I have this plant sitting in my office, where no matter the time of year, if the sun is shining, it is 82 degrees in that office. I brought the plant here because it was languishing at home, where the house is on the colder side, especially in the winter. The plant was a gift, so I figured I should at least try to keep it alive, rare as that occurrence would be, if you know me and plants.
Problem is, the soil could not be kept moist because of the pot it is in, hard to explain, trust me on this. Anyway, I found a way to put water in a bowl, and set the pot in the bowl, and the soil can now absorb the water it needs, as it needs it. Brilliant! And so I waited a day, two days, picked off the dead leaves (found a stink bug along the way, different story), and finally, I saw signs of new life; the plant has this fresh green-ness appearing. I think it's going to make it.
But see, I want to water it every day, I want to make it grow, faster, stronger, and I want it to grow now. I just felt the soil, it is plenty moist; it does not need me to water it today. So I have to sit back and let it grow, without my input today, resting on the work I put into it two days ago. Oh, it will need water again, maybe not tomorrow, maybe the day after that, I have to wait and see. But that kills my impatience to make this whole plant-growing thing work according to my plan!
Paul dealt with this "watering" concept in his first letter to Corinth:
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." (1 Cor. 3:6-9)
It's like this with people. I pray we are planting seeds of the Gospel everywhere we go, and even seeds of discipleship as well. Most often, at least it seems for me, I get a chance to "water" a new convert, or a struggling believer, or a rebellious Christian, the opportunities seem endless. God has us here to plant, yes. God also has us here to water those plants, but not to cause the growth. That's HIS job, and we often forget that. We think if we water, and water, and water, and then water some more, regardless of whether or not the recipient is ready, and then expect results.
My office plant showed results in days, and you know what, believers just might, too. You know what? Some may take years. Are we OK with that? OR do we have to force OUR way onto the process, and show God how it's going to be done? Perhaps we have been frustrated by lack of results. Who are we to judge those results and the timing? Let's do this, let's water as often as needed, and let's pay better attention to the clues we get back in the process. They are there. And let's behave as "fellow workers", and actually pray for one another's work, and then let's sit back and watch GOD do His things.
It is glorious!
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Real Men
Real men take charge of the home, their wives, their children, their church. Right? I mean, dominion means control, domination, power, decision-making-power, correct?
Refusing a real man is not an option, after all, God put him in charge, period. Right, guys?
I read Ephesians 5 this morning and I missed the above "manly" characteristics, but they remain very pervasive within the church today. "Real" men do not equal Biblical men. Biblical men stop being manly, and start being Godly.
I read Genesis 2 as well, just to make sure I was not confused, and when a man is to leave and cleave, his primary focus shifts from his family to his wife. Former commitments to his family are now very much set behind him, and this "one flesh" is shown to be the supreme human relationship this side of glory.
On the other end of the spectrum, we see all around us men refusing to lead, refusing to be spiritual, and flat out refusing to grow up. And I've seen a lot of it lately, and it causes me to do a personal checkup, and rant a bit.
Somewhere there lies the proper balance. And selfishness, pride, laziness, and puffed-up arrogance all stand in the way of healthy relationships. Domineering doesn't do it. Neither does passivity.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church." Simply put, be selfless. Try to take a day, just one day to start, where you lay aside your own interests, your own desires, your own priorities, and be a Biblical husband for your wife. Love her. Show her you would lay your life down for her. Christ did just that for the church. And speaking of the church, Biblical men do not lead the church, they lead IN the church, and they check their pride at the door, they lay aside their "self" and come to give, to serve, and to lead the "one flesh" of marriage as God designed.
One flesh. Wow! That means the way we treat our wives is the way we would treat ourselves. Think about what we say "no" to our wives about. Would we say "No" to ourselves? Really, let's be honest, are we willing to give up something at the same time we tell our wives to do likewise? Does being the man mean we get to do what we want, when we want? Biblical men do not lead the family, they lead IN the family. By example.
Think back to Christ. He tells us in Scripture to lay aside the old self, to put on the new, if I can paraphrase, "stop being so foolishly selfish!" And remember, He was willing to lay everything aside, simply out of complete selflessness for us, so we might decide to give our lives to Him. What a perfect example.
Christ tells us to put aside our own interests; He certainly did. That is exactly how He loved the church. Then, He tells us to love our wives as He loved the church. So, how are we doing, guys? Do we still need to show the world and our wives how much in control we are, or are we just about ready to show the world and our wives how much Christ is in control of it all? It might seem like a tough choice, and I suppose it is, for the "real" man.
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Refusing a real man is not an option, after all, God put him in charge, period. Right, guys?
I read Ephesians 5 this morning and I missed the above "manly" characteristics, but they remain very pervasive within the church today. "Real" men do not equal Biblical men. Biblical men stop being manly, and start being Godly.
I read Genesis 2 as well, just to make sure I was not confused, and when a man is to leave and cleave, his primary focus shifts from his family to his wife. Former commitments to his family are now very much set behind him, and this "one flesh" is shown to be the supreme human relationship this side of glory.
