Why Do We Seek Him?

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed John 6: 26 - 27

We find men here who were not blessed by the miracles or drawn to Christ because of His teachings but only because they had a good meal on the previous day. They had come after Him for all the wrong reasons. And He recognized it. He knew their hearts. A similiar situation exists in the world today.

Why do we follow Christ? Why do we seek to be associated with Him? Why have we laid claim to the title of Christian? If we could get many to speak honestly with us we will find a variety of claiming the name of Christ.

Some consider it a wise social and business move. The 'best' people in the community often belong to churches. If an individual wants to be accepted in 'good' social circles and make beneficial business contacts, joining a church is a good way to do it. They have no real commitment to Christ and certainly no real claim to salvation, but they are using the church congregation to build their position in the community.

Some seek to rid themselves of a past sinful reputation. The law enforcement community looks askanse and skeptically at inmates who have been "born again". Often this is brought about, not of sincere sorrow and repentence, but merely the result of a regret that the inmate was caught in the act. He seeks to rid himself of the guilt and to better his reputation by 'accepting Christ' Too many times when released from incarceration, the man returns to his sinful lifestyle.

Sometimes church-goers look to relieve themselves of a guilty conscience and avoid the consequences of sinful acts. So they begin to attend church services regularly and straighten out their lives so that they can feel better about themselves and be praised by the undiscerning.

Too often members of the religious community are following Christ because of "what they can get out of it." They want a source of blessings. They want to be able to get good things from God. They want to be able to partake constantly of the loaves and fishes without partaking of the sacrifices. Jesus spoke and said If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24) Yet too many times honest self denial is not even contemplated.

Let us look at our lives. Are we following Christ because of the loaves and the fishes? Is our experience so shallow that we only want the goodies but are not stepping on into the self discipline and discipleship that are required to be God's Children. Now, as then, Christ recognizes those who are living thus, inspite of profession and earnest avowals. May we seek that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you:"!

No Time For Time-outs!

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:15-17)

I don't know a whole lot about sports. I don't take the time to watch them on television, but I have watched a few games of various sports at the ball parks in the past. I have noticed one thing that they all seem to take advantage of when they are behind on the scoreboard...use of their "time-outs!" They can gain a few minutes respite with a time-out.

However, life does not work that way. There is no way that we can stop the clock to think about our problems. We cannot save, store, or stretch time. We may use or we may abuse time, but the clock keeps on ticking ~ inexorably. We can only plan how to spend the time given to us in a wise manner. And we should be doing this with the Lord in mind, reflecting on what would be that pleasing, perfect will of God.

May the good Lord bless and keep you as you reflect on the time you are spending in His presence and service.

Preaching the Gospel

(Romans 15:14-21)

Paul wants it known that the Roman Christians are not evil; nor are they ignoramuses. They're good, knowledgeable people who are able to correct one another's mistakes in good judgment. God had separated Paul to minister to the Gentiles, a task he was already performing successfully.

The Jewish element in the church at Rome needed to see more clearly the limitations of Judaism and the full inclusion of the Gentiles in Christ's redemptive plan.

Paul had already spread the gospel over an amazing amount of territory, but the fire still burned within him. He meant to evangelize both Spain and Rome.

With our modern means of communication and transportation, are we doing enough to make Christ's saving gospel to the ends of the earth?

It's The Lord!

"Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God." John 20:28 "Give Me to drink." How many of us are set upon Jesus Christ slaking our thirst when we ought to be satisfying Him? We should be pouring out now, spending to the last limit, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me"---that means a life of unsullied, uncompromising and unbribed devotion to the Lord Jesus, a satisfaction to Him wherever He places us.

Let's beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him. It's easier to serve than to be drunk to the dregs. The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him. We're not sent to battle for God, but to be used by God in His battlings. Are we being more devoted to service than to Jesus Christ?

If We Know!

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6: 67-69

Many times Jesus gave the apostles opportunity to make sure their knowledge of Him. When many of His folowers left because His teachings were difficult, He asked the twelve, Will ye also go away? And bold Peter answered for the group: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Let's beware of anything that competes with our devotion to Jesus Christ. As we continue in our Christian walk, we must have such an intimate knowledge of the Savior that our answer is constantly the same as Peter's. We know with assurance that This is our Lord and Savior.

