by David Scott Robertson
I don’t know about you, but I enjoy getting emails, cards, calls, and visits from good friends. I like it when they let me know that they have been thinking about me and have taken the time to encourage and bless me.
Did you know that God has been thinking about you, too? For a very long time now you have been on His mind. He had you in mind before there ever was a you; before you were born, God was thinking about you. As a matter of fact, there are seven times that God was thinking about you that I’d like for you to think about today:
1. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE ETERNAL PAST
Before the world began, you were on God’s heart. If that were not so, then why was Jesus called “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8)?
You see, before God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the first man became a living being (Genesis 2:7), God absolutely knew that Adam would sin. Adam and Eve’s offspring all the way down the timeline of history to you and me would also sin, and God knew all this in advance.
Nevertheless, He created us and provided a way of escape from the sinful condition that we would eventually find ourselves in. Make no mistake, God was seriously thinking about you, yes you specifically, before the creation of the world.
2. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE
You and I were formed to be part of God’s family. He has always desired fellowship with human beings created in His image and in His likeness. This is easily shown by seeing God reaching out to man in the first book of the Bible – Genesis.
After God created thousands of species of beasts and birds, He brought each one to Adam to see what he would name them (Genesis 2:19). God was allowing man to actually partner with God in establishing order on the earth.
Apparently God’s custom was to walk in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden with Adam and talk and enjoy each other’s company (Genesis 3:8). The Lord still desires to walk and talk with us in covenant friendship to this very hour.
3. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
Moses and Abraham were both consider “friends” with God (Exodus 33:11; James 2:23 respectively). I see them as types of God’s great desire to have close friendship with those who are willing to believe in Him.
Thousands of years ago, God (who plays no favorites) was setting the stage for men to have communion with Him on a regular basis.
4. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES
God has always wanted to reveal Himself to mankind. He has always desired to make the revelation His love known to mankind. This is best illustrated through God’s gift of Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus spoke this plainly when He said:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him…Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:21;23)
Jesus painstakingly took the time to reassure His followers of how very much He and the Father long to be with us.
“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).
When you and I are separated from a loved one, we use photographs, personal notes, memories, and other things to remind us of how much we love that person. God said through the prophet Isaiah: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:16). I think the Lord’s ugly crucifixion scars are one of the most beautiful reminders in the whole world that we have been on His mind for a very long time. The old hymn rightly says it: “when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”
5. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE
From Genesis to Revelation, you have been on God’s mind. When Christ-followers die now, the Bible teaches that they go to a place called heaven. I don’t know where it is but it’s sure not here on earth as we know it. One day, however, instead of us going to His actual location, He is moving His actual location to where we are!
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
Think about it! God, who wrote the end from the beginning was thinking about setting up His kingdom not only in your hearts but ultimately setting up His permanent dwelling place in your midst!
6. GOD WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE ETERNAL FUTURE
God’s experience with you (and to some extent your experience with God) is not limited to your life span from cradle to grave. For God it began before your birth and for us it never ends, even outliving our deaths.
The scriptures foretell of a time when we time shall become obsolete and transition into forever, infinity, eternity. When Jesus Christ returns to earth to claim His Bride, the Church, living or dead, from that point forward, we shall live forever with God in glorified bodies:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
It’s no wonder the Bible says: “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)!
Forever with God! Truly, God had you and me in mind when He created creation and laid out His plan for the ages.
7. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW
Finally, I believe God is thinking about you right now, as you read these words. I believe this because His Word says:
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
I think it would make God smile if you were to think of Him right now too.
DSR
11/8/04
Monday, November 8, 2004
Monday, November 1, 2004
The Black Highlighter
by David Scott Robertson
"Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes" (Jeremiah 36:23-24).
* * *
This passage of scripture shows us an interesting approach to Bible study. If you read something you don't like, just cut it out! Burn it. Delete it. Pretend that it doesn't exist. Ignore it. You be the judge instead of God. You override the prophetic word and let truth be whatever you determine it to be.
Instead of using a yellow highlighter to MARK passages you like use a black highlighter to MARK OUT passages you don't like.
To many this sounds absurd. Too many, however, act just as absurd when they read God's Word but don't believe it let alone act on it. Their unbelief is tantamount to them using a black highlighter to do away with a statement they don't want to deal with.
What color of highlighter do you use in your Bible study?
DSR
11/1/04
"Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes" (Jeremiah 36:23-24).
* * *
This passage of scripture shows us an interesting approach to Bible study. If you read something you don't like, just cut it out! Burn it. Delete it. Pretend that it doesn't exist. Ignore it. You be the judge instead of God. You override the prophetic word and let truth be whatever you determine it to be.
Instead of using a yellow highlighter to MARK passages you like use a black highlighter to MARK OUT passages you don't like.
To many this sounds absurd. Too many, however, act just as absurd when they read God's Word but don't believe it let alone act on it. Their unbelief is tantamount to them using a black highlighter to do away with a statement they don't want to deal with.
What color of highlighter do you use in your Bible study?
DSR
11/1/04
Monday, October 25, 2004
The JFL Challenge
by David Scott Robertson
(1 Tim 4:8 NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
* * *
I recently completed the 12-week Body For Life Challenge (http://www.bodyforlife.com/). It is an 84-day physical fitness challenge designed to assist participants in achieving positive transformation in their fitness level and body composition (as well as reduce stress and receive emotional strength by establishing healthy disciplines in their lives.)
Motivational author Bill Phillips in his best-selling book "Body For Life" shares his own success story of how he dramatically transformed his health and appearance in 12-weeks of focused effort. He has challenged others to follow his lead and join him in experiencing a higher quality of life. So far tens of thousands from all walks of life have accepted his Challenge, with me among them.
Throughout the Challenge, I carefully planned (in advance) six small but healthy and balanced meals to eat daily as well as six 20-45 minute workouts per week involving cardiovascular exercise and weight training.
I focused on ten muscle areas: chest, shoulders, triceps, back, biceps, quads, hamstrings, calves, abs, and my heart. (Bear with me, I'm going somewhere spiritual with all this!)
I took a "before" and "after" photo and charted my progress in a training journal.
Perhaps the most significant day was "Day 85," the day after I had completed the Challenge. On that day, after my morning devotions, I went to the gym as usual to workout and returned home for a day of eating six small but healthy and balanced meals. To this day, I am continuing to workout six days each week because although I initially accepted a short-term challenge in reality I formed a long-term habit that has created a permanent commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Now, the reason I believe the Lord allowed me to complete the BFL Challenge was to prepare me for a far greater one which I call "The JFL Challenge."
The "Jesus For Life Challenge (or JFL) will require of me the same dedication, passion, and commitment as the BFL Challenge did but focuses on those areas that are analogous to my Christian life.
I chose ten "spiritual muscle groups" to concentrate on for the next 12 weeks or 84 days. They are: prayer, fasting, worship, Bible reading, personal growth reading, ministry, evangelism, family devotions, journaling, and writing "Thoughts about God" (like this one).
In the BFL Challenge, my goals included improved health, strength, flexibility, energy level, body fat loss, and lean muscle mass gain. I met all those objectives.
In the JFL Challenge, my goals include personal revival, renewal, revelation, revolution, refreshing, recharging, revitalization and reproduction of what I learn and gain into the lives of others.
In the BFL Challenge, there were certain things that I did daily (like eat nutritious meals and use supplements), and some things that I did three times a week (like weightlifting and cardio training.) Sundays were a day of rest.
In the JFL Challenge, I will similarly do some things daily and some things less often.
I'm still praying and meditating on how the Lord wants me to do this, but as an example, it could look something like this:
- 7 seven days a week I will pray, ready my Bible and worship.
- 6 days a week, I will fast TV and secular movies.
- 5 days a week I will concentrate on ministry and reading or viewing resources by godly authors.
- 4 days a week I will attempt to journal.
- 3 days a week I will try to have brief family devotions.
- 2 days a week I will dedicate the evenings to purposely involve myself in evangelism.
- 1 day a week I will share a new Thought about God with family and friends.
With the Holy Spirit's help, I'm not going to fall into legalism in this JFL Challenge, but I am going to purposefully structure and condition myself to shore up these areas of my spiritual life.
Through the JFL Challenge, I want improved spiritual wellness. I want to lay aside every weight that hinders me and strengthen the areas of my life that are weak. I want the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) to be so dramatically improved that I'm quite literally transformed in my walk with Jesus at the end of this 12-week Challenge.
There are probably some who will read what I've written here and summarily dismiss it as a lofty but ridiculous exercise in futility. I suppose all we have to do is look in the mirror at the condition we've allowed our physical bodies to get into to ascertain whether or not we are qualified to criticize someone else who's trying to do something positive for a change.
I love the ancient oriental proverb: "He who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of him who doing it."
Having just come through 84 consecutive days of the BFL Challenge successfully (and still going strong!) I have the confidence to move on to something I consider of far greater (and eternal) value - my spiritual fitness.
We can't take a "before" and "after" photo of our souls (mind, will, and emotions) and our spirits, but I assure you everyone will be able to tell the difference in my life if I'm able to pull this off.
What about you? Are you up for a Challenge? Are you ready to rise above the level of mediocrity and blast past excuses as to why you can't be a more powerful man or woman of God? Are you just going to sit there another day / week / month / year and accept your spiritual condition or are you going to get up and do something about it?
Nike said it first but you may need to say it to yourself at long last: "Just do it!"
DSR
10/25/04
(1 Tim 4:8 NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
* * *
I recently completed the 12-week Body For Life Challenge (http://www.bodyforlife.com/). It is an 84-day physical fitness challenge designed to assist participants in achieving positive transformation in their fitness level and body composition (as well as reduce stress and receive emotional strength by establishing healthy disciplines in their lives.)
Motivational author Bill Phillips in his best-selling book "Body For Life" shares his own success story of how he dramatically transformed his health and appearance in 12-weeks of focused effort. He has challenged others to follow his lead and join him in experiencing a higher quality of life. So far tens of thousands from all walks of life have accepted his Challenge, with me among them.
Throughout the Challenge, I carefully planned (in advance) six small but healthy and balanced meals to eat daily as well as six 20-45 minute workouts per week involving cardiovascular exercise and weight training.
I focused on ten muscle areas: chest, shoulders, triceps, back, biceps, quads, hamstrings, calves, abs, and my heart. (Bear with me, I'm going somewhere spiritual with all this!)
I took a "before" and "after" photo and charted my progress in a training journal.
Perhaps the most significant day was "Day 85," the day after I had completed the Challenge. On that day, after my morning devotions, I went to the gym as usual to workout and returned home for a day of eating six small but healthy and balanced meals. To this day, I am continuing to workout six days each week because although I initially accepted a short-term challenge in reality I formed a long-term habit that has created a permanent commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Now, the reason I believe the Lord allowed me to complete the BFL Challenge was to prepare me for a far greater one which I call "The JFL Challenge."
The "Jesus For Life Challenge (or JFL) will require of me the same dedication, passion, and commitment as the BFL Challenge did but focuses on those areas that are analogous to my Christian life.
I chose ten "spiritual muscle groups" to concentrate on for the next 12 weeks or 84 days. They are: prayer, fasting, worship, Bible reading, personal growth reading, ministry, evangelism, family devotions, journaling, and writing "Thoughts about God" (like this one).
In the BFL Challenge, my goals included improved health, strength, flexibility, energy level, body fat loss, and lean muscle mass gain. I met all those objectives.
