STEPPING UP

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18; Acts 28:1-31; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 19:1-3

“David had said to his troops, ‘Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will become the commander of my armies!’ And Joab, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah, was first to attack, so he became the commander of David’s armies.”

“For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

The San Antonio Spurs (I’m a BIG fan!) have played most of this year with one or more of their big guns hurt. Manu Ginobli, in particular, has spent more time sitting behind the bench in his suit than on the floor in the game. Injuries are just a part of life in the NBA, and sometimes, they are blessings in disguise. Early in the season, both Ginobli and Tony Parker were seriously hobbled. However, the Spurs were still able to play over .500 ball, largely because the absence of those two stars opened the door for the emergence of the two newest stars, Roger Mason, Jr. and George Hill. Taking advantage of their opportunities to shine, both players not only gained precious experience but actually established themselves as very effective contributors to the team in their own rights.

In sports, it’s called “stepping up,” moving ahead to fill the gap left by another. In discipleship, the concept is pretty much the same. We each have roles in the Body of Christ uniquely tailored to our particular gifts and graces by our loving Creator. But sometimes, we have to play “out of position” or venture into areas of ministry outside our comfort zone for the sake of the Kingdom. When we do, the rewards can be better than we might expect, and they usually end up in a lot of opportunities we would not have experienced otherwise. Christ does not grow us if He cannot move us. Even when the movement is not to our strength, it is important to be flexible and see the possibilities.

Joab did exactly that. David offered an opportunity, and Joab jumped at it. There’s no indication he hesitated or stopped to consider his qualifications on paper. He didn’t let anxiety or insecurities rule his action. He did not worry about what his men might think of his ascension to commander, or whether others would gossip about him taking advantage of his relationship as David’s nephew.  He simply positioned himself to stand in the gap for his master.

Paul stepped up in a different way. After literally years of suffering rejection, persecution and verbal and physical abuse, it would have been easy to hang ‘em up and let others carry the Word to the Gentiles. It would have been tempting to let others take the heat. But he didn’t. Instead, Paul actually took advantage of his “legal” troubles and his captors to get to Rome and eventually present his testimony, according to tradition, to no less than Caesar himself. Even in captivity and after being reviled by his own people, Paul never faltered. He continued to present the Gospel with boldness and power, whatever his circumstances.

That’s the kind of creativity and adaptability through which the Spirit works best. It’s not about us. It’s about us getting to a place where Jesus can work through us. It’s about seeing the chance to step up, and seizing it. The next time I’m given an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and step up for the Savior, I’m going to think a lot longer and harder before declining. It takes no personal sacrifice or character to say no to risk and the adventure of living beyond our abilities and standard operating procedures. But it doesn’t promote growth or wisdom to keep doing the same old things, either. I pray that God will reveal to each of us new things He has for us to do, and that each of us will always be willing to step up to meet those challenges He presents.

NEGATIVE ACHIEVERS

1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Acts 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24

“Saul… was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance.”

“Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, ‘You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.’ So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.”

“Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority….”

For awhile now, God has been calling me to become more observant and actually seek out and encourage examples of negative achievement. Today, I commit to doing so. “Negative achievement” is the ability to accomplish positive results in the midst of adverse circumstances. The fact is, we need to actively praise negative achievement whenever we see it. Individuals accomplished in its art remain undaunted by the world. They still are willing to take appropriate risks. These are the folks who know and live in hope, and their lives are beacons to others. How much better for the rest of us is it to affirm and promote their achievement than to dwell on the negatives we all face!

Jesus’ life was the ultimate study in negative achievement. Few of us can even begin to aspire to His level of accomplishment, but it’s no reason not to try and give ourselves over to the process. There’s already been quite enough gloom and despair. Call me utopian, but I believe we have just got to find an alternative before our emotions implode our entire society. Like Jesus, we must find a way to overcome the world. The good news is the world can, in fact, be overcome, even today. I am privileged to have just met six young adults who prove it on a daily basis.