On the other end of the spectrum, we see all around us men refusing to lead, refusing to be spiritual, and flat out refusing to grow up. And I've seen a lot of it lately, and it causes me to do a personal checkup, and rant a bit.
Somewhere there lies the proper balance. And selfishness, pride, laziness, and puffed-up arrogance all stand in the way of healthy relationships. Domineering doesn't do it. Neither does passivity.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church." Simply put, be selfless. Try to take a day, just one day to start, where you lay aside your own interests, your own desires, your own priorities, and be a Biblical husband for your wife. Love her. Show her you would lay your life down for her. Christ did just that for the church. And speaking of the church, Biblical men do not lead the church, they lead IN the church, and they check their pride at the door, they lay aside their "self" and come to give, to serve, and to lead the "one flesh" of marriage as God designed.
One flesh. Wow! That means the way we treat our wives is the way we would treat ourselves. Think about what we say "no" to our wives about. Would we say "No" to ourselves? Really, let's be honest, are we willing to give up something at the same time we tell our wives to do likewise? Does being the man mean we get to do what we want, when we want? Biblical men do not lead the family, they lead IN the family. By example.
Think back to Christ. He tells us in Scripture to lay aside the old self, to put on the new, if I can paraphrase, "stop being so foolishly selfish!" And remember, He was willing to lay everything aside, simply out of complete selflessness for us, so we might decide to give our lives to Him. What a perfect example.
Christ tells us to put aside our own interests; He certainly did. That is exactly how He loved the church. Then, He tells us to love our wives as He loved the church. So, how are we doing, guys? Do we still need to show the world and our wives how much in control we are, or are we just about ready to show the world and our wives how much Christ is in control of it all? It might seem like a tough choice, and I suppose it is, for the "real" man.
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Two-way Street
Many concepts in the Christian life (and secular, for that matter) are, to use a well-worn cliche, two-way streets. That is, they require participation by two parties to be effective, or even feasible. For example, giving and receiving, communication (speaking and listening), you get the idea.
I believe the most serious Biblical two-way street between believers is repentance and forgiveness. To be forgiven, one must be truly repentant. If one is repentant, the other must be truly forgiving.
Scripture is very clear on this notion of forgiveness, going back into the Old Testament. Isaiah 43:25 and Jeremiah 31:34 show God dealing with much sin, much unrepentance, and yet He knows that those who are truly His people will indeed come around, and will seek forgiveness and restoration, and it is then that He "remembers their sin no more."
This is an interesting concept, but first, think beyond what we think of as "remember." We often equate "to not remember" with "forgetting." This is not the case here. God does not forget sin, He chooses to not remember. If you think I am practicing double-speak, I understand, but this is not so.
The word/phrase used by God, as inscripturated in the Hebrew, is more literally "to not recall to mind" or "to not bring up again," with both options being related to a pronouncement of guilt toward the offender. Think about that...Sinners, guilty before God, in need of reconciliation, are offered the certainty of having God not bring the sin up when it comes to being in relationship with Him. Wow!
Colossians 3:13, and several other passages, show that if believers are forgiven by God, they must be forgiving of each other. Same concept as above, and way more than mere words of "I forgive you." We are to behave just as God did. It's hard, but the right thing to do, always. And that makes it easy for the mature believer.
Repentance is this: A turn of direction regarding one's sin. Actually saying I'm sorry without offering excuses and reasons for the behavior. Actually asking for forgiveness. It's hard, but the right thing to do, always.
Forgiveness is this. Refusing to bring up the issue again, EVER! Refusing to bring up the issue again, ever, to God, to the offender, and in your own thoughts, EVER! It's hard, but the right thing to do, always.
When one repents and asks someone to forgive him, he rightly expects a believer to give an answer. Some answer "No", "Maybe later" or "Yes." Sadly, some never answer the question, assuming time will simply heal their non-response. Some people actually say they forgive, and then bring the issue up again. Biblically, that is not forgiveness. Biblically, believers can never personally reconcile when both repentance and forgiveness have not taken place.
It's all hard, and it's always the right thing to do. And that actually makes it easy for the mature believer willing to grow.
So how are we doing with our repenting and our forgiving?
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
I believe the most serious Biblical two-way street between believers is repentance and forgiveness. To be forgiven, one must be truly repentant. If one is repentant, the other must be truly forgiving.
Scripture is very clear on this notion of forgiveness, going back into the Old Testament. Isaiah 43:25 and Jeremiah 31:34 show God dealing with much sin, much unrepentance, and yet He knows that those who are truly His people will indeed come around, and will seek forgiveness and restoration, and it is then that He "remembers their sin no more."
This is an interesting concept, but first, think beyond what we think of as "remember." We often equate "to not remember" with "forgetting." This is not the case here. God does not forget sin, He chooses to not remember. If you think I am practicing double-speak, I understand, but this is not so.
