A Relationship with Jesus Changes Our Values 

I have begun a long overdue task of cleaning up our basement. This part of our house became the storage area for piles of possessions that have now accumulated over several decades. So as not to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, I am just taking it a little at a time. As I sort through the items, I separate them basically into three groups: what we plan to keep, what we can donate to a thrift store, and what needs to be thrown away. Some of the stuff I am classifying as garbage once had value to us. We had hung onto it either thinking we might use it again or that it might bring in a few dollars at a garage sale. However, some of it is now worthless. For example, I found some floppy disks for the computer. Not only is the information or the games on those disks outdated, but I don’t even have the equipment to be able to gain access to them anymore. They are useless to me. Garbage.

The Apostle Paul declared some things he once valued highly as being like garbage to him. He was referring to his status and actions before he came to put his faith in Jesus. He had put a lot of stock in his Jewish ancestry, his strict adherence to the law, and even how he had passionately opposed the followers of Jesus whom he considered to be enemies of God. However, after coming to know Christ, his values drastically changed. “What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Philippians 3:7-9). Compared to knowing Jesus, all those other things had become like worthless garbage to him.

If we are following Jesus, some of our values will be different from the world we live in. Our own values will change as we seek the kingdom of God first in our lives. Interests, desires, and activities that once were important and meaningful to us may begin to take a backseat to things that are more aligned with our growing relationship with the Lord and with His will for us. Some of them we may even come to value no more than we do garbage. We have no problem ridding ourselves of them completely.

I noticed a social media post from a friend in which he made it known that he had not watched this year’s Super Bowl. Although he has always been a sports fan, he intentionally chose not to participate this time, opting instead to spend time with his wife and children in other activities. And he declared that he didn’t miss it like he thought he would. I can relate to him, as in recent years I have intentionally pulled back from being an avid sports fan. Nevertheless, I decided to tune in to the first part of the Super Bowl, but after just a few minutes I was reminded why it no longer interests me as much. In what I witnessed on the field, in the stands, from the announcers, and on those famous commercials, I was reminded that my values were different from much of what was being displayed.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying being a sports fan is bad. It is simply one area in which this truth could apply to some people’s lives. If we are faithfully following Jesus, we are going to find some of our values changing. What was once important to you may become less important, especially in comparison to knowing Jesus. What do you value less these days? What should you value less? 

 

Keep a Healthy Respect for God 

One of my teenage grandsons had an unfortunate encounter with a chainsaw last week. He ended up with a deep gash on the back of one hand that required surgery to repair three tendons. As he explained what happened, it became apparent that he momentarily did something he knew wasn’t wise. Instead of keeping two hands firmly on the saw, he had taken one hand off and placed it on the log he was cutting. Therefore when the tool unexpectedly kicked back, he couldn’t control it, resulting in his injury.

Having heard about numerous serious accidents involving chainsaws over the years, I have always been very cautious around them. While they can accomplish great tasks, they can also inflict great pain and do much damage. That fact should cause anybody using one not to treat it casually, not even for a moment. A person doesn’t have to become careless with one to suffer the consequences but simply not maintain the level of respect such a powerful tool deserves.

It is very similar when it comes to our attitude toward God. The Bible declares that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). This isn’t suggesting that we should be terrified of God anymore than someone should be frightened to use a chainsaw. However, we do need to maintain a proper view of God, never losing sight of His greatness and power. Even as we relish His love for us and are grateful He is such a merciful God, we should also keep in mind that He is the Almighty Creator of the universe, the Holy One whose character cannot tolerate sin, and the Judge who will pass righteous judgment on every soul. He is to be respected at all times.

Therefore we can’t afford to become careless in how we relate to Him. We should not take it lightly when we have chosen to disregard His commands. There are consequences to our disobedience. God may mercifully spare us from some of the results of our sin, but we should not presume on His mercy. Sometimes He may allow us to “face the music”, not just to punish us but primarily as a means of awakening us, teaching us, and helping us see our need to return to Him. We may find forgiveness, but still suffer some consequences of our careless behavior.

Likewise, we have to guard against developing too casual of an attitude toward God. God is love, however, like that chainsaw, He still has teeth. Just because He loves us, it doesn’t mean He is a pushover or that He will let us get away with whatever we do. He is not the huge tough-looking man who can sound harsh but in reality is simply a teddy bear at heart who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Neither is He the jolly Santa Claus giving us whatever we wish for. He is the holy God and we had best respect Him as such.  

