Blessed are the Peacemakers

Conflict. It’s one of the few things that each and every one of us deal with. We may have the rare day when life seems to be conflict free but for the most part, our lives are filled with one conflict after the next. One gets the feeling that we may have been born into conflict, and in fact that is correct. Since the first man and woman we have been in constant conflict with our creator, each other, and the world around us. It’s amazing that any of us are able to make it past childhood. But, as followers of Christ we are taught to deal with conflict in a different way. We don’t have to let every conflict that arises develop into a knock down drag out fight. It can and should be different, and we have the perfect example of conflict resolution in Jesus.

Most conflicts in my life are deeply rooted in the need to be right. It was a “gift” passed down from my mom that my brother also gets to enjoy. I learned at an early age that being correct about a certain subject or topic carried value within the world. I learned that even if you knew you were wrong that you should not back down. Be right no matter what the cost. You can always argue your way out of it.  These have been very hard lessons to unlearn, but by the grace of God it has happened time and again. There have been so many un-needed conflicts driven by the mindset of needing to be right. These conflicts drive out peace amongst us and fester and grow with time.  So how do we approach conflict in our lives in a way that honors God? It starts with seeking His wisdom.

Ch. 3 verses 16-18 of the book of James shows us the value of seeking God’s wisdom in everything we do. Conflict often arises when we put our own needs or ambitions above those around us. We live in a culture where your needs are to always be the top priority and the needs of others take a back seat if they are to be considered at all. James shows us something different. He states, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:16-17) When we seek God’s wisdom in conflicts we no longer need to put our own ambitions above others. We are given a beautiful picture of His wisdom and what the outcome is when we seek it. Peace and righteousness follow those who seek out God’s wisdom in conflicts.

When we grasp the need to pursue God’s wisdom in conflict we arrive at the need for humility. How are we ever to approach the conflict in our lives in a godly way without humility? Cultivating humility in our lives relieves us of the need to be right in conflict. It allows us to try to understand the other person’s circumstances and point of view. Paul speaks of this when writing to the Philippians in chapter 2 of his letter, and he does so by pointing us to the perfect example of Christ.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in 

the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing,

taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:4-8

God’s word tells us that when we pursue his wisdom and cultivate humility in our lives the conflicts we face will more often have a very different outcome. They will result in peace, shaping us into servants of Christ and honoring God. We become God’s peacemakers that Christ spoke of in the beatitudes. We receive the blessing of showing others a small slice of the character of God. In a world filled with conflict, I pray that as followers of Christ, we may bring his peace.

The Truth of the Resurrection

We make a million decisions everyday. From the minute we wake up, each one of us is bombarded with  choices that are in need of deciding. Most of the time these choices seem very arbitrary, such as what should I wear today, or what should I have for breakfast. But as seemingly inconsequential as these decisions may seem they are all influenced by a countless number of factors. Personal preferences, as well as other demographics, shape our decision-making process, and this is only speaking of the small decisions that we don’t put much thought into. Larger decisions require study, planning, and for some people prayer. On these larger decisions, when presented with enough support in one direction, we feel like we can move forward. The outcome may be varied. It is in these decisions that we weigh through the gray, hoping for the best. After much thought, study and discussion the outcome of many decisions can rarely be seen as black and white, but there are a few that can only have two possible outcomes.

In our house, decision-making has become something that is constant in the teaching of our children. I tend to wrestle with the larger decisions, and to be honest, a lot of the smaller ones. I carry around a decision until it is analyzed over and over again until it would seem a certain outcome can be assured. Once the decision is made it is followed by a peace that everything has been thought out to the conclusion. Often, when that conclusion doesn’t come to pass I will try to go back and reflect on what might have not been accounted for.

My wife comes to decisions a little differently. My daughter, much more so. With her, my wife and I both try to lay out all the possible outcomes for her in the decisions that she makes. If you do this, you can’t do that. If this happens, then this is likely to happen. I receive joy when I see my daughter stop and think, even for a moment, through a choice, but often those choices are decided very quickly without much thought. Now these are all very small choices she is making. Very few, if any, will have a lasting effect on who she grows up to be. Hopefully they are preparing her for the decisions and choices she will be forced to make as she grows into adulthood. She will enter a world filled with gray, but I pray that one of the very few black and white truths that she will hold to is the place of Jesus in her life.

