Expensive Loyalty

 

The late great comedian Jerry Clower was the size of a professional football player. He once told that his son was the field goal kicker for his high school football team. One day his son had the chance to kick the goal that would give his team the lead and maybe the win, but the kick went wide of the goal. Four rows from where Clower sat, a man jumped up and began heckling and booing loudly. “Who is that kicker? He couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a football!” On and on he went, ridiculing Clower’s son. Clower said, “I took all of it I could, and then I made my way through the crowd, sat down next to that guy, looked him straight in the eye, and said, ‘You need to thank Jesus that you’re still alive.’” The guy said, “What do you mean?” Clower answered, “That’s my son you’re ridiculing, and the only reason you’re not dead right now is because I’m a Christian and Jesus won’t let me kill you.”

Clower’s funny words remind me of a serious truth. As lord, Jesus has the authority to tell us how to live our life. How much authority do you allow Jesus to have over you? E.W. Blandley’s hymn has challenged millions of people to think about the depth of their commitment to Christ. “Where He leads me I will follow (repeat two more times), I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way” (the chorus to “Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow”). Even in this day of user-friendly religion and crossless Christianity, those who read the Bible can still hear Jesus saying, “Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.” Get real – do you allow Jesus to have the final word, even when what you want to believe or how you want to behave is very different from what He demands?

An epitaph on the tombstone of an old English soldier who lost his life in battle spoke volumes: “He served King Charles with a constant, dangerous and expensive loyalty.” That soldier was sold out to his king – prepared to pay any price up to and including his very life to honor and obey his king. Myriads have displayed that kind of dangerous and expensive commitment out of love and respect for earthly, human kings and causes. At this very hour tens of thousands of Americans are scattered around the globe, many of them in harm’s way, because of an expensive commitment to our nation and way of life.

[Matthew 3:13-17] Jesus preached what He practiced. He served the father with a constant, dangerous, and expensive loyalty. In the end, of course, His loyalty led to death on a cross. But Matthew reminds us of the commitment that carried him to and held Him on the cross was there in the very beginning of His public ministry.

Jesus’ loyalty to God’s willed Him to submit to baptism at the hands of John the Baptizer – “a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3). John was clearly conflicted about baptizing the sinless Son of God (Matthew 3:14), but Jesus insisted saying, “…for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (v.15). The result of Jesus’ commitment to go all the way in doing God’s will is seen in verse 17 as He raised up out of the water after John baptized Him. “Suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”

From baptism by John to death on a cross, Jesus didn’t balk at anything God asked and/or directed Him to do. How about you? Jus how expensive is your loyalty to Jesus? Have you followed Him in baptism and the new life of obedience that follows it (Romans 6:1-4)? “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Faith and obedience throughout our life will bring about the goal of eternal life.

Extremes Are Harmful

 

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. As they lay down for the night, Holmes said, “Watson, look up and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions, and millions, and millions of stars.” Holmes asked, “And what does that tell you?” Watson reasoned, “Astronomically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you Holmes?” Holmes answered simply, “Someone stole our tent.”

Talk about going to extremes! A man in Maine took a Sawzall and cut his neighbor’s garage in half. Since part of the structure was on his property, Gabriel Brawn had a legal right to do it. The overlapping garage hadn’t been a problem for years, as his relationship with the previous neighbor was amiable. After the neighbor died, and the new residents moved in, the conflicts began over a boundary dispute, and the animosity between the two parties escalated. A frustrated Brawn decided to bring the conflict to an end by bringing out surveyors, who concluded that part of the garage was, in fact, on his property. The neighbors had—quite literally—crossed the line. The garage was cut in half, and a privacy fence went up, equipped with surveillance cameras. While extreme, Brawn’s solution seems to have been decisive, as there has been no communication between the neighbors since the severing (Bangor Daily News, July 18, 2020).

In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul describes the church as the “household of God.” And while disagreements have, and will, occur between Christians, severing relationships is not the way to resolve issues. That would be destructive to the household. Jesus made the statement in Matthew 12:25 that “a house divided against itself will not stand.”

Too many times, friendships between disagreeing Christians are severed, broken in half, and seemingly destroyed because of the hurt feelings that go along with the perception of being offended. When turmoil arises between brethren, there is trouble in God’s household.

Here are a few things to consider before decisively (and divisively) taking extreme measures to end those relationships: * Reach out. Romans 12:18 tells the Christian that it is his responsibility to “live peaceably with all.” * Reconcile. Both parties need to make effort in order to bring each other back together. It’s vitally important to remember that the body of Christ is mutilated when its members (1 Corinthians 12:12) aren’t willing to make the effort to forgive each other (Ephesians 4:32). * Repair. In Colossians 3:13, Christians are called to remember that the Lord’s forgiveness serves as an example to model after, in order to bear with each other and forgive each other when one has a complaint against another. * Rebuild. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 instructs us to continue to “encourage each other and build each other up.” Doing so will allow friendships to be rebuilt.

