Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Revolutionary Change
The people of Egypt scored a major victory today, having launched and executed a successful, peaceful revolution that resulted in the expulsion of their dictator president Hosni Mubarak.
The revolution -- a protest for freedom -- spoke volumes to me about the deep yearnings in every human heart to be free, and to exercise self determination. We literally watched the birth pains of a "new" nation, and it was incredible.
But of course, there comes responsibility with making that choice. And the entire world is nervously watching to see what will become of the state of government after the exuberance has subsided, and the protesters have returned to their jobs and homes.
It reminded me of the words Jesus spoke about what happens when an evil spirit is driven out of a person. If that person does not replace the presence of that evil spirit with the presence of God, the evil spirit returns, and gathers seven worse spirits to join in.
And the final condition of that man is worse than the first, Matt 12:45b says. That can happen after a country's people stage a revolution. And it can happen in our own lives.
What an upheaval it is when you or I make a decision to change poor behavior. With a made up mind, we expel that practice of disobedience, and commit ourselves being "better," sometimes not really knowing how that would happen.
But if, instead of just making a "new year's resolution," we surrender that area of disobedience to Christ, what a difference that can make. We can not only drive out that "evil spirit," we can replace it with a Holy Spirit strong enough to keep the allure of disobedience away.
That is true, revolutionary change.
The revolution -- a protest for freedom -- spoke volumes to me about the deep yearnings in every human heart to be free, and to exercise self determination. We literally watched the birth pains of a "new" nation, and it was incredible.
But of course, there comes responsibility with making that choice. And the entire world is nervously watching to see what will become of the state of government after the exuberance has subsided, and the protesters have returned to their jobs and homes.
It reminded me of the words Jesus spoke about what happens when an evil spirit is driven out of a person. If that person does not replace the presence of that evil spirit with the presence of God, the evil spirit returns, and gathers seven worse spirits to join in.
And the final condition of that man is worse than the first, Matt 12:45b says. That can happen after a country's people stage a revolution. And it can happen in our own lives.
What an upheaval it is when you or I make a decision to change poor behavior. With a made up mind, we expel that practice of disobedience, and commit ourselves being "better," sometimes not really knowing how that would happen.
But if, instead of just making a "new year's resolution," we surrender that area of disobedience to Christ, what a difference that can make. We can not only drive out that "evil spirit," we can replace it with a Holy Spirit strong enough to keep the allure of disobedience away.
That is true, revolutionary change.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Weak Without the Word
Life without the Word of God is weak. We think of ourselves. We forget the strength in God's word. We lean on our own understanding, which only complicates things, and then we consult the flesh, which has no agenda but its own.
Life in the Spirit is strength. We draw strength from one another. We think of others. And we call upon and rely on God's strength, and He answers. This life requires only disciplined obedience. We lean on God's wisdom when we do not understand. And the central pillar is faith -- believing God and His wisdom over our own emotions, our own knowledge, our own experiences and in spite of what we see.
When an angel came to Mary and said, you shall be with child, she wondered aloud -- How can this be? But it is simple how it came to be, and why she was chosen: Despite all evidence to the contrary, she believed.
Life in the flesh sees every obstacle as imposingly real and every solution -- even those from God -- as flawed. Life in the spirit sees God as real, and every obstacle as an opportunity to show that nothing is impossible with God.
Who's winning your battles today?
Life in the Spirit is strength. We draw strength from one another. We think of others. And we call upon and rely on God's strength, and He answers. This life requires only disciplined obedience. We lean on God's wisdom when we do not understand. And the central pillar is faith -- believing God and His wisdom over our own emotions, our own knowledge, our own experiences and in spite of what we see.
When an angel came to Mary and said, you shall be with child, she wondered aloud -- How can this be? But it is simple how it came to be, and why she was chosen: Despite all evidence to the contrary, she believed.
Life in the flesh sees every obstacle as imposingly real and every solution -- even those from God -- as flawed. Life in the spirit sees God as real, and every obstacle as an opportunity to show that nothing is impossible with God.
Who's winning your battles today?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Worth the Weight?
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith , who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross …”Heb 12:1-2
Have you ever noticed in the Bible that Christ was thronged by people all the time -- people who believed in Him and people who wanted Him to do things -- but they were not all disciples? The bible refers to them as "the multitude." But disciples are different.
That is because anyone can follow Christ but not everyone can be a disciple. Why? Being a disciple requires discipline. It requires the ability to lay down one's life for another and calls for consistent behavior, for commitment and intense effort.
Not everyone is ready to do that because it always requires giving up that one thing that stands between you and the kingdom.
What always separates the best athletes from the rest is discipline. The best athletes are quick to rid themselves of whatever separates them from the prize. And if it is not a quick fix, they discipline themselves until it is no longer a problem.
They'll change their food, their clothes, their hair, their breathing, their shoes, their friends, their sleeping patterns, their eating patterns, their pain thresholds, their entire lifestyle just to compete for the prize. Nothing is unreasonable because, quite simply put, the best athlete is just willing.
Yet consider: they run only for a prize -- for bragging rights, fame and to be called the best.
Disciples run for a prize too: to be like Jesus, to have a closer walk with God, to see the salvation of our family and friends, to gain wisdom and understanding, to be called sons of God.
Paul wanted to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering.
The most committed disciples know that like the athlete, there are things that hinder us, weights that slow us down and keep us from pushing, or burdens that intentionally make it harder to live for Christ.
What's your weight? Anger? A lack of trust? Disappointment?
More importantly, when you consider the prize before you, knowing there is only one thing separating you from it, is it worth it?
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