Neighbors

NEIGHBORS (Thursday's Devotional)

Others.  Our neighbors.  Those that God has placed in our path.  Life is all about them.  The Bible tells us that we are put on this earth to serve them… to love them… to forgive them.  

But the gravity of the flesh pulls us in the opposite direction doesn’t it?

We make decisions based on how it ultimately affects us.  What we wear… what we lend… what time we give… all skewed by how that decision is beneficial to our own agenda.  Why is living for others so difficult?  Does God really tell us that our whole purpose in life is to abandon self and embrace serving those around us?

Let’s take a look…

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:42-45

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”  1 Cor. 4:1-2

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,”  Matthew 20:26

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...” Philippians 2:1-30

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”  John 12:26

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.’”  Mark 12: 29-31


We are here with a purpose.
We all have gifts.

Our gifts are not for us.
They are to serve others.

Serving His people is what we were created to do.  Loving on the lonely... reaching out to the hurting... serving those that are seeking Christ.  

The road to our God potential leads us through the valley of selflessness... putting others first... sacrificing so that people we may not even know can come face-to-face with a Savior who sacrificed everything on their behalf.

And we get to do that.

We get to be servants.

Notice what I said there… we GET to be servants.  God allows us to care for His people.  Those you encounter today are no accident.  Even the challenging ones…  Every single person you meet today is intentional.

Serve them.  Not with selfish motives…. but with a heart filled with Christ’s love.

I can hear you saying to your computer… but Pastor… who’s loving me?  Who’s taking care of me?  If I don’t look out for myself nobody will!   I hear you.  But I also know that even when the world seems to turn its back on you, Christ doesn’t.   HE will take care of you.  HE will provide for your needs.  HE will never let you break under the strain or buckle under the weight.  HE is always there always.  Even when you don’t feel Him, sense Him, or believe He’s there.  He IS there.  He is determined to provide for and love on you.  It’s His heart.  It is why He came to begin with.  Let Him take care of you while you take care of those He has put in your path.

If you are a Christ-follower… it’s part of your calling.

Resist the urge to dismiss today’s devotional as wishful thinking.  It wasn’t written for someone else.  It’s for you.  And it’s for me.  Remember, putting ourselves behind others and serving them may be perceived by the world as weakness… but it is a strength in the eyes of Jesus.  And He’s the only one that matters.

Hurry Sickness

To live the life you’ve always wanted you can’t be hurried.  

No rush.  No elevated heartbeat as you race to your next destination.  No hypertension... no ticking clock... no must-do agenda.  When we become hurried and push ourselves too hard, we lose the ability and capacity to love others.  Love takes time... and we can’t give what we don’t have.  If we are too busy... we might not be loving those around us at the level they need us to.  Plus, when we are in a hurry, we get angry much more quickly.   Our fuse shortens.  We snap at those we love... hoping that they’ll understand the pressure we’re under.  The closer the relationship it seems... the harsher the tone we use.  They’ll get over it... they are family.  

Right?

I talk to so many who claim that they have to hurry to get everything done.  I contend that if we can’t stop during our day to love people... take care of ourselves... and most importantly, talk to and praise God... than we’re too busy.   

Hurry sickness is real... and it’s not Biblical.  So many claim to follow Christ.  If Christ is their leader... than why do they spend their waking hours trying to outrun Him?  To outdo Him?  To handle things they aren’t supposed to in an attempt to win more favor from Him... so that He’ll bless them with even more opportunity... so they can add more to an already overbooked schedule.  You can’t earn favor.  He gives that away freely because He loves you unconditionally. 

If you are following Christ.  Follow Him.  He’s not running.  

While He was on the earth, Jesus Christ was never in a hurry.  He walked slowly enough to feel an old woman tug at his robe... stopped long enough to visit with Mary and Martha... and allowed little children to run up to Him so He could give them a hug.  Christ-followers stay behind their leader.  They let Him set the pace.

