And Then it was Monday

 

                                            Tuesday, November 30, 2021                          

Lord, through all the generations

    you have been our home!

Before the mountains were born,

    before you gave birth to the earth and the world,

    from beginning to end, you are God.  Psalm 90:1-2

Yesterday was an anniversary of sorts.  November 29^th marked forty years since I knelt in First Baptist Church of Crystal River, Florida, and received the blessing of ordination to the ministry of God’s Gospel.  For those who’ve not experienced that, or thought much of it, it’s a high point for anyone called to serve.  On that Sunday night I felt vastly unworthy to the calling, and yet, somehow, unable to object.  The “calling” is an irresistible bubbling-up from within the soul, and who among us can say “no” to God…at least with a straight face?

My pastor and mentor, Rev. L. B. Thomasson, preached the ordination sermon, and I recall the threefold challenge as if it were just a moment ago.  He looked directly at, or more accurately he looked through me and said:

• Russell, I challenge you to stay close to God;
• Russell, I challenge you to stay close to people;
• Russell, I challenge you to bring the two together.

That was Sunday night, a reception, a newly-inscribed commemorative Bible, lots of hugging, well-wishing, and promises of prayer support.

And then, it was Monday.

And with Monday’s dawn, what was laid on my shoulders with hands that believed to bless, came the fright of reality – the ceremony was over; the living of this promise was before us, and only faith in God could sustain so weak a man.

And now, forty years later, those thoughts of inadequacy, unworthiness, and disquiet over my ability to follow God’s leading, have proved 100% founded.  Russell has never been equal to the task.  Whatever has been accomplished is entirely God’s doing; I have merely had a front row seat to watch His miracle unfold. 

I have been patted on the back (at times it was a size 12 shoe rather lower-placed than a back-patting)!  I’ve been congratulated (what a great sermon, pastor), and, like Paul, sometimes I’ve been shown the door and told get out, stay out! 

One unmistakable thread in this forty-years of sermons, hospital calls, funeral homes, and the highs and lows of human relationships, has been the God of all Mondays…the dwelling place – the One who was there before the mountains, and exists as I AM.  In every attempt to serve God faithfully and sometimes (truth be told), attempts to run away from Him and all the responsibilities of being an under shepherd, I AM has been there. 

From beginning to ending, He is faithful.

For You Today

What do you do when you promised God something on Sunday in prayer, and then Monday shows up?  Do you pass it off as, well, that emotional moment?  

Do you start bargaining with God to get off the hook?

Or do you trust God on Monday to fulfill His promises?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title and Other Images:  Pixabay.com  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

For another post on this text see A Prayer From the Hourglass and Without Beginning-Without Ending

A Hand in This

 

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean.  Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing.  Then they will be ceremonially clean.  Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering.  Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.  When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.  Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service.  “Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls.  Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to purify the Levites and make them right with the Lord.  Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and raise your hands and present them as a special offering to the Lord.  In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to me.  After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering.  “Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me.  I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes.       Numbers 8: 5 - 16

What does the consecration of Levite priests to a life of sacrificing bulls 4,000 years ago have to do with life in the twenty-first century?

The answer to that question depends on whether or not you are part of a faith community.  If you’re (as many say today) spiritual, but not religious, the whole concept will be meaningless.  However, if the community of faith (the church, God’s family) has made its way into your bones and blood, you already get it!

The whole idea of ordination, or consecration, was God’s way of placing all hands in the pot.  Before the priests, those who would represent all the people, could serve, the people had to lay their hands on them, a sign of approval and asking God’s blessing on what they do.  Then Aaron, the chief priest, would offer the Levites (their service) to God.  In summary, everyone in the family had a hand in the ministry of the priests.  It was a declaration of faith, trust, promise, and humility; it is that for which Jesus died, to build His church, a forever family.

If you belong to a church you must be aware that it is not like belonging to Sam’s Club, or some Time Share, where you go get what you want, when you want it.  It isn’t Amazon, where you shop and click.  Rather, it is family, a place where needs are met (certainly), but a place where you serve, and are counted upon to meet other’s needs.  It’s a place where humility before God in worship and giving one’s life for others is more than a slogan; it’s our way of life.

