What Does It Mean To Be Like Jesus

Jesus did not commit Himself to them…for He knew what was in man. —John 2:24-25

Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God. Put God’s Will First. The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I was listening to the song by John Lennon - Imagine. In it he described a world with no God - no heaven - no hell - just peace and harmony - just the love of mankind. The fact is that there is a heaven, there is a hell, there is no peace and no harmony. There is strife among and within the nations because of sin. No unity - just alliances based upon common earthly interests. Ever heard the saying, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." That was first expressed in Latin as "Amicus meus, inimicus inimici mei" ("my friend, the enemy of my enemy") and has been around at least since the 1700's.

John Lennon was gunned down on a street in New York - so much for the love of mankind. But God so loved the world the He sent Jesus.

Is it the desire of your heart that your life would be a perfect reflection of Jesus?  It’s a question I had to ask myself.  Oh I want to be a Christian.  I love God. I follow Jesus.  I serve others. But .. do I really want to be like Jesus? 

I think that most every Christian I know would say “yes” if I asked, “Do you want to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength?” (Matthew 22:37) 

Doing that was a problem then and its a problem now. Recall that Jesus asked - rhetorically 

"Why do you call me, 'LORD, LORD,' and do not do what I say?”  - Luke 6:46

The rich young ruler thought that he was good to go until Jesus told him to sell everything he put his trust in and follow Jesus. The true love of his heart was exposed.

God’s intent is that we all become conformed to the image of Jesus.  That means being absolutely like Jesus in our obedience to the Father and His will.  Personally, I still have a long way to go.  We all do, but the question is are you moving toward that goal .. each day … or are you content with being where you are?  

To be like Jesus means to be willing to lay your life down .. to crucify your old nature … nail it to the cross and no longer be subject to it .. attracted by it .. content with it having its way in your life.  Treating others the way Jesus did and not the way your ego, insecurities, and emotions cause you to treat them.  Show the world what grace and mercy look like you have uncompromised faith in and obedience to the Father.  mature 

That requires spiritual maturity which can only come from devotion to God.  Devoting yourself to seeking out the Father’s will – every day.  That is the life that I want but it is also the life that I am prone to neglect if I am not careful.  Take some time to examine yourself today and then spend some time with the Lord. Then let the world see what Jesus looks like in the life of a Believer.  Through your life and fulfill your purpose.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Don't Look Behind You

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. - Philippians 3:13-15

I don't know about you, but very often I read scripture - agree with what I read, but don't consider the personal implications. The path that the Lord has set my feet on has been surprising - humbling - and at the same time very satisfying. I have been stretched and challenged on virtually every leg of this journey. Now, I find myself on yet another leg. One that is far different than any of the others. But I find myself yearning for the sights, sounds and  smells of the battles that I have figuratively fought in the past. 

Then I read a familiar verse in Philippians 3 - "forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Wait! Whatttt! I loved those things that are behind me and was hoping they would also be ahead of me. But it doesn't seem that they are or will be.  

What I have come to understand - is that it is not the "what" or "where" of our serving but the fact that we are serving that is the point. Lot was told to take his family and leave Sodom because God was going to destroy it and everyone in it. So he left with his wife and daughters. Do you remember what happened to Lot's wife?

But his [Lot] wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. - Gen 19:26 

Jesus made mentioned her

Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. - Luke 17:32-33 

As Christians our lives are not our own. We have surrendered them to the Lord. Therefore, I am  determined to press on - forgetting what is behind. Like Paul, I have been casting seed - planting - and some times watering from field to field, - but I am not the owner of the fields. My role in this eternal story is to serve wherever the Lord leads me until that day when I join Him in heaven.  

Some years ago, I remember being asked by a volunteer if I liked being in Mississippi. Martie and I had been there for over 2 years. Destruction from Hurricane Katrina was all around. I thought about the question and then answered, "There is nothing better than being in the center of God's will. Geography or circumstances have nothing to do with. And so, I love being in Mississippi." And now 18 years later I say the same thing. My desire is to be in the center of God's will - not matter what is behind or what is ahead - either way I follow Jesus and obey the still small voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it." - Isaiah 30:21

How about you? Are you listening? Are you willing?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

You Are Not The Boss Of Me - Part 2

Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?  Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” - Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees wanted to test Jesus' willingness to submit to legitimate earthly authority. Legitimate meaning "Being in compliance with the law; lawful." by someone vested with some authority. You are familiar with the phrase "by the power vested in me". Vested means that you have been officially given the legal authority to perform a specific action, such as officiating a wedding. It indicates that the speaker has the legal right to carry out the task they are performing. Law enforcement is often referred to as "authorities".

