Living in Light

Friday, February 10, 2023

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.  Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.  But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness.  Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.   

1 John 2:9-11

John, the beloved apostle wrote about loving others…a lot!

But John wasn’t always so compassionate; at one point in time, he and his brother James were nicknamed the sons of thunder[1] by Jesus.  This was because the brothers were prone to anger and knee-jerk reactions. 

On the road to Jerusalem some of the crowds rejected Jesus.  James and John asked for permission to call down fire from heaven to burn up the unbelievers.  Jesus rebuked them and they had to recheck their theology of crowd control.[2]

Question?

How does a man go from wanting to incinerate a whole crowd for simply disagreeing with your position…to one who says that kind of hate means you don’t know the first thing about God?

Pretty simple, actually; John was not so set in his dark ways that he couldn’t entertain the possibility that he was wrong.  That’s called “being teachable.” 

And when that’s possible, then light coming into your life is also possible.  And the kind of light Jesus brings will dispel a multitude of darkness!

Paul said to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.[3]  This is what had happened to John, a thunderous, judgmental, hard-headed reactionary; He entertained the truth of Jesus’ kind of love and it changed everything.

John went from that kind of mindset where you’re absolutely certain you could straighten out anybody, because you’ve got a corner on the truth market, and everyone should do things your way…..to living in the light of God’s truth, that loving others is the only way to keep from stumbling around in life.

John learned the humility of love; he learned how to live in the light.

For You Today  

How’s the light in your world today?

If it needs turning up a little, do a love-check on your relationships; entertain the possibility that loving others is better than convincing others you’re right.

Better to be beloved, than a son of thunder!

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

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

Where Love and Truth Meet  and  Against the Tide 

This is an updated version of “Living in LIght published on Rocky Road Devotions August 13, 2013

Images:  Title via Wikimedia Commons   Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

---

[1] Mark 3:17

[2] Luke 9:53-55

[3] Romans 12:2

God's Math

[1] 

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church:  the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.  This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  Then we will no longer be immature like children.  We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.  We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  Ephesians 4:11-16

The old saying is so simple and so true: 

Give a man a fish and you have fed him today.

Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.

Something of a corollary to that maxim is related to the life span and health of churches:

If a pastor grows a church it will die when the pastor leaves.

If a church learns to be healthy it will grow and live.

Pastors do have a responsibility to help churches learn how to be healthy.  But it’s something like your doctor who has responsibility to contribute to your health; the doctor must be faithful, but the patient must cooperate. That is how God designed the church, His vineyard; we stay healthy and grow, or die on the vine!

Growing healthy in the ways of God is not complicated; obedience and commitment are the primary ingredients.  The facts of possibility for growth of an exponential kind, fast, healthy, and breathtaking are all around us.

Consider E. coli bacteria.  The numbers are staggering.  If a single E. coli cell can get enough food, it can reproduce itself every 20 minutes.  In a single day that means 72 cycles of doubling.  1 cell becomes 2 in 20 minutes; 2 cells then become 4 in another 20 minutes, and so-on.  Repeated 72 times in 24 hours (2^x72 power[2]) the result is 2.3 trillion-million cells.  If E. coli was building people that would be enough material for 76 trillion people (roughly 1,000 times the total of earth’s current population) …in just 24 hours…starting with just one lowly cell.

Now, if God can do that with a deadly virus, just think what He could do with the life-giving virus of the Gospel…IF God’s people were sharing it, dividing it, letting the evidence of things not seen[3] do its saving work!

For You Today

Paul showed us God’s kind of math the church needs to change our culture.  Apostles, Prophets, Pastors and teachers all exercise their spiritual gifts, and God’s people grow, mature, and produce kingdom fruit:  gentleness, meekness, love, joy, peace, longsuffering; the fruit of the Spirit. 

If the enemy can grow a miserable crop like E. coli, God’s farmhands have the power to overcome whatever ails this old planet!

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

Go to VIDEO

---

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

[2] See the chart of The Power of 2

[3] Hebrews 11:1

When the Church Loses Its Way

[i]

Monday, December 19, 2016

Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.  So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?    Galatians 4:8-9^(NLT)

A fellow UMC pastor, author and seminary professor, Alan Bevere recently posted a piece on the topic of faith and politics – here is an excerpt:

A favorite quote of mine from Stanley Hauerwas is It is God and not the nations who rules the world….I believe that while most Christians believe the truth of that claim, they do so only in the abstract.  Functionally, by the church's political engagements and by aligning themselves with the left and the right, Democrats and Republicans, Christians in actuality betray the unacknowledged belief that it is the nations that are indeed running the show.[ii]

There are so many ways to get off track, to lose your perspective and forget where you’re going.  The church, founded on freedom from the world of selfishness and evil, most easily (and most often) finds itself derailed at the intersection where the faith once delivered to the saints meets the power of political clout.