When we have that assurance, that blessed water of life becomes our spiritual sustenence. Our constant prayer must be as Jesus advised the woman at the well to ask, "Give Me to drink." (John 4: 6 - 30) Yet how many of us are set upon Jesus Christ slaking our own thirst but not upon our own providing that well of living water to the world? We must be pouring that blessed water out not just drawing upon Him to satisfy ourselves. Too many times we live a life of selfish devotion. We focus only on getting our own thirst satisfied and not on allowing Christ to make of us an overflowing well.

He calls it a well of water springing up into everlasting life. A well "springing up" must go somewhere. As country dwellers, we have an artesian well as a source for our home water. The water from that well flows up constantly. Our well pipe is sunk deep into the heart of the water table and we draw from the well for our household use, but the water is still springing up and overflowing.

We have had to provide an outlet to allow all of that extra water to go someplace. If we tried to dam it or stopper it, it would fill the basement. We funnel it out of the house and down to the creek. We could flood the lawn with it. We could make a fountain by the road for passersby to drink from. We could allow livestock to water from it. It is a constant never-ending source. And it flows out to whoever needs it and where ever it can reach.

This is what Jesus was telling the woman at the well. Once she knew who it was she was speaking with, she would have asked to drink of the water that He would give her. And that water would spring up fill her whole being and then overflow out to those in need.

Once we have recognized Jesus as Lord, Son of God, Savior, the giver of the Words of Life and the source of the Water of Life, our lives will become an overflowing pool of ministry to others if we do not hinder it. It is not a forced kind of service, but one that simply flows out of us as the Lord guides. It is not something that we must direct or work at or pray over, it simply overflows to all who will partake.

Our task is to keep our well spring unhindered. Let us pray and commune continually with the Lord, daily drinking of that Living Water. When our whole being is filled with the water of life it will overflow to the blessing of others.

Who's Number 1?

"He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts." Luke 1:51

Yesterday morning when I got off work, I needed to run by Motor Vehicles and get my driver's license renewed. Needless to say, I was exhausted from working all night long, and wanted to get a good place in line in order to get in and out, all the time thinking to myself, I hope I'm the first one there."

Thank the Lord, He also allowed me time to just "sit and reflect" a little on being Number 1. And so, this verse of Scripture was placed before me.

Nowhere is our creativity more apparent than in our ability to discover new and original sin. It all began in the Garden of Eden when the devil convinced Adam and Eve that he had found a way for them to move God over and become Number 1! And the beat still goes on . . .

We keep looking for ways to succeed where Adam and Eve failed. We look for ways to be first on everyone else's priority list. We look for ways to be first in line. We look for ways to be first at the checkout counters. We look for ways to be the first ones getting out of the parking lot. We continuously look for ways to win in the game of "first come, first served."

But these are all mere symptoms of the real transgression. In the case of Christians, our creativity as original sinners is revealed most clearly when we look for ways to be known as disciples of Christ without following His example.

"We are Number 1! We are Number 1!" All well and good, perhaps, to hear the chant ringing out from football fans, but when we hear it ringing out from our hearts, it is all pride and imagination. So, may we remember, "He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts!" And . . . Jesus is Number 1!

Called To Be What?

Part 1 of 2...

Even more remarkable than God's inheritance for us...is his "intensive search" for the missing heirs. It's as though a millionaire relative had left his entire estate to us and then included in his will that money should be provided to search for us, if it took the detectives to the ends of the earth. They should search until they found us. And even then, they should not rest until they had convinced us to do whatever is necessary to claim it.

Why is it so difficult to hear God's call? How will we recognize it? How do we know that we're included in it?

Good questions...all of them. Let me offer a story, as far as I know, a true one. During the days of depression in America, in the early 1930s, jobs of any kind were difficult to get. When an ad appeared in a local paper, it was eagerly read by desperate job-seekers.

A lad just out of high school answered a want ad for a telegraph operator at the local train station. Since he knew Morse code, the dot and dash system of telegraphy, he was hopeful that he might get the job. Arriving at the depot, he found the waiting room filled with men each wanting-and needing-the job.

The lad sat down among them and waited. Then suddenly, for no apparent reason, he got up, walked confidently to the door with its frosted glass marked "Private," opened the door, and went in.

