Real Thing

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

“And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” Paul from 1 Corinthians 11:1

     It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  If that’s the case, human beings are a very flattering lot.   All of us spend so much time trying to act like someone else.  We style our hair to match our favorite actor... buy shoes to help us dunk like LeBron... maybe even change the way we speak to better blend in to our workspace or family.   Sometimes we are imitating without even realizing it.  The mannerisms we picked up from mom... the quick temper of our dad... the calming attitude of grandma... sharing the wisdom of grandfather.   All of these are a part of who we are... they are the “us” that people see... 

     Unfortunately, however, through all of these imitations... sometimes we forget who we really are.  We’ve been playing the part so long we don’t remember what our face looks like without the mask on it.  Who we were created to be is lost and replaced with who we think others want to see.  

  There’s an often-repeated story of a contest that happened long ago.  Famed actor, Charlie Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like contest.  He came in third.

Sometimes people can’t recognize the real thing anymore.  When you want to be the real you... you can’t.  You have a part you must play... happy wife, content husband, vigilant employee, concerned brother, deep thinker, party guy... the list goes on.  The real you has been replaced by an unrecognizable facsimile.  You were created for more.

   You were made by God to be special, unique, and wonderfully knitted together.  Instead of imitating others... God wants us to imitate Him.  When we do this, we maintain our personal identity, help others to see the risen Christ in us, and grow to reach our God-potential.  How do we learn how to act like God?  Read His word, stay plugged in to His church, and lean on close Christian friends that will hold you accountable if you try to become anyone other than Christ.   

    Let’s make every effort to make the real us reflect the real Christ.  It is my prayer that someday you will be able to say the same thing as Paul did in today’s second verse... imitate me because, in doing so, you will be acting just like Jesus.  

The Secret

What does it take for us to say we have enough?  Many who struggle with this answer the question of “enough?” with “just one more.”  But where does it stop?  When does thankfulness begin?

To those that struggle with contentment... there will never be enough.  It will always lie one arms length beyond their ability to sleep at night.   Those that live in this camp wonder when the next one will be and never cherish what is.  Their entire existence is based on what they might miss out on by not having more. 

Today’s verses help with this.  

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”  1 Timothy 6:6

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”   Philippians 4:11 (Paul)

Godliness with contentment, Paul says, is of great value.  In fact, he goes on to tell the churches in Philipi that he has “learned how to be content with whatever I have.” [sic].  

What was Paul’s secret?  What helped him move from greedy to grateful?  It’s simple.  Perspective.  Paul saw that his needs were met and that was enough.  He probably had wants...things that he’d like to have in his life... but he realized that these were superfluous to his mission.   Paul was sent to spread the Gospel... and help those around him find Christ as Lord.  He knew that God would provide whatever he needed to fulfill his calling.  

What’s your calling?  To grow, learn, love, support, partner, develop, share Christ, and become the person God created you to be?  Great!  I promise you… to do all of those things.. God will give you exactly what you need exactly when you need it.  All the other stuff that ties up your heart in the bonds of dissatisfaction are unnecessary… and only lead to stress, sadness, and the false feeling that you are missing out on something.  

Ready to move from greedy to grateful?  From wanting to worshiping?   From pouting to praise?  Make the commitment today to do so.   It won’t take long before you realize that Paul had it right… It’s not about having stuff…it’s about knowing it’s enough.  And thanking God for his graciousness in allowing us to hold onto it for awhile.  

New Beginning

 When I was younger, I used to love to play the original Atari.  Remember it?  One block shooting or hitting something at another block and once in awhile you’d score a point?  I know... it’s old school.  The games were fun but I quickly found out that I didn’t like to lose to my brothers.  In fact, when the game looked like that might happen, I was always tempted to “accidentally” nudge the reset button and start the game again.  

Sometimes starting over is exactly what we need to do.  Look what God says in 1 John:

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9 

God allows new beginnings... do overs... resets...  He is full of grace, abounding in love, and generous in heart.  He lets us start again with new knowledge of how not to do it.  

But what does He ask of us?  Look at the very first part of the verse today... 

Confession.  