The Bible tells us about an incident when the sacred ark of the covenant was being moved. A man named Uzzah reached out to steady the ark when the oxen stumbled as it was pulling the cart on which that object rode. God struck him dead. Why? Not only should Uzzah have considered the ark too sacred for him to dare to touch, but the whole move wasn’t being done according to the manner God had prescribed. God’s judgment came because of both a casual spirit and careless behavior.

Let’s be sure we have a healthy fear of the Lord. While we rejoice in His love and can draw close to Him as our Father, let’s remember that He is still Lord, King, and Judge. He is not only Someone to hug, but to respect, submit to, and obey.

 

Trust the Lord in Life’s Mysteries 

Do you like mysteries? I have always enjoyed them. When I was a kid, I collected and read many of the Hardy Boys books. I still like a good mystery, although I rarely sit and read such books today. But sometimes I am able to catch a good mystery movie. I am not talking about the ones where you know who committed the crime and you simply watch to see how the detective figures it out. I am referring to the ones that are a mystery to me, the viewer – the ones in which I don’t know exactly what is going on. I have to try to pick out the clues, put them together, and solve the case. We like mysteries, but we also like to be able to figure them out. If we can’t do that, it can get frustrating.

There are some real mysteries in life. There are things we don’t fully understand. We often look for clues, trying to put it all together so that we can say, “I think I’ve got this all figured out. This is what God is doing.” We like to try to figure out the mystery of where God is taking us personally and how He is going to accomplish it all. While it can be good for us to explore those mysteries, we also need to recognize that there are some things God may not intend for us to figure out right now.

There have been occasions when I have heard people lament, “If God would just give me a sign to help me believe or to assist me in figuring out what is going on in my life...” I heard a statement one time that stood out to me. It was said that a sign is not something God gives you now in order to make you believe. Rather, if you will believe, then somewhere down the road God will give you the sign or evidence to confirm your faith. One example would be when God called Moses to go to Egypt to deliver His people. Moses objected, “Who am I to do this?” God told him, “I will give you a sign. When you bring the people out, you will come back here and serve Me on this mountain.” Think about that. The sign wasn’t some spectacular manifestation God brought about right then in order to get Moses to believe. It was something God would do later, after Moses had trusted God enough to go down to Egypt and lead the people out of their bondage. It would confirm Moses’ faith after he stepped out and obeyed God.

We face mysteries in life. Why did I get in that accident that debilitated me? Why are my grandchildren suffering from a terrible disease? Why did that relationship not last? We try to see the clues and ask God to give us a sign to help us figure it all out. But maybe God doesn’t intend for us to figure it all out, at least not at this point. His main intention is for you and me to trust Him, believe, and follow Him. 

Life isn’t as simple as the Hardy boys made it seem. Joe and Frank always seemed to be able to find the clues, put them together, and solve the mystery. We may not always be able to do that as we grapple with the mysterious case of what God’s doing in my life. While we may investigate those mysteries, we shouldn’t get frustrated if God doesn’t give us all the answers right now. Let’s not give God an ultimatum that we need to see a sign and solve the mystery before we’ll believe and live for Him. Go ahead and believe. Do what God says in His Word. Live for Him. And as you faithfully walk that road, watch for the signs along the way that God will give you to confirm that you are putting your faith in the right place.

The Lord won’t always solve the mystery for us, but He will assure us that He has it all figured out, that we can trust Him, and that we can follow Him with confidence.

 

Let’s Not Just Think about Ourselves 

Last weekend we attended a high school basketball game due to our granddaughter’s participation as a cheerleader. Near the end of the contest, as her school’s team cruised to an easy victory, I noticed a curious change in what was taking place on the court. I saw players passing up scoring opportunities. After several such incidents, it suddenly dawned on me what was happening. At least one individual who normally doesn’t get much playing time was now on the court. Instead of seeking to score themselves, his teammates kept unselfishly passing the ball to him in hopes that he might be able to make a rare basket. After several failed attempts, this player finally scored as his teammates on the bench and fans in the stands erupted in applause.

It seems to be increasingly uncommon to see such acts of consideration for others these days, especially if it means a person having to sacrifice something. Whether in sporting contests or other areas of life, many are focused solely on themselves – being the star of the game, what is good for their interests, and what will enhance their own personal statistics or reputation. They seem to give little consideration to what might be better for another person or even for the team itself.