So paying taxes was submitting to the authority of the government of Rome. Most laws are ones that we are to submit to that are not in conflict with God's laws. Those laws belong to Caesar and should be complied with. But if there is a conflict, in other words God says you shall or shall not and the government has put laws in place saying the opposite,  contrary to the Word of God then those laws are unlawful and should not be obeyed.

That does not mean that you will not suffer negative consequences for not obeying them.  Do you recall the recent political turmoil that erupted when some Democrats in Washington posted a video telling members of the military that they are not to obey unlawful orders?  That was not a reference to God's laws but man's.  They were saying that if a superior tells you to do something that is contrary to man's laws you have an obligation to refuse them.  That is something that is taught to every member in the military bv the military. It is not a new idea. The politicians were "merely" reminding the military of what they already knew. But they were also "firing a verbal shot" over the heads of their political opponents. Those opponents took offense - and so the turmoil began.

Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) addresses the failure to obey "lawful" orders or regulations. Service members can face serious consequences, including court-martial, for failing to comply with these orders.

Do you remember from history when the Nazi military leaders were tried by an international tribunal for the atrocities they participated in during World War 2?  Their defense was "I was merely following orders".  They were convicted and some were executed. If you obey an unlawful order then you are complicit in the crime. My point is that if you comply with man's order or law that is contrary to the Word of God then you are complicit - guilty of the sin. You can try to excuse yourself but God will not accept that - "Caesar made you do it."

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:14-15

We are faced with choices every day. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

How about you?

So who is the Boss of you and me? God is!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

You Are Not The Boss Of Me - Part 1

 And when he [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” - Matthew 21:23

Another title might be - Recognizing Spiritual Authority.

My slightly older sister, Cindy, who is now with the Lord, used to say on occasion - "Hey! You are not the boss of me!" when I would tell her she needed to do something. It became a standing joke between us. That aside - the point is not so different from what the chief priests and elders were making to Jesus. "Who do you think you are?".  

Reading those verses in Matthew got me thinking about authority - both spiritual and natural. Clearly the source of all spiritual authority is God, the Father. The source of natural authority is man.  

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?  Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” - Matthew 22:15-21

Authority can be delegated - passed down. Jehovah God is the source of all Spiritual authority. Even Jesus's authority came from the Father.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Matthew 28:18-19

God has also delegated spiritual authority by His Spirit to certain Believers. 

"God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers" - 1 Corinthians 12:28

But, like the Jewish leaders in Jesus' day - it is possible that people can assume the role of leader without the authority granted by God. I have known some people who wanted a certain position in the local church because of the status it would give them. Not because God called them to it, but because they had a lust for recognition by people. They were like the Pharisees that Jesus called - whitewashed tombs filled with dead men's bones (being spiritually dead). When Jesus was speaking about James and John's mother's request in Matthew 20 Jesus told James and John he spoke of those with authority being servants not rulers.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant." - Matthew 20:25-26

Someone who has been given spiritual authority is marked by humility. 

So how do you recognize spiritual authority?  Well, it is by the Spirit in you discerning that the presence of Spiritual authority is in a person. You know that you know.

Paul prayed for the Church in Ephesus that the eyes of their hearts would be opened (having spiritual insight and understanding) Ephesians 1:18. 

The Roman Centurion in Matthew 8 is an example of spiritual discernment. 

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! - Matthew 8:8-10

The centurion recognized Jesus' authority which required faith on the part of the centurion. Spiritual eyes if you will. Spiritual insight that comes through faith. Do you remember the conversation Jesus had with the disciples about who the people thought He was?

"So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 16:14-17

Jesus said that the spiritual truth was revealed by God. So the point being that to recognize spiritual authority - you must be spiritual sensitive to what is happening around you. To be spiritually sensitive you must be spiritually alive. To be spiritually alive, you must be born again - hello Nicodemus!

OK so what about submission to authority?  - I will save that for tomorrow.

For now .... 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Staying In Tune So The World Can Hear Your Song

They said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." —Exodus 20:19

 “We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.”” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I am certain that you know already how it is that God speaks to us.  By His Spirit, through prayer, the Word, circumstances, and other believers (the Church).  Of the four ways, the common point is the Spirit.  Our relationship with the Father is a spiritual one not a physical one.  I know, I know, why don't I tell you something that you don’t already know.  The problem is not in the knowing .. it’s in the remembering and after the remembering in the obeying.  

