Discipleship

Live like you mean it. How many of us who claim to be Christians actually live according to the Bible’s instructions? Probably not as many of us as we think. Consider the teaching of John the Baptist. He emerged in first-century Israel at a time when religion, not faith, exerted immense control over the lives of the people. They received forgiveness of sin through an animal sacrifice. There was a specific order and a clear plan to their religion. Rules reigned. John emerged from the desert with an altogether different description of faith-life. Sacrifice was not enough, he told them. The life we were born to live begins with a repentant heart, not a list of rules. A changed heart is not optional.  It was much easier to merely give up an animal. Forgiveness? Reconciliation? Repentance? Much harder, but essential for getting right with God. It wasn’t a familiar idea, and his listeners asked John what they should do. What does this “bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance” look like? John’s answer was startling. “If you have two tunics, give one to the man who has none…”  An extra tunic was a precious thing in the first century. We’re accustomed to closets full of clothes. They were not. John didn’t ask them to give away unused leftovers. He asked them to give something that mattered. Why give away an extra tunic? Generosity is a theme throughout Scripture. We are to be as open-handed with others as God is with us. To receive from God we must have open hands and an open heart. When we cling so tightly to the stuff of this world, it’s not only harder to cling to our Lord, it’s harder to receive all He has for us. Extravagant giving requires that we look past our own life and recognize the needs around us.  It requires us to risk being uncomfortable as a result of our giving. Maybe more important, extravagant giving requires us to recognize Who is in charge and who is not. We are not the source of everything we have.  No matter how hard we work nor how much money we make, God is ultimately the One who provides. It’s all His, and when we share what He has given to us, we acknowledge His provision in a tangible way. We take our eyes off ourselves to focus them on others and on the Giver of all good gifts. John wanted his listeners to live their lives in a way that matched up with the new-found repentance they claimed to have. Live like you mean it. John gave good advice 2000 years ago. It’s still good advice for us today. How many tunics are you holding?  Today, live like you believe the faith you claim. Let go and give. Live like you mean it. And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:11 NASB) What I’m reading: (NOTE: This section contains an affiliate link, which means I may make a few cents if you use the link to make a purchase. It doesn’t affect your price in any way.) I’m re-reading The Autobiography of George Muller. It’s one of the most life-changing books I’ve ever read. Other than the Bible, this book was the most instrumental in developing my prayer life. In the 1800’s Muller fed and housed more than 10,000 orphans. How? He sacrificed, prayed and believed. In response, God provided in one miraculous way after another. The faith of this one man changed a nation (or a large part of it).  The stories of God’s providence alone are worth the read. (I’m reading in paperback but it’s available in other formats.) Here’s a quote: “The Lord not only gives as much as is absolutely necessary for His work, but He gives abundantly.” p. 198 Your shares on social media help expand my digital reach in ways I can’t do for myself. When you pin on Pinterest, it helps even more! Here are two pinnable images: Thanks for your help!

The last time you experienced a trial, you probably asked the question we all ask at one time or another: Why does God allow trials?  We asked that same question ourselves recently and found a few answers worth sharing. Why does the trial last longer than we want? If we’re honest, trials are rarely over as soon as we hoped. Why? Because they generally serve a purpose. James 1:3 tells us trials produce endurance (or perseverance) and will, ultimately, perfect and complete a part of us which is not quite perfect. They teach us what we need to know if we’re willing to learn it. Nearly five months is a long time for a problem you expected to resolve in a matter of days. Initially, I dealt with the viral infection in my eye much like a bout of influenza: a few days of rest plus a full course of medication and back to my routine. Unfortunately, the viral infection was here to stay. After considerably more than three months, my viral eye infection is, by definition, a chronic problem. I don’t like knowing that, but it’s true. It’s time to adapt to the chronicity and “learn to live with it.” Though I’ve spoken those words to hundreds of patients over the years, I truly despise them, especially when they pertain to me. Why learn something when I’m suffering? There’s always a lesson to learn. We waste the trial, and we may prolong it if we fail to learn it. There’s something to learn in my trial, and I’ve spent a good bit of time considering the available lessons. Many people suggested I needed to  learn to “rest more.” In truth, mucking out a stall or working in the yard is restful to me, so I rest more than you might believe, but I’ve made an effort to get more physical rest. I don’t know if it’s helped me or not, but it hasn’t changed the eye problem. The most important lesson I learned (so far) in this recent trial is more reinforcement than new information: God wants my availability but He can handle putting things together without my help. I did a bit less and surrendered considerably more. Despite my lifelong propensity for “yes,” I said no a few times. It’s incredibly freeing to let God open doors, close them, and direct my path. He’s given enough vision for what needs to be done in that moment and enough energy for every task. There’s not enough computer time (eye-wise) for all I want to do, or all I think I need to do, but I have enough for the essentials. It’s not exactly a new way of doing things, but it is an easier way, and that’s a bonus. Why do trials have to change our lifestyle? Trials can, and often do, affect everything about our lives. From changes in physical and emotional health to jobs, income, family, community, and housing, trials have far-reaching, and often unwelcome implications. If we allow it to perfect and complete us, the trial will almost always leave us, and our lifestyle, different in some way. We live in a culture focused on comfort and immediate gratification. We want what we want and we want it when we want it. If we were content and comfortable in our “before,” our response to the change wrought by trial may be anger, bitterness, and resentment. We may kick against the barbs rather than surrender to the work of God. Why give thanks when you don’t feel grateful? James 1:2 suggests a different response to trial. JOY. Considering it all joy doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a choice we make. How do we find joy in the midst of hard times? I believe it begins with thanksgiving. It may be hard to find something about which you feel thankful, but giving thanks isn’t about feelings. It’s about obedience. When we give thanks in the midst of a trial, it changes our perception of the trial as well as our perception of the livestyle modifications required by our circumstances. They become less offensive and are eventually seen as acceptable if not welcome. If the “point” of the lifestyle change is to be more like Jesus (and it is), we should – eventually – recognize and embrace the benefit. What is there to be thankful about in my trial? There have been a few days when I would answer “nothing,” but that’s discouragement speaking. In truth, God has provided everything I need, including enough money to pay for unexpected medical bills and unbudgeted prescriptions – sometimes just in the nick of time. I gained more medical knowledge in an area that wasn’t my strong suit. The travel plans I canceled were replaced by other ministry opportunities. Many people stepped in to help when I couldn’t do what needed to be done. Because of the difference in lighting, I spend more time at home and less at the office now – a good thing for someone who works best from the comfort of the screened porch. Why spiritual warfare may, or may not, be a part of the trial… Some friends suggested the enemy was trying to steal my ministry. I don’t know if that’s accurate or not, but I know one thing for sure. The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) but I don’t plan to relinquish anything to him. The evil one tempts, but we have the choice to resist and flee or stay and surrender. I’ve slowed down in some areas, but I haven’t surrendered, and I don’t intend to do so. The ministry work I do doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to God. I enjoy sitting back a bit and watching God orchestrate the things I don’t think possible. My computer time is drastically limited right now, hence less blogging and online presence, but I haven’t stopped serving. In some ways, the work of ministry is more remarkable and exciting than ever before. Why