I know what some of you are saying... Pastor, that’s easy for you to say... you don’t live my life!  You’re right.  You are busy and it’s hard.  You’ve got bills to pay, kids to feed, and a boss that gives you the workload of two employees.  You’ve got professors who give you massive papers to write at the same time... a leaky roof... and in-laws who insist on calling and telling you how disappointed they are in you.  I hear you...  But I also know that God has asked us to do two things:  Love Him first and love our neighbors as ourselves.  In fact, love is what we are supposed to be known for...

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35

Do you have time to love others?  To hear their needs?  To empathize with their situations?   LIfe isn’t about how much we can pack in before we head out... it’s about how many people we come into contact with and affect with the love of Christ.   I’m not saying you can abandon what you need to do to get through things.  What I am saying is that you’ve got to spend some time re-prioritizing and choosing the great tasks over just the good ones.   Commit today to look for some open space in your schedule and purposefully use it to read God’s Word and love others.  Make a list of the most important people in your life... do they know you love them?  When was the last time they got some uninterrupted quality time with you?  Maybe it’s been too long.  Maybe you’ve come down with a case of hurry sickness.  We want to partner together with you to help you discover and embrace the cure...

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”  Matthew 11:28

Weary? 

Have heavy burdens?

Stressed out? 

Hurried?

Come to Christ.  He will give you the rest you seek.

Look Up

Have you ever seen a field of sunflowers?  It’s one of the most amazing things you’ll ever witness.  As the sun passes overhead, the flowers turn to face it. 

No matter what.  

When the warm sun moves... so do the sunflowers.  It’s beautiful.  In unison...a blanket of bright yellow flowers all pivoting toward the source of their warmth and provision regardless of external circumstances.  

They never lose sight of the sun.  

We could learn something from those sunflowers.

When life gets challenging... we want to turn away.  Quit.  Look down.  Turn our faces from the One who immeasurably loves us. 

We want to stare at the ground... or wring our hands... or question God’s existence... 

God is nudging us to keep looking up.  Towards Him.  He wants us to remain confident... Remembering that He has never been defeated.  At anything.  Ever.  He created it all.  He’s experienced it all.  He knows it all.  And He has the power to change it all... in a heartbeat.   God wants us to soak in the warmth of His love... stay focused on His provision... and count on His consistency.   Just like the daily life of His sunflower.

As I continued to read about these plants, I discovered something else that I think might help... 

At night, the sunflowers never lose track of the position of the sun.  They don’t take the night off... they don’t forget.... they keep their faces pointed to where the sun is.  Not where it was during the day... but where it currently is.  As they sit in darkness, they remember... just because it’s no longer visible... doesn’t mean that it isn’t still present.  The sun loses no power during the night... it’s just illuminating another part of the world.  The sunflower knows this and stays pointed at it.  360 degrees... 24 hours a day... facing the source of the light.  

Ever been in a dark place?  Ever wonder where God went or why He seems to have abandoned you?   There’s a man in the Bible who felt that way.  His name was Job.  He lost everything.  His family, his property, his wealth... all gone.  If anybody had a right to curse his circumstances, it was him.  His sun had turned to darkness... and scripture tells us that Job had the opportunity to break his connection with God and stare at the ground.    Defeated.  Irreparable.  Desperate.   

But he didn’t.  Despite his circumstances... Job kept his eyes upward.  Tracking God’s every move.  Look what he was able to say in Chapter 23:

“For I have stayed on God’s paths;

    I have followed his ways and not turned aside.” Job 23:11 

And because Job kept that critical connection... He prospered.  Make no mistake... he suffered.  His pain was intense.  He thought it would never end... that He was never going to feel better...  

But then He remembered to look up.  God was there.... unsurprised by Job’s circumstances.... but rejoicing in his faith despite them.   Job continued to track God even when He couldn’t see Him, feel His protection, or fully understand the “why”.   Like the sunflower, he remembered that God was still there.  In the darkness.  When he felt most alone... God was there.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

What does that word “never” mean?  

It means never.  Ever.  Not happening.  God isn’t going anywhere.  

God knows His way into your marriage... He can find your hospital room... He was there at your wedding... He follows your children around the hallways of their school... You can’t outrun Him and He won’t go away.  God is ever-faithful... always present... unselfish... and willing to extend grace to those that haven’t even requested it. 

Feeling His warmth yet?  Even if it’s night in your life right now.  God’s still there.  Stay pointed towards Him.  

