This week, I caught myself saying, "Well, another Easter has come and gone."
I could not have made a more inaccurate statement. Easter isn't over!
Jesus' Resurrection started something that will never end! Easter is not about a holiday; it is about every day! New life, fresh starts, forgiveness, freedom, hope...it is available through the resurrected Christ every day. On the days when it is easy to sing and on the days when it is hard not to cry...every day...Jesus Resurrection has changed everything for all time.
1 Peter 1:3-9:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Are you you receiving what Jesus overcoming death has made possible for you and our world? Receive and you will discover that Easter isn't over.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
"Themes of Lent: Love"
As we walk through this Holy Week, we look back and reflect on the themes of Lent we have explored so far--commitment, obedience, purpose, sacrifice and trust. Jesus is our example for each and he shows us the motivation for each.
It is His motivation that it would seem many fear. And yet, the Bible said when this is our motivation for commitment, obedience, purpose, sacrifice and trust all fear is cast out. So, what is this motivation that many fear and, yet, has the power to dispel all fear? The motivation is LOVE. All of the other themes of Lent are empty of meaning and power if they are not fueled by love.
The Bible explains, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The man or woman who fears is not made perfect in love" 1 John 4:16-18.
It goes back to what we talked about on Sunday. Why do want a "Warrior" image of God? Why do we say, "God is not just love" and then reference God's judgment as though it is some how separated from His love. No...No...again, NO! The Bible says, "God is love." End of statement. Period. Any addition to God's nature is our addition, but it is not biblical. God is love! Why do we resist this? Why do so many fear this? Why do we hesitate to simply and humbly receive that God is love. Because God is love, he is just. Because God is love, he will judge the living and the dead. Because he is love, he will discipline us as a parent disciplines his or her child. All that God does flows out of who God is--love!
"There is no fear in love." How much of your relationship with God is driven by fear and its comrades, guilt and shame? Jesus suffered, died and rose again to free you of that not enslave you in it. Perfect love drives out fear. What is it going to take for you to have fear driven out of your view of God and how you relate to him?
Jesus' answer to that question was three words, "It is accomplished", which he punctuated with the cross. Will you receive his answer? His death has accomplished fear being chased away by love. Will you let what what his love has already accomplished be accomplished in you? If you will, then commitment, obedience, purpose, sacrifice, trust...it all becomes about his love.
His love is what we reflect on this Friday as we force ourselves to stare at his blood. His love is what we celebrate this Sunday as we stare into an empty tomb. Brother and Sister in Christ, will you--not the unbeliever--but will you, receive his offer of perfect love that casts out all fear?
It is His motivation that it would seem many fear. And yet, the Bible said when this is our motivation for commitment, obedience, purpose, sacrifice and trust all fear is cast out. So, what is this motivation that many fear and, yet, has the power to dispel all fear? The motivation is LOVE. All of the other themes of Lent are empty of meaning and power if they are not fueled by love.
The Bible explains, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The man or woman who fears is not made perfect in love" 1 John 4:16-18.
It goes back to what we talked about on Sunday. Why do want a "Warrior" image of God? Why do we say, "God is not just love" and then reference God's judgment as though it is some how separated from His love. No...No...again, NO! The Bible says, "God is love." End of statement. Period. Any addition to God's nature is our addition, but it is not biblical. God is love! Why do we resist this? Why do so many fear this? Why do we hesitate to simply and humbly receive that God is love. Because God is love, he is just. Because God is love, he will judge the living and the dead. Because he is love, he will discipline us as a parent disciplines his or her child. All that God does flows out of who God is--love!
"There is no fear in love." How much of your relationship with God is driven by fear and its comrades, guilt and shame? Jesus suffered, died and rose again to free you of that not enslave you in it. Perfect love drives out fear. What is it going to take for you to have fear driven out of your view of God and how you relate to him?
Jesus' answer to that question was three words, "It is accomplished", which he punctuated with the cross. Will you receive his answer? His death has accomplished fear being chased away by love. Will you let what what his love has already accomplished be accomplished in you? If you will, then commitment, obedience, purpose, sacrifice, trust...it all becomes about his love.
