"'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.'" Matthew 23:23 (NIV)
We all want to be faithful and committed believers. But to whom are we faithful, and to what are we committed? Are we faithful to church attendance, or faithful to God? Are we committed to living good lives, or are we committed to letting God live through us? They are not necessarily the same.
It's easy to fall into a clean-living routine and think we're doing fine. Ask yourself this question: If church related activities were taken out of my life, would people still see that I am faithful and committed to God?
'"They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you?" He will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."'" Matthew 25:44-45 (NIV)
Friday, January 31, 2020
Friday, January 24, 2020
Scope of Practice
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'" 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NIV)
As a licensed massage practitioner, part of my job involved recognizing conditions such as surface changes indicative of skin cancer for which a client should be referred to a doctor. Ironically, though, it is illegal for an LMP to diagnose. Contradictory though it may seem, it was required to recommend that a suspicious spot be seen by a dermatologist, but not allowed to mention the spot may be cancerous. Diagnosing falls within a medical doctor's scope of practice, but not a massage practitioner's.
As Christians we are in a similar situation. If another believer is out of line, we are supposed to do our part to bring that person back, as in Matthew 18 and Galatians 6. But it is outside our scope of practice to pass judgment on people who don't hold themselves to our beliefs. While we should be vigilant to recognize unhealthy attitudes and actions in others and guard ourselves against those things, it's not our job to correct people who aren't believers. Our job is to pray, be examples of Christ to them, and let the Holy Spirit do His convicting work.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 3:14 (NIV)
As a licensed massage practitioner, part of my job involved recognizing conditions such as surface changes indicative of skin cancer for which a client should be referred to a doctor. Ironically, though, it is illegal for an LMP to diagnose. Contradictory though it may seem, it was required to recommend that a suspicious spot be seen by a dermatologist, but not allowed to mention the spot may be cancerous. Diagnosing falls within a medical doctor's scope of practice, but not a massage practitioner's.
As Christians we are in a similar situation. If another believer is out of line, we are supposed to do our part to bring that person back, as in Matthew 18 and Galatians 6. But it is outside our scope of practice to pass judgment on people who don't hold themselves to our beliefs. While we should be vigilant to recognize unhealthy attitudes and actions in others and guard ourselves against those things, it's not our job to correct people who aren't believers. Our job is to pray, be examples of Christ to them, and let the Holy Spirit do His convicting work.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 3:14 (NIV)
Friday, January 17, 2020
Why Do Bad Things Happen?
"Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" Psalm 10:1 (NASB)
If there's a loving God, why do so many bad things happen? There's no pat answer, especially for calamities beyond our control such as a hurricane. Unfortunately, however, humanity has a vicious habit of ignoring God's rules for living and then blaming Him once we've caused our own personal (and avoidable) catastrophes.
"God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" Genesis 1:28 (NASB)
God made everything good and put us in charge of it. How are you managing the life He gave you? Are you nurturing your own body, mind, and spirit? Are you providing for your family's mental, physical, and spiritual health? Are you reaching out to victims of natural disasters, chronic illness, and various forms of abuse? What are you doing to prevent bad things happening?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Maybe something bad happened because of poor choices. Ask God's forgiveness, turn around, and ask Him to show you a better way. And when tragedy comes out of nowhere, keep trusting Him, take available assistance when you need it, and watch for opportunities to offer help to someone else. Maybe we'll never know why, but maybe we don't need answers, maybe we just need to put grace and mercy into practice.
If there's a loving God, why do so many bad things happen? There's no pat answer, especially for calamities beyond our control such as a hurricane. Unfortunately, however, humanity has a vicious habit of ignoring God's rules for living and then blaming Him once we've caused our own personal (and avoidable) catastrophes.
"God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" Genesis 1:28 (NASB)
God made everything good and put us in charge of it. How are you managing the life He gave you? Are you nurturing your own body, mind, and spirit? Are you providing for your family's mental, physical, and spiritual health? Are you reaching out to victims of natural disasters, chronic illness, and various forms of abuse? What are you doing to prevent bad things happening?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Maybe something bad happened because of poor choices. Ask God's forgiveness, turn around, and ask Him to show you a better way. And when tragedy comes out of nowhere, keep trusting Him, take available assistance when you need it, and watch for opportunities to offer help to someone else. Maybe we'll never know why, but maybe we don't need answers, maybe we just need to put grace and mercy into practice.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Mission vs. Distraction
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;" Ephesians 4:11-12 (NAS)
God has a purpose for your life. He may have a series of short term jobs for you to do, a lifelong occupation in store for you, or both. His objective for you is both His glory and your fulfillment.
As surely as there is a mission for your life, there is a plethora of distractions to draw your attention away from your mission. Some distractions are unmistakable: obvious time-wasters or blatantly wrong activities. But often, distractions come camouflaged as good causes, and diligence is required to discern between your mission and a diversion. "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NAS)
It's your responsibility to find out what God's specific plan for you is. Read the Bible, pray (this means listening to God as well as talking to Him), and spend time with His people. The Lord often sends individuals to speak His truth into your life and help you get your bearings.
"Your ears will hear a voice behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21 (NAS)
If you're struggling to differentiate your mission from a distraction, start basic. Is Jesus reaching the people you live with through you? Are you representing Christ at work? Do you have respect for the barista, the cashier, the server at the restaurant, the customer service rep? Does your everyday life reflect God at work in you?
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NAS)
God has a purpose for your life. He may have a series of short term jobs for you to do, a lifelong occupation in store for you, or both. His objective for you is both His glory and your fulfillment.
As surely as there is a mission for your life, there is a plethora of distractions to draw your attention away from your mission. Some distractions are unmistakable: obvious time-wasters or blatantly wrong activities. But often, distractions come camouflaged as good causes, and diligence is required to discern between your mission and a diversion. "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NAS)
It's your responsibility to find out what God's specific plan for you is. Read the Bible, pray (this means listening to God as well as talking to Him), and spend time with His people. The Lord often sends individuals to speak His truth into your life and help you get your bearings.
"Your ears will hear a voice behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21 (NAS)
If you're struggling to differentiate your mission from a distraction, start basic. Is Jesus reaching the people you live with through you? Are you representing Christ at work? Do you have respect for the barista, the cashier, the server at the restaurant, the customer service rep? Does your everyday life reflect God at work in you?
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NAS)
Friday, January 3, 2020
Ebb and Flow
"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) We've talked often in our house about how life ebbs and flows like the ocean. Circumstances are positive for some time, then suddenly one thing after another seems to crash and we start to wonder what we're doing wrong.
Introspection and self-examination can be a good thing, when prayerfully done without getting mired in it. Peter walked on the surface of the lake as long as he kept watching Jesus. It was when he focused on his surroundings instead of the Lord that he started to sink in the water.
As we move into a new year and a new decade, keep looking to Jesus. Soak in the happy moments, and store away those memories to recall on darker days. Keep trusting when the rug gets pulled out from under you, and don't lose hope.
"I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace." Psalm 34:1 (TLB)
Let the water ebb. It will flow back again.
Introspection and self-examination can be a good thing, when prayerfully done without getting mired in it. Peter walked on the surface of the lake as long as he kept watching Jesus. It was when he focused on his surroundings instead of the Lord that he started to sink in the water.
As we move into a new year and a new decade, keep looking to Jesus. Soak in the happy moments, and store away those memories to recall on darker days. Keep trusting when the rug gets pulled out from under you, and don't lose hope.
"I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace." Psalm 34:1 (TLB)
Let the water ebb. It will flow back again.
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