To receive what the Spirit says to you, you must be in tune with the Spirit.  In other words, your heart must be right. You must be ready and willing to hear. Some years ago, a friend of mine and I were preaching at a revival at a small church in Mississippi. He was responsible for leading the singing.  He had brought his guitar and his two sons with him.  Unbeknownst to him, while he was speaking, one of his sons detuned his guitar .. not maliciously, but out of curiosity and innocence.  All was well until he played the first chord.  A strange noise came from the guitar that did not sound at all like a “C” chord. There were 6 strings on the guitar.  His fingers were in the right place on the fret board.  But the guitar was mis-tuned.  Being fast on his feet, he announced that we would sing acapella that night.

In the same way, you can be in the right place … in church, Bible study, quiet time, prayer closet .. where ever, but if your heart is not tuned … you have unconfessed sin … or are self-focused, when the Spirit speaks … you won’t hear a “C” chord. Your heart will resonate something else. 

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:24-25

Before a performance musicians check the tuning of their instruments.  It sounds like a jumble of sounds as each musician gets ready.  But then, the leader gets their attention and everyone plays together in harmony.  What was noise becomes a thing of beauty.  When we obey the Spirit .. when we are in tune with God, our lives become a thing a beauty and shine like the morning sun in a dark and desperate world.  So tune up my friend … this world needs to hear your song.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Your Ministry May Not Be What You Think It Is.

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel… —1 Corinthians 1:17

“Paul states here that the call of God is to preach the gospel. But remember what Paul means by “the gospel,” namely, the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are inclined to make sanctification the goal of our preaching. Paul refers to personal experiences only by way of illustration, never as the end of the matter. We are not commissioned to preach salvation or sanctification— we are commissioned to lift up Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ labored in redemption to redeem the whole world and to place it perfectly whole and restored before the throne of God. The one passion of Paul’s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason— these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Have you ever thought of yourself as a preacher?  Probably not.  In our present day economy, preacher has a connotation of someone who is vocationally devoted to ministry, standing behind a pulpit on Sunday morning.  While I was in Haiti … my moniker was “Pastor Charley”.  I did not pastor a church, although I did "preach" on Haitian churches once or twice a month and so the Haitians recognized me as a preacher. Although I am ordained as a minister of the Gospel in Baptist circles, I have never pastored a church and never will, most probably.  My point, I am called to ministry and so are you, each in our own way according to God’s shaping.  We are all called to “preach the Gospel”.  

“Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15

You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit to lift Jesus up.  To tell people what happened in your life.  Telling people about your life before Jesus, how you met Jesus, and your life now that you follow Jesus.  I think we make it difficult with “methods” when it should be as natural as talking about your family or why you do what you do for a living.  

 “I [Paul] charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” - 2 Timothy 4:1-5

I am certain there are some people that you have known that you wanted to avoid when you saw them coming.  They “attacked” you with the Gospel.  Dr. John Maxwell said “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  It’s true. Another thing that is true is that you cannot save anyone.  Paul said that he, Paul, planted - Apollos watered - but it was God who brought the increase. (1Corinthians 3:6) God is the source of all things spiritual. 

Our part is to tell about what happened to us.  But it is not just by what we say but how we live and love. Our part is to go and tell. God's part is to send His Spirit to do a work in the person’s heart.  Their part is to believe the truth and by faith in Jesus be saved … or not.  Pretty simple, huh?

So what are you waiting for?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Are You Comfortable With Your Calling

And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the Lord. Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. - Number 8:13-14

First - let me explain a "wave offering". A "wave offering" is a sacrificial offering that is ceremonially lifted or "waved" before God, symbolizing acknowledgment of His sovereignty and ownership over all things.

Are you comfortable with that? You are God's possession.

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9

As such - we are gifted for His purposes and the good of the Body of Christ. For some we are called like the Levites and Priests for a special purpose.

He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, - Ephesians 4:11-12

Paul again referenced these specific roles in 1 Corinthians explaining that we are all part of the Body and each has a role in the Body.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church - 1 Corinthians 12:27-28

So do you see your role as active or passive. Do you limit your involvement in the ministry of the Body to being spiritually fed on Sunday mornings - passive participation - or are you seeking to understand how God has gifted you and your place in the ministry of the Body of Christ?

Does thinking that God has a purpose for you that is greater than where you are in your new life in Christ make you uncomfortable.  Are you satisfied with a life that you have decided is "good enough"? 

Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, said God is more interested in your Character than your Comfort. If you are thinking that you can't do any more - you are right. God does not call the qualified - He qualifies the called. He will never ask you to do anything that you can do on your own - you will always need Him to do it.

Maybe He has not called you to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor or teachers. But you do have a place in the Body. You need to see it as an issue of spiritual obedience and not merely an option. Fulfill it!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone