Saturday, October 26, 2013

It Still Matters

What matters and doesn’t matter?

As disciples of Jesus we have to occasionally remind ourselves how to answer that two part question.  Like the person in psalm 73, we can get our “fill of it” and fall into a downward spiral of second guessing ourselves and the wisdom of living as kingdom people.  

The psalmist begins by making a statement followed by a confession:
Truly God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked
.

After he reveals his uncertainty over the futility of wickedness vs. righteousness, he lays bare his real angst:
All in vain have I kept my heart clean
    and washed my hands in innocence
. (v. 13)

We have days like that.  Have you had one recently?  Like the psalmist, we get our “fill of it.”  We throw our hands up, perhaps literally, but most often quietly.  We wonder…we really begin to wonder:  Is what I do as a person of faith for God and the gospel really significant?  Does it matter…really?  Our struggle is often acute and overwhelming.  We struggle on two levels:  1.)  Does being a person of faith make a difference in the lives of other people?  2.)  Is God paying attention to our service?

At first glance it may sound a bit self-centered.  And, admittedly, it could be taken that way.  But then, scripture has so much to say about checking faith struggles and the full-blown despair and cynicism that can follow. 

Someone remarked the other day, “I have to remind myself everyday that being a disciple of Jesus is the most important thing I can do on a daily basis.  I have to remind myself of this because I can feel the tug of the endless barrage of cultural messages prompting me to just “go get mine” every waking minute.  Ambition is everything.  Make your mark.  That’s all that matters.  Tend to “your stuff.”  Build something significant with your life the way the culture defines significant – significance defined and driven by ambition!  And, by all means, don’t get lost in ministry to human beings whether it’s sharing the gospel, standing for righteousness or serving in some way.  It’s okay to dabble in it.  Give a turkey away at Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Drop off a gift card now and then.  Wear a Christian badge of honor when it is convenient or, be nice to people when they cross your path.  But, don’t bother yourself with getting off your path to find them.”  They continued, “I have to remind myself that my significance is in the gospel.  It’s everything!”    

Hebrews 13:13-16 is a counter measure against the cynicism that can come knocking on the door of our hearts:
Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

When we experience an attack of the Psalm 73 blues, reflect on the greater reality offered in Hebrews 13!.  

God sees us!  He really does.  He knows what is going on.  He is not an absentee landlord.  Advancements in technology have not changed a single thing where He is concerned.  He still sees His people serving in the trenches bringing the reality of His Son’s reign to bear in the nooks and crannies of daily life.  That’s great news isn’t it! 

“For with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  

O Father, lead our hearts toward the things that are firmly anchored in who you are.  Encourage our hearts in the wisdom of knowing that this is the very best thing we can do with our lives every day.

Empower us to this end every day.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I Can't Take it Anymore

And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping?  Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." --Luke 22:45-46 


Clarity.

Focus.

Resolve.

Courageous living.

The last three depend on how it goes with the first one.

Keeping our heads clear.  Easier said than done…right?

The air, at least in the United States at the moment, is filled with an eerie heaviness.  People are confused.  Some are angry.  Others want to just sit and cry.  Political gamesmanship is superseded only by the growing concern that governing leaders just don’t understand how to govern or worse, don’t care about the people they were put in office to govern.  Families are stressed.  Know any?  Packed schedules squeeze any semblance of “ultimate things” to the perimeter of our lives.  “It’s the American way” someone lamented recently.  "It’s the only way we know how to live."  Perhaps. 

Being a Christian in this climate is hard for anybody.  Some Christians, like those who live in the Middle East, face the pressure of verbal and physical abuse.  Even death.  Satan can break people that way.  He can also break us by distracting us with living our lives in such a way that we forget what it means to “live our lives…unto the Lord.” Focus, Resolve and courageous living in any of its forms wanes because we allow the stuff that is in the cultural air we breath – not the air that goes into our lungs! – to congest, confuse, paralyze and twist us into proverbial pretzels.  

Spiritual clarity is an intentional thing.  It doesn’t simply fall into place for anybody.  Jesus spent time in prayer.  Alone time with the Father re-established his center.  Sometimes something as simple as thinking about a single verse of scripture or reading a hymn or reflecting on something someone said in a bible class can bring clarity to our lives.  Such reflective moments push back all the stuff that crowds us or that pushes us toward becoming nothing more than reflections of a horizontal perspective that thinks nothing of the One who came from above and who reigns even now and who calls us into his service each day as salt, leaven and light in the midst of all the stuff that screams “Urgent!  Significant!  Stay up or risk becoming a number!”   
 
Do you have such moments in your life?  We all need them.  They help us live awake and alert knowing that each day is a gift from the Lord. 

I like these words from Romans 13:11-14 taken from the Message:
But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

Father, give clarity to our hearts, heads and spirits as we seek to stay connected with what it means to be your instruments every day.  Thank you for Jesus who shows us both the struggle and possibilities that is clarity in the Spirit.  Amen. 

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas