Thursday, May 31, 2012

Faith. Hope. Salvation.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. -- Ephesians 2:3-5

Hope. It’s the foundation for so much of what we believe as Christians. We understand that by our own actions we are condemned. Our human nature assures us of that. But we have hope in Christ Jesus, who died that we might live.

…he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. -- Titus 3:5-7

There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Nothing. It’s not about doing right or living a good life. It’s not about attending church every Sunday or tithing just the right amount. It’s not about Baptism by water or going through the motions of Christianity.

We are saved by grace. That’s it. Pure and simple. Jesus’ blood poured out for us, washing over us, making us clean. So we reach out and believe, grabbing hold of the hand that saves us from certain destruction.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. -- Romans 6:14

The rules are overwhelming at times. We want to do right but sometimes it seems as though we can’t help ourselves. We sin despite ourselves. We repent. And, then, there we go again.

We are powerless on our own, controlled by a sin nature we cannot seem to shed. But He is there, giving us strength, picking us up, forgiving us and cleansing us and sending us on our way again.

The laws are there to guide us, even as the Holy Spirit fills us up and reminds us of the path we should take. Jesus is there to save us when we sin despite the best of intentions.

He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. -- Acts 15:9-11

There is no one Christian above the others. There is no denomination -- be they Methodist, Baptist, Catholic or other -- who rise to the top and always know best. We are one in the faith, in the blood, in our salvation. We all cling to grace.

Do not let yourselves be misled by the Pharisees of our day. Jesus Christ died so that we might live. We are saved by grace, not by rules or anything else. Jesus secured your salvation, promising that all who believe in Him will have eternal life. Hold on to that and never, ever let someone else shake the foundation of your faith.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

False Teachers Destroy Hope

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them -- bringing swift destruction to themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. -- 2 Peter 2:1-3

We would like to believe that someone who serves as a pastor will only teach accurate accounts of the Gospel. We want to have confidence in those who have been to seminary. We want to trust people we believe are chosen to teach and guide us in God’s ways.

But every now and then a pastor will express his/her own views, proclaiming those views to be from God. Such times bring destruction and cause people to turn from God.

A dear friend is distraught. Her son and daughter-in-law have decided to divorce. No one has been unfaithful. They are just so incompatible that it is a marvel they married at all. But they did. And in that short period of time they conceived and gave birth to a premature daughter they both love.

My friend asked them to try again. She bought the movie “Fireproof” for them and urged them in to Christian counseling. Who better than their pastor? As it turns out, few could have been worse.

This man told a woman prone to drama and over exaggeration that her husband was certainly having an affair. Otherwise, the pastor concluded, the young man wouldn’t want a divorce. There is no affair. There is no flirtation. There is nothing except incompatibility and, now, a lie told by a pastor.

The pastor later told the young man that if he went through with the divorce, he would be condemned to hell. For all time. Forever. Because the man decided to divorce his wife. Not surprisingly, this young man has decided he never wants to go back to church.

Oh, and the divorce is more a certainty now than before the “counseling sessions.”

God frowns on divorce. No doubt about it. We see divorce in the Bible but it wasn’t the way that God intended marriage to be. That said, there is NOTHING we can do to make God stop loving us. And there is NOTHING that grace won’t cover.

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to go out and sin just because we live under grace. It does mean that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. This young couple aren’t condemned if they divorce. They are forgiven the minute they ask for forgiveness. Jesus made sure of that.

This pastor spoke his own views and claimed them as God’s. In so doing, he took away the hope we all have in Christ Jesus our Lord. God promises to deal with false teachers and I’m trusting that he will even as I pray that God will lead this couple back into His waiting arms.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Embrace The Holy Spirit

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. -- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Okay here’s your first question: How many mistakes have you made today? If you’re completely honest -- and I know you are -- you’ll admit you’ve made quite a few. We all do. Sometimes it’s snarling at someone before we have that first cup of coffee. Other times it’s more serious. But a mistake is a mistake.

Second question: How many times have you done something -- again -- that you sworn you’d never do again? It could be something as simple as eating too much at that wonderful buffet. It could be something far more serious, like loosing your temper with your kids.

Third question: What can you do about it? Can you change under your own power? Or do you need help? And are you ready to admit that you need help?

I know. That’s way more than question three but it’s all about the same thing: We are powerless to change anything, including ourselves, without the help of the Holy Spirit.