This time of year brings this decision to the forefront. Virtually everyone, is faced with the question of the death and resurrection and subsequent lordship of Jesus. The media, as well as much of the internet and other sources focus on this question. As believers we reflect on the love that God has shown us in Jesus and how that shapes our lives and how we walk forward with him. For others it may be seen as simply tradition. For some they choose to ignore the question. But it is clear… Either God raised Jesus from the dead and he is lord of all or we are all mistaken and living lives of futility.

The evidence given over time cannot be more clear. Seemingly since the crucifixion there have been constant theories about the resurrection that try to refute it but they have been consistently disproven, time and again. So we are left at the decision. Is Jesus who he says he is, and if so how does this relationship affect my life? When discussing resurrection, but in particular the resurrection of Jesus in 1 Corinthians, Paul describes a pretty bleak world,

“And if Christ has not been raised,

then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

We are even found to be misrepresenting God, 

because we testified about God that he raised Christ,

whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 

Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we 

have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-20

But, if we study and, in turn, believe the evidence presented for the resurrection of Christ, we are forgiven for our sins because of the great love God has for his children. Christ is viewed in his rightful place at the right hand of the father and he is given the glory and lordship that is due. We arrive at this decision because we begin to experience the deep love that only God has for us that envelops and overwhelms us.

I pray that we would hold the concrete truth of the resurrection close to us throughout the year. That the firmness of our conviction in this truth would help us to walk closer with Jesus each and every day. That the gray that the world would present us would be drowned out by his light.

 

 

Persistent Encouragement

Life is full of lessons. As we grow older we continue to learn. It seems to be constant as long as we are open and receptive to the lessons being taught. God challenges us to grow and learn in every aspect of our lives. Some lessons are received better than others. Some are never fully realized. The lesson that anything worth doing, anything that has lasting value will not come easy is a hard one. Promises of easy money, easy fitness, worry free relationships, or knowledge without work, will almost always prove false. We will most certainly have obstacles to overcome but when we have come to grips with the lesson that persistence and hard work will see us through the goals and worthwhile aspects of life we gain much. We begin to understand the value that God has given to our lives.

In our house we are trying to teach our daughter about persistence and work. These seem to be hard concepts for her to grasp but slowly but surely she is starting to understand. With chores that will some day lead to a goal she wishes to reach we hope that the lesson will stick with her throughout life. It’s likely a lesson that she will have to relearn repeatedly over her lifetime, but isn’t that true with us all?

The life of the apostle John is a beautiful portrait of persistence and hard work. He was the only one of the apostles who was not martyred. He lived until old age. He witnessed the growth of the church while watching his brothers and fellow believers persecuted and oppressed by the world around them. He saw men try to distort the gospel of Christ but he knew that it was worth protecting. He was tormented by his oppressors, suffering for what he knew was of the greatest value in the world. His persistence and hard work helped John spread the good news of Jesus throughout the world and does so to this very day and on into eternity.

The letter of 3 John is addressed to Gaius, a leader within the church. John’s tone is one of praise for the good that Gaius is achieving in his service to other believers. It is full of encouragement. With John, as well as the other writers of the New Testament, we see a thread of constant encouragement to church leaders and those who serve the purpose of furthering and growing the church. The encouragement needed to let others know they were doing the right thing. Encouragement needed to spur on the oppressed and battered because they knew the great value of what they were doing. This encouragement is persistent throughout the New Testament. I can only imagine the strength needed by the apostles to persistently care for the leaders of the church. I’m sure the encouragement and guidance seemed never-ending, but every word furthered the purpose of God.

John also warns Gaius of Diotrephes, someone who was set on working against the progress of God’s kingdom. The apostles dealt with many detractors throughout their ministries. During the time of the early church, as well as today, there was a great threat from false teachers. In the case of Diotrephes, as with others, the deception was perpetuated because of selfish ambitions. The apostles worked tirelessly at correcting the damage caused by individuals whose aim was to promote themselves rather than the kingdom of God. I can imagine that as soon as one controversy or false teacher was handled another would take his place. We witness this again and again within Paul’s writings. The apostles knew the purity of the Gospel was worthy of their persistent hard work.

John bookends the warning about Diotrephes with more encouragement. His words are ones to live by.

“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.

Whoever does good is from God;

whoever does evil has not seen God.” – 3 John 1:11

The apostles faced obstacles that would cause most to abandon the path they had chosen. From mentoring new believers within the church to correcting errant or false teaching they dealt with situations that, without the unfailing guidance of God, would bring about the fall of the young church. Their incredible persistence and amazing hard work ensured that the Gospel and Christ’s church progressed to bring about God’s kingdom. We would do well to imitate them. 