After about twenty minutes he came out and said to the other people, "I am sorry to tell you, but the job is filled. I was hired."

"Impossible," the job-seekers cried. "You're younger, less experienced than any of us. We didn't even have a chance to talk to the supervisor." "While you were talking among yourselves, the stationmaster came to the frosted glass window and tapped out a message in Morse code-dots and dashes. The message said, 'Will whoever hears this please come in for an interview?' I heard the call."

The word "called" figures largely in Paul's theology. Each time he uses the word church, he's speaking of the "called." The word itself (Eklesia) comes from two Greek words, the prefix Ek and the verb "to call." Together they mean "the called-out people." To the Ephesian Christians, it meant being called away from the garish pagan practices, the idolatry of their fellow citizens. It meant, more importantly, being called into relationship with other Christians---all other Christians. It meant being called into unity. It meant being called together. It still means that.

The called people are a responding people. They are also a responsible people. It's not enough to be called; we must "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Eph. 4:1). We are called into unity.

Whatever justifications we may offer for the divided state of Christians, we find nothing in the Scripture to justify it. We are called into unity. If we don't have it, we ought to at least realize that we ought to have it. "There is one body, one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:4-6). How beautifully one Scripture explains another!

If we contend that there are many ways of looking at God and, therefore, there must be many groups contending for their approach, we have only to read one phrase from Paul's letter: "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:6); and then recall one phrase from Christ: "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold" (John 10:16). As I understand it, there are only three ways to look at God, to describe his work. Paul covers them all in his sentence. What are the historic concepts of God?

1. God who is transcendent, that is, above all. People who emphasize this aspect of God's character are usually called "deists." They believe that God is the first cause of all life, but he's pretty much removed from his creation. To such people, God is thought of as the "wholly other," the "oversoul," or the "end of being." In this role, God is powerful, majestic, and regal, but distant.

2. God who is existential, that is, through all. People who emphasize this phase of God's nature, talk of God intersecting history. In flashes of inspiration or insight, God may come to us. He may, on occasion, work miracles among us, but they're pretty much at his discretion. This theology encourages reverence for God, but not intimacy with God.

3. God who is imminent, that is, within us. An extreme form of this is pantheism. Such a teaching says that God is all, and all is God. In this concept, everything shares the nature of God, the dandelion, the deer, and the devout believer. The "power is within us," according to Ephesians 3:20 and many other scriptures.

What, then, is the right idea of God?

Frankly, we cannot define the ways God works, we can only recognize the ones that we can expect from our study of the Scripture. Actually, all three aspects of the nature of God are true, but none is true without the other. God is over us, through us, and in us. We would not search for God if we had not been found by God. What we know of God makes us want to know more of him. While he works in us and abides within us, there are times when he comes to us with special visitations of power and miracle.

God is too big to be contained in human words or human understanding. We should not be troubled because we have unanswered questions. We should, instead, be troubled if we have no questions.

How, then, can we know more of God?

The fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians is explicit and direct. There are some things we must do to experience more of "the God life" within us. We are to "grow up into him in all things" (4:15).

To help us grow, God has not only called us, but has specifically called others to help us. The calling of God is not only to fellowship, but also to function. Among those called to special ministry are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. If some are called to be leaders, others are called to be followers. If some are called to be shepherds, others are called to be sheep. If some are called to be teachers, others are called to be taught.

We're not responsible to do every job. We are called to do worthily the job we are called by God to do. This obedience puts us in right relationship with God's universal plan. We ought to be careful about seeking the glamorous, public, and appreciated roles. If we strive for these, the only reward will be that temporary feeling of appreciation we receive here on earth.

On the other hand, we should not let someone else push us into a calling to which God has not called us. I sat one day having breakfast with a successful rancher in western Kansas. He was, by all reports, the ideal layman. He was a devout Christian, an exemplary husband, and a faithful supporter of the pastor and the church.

"You know my biggest problem? So many people try to put me on a guilt trip because I'm not in the full-time professional ministry. I feel called to be a successful rancher."

"Stay on the ranch, friend. We have enough poor preachers and too few dedicated ranchers. You walk worthy of your vocation."