These youth are achievers in the very finest sense of the word. They are students at a special needs school – it is actually called the Achiever’s Center for Education (or ACE) - which I serve as a Director. One of our main responsibilities to the school is to help promote its annual fundraising gala. This year will be particularly challenging, so we are trying something different to inspire those who attend to support the school’s ministry. We have selected seven Achievers to present their own personal testimonies about how the school has made a difference in their lives. I must admit going into their first rehearsal not expecting a lot. I was blown away! First, their scripts were heartfelt and written at a depth no outsider would ever have predicted. Then, their presentations were given without nervousness and with hardly a flaw. They understood and accepted the importance of their mission gladly. They were happy to be put to the test and delighted to be so challenged. I don’t know how the attendees will respond, but I know what I did. I cried. I praised God for the opportunity to serve these youngsters and help them accomplish their goal of helping defray their fellow students’ financial needs. I was humbled by their indomitable spirits, their sense of joyful and enthusiastic adventure and their utter selflessness. They brought Christ close, but it was no big deal to them. They are used to relying on and living with Jesus on a daily basis. It’s how they make it through their days… victoriously!

Dear Lord, please, I want to get over myself. I want to get beyond and outside myself and past my own limitations. Remind me again of your willingness to help me become a negative achiever, especially in these tough times. Help me apply the Living Gospel I saw in those kids’ lives to my life. Let me experience anew your overcoming power. Holy Spirit, I want to be an Achiever, not a whiner. I want to see the opportunities, not the downsides.  Let me see with Your eyes, and let me be in Your Power. Make me Your vessel, Father, a vessel full of abundant and everlasting life! In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

THE BEST PORT IN A STORM

1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40; Acts 27:1-20; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 18:22

“The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.”

“I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.”

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.”

It is a fundamental law of the seas that, when a ship is confronted by a major storm, any port is better than being buffeted and broken by the waves. The men sailing with Paul to Rome disregarded this rule. As a result, their entire ship was lost on the shoals of Malta. That there was no loss of life was a gift of grace. But it doesn’t change the fact that they could have stayed at Fair Havens and been safe. Why didn’t they? Scripture says the crew simply opted for what they thought would be more comfortable and attractive moorings:

And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.

The problem was, they did not appreciate the dangers inherent in the journey. When we attempt to travel to places or people God does not intend for us, we, too, can be blinded by our focus on the destination. If we never consider how we might be jeopardizing ourselves along the way, if we just proceed without thinking things through, the end of the trip may come sooner than we plan.

Alex Rodriguez’s baseball career is not over by any means, but the image he presented as a superstar role model has been forever tarnished. By his own admission, he used steroids knowing they were illegal, but also knowing there was a pretty good chance they would help him achieve his life’s dreams and ambition of a Hall of Fame career. His excuse? Being young and foolish. We’ve all been there. But Rodriguez also went further. He was unfaithful. A man who cannot be depended on to honor his marriage vows cannot be depended on at all. There isn’t any difference between 20 and 50 in that regard. Anytime we feel the urge to be “anywhere but here,” a little bit of additional introspection is probably a good idea.

God smiled brightly on me when I met my wife of nearly thirty years. In that time, we’ve seen and done quite a lot, actually. Our relationship has not just weathered three kids, serious illness, family deaths, job loss and a lot of new growth and change on both our parts. It has flourished. We are closer, more intimate, now than we have ever been. Most important, not once did either of us ever think of heading out for any other port. Whatever storms life has thrown at us, we have chosen to stay moored right where we are… together.

Life is full of tempting and seductive alternatives. Many require only a short journey. The trip may only be down the block, across the hall or even just to the next cubicle. But the way is fraught with hidden dangers. When Christ has gifted us with the safe harbor of marriage, even though the winds of change and turmoil approach, the best option is never to try to outrun the storm. The best option is to stay put. We probably can get along without excess cargo, to be sure. Living lighter is almost always a good idea. But jettisoning our marriages is never part of the divine plan. In times of stress and trial, it is especially important that both spouses remember the Spirit gave us wedlock as a safe harbor. Other relationships may, at times, seem nicer, more attractive or even safer, but they rarely are. The best port in a storm is within the arms of the one to whom we have been joined by God in marriage. Within those arms may just be the touch of the Savior Himself.

HALFWAY FAITHFUL

1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21

“Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?”

“Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction.”