In the JFL Challenge, my goals include personal revival, renewal, revelation, revolution, refreshing, recharging, revitalization and reproduction of what I learn and gain into the lives of others.
In the BFL Challenge, there were certain things that I did daily (like eat nutritious meals and use supplements), and some things that I did three times a week (like weightlifting and cardio training.) Sundays were a day of rest.
In the JFL Challenge, I will similarly do some things daily and some things less often.
I'm still praying and meditating on how the Lord wants me to do this, but as an example, it could look something like this:
- 7 seven days a week I will pray, ready my Bible and worship.
- 6 days a week, I will fast TV and secular movies.
- 5 days a week I will concentrate on ministry and reading or viewing resources by godly authors.
- 4 days a week I will attempt to journal.
- 3 days a week I will try to have brief family devotions.
- 2 days a week I will dedicate the evenings to purposely involve myself in evangelism.
- 1 day a week I will share a new Thought about God with family and friends.
With the Holy Spirit's help, I'm not going to fall into legalism in this JFL Challenge, but I am going to purposefully structure and condition myself to shore up these areas of my spiritual life.
Through the JFL Challenge, I want improved spiritual wellness. I want to lay aside every weight that hinders me and strengthen the areas of my life that are weak. I want the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) to be so dramatically improved that I'm quite literally transformed in my walk with Jesus at the end of this 12-week Challenge.
There are probably some who will read what I've written here and summarily dismiss it as a lofty but ridiculous exercise in futility. I suppose all we have to do is look in the mirror at the condition we've allowed our physical bodies to get into to ascertain whether or not we are qualified to criticize someone else who's trying to do something positive for a change.
I love the ancient oriental proverb: "He who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of him who doing it."
Having just come through 84 consecutive days of the BFL Challenge successfully (and still going strong!) I have the confidence to move on to something I consider of far greater (and eternal) value - my spiritual fitness.
We can't take a "before" and "after" photo of our souls (mind, will, and emotions) and our spirits, but I assure you everyone will be able to tell the difference in my life if I'm able to pull this off.
What about you? Are you up for a Challenge? Are you ready to rise above the level of mediocrity and blast past excuses as to why you can't be a more powerful man or woman of God? Are you just going to sit there another day / week / month / year and accept your spiritual condition or are you going to get up and do something about it?
Nike said it first but you may need to say it to yourself at long last: "Just do it!"
DSR
10/25/04
Monday, October 18, 2004
Get a Revelation!
by David Scott Robertson
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better" (Ephesians 1:17).
* * *
Every person on planet Earth, I believe, needs to "get a revelation" of at least 5 things:
1. A REVELATION OF THE LOVE OF GOD
Thousands of books have been written, countless sermons preached, and innumerable living examples of the love of God in action exist in the world today. I think every man and woman, boy and girl, needs to know that God loves them.
The fact that there is a God, and He has chosen to allow Himself to be known, is a mystery too great to unravel. Who can grasp how an infinite God and a finite human being can get together?
Not only is God omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, but He declares of Himself that GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:8). He could be all-powerful and not loving; He could be all-knowing and not loving; He could be present everywhere at once but not loving. But He's not.
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done" (Psalm 62:11-12).
The love of God is as flawless and perfect and unconditional and absolute as God is Himself. God has a message today for those who have an ear to hear it:
"…I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).
To discern this truth and the four to follow will require what the Apostle Paul wrote about to a group of believers at a church in Ephesus, "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation…" Eph. 1:17).
2. A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
God's ultimate expression of His love for mankind is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3).
It is only through Christ that we can experience the love of God. Almighty God revealed His heart when His Spirit dictated the following words to the Apostle John as he penned the gospel that bears his name:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17).
Like Father, like Son.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
The revelation of who Jesus is - literally - determines our salvation and whether or not we qualify for eternal life. To know Christ is to know God, for only through Jesus can we know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
If we ever truly get a revelation of who Jesus Christ is, and who we are "in Christ," then matters of authority, destiny, calling, purpose, provision, and so on will all fall neatly into place (Matthew 6:33).
To be sure, it is massively important that we get a revelation of Jesus Christ.
3. A REVELATION OF THE CROSS
The third revelation I believe humankind needs is a revelation of the cross. Apart from this revelation, even Christ-followers cannot fully realize their potential in God's plan for the ages.
Mel Gibson went a long way in visually portraying the sufferings of Jesus on the cross in his now famous movie "The Passion of the Christ." But the physical torture associated with Jesus' death is not the full revelation. There's much, much more.
Fewer books have been written and fewer sermons preached on this subject than the love of God, nevertheless, the revelation of the cross is one of the most potent and powerful messages that every citizen of earth must receive.
For it's on the cross of Jesus Christ, and this cross alone, that divine blood was shed. The blood of the thief on the left and the right of Jesus that dark day on Golgotha's hill wouldn't do. The blood of incalculable other poor, unfortunate souls murdered or martyred on crosses throughout history wouldn't do. Only holy blood would do. And Jesus, the One whom the Bible identifies as "the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Revelation 13:8) voluntarily offering His holy blood to God as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. God's Son was dead, accepting the death penalty for the likes of you and me.
Now we can come TO THE CROSS to receive forgiveness of our sins. Next we come THROUGH THE CROSS to receive healing for our damaged emotions and deliverance from our addictions. Then we get ON THE CROSS to crucify our fleshly carnality and begin a process of sanctification whereby we are formed into disciples of Jesus. Finally, we TAKE UP OUR CROSS, denying our earthly agendas, goals, and dreams, and follow Him.
Friends, we need a fresh revelation of the cross in order to apply God's full repair on our sin-warped bodies, souls, and spirits and become refurbished back to the Manufacturer's original specifications.
4. A REVELATION OF THE MULTITUDES
Once we are saved and healed and whole, we need to get a revelation of the multitudes.
"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34 KJV).
When was the last time you were at the mall's food court and looked around at all the people and were "moved with compassion?" The sea of people you and I swim with may look good, smell good, and boast of many material possessions - but apart from God they are all spiritually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17).
We need a revelation of the "depth of lost-ness" of the human race. If you are a Christian, you are outnumbered by vast hordes of people who don't know and cannot experience the love of God.
Larry Stockstill, pastor of one of the largest cell churches in America, says that if the number of lost people in the world were to form a single file line (so close that you could barely get a piece of paper between them) the number of unsaved people would stretch forty times around the earth!
We need a revelation of the multitudes! It will take such a revelation to move us out of our comfort zones and into the harvest fields! It will take such a revelation to get us past our fear of rejection and offending someone. It will take such a revelation for us to believe that God actually wants to use us (yeah, I'm talking to you)!
YOU are the one He's after to make a difference at your workplace! YOU are the one He's after to become a change-agent at your school! YOU are the one He's after to become a world-changer through your church! But unless you receive this truth by revelation you will never be moved to compassion enough to do something about it.
One time, one Man, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, made such a difference that all time is now measured by His appearance on the earth (B.C. / A.D.). Now, God desires to use you and me, filled with the love of God, born-again by the Spirit through Jesus, restored through the power of the cross, and sent out by the Great Commission to "win souls and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Everything has been provided, the only question is: Will you do your part?
5. A REVELATION OF THE JUDGMENT OF GOD OF SIN
Lastly, I think, everybody needs a revelation of sin and the coming judgment.
Gentlemen, you may know which teams are playing in Monday Night Football this coming week but did you know that judgment is coming on the world? Ladies, you may know which stores are having their annual half-off sale this week, but did you know that judgment is coming on the world? You and I may know a lot of things that don't really matter in the scope of eternity, but do we realize that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)?
All sin requires payment. Nobody gets away with anything. Everybody at some point will have to deal with every sinful thought they've ever thought, every sinful word they've ever said, and everything sinful deed they've ever done. If you are reading this and you have yet to get a revelation of who Jesus is, may I tell you that He is God's only provision for dealing with your sin problem? On the cross Jesus dealt with it so effectively that you will actually be excused from God's righteous judgment against it if you place your trust and faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Just like a coin has two sides, so God's character is multi-faceted. While it is true that His attributes include loving kindness and tender mercy, patience and long suffering, grace and gentleness, the sobering fact remains that there is the other side of the coin. That is, one day when God sees fit, He will execute judgment on the ungodly.
"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 1:14-15).
Hell is as real as heaven. Hell is as bad and undesirable as heaven is good and desirable. Both are beyond our ability to comprehend and precisely the reason we need a revelation to get it.
This is one of the reasons I believe God wrote in His love letter to mankind, the Bible, "…I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
From cradle to grave there is no more important decision that we can make than to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. In so doing, we can rest assured that the five revelations that I mentioned here (and many more to be sure) will be made known to you at the proper time.
I have observed, though, that revelations usually go hand in hand with your desire to obtain them. As hungry people seek out food, so spiritually hungry people seek out God. Revelation is not far from any of us for it is God's pleasure to give revelation even to the children who play at our feet.
Personally, I would love to have a revelation of what heaven will be like in greater detail than the Bible describes or to have revelation knowledge of how angels serve as ministering spirits to those that will inherit salvation. These would be great but not at the expense of knowing these five basic revelations that I described today.
My encouragement to you is to ask God to make this all real to you and to show you through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation where you can find yourself in these points. As you do, I believe that God will reveal more truths to you!
"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
DSR
10/18/04
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better" (Ephesians 1:17).
* * *
Every person on planet Earth, I believe, needs to "get a revelation" of at least 5 things:
1. A REVELATION OF THE LOVE OF GOD
Thousands of books have been written, countless sermons preached, and innumerable living examples of the love of God in action exist in the world today. I think every man and woman, boy and girl, needs to know that God loves them.
The fact that there is a God, and He has chosen to allow Himself to be known, is a mystery too great to unravel. Who can grasp how an infinite God and a finite human being can get together?
Not only is God omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, but He declares of Himself that GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:8). He could be all-powerful and not loving; He could be all-knowing and not loving; He could be present everywhere at once but not loving. But He's not.
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done" (Psalm 62:11-12).
The love of God is as flawless and perfect and unconditional and absolute as God is Himself. God has a message today for those who have an ear to hear it:
"…I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).
To discern this truth and the four to follow will require what the Apostle Paul wrote about to a group of believers at a church in Ephesus, "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation…" Eph. 1:17).
2. A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
God's ultimate expression of His love for mankind is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3).
It is only through Christ that we can experience the love of God. Almighty God revealed His heart when His Spirit dictated the following words to the Apostle John as he penned the gospel that bears his name:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17).
Like Father, like Son.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
The revelation of who Jesus is - literally - determines our salvation and whether or not we qualify for eternal life. To know Christ is to know God, for only through Jesus can we know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
If we ever truly get a revelation of who Jesus Christ is, and who we are "in Christ," then matters of authority, destiny, calling, purpose, provision, and so on will all fall neatly into place (Matthew 6:33).
To be sure, it is massively important that we get a revelation of Jesus Christ.
3. A REVELATION OF THE CROSS
The third revelation I believe humankind needs is a revelation of the cross. Apart from this revelation, even Christ-followers cannot fully realize their potential in God's plan for the ages.
Mel Gibson went a long way in visually portraying the sufferings of Jesus on the cross in his now famous movie "The Passion of the Christ." But the physical torture associated with Jesus' death is not the full revelation. There's much, much more.