Those of us whose lives are insanely busy may wonder how to make room for God in our lives. When schedules are jam-packed, it’s often hard to find room for anything else, let alone God, as an early-morning encounter with a stubborn puppy taught me. Dawn was still thirty minutes away when I awakened and shuffled downstairs. Neither dog, asleep at the foot of my bed, stirred. I returned to my bedroom with a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate of peanut butter toast in the other. I intended to crawl back into bed and eat breakfast while I read my Bible. In my absence, Mamie, my still-a-puppy Shih Tzu, awakened and moved into my spot, curled into a little fur-ball, and went back to sleep. When I returned, she looked up with one drowsy eye, lowered her head, and held her position. “Hey, let me in. That’s my place.” Mamie kept her head down and her eyes closed. She didn’t move — until she smelled the peanut butter. Her head went up, a tiny button of a nose pointed in my direction, and she sniffed. Eyes brightened. She loves peanut butter and expected I’d give her a pinch of toast. I stood at the edge of the bed and waited. She didn’t move. “Mamie, move over. I can’t get in the bed.” She sat up, grinned, and wiggled all over in anticipation of a bite, but she didn’t budge. Finally, I set down my plate and coffee, lifted Mamie to a better spot, and climbed into bed. “Gotta make room for me before you get a treat,” I told her. How to make room for God and His ways As I settled against the pillows, I realized an important fact. We need to make room for God, too, and we’re often as sluggishly resistant as Mamie. The problem, of course, is we prefer to keep the lives we love and invite God into them, like a welcome guest. We want Him to tag along with our routine. That’s not the way it works. If we think we can ease God into our way of doing things, we’re sadly mistaken. We don’t invite God to follow us. He invites us to follow Him. Our activities and priorities may (and probably will) change dramatically in order to go the direction He desires. Our ways are not His ways Left to ourselves, our ways are always more like the world than we want to believe. Even if we’re “church people” and do many good deeds, our hearts are not naturally inclined toward God. Jesus summed up the law and prophets in two simple commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Before we started to obey the first two commands, He added another. “Love one another as I have loved you.” Consider the love those three commands require. To make room for God in our lives, anything that hampers our ability to love in such a scandalous, sacrificial way must go. Arrogance and selfishness are incompatible with the outrageous love of God. So are prejudice and greed, covetousness and unforgiveness. How to make room for God? Let go of what’s incompatible with the love of God. If we want the life to which God calls us, we let go to gain. If we want to make room for God in our lives, we must let go of our old ways in order to gain the new way of love to which God calls us. We let go of our priorities, our desires, our pride, our schedules. Anything that keeps us from following must be replaced with God’s ways. If I had the life I thought I wanted, I’d have a full-time farm worker and all-new equipment to take care of everything on the farm; I’d direct and he’d do the work. My days would be spent having lunch with friends, entertaining, and traveling to fun places. I’d cook beautiful, exotic food, serve it with elegant china, silver, and crystal, take classes and learn new skills, spend lots of time with family, especially my son, and have “doctor money” without the “doctor headaches” of weekend call or malpractice insurance. No jet lag, intelligence/police, tight budgets, or thrift-shop clothing. God, in His infinite wisdom, didn’t give me the life I wanted. He gave me the life I needed. I don’t have servants; I am a servant. Mine isn’t a life of ease; it’s a life of obedience. My life isn’t filled with material riches, but it’s crowded with spiritual ones. When our will submits to His… When I finally understood how to make room for God in my life, I discovered the life He gave was so much better than the life I expected. The disciples said essentially the same thing. Peter gave up a lucrative fishing business and a nice family with a stone home a few steps away from the synagogue in Capernaum to be a traveling preacher. He was arrested multiple times because of the words he spoke and the miracles he performed. Peter happily traded the life he might’ve had for the one to which Christ called him and counted it worth it. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 nasb Peter thanked God for His mercy in giving a living hope, an imperishable, undefiled, and certain inheritance, and a home in heaven — all through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The life in this world and the