Indeed, whenever politics and religion meet up, it is invariably the ineffectiveness of weak faith that caves to the political structure.  I believe that is what Dr. Bevere was getting at; it’s not that faith cannot overcome the world; after all, Jesus overcame death and the grave!  For the church, conquering political evil should be a slam dunk.

The problem, as highlighted by Stanley Hauerwas, is that God indeed rules the world, but Christians only nod in that direction on Sunday morning and then go back to nursing at the breast of this world’s system for their daily bread.  The church has no further to look than its’ own pews for a mission field!

What to do, what to do?

Well, if Paul the apostle was right, that our very existence as Christians, as a church, is a fight against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places^{(Ephesians 6:12)}, we must once-again learn what it means to engage the enemy. 

And the first principle is remembering that we are to grow up into Christ, not grow strong in political clout.  If the church is ever going to cooperate with God, in God’s ways and timing to combat the evil forces of this world’s system, the church is going to have to be healthy! 

When is the last time you watched a boxing match, or wrestlers, or (heaven help me) an MMA slug-fest?  None of those contestants are anemic weaklings.  When they enter the ring they are strong and focused; they’ve been trained and tuned into a fighting machine. 

The church needs that; we need to stop guzzling smoothie theological red dye and sugar, and find our way again.  We need to begin to chew on some meat.  We need to become equipped disciples who will engage the political monster of this world’s evils and its systemic betrayal of ourj human heritage as images of the Creator. 

And we won’t do it without giving-up our comfortable avoidance of politics…or worse…our comfortable place in bed with politics.

For You Today

Somewhere between the political fringes of left and right is the center of God’s will – the place of doing right.  Are you going on to THAT perfection?

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

Go to VIDEO

NOTES

---

[i] Title image: By KAMiKAZOW (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons (modified)

[ii] Alan Bevere.com

Living in Light

[1]   

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.  Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.  But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness.  Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.  1 John 2:9-11 (NLT)

John, the beloved apostle wrote about loving others; a lot!

But John wasn’t always so compassionate; at one point in time, he and his brother James were nicknamed the sons of thunder[2] by Jesus.  This was because the brothers were prone to anger and knee-jerk reactions. 

On the road to Jerusalem some of the crowds rejected Jesus.  James and John asked for permission to call down fire from heaven to burn up the unbelievers.  Jesus rebuked them and they had to recheck their theology of crowd control.[3]

Question?

How does a man go from wanting to incinerate a whole crowd for simply disagreeing with your position…to one who says that kind of hate means you don’t know the first thing about God?

Pretty simple, actually; John was not so set in his dark ways that he couldn’t entertain the possibility that he was wrong.  That’s called “being teachable”. 

And when that’s possible, then light coming into your life is also possible.  And the kind of light Jesus brings will dispel a multitude of darkness!

Paul said to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.[4]  This is what had happened to John, a thunderous, judgmental, hard-headed reactionary; He entertained the truth of Jesus’ kind of love and it changed everything.

John went from that kind of mindset where you’re absolutely certain you could straighten out anybody, because you’ve got a corner on the truth market, and everyone should do things your way…..to living in the light of God’s truth, that loving others is the only way to keep from stumbling around in life.

John learned the humility of love; he learned how to live in the light.

For You Today

How’s the light in your world today?

If it needs turning up a little, do a love-check on your relationships; entertain the possibility that loving others is better than convincing others you’re right.

Better to be beloved, than a son of thunder!

---

[1] Title Image: By Tomorrow Never Knows (Flickr: Wasdale Head), via Wikimedia Commons

[2] Mark 3:17

[3] Luke 9:53-55

[4] Romans 12:2

Of Breath Skin and Bones

[1]   

Thursday, April 9, 2015

So I spoke this message, just as he told me.  Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley.  The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.  Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones.  Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.  Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man.  Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  Come, O breath, from the four winds!  Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”  So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies.  They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.  Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel.  They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone.  Our nation is finished.’  Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again.  Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord.  I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land.  Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said.  Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”  Ezekiel 37:7-14 (NLT)

Dr. Fredric Brandt was the Botox doctor to the stars; he used Botox products to curtail the effects of aging, such as wrinkles in the skin, or the typical crows-feet around the eyes and brows.  He also wrote books and hosted a radio show to promote his practice. 

The 65 year-old celebrity doctor's body was discovered this past Monday in a Miami home.  The police have reportedly ruled the death a suicide.  Considering our culture’s obsession with the physical appearance, it is no wonder Dr. Brandt’s Botox services were in high demand.

When Ezekiel looked at the valley of dry bones, representing what was left of Israel’s glory, it was a bleached, barren sight.  The bones were very dry!  God told the prophet to speak to the bones and they came back together, muscles, flesh, tendons, skin and all.  The bodies were perfectly put back together; still, they lacked one thing – breath!

