Learning the Secret

“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good,” because is it good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility, and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.”
C.S. Lewis

Now that our kids are on their own, a few moments with the five of us is quite a rarity. Recently we had a rare family meal and I think all five of us enjoyed the time together around the table.  As the C.S. Lewis quote above says,  we are thankful for the “good” and like all families we have plenty of “opportunities” for the working of patience.  Life is always a challenge and I imagine we’ll have our moments over the next few days, but it reminds me of a familiar passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength. “  Philippians 3:11-13

Three brief observations in Paul’s writing:

1. ”I have learned”.  For most of us learning is a process full of advances and failures.  From his writing, it seems Paul was not always content in every circumstance, but over time he learned the secret to embrace the life he led in Christ.

2. ”I know”.  Paul’s knowledge of “need” and “plenty” was not just an academic exercise. He didn’t just know about poverty and pain or prosperity,  he experienced the ups and downs of life just like us and in most ways his life was much more challenging.

3. ”I can”.  Hungry or Satisfied. Wealthy or Poor. At the end of the day Paul put his trust and hope in God not in his circumstances and the result for Paul was the ability to “do everything through him who gives me strength.”

At the beginning of this day, let us begin to learn and know and do all through the strength of Christ who is at work in us.

A Life of Gratitude

I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to live in the here and now and not take the time to be truly grateful for what God does everyday in my life. How about you?

How many of us will pause briefly before a meal for a time of giving thanks and then move back to our own little world?

Take a look at David’s words in Psalm 103-

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

So how can my life become one of gratitude?

The first verse tells me to bless His Holy Name with all that is within me. God wants every last part of me, so that my conversation, my thoughts, my actions all honor Him.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5: 16

The second verse of the psalm warns us to “not to forget all his benefits”. Advertisers long for “top-of-mind” awareness so that their products are the first choice. Think Coca-Cola or Mcdonalds. What do you see? Those are probably bad examples, but living in gratitude daily helps us remember what God has done for us.

What are those benefits? Verses three and four provide a list. He forgives my iniquity. How great is that? He forgives me although I have done nothing to deserve it. He redeems me from the pit. I was lost. Stuck in the mud. I couldn’t get out. My life was a mess. He redeemed me, and gave me steadfast love and mercy.

Sandwiched between the promises of forgiveness, David writes that He heals my diseases. He heals my body. He heals my relationships. He heals my pain.

Soaked

Can you remember a time when you were caught in a rainstorm and the downpour soaked you so completely that the water saturated your clothing from head to toe?

According to my dictionary soaked means to be completely saturated or drenched with water or another liquid.  Another definition refers to allowing something to soak (in) – to penetrate or become know to the mind or feelings.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be soaked by a scripture?

I remember my Dad discussing Psalm 103:12 during a Wednesday night Bible study more than thirty years ago.  He had been reading this verse over and over for days and giving the words of Scripture time to get in deep into his mind and spirit.  While I didn’t get it when I was a teenager, I have a better understanding now.

I’ve included a few extra verses from Psalm 103.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

How does God approach our sins, iniquities, and transgressions?

For those who fear Him there is no retaliation. Instead He shows compassion and removes our sins as far as the east is from the west.

How far is the east from the west?

Answers.com says, ” It’s a question that all have failed to answer. No one knows how far; it’s like asking how far dark is from light.”

Allow your mind to consider how far away God removes our sin.

To use a term from the 70′s – It blew my Dad’s mind.

Free to Us

Earlier this week I received a call from a co-worker who was less than pleased that a few of us had decided to by a relatively small gift for our district manager.  He said, “Why give a gift to someone for just doing their job?”

Now he’s not as much of a Scrooge as he seems.  How many of us are taught at home or at work and in society that what we receive is relative to our performance? But his comment did made me think…

What if God approached us with His greatest Gift based on our performance?

Romans 5:8 tells us that God showed His love for us while we were still stuck in our sinful place by having Christ die for us.  Our best performance doesn’t come close to God’s standard but still Isaiah reminded us that the “son is given”.

The Free Gift

Read these words from Romans 5: 15-17.  Notice a phrase?

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

What is Paul’s point?  Three verses and five times the same phrase is repeated.

Do we deserve this free gift on our own merit?  Not even close. So as you give and open presents over the next day or so, remember the free gift available to all of us!

Merry Christmas!

With Us

I receive a lot of questions regarding technology.  Last week a young man asked me to help troubleshoot his home theater projection system.  Another person asked me to work on their email program.  Another person was concerned about a questionable email he received.  At work, I was asked to help another rep navigate a somewhat complicated and unnecessary form just to schedule a lunch at a physician’s office. Why me? Maybe it is because I carry two phones, an iPad, and a couple of computers wherever I go.  Go figure.

When you face a struggle or need some good advice where do you turn? A trusted friend?  An expert?

You may have a few questions this Christmas.  Why is there pain for some?  Why are some of us lonely?  Why are some relationships broken? When we face the absolutely most important questions of life, we have Someone to turn to today because He is with us.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14

In Matthew’s writing we are reminded that Immanuel means “God with us”.

