The leaders we need

Re: Verse reading–John 10:1-21 (day one)
“He who does not enter by the door. . .is a thief and a robber”–v 1.  Jesus had harsh words for the so-called leaders of the Jewish nation.  He was constantly puzzled by their low-insight, low-impact lives.  In John chapter 10, the Lord uses two metaphors.  First, He is the door into the sheep fold (v 7).  Then, He is the good shepherd (v 11).  Confusing?  In both instances, Jesus is setting the standard for leadership in God’s family.  First, leaders must come to the church THROUGH Jesus.  Sent to us by His assignment and will.  Those who don’t come through the door, are thieves.  Secondly, they must be LIKE Jesus in moral quality.  He is the GOOD SHEPHERD.  Others are “under shepherds”  (See 1 Peter 5)  If Jesus is sacrificial and courageous, our leaders must be as well.  No question, the LORD shepherds His people.  And one of the ways He does so is by choosing and sending us leaders.

Land of the free?

Re: Verse reading – John 8:31-47 (day seven)
“If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed”–v 36.
Our experience is often disappointing.  With every singing of the national anthem we DECLARE it.  “The land of the free and the home of the brave.”  But, living in the land of the free has not given us true liberty.  We have more AND worry more.  We declare marriage dead and then find ourselves CAPTIVE to the very real consequences.  We WANT to do better, DECIDE we will do better (every New Year’s day), but the same habits and tendencies return with power.  Only in Christ, in His power, in constant and honest fellowship with Him can the chains be broken.  No part-time follower will know this promise.  If the Son makes you free (“if you continue in my word”, says the Master) you will experience this promise.  FREE. . . not to do what I CHOOSE, but what I SHOULD.  What-I-was-made-to-be-FREE!  Only in Christ.

Enslaved

Re: Verse reading – John 8:31-47 (Six)
“We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone.  How can you say that we shall be set free?”v 33.  We don’t see what God sees.  Even about ourselves.  Jesus saw the Jews as slaves needing liberation.  “The Spirit is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim release to the captives.”Luke 4:18.  They immediately imagined political captivity.  His focus was spiritual slavery.  If society controls what kind of house I buy, what kind of car I drive, where my kids go to school, am I a slave?  If fears dictate how many hours I work, or desire shapes what I buy or watch, can I claim to be free?  If, when I pledge to live by the higher purposes of God, I then fall back into sinful habit, isn’t it because there is a power operating in my life that even I don’t control? Jesus sees this situation very clearly.  Do we?

In season and out

Re: Verse reading–2 Timothy 4:1-8, 16-18 (day six)
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”v 2.
Paul knows how this fight will go. (see v 7)  He knows that Pastor Timothy will have good seasons (literal reading– eukarios) and bad seasons (akarios).  Ministry (life) will always be a mixture of ups and downs.  Highs and lows, neither of which can have too much influence on the servant of God.  Our task and commitment remains constant in both environments.  We preach the word when it is popular.  We preach it when it earns us enemies and criticism.  We have courage to confront/correct false doctrine.  We are gentle and patient to encourage/ instruct developing ideas about God and duty.  It will be a fight and it will be a privilege.  Paul has no regrets.  Not for himself, not for his young friend.   “In season and out”, we are servants of the Most High.

Enthusiam required

Re: Verse reading–2 Timothy 1:6-14; 2:1-15 (day six)
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you.”2 Timothy 1:6.
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years.  We grow old by deserting our ideals.  Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”–Samuel Ullmer.
I am surprised that this is said to a young man.  Shouldn’t be.  Young and old face the same temptation, do the right thing but without enthusiasm or passion.  Paul’s picture is of a fire that is allowed to gradually die.  Starts out strong.  Then it flickers.  Finally goes out completely.  Because no one looked after it.  Same with believers who do not fan themselves/their gifts into hot, enthusiastic flame.  “ZEAL for thy house will consume me” says the Bible about Jesus.   How can we not be like him?
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson.  So true. So true.

Neither poverty or riches

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 6:3-19 (day seven) 
“Some people, eager for money, have wandered away from faith.”v 10.

Vitally important subject today,  serious blind spot in this present generation.  Followers of Christ must value godliness OVER gain,  must see the temptation inherent in the attempt to use godliness AS A MEANS of gain. (see v 5)  As we prepare for worship this morning, please reflect on these thoughts.  “Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee. . .lest I be in want and steal and profane thy name.”Proverbs 30:8.  “God may allow His servant to succeed when He has disciplined him to the point that he no longer needs it to be happy.  The man who is elated by success and cast down by failure is still a carnal man.”–A. W. Tozer.

See you in worship in a few hours.  You are loved!

Zero-sum game

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 6:3-19 (day five)
“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.”–v 7.

A popular phrase. Describes a limited resource situation.  “More for me will mean less for you.”  And vice versa.  At the end of the game, gains and losses always equal zero.  Life is like that.  Over time, all that we have accumulated will be surrendered back.  Early gains will exactly equal later losses.  Old Joke. . . rich man dies.  Q-“How much did he leave?”  A-“All”.  The only exception to this rule is the soul.  A relationship with God, deeds done in service to Him, these go with us out of this present age into the next.  These are the “treasures” that Jesus encouraged us to send ahead.–Matthew 6:19.   “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”Mark 8:36.  It doesn’t!  Apart from Christ and a walk of faith, life is a zero-sum game.

Fight or flight?

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 6:3-19 (day one)
“But you, man of God, FLEE from all this. . .FIGHT the good fight of faith.”v 11-12.

It is not an easy answer, no “one size fits all” wisdom.  Sometimes we flee, and sometimes we fight.  Paul is warning Timothy (and us) about controversies and quarrels that divide a church.  He warns also about a love for money that is “a root of all kinds of evil.”–v 10.  Run from these temptations!  Don’t get close and hope to avoid falling in.  Flee!  Sometimes the opposite is required.  When challenged with unbelief or untruth, fight!  (Note Paul’s reference to Christ as He courageously stood before Pilate–v 13.   Sometimes He avoided unnecessary conflict, other times He met it head on.)  Only the Spirit can make this choice in each situation.  For today, let us reflect on this lesson; sometimes we flee, and sometimes we stand and fight.  Lord, help us to know when and how to obey these commandments.