When the flowers want to see the sun, they look up.  

The Son you’re tracking is there too.  At the right hand of His Father.  Waiting for you to take that burden and lay it at His feet.  What are you carrying today?  Have you lost sight of where God is?  Forgot how much He cares?  Is it dark where you are in life?  Wondering if He lost track of you or forgot how much you hurt?

He hasn’t forgotten.  You matter to Him.  

He isn’t taking a break or pushing you past your limits in revenge for some past sin.  He isn’t hiding just to see if you’ll come looking.  He’s on the same path He’s been on since the Earth came into being.  But there’s only one place you’ll find Him. 

Look up.

Reminder

It’s Monday... I thought you might want to be reminded...

God is there -- “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.” (Heb. 13:5)

God will protect you -- [to Abram] "I will protect you, and your reward will be great." (Gen. 15:1)

God walks with you -- "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God." (Isa. 41:10)

God is there to help -- "I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (Isa. 41:10)

God knows the way -- "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice." (John 10:4) 

God has a purpose for your life -- "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11) 

God provides rest -- "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) 

God forgives -- "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9) 

God gives grace to the undeserving -- "For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." (Psalm 84:11) 

God is faithful -- "The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people." (1 Sam. 12:22) 

God’s ways are the right ways -- "He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way." (Psalm 25:9)

God’s has a plan -- "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Rom. 8:28) *

When the world is whispering to you... to give up... to quit... 

When they say that you don’t have enough talent.

That you aren’t beautiful.

That you’ll never rise above it.

When they say that winning is an impossibility...

If you ever hear any word that makes you feel like less than the masterpiece that God created you to be.  

Never forget... if you are a Christ-follower... you have God.

And He is enough.

His promises are true.  

His character is consistent. 

His grace and mercy are renewed each day.

He created you with a purpose.  You may have stumbled.  You may have faced setbacks... to the point where you even wonder where He is.  He hasn’t left your side and He still hears your prayers and counts your tears.  

Life can be hard

God is good.

You are loved.

A Tough Conversation

Depression.

Anger.

Bitterness.

Run away... retreat... hide.

But the problems don’t dissolve.

Time passes.

Words remain unspoken.

One person withers inside while the other never knows how much pain they’ve caused.

A relationship is broken and it hurts.

If only they knew...

If only I could bring it up.

If only they would be receptive to it.

What if we fight about it.

What if they deny it.

What if it can’t be fixed.

Should I even try?

Yes.

But what if it’s not possible?

The sand finishes its run through life’s hourglass.

One person walks into the sunset of eternity while the other is left holding onto words that could have changed things.

regret.  pain.  

Begging God for another five minutes... or a reset button... or relief from the overwhelming question of…

what if.

There may be someone in your life right now that has hurt you.

Thinking about the conversation you know you need to have with them makes you cringe in pain.

You’ve got plenty of time to talk.

Besides...they probably will deny it anyway.

They won’t understand.

After all, living with bitterness is easier than the pain required for breakthrough, right?

No.

Because when you can no longer have that conversation...

When it becomes impossible to see them face to face...

When you are here and they are no longer...

The pain of regret can feel overwhelming... debilitating... crippling.

One conversation.  One challenging and temporarily painful conversation.  

And it could change everything.  

If you have an opportunity to make things right with someone... take it.  

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14

If that chance has passed... and communication is no longer a possibility... 

Ask Christ for forgiveness... forgive yourself... and put that first foot forward to start walking free again.

I’ll be praying for you as you do.

Someone Cares

Babe Ruth had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves versus the Reds in Cincinnati. But the great Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly, and in one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears.*

Some days we strike out.  We make errors.  We take our eyes off the ball or play hurt.  For whatever reason things don’t happen the way they are supposed to or even close to the way they did in times past.  It causes us to doubt our calling, snap at our closest family members, or wonder why God doesn’t seem to care.   

Life seems to be booing at us from all sides.... from the bleachers to the box seats.  

Ever have a day [a month... a year...] like that?  Ever struggled to get out of bed in the morning for fear of rejection, ridicule, or retaliation?   