God knew we would need help. It’s just that simple. As much as He loves us, He also understood our human frailties and tendencies to sin. So He sent the Holy Spirit to work within us, refining us, guiding us, growing us so that we’ll each day become closer to our role model for life -- Jesus.

It’s almost comical how we cling to that notion that we can do it all by ourselves. It’s reminiscent of a two-year-old who is determined to “do it by myself” even when his parents know he can’t. It takes several tries, much frustration and usually a few tears for him to admit that he needs help after all. That sounds a lot like the rest of us.

We are, as Pastor Meghan noted last Sunday, all works in progress. We all have a unique and special role to play in God’s redemptive plan. But we can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit. It is that Spirit who changes people from within. Our work -- no matter how worthy -- will fail miserably without the power of the Holy Spirit. What is born of the Spirit, will be sustained by the Spirit, Pastor Meghan said.

The disciples waited for the promised gift in that upper room. They didn’t know what to expect. It’s likely they were both scared and confused. Then the Holy Spirit came in a fiery, windy, chaotic moment that changed their lives even as it birthed the church that we are today.

We are not alone. We have help, living within us, empowering us to change and grow more like Jesus each day. All we need do is acknowledge His Presence and accept His help to become part of God’s revival on this earth.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Give Thanks For Brave Warriors

All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. -- 1 Chronicles 12:38

Today is Memorial Day. It is a day to remember all those who gave their lives so that we might have the freedom to worship God, to live our lives, to launch our dreams.

We honor our soldiers and their families on this day but really it was set aside to remember those we have lost. I have walked beside numerous family members and friends who have served. I have watched their sacrifices -- the separations, the haunting images of war that remain long after a tour of duty, lingering health issues.

I have only lost one, my cousin, back during the Vietnam War. His parents are gone now, as well, but they never recovered from his death. There was no closure. Only a certain hope and promise that they’d see him again one day. I will forever remember the haunted look in my aunt’s eyes every time she spoke of her son. His medals and photos surrounded their family room but those things couldn’t replace his presence.

Memorial Day meant so much to my uncle. He was a retired serviceman himself. He knew how huge the cost could be. He just never really expected his son to pay that price.

Isn’t that how it always is? We always think it will happen to someone else’s family, in another neighborhood, another town. But sometimes it happens to someone we know and love. And suddenly this holiday from work and school, this three-day weekend filled with fun, takes on a new, deeper meaning.

The Bible tells us that King David’s troops were “brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.” (1 Chronicles 12:8b)

We don’t always agree with the politics of war. But surely we all agree about the sacrifice our soldiers make. And their families as well. They choose to defend our freedoms. They choose to put their lives on the line every day.

“They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.” -- 1 Chronicles 12:21-22

Today we remember those who died so that we could live in freedom. We honor them and embrace the loved ones they left behind. We give thanks for the brave warriors who have died.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

The Holy Spirit A Great Gift

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” -- Acts 1:4-5

Wonderful counselor. Constant companion. Barometer of right and wrong. The Holy Spirit living within us. Our gift.

Jesus’ disciples, His followers, His family, had all witnessed numerous miracles. They heard Jesus’ wise words, had seen His wisdom as He dealt with Pharisees and sinners and hurt souls. How could they possibly continue on without Him to guide their words and deeds?

Today is Pentecost. That’s the day God sent the Holy Spirit to live within believers. It’s available to anyone. The Holy Spirit helps mold us into the image of Christ.

I’ve never really been able to explain to anyone what it feels like in that moment when the Holy Spirit arrives. We are made new in Christ. We know that because the Bible tells us so. But how do we explain the peace, the excitement, the nearness of Christ? How can I tell anyone what it feels like to know with an unshakeable certainty that I belong to Him?

Not long ago, a co-worker accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. He’d always considered himself to be a Christian. But somehow along the way he came to understand the difference between knowing with his mind and feeling with his heart. He was Baptized with water but that came after his Baptism by the Holy Spirit.

“It’s different,” he told me.

I smiled and nodded. “I know.”

Some people are fortunate to grow up in church, always claiming Jesus as their own. They don’t know a time when they didn’t belong to Him. They’ve always known the Holy Spirit. They are blessed. And yet they also have missed something powerful. Because how can we fully know what we have without knowing what it’s like to be without it?