 

United by a Goal

Growing up I was involved in almost every sport that was offered in some way or another. Some only for a season while others lasted my entire childhood. The one thing that tied almost every sport together was the concept of team. As I grew older the focus shifted more towards competition while slowly drifting from the learning aspect. I remember the teams I played on that succeeded were always driven by a common goal. Every person on the team had to believe in this goal and work together to achieve it. On a baseball team it didn’t matter how good a pitcher was if the rest of the team wasn’t ready to back him up with defense and hitting. In football it didn’t matter how good the quarterback and running back were if the offensive line couldn’t protect them and the defense couldn’t get a stop now and then. Within a team of so many individuals there must be a common movement and belief  in the same direction by all to achieve a goal. This was always taught and driven home by the outstanding coaches I was blessed to have.

I believe that this concept of a team focused on a goal can be and is applied to the church. While we all have different abilities and gifts, they all serve one purpose, honoring God. This purpose drives all those who love Jesus to put aside personal preferences and tastes to strive for the common goal amongst all Christians. When we, as believers, are focused and moving in the same direction, God does amazing things among his children. We are like a winning team working together until the goal is achieved. When we are united and working together for the glory of God there are no bounds for what God is able to do.

But when the church is fractured with disunity, suffering from a lack of focus, unsure of goals, and distracted by the things that have no bearing on eternity, we flounder and at best tread water hoping just to get to the end. We are like a losing team without the drive or focus to finish what we have started. Paul describes the importance of the body of believers working towards the common goal of honoring God within the church beautifully in Romans 12.

“For as in one body we have many members,

and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many,

are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,

let us use them….” Romans 12:4-6

This is such an amazing portrait of what the church looks like when working together under a shared vision. Each person has a function within the body; all bring something different that is absolutely needed for the church to move forward correctly. This applies to service within the church as well as service within one’s workplace, community and home. It is one of the reasons that we serve. We have gifts that are given to us to be used. Paul compels us to use them.

When applying all of this to the mission and vision of White River Christian Church it becomes clear. “Connecting every life to Jesus”,  is our common goal because every life is important to God. We do this by serving within our church and in our communities, homes, and places of work. We serve because we bring something to the table that is unique to serve the whole. We give of our gifts because God has given us so much. When we serve we are showing that we believe that connecting every life to Jesus matters. We are showing we are united under one goal, one vision. You have a gift. Let us use them….

Fear’s Undoing

Christmas has always been a time of reflection for me. Going back to childhood I can remember thinking how slow the buildup to Christmas was. There seemed to be endless amounts of time to look back on the mistakes and trouble throughout the year that I had, let’s be honest, willingly gotten myself into. There was always the fear that maybe I had not done enough good to fool Santa. As an adult I tend to reflect on things a little differently. I am deeply heartened by the celebration of the birth of a savior who has come into the world to be with us, to walk with us through pain and suffering and who gives us unimaginable joy. A savior who has given us a new beginning free of fear and full of hope.

I believe that as we get older the list of things that we fear seems to increase. The responsibilities of adulthood are exchanged for the carefree days of our youth. The future can bring worries that might not have even occurred to us even a short time ago. Fear of the uncertain can be debilitating for many robbing us of our joy in the present.  Fears about the wellbeing of our children, saving for the future, and many stories of doom and gloom on the news only heighten this sense of uncertainty. BUT, the birth of Christ changes this uncertainty for all of those who put their faith in him. With the birth of Jesus we are forever adopted into the family of a loving God who tells us not to fear. 

The story of Jesus’ birth has always filled me with wonder and hope. There were so many challenges for Joseph and Mary to get through that without the guidance and support of God it would have been impossible. Every detail of the story of Christ’s birth speaks to the miracle that occurred.

In the retelling of Jesus’ birth I have always been drawn to the story of the announcement to the shepherds by the angel. I always imagine how lonely and hard the life of a shepherd could be. It is amazing God chose to announce the birth of Christ to a group of people who held very little power in that world. He didn’t choose kings or magistrates. He chose lowly shepherds. The shepherds’ response of fear is understandable. We often respond in the same way. When we face something that is new, different or the outcome is uncertain we tend to respond in fear. But the birth of Jesus changes that. In the very real challenges that life brings us we can now respond in joy in the concrete surety that the birth of Christ has forever altered the paths of untold masses. We are benefactors of the pronouncement of the angel.