Telling God what He already knows.  So many don’t because they figure if they don’t tell their sin to God... the act remains hidden.  It’s like the child who covers his eyes and tells the world “you can’t see me!”  But of course we can.  When a toddler does it... we smile at their naiveté.   When we do it with our sins to God... we justify it as necessary.  

And the sin sits in the heart and festers... it becomes guilt, which leads to resentment, which causes pain.   Years of unnecessary pain.   Today’s scripture reminds us of a way to mend... tell God.  Not a friend.  Not a Pastor.  Not a journal.  Tell God.  It won’t be pleasant at first... we’re going to want to hide some stuff... and it may be tempting to change the story... but we must come clean.  

Fully. Honestly. Completely.

And if we keep reading the verse... we find that God forgives us.  Time and time again.  God allows us a reset.  Does this give us free reign to sin at will?  Of course not.  There are consequences to our choices.  We shouldn’t intentionally break the heart of someone we are in relationship with... and God is no exception.  If we know Him as Lord, we should do our best to honor and worship Him by avoiding sin as much as possible.  

But when we confess what we’ve done...

To our Creator who knew we were going to be imperfect and made us anyway....

We are forgiven.

We are cleansed.

We are allowed a reset. 

We haven’t earned it... but God willingly gives it.  Is there something on your heart that is holding you back?  An unconfessed sin?  Something that has stained your conscience for years?  A blemish that needs to be set right?   Take some time today to confess it to God.  He promises forgiveness to those who know Him as Lord.

Your reset awaits.  

Not Done

I've said it many times on the weekends... God isn’t done with you yet.

As Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “If you’re not dead... you’re not done.”

Whatever your past... whatever you see in the mirror... whatever the world has defined you to be....

God sees something greater.

He’s created you for something that only you can do.

Have you forgotten what your smile looks like? What hope feels like? What God’s truth for your life is?

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is reality.

Take a closer look at yourself. Not broken you. Not addicted you. Not desperate you. Not financially struggling you.

You. Perfected in the love of Christ. Old life gone... new life begun.

Take today. Tuesday. Start over. Start thinking of yourself differently... you aren’t perfect... you’ve made some mistakes... but you are valuable and important in God’s plan for this planet.

Christ came for you.

Christ died for you.

Christ is here for you today.

And as these truths come into focus... as this new picture develops... crumple up the other one. That was you from yesterday. That was you that struggled. That was you that doubted. That was the old you.

Today you are new.

God makes you that way.

And what a beautiful picture you are!

Unique Love

As I was preparing to teach one weekend, I ran across an old story about the 20th century violin virtuoso, Fritz Kreisler. Setting out from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, he had an hour before his boat sailed.  He wandered into a music shop, where the proprietor asked if he might look at the violin Kreisler was carrying.  He then vanished and returned with two policemen, one of whom told the violinist, “You are under arrest.”

“What for?” asked Kreisler.

“You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.”

“I am Fritz Kreisler,” protested the musician.

“No you’re not. Come along.”

As Kreisler’s boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations.  Kreisler asked for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. “Now are you satisfied?” He asked.

The policemen let the musician go because he had done what only Fritz Kreisler could do.

If you are a follower of Christ... did you know that there’s something that you can do that is unique to being a believer?   Something you can do that the world doesn’t understand?   What is it?

The Bible puts it this way:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Love.  Real genuine love.  Christ demonstrated this “Agape” love... even to those that were hurting Him emotionally and physically.  It’s not the “I love you let’s get married” kind of love.. or even the love a parent has for a child.  This is deeper love.  Unconditional love.  “Loving your enemies” kind of love.  It’s the type of feeling that transcends typical emotional response and dares to change the world.   

It’s our identifier as believers.  Our calling card.  It’s what we should be known to have and to give away with great and unexplainable frequency.  If we are believers, love should be our default reaction even when the rest of the world wouldn’t.

So many people characterize Christians as judgmental, closed-minded, and out-of-touch.  While these sweeping generalizations are far from truthful... wouldn’t it be great if we were known for the way we love others?  To care for and protect those that the world has turned it’s back on?  To hug the outcasts? To reach out to those that have made mistakes?  

