Making Holy By Contact

"And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy." Exodus 30:29
I've heard people try to argue that one thing never makes another better--it's the bad apple that always rots the others, not the other way around. But that's not true. For instance, we're told to be salt--to purify and cleanse. Here, the vessels of the tabernacle were holy, and whatever touched them was thereby made holy also. We, as the vessels of God in our day and time, are to be the same way. So I wonder: do I make those who come in contact with me better...or am I more inclined to be, myself, made worse? Unfortunately, I'm afraid the latter is more often the case. I'm left then with a challenge to be the vessel I was designed to be--one holy (which is not to say perfect) and sancified (which is not to say freakish.) I must strive to live in a way that bolsters the faith of believers around me and draws unbelievers to the Savior. May it be said of us that whoever came in contact with us was made better for our influence. Isn't that, after all, the definition of a good testimony?

What God Cannot Do

"...which God, that cannot lie, promised...." Titus 1:2
There's a chorus that goes, "Every promise in the Book is mine: every chapter, every verse, every line." That's almost true. Some of the promises, of course, were specific to the nation of Israel, to the early church, and to specific individuals. But, as a general rule, every promise given in the Bible applies to each and every one who will accept God's gift of salvation. But that's not the best news...the best news is, the God who made all these promises is not able to lie. He cannot break His word! So when you find a promise in the Bible for protection, wisdom, guidance, provision, love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, eternal life, etc., etc., etc., you are GUARANTEED that it will happen! God said it...that settles it.

Greater Than Good

My cousin's "status message" on her instant messenger says: "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." I just want to talk about the first part of that. Expect great things from God. A lot of times, not even really thinking about it, we limit God. This request is too small to bother Him with. That one is too big to even think about asking for. Have you ever thought about the fact that, no matter what we want, it involves a person or thing or event in this world...and that God created ALL of that? Anything you could possibly ask for is something that is in His control. And, as His chosenly adopted (yes, I just created that term--hope you like it,) you have a right to ask Him for it...and to expect Him to do exactly what is, not just good for you, but GREAT for you...BEST for you! Don't expect the minimum from God--He's not a small-time deity.

Is It Nothing To You?

"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?" Lamentations 1:12a
There's a story of a young man (let's call him Tom) who was walking home one day from school and dropped his books. As he bent to pick them up, another young man (let's call him Shane) walking with his friends came over to help and struck up a conversation. Tom was failry new to the area and didn't have any friends, so Shane invited him to his house to hang out. The two soon became friends, and as they went through school Tom became a star student and graduated valedictorian of their class. In his speech at graduation, Tom thanked his best friend and told about the day they met, "Shane never knew, but I was on my way home to end my life that day. I was miserable, lonely, and no one seemed to care until he came along."
I'm telling this from memory, and I'm certain I left out a lot, but the point is still there. I wonder how many people we pass every day like Tom. People who are ignored and forgotten and uncared for. People who feel like there's just no point in going on. People who see us and want to shake us and scream, "Is it nothing to you?!" Is it? Do we care? We should--Jesus does. Christian, let people know that you care! Just something simple like helping someone can literally change the course of that person's life.

A Few Miles From the Sun

Sometimes I feel lightyears away from God. Like He is nowhere near--a distant sun, visible, His existance known, but unreachable. Usually this is when I'm run-down and tired and/or when I've gotten too caught up in "life" to take time for the Bible and prayer. In times like these, it's especially important to "be still and know that I am God." Shut yourself up in a room to yourself or go for a walk--whatever you can to get alone and open yourself to Him again. For it's not that God is near or far--His presence is always with us--but that we've shut Him out. Open your heart and mind to let the God-sun shine in!

Be Flexible

I recently read a book that referred to a Yiddish saying that (translated, since only one of you MIGHT know enough Yiddish to understand) says, "Man plans, and God laughs." I'm a planner, and I know many of you are too. We like to have a plan and a backup plan and a backup plan for our backup plan. We want to be prepared for every contingency. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that, but sometimes we get so nailed into our plans and our designs that we refuse to let God work in our lives. We have to learn to be flexible, to leave God room to change our plans. Be a flexible person, because if you can't bend, God just might have to break you.

"We Just Need It Special"

Someone said something interesting to me today--he said, "Every now and then, we all need some prayer. Every day wouldn't hurt, but every now and then we just need it special." Like most great truths, it's surprisingly simple. Sometimes we just need a little extra prayer. Ever had someone just come to mind at an odd time? Or you run across something that brings someone to mind? Sure, it could be a coincidence. But God often uses little things like that. Take the nudge--when someone comes to mind for no apparent--or a very apparent--reason, take a few seconds to lift them to the Lord in prayer. Maybe the Spirit is telling you they just need it special.