“Fear not, for behold,

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

The angel’s announcement is followed by the shepherds quickly seeking out the newborn savior. They let those around them know of what the Lord had revealed to them. And after visiting the infant Jesus, “...the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.” Luke 2:20

I love the reaction of the shepherds throughout this section of scripture. Their response to all that had happened had run the gamut of emotions from fear to joy to praise, and I believe that is a great mindset to have in this season of hope.

Around Christmas time I try to reflect on this mindset. In reflection the unfounded fears created throughout the year give away to joy at the coming celebration of the birth of Christ. This joy in turn develops into a deep sense of praise. Praise that God loved his creation so much that he became flesh and dwelt among us. That is my prayer for us this Christmas. That fear would be displaced by great joy that would develop into praise of the miracle that has taken place.

From the Mouths of Babes

“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”  Psalm 50:23

Thankfulness is a trait that not many people are born with. It is a lesson we learn repeatedly from birth until death. It can be something we struggle with from time to time and even  have long periods in our lives when we don’t think about it at all. As children, we are taught to say thank you when something is given to us but that can be just a learned reaction without ever  really understanding what being thankful is. As I grow older I am consistently remind in day-to-day life all I have to be thankful for. It is a reminder that is deeply tied to contentment. To realize that every need has been met by Christ. That every good thing is a blessing from God. It is when I come to the place where I know I deserve nothing but have received so much that an attitude of thankfulness cannot help but take hold.

On a typical night at our house, when my daughter  has brushed her teeth and hair, has had her bedtime and bible story read and cuddled for a little bit, we pray. As she has grown from a toddler into a little girl the prayers have developed greatly from the simple to more of a focus on thankfulness. This has been such an intentional aspect of our prayers because I often see attitudes in her that oftentimes are a direct reflection of myself. When my relationship with Christ is not first priority my contentment with life always becomes oft-kilter. Things that should have no bearing on life seem to carry great importance. I would believe I needed a certain thing to be content. More equals better.  My attitude would slip into one of entitlement rather than one of thankfulness. And when this would happen I could usually look to my daughter’s questions and attitudes to quiet any doubt about the stumble off the path. The reflection is always humbling and usually heartbreaking. Am I not teaching her to be thankful for all that God is and has done for us? The prayers now center around thanking God that we can know him. That he has blessed us with food, shelter, and a home. That we are thankful that God has blessed us with our family. At dinner we always give her the chance to pray. Her once very simple short prayers have grown to include thanks for many family members each by name  (including the cat and dog), and I realize that she gets it.

We see in Psalm 50 verse 23 how God really views giving thanks. It is the sacrifice that honors him. In giving thanks we are humbling ourselves before God and giving him the honor and glory for all things. We are admitting  that what we are thanking him for could not be achieved without him. We are showing our utter dependence on him for everything. It is in this act of giving thanks that our pride is broken down and we come to rest in him who provides our needs. We grow more content.  Philippians 4:6 states, “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”  When we pray at night I am always reminded of this verse. We need to thank him for all he has done.

On Thanksgiving we are reminded of all we have to be thankful for. We may reflect on the year that has passed and focus on loved ones who have gathered together. My hope for us is that we would begin to have an attitude of thankfulness everyday.  That it would soak into every fiber of our being. That we would begin to thank him for all he has done.

The Patience to Endure

Patience seems to be one of the things that is in constant need in day-to-day life, but it is not commonly sought out. I know I have become so attuned to having almost anything at my fingertips almost immediately that I need to be reminded daily, even hourly to be patient. We have restaurants that serve our food, sometimes within seconds. We have computers and phones that can provide information at an amazing rate. We have automobiles and planes that take us great distances in hours when those trips used to take days or even weeks. With so many things available so quickly we often don’t see much need for patience in most of the things we do.  We lose track of patience in the rush of life.

The concept of patience has been looming large over our house for some time. Our 5-year-old daughter is really beginning to grasp the concept of time. With this learning process she constantly wants to know when will we be home, when are we going to this or that place, and my favorite, how long until Christmas. No matter how short the length of time we give, it is always too long. The answer is always the same; you need to be patient. But when I start thinking about it her response is not far off from my own in many cases. The food served within minutes at the restaurant takes too long to be brought to the table. The computer is acting slow (forgetting that I used to have to open an encyclopedia or dictionary to learn what I wanted). It is in these humbling instances that I realize I am not so different from my 5-year-old. I need patience just as much as she does. We all do.