Even hall of famers have those feelings.  

Even the best have rough days.

Look at Paul... He wrote most of the New Testament... was the greatest Christian missionary the world has ever seen...  and he wrote what happened to him.

“But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.  I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”

All of us (even Paul) have challenges.  Sometimes the world hurts us... and sometimes we miss the ball on our own.  And what are the typical reactions? 

Stop trying.  No risk... no hurt.   

No body cares... so why should I?

No fair.  I’m trying to do the right thing and getting picked on because of it.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that somebody cares.

Let’s look at the rest of the Babe’s story...

“Just then a boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero. Ruth didn’t hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently. The noise from the stands came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly there was no more booing. In fact, hush fell over the entire park. In those brief moments, the fans saw two heroes: Ruth, who in spite of his dismal day on the field could still care about a little boy; and the small lad, who cared about the feelings of another human being. Both had melted the hearts of the crowd.” *

Even though what Babe did at the plate was disappointing...

Even though what Paul suffered was crippling...

Even though what you woke up to seems too big to overcome...

Even though failure and pain happen... 

Someone cares.  

God cares.

Psalm 55:22 “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Philippians 4:7 “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Finally, Jesus tells us:  

John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

You are cared about, loved, and watched over every minute of every day.  Thank God for that… keep your head up… and praise Him in the days of the home run AND the strike out.  You’ll be back up at bat soon enough…  

*Ted W. Engstrom, The Pursuit of Excellence, 1982, Zondervan Corporation, pp. 66-67.

Let's Do It Again!

Not long ago, there was a commercial for Kodak where a dad takes his little girl to a public pool with the purpose of teaching her how to dive off the diving board.  As she climbs the high ladder and looks down into the water...she freezes.  It’s a long way down... the water looks intimidating...  What will happen if she leaps and lets go?  

She looks over the edge of the board.  And can’t move.  Legs solidly in place.  Unmoving.  Unsure.  Dad tells her to jump.  He reassures her it will be fine.  That she will be safe.  That he would never let anything happen to her.  

Doubt is a powerful entity.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to jump but often....

We need reassurance.  We need security.  We need proof.  We need God to do something first…  And so we stand in the same place.  Expressing our needs at the end of a great leap... 

But need doesn’t move God’s heart.  

“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.’

But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. ‘Tell her to go away,’  they said. ‘She is bothering us with all her begging.’  Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.’  But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, ‘Lord, help me!’  Jesus responded, ‘It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.’  She replied, ‘That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.’  ‘Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.”    Matthew 15:21-28

This Gentile woman needed her daughter to be healed... she begged and pleaded.  And interestingly enough... Jesus didn’t say a word to her.  Was He being mean spirited or cruel?  Of course not.  He was on task... doing what He had been sent to do.... serve God’s chosen people, the Israelites.   He knew He couldn’t (and wasn’t meant to) get to everyone who asked for His time.  

She persisted.  Crying her needs into the air... seeking reassurance... a guarantee... proof that miracles still happen.  She expressed her needs to God... but it wasn’t what she said that made Jesus change His course of action.

It was her faith.  

It wasn’t what she needed that moved Christ... it was what she believed. 

Faith is what God is looking for.  Persistent and unshakable faith.  Belief that...

That the pool will be deep enough....

That your prayers will be strong enough...

That your God is big enough...

Faith moves God’s heart.  It defeats doubt... eliminates fear... and reminds us that we are never alone or uncared for.  This Gentile woman believed Jesus could heal... With her whole heart she knew she could count on Him.   And, because of her faith, Jesus granted her request.  Instantly her daughter was restored.  

God knew her needs...but it was faith that healed that little girl.  

At the end of that Kodak commercial, the girl closes her eyes and jumps... trusting in the depth of the water and the words of her father.  Splashing down and quickly popping back up, she looks over to the deck and tells her dad... “Let’s do it again, daddy!”

God will always be enough.  Don’t doubt.   And remember, God knows your needs before you even have them... but it’s not His knowledge of your needs that fixes things...

It’s your faith in His ability to do it.   

And when you take that leap... and God catches you... you’ll tell Jesus the same thing...

“Let’s do it again”