Sometimes wicked people hurt us, but more often good people offend us. What should we do when we become offended?
The Psalmist, David, in Psalm 37:3-11 has some good advice for us in dealing with offenses toward us by good people, even though he is speaking of wicked people that come against us. He talks about trusting, delighting, committing, being still, not fretting, refraining from anger, being meek.
I especially like verses 5 & 6: "Commit you way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
Verse 11 reads: "But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace."
It reminds me of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).
Search our heart Lord.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 06, 2010
An Inactive Weekend
This Labor Day weekend has been a pretty sedentary weekend as I have either been in the reclining chair or on the couch since Friday with some sort of cold,infection, or virus. Being a person that likes to be busy, I have been thinking of this long weekend as useless and a waste. But in some ways, I am once again reminded of the importance of down time.
I have been able to read a lot and reflect on my reading. In fact I have done a lot of reflecting on a particular reading in Mark, chapter 6. It is filled with good food for thought for the busy. The Book of Mark is a pretty quick read. The author, Mark, doesn't waste time making his points about who Jesus is. He does this by testifying to the wonderful and miraculous works of Jesus. Eleven times Mark uses the word "immediately." That word appears twice in chapter 6.
Throughout the gospel of Mark, Jesus is presented as the tireless servant both of God and to man. His prayer time is interrupted. Sometimes he didn't get to eat. It seemed that he was always yielding to the beckoning calls of needs surrounding him. His family thought he was unbalanced. He was constantly pursued, even when seeking rest. There was just no end to the seeming need.
This all brings me back to Mark 6. Servant ministry is draining: spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Verses 1-6: Jesus experiences rejection by his own. We all want acceptance. There is an emotional toll when our giftings, talents, and abilities are not given opportunity to blossom.
Verses 7-13, 30-44: The needs of the people are never ending. The excitement and satisfaction of doing ministry and being a part of the spectacular is compelling. We only want to do more and help more. Jesus wanted the disciples to experience a rest, a quiet, a time of reflection and renewing. But, neither the disciples nor Jesus, were able to do so in that moment of time. They were faced with a hungry crowd. Twelve disciples end up distributing and serving 5 loaves and 2 fishes to 50-100 groups of people (5,000 men in all) with twelve baskets of leftovers having been gathered up afterward. we don't read if they had opportunity to partake of that food. There is a spiritual toll to be paid where there is no renewing.
Verses 45-52: Jesus did not allow the disciples any time to relish in or comprehend the miraculous feeding of the multitude. Instead we read, "Immediately Jesus made his disciples get in the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd." Jesus then went up a mountain to pray. A storm came up. We read that the disciples were "straining at the oars." So far the disciples had experienced emotional and spiritual exhaustion. Now we see them experiencing the third...physical. Maybe if they had had time to eat, they would not have been straining at the oars. Yes, there is a physical toll to being a servant when there is not proper rest. But we read that Jesus saw them from the mountain, he came to them walking on water, and "immediately" spoke to them.
Verses 53-56: The work of a servant is never ending.
All my down time and inactivity has been good for me. Without this cold, flu, virus, or whatever it is, I seriously doubt that I would have received the inner renewal that has been needed.
I have been able to read a lot and reflect on my reading. In fact I have done a lot of reflecting on a particular reading in Mark, chapter 6. It is filled with good food for thought for the busy. The Book of Mark is a pretty quick read. The author, Mark, doesn't waste time making his points about who Jesus is. He does this by testifying to the wonderful and miraculous works of Jesus. Eleven times Mark uses the word "immediately." That word appears twice in chapter 6.
Throughout the gospel of Mark, Jesus is presented as the tireless servant both of God and to man. His prayer time is interrupted. Sometimes he didn't get to eat. It seemed that he was always yielding to the beckoning calls of needs surrounding him. His family thought he was unbalanced. He was constantly pursued, even when seeking rest. There was just no end to the seeming need.
This all brings me back to Mark 6. Servant ministry is draining: spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Verses 1-6: Jesus experiences rejection by his own. We all want acceptance. There is an emotional toll when our giftings, talents, and abilities are not given opportunity to blossom.