Fewer books have been written and fewer sermons preached on this subject than the love of God, nevertheless, the revelation of the cross is one of the most potent and powerful messages that every citizen of earth must receive.
For it's on the cross of Jesus Christ, and this cross alone, that divine blood was shed. The blood of the thief on the left and the right of Jesus that dark day on Golgotha's hill wouldn't do. The blood of incalculable other poor, unfortunate souls murdered or martyred on crosses throughout history wouldn't do. Only holy blood would do. And Jesus, the One whom the Bible identifies as "the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Revelation 13:8) voluntarily offering His holy blood to God as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. God's Son was dead, accepting the death penalty for the likes of you and me.
Now we can come TO THE CROSS to receive forgiveness of our sins. Next we come THROUGH THE CROSS to receive healing for our damaged emotions and deliverance from our addictions. Then we get ON THE CROSS to crucify our fleshly carnality and begin a process of sanctification whereby we are formed into disciples of Jesus. Finally, we TAKE UP OUR CROSS, denying our earthly agendas, goals, and dreams, and follow Him.
Friends, we need a fresh revelation of the cross in order to apply God's full repair on our sin-warped bodies, souls, and spirits and become refurbished back to the Manufacturer's original specifications.
4. A REVELATION OF THE MULTITUDES
Once we are saved and healed and whole, we need to get a revelation of the multitudes.
"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34 KJV).
When was the last time you were at the mall's food court and looked around at all the people and were "moved with compassion?" The sea of people you and I swim with may look good, smell good, and boast of many material possessions - but apart from God they are all spiritually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17).
We need a revelation of the "depth of lost-ness" of the human race. If you are a Christian, you are outnumbered by vast hordes of people who don't know and cannot experience the love of God.
Larry Stockstill, pastor of one of the largest cell churches in America, says that if the number of lost people in the world were to form a single file line (so close that you could barely get a piece of paper between them) the number of unsaved people would stretch forty times around the earth!
We need a revelation of the multitudes! It will take such a revelation to move us out of our comfort zones and into the harvest fields! It will take such a revelation to get us past our fear of rejection and offending someone. It will take such a revelation for us to believe that God actually wants to use us (yeah, I'm talking to you)!
YOU are the one He's after to make a difference at your workplace! YOU are the one He's after to become a change-agent at your school! YOU are the one He's after to become a world-changer through your church! But unless you receive this truth by revelation you will never be moved to compassion enough to do something about it.
One time, one Man, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, made such a difference that all time is now measured by His appearance on the earth (B.C. / A.D.). Now, God desires to use you and me, filled with the love of God, born-again by the Spirit through Jesus, restored through the power of the cross, and sent out by the Great Commission to "win souls and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Everything has been provided, the only question is: Will you do your part?
5. A REVELATION OF THE JUDGMENT OF GOD OF SIN
Lastly, I think, everybody needs a revelation of sin and the coming judgment.
Gentlemen, you may know which teams are playing in Monday Night Football this coming week but did you know that judgment is coming on the world? Ladies, you may know which stores are having their annual half-off sale this week, but did you know that judgment is coming on the world? You and I may know a lot of things that don't really matter in the scope of eternity, but do we realize that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)?
All sin requires payment. Nobody gets away with anything. Everybody at some point will have to deal with every sinful thought they've ever thought, every sinful word they've ever said, and everything sinful deed they've ever done. If you are reading this and you have yet to get a revelation of who Jesus is, may I tell you that He is God's only provision for dealing with your sin problem? On the cross Jesus dealt with it so effectively that you will actually be excused from God's righteous judgment against it if you place your trust and faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Just like a coin has two sides, so God's character is multi-faceted. While it is true that His attributes include loving kindness and tender mercy, patience and long suffering, grace and gentleness, the sobering fact remains that there is the other side of the coin. That is, one day when God sees fit, He will execute judgment on the ungodly.
"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 1:14-15).
Hell is as real as heaven. Hell is as bad and undesirable as heaven is good and desirable. Both are beyond our ability to comprehend and precisely the reason we need a revelation to get it.
This is one of the reasons I believe God wrote in His love letter to mankind, the Bible, "…I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
From cradle to grave there is no more important decision that we can make than to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. In so doing, we can rest assured that the five revelations that I mentioned here (and many more to be sure) will be made known to you at the proper time.
I have observed, though, that revelations usually go hand in hand with your desire to obtain them. As hungry people seek out food, so spiritually hungry people seek out God. Revelation is not far from any of us for it is God's pleasure to give revelation even to the children who play at our feet.
Personally, I would love to have a revelation of what heaven will be like in greater detail than the Bible describes or to have revelation knowledge of how angels serve as ministering spirits to those that will inherit salvation. These would be great but not at the expense of knowing these five basic revelations that I described today.
My encouragement to you is to ask God to make this all real to you and to show you through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation where you can find yourself in these points. As you do, I believe that God will reveal more truths to you!
"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
DSR
10/18/04
Monday, October 11, 2004
Doeg the Edomite
by David Scott Robertson
1 Samuel 21:7 (NLT)
Now Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, was there that day for ceremonial purification.
* * *
In my writings, I usually refrain from saying anything derogatory about anyone, but in the case of Doeg the Edomite, I'm willing to make an exception. I don't like Doeg. I dislike him so much that instead of referring to him as "Doeg the Edomite", I'm going to call him, "Doeg the Termite," because I don't like termites either.
If you knew the full story of Doeg, then you would understand my disdain. There was another David that disliked Doeg - King David. Let me explain.
In the verse I opened with, Doeg, who was King Saul's chief shepherd, had gone to a place called Nob to go through a ceremony of purification. Apparently he had "defiled" himself according to the Law of Moses and had become ceremonially unclean. Per the Law, Doeg had to present himself (and more than likely an offering) before the Lord with the assistance of a Levitcal priest to become ceremonially clean again. But Doeg was far from clean when his "purification ceremony" was complete.
Here we have an ancient example of a man full of the devil going to church to soothe his religious conscience. The same thing happens every Sunday in thousands of churches across America. Hypocrites, liars, and murderers attend Sunday services every week, perform some religious duty, toss a piece of paper with a dead president's picture on it in the offering plate, and then go out the door to live the devil for another week. Doeg was that kind of man.
NOT ONLY WAS DOEG A HYPOCRITE, BUT HE WAS ALSO A LIAR.
1 Samuel 22:9-10 (NLT)
Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul's men, spoke up. "When I was at Nob," he said, "I saw David talking to Ahimelech the priest. [10] Ahimelech consulted the Lord to find out what David should do. Then he gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."
Doeg embellished the facts that he knew by relating to King Saul that Ahimelech had inquired of the Lord on David's behalf when in fact the scriptures don't mention that fact.
NOT ONLY WAS DOEG A LIAR, BUT HE ALSO HAD NO FEAR OF GOD.
King Saul, driven by insatiable envy against David, returned with a detachment of his troops along with Doeg to Nob to pay Ahimelech the priest a visit. Accusing the old priest of betraying the kingdom, Saul ordered Ahimelech to be murdered along with all the other priests who happened to be on duty. Saul's soldiers refused to obey the insane and blasphemous order. But Doeg, who had no fear of God, gladly obeyed.
1 Samuel 22:18 (NLT)
Then the king said to Doeg, "You do it." So Doeg turned on them and killed them, eighty-five priests in all, all still wearing their priestly tunics.
NOT ONLY WAS DOEG IRREVERENT TO GOD, HE WAS ALSO A MASS MURDERER
1 Samuel 22:19 (NLT)
Then he went to Nob, the city of the priests, and killed the priests' families-men and women, children and babies, and all the cattle, donkeys, and sheep.
Doeg was merciless in his lust for blood and hunger for favor in the eyes of the deranged King Saul. Doeg had killed the very priest that had served him in the ceremony of purification. Doeg had betrayed David, a fellow shepherd, to the hands of his enemy. Doeg possessed neither professional ethics nor spiritual values.
David, while still on the run from Saul, composed the following psalm about Doeg immortalized in Holy Scripture:
Psalm 52:1-7 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had given refuge to David.
You call yourself a hero, do you? Why boast about this crime of yours, you who have disgraced God's people? 2 All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you're an expert at telling lies. 3 You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. 4You love to say things that harm others, you liar! 5But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and drag you from the land of the living. 6The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say, 7"Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness."
According to King David's description here, Doeg was a proud warrior, a hero in his own eyes who had gained wealth, position, and property through wickedness, evil, and murder.
Okay, so we have built the case that Doeg was a bad boy, a real bad boy. And your point is…?
The point is that Doeg was a "church-going" man who in our opening verse was found at "church" involved in religious activity - becoming "ceremonially pure." We need to take note that being a faithful church attendee does not have the power to purify.
Never associate your purity, wholeness, or spiritual success with religious activities, ceremonies, or rites. Only the blood of Jesus can accomplish the necessary "heart transplant" in a person's life needed to bring about salvation, clean hands, and a pure heart.
Titus 1:15 (NLT)
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled.
DSR
10/11/04
1 Samuel 21:7 (NLT)
Now Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, was there that day for ceremonial purification.
* * *
In my writings, I usually refrain from saying anything derogatory about anyone, but in the case of Doeg the Edomite, I'm willing to make an exception. I don't like Doeg. I dislike him so much that instead of referring to him as "Doeg the Edomite", I'm going to call him, "Doeg the Termite," because I don't like termites either.
If you knew the full story of Doeg, then you would understand my disdain. There was another David that disliked Doeg - King David. Let me explain.
In the verse I opened with, Doeg, who was King Saul's chief shepherd, had gone to a place called Nob to go through a ceremony of purification. Apparently he had "defiled" himself according to the Law of Moses and had become ceremonially unclean. Per the Law, Doeg had to present himself (and more than likely an offering) before the Lord with the assistance of a Levitcal priest to become ceremonially clean again. But Doeg was far from clean when his "purification ceremony" was complete.
Here we have an ancient example of a man full of the devil going to church to soothe his religious conscience. The same thing happens every Sunday in thousands of churches across America. Hypocrites, liars, and murderers attend Sunday services every week, perform some religious duty, toss a piece of paper with a dead president's picture on it in the offering plate, and then go out the door to live the devil for another week. Doeg was that kind of man.
NOT ONLY WAS DOEG A HYPOCRITE, BUT HE WAS ALSO A LIAR.
1 Samuel 22:9-10 (NLT)
Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul's men, spoke up. "When I was at Nob," he said, "I saw David talking to Ahimelech the priest. [10] Ahimelech consulted the Lord to find out what David should do. Then he gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."
Doeg embellished the facts that he knew by relating to King Saul that Ahimelech had inquired of the Lord on David's behalf when in fact the scriptures don't mention that fact.
NOT ONLY WAS DOEG A LIAR, BUT HE ALSO HAD NO FEAR OF GOD.
King Saul, driven by insatiable envy against David, returned with a detachment of his troops along with Doeg to Nob to pay Ahimelech the priest a visit. Accusing the old priest of betraying the kingdom, Saul ordered Ahimelech to be murdered along with all the other priests who happened to be on duty. Saul's soldiers refused to obey the insane and blasphemous order. But Doeg, who had no fear of God, gladly obeyed.
1 Samuel 22:18 (NLT)
Then the king said to Doeg, "You do it." So Doeg turned on them and killed them, eighty-five priests in all, all still wearing their priestly tunics.