It is in James 5:7-11 that we are reminded to be patient waiting on the Lord.  James tells us to consider the patience of the farmer. They wait for the rains in the spring and fall to nourish their crops and wait once more for the harvest to ripen. They wait for something that is outside of their control. They have no other choice but to be patient. This is how we need to be patient in our daily lives but more importantly how we need to patiently wait for Christ’s return. The farmers may be waiting on the spring and fall rains but the crops are slowly, sometimes imperceptibly, growing. This is out of their control also. And so it is with God in our lives. He is constantly shaping and growing us as we learn to be patient.

In the later verses of the section, James relates patience with suffering and endurance. He points to the prophets as well as Job as examples of patiently enduring suffering while waiting on the Lord. We know because Christ suffered that we shall suffer in life. We also know that by enduring through suffering our faith grows. The idea of patiently enduring suffering is beautifully stated in 1 Peter:20-21

“Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong.

But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.

He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:20-21

Patiently enduring anything can be a trial in itself. Patiently enduring suffering can seem like an impossibility. Suffering is one thing that most people will do anything to avoid. People have devoted their entire lives around avoiding suffering and seeking comfort. And yet, patiently enduring suffering for the Lord is something that we are called to do. It is not optional, but we are reassured that it is worth it. This reassurance should bolster our patience and set our eyes and hearts upon Christ.

As we continue to try to teach our daughter about patience and endurance I will always be reminded about my need for patience in everyday life as well as the endurance needed to serve Christ in an honoring way. My hope is that we all grow in patience that is so desperately needed now more than ever.

 

Mission Field Ahead

As we begin Missions week at White River I am reminded of the mission that we are all on in this life. It is wonderful to be able to focus on the amazing work that God is doing in our community and around the world. We are given a special glimpse into ministries that we may be only vaguely aware of. We are able to connect with those who have dedicated their lives to full-time ministry, possibly in a different country or perhaps in our own back yard. But I believe one of the true purposes of Mission’s week is to remind us that we are all involved in full-time ministry; we are all on a mission.

It can be easy to get trapped in the thought that being a missionary has to be someone who goes over seas or works for an outreach organization here at home, when in fact, we are called to be missionaries in our communities and places of work. We live in a time and culture where countless people we come into contact with every day do not know Jesus. Sure most people in our country would still identify as Christian but the prevailing data shows that this simply could be lip service. More people claim to be Christians because they were raised that way or that it is simply the way it has always been in their family or community. But in spite of this, each generation has less and less of a working knowledge of what the Bible actually says. People are allowing the story of God’s redemption to be watered down and robbed of its power by Bible illiteracy and seeking to be spoon fed the truths of Christ rather than actively pursuing a relationship with Him. The need for followers of Christ to be on mission has never been so great. 

It is also easy to fall into the idea that missionary work is something you do, when in reality it is something we are. On a daily basis each one of us should serve and speak to those around us in ways that bring the Gospel to light. When this thought is foundational in our lives it is not something we “do” but rather who we are. We miss so many opportunities to spread the love of God because we think we need to go somewhere other than exactly where we are to spread the Gospel. As it has been said many times, “our mission field is all around us.”

This is in no way meant to be a slight on the many wonderful people who sacrifice so much to help promote the Gospel in either short or long-term missions, but rather a challenge to us to take the call of God on our everyday lives more urgently. We are missionaries in a world that is more and more likely not to know Jesus. What was common knowledge even among non-Christians a generation ago has now been replaced by a mismatch of information that is misleading at best and a lie at worst. The same mindset that leads a person to drop everything and travel to a foreign country for the sake of the Gospel must permeate our everyday lives. Our mission is waiting for us each morning when we wake and leave our homes, and it is clear; the good news of Jesus is for each and every person I come into contact with this day.

So the question going forward is, do we see ourselves as missionaries in our everyday lives?  Are we willing to drop what we are doing for the sake of spreading the Gospel, to travel around the world if need be, but much more are we willing to have this mindset in the seemingly mundane minutia of day-to-day life? The mission is right there in front of us for us to accept. I am reminded of the sign that graced the exit to our parking lot not long ago. It said ” Mission field ahead” and we need to have this mindset to affect our community and world that so desperately needs Jesus.

 

 

 

Realignment

I believe that if you asked most people, they would say that good character is something they strive for. The deferences in how people describe good character would be a different story altogether. Some would simplify good character to doing what is right in life. Others may describe it as doing what feels good to them, while many others might paint a picture of a loved one who they believed modeled good character to them throughout life. Some would focus more on the actions of others, and some would focus more on words. As followers of Christ we are to have our character shaped by he who died so that we may live. Our actions must reflect our words and vice versa. 