Reality – all the Botox in the universe could not have done better in making those bodies look perfect.  However, as good as they looked they lacked what only God gives – spirit!

Now this is a critical observation, and I don’t want you to think I’m against looking as good as you can, but the line is crossed when physical appearance becomes more important than spiritual vitality.  Paul the apostle nailed it for his up-and-coming pastor-protégé, Timothy:

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)

In eternity God will grant us a glorified body like Christ’s, with no imperfections.  But too many people spend an inordinate amount of time and attention in this present life trying to hold back the wrinkles of skin and crows-feet, while neglecting the growth of spirit and godliness in their soul.

These physical bodies in which we live this life are temples for the Holy Spirit of God, and we ought not to abuse them; we are stewards of everything God has given.  However, the engine of this body is the soul, spirit and mind. 

When you look at the pictures of Dr. Brandt it’s obvious the doctor practiced on himself what he preached.  However, all the Botox and other procedures didn’t change the fact that the physical appearance he labored hard to achieve and maintain could not keep him from the grave.

And within a relatively short period of time the body he tried to preserve will be food for worms.  We can only hope his soul was in better condition.

For You Today

Did you work out this morning?  Did you take your vitamins and orange juice?  Take the shower, use deodorant, trim what needs trimming, comb, spruce up, cover and dress all the best you know how?

Good.

Did you leave something out?

---

[1] Title Images: Roanoke News (Roanoake.com) Dermatologist Fredric Brandt found dead at Miami home

Healthy Church; Growing Church

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  ³making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,  ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  ⁶one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. ⁷But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  ⁸Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” ⁹(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?  ¹⁰He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)  ¹¹The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.  ¹⁴We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.  ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.                                 Ephesians 4:1 - 16 (NRSV)

At Homecoming I suggested that our Baptist friend, Rick Warren is right on the mark when he said that church health is more important than church growth.  And nothing speaks to church health more than spiritually-mature members.  This is a recurrent and prevailing theme in Paul’s theology, becoming spiritually-mature. 

In our text Paul makes it clear that maturity isn’t the goal, but maturity is the strength that will allow us to accomplish the goal of a church built and operating on love.

An elderly nun ran out of gas on the seedier side of town.  She found that she didn’t have a gas can, but there was a hospital bedpan in the back seat.  So she walked to the nearest gas station, filled the bedpan and walked slowly back to her car.  As the nun carefully poured the gas into the tank two slightly inebriated atheists happened to pass by.  One of them saw what the nun was doing and poked the other:  Hey, hold on, I gotta see this; if that car starts I’m joinin’ the church!  It is always a good thing to stop and check to see if what you’re built for is what you’re running on. 

This morning I’d like for us to do that.  The church was constructed by Christ to run on love, mature love.  In our text Paul gives us four marks of a mature believer.  Let’s all check our tanks…

1. Stability

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.  Ephesians 4:14 (NRSV)

Paul knew that good people are always targets for those who want something and don’t have much of a conscience when it comes to how they achieve their goals. 

Stability in the life of a Christian is something that develops because the believer takes the time and patience to become a disciple.  And it doesn’t happen overnight, but rather over time, and with attention given to God’s Word.   Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15 (NRSV)

2. Speaking Truth in Love

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,        Ephesians 4:15 (NRSV)

Jesus Christ is our standard for how we act.  Everywhere you look in the Scriptures Jesus told people the truth, and it was always because he loved. 

It is one maddening trait we humans have that we’d rather see a train run over a friend than take the risk that in speaking truth we might hurt feelings.  It’s true that some people are like a pit bull charging through a china shop when it comes to interpersonal relationships.  But that still does not get us off the hook about telling the truth.  Truth without love is brutality so we must be sensitive and caring when we talk to each other, but love without truth doesn’t exist! 

3. Cooperation

from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.   Ephesians 4:16 (NRSV)

A physical body is inter-dependant on the various parts.  My stomach would have a tough time digesting food and sending nutrition through the bloodstream if my hands and arms decided to go on strike.  If my eyes go on vacation I’m going to have a hard time not bumping into things.

The Body of Christ isn’t any different.  We need each other, and cooperation in Christ’s family enables us to be missional.  This is what Paul calls being “knit” together.  Chaos is brokenness; Christ, our peace heals us, knits us back together.

Why is this so vital?

All of what the apostle Paul wrote promotes the health of the Body of Christ.  And health promotes growth! 

Imagine what happens when you have stable, mature Christian believers refusing to settle for less than truth with each other, and cooperating with everything they’ve got in the mission of the church to share the love of Jesus.  Just imagine.

The church was designed to run on the fuel of love.  With the stability of truth and love cooperating we can function in our mission to this community to bring about peace, mercy and justice in the name of Christ.  We can do that together.