NOT ONLY WAS DOEG IRREVERENT TO GOD, HE WAS ALSO A MASS MURDERER
1 Samuel 22:19 (NLT)
Then he went to Nob, the city of the priests, and killed the priests' families-men and women, children and babies, and all the cattle, donkeys, and sheep.
Doeg was merciless in his lust for blood and hunger for favor in the eyes of the deranged King Saul. Doeg had killed the very priest that had served him in the ceremony of purification. Doeg had betrayed David, a fellow shepherd, to the hands of his enemy. Doeg possessed neither professional ethics nor spiritual values.
David, while still on the run from Saul, composed the following psalm about Doeg immortalized in Holy Scripture:
Psalm 52:1-7 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had given refuge to David.
You call yourself a hero, do you? Why boast about this crime of yours, you who have disgraced God's people? 2 All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you're an expert at telling lies. 3 You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. 4You love to say things that harm others, you liar! 5But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and drag you from the land of the living. 6The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say, 7"Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness."
According to King David's description here, Doeg was a proud warrior, a hero in his own eyes who had gained wealth, position, and property through wickedness, evil, and murder.
Okay, so we have built the case that Doeg was a bad boy, a real bad boy. And your point is…?
The point is that Doeg was a "church-going" man who in our opening verse was found at "church" involved in religious activity - becoming "ceremonially pure." We need to take note that being a faithful church attendee does not have the power to purify.
Never associate your purity, wholeness, or spiritual success with religious activities, ceremonies, or rites. Only the blood of Jesus can accomplish the necessary "heart transplant" in a person's life needed to bring about salvation, clean hands, and a pure heart.
Titus 1:15 (NLT)
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled.
DSR
10/11/04
Monday, October 4, 2004
A Morning Prayer
by David Scott Robertson
Good morning, Lord. Good morning, Holy Spirit. Good morning, Father God. Forgive me - forgive me - forgive me. Fill me with your holy power that I might bring glory to your holy name today.
I just want to say thanks this morning. Thanks for another day of life. Thank you for the privilege of knowing you. Thank you that my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. I rejoice in this fact more so than the fact that demons are subject to believers in your name.
Thank you that I'm on my way to heaven. Thank you that the worst day I'll ever have as a Christian is infinitely better than the best day I ever had as a sinner.
Thank you that my liver works today. Thank you for taste buds. Thank you for my inner ear working well and keeping everything in balance. Thank you that all my senses work. Thank you for common sense operating in my life. Thank you for a brain that is so sophisticated that all the computing power in the world can't compare.
Thank you for the privilege of living in the United States of America. Thank you that my president prays. Thank you that recession is better than depression and you alone empower the righteous to reap a harvest in famine.
Thank you for good weather. Thank you for ozone. Thank you for seasons. Thank you that Earth is no nearer or farther away from the sun than it is, but is stationed precisely where you placed it a long time ago.
Thank you for my pets that add value to my life. Thank you for my wife, daughter, family, and friends that have so improved the quality of my life that I literally don't know what I do without them.
Thank you that I can type these words without looking at the keyboard. Thank you that I am gainfully employed. Thank you that I am employable. Thank you for every dime I earn and for the ethic to obediently return ten percent of every dime I make to its rightful owner - you.
Thank you that I have so much to give thanks for that I can't. It is with that in mind that you grant us another day of life to live tomorrow. With one more day to work with, I can continue the cycle of daily thanksgiving, praise, worship, and service to my Lord King.
Lord, I understand that an attitude of gratitude leads to longevity in our relationship. I want to practice being faithful in prayer and praise now, for when you see fit to transition me from this world to the next I want to be prepared to join the multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).
DSR
10/4/04
Good morning, Lord. Good morning, Holy Spirit. Good morning, Father God. Forgive me - forgive me - forgive me. Fill me with your holy power that I might bring glory to your holy name today.
I just want to say thanks this morning. Thanks for another day of life. Thank you for the privilege of knowing you. Thank you that my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. I rejoice in this fact more so than the fact that demons are subject to believers in your name.
Thank you that I'm on my way to heaven. Thank you that the worst day I'll ever have as a Christian is infinitely better than the best day I ever had as a sinner.
Thank you that my liver works today. Thank you for taste buds. Thank you for my inner ear working well and keeping everything in balance. Thank you that all my senses work. Thank you for common sense operating in my life. Thank you for a brain that is so sophisticated that all the computing power in the world can't compare.
Thank you for the privilege of living in the United States of America. Thank you that my president prays. Thank you that recession is better than depression and you alone empower the righteous to reap a harvest in famine.
Thank you for good weather. Thank you for ozone. Thank you for seasons. Thank you that Earth is no nearer or farther away from the sun than it is, but is stationed precisely where you placed it a long time ago.
Thank you for my pets that add value to my life. Thank you for my wife, daughter, family, and friends that have so improved the quality of my life that I literally don't know what I do without them.
Thank you that I can type these words without looking at the keyboard. Thank you that I am gainfully employed. Thank you that I am employable. Thank you for every dime I earn and for the ethic to obediently return ten percent of every dime I make to its rightful owner - you.
Thank you that I have so much to give thanks for that I can't. It is with that in mind that you grant us another day of life to live tomorrow. With one more day to work with, I can continue the cycle of daily thanksgiving, praise, worship, and service to my Lord King.
Lord, I understand that an attitude of gratitude leads to longevity in our relationship. I want to practice being faithful in prayer and praise now, for when you see fit to transition me from this world to the next I want to be prepared to join the multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).
DSR
10/4/04
Monday, September 27, 2004
Who Needs God the Most?
by David Scott Robertson
Have you ever wondered who needs God the most?
Is it the man on death row or the child sitting in her 4th grade classroom?
Is it the satanic high priest or the charismatic preacher?
Is it the compulsive gambler or the Sunday School teacher?
Is it the child molester or the sexually abused child?
Is it the man with AIDS or the Olympic gold medallist?
Is it the bus driver or the corporate executive?
Is it the president of the country or its lowliest citizen?
Is it you or is it me?
Have you ever wondered who needs God the most? I'm going to take a guess at who needs God the most...we all do; desperately.
No matter who you are, where you live, what your education or income level is or is not; whether you're homeless or own your own home, you need God the most.
No one in all creation needs God more than you do. But then again, no one in all creation needs God any less than you do. It doesn't matter how "secure" you are financially, how independently wealthy you may be, apart from God we are all poor and blind and naked.
Speaking for myself, I will tell you that there was a time in my life that I couldn't even breathe properly without God (I used to inhale harmful, toxic gas through smoking). I couldn't eat properly without God (I used to be a glutton and love junk food). I couldn't have proper relationships without God (I used to indulge in sinful activities with other people). I couldn't have a proper outlook on life (I used to have a bad attitude, no goals, no real direction other than to try to please myself continually). I used to live a very undisciplined life. I didn't eat responsibly, drink responsibly, think responsibly. I needed God to calibrate my life and set it in balance. At one time I was lost and undone without God or His Son.
The truth for you and for me is that at any given moment, we are but a step away from death; a heartbeat away from finishing out our lifespan, for it is God who keeps our hearts pumping blood from one beat to the next. You and I cannot survive, let alone succeed, in life without God.
There was a season in my life where I tried to live independently from my Creator. The pitiful result? Vanity - hopelessness - futility - emptiness - pain - (needless) suffering.
I discovered that apart from the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the only thing I could make out of my life was a mess. I discovered that at any given time I was just one bad decision away from calamity and destruction and the consequences of my sin.
The conclusion of this whole matter of who needs God the most, in my view, is this:
We all need God the most. Every single human being needs God just as much as anybody else. We are all hopelessly lost without Him and only made complete through Him. Once again the scripture is proved right in the real world context:
"…in Him (God) we live and move and have our being…" (Acts 17:26)
Wherever you happen to find yourself on this planet and whatever condition you happen to be in at this present moment, know this: it is not fate, luck, or chance that has put you there. As Rick Warren writes about so capably in his excellent book, THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: You were planned for God's pleaure (Revelation 4:11); You were formed for God's family (1 John 3:1); you were created to become like Christ (Colossians 2:7); you were shaped for serving God (Ephesians 2:10), and you were made for a mission (Acts 20:24).
Acknowledging your need for God is the first step towards responding to His gracious invitation to be His child and allow Him to meet your needs (Phillipians 4:19) and grant you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
My encouragement to you today is to right now ask the Lord Jesus Christ to supernaturally place in your spirit a heightened awareness of your great need for God. While it is true that we have a great need for Christ, it is equally true that we have a great Christ for our need.
DSR
9/27/04
Have you ever wondered who needs God the most?
Is it the man on death row or the child sitting in her 4th grade classroom?
Is it the satanic high priest or the charismatic preacher?
Is it the compulsive gambler or the Sunday School teacher?
Is it the child molester or the sexually abused child?
Is it the man with AIDS or the Olympic gold medallist?
Is it the bus driver or the corporate executive?
Is it the president of the country or its lowliest citizen?
Is it you or is it me?
Have you ever wondered who needs God the most? I'm going to take a guess at who needs God the most...we all do; desperately.
No matter who you are, where you live, what your education or income level is or is not; whether you're homeless or own your own home, you need God the most.
No one in all creation needs God more than you do. But then again, no one in all creation needs God any less than you do. It doesn't matter how "secure" you are financially, how independently wealthy you may be, apart from God we are all poor and blind and naked.
Speaking for myself, I will tell you that there was a time in my life that I couldn't even breathe properly without God (I used to inhale harmful, toxic gas through smoking). I couldn't eat properly without God (I used to be a glutton and love junk food). I couldn't have proper relationships without God (I used to indulge in sinful activities with other people). I couldn't have a proper outlook on life (I used to have a bad attitude, no goals, no real direction other than to try to please myself continually). I used to live a very undisciplined life. I didn't eat responsibly, drink responsibly, think responsibly. I needed God to calibrate my life and set it in balance. At one time I was lost and undone without God or His Son.
The truth for you and for me is that at any given moment, we are but a step away from death; a heartbeat away from finishing out our lifespan, for it is God who keeps our hearts pumping blood from one beat to the next. You and I cannot survive, let alone succeed, in life without God.
There was a season in my life where I tried to live independently from my Creator. The pitiful result? Vanity - hopelessness - futility - emptiness - pain - (needless) suffering.
I discovered that apart from the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the only thing I could make out of my life was a mess. I discovered that at any given time I was just one bad decision away from calamity and destruction and the consequences of my sin.
The conclusion of this whole matter of who needs God the most, in my view, is this:
We all need God the most. Every single human being needs God just as much as anybody else. We are all hopelessly lost without Him and only made complete through Him. Once again the scripture is proved right in the real world context:
"…in Him (God) we live and move and have our being…" (Acts 17:26)
Wherever you happen to find yourself on this planet and whatever condition you happen to be in at this present moment, know this: it is not fate, luck, or chance that has put you there. As Rick Warren writes about so capably in his excellent book, THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: You were planned for God's pleaure (Revelation 4:11); You were formed for God's family (1 John 3:1); you were created to become like Christ (Colossians 2:7); you were shaped for serving God (Ephesians 2:10), and you were made for a mission (Acts 20:24).
