Corpus Christi

Re: Verse reading–Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25 (day one)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.”—1 Corinthians 12:27.

Familiar words.  The Roman Catholic Mass reaches a traditional climax when the priest holds the bread before the communicant and declares “Corpus Christi”, or, “the body of Christ”.  The Scripture uses the same words in a different way–to describe what has happened to US in salvation.  We became His body!  Just as Christ was given a physical body in the incarnation, arms, lips, legs–all which served His purposes and connected Him to the physical world, so, now, Christ-followers serve that purpose in similar fashion.

Every year in our nation, millions are spent on cosmetic surgery, diet and exercise plans.  We are very “body” conscious.  O that we would be AS conscious of our privilege to be members of Christ’s body.  Responding to our Head, available for the doing of His will, Corpus Christi–for us both truth and prayer.

Thank God for Pastors

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day seven)

I thank God, this morning, for my Pastors.  Shad Rue. Carlos McLeod.  Lonnie Hayter.  BO Baker.  Dan Yeary.  They have inspired, challenged and coached me.

I thank God for calling me to be a Pastor.  For the privilege to “speak His word”.  For the lessons I’ve learned from the people I’ve led.  The patience.  The wisdom. The encouragement.

I thank God for the church.  For the Savior who purchased this people with His blood.  For the Spirit who empowers and guides us.  For the Scripture which is the foundation that never shifts under our feet.

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders.  Instead, teach them to YEARN FOR THE VAST AND ENDLESS SEA.”–Antoine de Saint Exupery.

For 45 years, God has been faithful to send people into my life who have taught me this yearning.  I thank God for them.

The Death of Hubris

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day six)

This is all very humbling, and sobering To think that God has called me to join other faithful men to serve and lead the FBC family. You would think that these texts would have an opposite affect, arrogance, hubris, but this is far from the truth. These words that Paul writes, do a marvelous job of whittling me down to size. They do so by reminding me of the great significance of what I am called to do; that it is no small thing. It is a collosal thing to be listened to, obeyed, or imitated; it puts leadership in proper perspective. Perhaps, this is what Paul intended all along, to thrust men called to lead His church into total dependency. This calling to lead is not one to take for granted, or to take lightly.

Lord help me not to do either, but only ever follow your Son Jesus, as I show others how to do the same.

Integrity and Submission

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day four) 

We’ve been talking about relationships this quarter…relationships with children, parents, neighbors, employers, government, and church.  Our passages this week teach us that we are to grow in our relationships.  We are to strive to improve in how we interact with others.  It seems that most all of our relationships require some level of submission to another.  God has created man to be interdependent and to operate within His plan of leadership.  To submit to another does not mean that one is superior over another…submission is a voluntary yielding of our will to another, based on their position or calling.  God holds those in authority accountable for the way they wield their authority.  At the end of the prophet Samuel’s life, he asked the nation if he had wronged any man.  No man brought an accusation against him.  (1 Samuel 12:3-4) As a leader, demonstrate integrity.  As a follower, demonstrate submission.  God’s plan brings peace and brings glory to His name.

Request

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day three)

“Pray for us.”

There is nothing better that church leaders can ask of their congregations.  The request for prayer places leaders in the posture of humility and honesty before the people, and it acknowledges limitations that only God can help leaders go beyond.  And there is nothing better that congregations can do than to pray for their leaders.  Such prayer reminds congregations that the church will represent God’s kingdom to a world that’s afraid no one is running the universe.

Details Matter

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day two)

…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Eph. 4:15-16

Have you ever built anything? When I was 15 my dad and I built the house that my parents still live in. We did practically everything from digging trenches for the plumbing to roofing, and just about everything in between. I found that details mattered. A half an inch here may make quite a difference down the line. In order for everything to work in the end they needed to be properly planned for in the beginning. Our faith walk is much like that. Guided by the example of Jesus, the instruction of the Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit we too can be fulfill the design that we were intended to be. Take care, today, to not shave an inch off of your walk with Jesus.

From sheep to sons

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day one)

” He gave. . . some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints. . .until we all attain to the unity of the faith. . .to a mature man. . .the measure. . .which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”–Ephesians 4:11-13.

It begins low, but ends high.  God’s vision for the human race.  First we are sheep.  Helpless/foolish.  Then, in salvation, we become saints. Eventually, by His grace, we attain unity, maturity as sons of the Most High!  “Conformed to the image of His Son” shouts the scripture!  No longer infants.  Stable. Strong.  Loving. God’s provision toward this miraculous transformation is to send shepherds.  (Pastor means shepherd in the original language).  Pastors protect/feed sheep, but they also equip/lead lead them toward maturity.  At the end of life, it won’t matter who your Pastor was.  It WILL matter whether you gained strength from him/her to get forward on the road from being a sheep to a son.

A prayer for good government (and good Christians)

Re: Verse reading–Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (day seven)

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, SO THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND DIGNITY.”–1 Timothy 2:1-2.  “In this world nothing is certain, except death and taxes”–Benjamin Franklin.  No avoiding it. Government is a given!  So, the Bible tells us to pray for those who govern with an eye to the way God uses them to provide things we need to get on with the business of living godly lives.  To the believer, government is incidental, the larger goal is holiness! Will you, today, thank God for the roads, the armed forces, the economic opportunities that we enjoy in this nation?  Will you pray for those who work hard to provides these privileges?  Will you, then, pray for yourself the grace to get forward in a life of holiness?

Collision Course

Re: Verse reading–Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (day five)

Romans 13 begins to address the other side of the great collision between the Christian and Culture.  In Romans 12, Paul writes the words that are SO familiar to many Christians.  “Do not be conformed to this world”.  So the tension and collision are created.  The natural question the believers in Rome would ask is, “What do we do with Caesar?”  “Do we support him?”  So in chapter 13 Paul anticipates and answers.  (By the way, Jesus had the same tension and same questions asked of Him.)

2 insights from this passage help navigate the tension.  1- We must remember that where we live and where we belong are different (Philippians 3:20).  Paul uses the concept of “authority” to point this out.  2- Humility and Submission are often the ways that people see and sense our faith and love for God. (1 Peter 2:13-15)

John Piper comments. “Paul risked being misunderstood on the side of submission because he saw pride as a greater danger to Christians than government injustice.“

How Do We Respond?

Re: Verse reading–Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (day four) 

Is civil government autonomous from God?  Can they do what they want and we are commanded to obey?  Government is not equal to God, it is in subjection to Him.  If government commands against God’s commands, it has abdicated its authority.  The blood of the martyrs, who stood for truth against the tyranny of their nations, speaks in testimony.  If the government is autonomous from God, they are exalted to a position equal to or greater than Him…that’s called idolatry.  No prayer in school, abortion on demand, redefinition of marriage and the family, or parental rights given over to the state…do we obey God or man?  How do we respond?  Paul writes to Timothy that first it is a call to prayer.  “Prayers are to be made on behalf of all men, for kings and for all in authority…”  Have we made and are we continuing to make the first step?