His love is what we reflect on this Friday as we force ourselves to stare at his blood. His love is what we celebrate this Sunday as we stare into an empty tomb. Brother and Sister in Christ, will you--not the unbeliever--but will you, receive his offer of perfect love that casts out all fear?
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"Themes of Lent: Trust"
Our Son Seth (3 years old) sometimes will stand up on a chair and shout, "Daddy!" and jump! No warning. He just jumps and expects me to catch him whether I am right next to him or across the room. He scares me to death when he does that and, yet, I am so thankful he trusts me to catch him. However, I know what he will one day learn that even a dad who loves you will sometimes let you down.
It is there that many of us get stuck. Don't we? The person we counted on catching us lets us fall. Sometimes it is an accident...we know that...but it still hurts. Other times the person we trusted, lets us fall on purpose. We jumped and with cold, mean hearts they watch us hit the ground and do not even offer us a hand to help us up. That breaking of trust cuts very, very deep.
How many people...how many of us are stuck in broken trust? People who are stuck in broken trust are people are willing to give help, but not receive help. People who are stuck in broken trust are chained by hurt or bitterness or both. People who are stuck in trust only let people get so close. People who are stuck in trust don't just apply their suspicion to other people, but also to God.
The themes of lent we have discussed these last several weeks--commitment, sacrifice, obedience, perseverance, purpose--flow in and out of trust in Christ. Trust is the key that unlocks the door to them all. Without trust commitment is to be feared. Without trust sacrifice becomes abuse. Without trust obedience is a burden. Without trust perseverance is a punishment. Without trust purpose is pointless. With trust all these themes of lent unlock the door called blessedness in our lives. Blessedness is a state of being prosperous in happiness. Are you prosperous in happiness? Do you want to be? Then may be it is time to have a good, honest talk with Jesus about when and why you got stuck in broken trust. Ask Jesus to free you from projecting your distrust of others onto him.
Hours before Jesus' trust was broken by Judas, Jesus said, "Trust in God; trust also in me...I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:1&6). Will you trust Jesus today?
It is there that many of us get stuck. Don't we? The person we counted on catching us lets us fall. Sometimes it is an accident...we know that...but it still hurts. Other times the person we trusted, lets us fall on purpose. We jumped and with cold, mean hearts they watch us hit the ground and do not even offer us a hand to help us up. That breaking of trust cuts very, very deep.
How many people...how many of us are stuck in broken trust? People who are stuck in broken trust are people are willing to give help, but not receive help. People who are stuck in broken trust are chained by hurt or bitterness or both. People who are stuck in trust only let people get so close. People who are stuck in trust don't just apply their suspicion to other people, but also to God.
The themes of lent we have discussed these last several weeks--commitment, sacrifice, obedience, perseverance, purpose--flow in and out of trust in Christ. Trust is the key that unlocks the door to them all. Without trust commitment is to be feared. Without trust sacrifice becomes abuse. Without trust obedience is a burden. Without trust perseverance is a punishment. Without trust purpose is pointless. With trust all these themes of lent unlock the door called blessedness in our lives. Blessedness is a state of being prosperous in happiness. Are you prosperous in happiness? Do you want to be? Then may be it is time to have a good, honest talk with Jesus about when and why you got stuck in broken trust. Ask Jesus to free you from projecting your distrust of others onto him.
Hours before Jesus' trust was broken by Judas, Jesus said, "Trust in God; trust also in me...I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:1&6). Will you trust Jesus today?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
"Themes of Lent: Purpose"
Is your life driven by necessity or by purpose?
Are your priorities arranged according to the urgent or according to what is important?
Are you making a living or making a life?
Are you investing your time and money in anything that makes someone other than your own life better?
Do you get up every day to do what you have to do or what you want to do?
Would you know what you would want to do if every day you could get up and do it?
Is life more about frustration or fulfillment for you?
Why did God give you life today?
These are the questions of Lent because this season asks us to take an honest inventory of where we are going and why.
Matthew 16:21 records how Jesus answered that question: "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Are your priorities arranged according to the urgent or according to what is important?
Are you making a living or making a life?
Are you investing your time and money in anything that makes someone other than your own life better?
Do you get up every day to do what you have to do or what you want to do?