The word/phrase used by God, as inscripturated in the Hebrew, is more literally "to not recall to mind" or "to not bring up again," with both options being related to a pronouncement of guilt toward the offender. Think about that...Sinners, guilty before God, in need of reconciliation, are offered the certainty of having God not bring the sin up when it comes to being in relationship with Him. Wow!
Colossians 3:13, and several other passages, show that if believers are forgiven by God, they must be forgiving of each other. Same concept as above, and way more than mere words of "I forgive you." We are to behave just as God did. It's hard, but the right thing to do, always. And that makes it easy for the mature believer.
Repentance is this: A turn of direction regarding one's sin. Actually saying I'm sorry without offering excuses and reasons for the behavior. Actually asking for forgiveness. It's hard, but the right thing to do, always.
Forgiveness is this. Refusing to bring up the issue again, EVER! Refusing to bring up the issue again, ever, to God, to the offender, and in your own thoughts, EVER! It's hard, but the right thing to do, always.
When one repents and asks someone to forgive him, he rightly expects a believer to give an answer. Some answer "No", "Maybe later" or "Yes." Sadly, some never answer the question, assuming time will simply heal their non-response. Some people actually say they forgive, and then bring the issue up again. Biblically, that is not forgiveness. Biblically, believers can never personally reconcile when both repentance and forgiveness have not taken place.
It's all hard, and it's always the right thing to do. And that actually makes it easy for the mature believer willing to grow.
So how are we doing with our repenting and our forgiving?
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Monday, January 13, 2014
What are We Sowing?
Every year, about this time, I realize I forgot to plant some bulbs of tulips that I had saved over the past year, from flowers I or my children had given to my wife. It's best to plant them in the Fall, I am told. I wondered if I could sneak them in the ground during a recent warmer-than-normal period in December, but something else came up, and there they sit, still in the garage, waiting to be planted.
For them to grow, they must be planted; the Bible uses the word "sown." If I want to reap tulips, they must be sown. Simple enough. I am told there is a specific way to plant them, and off the top of my head, I cannot recall. I wouldn't say it is difficult, but at least a little bit of planning is necessary to ensure a result of bright and beautiful tulips, that is, a bit of work in planning is necessary.
I believe a parallel exists in our spiritual lives. We sow every day. What we sow, however, might just depend on our priorities, our values, our spiritual condition, and just how hard we are willing to work. We'll get a crop of something, we just might not realize what that might look like when that time comes.
Job 4:12 refers to sowing trouble. That is specifically, "Those who sow trouble harvest it."
Hosea 10:12 tells us to "sow with a view to righteousness."
So there is the battle, to sow trouble or righteousness. Sow something good, or something bad. And unfortunately, it is often easier to sow the "bad", so we tend to do it more often, not thinking of the reaping harm that comes to others. And more sadly, we often see this within the church family, believer destroying believer, out of carelessness in sowing.
Proverbs 6 speaks well of this, starting in verse 13, describing the hypocrite who "winks with his eye" (looking the part) while at the same time "devising mischief, sowing discord" (the real side of the person). Verse 19, included in the things hated by God, mentions "he that soweth discord among brethren." Note that it is NOT the discord hated by God, it is the SOWER of that discord.
Pray with me today, that what we sow is righteousness, even if that means more work to do that. Pray with me that we will try in earnest to stop sowing the "easy" stuff, typically leading to pain and strife, but rather sowing that which will actually produce something beautiful, as God would see beauty.
For them to grow, they must be planted; the Bible uses the word "sown." If I want to reap tulips, they must be sown. Simple enough. I am told there is a specific way to plant them, and off the top of my head, I cannot recall. I wouldn't say it is difficult, but at least a little bit of planning is necessary to ensure a result of bright and beautiful tulips, that is, a bit of work in planning is necessary.
I believe a parallel exists in our spiritual lives. We sow every day. What we sow, however, might just depend on our priorities, our values, our spiritual condition, and just how hard we are willing to work. We'll get a crop of something, we just might not realize what that might look like when that time comes.
Job 4:12 refers to sowing trouble. That is specifically, "Those who sow trouble harvest it."
Hosea 10:12 tells us to "sow with a view to righteousness."
So there is the battle, to sow trouble or righteousness. Sow something good, or something bad. And unfortunately, it is often easier to sow the "bad", so we tend to do it more often, not thinking of the reaping harm that comes to others. And more sadly, we often see this within the church family, believer destroying believer, out of carelessness in sowing.
Proverbs 6 speaks well of this, starting in verse 13, describing the hypocrite who "winks with his eye" (looking the part) while at the same time "devising mischief, sowing discord" (the real side of the person). Verse 19, included in the things hated by God, mentions "he that soweth discord among brethren." Note that it is NOT the discord hated by God, it is the SOWER of that discord.
Pray with me today, that what we sow is righteousness, even if that means more work to do that. Pray with me that we will try in earnest to stop sowing the "easy" stuff, typically leading to pain and strife, but rather sowing that which will actually produce something beautiful, as God would see beauty.
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