Blind Corners, Hidden Driveways, Falling Rocks

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9

We need to realize that the issues we are so passionate about are not as important as the people standing in front of us.

What is it for you? Is the topic abortion, smoking, drinking, or tattoos? Maybe your issue is the gay community and the sanctity of marriage. Perhaps the soap box you stand on is organic food, a vegetarian diet, or animal rights. Are these the things that people see when they come near you, or do they see Christ?

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he wrote to a church full of smart people. These people knew the issues of faith and society and could debate with the best, but none of that mattered to Paul. The only thing he cared about was whether or not they knew how to love.

Did they love one another or were their private issues more important? Of course they were free to have opinions on anything they wanted to, but their freedom wasn't the point. Paul wanted them to remember what their freedom was for. It was not so they could flaunt their beliefs and rub them in people's faces. No, their freedom was so that they could love without any hindrance.

The debates over issues in Corinth became divisions. When they looked at each other, they only saw their differences instead of the love for Jesus that should have bound them together.

Does this hit close to home for you? Issues divide us like never before, but it is not supposed to be this way. We, as the Church of God, must rise up as leaders in this time. We must become an image of unity that will make the world want to sign up and join.

How do we make this happen? We do it by getting over ourselves and putting love first. Instead of pushing our opinions, we begin to help those around us. We demonstrate the love of Christ in our words and actions. Then, after we have shown the people around us that they matter to God, perhaps they will care about what matters to us.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for loving me before I knew You! Please help me to love others the way You have loved me-unconditionally-no matter whether or not they agree with me.

Amen

Leadership at Work and Home

A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. Proverbs 29:11

Do you wear your heart on your sleeve? If you do, I'm not telling you that it's wrong by any means, but I am saying that it's good to have boundaries.

I'm telling you this because we all know how things can sometimes get in our families.

The fact of the matter is that families are made up of a whole bunch of people who are nothing like one another, which means that there's a whole lot of potential for confusion and conflict. When we express our confusion in an emotionally charged way, or even in ways we think are innocent and well-intentioned, we can really hurt one another.

It's like when that garage door finally goes down, you just let out all the dirty laundry.

And our verse today would caution us as to the effectiveness of that, telling us that we don't need to vent it all out in the way we often do the moment that we get inside the home.

Now, my church has a school, and my kids have all gone there. What my kids see in me on this campus shouldn't be all that different than the dad they see at home. The dad and the mom that they see at church should be the dad and mom that they see at home. There should be no mask that comes off when the front door closes, like it's a Jekyll and Hyde sort of a thing where they're left wondering who the real you is.

You don't need to vent all your feelings, letting it all out. There's something to be said here about timing, about the counsel of how much of that type of spewing is overheard and seen and then picked up in the lives of our kids.

In fact, the more that the two of you, as husband and wife, can be seen in this sole-hearted unity, the better off it is for your kids. You say, Well, that's just impossible. We are so opposite in the way we think kids should be raised, or, It's a blended home, or, They're getting that when they're with mom and this when they're with dad. It's just sort of out of control.

You know what? There is only so much you and I can control. And here, the wisdom of Solomon would say to make sure the things you can control are coming under the control of the Holy Spirit, that it's not a free-for-all, vent it all out, let it hit the fan and see what's left when the dust clears the environment in which your kids forced to grow up in their own home.

Our kids need better than this, and so do we, so let's guard what we say and hold back what we vent.

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You that You still love even when You don't like what You see. Please help me to hold back my words and to choose to love instead!

Amen

Weighing What We Say

For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance...For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

I think you know what I'm talking about today. I mean, everyone's experienced words that hurt.

One way or the other, as either the hearer or the speaker, we know that words can hurt and even destroy things that are so precious to us.

Now, what if you've been through this meat grinder? What if your heart just feels shred-

ded by certain people close to you-husband, wife, business partner, son, daughter, mother, father, or friend? If this is you, I know you're asking, That person could say the right things to me, but how do I know if I can believe them?