Would you know what you would want to do if every day you could get up and do it?
Is life more about frustration or fulfillment for you?
Why did God give you life today?
These are the questions of Lent because this season asks us to take an honest inventory of where we are going and why.
Matthew 16:21 records how Jesus answered that question: "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Themes of Lent: Perseverance"
As I sit here in my office with a space heater warming me as I see snow falling outside my window, I can't help but think, "Are you serious? You've got to be kidding me! It is suppose to be spring, not winter the sequel! AAAAHHHH!" You may say I am overreacting, but to a guy who struggles with seasonal depression, it is no joke. I want sunshine! I need sunshine! Come on, Spring, don't let me down! Well, now that I have gotten that out of my system, let me use my whining for something productive.
Lent is a season that asks us to stare in the face of our Springtime that will not come. Have you ever felt stuck in a winter? May be you are there right now. Stuck in a winter is...the teenager that feels very much alone, but who is also too shy to take the step that is required to make friends...Its the couple waiting and praying that this month they will discover they are pregnant...its the woman who is begging God for her husband to become hungry for God...its trying to force yourself to pound the pavement another day when yesterday was full of rejections...Stuck in a winter feels cold, long, tiring, frustrating, gloomy, hopeless...what words would you use to describe how it feels to be stuck in a winter?
I keep seeing Mel Gibson's portrayal of the Passion of Christ in my mind's eye. Jesus' back torn open, flesh mangled, blood splattering. The soldiers mock him and spit in his face. The long walk to the place of his crscifixion as the cross burdens his shoulders. The nails pounded in his writsts and feet. The hours of struggling to breath on the cross as those he came to love hurl insults at him one last time. It only lasted hours, but the depth and length of that winter cannot be denied as we hear our Savior cry out in winter's agony, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
Winter is dark...it is evil...it is painful...it breaks one's heart...it crushes one's mind...it smothers one's spirit...flowers don't bloom in the winter...grass does not grow in the winter...winter is a time when things die. Have you ever been stuck in a winter?
What do you do when you find yourself stuck in a winter? Before you give your answer, will you let Jesus give his?
What is all the blood and gore of the crucifixion about? Is it it about Jesus love? Yes. Is it about his mercy? Yes. Is it about his suffering with us? Yes. But it is also about something more...it is about something we all need when we find ourselves stuck in a winter. This something we need for winter is not glamorous or appealing, but it is the only way to get to spring. Jesus in his humanness shows us how to walk through a long, cold winter in our humanness. The blood and gore of the crucifixion is about perseverance.
Friends, it still may be cold, gray and snowy outside, but be that as it may, Spring is coming! Warmer, brighter days lie ahead! Winter can kill a lot, but it can't stop Spring's new life!
Lent is a season of facing our "stuck in a winter" places and leaning into the hard, but, o, so hopeful lesson of perseverance. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:2-4.
Lent is a season that asks us to stare in the face of our Springtime that will not come. Have you ever felt stuck in a winter? May be you are there right now. Stuck in a winter is...the teenager that feels very much alone, but who is also too shy to take the step that is required to make friends...Its the couple waiting and praying that this month they will discover they are pregnant...its the woman who is begging God for her husband to become hungry for God...its trying to force yourself to pound the pavement another day when yesterday was full of rejections...Stuck in a winter feels cold, long, tiring, frustrating, gloomy, hopeless...what words would you use to describe how it feels to be stuck in a winter?
I keep seeing Mel Gibson's portrayal of the Passion of Christ in my mind's eye. Jesus' back torn open, flesh mangled, blood splattering. The soldiers mock him and spit in his face. The long walk to the place of his crscifixion as the cross burdens his shoulders. The nails pounded in his writsts and feet. The hours of struggling to breath on the cross as those he came to love hurl insults at him one last time. It only lasted hours, but the depth and length of that winter cannot be denied as we hear our Savior cry out in winter's agony, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
Winter is dark...it is evil...it is painful...it breaks one's heart...it crushes one's mind...it smothers one's spirit...flowers don't bloom in the winter...grass does not grow in the winter...winter is a time when things die. Have you ever been stuck in a winter?
What do you do when you find yourself stuck in a winter? Before you give your answer, will you let Jesus give his?