Acknowledging your need for God is the first step towards responding to His gracious invitation to be His child and allow Him to meet your needs (Phillipians 4:19) and grant you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
My encouragement to you today is to right now ask the Lord Jesus Christ to supernaturally place in your spirit a heightened awareness of your great need for God. While it is true that we have a great need for Christ, it is equally true that we have a great Christ for our need.
DSR
9/27/04
Monday, September 13, 2004
The Unrecorded Miracles of Jesus
by David Scott Robertson
"Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life" (John 20:30-31)
* * *
Oh, how I have grown to love the stories I read in my Bible of the miracles of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Holy and Anointed One.
I love talking about them with my family and friends. I love reading and re-reading them year after year as I continue my lifelong goal to read the entire Bible through every twelve months. The gospels reveal Jesus performing signs and wonders that make me sigh and wonder.
MIRACLES OF PHYSICAL HEALING - Supernatural miracles, like blind men receiving their sight, lepers being made whole, crippled and deformed social outcasts being restored, fevers rebuked, and mysterious diseases vanishing - documented miracles accomplished with but a word from Jesus or a touch of the Master's hand.
MIRACLES OF POWERFUL DELIVERANCE - The demon possessed were a favorite target of Jesus, for He came to set the captives free. The Lord had great compassion on those tormented by demonic spirits and was quick to break the chains that bound those who had somehow opened doors to the invisible realm.
MIRACLES OF MIRACLE PROVISION - The feeding of thousands with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:17-20; 15:34-37), the miracle catch of 153 large fish in John 21 (21:6-8), and the coin taken from the mouth of a fish to pay the taxes of Jesus and Peter (Matthew 17:27)) are all examples and illustrations that anything in God's hands can be sufficient in meeting and exceeding a need.
MIRACLES OF RESURRECTION - Death defying miracles like Jairus' daughter being rescued from a premature death (Mark 5:22,-43), the widow of Nain receiving back her dearly departed son (Luke 7:11-15), and the sensational story of Lazarus' resurrection orchestrated by three words (John 11:43) coming from the mouth of the only One who had the power and authority to lay down life and pick it up again (John 10:18).
MIRACLES OF SALVATION - Nicodemas, Zaccueus, Mary Magdalene, the eleven disciples, the woman at the well and the thief of the cross along with hundreds (now billions) of others all embraced the truth of being saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The greatest miracle of all, the mystery of the ages, the kingdom of God living in us, salvation, had (and continues to this day) come down from heaven to man.
Miracles. I'm no theologian, but I think of a miracle as being something extraordinary happening that ordinarily ought not to happen.
What tweaks my interest, though, is John the Beloved's statement: "Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book…" Huh? What's that? What other miraculous signs? What other miracles did Jesus do that I can't read from the Bible to my daughter at bedtime?
I know it's impossible to know, but aren't you curious? Who else did He heal? Who else did He deliver? What other fantastic miracle of provision did He pull off? Who else would we be shocked to learn got saved?
I sincerely hope when I get to heaven that at some point God the Father permits the saints to review the unrecorded miracles of Jesus Christ! I want to rejoice in them and praise the Lord for His excellent greatness displayed at a time when something extraordinary happened through Jesus that ordinarily ought not to happen.
"And I suppose that if all the other things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books" (John 21:25).
DSR
9/13/04
"Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life" (John 20:30-31)
* * *
Oh, how I have grown to love the stories I read in my Bible of the miracles of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Holy and Anointed One.
I love talking about them with my family and friends. I love reading and re-reading them year after year as I continue my lifelong goal to read the entire Bible through every twelve months. The gospels reveal Jesus performing signs and wonders that make me sigh and wonder.
MIRACLES OF PHYSICAL HEALING - Supernatural miracles, like blind men receiving their sight, lepers being made whole, crippled and deformed social outcasts being restored, fevers rebuked, and mysterious diseases vanishing - documented miracles accomplished with but a word from Jesus or a touch of the Master's hand.
MIRACLES OF POWERFUL DELIVERANCE - The demon possessed were a favorite target of Jesus, for He came to set the captives free. The Lord had great compassion on those tormented by demonic spirits and was quick to break the chains that bound those who had somehow opened doors to the invisible realm.
MIRACLES OF MIRACLE PROVISION - The feeding of thousands with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:17-20; 15:34-37), the miracle catch of 153 large fish in John 21 (21:6-8), and the coin taken from the mouth of a fish to pay the taxes of Jesus and Peter (Matthew 17:27)) are all examples and illustrations that anything in God's hands can be sufficient in meeting and exceeding a need.
MIRACLES OF RESURRECTION - Death defying miracles like Jairus' daughter being rescued from a premature death (Mark 5:22,-43), the widow of Nain receiving back her dearly departed son (Luke 7:11-15), and the sensational story of Lazarus' resurrection orchestrated by three words (John 11:43) coming from the mouth of the only One who had the power and authority to lay down life and pick it up again (John 10:18).
MIRACLES OF SALVATION - Nicodemas, Zaccueus, Mary Magdalene, the eleven disciples, the woman at the well and the thief of the cross along with hundreds (now billions) of others all embraced the truth of being saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The greatest miracle of all, the mystery of the ages, the kingdom of God living in us, salvation, had (and continues to this day) come down from heaven to man.
Miracles. I'm no theologian, but I think of a miracle as being something extraordinary happening that ordinarily ought not to happen.
What tweaks my interest, though, is John the Beloved's statement: "Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book…" Huh? What's that? What other miraculous signs? What other miracles did Jesus do that I can't read from the Bible to my daughter at bedtime?
I know it's impossible to know, but aren't you curious? Who else did He heal? Who else did He deliver? What other fantastic miracle of provision did He pull off? Who else would we be shocked to learn got saved?
I sincerely hope when I get to heaven that at some point God the Father permits the saints to review the unrecorded miracles of Jesus Christ! I want to rejoice in them and praise the Lord for His excellent greatness displayed at a time when something extraordinary happened through Jesus that ordinarily ought not to happen.
"And I suppose that if all the other things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books" (John 21:25).
DSR
9/13/04
Sunday, September 5, 2004
Living Well
by David Scott Robertson
Once upon a time I was swimming monotonous laps at the YMCA pool. Somewhere in between breaths, I sort of "tuned out" the exercise and "tuned in" to deep thinking. During that particular workout, my thoughts narrowed to a single question: "At the end of the day, how could I lay my head on the pillow satisfied, confident that I had done my best to live this day well?"
I swam more laps. I thought. I prayed. I swam. I listened for the Holy Spirit's response. I swam lap after lap before the answer came. But it did come. It's been years since that workout and to this hour I can recall the answer clearly. It was a defining moment in my life. A workout that was intended to help me feel good physically actually began a process that to this day is transforming my life.
I think we all, at critical points in our lives, come to a place where we ask ourselves great questions: "Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Where did I come from and where am I going? Is there a God and can I know Him personally? Why on earth am I here?"
[NOTE: I'd like to recommend an important book called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren as one of the best books ever written apart from the Bible to help answer these excellent questions.]
But as for me, that day, I wanted with all my heart to know what would qualify me to be able to say at the close of the day:
- I have fought a good fight
- I have kept the faith
- I have lived today's life in the center of God's will
- I have made some progress, I have grown, I have been fruitful
- I have moved at least one step forward in fulfilling God's purposes for my life
- In short, I have lived the day well
The answer that bubbled up within my spirit that day in the YMCA pool (not surprisingly) revolved around relationships - eight key relationships to be exact. I felt that if I made some, any, even modest progress in each of these vital relationships each and every day then I sensed I would feel God's pleasure. I felt that if my life was on a "continuous improvement process" towards being like Jesus in important areas, then I could lay my head on the pillow at night satisfied, confident that I had done my best to live the day well. The eight relationships were (in order of priority):
1. My relationship with God
2. My relationship with my wife
3. My relationship with my daughter
4. My relationship with my family and extended family
5. My relationship with those I am trying to lead
6. My relationship with those I am trying to win to Jesus
7. My relationship with my ministry / career
8. My relationship with myself
At long last, my priorities began to "line up" in the proper order - God first, me last, and people in between.
If I could somehow manage to pull off in a single day making tiny, even microscopic, gains and progress and advancements in each of these crucial relationships every day, then I reasoned I could shoot for more minor progress the next day. And the next. And the day after that take another half-step forward. If I could string enough of these days together then perhaps this could add up to a more fulfilled life - a life lived well.
Back to the pool. Having just received the download of what was to me a revelation from God for my life, I continued to swim and ponder the implications of such a focused lifestyle. How would it play out in the day to day? I began to meditate on simple things, the basics really, that by God's grace and with the Holy Spirit's guidance could actually become daily realities. A typical day in the life of David S. Robertson applying this new paradigm might look something like this:
1. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
I would begin each day with a meeting with God. The first fruits would go to Him. I would talk to God and listen. I would spend time in His Word and allow it to form, conform, and transform me from who I am to who I am becoming in Him - one day at a time. The goal of this daily meeting would be intimate friendship with Jesus. This time with the Lord, first and foremost and above all else, would set the tone for the day and every day and open communication with Him throughout the day.
2. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY WIFE
Since I have entered into a marriage covenant with the wife of my youth, Monica, I believe this privilege carries with it responsibilities. My marriage and love for my wife should imitate Christ's love for the Church and His willingness to lay His life down for His Bride. Marriage is a great place to die to self! For me, daily growth in my relationship with my wife might show up in the little things: Picking up my clothes, taking out the trash, emptying the dishwasher, making sure her car's tires are properly inflated, and asking her questions about her day and (gulp) actually listening without volunteering how to fix all the problems she encountered!
3. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAUGHTER
Any parent I know at times grapples with feelings of inadequacy. Good parenting is not for the faint of heart! As a father of only one child, I only have one shot at parenting so I'd better make it count! Until she leaves home, I have the privilege and responsibility to nurture my daughter, Abigail. Every day, I want to sow seeds into her life of love, faith, tender instruction and balanced correction to join God in His work of making her life count for eternity. A bedtime story, a prayer, letting her watch me serve others, playing together; little things done on each day I am with her could help her to develop a healthy relationship with her earthly father that will pay off loater in her in responding to the love and instruction of her Heavenly Father.
4. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FAMILY AND MY EXTENDED FAMILY
My family is my blood relatives and my extended family is all members of the body of Christ, the Church. Daily growth in these areas, as the Spirit leads, might be to call my mother "just because…", emailing my aunt in Destin, Florida, or complimenting a church member for singing a special song during the collection of the offering. King Solomon pointed out that it's "the little foxes that ruin the vineyards…" (Song of Solomon 2:15). I suggest that the opposite may also be true: It's the little positive, uplifting, and edifying things that we can do for our family and extended family that can cause them to be encouraged, motivated, and inspired.
5. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY THOSE I AM TRYING TO LEAD
I am a leader of a small group of men. It is one of the greatest blessings that God has given me in my life. I have the opportunity every week to have men in my home to share pain, pages of scripture, and prayer. My sincere hope is to spur them on towards a maximum impact life.
A call, a card, an email, a visit at work, a cup of coffee with them on a Saturday morning, a hug at church, sharing a motivational tape or a nugget of truth God gave me in my devotions during the week - these kinds of touches are small but mighty in the hand of God. Fortunately, they all don't have pressing needs at the same time, and God is helping me to be at the right place at the right time to support them.
6. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE I AM TRYING TO WIN TO JESUS
My life's mission is to fulfill God's Great Commission. To seek and save those whom are lost. To reconnect people separated by sin to their loving Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Every day I can pray. Every day I can do something, anything, to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to convict and convince people to become reconciled with God. There are people that God has and will place in my path. My mission is to respectfully, joyfully, and dutifully share the love of Christ with them. In other words, make friends with sinners and sooner or later, friends tell friends about Jesus. I can't do everything but I can do something, and to live life well I think each day I ought to be about the Father's business of reaching out to a lost and dying world separated from their Creator.
7. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MINISTRY / CAREER
For me, my "ministry" happens to be my career (a full-time pastor). I want to lay it on the altar of God daily and seek His wisdom and anointing and assistance in fulfilling this high calling every single day. I have "days off" but really there is never a day off from caring for people and responding to their needs. In living well, I must do my best in the vocation wherewith God has called me to serve. To do what I do daily as unto the Lord is a spiritual act of worship. Christians in secular employment who do their job with quality and excellence in the same way bring glory to God.
8. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSELF
This involves maintaining my health in light of my body being the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). It involves exposing myself to Christian authors whom God has given expanded revelation so that others can grow through reading their works. I want to take advantage of every opportunity, however small it might be, to gather an idea here or inspiration there to move on ahead at least one notch in God's life development process of me. It's not hard, it doesn't take long hours of study, but it does take a little bit consistently enough to see the results. As my brother has told me for years: "David, inch by inch it's a cinch, yard by yard it's hard."
So there you have it. You can take it or leave it. My thoughts on how to live well involve doing the basics, living life in the right order, and trusting in God completely to help you in the day to day doing little things that all add up.
I'm banking on the fact that if I work hard at becoming a better Christian, husband, father, family member, mentor, soul winner, worker, and responsible steward with my life, that at the end of the day I can lay my head on the pillow satisfied, confident that I have done my best to live the day well.
DSR
9/5/04
Once upon a time I was swimming monotonous laps at the YMCA pool. Somewhere in between breaths, I sort of "tuned out" the exercise and "tuned in" to deep thinking. During that particular workout, my thoughts narrowed to a single question: "At the end of the day, how could I lay my head on the pillow satisfied, confident that I had done my best to live this day well?"
I swam more laps. I thought. I prayed. I swam. I listened for the Holy Spirit's response. I swam lap after lap before the answer came. But it did come. It's been years since that workout and to this hour I can recall the answer clearly. It was a defining moment in my life. A workout that was intended to help me feel good physically actually began a process that to this day is transforming my life.
I think we all, at critical points in our lives, come to a place where we ask ourselves great questions: "Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Where did I come from and where am I going? Is there a God and can I know Him personally? Why on earth am I here?"
[NOTE: I'd like to recommend an important book called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren as one of the best books ever written apart from the Bible to help answer these excellent questions.]
But as for me, that day, I wanted with all my heart to know what would qualify me to be able to say at the close of the day:
- I have fought a good fight
- I have kept the faith
- I have lived today's life in the center of God's will
- I have made some progress, I have grown, I have been fruitful
- I have moved at least one step forward in fulfilling God's purposes for my life
- In short, I have lived the day well
The answer that bubbled up within my spirit that day in the YMCA pool (not surprisingly) revolved around relationships - eight key relationships to be exact. I felt that if I made some, any, even modest progress in each of these vital relationships each and every day then I sensed I would feel God's pleasure. I felt that if my life was on a "continuous improvement process" towards being like Jesus in important areas, then I could lay my head on the pillow at night satisfied, confident that I had done my best to live the day well. The eight relationships were (in order of priority):
1. My relationship with God
2. My relationship with my wife
3. My relationship with my daughter
4. My relationship with my family and extended family
5. My relationship with those I am trying to lead
6. My relationship with those I am trying to win to Jesus
7. My relationship with my ministry / career
8. My relationship with myself
At long last, my priorities began to "line up" in the proper order - God first, me last, and people in between.
If I could somehow manage to pull off in a single day making tiny, even microscopic, gains and progress and advancements in each of these crucial relationships every day, then I reasoned I could shoot for more minor progress the next day. And the next. And the day after that take another half-step forward. If I could string enough of these days together then perhaps this could add up to a more fulfilled life - a life lived well.
Back to the pool. Having just received the download of what was to me a revelation from God for my life, I continued to swim and ponder the implications of such a focused lifestyle. How would it play out in the day to day? I began to meditate on simple things, the basics really, that by God's grace and with the Holy Spirit's guidance could actually become daily realities. A typical day in the life of David S. Robertson applying this new paradigm might look something like this:
1. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
I would begin each day with a meeting with God. The first fruits would go to Him. I would talk to God and listen. I would spend time in His Word and allow it to form, conform, and transform me from who I am to who I am becoming in Him - one day at a time. The goal of this daily meeting would be intimate friendship with Jesus. This time with the Lord, first and foremost and above all else, would set the tone for the day and every day and open communication with Him throughout the day.
2. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY WIFE
Since I have entered into a marriage covenant with the wife of my youth, Monica, I believe this privilege carries with it responsibilities. My marriage and love for my wife should imitate Christ's love for the Church and His willingness to lay His life down for His Bride. Marriage is a great place to die to self! For me, daily growth in my relationship with my wife might show up in the little things: Picking up my clothes, taking out the trash, emptying the dishwasher, making sure her car's tires are properly inflated, and asking her questions about her day and (gulp) actually listening without volunteering how to fix all the problems she encountered!
3. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAUGHTER
Any parent I know at times grapples with feelings of inadequacy. Good parenting is not for the faint of heart! As a father of only one child, I only have one shot at parenting so I'd better make it count! Until she leaves home, I have the privilege and responsibility to nurture my daughter, Abigail. Every day, I want to sow seeds into her life of love, faith, tender instruction and balanced correction to join God in His work of making her life count for eternity. A bedtime story, a prayer, letting her watch me serve others, playing together; little things done on each day I am with her could help her to develop a healthy relationship with her earthly father that will pay off loater in her in responding to the love and instruction of her Heavenly Father.
4. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FAMILY AND MY EXTENDED FAMILY
My family is my blood relatives and my extended family is all members of the body of Christ, the Church. Daily growth in these areas, as the Spirit leads, might be to call my mother "just because…", emailing my aunt in Destin, Florida, or complimenting a church member for singing a special song during the collection of the offering. King Solomon pointed out that it's "the little foxes that ruin the vineyards…" (Song of Solomon 2:15). I suggest that the opposite may also be true: It's the little positive, uplifting, and edifying things that we can do for our family and extended family that can cause them to be encouraged, motivated, and inspired.
5. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY THOSE I AM TRYING TO LEAD
I am a leader of a small group of men. It is one of the greatest blessings that God has given me in my life. I have the opportunity every week to have men in my home to share pain, pages of scripture, and prayer. My sincere hope is to spur them on towards a maximum impact life.
A call, a card, an email, a visit at work, a cup of coffee with them on a Saturday morning, a hug at church, sharing a motivational tape or a nugget of truth God gave me in my devotions during the week - these kinds of touches are small but mighty in the hand of God. Fortunately, they all don't have pressing needs at the same time, and God is helping me to be at the right place at the right time to support them.
6. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE I AM TRYING TO WIN TO JESUS
My life's mission is to fulfill God's Great Commission. To seek and save those whom are lost. To reconnect people separated by sin to their loving Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Every day I can pray. Every day I can do something, anything, to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to convict and convince people to become reconciled with God. There are people that God has and will place in my path. My mission is to respectfully, joyfully, and dutifully share the love of Christ with them. In other words, make friends with sinners and sooner or later, friends tell friends about Jesus. I can't do everything but I can do something, and to live life well I think each day I ought to be about the Father's business of reaching out to a lost and dying world separated from their Creator.
7. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MINISTRY / CAREER
For me, my "ministry" happens to be my career (a full-time pastor). I want to lay it on the altar of God daily and seek His wisdom and anointing and assistance in fulfilling this high calling every single day. I have "days off" but really there is never a day off from caring for people and responding to their needs. In living well, I must do my best in the vocation wherewith God has called me to serve. To do what I do daily as unto the Lord is a spiritual act of worship. Christians in secular employment who do their job with quality and excellence in the same way bring glory to God.
8. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSELF
This involves maintaining my health in light of my body being the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). It involves exposing myself to Christian authors whom God has given expanded revelation so that others can grow through reading their works. I want to take advantage of every opportunity, however small it might be, to gather an idea here or inspiration there to move on ahead at least one notch in God's life development process of me. It's not hard, it doesn't take long hours of study, but it does take a little bit consistently enough to see the results. As my brother has told me for years: "David, inch by inch it's a cinch, yard by yard it's hard."
So there you have it. You can take it or leave it. My thoughts on how to live well involve doing the basics, living life in the right order, and trusting in God completely to help you in the day to day doing little things that all add up.
I'm banking on the fact that if I work hard at becoming a better Christian, husband, father, family member, mentor, soul winner, worker, and responsible steward with my life, that at the end of the day I can lay my head on the pillow satisfied, confident that I have done my best to live the day well.
DSR
9/5/04
Monday, August 30, 2004
God Delivers!
by David Scott Robertson
Pizza franchises specialize in delivering delicious hot pizzas right to your house. Hospitals deliver babies, the United States Postal Service delivers mail, and Federal Express claims to be able to deliver your package anywhere in the U.S.A. when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.
A speaker delivers a keynote address, a boxer delivers a knockout punch, and a taxi driver delivers a passenger to the airport. Deliveries are commonplace in our modern world. We have come to expect it and view it as routine. But I want you to know that God also delivers.
Many, many times the Bible describes God's delivering His people FROM something harmful. He delivered them FROM distress, FROM death, or FROM the cruelty of wicked and evil men. Often scriptures relate that He delivered His children OUT OF a bad situation or PREVENTED a serious and potentially fatal predicament from ever happening. Jesus delivered many who were oppressed of the devil and countless more from the bondages of sickness, demonic possession, and most importantly, the curse of sin itself.
So, would we be safe in saying that God's deliverance is ALWAYS a good thing? Not necessarily. I guess it all depends on you. Have a look at the following scriptures where God delivered all right, but it's not quite what we have come to expect:
(Judges 13:1 NIV) Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
(2 Kings 13:3 KJV) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
(Dan. 1:2 NIV) And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
Above are three examples when God's deliverance OF HIS OWN CHILDREN didn't turn out so well for them. It's sad, tragic really, when what is normally a good thing, the best thing, the miraculous thing--that is, the divine intervention of Almighty God into the affairs of men--works against them.
The Lord, who is slow to become angry and rich in loving kindness and tender mercy, will not permit His tolerance to sin, rebellion, and disobedience to endure forever. There comes a time when enough is enough, and God delivers. He delivers His enemies into the hands of His people and contrary to popular belief, sometimes He even delivers His people into the hands of His enemies. To disbelieve this is to contradict scripture and ignore history.
The moral of this story is to not put the Lord your God to a foolish test. Do not presume upon the mercy and patience and grace of God. You may be well versed in the power of God to deliver and He may have in times past used you as a vessel to deliver others, but if you persist in a pattern of disobedience--either willful sin or passive indifference--God will deliver you...and you may not like it.
But even in wrath, God is merciful. Even in judgment, God is kind. Even in delivering a person or a people group into chastisement, He is wise. Consider the Messiah's deliverance into the hands of sinners:
(Luke 24:7 NIV) 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'
(Rom. 4:25 NIV) He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
God delivers on time, every time, all the time, for all time.