Well, let me first say that there is hope, and I'll break it down into four categories.

First, behind the words, you want to see some real heartfelt regret over what was said. I hate that I said that. It was horrible to say that. There needs to be some mourning, some regret, over what has been said and done.

Second, this regret should lead to some repentance. I'm not going to say that anymore. This is a turning that leads away from further pain, misery, and division, even leading to rejoicing.

Third, you want to see a true realignment of the heart. I'm not just talking about the person who hurt you; I'm talking about your heart too, because it was your heart that got hurt. This means that we allow God to realign our hearts afresh, to restore them and set them free from the place of pain.

Fourth, look for the rationale behind the rhetoric. What's the reason behind the actions? Is there zeal? Is there fear of doing it again? How deep is the desire? Do they have indignation, a deep anger, toward what they did, motivating them and moving them to change?

Look for these things that display an attitude that says, We've been avengers for the wrong for far too long. Let's be avengers for the right now; let's defend what's right. When you see these things in both yourself and the person who hurt you, you're ready to start restoring the relationship.

Prayer Lord God,

You know what has been said to me and how terribly it hurts. But You also see how important that relationship is, and how important that person is to me. Please heal my heart, and heal my relationship, too!

Amen

Lest Something Worse Befall Thee

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise...Therefore let no one boast in men. 1 Corinthians 3:18,21

Listen to the warning! The sirens are blaring, danger is all around, and if we are not careful then we will fall into the trap.

Paul delivers his warning to us, Let no one deceive himself. This warning is about becoming wise in this age. I'll tell you plainly, the wisdom of this age is all about how to be successful in the world's eyes. It's about how to climb the corporate ladder; manipulate circumstances for your benefit; dress to look young, beautiful, and powerful; and have the most toys at the end of the day.

The wisdom of this world could also have little to do with material possessions, instead seeking to be exalted in the eyes of the world, accomplishing things that the world esteemshumanitarian aid, promotion of the environment, peace at any cost, animal rights, etc.

But like a good teacher, Paul does not leave us with only a warning, continuing on to give us the key to understand the warning. He says, Let no one boast in men.

Truth be told, there is nothing wrong with money (only the love of it), business success, being beautiful, humanitarian aid, stewarding the environment, peace, or preventing the extinction of animal species. The problem is that God has better answers for these problems than man does, yet we persist in the wisdom of man instead of seeking God for His answers. The problem is that the wisdom of man asserts, I can do it by myself; I don't need God, while the truth is that God calls us to a relationship where He walks with us hand in hand through life.

This is the life Adam had in the Garden before he fell, and it is the life God invites us to now. What problems do you face? What issues do you see in society around you? Now, what are you going to do about them?

Whatever you do, forsake your own wisdom and the wisdom of this world. Instead, ask God for His plan, and then invite Him to help you as you use His wisdom to solve the world's problems.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for giving me the Spirit of Wisdom! I renounce the wisdom of this world, knowing that it is foolishness. I cannot do life without You, so please help me and give me Your wisdom for every problem that I face!

Amen

Holiness Up Close and Personal

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim...And one cried to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!' Isaiah 6:1-3

Imagine with me a beautiful throne. How big is it? How many steps lead up to it? Is it made of gold or fine, polished wood? What precious stones are set in it? Does it have cushions? Do you have the picture? Good. What you are imagining actually exists, and you carry it with you at all times-it is the throne of your life.

What's most amazing about this throne is that you get to determine who or what sits on it. You can sit there, ruling over your own life. Or you can abdicate it to the government, hoping that they will fix your problems. Or you can lift up your job onto that exalted place, trusting that your job will always take care of you.

Friends, family, our spouse, possessions, relationships, intellect, the environment, and an infinite list of other things can all take their place on the throne of our life. We can even let our throne remain empty and try to live in a complete vacuum of authority. But you know what? No matter who is on our throne, God is always on His throne, and His throne is higher than ours.

This is really good news for us, because it means that there is always someone in control whom we can trust. When chaos reigns in our nation or when divisions cancel out leadership, God is still on His throne.