Regarding the way we live our lives and how we relate to our teammates, whether family, friends, fellow believers, or countrymen, the Bible directs us to have more of the kind of spirit that high school team evidenced at the end of their ballgame. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). As this scripture indicates, there is nothing wrong about looking out for our own interests. We would be foolish not to do so. However, it is easy to get so wrapped up in ourselves and what seems beneficial for us that we aren’t willing to deny ourselves some of those opportunities or benefits in order to help someone else or to do what may be better for our family, church, or nation as a whole. We aren’t willing to give up our chance to score some fame, finances, or fulfillment in order to “look out…for the interests of others.”

Some of you will recall the account in the Bible when the people of Israel made a golden calf to worship as a god while Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. As a result, God made quite an offer to Moses. He suggested that He could destroy the whole group of Israelites for their sin and start over with Moses and his descendants. Such a deal wouldn’t have been bad for Moses. He and his family would be taken care of, and he would no longer have to put up with those ungrateful, complaining Israelites.  However, Moses didn’t just think about what was good for him. He considered what was good for the people, as well as what was better for God’s reputation in the eyes of the surrounding nations. Therefore he interceded on behalf of the people, asking God not to destroy them.

Let’s not be guilty of thinking only about ourselves as we face the challenges in our families, churches, and nation. Be willing to give up some opportunities for yourself in order to provide opportunities for others. Be willing to forsake recognition in order for someone else to receive the credit. Encourage and support others to do well, rather than just seeking to excel yourself. Intercede for others rather than just praying about your own concerns. Seek what is best for others and for God’s kingdom.  

 

Challenge Others to a Deeper Walk with Jesus 

Recently many of us in our area got to experience the unusual event of a significant snowfall. I watched a number of interesting posts on social media that day, some of which included members of my own family. In addition to the usual pictures and videos of people playing, having snowball fights, and creating snowmen, some of them participated in what was being called a “snow-day challenge.” Most of the cases involved individuals running out in the snow in shorts or other summer-like outfits in order to roll on the ground and then make a snow angel by moving their arms and legs back and forth along the snow-covered surface. However, some of those challenges escalated into such crazy stunts as jumping into icy swimming pools or rivers. Needless to say, I had no part in those activities. I am getting to the age that my challenge in those situations is just to walk around without slipping, falling, and hurting myself.

It is interesting what people will do when challenged by others. Kids, and even some adults, have often been emboldened to overcome a fear or in some cases to do something foolish as a result of a peer simply saying, “I dare you.” Challenging others to do something good when they are being held back by unfounded fears or by their timidity can be a good thing. However, too often we give in to the challenges issued to us to do something wrong or unwise, resulting in shameful consequences.

Maybe we need to make more of an effort to challenge the people around us concerning knowing Jesus and fully following Him. It could be that some of us need to accept that challenge ourselves. Instead of making images in the snow of holy angels, let’s challenge ourselves and others to be the holy people God calls us to be. Instead of plunging into a freezing body of water, let’s challenge ourselves to dive more deeply into our relationship with Jesus. Let’s go beyond just dipping our toes into the waters of salvation, and totally immerse ourselves in all that the Lord wants to do to change our hearts and lives. Let’s be challenged to go deeper in the practice of prayer, in the understanding of God’s Word, in the expressing of God’s love to others, and in letting the Lord use us in His service to minister to the people around us.

In those snow-day challenges, often specific individuals were “tagged” and singled out as recipients of the challenge. Who are some people we can challenge to go deeper with the Lord? It doesn’t just have to be through some verbal declaration that we issue such a challenge. We can challenge others by being an example for them to follow. We can challenge them by encouraging them and praying for them. We can challenge them by being there to help them in their spiritual journey.

The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). What friends, family members, and other acquaintances can we be influencing in positive ways for Christ? Who should we be sharpening – helping them to know the Lord better and to become a more effective tool for Him to use? The Bible pictures believers as building each other up in the faith. Are we doing that? Are we not only growing in our own relationship with the Lord, but assisting others to do the same?

Let’s reach out and challenge others to a closer walk with Jesus. Don’t just do it with your words, but by your example, by your love, by your prayers, and by your presence.

 

God Is Not Hiding His Will from Us 

One day while we were watching some of our grandchildren at our house, at one point they commissioned me to hide a stuffed animal somewhere in our living room. When they commenced their search, it didn’t take them long to discover its hiding place. Therefore I was asked to find a more difficult location on their next attempt. Apparently I succeeded. Even the older of the three who were involved couldn’t solve the mystery without being given a few hints as to the object’s location. We were laughing and enjoying the futility of their efforts as they would look past the hiding place, walk right by it, and otherwise fail in their search.

Let’s be careful that we don’t look at God and His will in a similar manner. Sometimes we can view His will for us as being some great mystery which He intentionally hides from us or tries to make difficult for us to unearth. God is not playing games with us while taking pleasure over our futile attempts to find out His plans and purposes for us. On the contrary, He wants us to know Him, to understand His will, and to live accordingly.