It shouldn’t be hard to tell we’re Christian.  And not because we wear a cross, or carry a Bible, or have a few scriptures memorized... It should be because we love Christ first and, in turn, are loving, caring, kind, and understanding even in the face of great adversity or persecution.  Love is something everyone says they can do... but true students of the Savior do it when everyone else turns away.  

Be who you were created to be... rescue those God puts in your path... do what only a Christ-follower can... 

Care for others with the heart of God...

See others through the eyes of God...

and love others because He first loved you.  

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Spotless Reputation

“Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:

   “Peace and prosperity to you!

“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

   For he is the living God,
      and he will endure forever.
   His kingdom will never be destroyed,
      and his rule will never end.”   -  Daniel 6:25-26

     We’ve all faced them.... You are standing in line at Universal Studios and the sign says “Children 9 and younger” get in at a reduced price.  Your daughter just turned 10.  What do you do?  It’s the middle of the night and you pull up to a red light.  You look left, right... nobody.   In fact, there are no headlights to be found anywhere...other than yours.  What do you do?  Run the light or stay put?  Too much change at a convenience store?   An extra zero on your tax return?   

     Our reputation is based on choices such as these.  What may seem like small decisions here or there actually determine many things.  How do we see ourselves?  Are we comfortable with past choices, our morality, or our closeness to God based on what we’ve decided in the past?  How do others see us?  What is our reputation around people that we partner with throughout the day?  Do we set the example... or are we swayed by the popular or selfish thing to do?

Today’s verse talks about a very well known person from the Bible:  Daniel.  He was an advisor to King Darius of the Persians and had an airtight reputation.  Many of the nobles under the king spent a lot of time trying to find flaws in Daniel’s decision making... did he ever compromise what he knew to be right?  Was he disloyal?  Was he reflecting his God or himself?  Did he make the right decision regardless of the cost or did he sell out to selfishness?  They were convinced that Daniel’s reputation couldn’t be that spotless... 

But it was. In fact, King Darius was so impressed with Daniel that he declared to all of his people that they should serve Daniel’s God!  Daniel’s reputation for doing the right thing at all times reflected God’s character!   His choices weren’t always easy...and they cost him in many ways... but he knew that to be a person who honored God, he had to do so in all areas of his life.  You will have many decisions today... and many chances to reflect God in the way you handle them.  Tread with wisdom.  What you choose to do in the small things adds up...and the way others see you (and God) is affected.  

Healing

This morning as you wake up... things may seem pretty bleak.   In fact, you may wonder if this will be just another day of treading water... staying afloat...surviving.  You don’t have a vacation on the calendar, your back still hurts, and the bill collector will be calling at dinnertime just like he always does.

Another 24 hours... another 7 days... another month. 

The dream you once had seems all but dead.  What little heartbeat it has seems distant now.  Things have skidded to a stop with a spouse that seems uninterested and a life that is far from the one you used to tell the kids at school you’d have when you grew up.

You ask:  When am I going to feel better?    When will it stop hurting?  When is it my turn?  What am I going to do? 

God, where are you?

Sound familiar?  If this is you.. or even someone you know.  I have great news on this Thursday.  

The Bible talks about Jairus... the leader of a local synagogue crying out to Jesus to heal his very sick daughter.  Jesus agrees and walks with the man when He is stopped mid-way to heal a woman who touches His robe.  In the few minutes that transpires with the old woman.... something very profound happens... let’s pick up the story in Mark 5:36

“While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”  

Mark 5:35-36

Jairus’ life was spiraling out of control.  He was doing his best at the synagogue but he knew that each day that he returned home, he’d find his daughter deteriorating.  He’d prayed... he’d begged... he’d pleaded... he felt hopeless, helpless, and hurting.  The dream he’d had about experiencing life with his daughter was rapidly fading away...just as his daughter’s heartbeat began it’s slow decrescendo to its final beat.  

Jairus’ life was not what he thought it would be... He, too, asked the same questions...

When am I going to feel better?  When will it stop hurting?  When is it my turn?  What am I going to do? 

God, where are you?

Then He learned where God was... He was on a boat heading his way across a lake.  Jairus had heard about Jesus... had learned of His ability to do the impossible... and ran with everything he had toward hope. 