DSR
8/30/04
Pizza franchises specialize in delivering delicious hot pizzas right to your house. Hospitals deliver babies, the United States Postal Service delivers mail, and Federal Express claims to be able to deliver your package anywhere in the U.S.A. when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.
A speaker delivers a keynote address, a boxer delivers a knockout punch, and a taxi driver delivers a passenger to the airport. Deliveries are commonplace in our modern world. We have come to expect it and view it as routine. But I want you to know that God also delivers.
Many, many times the Bible describes God's delivering His people FROM something harmful. He delivered them FROM distress, FROM death, or FROM the cruelty of wicked and evil men. Often scriptures relate that He delivered His children OUT OF a bad situation or PREVENTED a serious and potentially fatal predicament from ever happening. Jesus delivered many who were oppressed of the devil and countless more from the bondages of sickness, demonic possession, and most importantly, the curse of sin itself.
So, would we be safe in saying that God's deliverance is ALWAYS a good thing? Not necessarily. I guess it all depends on you. Have a look at the following scriptures where God delivered all right, but it's not quite what we have come to expect:
(Judges 13:1 NIV) Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
(2 Kings 13:3 KJV) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
(Dan. 1:2 NIV) And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
Above are three examples when God's deliverance OF HIS OWN CHILDREN didn't turn out so well for them. It's sad, tragic really, when what is normally a good thing, the best thing, the miraculous thing--that is, the divine intervention of Almighty God into the affairs of men--works against them.
The Lord, who is slow to become angry and rich in loving kindness and tender mercy, will not permit His tolerance to sin, rebellion, and disobedience to endure forever. There comes a time when enough is enough, and God delivers. He delivers His enemies into the hands of His people and contrary to popular belief, sometimes He even delivers His people into the hands of His enemies. To disbelieve this is to contradict scripture and ignore history.
The moral of this story is to not put the Lord your God to a foolish test. Do not presume upon the mercy and patience and grace of God. You may be well versed in the power of God to deliver and He may have in times past used you as a vessel to deliver others, but if you persist in a pattern of disobedience--either willful sin or passive indifference--God will deliver you...and you may not like it.
But even in wrath, God is merciful. Even in judgment, God is kind. Even in delivering a person or a people group into chastisement, He is wise. Consider the Messiah's deliverance into the hands of sinners:
(Luke 24:7 NIV) 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'
(Rom. 4:25 NIV) He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
God delivers on time, every time, all the time, for all time.
DSR
8/30/04
Monday, August 23, 2004
Idol Busters
by David Scott Robertson
(2 Kings 23:25 NIV) Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
* * *
I never get tired of hearing the story of Josiah, King of Judah. His father was King Amon, who did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. But at the ripe old age of eight, Josiah replaced his father as king and reigned for thirty-one years.
To summarize, when Josiah was twenty-six years old, he ordered that the temple of the Lord be restored. During this process, the Book of the Law was found (2 Kings 22:8). It was brought to King Josiah and read to him. When the young king realized that his nation was in a profoundly backslidden condition and poised for judgment, he tore his clothes in despair. As a result, the word of the Lord was sent to the king through a prophet saying that God had taken note of the king's grieved reaction to his nation's disregard and careless neglect of God's Law. Because Josiah had languished over Judah's negligence in despair, God promised to defer His sure judgment against Judah until Josiah's life span had ended! Josiah then began one of the most thorough idol-busting campaigns in the history of the nation of Judah. And God was pleased.
I so admire the complete turnaround of this ancient king of Judah that if I were to be blessed with a son born into my household, I would name him after Josiah. I am impressed with this young man's remarkable repentance and subsequent resolve to purge pagan idolatry from his kingdom according to all that was written in the Book of the Law.
Now let's fast-forward this fabulous revival to the future--to our present day. What might an idol-busting revival look like these days? What if a young man of twenty-six years of age came to know the Lord Jesus Christ for the very first time in his life? What if he purposed to completely turn to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the New Testament scriptures?
Perhaps it could look something like this…
He starts to show up for work on time. He no longer calls in sick when he's not. His speech begins to transform from vulgar and vain to courteous and considerate. He stops flirting with his married co-worker.
He cancels his subscription to a raunchy magazine. He even turns his head in the Wal-Mart line from the parade of flesh brazenly printed for all to see on the shameless tabloids.
Interestingly, his taste in movies dramatically changes as he voluntarily sets up a boundary to view no film that blasphemes God or tempts him to re-enter his formerly sinful lifestyle. The buttons on his radio have to be reprogrammed. His internet travels make a huge u-turn and he no longer stays up until 3 a.m. on the net with his door locked and shades drawn.
Television, which used to gobble up 22 hours of his 168-hour week, now has been curbed back to a reasonable amount with plenty of time left over to study his Bible. Not only that, his insatiable quest for the weird, the bizarre, the esoteric, the paranormal, the extreme in human deviance, has now been replaced with a growing love for nature, the arts, and other healthy outlets of recreation and social opportuntities.
His complete set of horror novels is now posted on eBay--as is over $5,000 worth of music he now feels violates his moral conscience.
He gives away his season tickets to his favorite pro ball team because kick-off conflicts with his involvement at church. And he has come to love his pastor. The man used to irritate and offend him regularly; now the young man actually sees him as a mentor and spiritual father in his life!
It seems these days our young idol-buster is reluctant to binge and overeat, because he begins to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit calling him to present his body as a living sacrifice to God.
He breaks up with the girl he's been dating for three years because she doesn't understand. She tells him she liked him better "before."
One by one, his buddies have dropped him. They want him to stay behind with them in their world and resent him for inviting them forward into what he describes as "a fantastic journey toward God."
This young man is not perfect--far from it. He is definitely under construction. Some say he is too radical, what with all the tattoos, piercings, and hair thing he's got going on. Some say he's not for real because he "doesn't look the part" of what their concept of a Christian ought to be.
But Jesus just smiles knowing that this young idol-buster is in revival!
DSR
8/23/04
(2 Kings 23:25 NIV) Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
* * *
I never get tired of hearing the story of Josiah, King of Judah. His father was King Amon, who did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. But at the ripe old age of eight, Josiah replaced his father as king and reigned for thirty-one years.
To summarize, when Josiah was twenty-six years old, he ordered that the temple of the Lord be restored. During this process, the Book of the Law was found (2 Kings 22:8). It was brought to King Josiah and read to him. When the young king realized that his nation was in a profoundly backslidden condition and poised for judgment, he tore his clothes in despair. As a result, the word of the Lord was sent to the king through a prophet saying that God had taken note of the king's grieved reaction to his nation's disregard and careless neglect of God's Law. Because Josiah had languished over Judah's negligence in despair, God promised to defer His sure judgment against Judah until Josiah's life span had ended! Josiah then began one of the most thorough idol-busting campaigns in the history of the nation of Judah. And God was pleased.
I so admire the complete turnaround of this ancient king of Judah that if I were to be blessed with a son born into my household, I would name him after Josiah. I am impressed with this young man's remarkable repentance and subsequent resolve to purge pagan idolatry from his kingdom according to all that was written in the Book of the Law.
Now let's fast-forward this fabulous revival to the future--to our present day. What might an idol-busting revival look like these days? What if a young man of twenty-six years of age came to know the Lord Jesus Christ for the very first time in his life? What if he purposed to completely turn to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the New Testament scriptures?
Perhaps it could look something like this…
He starts to show up for work on time. He no longer calls in sick when he's not. His speech begins to transform from vulgar and vain to courteous and considerate. He stops flirting with his married co-worker.
He cancels his subscription to a raunchy magazine. He even turns his head in the Wal-Mart line from the parade of flesh brazenly printed for all to see on the shameless tabloids.
Interestingly, his taste in movies dramatically changes as he voluntarily sets up a boundary to view no film that blasphemes God or tempts him to re-enter his formerly sinful lifestyle. The buttons on his radio have to be reprogrammed. His internet travels make a huge u-turn and he no longer stays up until 3 a.m. on the net with his door locked and shades drawn.
Television, which used to gobble up 22 hours of his 168-hour week, now has been curbed back to a reasonable amount with plenty of time left over to study his Bible. Not only that, his insatiable quest for the weird, the bizarre, the esoteric, the paranormal, the extreme in human deviance, has now been replaced with a growing love for nature, the arts, and other healthy outlets of recreation and social opportuntities.
His complete set of horror novels is now posted on eBay--as is over $5,000 worth of music he now feels violates his moral conscience.
He gives away his season tickets to his favorite pro ball team because kick-off conflicts with his involvement at church. And he has come to love his pastor. The man used to irritate and offend him regularly; now the young man actually sees him as a mentor and spiritual father in his life!
It seems these days our young idol-buster is reluctant to binge and overeat, because he begins to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit calling him to present his body as a living sacrifice to God.
He breaks up with the girl he's been dating for three years because she doesn't understand. She tells him she liked him better "before."
One by one, his buddies have dropped him. They want him to stay behind with them in their world and resent him for inviting them forward into what he describes as "a fantastic journey toward God."
This young man is not perfect--far from it. He is definitely under construction. Some say he is too radical, what with all the tattoos, piercings, and hair thing he's got going on. Some say he's not for real because he "doesn't look the part" of what their concept of a Christian ought to be.
But Jesus just smiles knowing that this young idol-buster is in revival!
DSR
8/23/04
Monday, August 9, 2004
A Modern Psalm
by David Scott Robertson
"A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever" (Psalm 145:1).
* * *
King David was the sweet Psalmist of Israel. His passion for God spilled out of his heart onto paper (or papyrus or codex or whatever they happened to write on in those days).
There were others who made their unique contributions to the songbook of the Old Testament: Solomon, Heman the Ezrahite, and the sons of Korah also wrote Psalms that appear to cheer the heart and exalt the Lord.
What I love about the Psalms is that they embrace the full range of human emotion while at the same time bear the unmistakable anointing of the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers to express their thoughts in precisely the way God intended.
Although the Psalms were written thousands of years ago, perhaps you are like me in that when I read them I can't help but feel they are relevant to me, now, in my time. Some things never change. Men are still men, God is still God, and men still need God.
As I was meditating on David's Psalm quoted above, I began to experience a "welling up" within me of worship and adoration and praise of the God of both Davids--one Psalmist, a deceased but glorious king of Israel; and the other David, the little toe in the body of Christ, David Scott Robertson, a modern Psalmist.
What I am about to write will not make it into the canon of scripture. I won't even presumptuously make the claim that it's anointed of the Holy Spirit. But one thing I know, what you are about to read is as real praise to my God from my heart as I know how to write. Journey with me through a modern psalm:
"Jesus, Lord, how I praise you on this glorious Tennessee day! From the time my alarm went off this morning to awaken the dawn, my heart has swelled with praise and adoration for you, my Father.
Today in my eyes, and in the eyes of billions of others, you are the bright and morning Star. You alone are completely pure and absolutely holy.
In a world of corrupt morals, epidemic sinfulness, and the spirit of antichrist on the rise, you are the Light that bursts forth in awesome splendor, illuminating the pathway to righteousness.
You represent more power, Lord Jesus, than all the massive fossil fuel reserves of the world combined. You are more powerful, my Lord King, than all the nuclear reactors and warheads in existence. You are more desirable than the most valued stocks and mutual funds, far more precious than plutonium, more lofty than any human political figure or office on the earth.