Moses debunked such a notion among the people of Israel, a statement which Paul later referred to in the New Testament. “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off…But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it” (Deuteronomy 30: 11-14). The will of God shouldn’t be an enigma to us. And God doesn’t intend for it to be one. He has given us His Word and has made it plain to us. Through the written words of Scripture, through the living Word of Jesus, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we have opportunities to discern the will of God. He has graciously given us the means to obtain the knowledge we need about Him and how He desires for us to live our lives.

 One of the problems is that many people have chosen to reject God’s revelation. It isn’t that they don’t know or can’t discover His will. Their reason for struggling over these matters is due to the fact that they refuse to accept what He says. Too many, even within the Christian church, have forsaken the authority of Scripture as actually being the Word of God. They have reduced it to being a faulty compilation of human ideas, maybe somewhat inspired by God, yet full of errors, prejudices, outdated ideas, and open to being criticized and revised by those of us who are more enlightened today. In many cases, the problem is that we think we know better than God. Or if what the Bible or Jesus says about some subject doesn’t line up with our ideas, then we conclude that what God purportedly said must be wrong.

Granted, the Bible doesn’t speak specifically to every subject about which we may be seeking God’s will. However, between what it does address, the principles and values it teaches, and the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can have a good idea about God’s will for us. And if we will daily seek the Lord’s guidance with a heart ready to accept, receive, and obey, I believe He will show it to us in His time. According to Romans 12:1-2, if we will surrender ourselves to God and let Him transform us through the renewing of our minds, we can prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Seek God’s will. He isn’t trying to hide it from you. Let’s just be sure we are willing to receive whatever He reveals to us.  

 

Let’s Not Excuse Our Lack of Christlikeness 

Recently one of my daughters and her family were in the candy-making town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. As part of their experience at that place, they had the opportunity to make their own special candy bars. If I understand it correctly, within certain guidelines they were able to choose their own ingredients and the proportion of those elements in each of their creations. When the treat was completed, it was a unique Hershey’s candy bar with that particular person’s name emblazoned on the wrapper.

It reminds me of our condition as followers of Jesus. All of us who are putting our trust in the Lord have a connection with Him. However, at the same time we each have our unique qualities. We aren’t all cut out of the same mold or possess the exact same characteristics, talents, or personalities. We all carry the name of Christ but with our own names identifying us as unique creations of His. We should all be like Jesus, but that image will look a little differently in each one of us. If I may use the candy bar analogy, we should all have a measure of the sweetness and love of Christ in us, but we will all have our own original taste. And no doubt about it, some of us are nuttier than others.

Therefore, on the one hand we need to be accepting of the kind of person we are. We shouldn’t think we have to force ourselves into somebody else’s mold of what a good Christian looks like. We shouldn’t think we are second-class citizens of heaven because we don’t have the same talents or personalities as others whom we admire. We each have our unique place in God’s world.

On the other hand, let’s be careful not to use that as an excuse for not allowing the Lord to change us or to make improvements in our character and conduct. Today’s society puts much emphasis on encouraging people to accept themselves as they are. And there is certainly a truth in that idea that many people could benefit from. However, let’s not resign ourselves to having to live with our faults, shortcomings, and definitely not our sins. There are aspects of ourselves we need to accept, but other areas of our lives that need to be transformed and improved.

Too many people excuse themselves and their bad behavior by declaring, “That’s just the way I am.” In some cases, they are rationalizing their lack of Christlikeness and their unwillingness to submit to God’s will. They settle for the way they are instead of allowing the Spirit of God to change them more into what He knows they can become. 

While there is room for diversity within the body of Christ’s followers, we all should be becoming more like our Savior. There are certain qualities and actions that simply do not harmonize with being a Christian. We shouldn’t be excusing our selfish actions, our arrogance, our loss of temper, our lack of self-control, our gossiping, our hatred, or our hurtful words by suggesting, “That’s just the way I am.”

As we move ahead into this new year, let’s lay aside that excuse and ask the Lord to do a work of transformation in our lives. Don’t accept sin and immorality in your life. Don’t resign yourself to being self-centered and unloving. Don’t accept our world’s idea that certain aspects of your life can’t be changed. Accept and celebrate your uniqueness, but not any ungodliness in your life. Let’s seek to be more like Jesus this year and submit ourselves to whatever changes the Lord wants to make in us. Be yourself, but be more like Jesus at the same time.