Glory choices

John 12:43 For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Being in Delhi has intensified my ability to see clearly the things in my life that could be dangerous to my walk. In our sin nature, we all have a tendency to be just like the Jewish authorities who were more concerned with the here and now than they were with the fact that the Son of God,Jesus, is in their presence and wants their soul to be freed from the empty stuff of this world.

What controls us is important - is it our desire to see the glory of God spread or are we contolled by a false and temporary comfort that this world offers?

India

If you want to see posts that are linked to our trip to New Delhi, India go to www.delhisaltandlight.blogspot.com

Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garmet. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Beauty and the Beast

Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is Merciful and Gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love”

Ephesians 2:4 But God, Being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us (Jesus)


On the plane ride to Delhi, I encountered two distinctly different sites within minutes of each other that I will never forget. One was totally majestic. It was the snow covered Mountains North of I think Hungary and somewhere between Paris and Tehran. I guess I will have to get the map out and try to pin point it when I get a minute. It was honestly one of the most awe inspiring sites I have ever seen. To see the magnificent height and might of God’s work beautifully covered with the brilliant, pure-white snow pointed me to my Savior. He is Mighty and rises above all in His sovereign justice, but He is brilliantly pure and gentle in His Love. It will not be difficult to remember the majesty of that view.

Only moments later I saw another view that will not be soon forgotten either. Mother Nature called, so I got up and walked to the bathroom. I started to open the bathroom door as it said vacant, and when I pulled the door back it revealed a frozen in the headlights, 70 year old French woman doing her thing. She stared at me in shock. I quickly shut the door, in more shock, and did my best to quickly move to another part of the plane in search of relief. I do no think I will forget that site for a while either. It was just kind of gruesome, if I had to put an adjective on it.

Upon further reflection, I think that is what my life looks like before God. One minute He is smiling and thinking, “That old boy finally got something right” as he sees Jesus in me, harvesting fruit for His kingdom. The next minute my flesh steals the show and he sees the gruesome ugliness of Chad without Christ. His mercy and patience amaze me freshly every day.

We are on an Air France flight and so thank you is expressed “Mercee”. In my southern drawl it comes out more like “mercy”. Thank you father for your mercy! I need to say that more, with more conviction every day.

Disobedient Belief?

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him.

My three year old, Eli, skipped the terrible twos but is doing his best to make up for that lost opportunity as a three year old. Drama, tears and a whole lot of disobedience describe his way of life. He is pereceptive though, and just before he sends us completely over the edge he looks up with big brown eyes and says "I'm sorry". He has also learned that some other phrases like "momma your pretty" and "I love you" are useful tools for disciplinary adversion. He is only three, and is a great kid, but he needs discipline. Often when correcting Him, I use Jesus's words of John 14:15 "if you love me you will obey me" (paraphrased). It is quite true when you think it through. If Eli really loves us, he will grow in his obedience to us as he understands our desire for his own good. No matter what his words will say, as the years pass, Eli's true love for us will be shown towards us in the way he obeys us and ultimately God.

The hard truth for me is that for most of my life my relationship with God pretty much mirrored Eli's actions as a three year old. I would give God the lip service and the random,yet self serving, church attendance and prayers, BUT I had no intentions of submitting to him in obedience. I really had a lot of "bigger fish to fry". Life seemed to offer so many fun and exciting things, so about the last thing on my mind was getting to really know Jesus and striving for what I now know is a Joyful obedience.

The big question is when I was in that state of lip service and no care for obedience was a I saved or lost? John 3:36 makes that clear as a bell - Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him. Jesus is clearly spelling out that an intellectual ascent of Him, without obedience which marks allegiance to Him, is cold, dark and empty. He echoes this four more times in John 14 to make sure we don't miss this huge point.

I look around at the church in America, and it truly grieves me. We have protestant religions accomodating blatant sin habits in the name of "human compassion". There are many denominations that disregard the bible and its authority over us. The vast majority of church goers rarely read the word of God. if we are unwilling to get to know God, and obey Him, Jesus clearly states that we will not see life and the wrath of God is still on us. No matter what we say....

So what are the words of Jesus (this is not an exhasutive list):

>To Love your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and to Love your neighbor as yourself
>To take up our cross and to deny ourselves (matt 22:37-40)
>To make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20)
>Give to the needy and do it in secret (Matt 6:1-4)
> when you fast, do it secretly (Matt 6:16-18)
>Don't be anxious about life (Matt 6:25)
>Be a reconciler - do not promote strife but Love (Matt 5:21-26)
>enter through the narrow gate that leads to life -there are few who find it (Matt 7:13-14)
>Pray with a passion of love towards God, and do not "grand stand" with your prayers to be seen by other people (Matt6:5)
>Jesus's life model shows us a focus on fulfilling the will of God, we find that in the bible, he calls us to do the same (Matt 5:17-20)
>Be humble
>repent of and hate your sins
>Do not judge others(His word has done that already- we just communicate it)

So you can see that Jesus has many things to say about obedience. The big question is are we obeying His words, or are we just giving Him lip service?

Sodom-America?

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.

I believe that most of us have heard of Sodom. If you are like me, you have always viewed that city as a nasty disgusting stench, far nastier than any place around. I had always pictured it as a combination of the worst traits of Vegas, New Orleans and San Francisco. Growing up I was thankful that there were no places like that around, and I was glad that those bad people got what they deserved!

Ezekiel 16 will make you think that through that erroneous theology a couple of hundred times. What was their wickedness? They were rich and proud and did not share with the poor and needy. They did abominations before God as well. I wish that I was dreaming as I type this, but does that not perfectly describe America in 2010? What do we deserve? Honestly look around and let it soak in. Our culture has little to no regard for God. Our greed and pride have reached a new level, as we invent new ways to take advantage of others so that we can have more stuff. Lustfulness,Homosexuality, Drunkenness, Pornography and Drug Addiction (even if it is prescribed) have firmly taken the place of God as fulfiller, sustainer and healer among many Americans. No matter what anyone will tell you, those are blatant and gross sins against God that separate many people from Him and His love.

Take it a step closer and ask the question: does Ezekiel 16:49-50 describe me? Am I prideful? Do I use my blessings to aid the needy or do I hoard them for myself?

These are hard questions but tough ones we must ask ourselves. I am sure there were some folks in Sodom the day it was destroyed wishing they could get a re-do!

So what are we to do? How about listen to God: Micah 6:8 " He has told you oh man what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk Humbly for your God."

Do you believe the truth of Proverbs 21:13? " Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor, will call out and not be answered".

Again, we must all come clean before a Mighty God, calling on Jesus to regenerate and sanctify our hearts by faith is the only way to flea from Sodom or Sodom-America.

3rd Rate Romance

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Often you can learn a a lot about yourself and hard truths about sin from secular music. One of my oldy but goodie favorites is "third rate romance", by the Amazing Rhythm Aces and covered later by Sammy Kershaw. The song is about a scandalous affair of two people that are looking only for one thing. A quick fix of their version of love- sex in a hotel fueled by booze.

Sittin' in a tiny table in a ritzy restaurant
She was starin' at her coffee cup
He was tryin' to keep his courage up
By applyin' booze

And talk was small when they talked at all
They both knew what they wanted
There was no need to talk about it
They were old enough to scope it out
And keep it loose

She said, "You don't look like my type
But I guess you'll do"
Third rate romance
Low rent rendezvous
And he said, "I'll even tell you that I love you
If you want me to"
Third rate romance
Low rent rendezvous

If you have heard the song before, you are probably humming and singing along. Its catchy. It also is on to a bigger truth in us. Many of us, including myself, have confused love with temporary fulfillment of our desires of the things of this world and while that includes sex, it is certainly not limited to it. Perhaps what is more alarming is that for thirty years, the heart of this song perfectly describes my relationship with Christ. The scariest part is I thought I was a Christian, and I wasn't. i was just trying to use Christ to fulfill my temporary desires.

Look at the words that describe a "3rd rate romance, low rent rendezvous". Talk was small, when they talked at all, they both knew what they wanted. That is a perfect description of my then so-called prayer life. Rare, and when it happened, it was me asking for stuff from Him, not praising Him. I knew what I wanted, and so did HE! In my eyes there was no need to talk further, I had it all in control and life was going according to my plan (not His). Why he did not strike me down can only be called Grace!