An Always God

"Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly." Jonah 2:1
Two thoughts here: first, Jonah was at the lowest point in his life. No one else could hear him--in man's eyes he would have been given up as lost with no hope. Ask any scientist--it's not possible to survive Jonah's situation. And yet God not only hears, but he answers in a miraculous way. We don't think of it that way often, but it's true--God performed a miracle to save Jonah's life.
Second, in spite of his disobedience and outright rebellion against God, the Lord was still Jonah's God.
We do stupid things and get ourselves into impossible situations. And yet, no matter how deep into trouble we get, and no matter how far from Him we run, God is able to hear us, able to save us, and able to keep us. He's never out of earshot, His arm is never too short to reach us, and He will never, ever forsake us.

Beyond Me

There's a song lyric that goes, "It's beyond me--I cannot carry the weight of a heavy world." With the exception of "Jesus loves me," I doubt there's a line more meaningful for today's people. So often we rush through life taking on more and more, trying to get more, accomplish more, go farther faster. We do our dead-level best trying to single-handedly take on the weight of a very heavy world...and we just can't bear it. It is very much beyond us. So we spin our wheels, running ourselves into the ground. And we do this spiritually and emotionally as much as we do it physically. Folks, you don't have to try to carry the world all by yourself--which is good, because you're not able to. God is waiting to help you bear all of your burdens, and there's nothing He wants more. He already died to keep you out of hell, don't you think you can trust Him to help you with the rest?

How Far Have You Been Called?

I wanted to make one other observation from our passage yesterday in the Garden of Gethsemene. I find it interesting that Jesus brought his twelve disciples, of all the many who followed Him, to the garden...then, of the twelve, took three--Peter, James and John--a little farther than the others. That's a great analogy for our Christian journey, too. God doesn't deal with each of us exactly the same. His plan for each of us is unique. It's easy for us to get caught up in what so-and-so is doing for God--what He's led them to do. But it's not our concern what God has for others. We have to stay in touch with God and do what He wants US to do. You may be a garden disciple...or even a "little farther" disciple...or you may just be a palm-laying disciple. Just be sure that you're where He has called you--as far, but no further--and you will have the peace that passeth all understanding.

I Am A Rock

There's an old song (old being, of course, relative) that says, "I am a rock." It's a good song--well-written lyrically and musically. It's also dead wrong. I'm not a rock. Neither are you. We're weak...we tire, we fail, we crack under pressure...and there's a lot of pressure out there to break us. It's good to know, in a crushing world that there is a Rock that we can run to...that He will never tire or fail or crack under pressure...that, when we are weak, He is strong. Are you resting in that Rock today? Or are you standing on your own under the shadow of impending doom, arrogantly proclaiming, "I am a rock...and a rock feels no pain?"

Overcoming Unhappiness

I've noticed that only two things can make me miserable--something I do, or something someone else does. Seems obvious, but often we try to blame our unhappiness on things like poor finances, our job, a stressful situation.... But really our unhappiness is almost always due to either sin in our lives creating disharmony with God and within ourselves, or allowing things people say and do to hurt our pride. That's what it is, isn't it? We determine that we deserve to be treated better than that...that they oughtn't speak that way to us...who do they think they are?
The Bible tells us to die to self. To sacrifice our pride--our "deservedness." And that's how we often view it--as a sacrifice. God, though, in His higher-than-ours wisdom, knew that only by sacrificing ourselves in this way will we be able to experience peace and overcome unhappiness and dissatisfaction. That's exactly what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

The Source

I had a conversation today with someone who believes that, after death one of two things happens: if you have not finished "all that you're supposed to accomplish," you go "back into the void to wait for a new body" and be reincarnated; if you have accomplished everything, you "move on to a new plane--that's heaven." Sounds ridiculous, huh? Of course--because it IS ridiculous. It's ridiculous any time we come up with "beliefs" based on our own authority. I'm so grateful that God saw fit to give us everything we need to know about Himself and our relationship with Him. The Bible is (with the obvious exception of Christ Himself) the greatest gift man has ever been given. Don't take for granted the fact that you have in your possession the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Because of that you can KNOW the answers to all of life's difficult questions without having to make them up on your own.