Jesus fed five thousand with the equivalent of a picnic basket. He healed lepers. He turned water to wine. He made the lame walk, and the blind see. He raised the dead to life, and conquered death Himself. He even gave Pete and the guys a great catch, once they were on the job. But not once in all of Scripture do I find Jesus providing a job for one of His followers, or making any promise of financial security, and I wonder why. Surely, the One who walked on water ought to be capable of creating a little economic stimulus that would assure His disciples were financially stable. The same Lord who controls the sea and storms certainly ought to be able to still the tsunamis of recession and depression. I don’t see Him doing it, though. It never rains pennies from heaven, and the prosperity gospel rings especially hollow in times like these. It is, in fact, considerably easier to trust Christ to heal cancer and raise the dead than it is to trust Him with my economic security. But here’s the bigger thought: if I can’t trust Him with my finances, am I really trusting Him at all? Do I, in fact, honestly, really believe He raised the dead, or that He can save me from my all-too-real sins? I don’t act like it when I don’t trust Him completely. So, I should not be surprised that I feel threatened by current financial conditions, too.

Let me be clear. This has nothing (OK, well, almost nothing) to do with tithes or offerings or any particular monetary decision or circumstance. My unwillingness/inability to trust the Spirit with my economic well-being is a lifelong, lifestyle anxiety Jesus diagnosed centuries ago. Call it, “What am I gonna eat? What am I gonna wear?” Call it a basic obsession, a habit of worry I would very much like to have eliminated from consideration when my heavenly scorecard is finally tallied. [Peter (standing at the Pearly Gates, sighing): “Well, he was halfway faithful.”] “Halfway faithful” is a contradiction in terms with which we should never be satisfied. Better, more truthful language would describe my situation as a halfway faith. Pretty pitiful. I’m beginning to wonder if this is not the tip of an iceberg that represents a much deeper and bigger spiritual problem than I’d like to think.

Trusting Christ is just a heckuva lot easier when we have no power. Then, the only choice is to believe Him, or not. When physical limitations prevent us from having any real hope in ourselves or even in the genius of human ingenuity, prayer is a quite natural response. It may be, in those times, the ultimate human optimism: there must be something greater than us out there, because we are out of answers but the problem isn’t solved yet. When we reach the bounds of this physical world, it becomes natural to wonder what is over the horizon and almost primal to feel there is untapped potential just outside our grasp.

For many, that whole line of thought vanishes when it comes to food, shelter and money. We have always exercised intimate control (for better or worse) over those things. We’ve become absolutely dependent on our own power and ability to make money and care for our families financially (or we’ve become dependent on the charity of others, or the welfare system). But the simple fact is, very, very few of us trust the Spirit absolutely when it comes to money. So, we worry. To be sure, an absolute economic reliance doesn’t seem to make any practical sense. As we’ve said, it’s never rained pennies from heaven. But it did rain manna and quail. Water did flow out of a rock. And did we mention the dead have been raised?

Maybe we trust Christ in matters of spirituality because we recognize that’s His home court. We trust Him (along with certain doctors, of course) with our physical bodies because we understand He’s the Creator, and that no one has a better idea of how to fix us when we are broken. But in matters of economics, perhaps we don’t trust the Spirit because we are the creators. Right or wrong, we’ve chosen to play by our own rules in the financial arena. We should not blame God for our fall when we never allowed Him into this Coliseum in the first place.

Many people are disillusioned right now, and they do not know what, or who, to believe. More than a few have sealed off their hearts completely, electing not to believe in much of anything anymore. As Christians, we need to understand and accept that the world has never ceded control over finances or economics to the Lord. We should not be surprised at the results, nor should we blame God. However, as long as the economy is going through major restructuring anyway, maybe it would make sense to restructure our own perspective and priorities as well. Give a little more thought to what it would look like to trust Christ completely and absolutely. Oh, I know. My own head is saying faith-based economics could never really work. People would try to take advantage of us. There’s a hundred reasons not to fully trust God with our financial well-being and to hold on to that very real human anxiety. But there’s also a pretty fair reason not to hold onto anxiety: because Christ so commanded!

“Do not worry” was not a suggestion or a helpful hint. No matter what or how many real, practical reasons there are for not trusting God with any and every aspect of our lives, the only reason to trust Him trumps them all. Complete trust is what it takes for us to have the relationship with our Savior that we were created for. Like a runner who refuses to give his all, we can never experience the race as intended as long as we are holding back. Maybe we won’t come in first, even at our best. But it looks to me like the runners ahead have already stumbled, and it just may be time to start a new race altogether anyway. At least then, we can say we really tried. 

EXPANSION, NOT CONTRACTION

1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 18:19

“There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.”

“Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.”

What a marvelous opportunity we have to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world right now! This thought may strike a note of dissonance in the souls of the fainthearted, but that does not make it any the less true. It simply means we have to fight against the tendency to withdraw and contract at a time when the Spirit most needs us to spread His positive Word of hope and restoration.  Battered and bruised, many of us have retreated to the sidelines – if we are not already headed to the locker room – just when our team needs us most. Called to move boldly forward with courage to bring others into the Kingdom, we substitute our own judgment about what “makes sense” in these troubled times and do not even extend to Christ the chance to prove Himself. We do not really believe He can or will help us with our very practical needs, so we bind ourselves to a self-fulfilling prophecy of weakness and passivity.

Oh, that there were more Jabezes among us! The Lord has issued a clarion call for bold men and women of faith to go into the world and expand His territory. The land is quite literally ours for the taking, as the world’s philosophies and policies have obviously failed miserably. However, if we remain bound to their limited perspectives and basic ideas, we will necessarily disqualify ourselves from being able to offer hope to anyone else, and least of all ourselves.

In times of trouble and turmoil (how else would one describe the history of the Old Testament as a whole?), Jabez looked for opportunities to expand his territories in accord with the Will of God. This makes two important points. First, Jabez had the courage to test God and act, even when it seemed illogically against the tide of public opinion and impression. He actually took advantage of the fact that others were choosing to retreat from risk and the adventure of living in faith. Secondly, he allowed – even requested – the Lord to lead him into any new territories He wanted Jabez to occupy. Jabez was willing to take what the Spirit offered and set his own fears and ideas aside.

Jesus stands ready to expand our territories, if we will but go where He leads. There’s the rub. There are several places on earth to which I would love to be called to expand my territory: Hawaii, the Rockies; the Carribbean… Italy is especially nice. But somehow, I don’t think that my kind of expansion is exactly what the Lord has in mind. Sitting on the beach in Cozumel has little to do with the work of the Kingdom, at least the way I do it. God isn’t talking about a vacation. The Spirit is offering us an opportunity to reclaim the Enemy’s occupied territories for the Kingdom. But we cannot take advantage of anything if we are still backing up ourselves. We need to retrench and begin the battle right where we are. The Lord is looking for individuals of purpose to sign on for another tour of duty. Now is the time! The fields are ready for a new fertilizer of hope and vision. The world needs those of us who sing a new song unto the Lord to get busy composing. The old is passing away. The new is coming. Now is the time to prepare and recruit for the future of the Kingdom of God.

THE EMBRACE OF CHRIST

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4; Acts 24:1-27; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 18:16-18

“A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. ‘Go away for now,’ he replied. ‘When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.’”

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord. Many people say, ‘Who will show us better times?’ Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”

It is as if today’s Psalm was written for this exact time, isn’t it? Reread that last paragraph. Don’t give in to the hopelessness and helplessness of the world. Let go of the anger. Instead, breathe…, deeply. Several times. Feel the Spirit’s caress and comfort. Let Christ take away your burdens. If only for a brief moment, release the tension. Take a few minutes to intentionally reopen your heart to God. In this time, let nothing else matter but your relationship with Jesus and the security of your eternity. Quiet your soul. Listen. Allow God to speak and just accept what He says as Truth.  There is no need to argue, and the logic of the world does not apply. You are in communion with the Great I AM; what He says is what is, and what will be. Relax in His grace and love. Your path and His plan are both surely for the good, even if you can’t see that right now. Arise in confidence. Carry Him with you today, and let His power be your first response….

How could such a message of reconciliation and hope ever be inconvenient? What is there to recoil from, or to fear, in those words? It’s hard to see, but if we are honest, it’s a lot easier to feel. First, there’s just no denying the fact that many of us have simply forgotten how to unplug from the busyness of our worlds. We get so carried away with the supposed need for immediate response and the energy behind being able to provide it that we actually do regard even five minutes of “down” time as a distracting inconvenience in our otherwise “completely productive” days. Secondly, though, and much more fundamentally, many of us just find being that close to the Spirit uncomfortable. This may or may not have anything to do with guilt. Surely, most of us feel unworthy of Christ’s presence from time to time. But for today, consider only how we feel about actually being on intimate terms with our Creator. Isn’t it easier, don’t we feel less vulnerable and exposed, when we keep Him at arm’s length? Not far enough away, maybe, that we actually feel separated or alienated, just far enough away where the dirt and grime of our lives isn’t quite so obvious….