Perhaps the ugliest truth that describes a person who is religiously lost is "Jesus, you don't look like my type, but I guess you'll do. I will even tell you that I love you, if you want me to". Oh how I blasphemed His pure love with half hearted words that some one had told me to say. I truly cringe at Jesus's Grace and mercy being met with my invitation of a low rent rendezvous. I wanted quick fixes in a cheap hotel. He wants eternal love that controls me from the inside of my soul outward , and Praise God -He has it now.

That is exactly what Paul says in the above verses. Christ's love controls us. Controls us. We are captivated by Him not in some cheap, boozed up, lustful way, but in a scandalous Love affair that is Holy and never ends. The reason for His control over us is simple. He is love. He defined love. His work on the Cross and rising form the grave is the only reason we know what Love truly means. His Love gives us life. It is Life.

So how do we know if we are in love, or just in some 3rd rate romance with Christ? Check out verse 15: and he died for all, that those that live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised! His work is done and only offers a pure and Holy love. We can either accept that and live for Him, turn from our desires, and understand the beauty that it is to be controlled by Christ, or we can pretend we are in love and settle for a 3rd rate romance that leads us to death.

Where are you in this picture? Is your talk with Christ small? Is it at all? Have you told Him "You don't look like my type but I GUESS you will do? What about the gut wrencher, "I'll even tell you that I love you, if you want me to".

2 Corinthians 3:4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but a our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

One day leading a small group of first through fifth graders,our study of God's word focused on unreached people groups. Using scripture as our guide, we discussed God's desire to make His name known throughout the ends of the Earth, and what that meant for us as followers of Christ. We asked some kids to pray and they did. The last prayer came from a little girl who prayed, "God make them normal, like us". I was paralyzed and shocked at what I had just heard. The little girl's words gave away her souls view of the world. I think what captivated me was a larger truth. I believe her spoken words communicate the true sentiment of the vast majority of Church goers in America today. Even though we might not say that so clearly and out loud, it certainly was my world view for most of my life.

Now lets think about the statement, "If we can get them to be normal, like us, they will be better off", for a moment. Have you stopped and looked around America today? I want to say loudly that I praise God for His mercy on our country, and I love being American as much as anyone, but let's be honest and think it through. We are a culture marinating in debt, pills, lust, greed,pride, power, vanity and sensuality. If we take all of that and export that to other places, what good will that do anyone?

Paul's Heart is clear in the verses above, peel back all of the Paul that is in him and Jesus at the core is what is worth sharing. Jesus is who empowers His children for His glory, and because of this we can have great confidence in God's work. We must assume that the opposite is true as well. That would mean all that we do powered by our strengths and talents outside intimate communion with God, is as Paul says "insufficient".

A question that I wrestle with all of the time in my life is this: "Chad, in whose strength are you walking in?" If it is Christ's then I can, like Paul, have bold assurance of the full competency of Christ that life will radiate vividly from me. If it is my own strength, well then, I will radiate an insuffient love that is far from complete. I must admit this is a struggle. The thought is simple, but the application is the battle of the ages for all mankind.

So what about you? Whose strength do you you walk? If you do ministry work, do you want people to be more like you, or Christ in you?

Glory

26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.

In case you missed it, Lebron James just won his second NBA MVP award. I think deservedly so as he has a total game that separates him from everyone else. I guess what strikes at my heart is this: Our American culture is all about anointing glory with awards and achievements. If you think about it we start the children young with awards for achievement early on in school, activities and sports. As parents it is way to easy to get caught up in getting your child some glory as well and I see it every where around me. In most work environments people slit other peoples throats for advancement, praise from men and glory. I am all for achievement and excellence as that is biblical. What we must be careful of is this: making sure that the appropriate being receives Glory. That would be God, not us.

When you look at Joab's actions in the above verses He understood how to give away glory. He was a mighty man of war that was ultra loyal to David and fully understood that God had anointed David as king. Joab had finally beaten a long time foe, the Ammonites, and Israel was on the verge of taking a prized city, Rabbah. Joab realizes that if he where to go and take the city, that His name would be ascribed glory from the people. He realized that would create loyalty issues as some people would want to follow Him, not David. Joab was wise and loyal and pulled up just shy of taking the entire city, and calls in David to finish it off and take the glory. Why? He was submissive to authority, wanted what was best for all of Israel not just Himself, and he was Loyal. Those three markers of Joab are almost extinct in America today. We have been raised to get yours today, any way you can.