How clear this is in Paul's letter. We are not only to be a part of God's body, the church, but we are told to be the specific part that we are called to be. And we are called to be in the particular place we are called to be. Even more than this, we are called into meaningful relationship with others who have different characteristics and different callings.

It is where we come together that the trouble lies. It is also here where the strength lies.

In a recent pastors' conference, I talked about the "elbow principle." It's the joining that provides strength. In our body, it's the place where two bones (totally different) come together. In the spiritual church, it is the place where people with different temperaments and natures come together.

So...
I suggested to the pastors, if you want to have a revival in your church, simply go home and build relationships with your most difficult members. Take them out to dinner. Listen to them. Find out what has gone wrong. When you do this, you will get rid of some of the spiritual arthritis-pain in the joints.

After the meeting, a pastor came to me and said, "I wish I hadn't come today. Now I know what is wrong in my church. And I know what I must do. There is one woman who comes to church who I find impossible to work with. I just avoid her. But I feel bad about it. I am going home and try to work things out."

Wonderful. I hope that this woman responds favorably and a new relationship is established, but even if it isn't, something will happen to that pastor and that church. They will be filled with more of the fullness of Christ.
[ End of Part 1 of 2 ]

Called To Be What?

Part 2 of 2

How We Relate to Each Other...

I like the saying, "Sure you can fly, but that cocoon has got to go." It is true of the caterpillar, but it is also true of us. We can't become the new person created unto good works until we are willing to give up our wrong ways. True, we're not saved by our works. We are saved by grace. But we are saved unto good works. We're not saved by changing our behavior, but being saved will change our behavior. Or, to say it another way, God loves you just as you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.

Knowing this, Paul gets specific. His theology may reach both the world before, this world, and the world to come; but he gets personal.

A country preacher of a generation ago said, "The devil will get your goat if he can, because he knows where you have it tied." While it's true that the devil likes to prey upon our weakness, the spirit of God points out our weakness so that we can be strong. He calls us from the worldly life to the life of holiness. God may indeed provide the "robe of righteousness," but we have to put it on. "Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).

Beautifully...Paul brings together the negative and the positive sides. In order to put something on, we must take something off. We not only lay hold of some things, we must also lay aside some things---quit them. The theme of Ephesians is relationships---relationship with God's eternal plan, relationship with God's chosen people, and relationship with our former self. The formula for getting along with people is simple:

1. Don't lie. You can't build a relationship on dishonesty.

2. Tell the truth.

3. Don't stay angry. "Let not the sun go down on your wrath (Eph. 4:26)." If you have offended someone, ask forgiveness. If you are upset, discover the reason and deal with it.

4. Don't let the devil drive you from his people. God has called us to unity, to love, and to acceptance.

5. Don't steal. Be a contributor. Look for ways to contribute to the church. Don't be a parasite and a liability.

6. Talk about what is good. Build people up. Actually, the church is made up of people. If you're tearing them down, you're destroying the life of the body. Edify. Build up. Think of ways to make people feel appreciated. You can strengthen them. Do it.

7. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit. He's been sent to lead you into truth. When he can't, he feels bad. You frustrate him. When he gently reproves you, don't resent it. Know that he does it only because God loves you. When he directs you to service, obey him.

8. Be as forgiving of others as Christ has been to you. Unless you would be happy for God to parade your sins before the whole world, don't parade others' sins and weakness.

All of these things are in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. They seem trivial in the light of the universal gospel. Simply remember that while the sun shines brilliantly, the man who puts his hands over his eyes remains in darkness. Sin blinds. Sin binds. Sin separates.

To ignore these guidelines to holy living is like being in favor of health, but refusing to kill germs or bacteria.

Sexual Purity in an Impure World

Getting things together is the theme of Ephesians. Like a main theme in a piece of music, it comes in many ways. As you listen, you say, "Ah, here's that theme again." In the mind of God, we are destined to receive an inheritance so great that all earthly pleasures pale in comparison. But, again, we are workers together with God. We can't do anything in spite of us. So we sound again the note of the "getting together of body and soul, the flesh and the spirit." Christ has come to make this relationship a harmonious one. Just as he brought together the law and grace, faith and work, justice and mercy, the world that was and the world that is, God brought harmony---unity.

