Balancing Priorities – Deciding What Is Most Important

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And He [Jesus] said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. - Matthew 22:36-38

What is the most important and urgent thing in anyone's life? Charles Hummel wrote a book “Tyranny of the Urgent”  The idea behind the book is that we often let what seems urgent be the deciding factor with respect to what we do.  What is “important” is juxtaposed with what is “urgent”.  (OK hang with me here!) There are 4 possible combinations of life situations that we will encounter  – Urgent/Important – Urgent/Not Important – Not Urgent Important – Not Urgent/Not Important.  You can put any aspect of your life, every choice, every decision under one of those headings.

So what does that have to do with our faith?  Emotions are tied to urgency.  Something happens and our emotions – Spidey senses – tell us that this must be acted upon immediately, it's urgent.  The key is knowing what is important and keeping life in perspective with respect to that knowing.  So, Christian, what is important to you?  The text-book (Bible) answer is God, others (world, culture, family), and lastly you. (Matthew 22: 37-39, Romans 12:1-2, Mark 9:35) There are many other references, but those are sufficient for my point.  Take a moment and look them up. Then pray about them.

So what is important is determined first by our relationship with God and our willingness to trust and obey – and not by our feelings/emotions.  The difficulty starts with the tension between the old life and the new life – that we live in a physical world but have a new spiritual reality that is supposed to be our primary perspective – the filter by which we determine what is important and what is urgent.  

In the context of Hummel’s book – Our relationship with God is the determinant with respect to deciding what is important and what is urgent.  For some Christians – it’s OK to agree that we should not love the world or the things of this world (1 John 2:15) but what about retirement – the children’s college – my new car – my job.  Where do they fall into the mix?  

What my point is, friend, is that all of that falls into its proper place when God is in His proper place.  A classic question is “Do you believe that what you believe is really real?” If you do – God will always be first – and if you don’t – God will often be left in the dust in favor of what is urgent – what your flesh tells you is important.  We are faced with these decisions every day.  But – if we are not spiritually minded – we are bound to choose poorly.  If the Chief End Of Man is indeed to “Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever” then God must be first and must be the One who determines what is important and what is urgent.  

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16

You are going to be challenged today with this dilemma – what to respond to and how to respond.  If you are a Christian – your choice is clear but requires faith and obedience to respond correctly.  Keep the things of life in their proper place … don’t let your emotions rule your heart .. that place belongs to God.  

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

Foxhole Religion

The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. —Job 42:10

I pray, “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer— I will walk rightly before You if You will help me.” But I cannot make myself right with God; I cannot make my life perfect. I can only be right with God if I accept the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. I must leave myself completely alone in His hands, and then I can begin to pour my life out in the priestly work of intercession. “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” As a saved soul, the real business of your life is intercessory prayer. Whatever circumstances God may place you in, always pray immediately that His atonement may be recognized and as fully understood in the lives of others as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now, and pray for those with whom you come in contact now. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Foxhole religion. If you were ever in the military in a war you know what that is.  It’s when you are afraid .. in mortal danger ..  and you make a promise to God. “God if you will spare me I promise to be good.” We find ourselves in a jam and we are looking for a way out.  A prayer of the flesh – devoid of any spiritual context – and what happens when you are spared?  The prayer fades in your memory.  So often we treat prayer like a 911 call.  “I have an emergency and need to be rescued! Lord save me!” or perhaps “Lord restore what I have lost!”  Why? Because my trust and confidence was in that which was lost or in danger of being lost - health - wealth - whatever and not in the One to Whom I am praying. In one breath someone will tell me they don't want to hear about "my God" and then in another - when they face a hardship they ask me to pray for them. They are not interested in God but in finding a way to make the trouble go away.

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. - James 4:2-3

The New Testament is replete with admonitions to distance yourself from the world and the things of the world .. to trust God .. to not worry .. but we do anyway.  What the Bible says to do .. you cannot do apart from Christ in you.  “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” God is very often not our first thought – He is our afterthought?   Sound harsh?  Listen – it is a problem that every Christian must contend with.  Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God – the Father – with all of your being.  That does not leave much room for anything else.  But – out of that love will flow everything else.  Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world. God is interested in our spiritual success and obedience not in our earthly affluence.  Too many have compromised their faith because of the things of this world.  Like the song of the sirens, you will be lured into the rocks resulting in spiritual impotence.  Be careful my friend.  Wanting to not be like that will not make it so … that will happen when you commit your heart to God and pursue Him.  