What is all the blood and gore of the crucifixion about? Is it it about Jesus love? Yes. Is it about his mercy? Yes. Is it about his suffering with us? Yes. But it is also about something more...it is about something we all need when we find ourselves stuck in a winter. This something we need for winter is not glamorous or appealing, but it is the only way to get to spring. Jesus in his humanness shows us how to walk through a long, cold winter in our humanness. The blood and gore of the crucifixion is about perseverance.
Friends, it still may be cold, gray and snowy outside, but be that as it may, Spring is coming! Warmer, brighter days lie ahead! Winter can kill a lot, but it can't stop Spring's new life!
Lent is a season of facing our "stuck in a winter" places and leaning into the hard, but, o, so hopeful lesson of perseverance. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:2-4.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
"Themes of Lent: Obedience"
We have signed up to take our dog to obedience school. On the application form the question was asked, "Are there any particular problems you hope to see addressed in obedience school?" I wrote, "Biting and poops in dinning room." I get the biting--I mean, I suppose (though I have never had a dog before, so I may be I am assuming wrong) that all puppy's like to bite and chew--but I do not get the pooping in the dining room. It is the weirdest thing, the puppy goes to the door to tell us he needs to potty, but if he gets any where near the Dinning room its as though pooping becomes involuntary. I am very curious to see what obedience school has to teach us about dining room pooping.
I can say that I think the $80 bucks we are paying is every bit worth learning how to train your dog in obedience. Like, I said, this whole dog thing is new to me (By the way, I really do not want to receive 100 emails telling me dog raising tips; I'll save that energy for obedience school :-). But I know enough to know I want an obedient dog. How nice to have something called obedience school. Heck, I'm even open to seeing if what I learn for my dog applies to my kids :-)! Of course, God could say the same thing about me--I too could use obedience school.
One thing is for sure, the reason me, my kids and my dog need obedience school is because obedience does not come to us naturally. Disobedience...doing what I want, my way...now that comes as naturally as breathing; but obedience, well, that seems as foreign as breathing under water. However, maturity is about accepting that obedience does not withhold the good life from us, but opens us to the good life. I tell my kids all the time, "When you listen to me and your mom, life is a lot more fun." No sooner do I tell my kids that, then I open the Bible and hear Jesus telling me the same thing. We read it on Sunday in John 15:10-11, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Obedience is not God's kill joy, it is God's invitation to having your joy made complete.
However, the truth still remains that obedience is not natural. Obedience must be learned. The problem is there is obedience school for dogs, but not for us. On second thought, that is not true. The Bible explains there is an obedience school that we are invited to allow God to enroll us in.
Look at Hebrews 12: 7-11: "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
The word discipline does not mean punishment, but all that goes into raising a child to be healthy. We are invited to "endure hardship" as our obedience school. In other words, rather than let the hardships of life come and go with out any lasting benefit, learn to let God train you in and through hard times. No one says that is easy, but the harvest it produces is worth it.
Well, our dog, Butterball, is signed up for obedience school regardless of whether or not he wants to be enrolled. God, on the other hand, will not require any one to sign up for obedience school. He leaves that up to you and me?
I can say that I think the $80 bucks we are paying is every bit worth learning how to train your dog in obedience. Like, I said, this whole dog thing is new to me (By the way, I really do not want to receive 100 emails telling me dog raising tips; I'll save that energy for obedience school :-). But I know enough to know I want an obedient dog. How nice to have something called obedience school. Heck, I'm even open to seeing if what I learn for my dog applies to my kids :-)! Of course, God could say the same thing about me--I too could use obedience school.
One thing is for sure, the reason me, my kids and my dog need obedience school is because obedience does not come to us naturally. Disobedience...doing what I want, my way...now that comes as naturally as breathing; but obedience, well, that seems as foreign as breathing under water. However, maturity is about accepting that obedience does not withhold the good life from us, but opens us to the good life. I tell my kids all the time, "When you listen to me and your mom, life is a lot more fun." No sooner do I tell my kids that, then I open the Bible and hear Jesus telling me the same thing. We read it on Sunday in John 15:10-11, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Obedience is not God's kill joy, it is God's invitation to having your joy made complete.
