Walk in His Footprints

In an interview singer Kelly Clarkson was asked about the best advice she ever received, “Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to switch places with…take advice from someone whose path you would want to be on, someone you would be proud to walk in their footprints” (Parade Magazine 1/28/2018). On a human level I find the advice noteworthy, but on a spiritual level it is profound. Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24 NIV).

Rebuking God

On a radio promotion evangelical preacher Joel Osteen promoted his health and wealth gospel, “What kind of a God wants you to be poor and miserable?” I’m reminded of Jesus telling the disciples of his pending death, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” In my mind both Osteen and Peter are using the same thought process — that being poor, miserable persecuted and put to death should never happen to people of God. “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matt 16:21-23. NIV).

For Fear of the People

Herod wanted to kill John the Baptist, but he was afraid of the people because they considered him a prophet. In another instance the chief priests and Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. It occurs to me that today’s politicians have lost their fear of people of faith…or is it that people of faith no longer have the strength of their convictions to stand up to politicians. The Lord’s words to Paul are applicable to us today, “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10 NIV).

Red Carpet

Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for the elite in their industry. Pomp and circumstance are orchestrated and honorees are showered with praise from their agents, the media and adoring fans. I can’t help but compare and contrast this forced relationship with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus rode in on a donkey, “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt 21:7-9 NIV).

Unclean, Unclean

I’m holding my husband and mother-in-law captive as both have compromised immune systems and I’m not letting them out of the house for fear they may be exposed to the flu. I’m running all the errands and recently went to Walmart to restock our over-the-counter medications. As I turned the corner to go down the medicine aisle I realized the area was a literal petri dish for the flu. People were picking up and putting back cold remedy medications as they coughed, sneezed and read labels. I have a whole new appreciation for the Old Testament Law that required those with infectious disease to announce their situation. “The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp” (Lev 13:45-46 NIV).

Hedge of Protection

I always feel God’s protection; however, there are times when I pray specifically for God’s hedge of protection — when I travel by car, because I don’t always trust the skill of other drivers; and before bed because I want to bar Satan and his minions from my house at night so he cannot disturb my mind, my dreams and my sleep. The account of Job is a good reminder that God’s hedge of protection can be tangible and visible…and that Satan is under God’s power. “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD” (Job 1:9-12 NIV).

Shut Down

My Colorado Democratic Senator voted to shut down the government. I’m discouraged that he would favor illegal immigrants over the American people and in my email to him I asked, “To whom do you pledge allegiance and whom do you serve?” Likewise, we believers must understand the oath and commitment we made when we became Christians. We must remember to Whom we pledged our allegiance and Whom we serve. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt 6:24 NIV).

The Image of God

Today is National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Since 1973 (Roe v Wade decision) there have been approximately 55 million legal abortions. I grieve for the loss of life, but I also grieve for those who made the decision to terminate a life and those who actually took the life of someone made in the image of God. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27 NIV).

Ambassador in Chains

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul said, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Eph 6:19-20 NIV). I find it fascinating that Paul’s focus is not on his chains, but rather on being an ambassador for Christ. Many of us who work in the church have felt we too are in chains — teachers in chains, leaders in chains, administrators in chains, organizers in chains, etc. All too often when someone puts us in chains, rather than ignoring the chains, we abandon our calling.

Our Gift

Our community has a historical site that, depending on whether you are an archaeologist or recreationalist, measures the historical significance. A local archaeologist, who is not pleased with the city’s preservation plans said, “All I’m asking for is due credit for the hundreds of hours I gifted to the city [in the original inventory of the site].” Unfortunately, the archaeologist took the project upon himself, so what he is gifting to the city is not something they requested. Believers can fall into the same mind set when we work for the Lord…some of us expect to be recognized for the hundreds of volunteer hours gifted to the church. Paul said, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself [or your gift] more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Ro 12:3 NIV).

Body Image

Society today is so obsessed with body image that some people feel they can retain their youth, sculpt a glorious body and have unlimited strength — all through diet, exercise and body building. I’m not sure they are ready to hear that their natural body is perishable, dishonorable and weak. Paul reminds us not confuse the natural body with the raised spiritual body. “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Cor 15:42-44a NIV).

Ruins

Around the world temple ruins come under the scrutiny of archaeologists. Some temples have been well maintained for centuries, while others have fallen into such disrepair that only the outline of a foundation remains. I’m now contemplating how I am viewed as a temple, “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Cor 6:16b NIV). 