Does it sound "unspiritual" or trivial for Paul to launch into a discussion of fornication and sexual sin? Actually, he couldn't very well avoid it---then and now. Then as now, eros masqueraded as agape. In the name of religion, prostitution flourished. Even in the early church, repeated warnings had to be given. While they were celebrating their being a part of the body of Christ, they apparently were involved in immorality.

In his Corinthian letter, Paul tells the people that: "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh ( 1 Cor. 6:15-16, KJV).

Just as we are joined to the eternal body of Christ by our obeying the call of God, so we can be joined to an evil body by responding to the call of the flesh.

It was common in the day of which Paul wrote to make religion such a mystical thing that every kind of evil could masquerade as worship. Drunkenness, sexual sin, and licentiousness could all be condoned as acceptable if done in the name of religion. Parents wished their daughters to become temple prostitutes much as eager mothers promote their daughters today, to become reigning beauty queens.

Fornication---sexual intercourse between unmarried persons-flourished in Paul's day and in ours. But it was wrong. Since the body itself is holy, to offer it for unholy purposes is simply wrong: sin.

Sexual sin is just that: sin; it's wrong---not simply because it might result in unwanted pregnancy or disease, but because it takes a member of the body of Christ and joins it to a harlot. There are physical consequences to be sure, but Paul is not mentioning them here. He simply says, "no whoremonger nor covetous man, who is an idolator, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5).

A pastor friend of mine was talking to a prominent businessman about his "affair."

"I don't know what will happen to my business if I leave my wife and take up with my secretary. I am sure it will cost me a great deal," the straying husband said.

"I don't know about your business," replied the pastor, "but it will cost you heaven."

Sometimes we're lured by statistics and surveys to feel that we are abnormal if we remain pure. "Sixty-five percent of the high school students are sexually active," we are told by the surveys.

Does that make it right? Does that change the law of God? Does that take away the guilt or the emotional and spiritual consequences? If a thousand people jump off a cliff at one time, it may become the popular thing to do, but it does not repeal the law of gravity.'

In his counsel to the Ephesians, Paul becomes even more specific. Not only are we to abstain from fornication, we are to keep away from fornicators and let our disapproval be obvious. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Eph. 5:11-12).

A bone-chilling testimony of Ted Bundy, confessed murderer of at least twenty girls, reveals that he nourished his mind on pornography---sexually explicit pictures, stories of unnatural and perverted sex, Playboy, Penthouse, and worse. By fueling his untamed natural lust, the lives of at least twenty young women were taken. But what of those who do not commit murder, rape, or violence? What of those who only crime is sexual sin? And what of those.even professed Christians, who encourage this kind of activity by lustful looks and monetary support?

Paul's warnings included filthy humor, I am sure. But were he writing today, he would be persecuted for suggesting that Christian women vicariously live in sin when they follow breathlessly the daily "soaps" that make wife-and husband-swapping seem as casual as trading recipes for pie crust. If, as some surveys indicate, ninety-five percent of the American people believe in God and sixty-five percent belong to some kind of church, what would happen if we all boycotted the suggestive, ribald, evil-glamorizing books, movies, television programs, and songs? We would see a change immediately. Whether or not we would drive the smut merchants out of business, we would see a change in our relationships. We would see an immediate change in our homes, our mental health, and our spiritual well-being.

Jesus indicated that it was as wrong to have imaginary adultery or fornication, as it was to have actual physical adultery.

For what other reason would a person immerse himself in a book, movie, or television program that glamorized sexual sin, if he were not enjoying the vicarious experience? Can we possibly imagine that these things help us to have a closer relationship with Christ and his Church? Can we imagine that they revitalize our spiritual life?

In our save-the-whales society, is there a voice raised to save-our-sanity-and-our-sanctity?

A group of tourists were being taken into a coal mine. One of the ladies appeared wearing a white suit, white shoes, and a white hat. "You can't wear that to visit a coal mine," the guide told her.

"There's no rule against wearing white to go into a coal mine," she complained.

"No, I guess not. But there is considerable evidence that you will not be wearing a white suit when you come out of the coal mine."

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

Who is bold enough to declare this message? Have we, in the name of tolerance, refused to think honestly about our "calling to holiness?" Holiness is highly intolerant.

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