Jesus was his only hope.   Jesus was his daughter’s only hope.  (Jesus is our only hope)

Believing in Christ’s power... Jairus reached out to Jesus and begged Him to save his ailing daughter.  

(...To save your broken dreams.  To save your wounded heart.  To save that failing marriage.  To save what seems un-saveable.) 

When word came that Jairus’ daughter was dead... hope seemed lost.

(...When word came that your dream was hopeless... when divorce seemed like an inevitability... when the only choice you thought you had was to give up...)

But hope wasn’t lost. It came to Jairus (us) in six little words.

“Don’t be afraid, just have faith.”  

Ever been afraid of what’s coming?

Ever been afraid of what’s been?  

Ever been afraid of losing control?

Ever been afraid that God won’t be there?

Make no mistake, God will be there.  In fact, He’s there now.  He’s working in your life where you can’t see Him... and He’s mending the cracks in your armor.  Jesus will never allow one day to pass where your faith goes unnoticed or unrewarded.   

God comes through every single time.  Every single circumstance.  

His ability to heal lives is nothing new...and it’s not exclusive to leaders of synagogues.  When we have faith... when we reject fear... when we put our trust in Him... things change for the better.

Jesus Christ is forever faithful... and your life, in Him, will only get better.  

Waiting on God

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Because of erosion, the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was in peril of washing into the Atlantic Ocean. So Congress appropriated $12 million for the National Park service to move it 2900 feet to safety. 

With a combination of care, expertise, patience and raw power, The Expert House Movers of Sharptown, Maryland moved the 208 foot tall, 9.7 million pound structure to its current home. The option of moving the lighthouse was first proposed in April of 1982, but the light wasn’t lit at its new location until November 13, 1999. 17 years of study and 23 days of moving later. Why did it take so long? 

Because big moves take time. So often we want God to make huge sweeping changes in our lives overnight. What God is sometimes doing is making changes inch by inch over time. The result will come... and God knows where the best place for us to end up is (and the best time for us to get there). We just have to stay patient and allow Him to work in our lives.

Other times, we put God on our timetable and feel like He’s taking forever to do anything.

“God, I’ve been praying for this for three weeks... two years.... 15 years... and nothing’s happened yet!”

Found yourself saying these things? I have. But sometimes, the change you are looking for in the situation is actually a change that is happening in you. God knows what’s best for us. Sometimes it isn’t what we are asking Him for. We would be better served allowing the trial to make us stronger and more patient for future challenges.

We pray...

When the answer is “yes” we tend to be happy with God.

When the answer is “no” we tend to be angry with God.

When the answer is “wait” we tend to try to hurry God.

Or maybe worse... we try to take God out of the equation completely. Why wait? When we get impatient we follow bad advice, do things we wouldn’t normally do, and begin to doubt that God knows what He is doing.

If you find yourself challenged in the area of patience, remember... God knows how what you are asking Him to do ends up. He knows what’s best for you and the exact right way to put everything into motion.

Resist the urge to put your faith in a microwave... we can’t speed up God. His actions in your life will be purposeful, complete, and done at the perfect time... stay patient and wait... I’ll be praying for you as you do.

Take It Easy?

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9

On March 6, 1987, Eamon Coghlan, the Irish world record holder at 1500 meters, was running in a qualifying heat at the World Indoor Track Championships in Indianapolis. With two and a half laps left, he was tripped. He fell, but he got up and with great effort managed to catch the leaders. With only 20 yards left in the race, he was in third place -- good enough to qualify for the finals. He looked over his shoulder to the inside, and, seeing no one, he let up. But another runner, charging hard on the outside, passed Coughlan a yard before the finish, thus eliminating him from the finals. Coughlan's great comeback effort was rendered worthless by taking his eyes off the finish line. 

It’s so tempting to let up isn’t it?  Pull back a little... take it easy.

It happened to Eamon Coghlan and it happens to people you know.   Here’s how the trend usually looks:

Something unfavorable happens in life.

We cry, beg, and pray to God to intervene and help us.

We read our Bible, go to church, serve others, etc.

The situation changes.  

God comes through (as He always does)

We say a quick “thanks” to God and move forward with our lives.