So what is wrong with getting the Glory for yourself? If the glory goes to you, it does not go to God and he alone is the one who enabled you to accomplish anything. Think through it with me. He gave you the skills, talents, smarts, money for education and talent sharpening training. He placed you were you are and opened up the paths that you have walked. The minute that we start accepting credit for God's work in our lives we are robbing Him of His praise and glory and trust me that ain't good. Just like Abner deflecting praise to David, we should be committed to pointing people to give Glory to the greater David, Jesus Christ and not ourselves.

Childish

1 Corinthians 13: 11:When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Two Saturdays ago was one of those frozen moments in time. I will remember the picture in my mind until I die. My oldest son Cal was above the line. The line was
54", and marked the maximum height restriction to enter the Chik Fil A playground. He was too big to play. He had grown too much to enjoy the slides and tunnels that his sister and brothers were still playing on, and he had enjoyed since being a toddler. Half of my heart was sad as it was a small yet factual marker of Cal growing up and leaving some of his sheltered innocence as he sprouts upward. The other half of my heart was filled with joy at the opportunities that God will provide Cal to reflect the His Glory as he moves forward into manhood.

Have you ever stopped and examined your spiritual growth? It can be a hard task. There certainly is no physical line with a cow pointing to it saying "you need to get here" that you can simply stand next to. It is a deeper unveiling of the heart and soul that must be done in private, and in stillness before God. Your core affections, your desires, your dreams,what gives you joy, what captivates you,and where your time, money and energy get spent. These are great things to evaluate against the measuring stick of Christ's work and God's word. Where are you on the "spiritual growth chart", if you evaluate not by man's accounting but by God's?

Have you been around a child lately? I have four and can really identify with Paul's logic here. Children want what they want, when they want it. If they do not get it, they cry and complain and get mad at their parents. That defines the first 34 years of my life in relation to God to a T.

If you are struggling through this and feel burdened, I would like to offer some great advice that is the true cure for all ills, and is the stimulus of all healthy growth.

Go hard after Christ with everything you have. Train your body and mind to set aside times where you naturally praise Him for who He is, and not what you want, and learn the beauty of obedience. When you get tired, start all over again with Praise. As we grow in our spiritual walk with Christ, it becomes easier to praise him and truly adore him as he is radiantly beautiful. I believe that is what Paul is saying. Grow up and realize that God is in control of everything and firmly embrace the Lord of Mercy Jesus with white knuckles every day.

The big question for all of us is will we? Have we?

Rotting inside out

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

There is a section of houses in my neighborhood that were made using Chinese drywall. In case you have not been watching the news, this drywall has many unhealthy components to it's makeup. The "filler" was made from trash dump material. The unexpected consequence of this "recycling attempt" is that the dry wall is emitting dangerous gasses. The many gasses are doing everything from corroding wiring to stimulating skin disease and the long term damage has yet to be seen. In a sense these houses are rotting from the inside out and it wreaking havoc on the lives of the people living in them. I feel for my neighbors, as they are being attacked quietly and invisibly each day by the danger that is coming from inside their homes.

I do believe that these houses that are quietly and invisibly poisoning and corroding their inhabitants from the inside out, are a great picture of our sin nature. In Adam we all, die the bible says. Sin, like a corrosive invisible gas, eats at our souls and corrodes our spiritual wiring. Its unhealthy damage is stealthily undetectable to our natural senses, as they are effected by its effects as well. Make no doubt about it, we are evil and rotting from the inside out just like these homes in our natural state. Not the best mental picture of ourselves huh?

It is when we see this picture that we can clearly see the tremendous need for the salvation offered by Christ. Not a salvation made by us on our own time line, by our words as we chill in our nice homes. The salvation of Christ is by his power, on his time, and by His work alone. We are like the houses that are wasting away, and Christ work enables the sinner to beg for His mercy and need of a new spiritual nature. When that all comes together in God's grace, then and only then the Holy Spirit can begin his renovation project in us by gutting and sanctifying the rotten materials in our hearts and souls.

If you think all of this talk about your soul being rotten to the core does not apply to you, pick up the word of God and read it thoroughly. If you have no desire to do that then prop your feet up and enjoy the poison of sin that is steadily consuming you and your family.