The Pressure of My Concern

Often our concern for others is misunderstood and we get labeled as judgmental, hypocrite and being religiously superiority. I’ve never known how to defend my thoughts and actions once the other person has placed me in the category of being holier-than-thou. However, I stumbled onto Paul’s detailed description as he boasts of the suffering he endured — shipwrecks, flogging, being stoned, etc. “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn” (2 Cor 11:28-29 NIV)? It occurs to me that we too feel the pressure of concern when someone in the church is weak and when someone is led into sin. As mature believers we should not let others equate our concern with judging, hypocrisy or superiority.

Solid Food

When starting a new year many newspapers look back over the previous year with a “year in review.” My local paper is taking it a step further and publishing a column that reviews the week’s headline stories. I assume they are using the regurgitated stories as filler, but because it’s old news I don’t read the column. Pastors can come up a variety of justifications for recycled sermon material; however, they fail to understand that to the man in the pew they are delivering old news. The writer of Hebrews distinguishes between the infant and the spiritually mature. As one who is spiritually mature, let me be honest, I don’t listen to the message when it contains only milk. “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:13-14 NIV).

Character Building

I suppose it’s because I’m getting older that I find myself surrounded with friends, loved ones and fellow believers who have failing health. Cancer, blindness, old age, stroke, exacerbation of MS and then there are those suffering from the side effects of their medication. I recently realized my focus is all wrong. I see physical suffering, but I’ve been remiss in looking for the fruit produced by suffering. Paul said, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Ro 5:2b-5 NIV).

Paddling on Planks

During a northeaster that lasted many days the sailors decided to run their ship aground. The ship struck a sandbar off the shore of Malta and broke apart. While the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming away and escaping, the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. “…He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety” (Acts 27:43b-44 NIV). All 276 souls on board survived. I see a similar situation when Jesus was arrested and his disciples spared. The Lord’s words were fulfilled, “I have not lost one of those you gave me” (John 18:9b NIV). While none were lost, it occurs to me that some disciples are able to swim, while others paddle on planks. 

Caregiving

I went to Denver for a couple days, which left Bill as the caregiver for his 94-year-old mother. When I returned both were glad to have me home, but I had to laugh when Ruth said, “While you were gone neither of us were very hungry.” Obviously, Ruth’s lack of appetite and Bill’s lack of creative meal preparation lacked compatibility. Paul said, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret” (1 Cor 13:27-30 NIV)? In her current station in life Ruth does not need an apostle, a worker of miracles or someone with gifts of administration, but rather a caregiver.

Recognized by Your Fruit

The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control. It’s a scary proposition that someone could actually look at us and not recognize the fruit of the Spirit in us, or see the fruit produced from belief in Christ. Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matt 7:15-20 NIV).

Self-Absorbed

My local newspaper prints less and less news and more and more social commentary. It’s as though journalists have turned into bloggers. Reporters now insert themselves into the narrative, write columns about their vacations and offer opinion and commentary on things they know nothing about. It is a reflection of our time when people are self-absorbed. Paul understands that believers are not immune to the culture of the day, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12: 2-3 NIV).

Earn the Bread You Eat

During winter the appearance of homeless camps on city highways, byways and bike paths becomes more prevalent. A recent newspaper reported, “This is not a city government issue. This is a community-wide issue.” Homelessness certainly effects our communities, but to me the statement implies that homelessness is somehow the community’s responsibility. Paul would disagree and warns against idleness, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat” (2 Thess 3:10-12 NIV).

911, what’s Your Emergency?

I write for an online publication and on January 1^st I started a new series, “Answering the Call.” The premises is to interview local law enforcement personnel and help the community get acquainted with police officers, in essence I'll be putting names with faces. One of my interview questions however, was not well thought out and I asked, “Where would someone most likely run into to you?” The reality is that you don’t just run into the folks who protect and serve unless you call 911. My friend Betty said, “That’s true…we only know these super people when we need them. Kinda’ like when we call on God?”

2017 in Review

We may look back on 2017 and focus on unanswered prayers; however, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that our human view is clouded, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV).

Happy New Year

Jesus taught his disciples, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9-10 NIV). May 2018 powerfully display the coming of His kingdom.