We think we don’t need God as much so our bible reading decreases, we go to church every so often, and we stop serving.

Prayer only happens before meals if at all.

Fact is... some people only run with God when they need Him for something.  When times are good... they pull up... they let God run along and depend on themselves.

After all, who needs God when we can do it ourselves right?

That is NOT what God had in mind when we were created.  I say it many times when I teach… each of us are knit together with a specific purpose.  We are to run hard in life’s race.  Sprint through tragedies while leaning on Christ’s strength when ours falls short.  Courageously dash into challenges because we know that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  Shrink back from adversity?  Slow up when it hurts?  Push away when we don’t know what to do?

Not part of the plan. 

If you are a Christ-follower, the moment you accepted Him as your Savior, you were given a brand new pair of track shoes.  Top of the line.  Designed to allow you to run hard your whole life... giving glory to Him along the way.  I love the way Isaiah 40:31 puts it... those that trust God will “run and not grow weary”   Hebrews 12 says “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...”

Run with endurance.

Run and not grow weary.

Keep running forward... don’t let up... don’t base your relationship with God on the way you feel or the circumstances of your life.  You were created to be in perfect step with your Lord... running toward a Heavenly finish line.  As we talked about last week, the devil’s in good shape and he’s trying to catch up to you... 

Slow down?  Nope.  We were created to finish the race strong.

Feeling tired?  Maybe.  Let God carry you 

Want to stop?  You can’t.  You were given one life to make a difference for Christ.

Keep moving forward... stay connected to God in both the good AND the bad times... and never ever quit.

You... yes you... are a winner.  

Run hard and cross the finish line of life as the champion you were created to be.    

Doing Good

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”  2 Thessalonians 3:13

In the book, Becoming a Contagious Christian, author and Pastor Bill Hybels talks about a letter he read.  It was written by a relatively new Christian to a person who had influenced her life.  Here’s the letter:

'You know when we met; I began to discover a new vulnerability, a warmth, and a lack of pretense that impressed me. I saw in you a thriving spirit--no signs of internal stagnation anywhere. I could tell you were a growing person and I liked that. I saw you had strong self-esteem, not based on the fluff of self-help books, but on something a whole lot deeper. I saw that you lived by convictions and priorities and not just by convenience, selfish pleasure, and financial gain. And I had never met anyone like that before. I felt a depth of love and concern as you listened to me and didn’t judge me. You tried to understand me, you sympathized and you celebrated with me, you demonstrated kindness and generosity--and not just to me, but to other people, as well. And you stood for something. You were willing to go against the grain of society and follow what you believed to be true, no matter what people said, and no matter how much it cost you. And for those reasons and a whole host of others, I found myself really wanting what you had. Now that I’ve become a Christian, I wanted to write to tell you I’m grateful beyond words for how you lived out your Christian life in front of me.'"

Wouldn’t you like to receive a letter like that?  So encouraging, honest, and specific... what a way to honor someone’s influence!  In the note, she mentioned kindness... certainly a trait that many desire both in their friends and in their own life.  

You would imagine that the relationship that started in that letter began with a kind act... a smile, maybe a handshake or hug...  Over time, the conversations got deeper and the recipient of that letter was given the opportunity to share Christ with its writer. As a result, the author of this note will spend eternity in Heaven!

All because of an initial act of kindness followed up with a multiple public examples of selflessness and generosity.  

People are watching... but what are we demonstrating with our own lives?

Being kind goes a long way.  It mends fences...starts lifelong friendships...changes the tones of a conversations...and can affect someone’s eternity forever.   So often, many spend their time trying to blend in and stay out of things.  Jesus teaches us to do the complete opposite... The Bible tells us to

Go the extra mile  (Matthew 5:41-42)

Give water to the thirsty (Mark 9:41)

Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31)

Take care of widows and orphans (James 1:27)

Each of these altruistic acts (and so many more) have their roots in simply acting like Christ.  When we remind ourselves that, like Him, we are servants... kindness becomes second nature.  

I want to challenge you today... stand out!  Be benevolent in unexpected circumstances!  Extend grace to the undeserving... allow yourself to be used by God to change the world one act of kindness at a time.  God will bless you for it!