Faithfulness to the consecration of priests, and those they represent, is a given in God’s Word; it should be the expected-norm of life’s activity of God’s people, in reaching out to the community of other believers, and to the sea of non-believers.  We are a family with a purpose.  And that purpose is not to build a little empire on the corner of this street or that for the bragging rights of the pastor, or the pride of the members.  Our purpose is building a Kingdom for the King of Kings.

For You Today

If you are a member of a church, one of the things God expects from you is that, the hand that was in it from your first day in God’s family, is still in it every day you breathe, until God takes you home.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day! 

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

The Making of a Good Servant

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.  This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.  They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.  But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription:  “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”  In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay.  The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.  If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use.  Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.  Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.            2 Timothy 2:15-21

Although I have many “favorite” passages of Scripture, all of God’s Word interests, instructs, and corrects me[2].  But if there is one verse that could be my life verse, or the theme of what my passion is about, it would be what Paul wrote about being God’s approved workman, correctly explaining the Word of Truth.  Paul said to the Philippian[3] believers:  I don’t claim to have achieved perfection in every doctrine or complete knowledge, but I am pressing-on in that direction.  If there is one thing I am passionate about it is sharing God’s Word accurately, with an aim to help anyone know God better.

This passage is Paul’s instructions for his young protégé, Timothy, on issues related to his ordination vows.  Paul had laid hands on Timothy and charged him with being pastor to a flock of God’s people.  Timothy may have felt a little awkward, because he was probably younger than 90% of the church members.  It’s hard to be authoritative and “fatherly” to a group who were adults when you were still having your diapers changed.

Nevertheless, Paul instructed the young servant of God about what would make him a fit and holy vessel (or tool) in God’s workshop.  Chief among the required activities for any pastor is meditating on the Word.  Without careful, prayerful consideration of what God says, it matters little what the preacher says or does.  Any private that rushes into battle without heeding the commands of the general is like a heat seeking missile launched without coordinates for the target…you may stay busy, but you’ll cause a lot of damage in the doing!

Along with taking-in God’s Word, there is plenty of admonition from Paul the Elder to Timothy the Rookie to taking-out the things of the world, including idle discussions that only bear the fruit of contention, and any other kind of impure behavior.  If there is to be holy ministry in the name of our Lord, there must be holy living.

And now here is the sticky point about all this – we’re ALL servants of the Most High; we’re all ordained (set aside) to be servants of the Kingdom.  These instructions to Timothy apply to every believer, whether preacher, teacher, steelworker, homemaker, student, dentist, lawyer or retired senior.  Able-bodied or bed-ridden, male or female, new Christian, or walking with Christ for 70 years, if we have breath we must serve!

For You Today

On his way to the cross on Friday, Thursday night Jesus was girded with a towel in the upper room washing dirty feet.  That is the model of the One we long to have others see in us.  So, are you still breathing?  Serve!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  By Błażej Benisz via WikimediaCommons     Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] 2 Timothy 3:16

[3] Philippians 3:15

The Barnabas Effect

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Monday, May 20, 2019

Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria.  They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.  However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.  The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.  When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith.  And many people were brought to the Lord.  Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.  When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch.  Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people.  (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)   Acts 11:19-26

It is God who ordains people to the ministry, setting apart those whom He has called to give their lives in calling others to faith in Christ.  In the ceremony we see the hands of the ordained (bishops, and other clergy) placed on the head of the candidate as a symbol of that calling, consecrating the blessing of God.  But, there is a great and largely unseen force at work also…the Barnabas effect.  The art of blessing from “behind the scenes” is truly a magnificent thing to discover in life.  Most of the encouragers I know seem effortless about it; it is a gift that flows as naturally from them as the joy you see on an infant’s face when she first notices that shiny, dangly mobile above her crib.

Christians were scattered out in all directions from Jerusalem because of persecution told everybody about Jesus.  It spread from being a new sect of Judaism into an everyone welcome movement.  Gentiles began flooding into the faith at Antioch, and Barnabas was sent to check out the reports.  What this encourager of the first order found made his heart leap for joy…the fulfillment of prophecy that, through Abraham’s line all the world would be blessed.  Barnabas stayed just long enough to encourage and support the revival, but couldn’t wait to go get Paul.  When the Apostle arrived at Antioch the floodgates bringing tons of new Christians into the fold required the next year to train and turn-loose for ministry. 