I am so grateful to the Holy Spirit for being there with me. I’m sure I’ve been frustrating at times, when I refused to listen to gentle guiding and instead charted a path that led me astray. But He never left me and, when I was ready, the Holy Spirit’s voice grew stronger and stronger in my life.

Today we celebrate a gift from God, a reminder of His love. We are not orphans. We were not left here alone to await the return of Jesus. We have a wonderful counselor and friend in the Holy Spirit. Thank you, God, for perfect gifts.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

What Are Your Dreams?

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” -- John 20:29

What are your dreams? Are they all about the seemingly impossible? Or are they more goals than dreams? Maybe you want something with all your heart, but you just can’t see it happening.

I can’t imagine how Jesus’ followers felt when He died on that cross. Though He had tried to explain to them what would happen, honestly, they didn’t have a clue. How could they? Even now, all these years later, I marvel at the sacrifice, the pain and suffering, that Jesus endured for me.

Their dreams died on that cross. Or so they thought. Their leader was dead. Their friend was gone. What do you do when everything you’ve ever worked for is suddenly, and tragically, taken away? How do you even begin to rebuild your life when everything you’d planned for your future is gone?

The disciples believed Jesus but they didn’t understand. At least not until He returned. Because of Jesus, we know that this life isn’t the end. As believers, we know that heaven awaits. It’s not a dream. It’s a goal. A future. A promise.

We often give up our dreams before we even get started. We live in defeat because the world, or maybe past mistakes, are still dictating to us what we can achieve. We forget the power of the cross as we try to live under the power of ourselves. And fail. Again and again.

Jesus didn’t come to lead us to defeat. He came to lead us to victory. He came in love because God is love. I know. It’s impossible for us to truly understand how great is the love that He has for us. But He does. He loves us. No matter what. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done. Nothing can change His love for us.

So here we are. The suffering of the cross is now a memory. Jesus stands before us, offering us eternal life. We are to go forward and make new disciples. We are to love others, including our enemies. We are to do good to those who harm us. We are to care for widows and orphans. We are to show others that we belong to Him by how we live our lives.

Not in defeat. Not in shame for a past we cannot change. Not focused on regrets and sorrow. But with our heads high and our eyes wide open as we boldly reach for our dreams. Those same dreams we thought were out of our reach until we realized they were planted deep in our souls by the very one who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.

What are your dreams? What has God called you to do?

Friday, May 25, 2012

Give Your Past To God

“Come, let us return to the LORD! He has torn us in pieces; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” -- Hosea 6:1-3

What is your story? Everybody has one. We each have secrets, things we’d rather other people not know about for fear they’ll think less of us. But we carry that past with us. It makes us who we are today.

I recently learned that a friend has been married five times. I was shocked. Totally. Do I think less of him? Not at all. I see the person he is today -- and the woman he’s lovingly called his wife for 35 years.

He was once a young man searching for a fairy tale life. Oh, he doesn’t call it that. Those are my words. He says he wanted someone to share his life with. He wanted a family and companionship. It took a few rough knocks before he looked up and saw the person meant for him. His wife, too, had endured a bad relationship. But together they make a beautiful whole.

Another young woman still feels insecure about her time in high school. She desperately wanted to be popular and accepted. She was neither but it didn’t stop her from trying to win approval. In so doing, she did some things she’d rather forget. She’s not that person anymore but she can’t seem to shake the memory of who she once was.

One of the beautiful things about God is that we get a do over. No matter what we’ve done or where we’ve been, God still loves us. And He will restore us if we will only seek Him out, ask forgiveness, and change the direction of our lives. Sometimes that is way easier than wiping the memory of past sins from our own minds.

What are you hanging on to? What can’t you forget? What aren’t you trusting God with? Because that’s what it really comes down to: Trusting God. Do we believe that He has really forgiven us? Or do we secretly think that He’s holding a grudge -- called our past sin -- over us as we step into the future?

God isn’t like that. You know that and so do I. He’s willing to put our past behind us and restore us. He says so. Again and again.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences of our actions. Of course there are. That can be a good thing if we use past experiences to learn and grow and to deepen our commitment to God.

God wants an open, honest relationship with us. He wants us to seek Him, to trust Him, to believe what He says. Don’t proclaim your love for God and then turn away, refusing to give Him your darkest moments. Hand them over to God and watch Him restore your life.