We view a sample of Godly character in Acts 19 in the telling of the story of the Sons of Sceva. The passage starts with a description of the miracles that God was working through Paul. These miracles of the Holy Spirit helped to spread the Gospel and grow the early church. Paul’s character was constantly growing in Christ because of his faith, that in turn, was strengthened because of his actions and words aligning. In one of my favorite passages of scripture, Romans 5:1-5,  this concept is perfectly illustrated.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith

into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does

not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the 

Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  Romans 5:1-5

Paul’s words in this passage give us a pathway through character formation for followers of Christ. As we have faith we realize we will suffer as our Lord did. The sufferings we go through continually produce endurance in our faith. Over time, out of the endurance of our faith, our character is formed in the hope that God gives. Paul’s life speaks to this truth more than one can describe.

After witnessing the miracles happening around Paul in Acts 19:11-12 because of the Holy Spirit, we see what happens when our character is not formed from our relationship with Christ. The seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were trying to exorcise demons using the name of Jesus. Their reasoning seemed to be that it worked for Paul so the same thing should work for them. For these men their words did not match their actions. They tried to use the name of Christ without knowing or following him. Sadly for them their failure ended in humiliation, but the Gospel still advanced to the glory of God.

I often think that we fall into this very same trap. We may speak of Christ in our homes and churches, but then our actions tell a different story in the community and our places of work. It may be the other way around. We may think that our actions of service and humility around others show our relationship with Jesus but never speak of the reasons why we live this way. In both cases our words and actions are not aligning to show our relationship with Jesus. Our character is not developing through endurance in the faith.

Finally, the endurance Paul speaks of for forming character strongly relies on consistency. Are we routinely checking our actions with our words? Are our words aligning with our actions? Are we who we say we are in Christ? We consistently need to stop and reflect on our actions and words. Daily we need to seek God’s purifiying grace to endure in the hope that only he can give.  This all happens when we dedicate daily time to prayer, study of the scriptures, and reflection on who we are in Christ. Only then will we receive the endurance that produces character, that produces hope.

 

Checking Your Passions at the Door

When I think back on a majority of the arguments and misunderstandings in my life, they have an overwhelming commonality; me demanding my own way. Sometimes I was correct in what I was arguing about but imposing my will in an unGodly way and selfishly seeking to be right, it would only exacerbate the situation. A minor misunderstanding about some trivial topic would become a major argument only to be lamented later. When we argue and bicker at home, work and church seeking to shape the environment to our own liking and taste we are showing others that we are no different from anyone else. We are exposing our own selfish desires rather than submitting to the will of the one whom we follow.

The first two verses of James 4 paint a picture of derision within the church. This is not the outside world he is speaking to but rather us. James leads us down a path that we witness today on the evening news every night. Someone is jealous of what another person has so they rob or even murder that person. The world is full of examples. But James is warning the church to not follow these desires. He is warning us of the wrong spirit and avenue to seek things in life. At the end of verse 2 we see, ” You do not have, because you do not ask.” This is such a bold statement because we often work selfishly to achieve things our own way, never seeking God in prayer. We effectively miss out on so many blessings because of our lack of prayer. This is not to say that God grants sinful prayers, but often praying has a purifying aspect to our desires.

In prayer, our true motives for seeking whatever it is we are seeking are laid bare. Is this desire or want based in selfishness or is it in the end seeking to glorify God? Am I praying to promote myself or to lift up God and his plan for the world? We so often do not see the answer to these questions until we have taken the time to pray through them and have reflected on why we are asking them in the first place. This is what should separate us from others in our desire.

When our prayers are aligned with God’s will we begin to see the blessing. We see this in 1 John 5:14-15;

“And this is the confidence that we have towards him,

that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask,

we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

God’s blessing of discernment in prayer helps to break our need to be right or demand our own way. It helps to show our desire for what it is. It separates what we may be focused on from what we should be focused on and brings us into communion with God. 

As always we have the perfect example of Jesus to show us the purifying aspect of prayer. His prayer before his arrest on the Mount of Olives shows us how we should submit our desires to God.

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. 

Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  Luke 22:42

Seeking God’s will in prayer in any situation causes us to pause, reflect and strips us of demanding our own way. We no longer need to impose our will on others. We no longer need to be right. We no longer need to covet things that don’t glorify God because we have him who surpasses all. When we check our passions with prayer, we may more truly experience life with God.