It is when we turn the throne of our life over to God, which really comes down to trust, trusting that He will be a good King and lead our life in a good and fulfilling direction, that is when we begin to live the holy life that God desires. That is when we begin to stand on the Rock of Jesus Christ so that we cannot be shaken no matter what circumstances swirl around us.

The security we find in Jesus' lordship over our lives leads us to happiness. In fact, without that holiness unto the Lord, we cannot find happiness to the degree that God wants us to experience it.

Give your life over to God today. Let Him lead you on the path to holy happiness.

Prayer Lord God,

I need some security and strength right now. Everything in the world is getting shaken right now except for You. Come and take the throne of my life right now and lead me on Your paths of peace!

Amen

Extra, Extra

But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift. 2 Corinthians 8:16-19

What kind of person are you?

Are you the kind of person who needs to be recognized for good things you do? Or are you the kind of person who will give generously even if no one will ever know what you did?

This is an important question for us to ask ourselves, because it gives us a solid gut check where our money and generosity is concerned.

In our verses today, Paul tells the Corinthian church about two men who have a good reputation in the churches throughout an entire region. We know the name of one of these men-Titusbut the other man remains nameless to this day.

Nameless. Anonymous. Yet he gave. He carried. He demonstrated that he was trustworthy and responsible with both the gospel and with the generous gifts of money that the churches collected in order to provide for other churches in need. This man had his heart right-the gospel owned his heart and money didn't.

Can you say the same? If there's any question in your heart, any catch when I ask you, then you have your answer.

But if money and recognition still have a hold on you, there is hope. There's hope because the uncomfortable truth is that it's not that you can't give generously without telling people about it or getting your name put somewhere on a building-it's that you won't. The problem isn't your ability, it's your will.

In this Christian life, we know it's never about our will, but God's will, right? And God demonstrated His will by giving generously of His very life so that our need for salvation would be abundantly met in Him.

The real question we need to ask ourselves is, now that we've received God's generous gift, will we neglect to do the same in giving to Him?

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for giving generously to me everything that I have. I'm sorry for any way that I have held back from You in my giving! Please change my heart until I give generously in the same way that You have given generously to me!

Amen

Jonah-Jacked

Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. Jonah 3:10

Do you know how to escape judgment? There's only one way, so you have to get this answer right.

The only way to escape judgment is repentance. Unfortunately, for most of us, repen-

tance is a big theological word that has a vague meaning at best. Let's break it down so that we can all understand this vital action.

Repentance at its most basic level means to change your mind, to alter the way you think. Or, you might want to say it this way-to altar the way you think. You need to put your old way of thinking on the altar and offer it up to God so that He can transform your mind and give you His way of thinking.

We cannot any longer think that sin is okay. We cannot flirt with the things of the world, pursuing relationships outside of marriage, friends with benefits, or giving away the affections of our hearts to someone besides our spouse. We cannot find our identity in Nordstrom's or put our hope for salvation in the government.

Nor can we sit around lazy at home failing to make a contribution to the kingdom in this world. We cannot assume that someone else will reach our friends, neighbors, and coworkers while we remain silent.

These are all part of our old way of thinking that needs to be sacrificed to God for the sake of His purposes in our lives. This is the old life from which we need to repent.

And having repented-having changed our mind about these things, recognizing our responsibility to live as children of God who are building our Father's kingdom-we must take action. Repentance is more than just turning from wrong action; it is embracing right action.

What right actions do you need to take today? Start with pursuing your family to build relationships with them and disciple them into faith in Jesus. Continue with living out your faith for all your friends, neighbors, and coworkers to see, taking every chance you have to call them to faith as well.

Jesus died to save us from judgment. All it takes for us to receive the benefit of His sacrifice is to change our mind about God, and to embrace the salvation He offers.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for dying to take the punishment for my sins! I repent now from my old ways of thinking and ask You to fill me with Your thoughts! Please give me boldness to not just think differently, but to also act differently as I represent you wherever I go.

Amen