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

When God Asks You To Leave Your Comfort Zone

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2 

Everyone likes to be comfortable.  I can remember occasions when Martie and I got to sit on a soft sofa after months of sitting on hard chairs in Haiti.  Seems like a small thing, but the feeling was exquisite.  We like routine.  Mainly because we know what to expect.  There is no uncertainty in routine.  Each day is like every other day.  Each day, week, month and year like the other. Routine.  People find comfort in that.  Being around people who look like you, believe like you, talk like you, do what you do … it is a comfortable place to be.  Watching a news report about a war in a different land or the ravages of a natural disaster allows you to remain in the comfort of your routine.  You may not be able to empathize – because you have never left your comfort zone – but you can sympathize – at least until the commercial, supper  or the start of your favorite program.  We like to be comfortable and we don’t like giving that comfort up.  

If you are a Christian – born again by faith in Jesus – even then you are most likely looking for the comfort found in a routine existence.  Going to church – sitting in the same seat or pew – talking to the same people – listening to the same sermons – routine.  We love it – crave it even.  But, like Pastor Rick Warren said “God is more interested in your character, than in your comfort.”   And how does God develop godly character in you? Not through routine.  God calls us out of the routine of this world into the uncertain world of faith.  Not knowing what will happen tomorrow – next week, month or year.  But we live in confidence, by faith, knowing that God does.  

I have quoted this before but it bears repeating. It is from the C.S. Lewis book “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Aslan is a type of Jesus. 

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” 

God is not “safe” but He is good.  He has our best in mind.  He will disrupt your routine, if you allow it. He won’t make you abandon what is comfortable – but He will invite you to leave it behind for something much better.  What you see as “dangerous” depends upon the maturity of your walk of faith.  For a child, putting their toes in the water may seem like a great accomplishment.  For an adult, jumping off of the high-dive is a challenge. Both require stepping into the unknown – the uncertain – the “anything but routine”  Jesus said “If anyone follows Me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)  

Are you a Jesus follower or Jesus watcher?  It is one thing to marvel at the person jump off of the high-dive and quite another to grip the end of the board with your toes right before you take that leap of faith. 

As a first step, the Bible tells us to abandon our affection for the things of this world and the comfort we find in them.  To turn to God, the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) He may tell you to leave your “nets” and follow Him.  There is a song that comes to mind. Knowing You Jesus – Graham Kendrick 

“All I once held dear, Built my life upon.  All the world reveres and wars to own.  All I once thought gain, I have counted loss.  Spent and worthless now, compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You. There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best. You're my joy, my righteousness. And I love You, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know You more. To be found in You and known as Yours. To possess by faith what I could not earn. All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh to know the power of Your risen life. And to know You in Your sufferings. To become like You in Your death, my Lord. So with You to live and never die”

As a Christian, God calls you to leave what is comfortable – what is routine for something greater – something eternal.  Henry Blackaby called it a Crisis of Belief in Experiencing God. So come on – go ahead and put your toes in the water.

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

Making The Right Investments

Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him— For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever— That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit. Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;  For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.  Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish    .......  For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself), He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish. - Psalm 49:6-12,17-20 

A person without the Spirit of God is not unlike a beast of the field. They imagine that the life they are living is the sum total of their existence so they must "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow they die". They have no understanding of the eternal nature of humankind, very unlike those other beasts. It is not merely "dust to dust" for these mortal bodies and that is the end. There is more beyond the grave for the souls of human kind. Those who reject God live their lives blinded by the god of this world, believing that their conduct doesn't really matter but accumulation and affluence does. They struggle for significance in this life and the best that can be hoped for is to be remembered somehow after this life is over. 

"They call their lands after their own names." I am certain that you have read or heard about the desire by some to have monuments built, buildings and even ships emblazoned with their name as benefactor as if that will somehow be a legacy and a fond memory. The truth is, little thought will be given to the names by future generations. It will just be a name. A reference to the building but, for most, not to the person.

King Solomon said "Life is a vapor" and "all [that we know in this life] is vanity". And yet I see people struggle to make their mark in the course of Human history not knowing that their mark was made with a dry erase marker and will soon be erased from the eyes, minds and hearts of the generations that follow. 

And he [Jesus] said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” - Luke 12:15-21

What are you investing your life in? Are you living for His glory or for yours?

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

Living A Life Contrary To Human Reasoning

 Let them be confounded because of their shame, Who say to me, “Aha, aha!” Psalm 40:15

When I read Psalm 40 this morning, I thought about my mom. It was 1970. I had been in South Vietnam for nearly a year. In Vinh Long, a province that sits in the Mekong River and is essentially one big rice paddy. I had been receiving letters from home - from my mom. She was telling me bout her new found faith in Jesus. She and my dad, two younger brothers and a younger sister. I had three older sisters that had already left home and were not part of the Way, not for years to come.

When I returned to the States later that fall and mustered out of the Army, I moved back into the home-place.  But it was not the same home that I had left.  There was something different. The biggest difference was my mom. She had been a bit of a hellion when I was growing up. Up to the point that I left for the Army actually.  But now she was different. She epitomized the verse 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

It was hard to understand - but my older sisters and I thought that it was an act.  That it was a put on. That eventually the "old mom" would reappear and like Psalm 40:15 we would say "aha, aha!" We knew it was not real. It couldn't be could it? She was not who she pretended to be - no - she was still the old mom. But the old mom never reappeared.