However, the truth still remains that obedience is not natural. Obedience must be learned. The problem is there is obedience school for dogs, but not for us. On second thought, that is not true. The Bible explains there is an obedience school that we are invited to allow God to enroll us in.
Look at Hebrews 12: 7-11: "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
The word discipline does not mean punishment, but all that goes into raising a child to be healthy. We are invited to "endure hardship" as our obedience school. In other words, rather than let the hardships of life come and go with out any lasting benefit, learn to let God train you in and through hard times. No one says that is easy, but the harvest it produces is worth it.
Well, our dog, Butterball, is signed up for obedience school regardless of whether or not he wants to be enrolled. God, on the other hand, will not require any one to sign up for obedience school. He leaves that up to you and me?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
"Themes of Lent: Sacrifice"
The couple I have in mind are here every Sunday at the 11 AM worship experience. The only time they miss is when they are out of town. Then, every week, they sneak into the building and make their way to the Food 2 Go room to stock the shelves and take inventory. In spite of their faithfulness, they are not known by many people. It is not because they do not have warm personalities, but simply because they have the personality type that is quite content not being noticed. However, I cannot help but notice them because yesterday they taught me a lesson on a theme of Lent I would just as soon forget. Yet Jesus make sit clear that this lesson is par for the course in following him. The couple taught me a lesson on sacrifice.
Jesus said, "If any one would come after me he/she must deny him/herself and take up his/her cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his/her life will lose it, but whoever loses his/her life for me will find it" (Matthew 16:24 & 25). Let's be honest...we want to follow Jesus, but we don't want to make the sacrifice. But Jesus is honest when he says that no following of Him happens without sacrifice.
To follow Jesus means we will let him show us what of ourselves must be set aside. What of you is Jesus asking you to deny? I don't know about you but regularly, Jesus is showing me that I need to deny myself of my comfort zone, convenience, my time, my money, my personal preferences, my right to be angry, my permission to be negative (I can be really good at that)...the point is, to follow Jesus means sacrifice--small or big. Of course, verse 25 reminds us to keep the sacrifice in context of the promise. Those who loose for him...well, they don't loose...they gain...they gain more than all they could have ever held onto in this life time or the next. Those who lose for Jesus gain life...life to the full now and forever!
That takes me back to the couple in our church family. You see the wife has one kidney that has stopped functioning and another that is failing. She has a portion of her brain that has stopped working and the doctors cannot explain why, but it does explain why her neck involuntarily and painfully turns to the left. She talked about how challenging that makes it for her to read the Bible every morning. On top of that her blood count is off which has the doctors concerned of other, to this point, undiagnosed illnesses. And as if that is not enough, she has severe chronic pain caused by inflammation of her joints. Because of her kidney condition the only over the counter relief she can take is Tylenol. All the while, her husband watches her go through this every day, stands by her side, supports her, encourages her and yet carries the burden of not being able to fix this for her.
And what are they doing? They are gathering with other believers for worship every Sunday? Do you think she feels like being here very Sunday? Don't you think it would be easier for both of them to stay at home? Would anyone blame them? I wouldn't. Believe me, I know plenty of other folks that consider corporate worship an option they can only choose if all the planets in the universe are in perfect alignment. So, why is this couple with legitimate excuse here to worship with other believers every Sunday? The Bible calls it a "sacrifice of praise" in Hebrews 13:15. It is sacrifice that the Bible says God honors in delight. God forgive us for being tempted to make our time of set aside worship together as something that is only important if it is convenient and if it serves our preferences and needs. A sacrifice of praise is beautiful to heaven.
But this couple does not just make a sacrifice of praise on Sunday, they live out the rest of the verse. Hebrews 13:15-16 reads, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
This couple could very easily say, "Well, we made it to worship on Sunday. There... we did our part. God understands our physical problems. We'll let the healthy serve others." We might think that for them or for ourselves, but they do not think that. You see, they understand that to follow Jesus involves sacrifice. And the sacrifice that makes God smile is when we "do good and share with others." Every week, they make their way to the Food 2 Go room to do good and share with children who would otherwise go hungry on the weekends in our community. Not only to do they do what God has called them to do to help hungry children, but they do it with a smile and an attitude of joy.
So, I want to thank James and Diane Van Nest and all of you who week after week make a sacrifice of praise as you gather for corporate worship on Sunday and then make what you do on Sunday matter by making a sacrifice of doing good and sharing with others. I hope you never forget the words of Jesus, which are his promise to you as you deny yourself: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Sacrifice will only cost you, but when done for the sake of Christ, it will always gain you a life worth living! Thank you for your sacrifices of time, talent and treasure!
By the way, wouldn't it be great if we showered James and Diane with cards of encouragements this week? Whether you know them or not, why not send them a card? Their address is:
Van Nest
658 Loxwood
Centerville, OH 45458
Jesus said, "If any one would come after me he/she must deny him/herself and take up his/her cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his/her life will lose it, but whoever loses his/her life for me will find it" (Matthew 16:24 & 25). Let's be honest...we want to follow Jesus, but we don't want to make the sacrifice. But Jesus is honest when he says that no following of Him happens without sacrifice.
To follow Jesus means we will let him show us what of ourselves must be set aside. What of you is Jesus asking you to deny? I don't know about you but regularly, Jesus is showing me that I need to deny myself of my comfort zone, convenience, my time, my money, my personal preferences, my right to be angry, my permission to be negative (I can be really good at that)...the point is, to follow Jesus means sacrifice--small or big. Of course, verse 25 reminds us to keep the sacrifice in context of the promise. Those who loose for him...well, they don't loose...they gain...they gain more than all they could have ever held onto in this life time or the next. Those who lose for Jesus gain life...life to the full now and forever!
That takes me back to the couple in our church family. You see the wife has one kidney that has stopped functioning and another that is failing. She has a portion of her brain that has stopped working and the doctors cannot explain why, but it does explain why her neck involuntarily and painfully turns to the left. She talked about how challenging that makes it for her to read the Bible every morning. On top of that her blood count is off which has the doctors concerned of other, to this point, undiagnosed illnesses. And as if that is not enough, she has severe chronic pain caused by inflammation of her joints. Because of her kidney condition the only over the counter relief she can take is Tylenol. All the while, her husband watches her go through this every day, stands by her side, supports her, encourages her and yet carries the burden of not being able to fix this for her.
And what are they doing? They are gathering with other believers for worship every Sunday? Do you think she feels like being here very Sunday? Don't you think it would be easier for both of them to stay at home? Would anyone blame them? I wouldn't. Believe me, I know plenty of other folks that consider corporate worship an option they can only choose if all the planets in the universe are in perfect alignment. So, why is this couple with legitimate excuse here to worship with other believers every Sunday? The Bible calls it a "sacrifice of praise" in Hebrews 13:15. It is sacrifice that the Bible says God honors in delight. God forgive us for being tempted to make our time of set aside worship together as something that is only important if it is convenient and if it serves our preferences and needs. A sacrifice of praise is beautiful to heaven.
But this couple does not just make a sacrifice of praise on Sunday, they live out the rest of the verse. Hebrews 13:15-16 reads, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
This couple could very easily say, "Well, we made it to worship on Sunday. There... we did our part. God understands our physical problems. We'll let the healthy serve others." We might think that for them or for ourselves, but they do not think that. You see, they understand that to follow Jesus involves sacrifice. And the sacrifice that makes God smile is when we "do good and share with others." Every week, they make their way to the Food 2 Go room to do good and share with children who would otherwise go hungry on the weekends in our community. Not only to do they do what God has called them to do to help hungry children, but they do it with a smile and an attitude of joy.
So, I want to thank James and Diane Van Nest and all of you who week after week make a sacrifice of praise as you gather for corporate worship on Sunday and then make what you do on Sunday matter by making a sacrifice of doing good and sharing with others. I hope you never forget the words of Jesus, which are his promise to you as you deny yourself: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Sacrifice will only cost you, but when done for the sake of Christ, it will always gain you a life worth living! Thank you for your sacrifices of time, talent and treasure!
By the way, wouldn't it be great if we showered James and Diane with cards of encouragements this week? Whether you know them or not, why not send them a card? Their address is:
Van Nest
658 Loxwood
Centerville, OH 45458
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