God with Us

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

And today He is still with us.  The writer of Hebrews tells us -

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I believe this passage speaks more than simply the temptations we face.  He as aware of all of our weaknesses. Jesus literally put on flesh and walk with us experiencing the same kinds of pain, weariness, loss and temptation.  He knows and has compassion on us.

God’s Word reveals a Savior who is with us.  Lean on that truth today.

For Us

Isaiah 9:6 begins with these words-

For to us a child is born, To us a son is given;

In the Bible Fellowship I lead on Sunday morning we considered the how Jesus was born fully human and still remained fully God.  But why?

The child was born for us.  The Son was given for us – promising life as the gift of God.

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12

And on a Christmas day nearly five hundred years ago, Martin Luther preached these words-

For whom was he conceived and born? For whom did he suffer and die? For us, for us, for us! Always add us! That is why the church fathers rightly put the word: “And in Jesus Christ, our Lord.” into the creed. We should relate this word to every sentence: He was conceived for us and born for us, suffered for us and raised for us, ascended for us and sitting at the right [hand of God] for us.

Consider that simple phrase today.  For us.

In the Game

After the weekends in Cincinnati many people who either sit at home or in the stands, have plenty to say about what happened to the Bengals again this week.

If you listen to the radio or watch even a little cable news you’ll hear a lot of voices discussing the issues of the day with many complaints, but you’ll hear very few solutions.

Most of us are the much the same, aren’t we? It’s so much easier to sit on the sidelines and point out faults than it is to get in the game and make a difference.

Not so with God.

When God looked at the mess we created by rejecting Him and going our own way, He made a plan to redeem us.

God got in the game by giving us His Son.

People have been holding up signs at sporting events for years reminding people of John 3:16. It is a familiar passage and so it is easy to quote and then move on to the next thing without giving it much thought, but take a few seconds to read and then a few minutes to really think about these inspired words….

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Take some time today to think about this verse phrase by phrase.  Say it out loud.  Meditate on what it meant for God to love and to give to reconcile us to Him.

Who did He love?  Who did He give?  How should we respond?

Proud Parents

Earlier this week one of my nieces sent a YouTube link featuring videos of her one year old first born son. Proud parents and grandparents and, in this case, great-grandparents are captivated by every second of video. Technology is a great way to keep up, even if the view is from several hundred miles away.

Maybe you’ve seen your kids grow in the same way or maybe you’ve watched someone’s growth in the faith.  I think of one particular person who today is consumed with taking in everything available for spiritual growth. She continues to suffer through an enduring pain in her life, but in her discomfort she is growing. Her conversation is filled with knowing Christ and wanting others to truly know Him as well.

As Paul begins his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, he gives thanks to God for the believers:

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

2 Thesslonians 1:2-5

Paul comments on the growth of their faith and the fruit of brotherly love and a steadfast commitment to Christ in spite of the circumstances of life.

A Proud Parent

Like a proud parent, Paul boasts to others about the believers in Thessalonica.  That’s the way I feel about my friend mentioned earlier.  It is rewarding to see God at work in the lives of others.

What would our spiritual parents have to say about us?  Would they be able to observe our growth?

Take a look at the list from Galatians. What fruit is the Spirit producing in us?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Be Still

As I turned in for the evening last night I was reminded of this verse.

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God.

Honestly, yesterday I was more than a little preoccupied with the urgent matters of the day and at the end of the day, I was still overwhelmed with activities and deadlines and the “anxieties of life”. My “to-do” list was growing longer and longer. It felt as if I was running in sand-expending a lot of energy with only the smallest amount of progress toward the goal of the day.

The beginning verses tells me why I should just be still and trust in God in all things.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling…Psalm 46:1-3

As this day begins, let me take the time to remember and focus on the Lord who is our strength and let Him be in his proper position in my life all day long.

Learning the Secret

“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good,” because is it good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility, and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.”
C.S. Lewis

It doesn’t happen very often these days as our kids are spread out from St. Louis to Louisville to the Cincinnati area, but we had a rare family meal a few months ago and I think all five of us enjoyed the time together around the table. As the C.S. Lewis quote above says, we are thankful for the “good” and like all families we have plenty of “opportunities” for the working of patience. Life is always a challenge and I imagine we’ll have our moments over the next few days, but it reminds me of a familiar passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ” Philippians 3:11-13

Three brief observations in Paul’s writing:

1. “I have learned”. For most of us learning is a process full of advances and failures. From his writing, it seems Paul was not always content in every circumstance, but over time he learned the secret to embrace the life he led in Christ.

2. “I know”. Paul’s knowledge of “need” and “plenty” was not just an academic exercise. He didn’t just know about poverty and pain or prosperity, he experienced the ups and downs of life just like us and in most ways his life was much more challenging.

3. “I can”. Hungry or Satisfied. Wealthy or Poor. At the end of the day Paul put his trust and hope in God not in his circumstances and the result for Paul was the ability to “do everything through him who gives me strength.”

At the beginning of this day, let us begin to learn and know and do all through the strength of Christ who is at work in us.