Verses 7-13, 30-44: The needs of the people are never ending. The excitement and satisfaction of doing ministry and being a part of the spectacular is compelling. We only want to do more and help more. Jesus wanted the disciples to experience a rest, a quiet, a time of reflection and renewing. But, neither the disciples nor Jesus, were able to do so in that moment of time. They were faced with a hungry crowd. Twelve disciples end up distributing and serving 5 loaves and 2 fishes to 50-100 groups of people (5,000 men in all) with twelve baskets of leftovers having been gathered up afterward. we don't read if they had opportunity to partake of that food. There is a spiritual toll to be paid where there is no renewing.
Verses 45-52: Jesus did not allow the disciples any time to relish in or comprehend the miraculous feeding of the multitude. Instead we read, "Immediately Jesus made his disciples get in the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd." Jesus then went up a mountain to pray. A storm came up. We read that the disciples were "straining at the oars." So far the disciples had experienced emotional and spiritual exhaustion. Now we see them experiencing the third...physical. Maybe if they had had time to eat, they would not have been straining at the oars. Yes, there is a physical toll to being a servant when there is not proper rest. But we read that Jesus saw them from the mountain, he came to them walking on water, and "immediately" spoke to them.
Verses 53-56: The work of a servant is never ending.
All my down time and inactivity has been good for me. Without this cold, flu, virus, or whatever it is, I seriously doubt that I would have received the inner renewal that has been needed.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
The Preacher's Calling
I have begun a new reading, Anointed Expository Preaching by Stephen F. Olford. In the very first chapter Olford begins his book with a discourse about the preacher's calling. In fact at one point Olford writes, "Preachers often ask us to explain the call of God in terms of assurance or conviction. The answer is not an easy one. We are all different in talents, training and temperament; yet one thing is certain: if a man is indwelt and impelled by the living Son of God, there can be no doubt about the call!"
No doubt about it, the call of God is special; especially in relation to that of the preaching ministry. As the author writes, "the call to preach is the sovereign initiative of God in the life and experience of the one who is predestinated to fulfill that role." There is a difference between a desire to be a preacher and being predestined to preach. Everyone is called upon to preach the gospel but not everyone is called to a lifetime of a preaching ministry.
Think about this for a moment. The twelve disciples did not volunteer to follow Jesus. They submitted no application. They did not fill out any forms, or go through a committee screening process. They were called by Jesus to follow. You could say that they were compelled by the authority of our Lord.
Jeremiah was predestined to be a prophet of God. The word of God came to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you...I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jer. 1:4-5)
The Apostle Paul believed he was predestined to be a preacher. Writing to Timothy, his protege, Paul said: [God] considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." (1 Tim. 1:12) Writing to the church at Galatia he sad, "It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace." (Gal. 1:15)
There needs to be a return this very foundational thought today. The call of God is more than just a desire. It is a deep seated conviction placed within by the Spirit of God that compels an individual to do no other than preach Christ.
No doubt about it, the call of God is special; especially in relation to that of the preaching ministry. As the author writes, "the call to preach is the sovereign initiative of God in the life and experience of the one who is predestinated to fulfill that role." There is a difference between a desire to be a preacher and being predestined to preach. Everyone is called upon to preach the gospel but not everyone is called to a lifetime of a preaching ministry.
Think about this for a moment. The twelve disciples did not volunteer to follow Jesus. They submitted no application. They did not fill out any forms, or go through a committee screening process. They were called by Jesus to follow. You could say that they were compelled by the authority of our Lord.
Jeremiah was predestined to be a prophet of God. The word of God came to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you...I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jer. 1:4-5)
The Apostle Paul believed he was predestined to be a preacher. Writing to Timothy, his protege, Paul said: [God] considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." (1 Tim. 1:12) Writing to the church at Galatia he sad, "It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace." (Gal. 1:15)
There needs to be a return this very foundational thought today. The call of God is more than just a desire. It is a deep seated conviction placed within by the Spirit of God that compels an individual to do no other than preach Christ.
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