul says, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26).
What is a watchman?
What does it mean when Paul says he is “innocent of the blood of all men?”
In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord impresses on His servant the importance of his role: “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, pass it on to the people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible, demanding your blood for theirs” (Ezekiel 3:17-18 nlt).
Pay attention!
In ancient times, cities would have large walls around them to offer much-needed protection. On those walls would be towers that would be even higher. There, the watchmen would position himself to keep an eye on any potential dangers. For instance, if an enemy army was approaching, the watchmen would have the trumpet sounded to warn the people.
What a serious calling it was to have this role. The watchman had to stay awake and alert, paying careful attention. He had to be faithful, not fearful, because the safety of many people rested with him.
This is the most sobering of the terms Paul uses here in Acts 20, showing that the sharing of the gospel is not something we are to do in a casual manner, or when we are “in the mood.” This is something of extreme importance.
We are to be watchmen too
We are all called to lovingly warn our friends if we see them in any spiritual danger. This would not only be those who do not yet know the Lord, but also Christian friends who might be misled or overtaken by a sin.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in the church of Galatia and said, “Dear friends, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1 nlt).
Let’s all seek to be faithful runners, servants, witnesses, heralds, and watchmen in our world today.
Let’s look at one final picture: the watchman.
To the leaders in the church of Ephesus, Paul says, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26).
What is a watchman?
What does it mean when Paul says he is “innocent of the blood of all men?”
In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord impresses on His servant the importance of his role: “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, pass it on to the people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible, demanding your blood for theirs” (Ezekiel 3:17-18 nlt).
Pay attention!
In ancient times, cities would have large walls around them to offer much-needed protection. On those walls would be towers that would be even higher. There, the watchmen would position himself to keep an eye on any potential dangers. For instance, if an enemy army was approaching, the watchmen would have the trumpet sounded to warn the people.
What a serious calling it was to have this role. The watchman had to stay awake and alert, paying careful attention. He had to be faithful, not fearful, because the safety of many people rested with him.
This is the most sobering of the terms Paul uses here in Acts 20, showing that the sharing of the gospel is not something we are to do in a casual manner, or when we are “in the mood.” This is something of extreme importance.
We are to be watchmen too
We are all called to lovingly warn our friends if we see them in any spiritual danger. This would not only be those who do not yet know the Lord, but also Christian friends who might be misled or overtaken by a sin.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in the church of Galatia and said, “Dear friends, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1 nlt).
Let’s all seek to be faithful runners, servants, witnesses, heralds, and watchmen in our world today.
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