Head-On Collision

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Have you ever been in a head-on collision? Probably not, because if you were, you probably wouldn’t be reading this, because most people don’t survive head-on collisions.

We can have head-on collisions in life, just as we can in driving, and no matter where or how they occur, they are equally devastating. One area of life where we especially need to watch out for head-on collisions is the area of authority and submission.

Authority and submission go hand in hand. You cannot have one properly functioning without the other also in place, and in the body of Christ, it is built in and based on love and service to God and one another. It is never built upon power, abuse, or control. If you use authority with these last three things then you are heading for a head-on collision.

My hope today is that you have a good example of someone in your life that uses authority the way that God uses authority. I hope that you can look at someone you know and see the love, the service, the heart to lift others up, to help others, to bless. Because the reality is that this is the way that Jesus uses His authority. He took His authority and used it to lay down equality with God, empty Himself, and become the sacrifice for our sins so that we could become children of God.

This is how authority works in the kingdom of God, because that’s how the King in the kingdom uses His authority.

And it is especially good to have someone in our lives whom we can imitate. Do you know why? Because imitation is a form of submission. We have to submit to the way they do things in order to be like them, using a choice of our will to place ourselves under their leadership and implement their ways into our own lives.

This is how we learn and grow, maturing and becoming more like Christ. This is also how we begin to carry authority ourselves.

Authority and submission really go hand in hand; you cannot have one without the other. If you want to do authority God’s way, then submit to someone who does it well and learn.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for using Your authority to serve others! I want to learn to use my authority the same way that You use Yours, so please bring someone into my life from whom I can learn.

Amen

The Losses of Lawsuits

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? …Do you not know that we shall judge angels? 1 Corinthians 6:1-3

How dare you?

Has anyone ever said that to you? It gets your attention, doesn’t it? That’s how Paul starts his whole discussion about lawsuits.

How dare you sue a brother or sister in Christ? How dare you drag the name of Jesus through the mud before an unbelieving judge? How dare you forget that you will one day judge both the world and the angels? How dare you?

This is strong language, so maybe you’re wondering what the big deal is. The deal is that your witness is at stake.

The world loves when the church airs its dirty laundry publicly. They love it because it gives them room to say, See, Jesus didn’t do anything for you; you’re just like the rest of us.

And you know the root of that, right? If they can imagine that we are just like everyone else, then there’s no reason for them to listen to us when we speak the gospel. There’s no reason for them to repent, to change their lives, to listen to God, to live for Him. If Christians act just as lost as the rest of the world, then why would the world see any need to believe in Christians’ God?

Before you know it, you’ve lost your witness before the world because, first, you can’t get along with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and second, when you do have an issue you look to the world for justice.

What are we supposed to do instead? Two things-first, on the occasion that you do have a dispute with a brother or sister in Christ, it is to be brought before fellow believers for justice. This is not a gossip group, but an elder with wisdom to issue a just verdict. Second, if there is no wise believer to whom you can turn, then prefer to be wronged. Yes, I said it, and Paul said it too; prefer to be wronged over seeking justice from unbelievers.

We need to realize that this shouldn’t even be an issue, that disagreements would be so prevalent among us that we would need to talk about this. But in the case that an issue needs solved, these are our instructions.

Let’s follow our instructions and preserve our witness.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

You are our ultimate example of justice, forgiving us even as you hung on the cross. Please help me to follow in Your example, preferring to give mercy than to seek justice from unbelievers. Please also raise up godly, wise leaders throughout Your body to lead us in justice.

Amen

Heartguard

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 1 Corinthians 5:9-10

Did you read what I just read? If not, then stop, go back, and read the verses of the day today.

Alright, now tell me, what is Paul saying in these verses? He’s saying, I wrote to you pre-

viously in a letter. Do you remember that letter? In that letter, I said to you that you shouldn’t keep company with sexually immoral people. What I didn’t mean is for you not to keep company with the sexually immoral people of the world, because if that’s what I meant, we’d all have to leave the world.