[1 Peter 4:7-8] “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have a fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” Robert Frost wrote that “good fences make good neighbors.” With Christians, good neighbors make good neighbors. This chapter is pivotal for living a life in Christ! When we become a Christian, we admit that when we lived for “evil human desires,” we made a mess of our life. Now we live for the will of God. This does not mean that He fills us to take control over us (that might be nice if He did!). No, He gives us strength and guidance to “live according to God in the spirit.” Rather than “plunge with the world into the same flood of dissipation,” we remember the cost of purchasing us – God’s Son on the cross – and exert self-control. Being clear minded and self-controlled is love.

Our Great Need for God

 

My generation grew up in a time of advertising jingles and memorable quips to bury the thought of products in the brain to trigger the want-to of buying a product when shopping for goods. I don’t suppose things have changed that much, except for the product and store names. I came across an old tongue in cheek, blast from the past article, using TV commercials to express the importance of God in one’s life. God is like Bayer Aspirin…He works miracles. God is like Ford…He’s got a better idea. God is like Coke…He’s the real thing. God is like Hallmark cards…He cares enough to send His very best. God is like Tide…He gets the stains out that others leave behind. God is like General Electric…He brings good things to life. God is like Sears…He has everything. God is like Alka-Seltzer…Try Him, and you’ll like Him. God is like Scotch Tape…You can’t see Him, but you know He’s there. God is like Allstate…You’re in good hands with Him. God is like VO-5 hairspray…He holds through all kinds of weather. And my favorite: God is like Dial Soap…Aren’t you glad you have Him? Don’t you wish everybody did?

"Random death syndrome" is not a medical term. But the unexplained “crib deaths” of babies, (SIDS) “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” and the new phenomena, (SADS) “Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome,” used to describe sudden, unexpected deaths, often in young, seemingly healthy individuals, where taxological exams and a clear structural heart issue isn't found during autopsy, are very real.

Of late, we have read of many well-to-do people who have passed from this life into eternity – some of old age, some of illness, some of accident, and some sudden and unexpectedly. Some were men and women of great power, prosperity, and popularity. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on their funerals, and the masses assembled to pay their last respect. I, on the other hand, attended and preached several funerals where there wasn’t hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, and the service was certainly not a media spectacle. Set by today’s standards, none of them represented powerful, prosperous, or even popular people. They were just ordinary people. Yet, in reality, they left this life the same way as those who were highly celebrated by the world. Whether one be rich or poor, death is the great equalizer. Everyone leaves this life the same way they entered it (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16). Thus, it matters not how much power, prosperity, or popularity one has obtained here on earth. What matters most is where one stands with God.

[John 5:28-29] “Do not be marveled at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Someone once noted that even if we had… the wisdom of Solomon …the patience of Job …the meekness of Moses …the strength of Samson …the obedience of Abraham …the compassion of Joseph …the tears of Jeremiah …the poetic skill of David …the prophetic voice of Elijah …the courage of Daniel …the greatness of John the Baptizer …and the endurance and love of the apostle Paul, we would still need redemption through Christ’s blood for the forgiveness of sin. We need to realize that we are human, and as such do not have what it takes to sustain ourselves through eternity. We need the power of Christ’s blood shown to us through the Father’s love, as revealed in the Holy Spirit inspired Word.

The abilities and knowledge we have are wonderful and should be used to the glory of God but let us never forget that it is God Himself who sustains us. Let us always remember the great sacrifice it took to purchase our salvation and serve Him in our life accordingly.

Practice, Practice, Practice

 

We have all heard the statement “Practice Makes Perfect.” I don’t know about you, but I never really liked hearing this statement. The reason I didn’t like it was because it usually meant I had to work harder and put more effort into becoming better. This statement has become so common that many times we just dismiss it. However, if we put our pride aside, there is great truth to these words. Let’s put ourselves aside for a minute and really consider these words. We all know that practicing is going to make us better. But why is it so important to practice? For an athlete, this is how one gets stronger, faster, and better in a sport. For a musician, this is how one learns what an instrument can do, how to play it, how to produce the correct sounds, and perform with it in a flawless fashion. But can this statement apply to Christians? Of course it can!

Let’s not be deceived, Christianity is something that must be practiced and fine-tuned. We cannot take a brand-new Christian and expect him to know all the commands of the Bible and follow them perfectly. Not a single one of us, no matter how long we have been Christians, is able to do that. Therefore, we can always use more practice. Practice is how we become more familiar with Scripture. Practice is how we become better members, teachers, preachers, deacons, elders, etc. Practice is how we become better at obeying God’s commands while resisting the sinful desires each of us have. Arthur Rubinstein, the great musician had this to say about practice: “If I omit practice one day, I notice it; if two days, my friends notice it; if three days, the public notices it.”