Coincidentally, I had come back from the Army with a drinking problem, profanity laced conversations and a 2 pack a day smoking habit. And then it happened - in 1976 my wife and I "met Jesus on the road." Just like my mom, dad, brothers and sister had in 1969. And eventually, so did my three older sisters. Our lives were changed - forever. My children have no idea what I was like since they were all raised in a Christian home.  And they have a hard time believing that I was ever like that. I often use this quote, I suppose because it resonates so with my life.  It is loosely attributed to John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace.

“I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be and I am not the man I hope to be, but, by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.”

― John Newton 

In Haiti, they grow sour oranges to use to tenderize meat.  Those oranges look like other oranges while they are hanging on the tree. But take a bite and you will discover that it is not fit to eat. It is not sweet at all. That is what we thought about my mom.  Spiritual conversion is not something that you can physically see. No - you have to experience the difference. You may be expecting, convinced there will be an "Aha" moment to prove that what people said is now "sweet" is in fact still sour. But it is not. Why could I expect a sweet taste from a sour orange? Because His grace is amazing! The old is gone and the new has come.

Amazing grace - how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see. 

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

How To Respond To An Attitude Of Ingratitude

We love because He first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

One of the things that has troubled me in our life of service for the past 30 or so years to others has been when I encounter ungrateful people.  My flesh wants to rise up. I know that what I am thinking and what I am feeling is in no way spiritual. The question is “How I should respond to them?”  Although my natural response is constrained – not acted upon – it causes me to examine my motivation for what I do.  Rarely has my frustration toward ungrateful people been because I thought they did not appreciate God.  No, it was because I thought they did not appreciate me.  Do you see the problem?    Matthew 22:37-39 suggests that when we love God first, our love for others demonstrated in our service will be a reflection of our total devotion to God.  Loving others, and the service associated with it, is an expression of our love for God. Think about this.  When you are confronted by ingratitude, since what we do is for God and not for them, understand that they are really being ungrateful toward God. The offense is toward Him not you.  I must hasten to add, that if what you do is so people will praise you and not God – you have committed the greater offense – robbing God of His glory. 

When he [Jesus] saw them [10 healed lepers], he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well. - Luke 17:14-19

That was a gratitude rate of 10%.  Do you think Jesus asked himself "Why did I heal those others guys, they did not appreciate it!" Would you be satisfied with that or would you decide it just wasn’t worth the trouble?  Those people, those ingrates, were not worth your effort and “sacrifice”.  If you think that way, your focus is on you and not one the One who sent you.  Don’t you suppose that God already knows what will happen?  And He sent you anyway.  We must not look at those He has sent us to serve, but at the One who did the sending. Read Romans 12:1-2 to refresh your memory.

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

Doing The Right Thing And Not Expecting A Thankyou

Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth. - Psalm 35-11-16

Seem like an odd scripture. When I read it this morning I was reminded of Matthew 25 - the parable of the sheep and the goats. 

Then the righteous will answer Him [Jesus] , saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. - Matthew 25:37-40

I helped someone the other day and they said, "I owed you big for this!" to which I replied, "I did it because I love you not because I expected something in return." And that got me thinking about the difference between Christian charity - Matthew 25 - and the world's view about doing good things for people. If I share the Gospel with words - that is a good thing - but how much better that I share the Gospel with deeds. Helping others should be a natural outpouring of our faith. Proof of our faith if you will.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. - James 2:17-18

I used to struggle with these verses.  Martin Luther called the Book of James a "strawy epistle" - hard to swallow since he preached justification by faith and not works. The problem was the Catholic church had gotten the works-cart before the faith-horse.  James was simply saying that the declaration of our faith is best presented through good works - not just good words.  That is not to suggest that the Gospel must not be proclaimed. I have done that with the person I referred to at the onset of this devotion. But it is my faith in action demonstrated by my works, free of conditions and expectation of reciprocity, that proves my faith.

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. That is an anonymous quote attributed to many people of the year. I first heard it in 1995 at a Promise Keepers conference by a speaker, Dr. John Maxwell. But he was not the originator. Be that as it may, the saying is axiomatic and applies to you and me sharing our faith with the world through our good works.

James Brown, a devote Christian and the studio host of CBS NFL Today gave the sermon at our church today.  He showed a graphic during his sermon on Discipleship, Development and Growth which fits nicely with what I am writing about.

As a Christian do I merely believe in God or do I actually live out that belief and obey God? Many people are interested in not going to hell - but when it comes to living by their faith - well suffice it to say that fewer are willing to follow that path.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

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