We’d have to get on that Hale-Bopp comet thing and get out of here. That’s not what he meant in our verses today. Even Jesus Himself would give us the example of hanging out with the folks that Paul is calling immoral. In fact, it was the religious, prideful, arrogant Pharisees who ultimately killed Jesus for hanging out with gluttons and prostitutes.

See, Paul isn’t saying not to be friends with those in the world who are desperately lost and in need of Christ. Go get them and bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

What is Paul saying? He’s saying in verse 11, I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person.

You see the difference? You see what he holds up as a new standard for the church of Corinth? Because what had happened was the church of Corinth was no longer providing the alternative lifestyle. The moment that we begin to act just like them, where is the alternative?

So he says we’ve got to draw a line.

I’m not saying don’t keep company with the world. I’m saying you can’t keep company with those who call themselves Christians who are still justifying their sin so as to remain in it. That’s got to go.

What’s the big deal? Why do we need to be so different? Well, what did Jesus save you from? Why did He die, if we are just going to continue in our sin? You are trampling on His sacrifice on your behalf if you let your heart grow apathetic about sin and justify it so you can still live in it.

Let Jesus save you. Let Him truly save you and set you free.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I’m so sorry for justifying my sin, somehow thinking that it’s okay for me to keep living in it! Please forgive me! And now help me to live in the freedom You bought for me with Your own life.

Amen

The Full Surrender

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity into the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

My mother made me do it. No, really, she did! I didn’t want to, but she forced me to-she forced me to memorize scripture.

One of the verses I remember most is, Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Another one is very similar: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

Listen, let me just say it plainly, if you’re not in God’s Word, you’re thinking too highly of yourself.

I can figure this out. I know where I’m going. I know what I’m doing. I’m going to pull myself up by own boot straps.

Nonsense. Dead end. Cul de sac. Leads to nowhere. In fact, the Bible tells us exactly where it leads; the very same proverb is given to us twice, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25).

So He’s bringing us back to His Word. The greatest thing you can do is be in God’s Word and learn to identify and recognize His voice. Because, listen, the devil is out there trying to hijack your life, and the only thing that’s going to keep you straight is being hijacked already by something that’s greater than the devil.

And who would that be? That would be God. And how are you going to honor Him in your life? You’ll honor Him by remembering His Word, which has the power to keep you in His way in those moments when the devil comes knocking at your door, tempting you, trying to draw you away from Christ.

Listen, don’t do this life on your own; you won’t make it. Let the Holy Spirit help you. Get in His Word. Know it! Memorize it! Learn it and live it! Then you’ll know His voice and have the power to overcome in the day of temptation.

I didn’t like it in the beginning either, but you know what? I’d never be where I am now if I hadn’t done it. Where could you go in life if you just let God help you?

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for giving us Your Word! Thank You for the power that is in Your Word, that if I will hide it in my heart, it will help me live my life for You. Please teach me and help me as I begin to hide Your Word in my heart!

Amen

The End

Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7

I’ll be right back.

That’s what Jesus said to us in some of His last words recorded in Scripture. He’ll be right back. He’s coming soon. We can expect Him to return at any moment.

This is like when we say to our children, Daddy needs to go into the store for a second, but I’ll be right back. I have to go get something for you, but in just a little while, you’ll see me again.

The incredible thing about these words Jesus left us with is that He is talking to us. He’s speaking directly to you! Hey, Jesus passed a note to you and it says He’s coming quickly!

Do you believe it? You’ve got the note, right there in any Bible, written in plain red letters. You can read it for yourself, but do you believe it? Do you believe Him?

That is step number one-believe in Jesus Christ. Get that base covered so that when He comes, He is coming for you. We do not simply believe in any random higher power. No, there is no other higher power, no other name by which we can be saved. It is Jesus Christ alone. He is my only hope, and He needs to be your only hope, too.

I hope, too, that when I say these things, it isn’t like I have to coerce you into believing. The truth is there-Jesus is coming, and whether or not we have accepted His death on our behalf does determine our eternal fate-but I do not want to give you a repent or else message.

Jesus paid for all our mistakes because of His love, and then He left to prepare a place for us. When He returns for us, He is coming as a bridegroom to receive His bride unto Himself. I do not think He wants to return for a bride who only chose Him because they feared His wrath (no matter how real that is!). I think He is returning for a bride that genuinely loves Him and delights to think about His return.

Turn your heart toward this love. Go beyond believing in Jesus. Love Him! Long for His return! And then rejoice, for He is coming quickly.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You that You are coming soon! I believe in You and in Your return, but I want more than this. Please help me as I turn my heart to love You.

Amen

Moses and the Bush Administration

So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses!’ And he said, Here I am.’ Then He said…I am the God of your fatherthe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Exodus 3:4-6

Anyone who’s ever failed can appreciate redemption, right? I mean, if you’ve ever messed up and felt that shameful feeling of failure inside, I hope you also know what it’s like to be given a second chance.

It is amazing what redemption can do in a person’s life, and I would love to see redemption do a work in your life and mine. For this to happen, there are a few things we should understand.

First, know that redemption starts in the heart of the man or woman whom God has called. Take Moses for example. He had murdered a man and then forty years later he finds himself standing before God in the burning bush. God is about to call him to lead Israel out of Egypt, but he can’t lead Israel any farther than he has gone himself. If redemption didn’t first nail him between the eyes and radically transform him, then he wouldn’t have gone anywhere with Israel.

But as Moses sets aside his sandals and submits to God’s presence, he is filleted wide open with his sins laid bare for God to deal with, to cover in powerful grace and forgiveness. Then, having experienced God’s redemption, he can now be used as an instrument to redeem others.

You can see God’s work of redemption as His rescue mission, and really that was true for Moses. He had fallen from the greatest palace the world knew at that time, driven by his sin into a wilderness where he shepherded sheep in obscurity for forty years, all the while carrying the weight of what his sin had cost him.

So many of us are the same way today. We feel driven by our sin, enslaved to it, cut off from the life or the futures we desire. But God is our redeemer, our rescuer, today.

Just as God heard the cries of Israel in their slavery and saw their affliction, He sees you today and His heart and desire is to rescue you. In fact, this is His promise to you today. Will you let Him rescue you today?

Prayer Lord God,

You are the only one who can redeem me and rescue me out of the mess I am in. Please come and save me from the shame and slavery of my sin! Fill me with Your redemption and lead me into the good plans that You have for me!

Amen

When Life Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.’ And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.’ Exodus 4:18

Do you remember back in school when you went on a field trip? What was it that you always had to get from your parents before you could go? You always had to get a permission slip. You see, even the mighty public school could not take you somewhere if your parents didn’t sign off on it first.

We see the same thing with Moses, that before he would go lead Israel out of Egypt, he asked his father-in-law’s permission.

But let’s go back-who was it that told Moses to go free Israel? Oh yeah, it was God. We might think that would excuse Moses from needing anyone else’s permission, kind of like if the commanding general gave you an order then you wouldn’t ask your sergeant if it was okay. But Moses knew the right thing to do.

It was all part of Moses being completely surrendered to God, honoring the authorities He had established in his life. This is the kind of honor that we need to see more of in our churches and families.

People church hop, looking for someplace that’s comfortable. Kids shake their fist at their parents, insisting that I just gotta be me! At work, every problem is our boss’ fault. Everywhere we go, we’re underappreciated, with our untapped potential being held down by the man.

But God knew that Moses could never be a leader if he couldn’t submit to one. He knew the first step in a mission of freedom couldn’t be taken with rebellion. And He knew that one day soon, Moses would need his father-in-law’s advice. This advice saved both himself and the people of Israel from a lot of trouble, stress, and strife, and it’s advice he probably would have never received if he had alienated his father-in-law by hauling the man’s daughter and grandsons away without permission.

There is a reward that comes from honoring authorities, even when God tells us things we don’t think they’ll like. Let’s learn from Moses today and honor those whom God places in authority over us.

Prayer Lord God,

I know that all authority comes from You, and I know that I have a lot to learn about what it means to honor the authorities over me. Please teach me what it means and help me to see the reward that comes from it!

Amen