[Hebrews 4:13] If one stops practicing his Christianity, he will notice first, then his friends and family will notice, and eventually everyone will notice. Even more importantly though, God will notice immediately.

The church is not made up of people who believe they are better than others, but rather it’s made up of those who realize they should be better than they are and must continually strive to do better always. The church is not made up of perfect people, but people who realize they are following a perfect Lord and a perfect law and therefore must do the very best they can. The church is not made up of people who never make mistakes, but those who often acknowledge their mistakes and then forsake them. Never must we seek to justify them or continually make the same mistakes over and over again. The church is not trying to withdraw from everyone but rather to draw everyone into its fellowship and love – those who are willing to walk in the light where God the Father and Christ the Son are found. The church is not trying to set up arbitrary rules to hinder anyone but rather to show the rule of Christ which helps everyone. The church is not trying to take the joy out of life but rather is trying to put real joy into every life it touches. The church is not trying to make one feel ugly but rather it is trying to instill the beauty of holiness in your life. The church is not trying to become the master of one’s life but trying to help you to master yourself. The church is not trying to rob you of your life’s priorities but rather trying to get you to put your priorities of life in order. The church is not trying to separate you from your money; but rather is trying to keep your money from separating you from God.

This life is about seeking God and serving Him (Mathew 6:33; 4:10; 22:37). May we never stop practicing and becoming greater people for the Lord (Ecclesiastes 9:9-10). Let’s think seriously about the apostle Paul’s words recorded in 1 Timothy 4:7, “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.” It’s time to hit the spiritual gym! The stronger and wiser we are in God’s Word the better our life becomes.

The Snooze Button

 

Walking through the hallways of a middle school, the principal noticed a new substitute teacher standing outside her classroom with her forehead against a locker. The newcomer was heard to mutter, “How did you get yourself into this?” Knowing she had been assigned to a difficult class the principal tried to offer moral support, “Are you okay?” he asked; “Can I help?” The substitute teacher lifted her head and replied, “I’ll be fine as soon as I get this kid out of his locker.”

It’s the time of the year that most kids and many teachers dread: Back to School! Soon the vacations, beaches, fishing trips, and picnics will be in the past. While we are tempted to let out a big groan, perhaps we should remind ourselves what a fantastic opportunity lies ahead of us. The Lord tells us that, “… we should let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven” (Mathew 5:16). That means every class meeting, every ball game, and every lunchtime is an opportunity to be a glowing example of Christianity - both student and teacher. After a summer of fun and adventure, it’s difficult to return to the books. As Christians, though, we can look forward to getting back into the public life that allows us to let out Christian lights shine. Be a light for Christ.

It’s also time to renew that ritual of getting out of bed earlier and getting off to school. I use my phone alarm to wake me in the morning and when the sounds it also displays a text giving me an option: “Tap To Snooze.” Tap and I’m good for another ten minutes of comfort and peace. Make it a habit and one finds themselves late for work or school. A person’s use of the snooze button is not “the end of the world” but it tends to start the day off on the wrong foot - raising one’s anxiety level with rushing and hurrying to get going.

[Hebrews 9:27] I want us to think very seriously about the snooze button of our soul – before it is “the end of the world.” Whether we want to admit it or not – our lives are terminal. Furthermore, our time on this earth is relatively short (James 4:14). Also, the end of the earth is definite (2 Peter 3:9-12); 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Matthew 24:35-39).

Considering the latter facts, we can be certain there is a lot of uncertainty concerning the “when” of the end of our life. * We are not promised tomorrow. * Many people have died sooner than expected. * And the time of the Lord’s return will not be known until it occurs.

This should motivate us to want to be ready for the end - all the time. “For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). If at the end, we be found in continual state of sin, Jesus will utter those bone chilling words, “…I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23).

Jesus has sounded the alarm! He has called us all to His gospel to wake up, get up, and stay up. “Therefore, He says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14; Isaiah 26:19, 60:1). We “wake up” when we come to the knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4; Romans 10:17). We “get up” when we humbly submit to the truth (Hebrews 11:6; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10; Mark 16:16). And we “stay up” by “walking in the light (truth) as He is in the light (God’s truth)” (1 John 1:7). Sadly, too many are still hitting the snooze button of their soul. We live everyday thinking, “There’s always tomorrow.” When we breathe our last, we cannot “Tap To Snooze.” When Jesus returns, we cannot “Tap To Snooze.” The time to be ready is now. “Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. …let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love…” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). He’s coming! Don’t be snoozing.