Make Today Count

Today there was a horrible wreck just a few yards from my house. As far as I know, no one was killed, but that was only by the grace of God. One driver is currently having his face operated on; the 18-wheeler involved exploded twice, but only after the driver was able to get away from his cab. Just a couple weeks ago, two young men who graduated from high school with my little sister died in a car accident. Yesterday I learned that a 25-year-old girl I know was just diagnosed with cancer.
Life is deadly. The Bible tells us that our life is merely a vapor--here one instant, gone the next. None of us is guaranteed to be alive tomorrow...or five minutes from now. My point is not that we should live in fear or in the shadow of death. My point is that, first, as believers, we have the light to banish that shadow; and, second, we ought to live every day with the recognition that it could be our last. Don't get caught up in the peripheral things of life--remember what is important. Your relationships with God and man are the only thing that you get to carry into the next life, so don't screw them up! Be sure that the people you care about know that you do...and make sure that when the day comes that you are gone, people have the confidence to say you are with your Savior. Make today count!

An Involved God

There are scores of references in the Bible to God's relationship with man--His leading, His talking with, His care for, His interaction with...even His anger towards man's sin. There's one thing that all these things tell us--GOD IS INVOLVED! God knows who you are, where you are, what you're going through...and He CARES! Is that not the most amazing thing ever?! Don't let the world or people or your trials get you down--God is involved in your life, and He is in control--it'll all work out as long as you're letting Him work it out for you.

Friend First

The Bible tells us that for a man to have friends, he must show himself friendly. Note that it doesn't promise that, if you're friendly, people WILL reciprocate. There are some people that you can be just as nice as you please...and they'll treat you like the scum of the earth anyway. It's so easy in those situations to act in kind, but you'll never win that way. Smile, be nice...and move on. That's the only way to beat people like that. You may never convert them into a friend--or you may. Either way, be sure that at the end of the day you can say, "I did the right thing." You'll feel better about yourself, you'll have a less strained relationship with God, and others will notice. You will only gain friends if you ARE a friend first.

Why We Fail, pt. 4

Just one more reason (that I'll cover, at least) we don't keep resolutions and achieve our goals: we try to do it alone. Your chances of success in just about any venture increases greatly with company. Trying to accomplish something with another person's inclusion provides moral support, encouragement, accountability, and objective advice. But even better than that, as Christians, we have an omnipotent, omniscent God always available to us. He wants us to achieve, to be successful, to be happy and healthy and holy. And He's never too busy to lend an ear or a hand. Don't forget your greatest aid in goal-reaching--your Heavenly Father!

Another reason we fail to reach our goals is inability to stand against resistance. Or: a willingness to quit. Proverbs tells us that a just man falls seven times and rises up again. You're going fail. Success and victory do not have tendencies to land gently in your lap. No, you've got to learn to get back up when you fall and press on. Winners never quit and quitters never win. Don't quit! When you run into an obstacle, find a way around it. Or over it. Or under it. Or THROUGH it. Just keep on trying, and you will eventually succeed.

Why We Fail, pt. 3

A third reason our resolutions fall apart quickly is passive goal-setting. Make sure your goals are pro-active. Don't NOT do something--DO something. You have to take postive action, and (to just insert another in here) you have to do it NOW. Goals should be active and timely. You have to get yourself involved in the goal-reaching/resolution-keeping process. Want to kick a habit? Break that besetting sin? Make it your goal to replace it with something that will help in the prevention. Just giving something up--anger, meanness, bitterness, lust, gossiping...whatever--creates a void that must be filled. Make filling that your goal, and losing the habit will take care of itself! Be AGGRESSIVE with your goals, and they'll stand a much better chance.

Why We Fail, pt. 1

Well, here we are a week into a new year again. We naturally tend to spend a lot of time reevaluating in these days right around New Year's. We consider the successes and failures of the past year; we determine to do this or that, or more of that or this; we set goals and resolutions. And two weeks later, we're in the same ruts and bad habits we were in two months ago. What happened?
A few things can cause us to fail in our determination to do better, and I'll try to hit on a few of these pitfalls--and map out some ways around them--in the next few days.
The first thing that can prevent our success in the new year and in life is doing things for the wrong reasons. Ask yourself why you set those goals and mae those resolutions. Far too often our ambitions are determined by what other think (or what we believe they think) of us. I'm not going to tell you not to care what others think, because, as ambassadors of Heaven, we SHOULD care. But if that's what you're baseing your goals on, you'll fail almost every time. If this is your problem, try changing the way you're thinking about your goals. Isn't that just playing semantics? You bet it is. And you can bet semantic differences can make a huge difference. Reword your purposes. Want to lose some weight so people will look at you differently or find you more attractive? No--you want to slim down so you feel better about what you see in the mirror and to improve your long-term health. Make sure you're reasons center around yourself and God. Those are the two people you're stuck with!