If we think for a second that we can keep the Spirit at arm’s length and still have His companionship and sanctuary, we are only fooling ourselves and are destined to live in frustrated impotence. Besides, Who – or what - do we think we’re hiding or protecting ourselves from? There’s nothing about us the all-knowing Lord doesn’t already understand better than we do, yet he continues to offer Himself to and for us. How can we expect Christ to heal what we will not let Him touch?

Waiting for a miracle behind deliberately locked doors is not just unreasonable; it’s madness. Jesus is clear that He will not invade our personal space without an invitation. He stands at the door and knocks. It is up to us to take the time to deliberately turn away from what we are doing, or what we are obsessing about, to open the door and our hearts to His presence. If our hearts are calloused over from the hurts and pains of this world, we may have to wait patiently for His entrance while His fingers gently remove the scar tissue. But in any event, we have got to remain in contact. There is no other source of peace and power capable of sustaining us. Only Christ can empower us in new ways to deal triumphantly with the difficulties of life. In a nutshell, we can never be complete, or completely healed, without giving ourselves over to the loving embrace of the Savior.

FAITH OR ANXIETY?

1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17; Acts 23:11-35; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 18:14-15

“The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.”

“But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.”

“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?”

I am not one to find the devil behind every adversity or tragedy humanity experiences. However, over the last several days, it does seem to have become clearer that our current situation is much more the result of ongoing spiritual warfare than economic or political crisis. We are absolutely overwhelmed by bad news on every front. We are at war with some exceedingly real and tangible enemies. But the toughest opponent of all is found within, and he fights very dirty indeed. Satan is the one who most effectively undermines our hope. The battle for my soul is the center of my insecurity. No doubt it is reflected millions of times over in the hearts of Christians everywhere. The Enemy’s war cry is excruciatingly plain: “Jesus cannot save you from this!” And, so help me God, there are times that voice is terrifyingly difficult to ignore, much less overcome.

If we are going to be intellectually honest, we have to own the problem of faith. There is simply no obvious connection between our spiritual beliefs and the satisfaction of our physical needs. How does faith feed a family, or put or keep a roof over our heads. How can God grant wisdom to politicians and generals who deny His existence? How does spiritual devotion supplement a 401k? Jesus clearly said we are not to worry about our clothes or food. He promised God would provide. Then, why are people starving, destitute and without hope? Because, just as Jesus warned, Satan is the Lord of this world. As the “visiting team,” believers cede home court advantage in secular matters. Our hope rests in eternity. Consequently, if we are to challenge Satan’s dominion on earth, we have to begin with an eternal perspective.

It works like this. Several years ago, I was doing my typical venting after our pastor’s annual “tithe or you’re not a good Christian” sermon. (For the record, I have never accepted the Church’s dogma that we only give to God when we use the church’s address, but that’s for another day.) My concern at the time was how unsympathetic and judgmental the mantra sounded to seekers who felt a tithe simply irresponsible or impossible in light of their means and needs.  My wife saw things completely differently. “Tom,” she said, “who’s to say that the blessings and abundance we enjoy now are not directly related to the amount we have invested in faith in the Kingdom, even when we could not afford it?” Good point. And therein lies the essence of faith. We give of ourselves, regardless. We challenge the Spirit to refill and refuel us. We live lives sold out to Him because we understand that just because we do not or cannot see any logical relationship between our spiritual faith and the satisfaction of our physical and economic needs does not mean there is not any.

When we get right down to it, most of life comes down to a very simple battle: trust or anxiety. Anxiety is a fundamentally worthless and wasteful emotion. It wears on us and drains us of creativity and initiative. However illogical it may seem, faith is the better choice. We already know our own limitations, and they give us little reason for hope. Why not trust Christ, take Him at His Word, and see what happens? At the very least, it puts the battle for our souls in the right place. If I’m going to go to war with Satan, I’d prefer to do it on the Lord’s home court. Christ doesn’t want us consumed with worry; He wants us obsessed with trust in Him. Worry hasn’t helped anyone. Maybe faith is the better option. 

[For a little more encouragement on this subject, check out the Comment on yesterday's blog.  Very worthwhile reminder! T]