While it was God at back of all the events, orchestrating, and moving people by His Spirit, Barnabas was the nexus God used to hold it all together and cross-pollinate goodness, joy, and obedience throughout the process.

The importance of encouragement cannot be underestimated.  I have seen, firsthand, how the Barnabas effect changes first the life of those who would minister…but the trickle-down result of the spiritual mid-wife, encouraging the new believer from the womb of being born-again is the miracle of the Great Commission in action.  Without Barnabas there would be many still-born of the faith, and very few effective evangelists.

From this preacher’s perspective, my undying gratitude to all the Barnabas saints in my life…my bride, Missy, Anne, Mom, Thom, Rodney, David, Kenneth, Don, Marshall, Jennifer, Carrie, Sarah, and a truly great cloud of others.

For You Today

Scripture tells us that winning people to faith in Christ is the work of all who would be obedient

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.  Proverbs 11:30

Barnabas encouragers fill a big gap in what the evangelists among us cannot do nearly as well as those called to pave the path to Heaven with encouraging words and ways.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com  
             Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©

Simon Peter's Ordination

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Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus.  The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”).  He immediately led him to Jesus. Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon?  From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).  John 1:40-42(MSG)

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.  So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”  Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”  But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”  Luke 22:31-34

If ever there was a portrait of a conflicted man it is Simon Peter.  The fact that we know this man by two names owes to Jesus renaming the Apostle.  But the struggle was Peter’s, not the name.  From the Gospel accounts, and even the epistles we find Peter’s epic war with his own nature.  He had an intense desire to follow and serve Jesus, but, like all of us, he had his baser instincts that caused him to shrink-back from the very Lord he loved. 

Peter could boast one evening that, if need be, he’d die for and with Jesus; before the rooster crowed in the morning, we hear him cursing that he doesn’t even know the carpenter.  Peter would embrace serving one day and fall to cowardice the next day.  He was impetuous and often wrong.  But when he was right, people just had to step out of the way, because the power of God worked in his life like the crashing of waters over the Niagara Falls.

His parents named him Simon…a good Jewish name.  Jesus nicknamed him Cephas, or Rocky, in connection with how Simon would answer Jesus’ direct question to the disciples; Jesus asked them who do YOU say I am?  Simon Peter is the one who got an A+ on this test; he said:  You’re Messiah, the son of the living God.  You’re the One we’ve all been waiting for.

Here we have a man who could be so spiritually-connected and holy, living in the same body with a fearful, survival-minded weasel shamefully avoiding the possibility of being known as a disciple of Jesus…will the real Peter…or Simon please stand up?  The fact is BOTH are Simon Peter, the conflicted, but consecrated servant of God.  And when Peter stands up, we stand with him…because we ARE him.  Each of us has Peter inside…a human nature, willing to rebel and deny Christ…and a spiritual image of the Living God, stamped on our souls, calling us to look and live higher.  We ARE Simon-Peter!

In Luke’s Gospel text for this morning there are just six sentences.  In that is the germ of Peter’s ordination, his call and sending into the ministry.  At first Jesus calls him by the human name his parents gave him, Simon.  Jesus tells him his human nature will be under assault by the evil one, Satan.  Then Jesus gives him assurance that he’s being prayed for in heaven, and Simon’s call is to repent of his own sins, and then strengthen all the other conflicted servants.  He is called to be the leader of the band. 

But then, by the sixth sentence Jesus reminds him that even Peter – the rock – will be subject to abject failure.  Peter is not going to be the infallible “pope” – he’s going to continue the struggle with that old man inside who is fearful sometimes, and wonderfully-powerful at other times.  He will be Simon-Peter.

For You Today

All who have called upon the glorious name of Jesus Christ in humble faith have a new nature birthed in them by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit living within; they’re just like, and no-different from, Simon Peter.  It never means the old nature has been taken away; it does mean we’ve been given the tools to fight the good fight and win over that old nature. 

Today’s simple question is…are you still fighting the good fight?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[i] Title Image:   Rembrandt's The Apostle Peter (Public Domain - via Wikimedia Commons)

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©