Your greatness surpasses the unexplored catacombs of the earth; your immenseness extends beyond the very edge of the known universe. Were we to travel the required light years to the farthest expanse of deep space, the love of God would be found there.
Your caring and watchful eye does not miss a detail. Your vision is greater than the most advanced telescope or electron microscope. You see the intangible, the invisible. Your foreknowledge sees the beginning and end of our days and the in between.
Our most sophisticated computers pale and fail miserably compared to your fathomless genius. Yet your mercy is higher than the tallest man-made structures; your grace is deeper than the deepest oil well; your kindness is more durable than the hardest alloy; and your gentleness is more comforting than the love of a mother caressing her newborn child.
You speak and sick bodies are healed. You breathe life into the dead and they live. You utter the word and circumstances and events of world history fall in line according to your perfect will.
You, O God, are higher than any other. And it is at the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names, that I humbly bow to even now--before the grave, before the Rapture of the church, I bow now and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. I humble myself at your feet; unworthy to even mention the holy name of Jesus or even glance upwards in the direction of your throne in heaven.
Today, I confess that the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, is my chief delight, my supreme desire, my all-in-all. By God's grace I will employ all accessible technologies to resound the greatness of the name of my God. I will go to my people--the human race--and proclaim that there is a God in heaven, and the name of His Son is Jesus. Repent of your sins while there is time and call on the name of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, and you will enter into times of refreshing.
Now, Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts keyed into my computer and shared over the internet and in printed form be pleasing and acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer."
DSR
8/9/04
"A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever" (Psalm 145:1).
* * *
King David was the sweet Psalmist of Israel. His passion for God spilled out of his heart onto paper (or papyrus or codex or whatever they happened to write on in those days).
There were others who made their unique contributions to the songbook of the Old Testament: Solomon, Heman the Ezrahite, and the sons of Korah also wrote Psalms that appear to cheer the heart and exalt the Lord.
What I love about the Psalms is that they embrace the full range of human emotion while at the same time bear the unmistakable anointing of the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers to express their thoughts in precisely the way God intended.
Although the Psalms were written thousands of years ago, perhaps you are like me in that when I read them I can't help but feel they are relevant to me, now, in my time. Some things never change. Men are still men, God is still God, and men still need God.
As I was meditating on David's Psalm quoted above, I began to experience a "welling up" within me of worship and adoration and praise of the God of both Davids--one Psalmist, a deceased but glorious king of Israel; and the other David, the little toe in the body of Christ, David Scott Robertson, a modern Psalmist.
What I am about to write will not make it into the canon of scripture. I won't even presumptuously make the claim that it's anointed of the Holy Spirit. But one thing I know, what you are about to read is as real praise to my God from my heart as I know how to write. Journey with me through a modern psalm:
"Jesus, Lord, how I praise you on this glorious Tennessee day! From the time my alarm went off this morning to awaken the dawn, my heart has swelled with praise and adoration for you, my Father.
Today in my eyes, and in the eyes of billions of others, you are the bright and morning Star. You alone are completely pure and absolutely holy.
In a world of corrupt morals, epidemic sinfulness, and the spirit of antichrist on the rise, you are the Light that bursts forth in awesome splendor, illuminating the pathway to righteousness.
You represent more power, Lord Jesus, than all the massive fossil fuel reserves of the world combined. You are more powerful, my Lord King, than all the nuclear reactors and warheads in existence. You are more desirable than the most valued stocks and mutual funds, far more precious than plutonium, more lofty than any human political figure or office on the earth.
Your greatness surpasses the unexplored catacombs of the earth; your immenseness extends beyond the very edge of the known universe. Were we to travel the required light years to the farthest expanse of deep space, the love of God would be found there.
Your caring and watchful eye does not miss a detail. Your vision is greater than the most advanced telescope or electron microscope. You see the intangible, the invisible. Your foreknowledge sees the beginning and end of our days and the in between.
Our most sophisticated computers pale and fail miserably compared to your fathomless genius. Yet your mercy is higher than the tallest man-made structures; your grace is deeper than the deepest oil well; your kindness is more durable than the hardest alloy; and your gentleness is more comforting than the love of a mother caressing her newborn child.
You speak and sick bodies are healed. You breathe life into the dead and they live. You utter the word and circumstances and events of world history fall in line according to your perfect will.
You, O God, are higher than any other. And it is at the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names, that I humbly bow to even now--before the grave, before the Rapture of the church, I bow now and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. I humble myself at your feet; unworthy to even mention the holy name of Jesus or even glance upwards in the direction of your throne in heaven.
Today, I confess that the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, is my chief delight, my supreme desire, my all-in-all. By God's grace I will employ all accessible technologies to resound the greatness of the name of my God. I will go to my people--the human race--and proclaim that there is a God in heaven, and the name of His Son is Jesus. Repent of your sins while there is time and call on the name of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, and you will enter into times of refreshing.
Now, Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts keyed into my computer and shared over the internet and in printed form be pleasing and acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer."
DSR
8/9/04
Sunday, August 1, 2004
A Christian Bill of Rights
by David Scott Robertson
Bill #1: RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
"Be silent, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world."
BILL #2: RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
2 Cor. 10:4-5 (NLT)
We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devil's strongholds. [5] With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.
BILL #3: RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL
1 Tim. 2:5 (NLT)
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.
BILL #4: RIGHT TO WORSHIP FREELY
John 4:23 (NLT)
But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.
BILL #5: RIGHT TO WORK
Eccles. 2:24 (NLT)
So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God.
BILL #6: RIGHT TO LIFE
Col. 3:3-4 (NLT)
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
BILL #7: RIGHT TO DIE
Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
BILL #8: RIGHT TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.
BILL #9: RIGHT TO FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT
1 Tim. 5:21 (NLT)
I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing special favor to anyone.
BILL #10: RIGHT TO SUCCEED IN LIFE
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! [4] And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
DSR
8/1/04
Bill #1: RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
"Be silent, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world."
BILL #2: RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
2 Cor. 10:4-5 (NLT)
We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devil's strongholds. [5] With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.
BILL #3: RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL
1 Tim. 2:5 (NLT)
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.
BILL #4: RIGHT TO WORSHIP FREELY
John 4:23 (NLT)
But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.
BILL #5: RIGHT TO WORK
Eccles. 2:24 (NLT)
So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God.
BILL #6: RIGHT TO LIFE
Col. 3:3-4 (NLT)
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
BILL #7: RIGHT TO DIE
Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
BILL #8: RIGHT TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.
BILL #9: RIGHT TO FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT
1 Tim. 5:21 (NLT)
I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing special favor to anyone.
BILL #10: RIGHT TO SUCCEED IN LIFE
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! [4] And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
DSR
8/1/04
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Four Great Words
by David Scott Robertson
1. Balance
2. Equilibrium
3. Alignment
4. Rhythm
These four words are very important to my Christian life. They are at the forefront of my prayer life these days. I'm asking God to help me grow in these godly qualities in ever increasing measure in my daily life. I need them more than my necessary food. In fact, I'm willing to forego my necessary food for a season (fast) to obtain them, if necessary.
1. GODLY BALANCE
I want the Lord to help me live a balanced life. Jesus pulled it off, so with the help of our Father, why can't I?
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52).
Jesus Christ was able to balance his growth intellectually, physically, spiritually and socially. I'd like that to be a reality in my life, wouldn't you?
I want to eat a balanced diet. I want my checkbook to be balanced. I want my car tires to be in balance. I want to balance the time I spend at work with the time I spend at home with my family. I don't want to burn out or rust out in ministry. I want there to be a healthy (not necessarily perfect) balance between praise and worship, between prayer and Bible study, between doing the work of the Lord and loving the Lord of the work.
2. GODLY EQUILIBRIUM
Equilibrium is similar to balance but to me it has more to do with the "inner game." It is processing information from the Lord properly to keep things in balance. Spiritual equilibrium assists me in knowing when to accept criticism as valid and when to reject rejection. It helps me distinguish God's voice from the voice of the world, the devil, or even my own self. Equilibrium, in the spiritual sense, helps me sort through "the urgent" as is competes with "the important." It helps me keep the main thing the main thing and live life in the right order (priorities).
In the natural, if you have an "inner ear" problem, then your balance will be negatively affected. You can get dizzy, disoriented, and "off balance" possibly (probably) causing you to experience difficulty doing ordinary things well. In the same way, if you experience "spiritual inner ear problems" you can also easily get "out of balance" and subtly (but assurededly) veer off track a degree or two. This may not sound like much of a problem in the short-term but in the long-term you can suffer harm. If a rocket, for instance, leaving earth is off by only a degree or two from its intended target a million miles away, it will certainly miss it.
The ability to listen and hear God's voice, discern God's will, and then follow through with obedient action is what I call spiritual equilibrium. And I want it.
3. GODLY ALIGNMENT
Alignment to me is super important. It means accepting the responsibilities of being under authority so I can enjoy the benefits of being in authority. I want my body to "line up" under my soul. I want my mind, will, and emotions to "line up" under my spirit. I want my spirit to "line up" with the Holy Spirit of God so that I walk in perfect submission and total obedience en route to maximum fruit. Alignment means I impeached my flesh nature as president of my life and replaced it with Jesus Christ, the King. I substituted a democracy of my own making with the theocracy of the kingdom of God. I am craving the Lord to help me live in perpetual alignment with His will for my life so that I can live long and prosper.
4. GODLY RHYTHM
Finally, there's rhythm. What I'm praying for is for my life to be "in rhythm" or "in sync" with God's plan and timing for my life. The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. I don't want to get ahead or lag behind God's timetable for my life. Jesus was never rushed or in a hurry and He never succumbed to feeling frustrated and aggravated because He didn't get what He wanted when He wanted it.
If I can break through to godly rhythm in my life, I guess I will feel like test pilot Chuck Yeager did when he broke through the sound barrier and flew into the history books. I want to "rip a hole in the atmosphere" and get the turbulence behind me instead of in front of me. That, I believe, can be accomplished when we get in the very center of God's will and timing for our lives. We'll find ourselves in the right place at the right time most all the time when we live in this realm.
So there you have it. I may not be able to say it just right, but I do want to be able to pray it right so I can obtain these breakthrough godly qualities and get a little farther down the road in my pursuit of Christ-likeness.
DSR
7/25/04
1. Balance
2. Equilibrium
3. Alignment
4. Rhythm
These four words are very important to my Christian life. They are at the forefront of my prayer life these days. I'm asking God to help me grow in these godly qualities in ever increasing measure in my daily life. I need them more than my necessary food. In fact, I'm willing to forego my necessary food for a season (fast) to obtain them, if necessary.
1. GODLY BALANCE
I want the Lord to help me live a balanced life. Jesus pulled it off, so with the help of our Father, why can't I?
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52).
Jesus Christ was able to balance his growth intellectually, physically, spiritually and socially. I'd like that to be a reality in my life, wouldn't you?
I want to eat a balanced diet. I want my checkbook to be balanced. I want my car tires to be in balance. I want to balance the time I spend at work with the time I spend at home with my family. I don't want to burn out or rust out in ministry. I want there to be a healthy (not necessarily perfect) balance between praise and worship, between prayer and Bible study, between doing the work of the Lord and loving the Lord of the work.
2. GODLY EQUILIBRIUM
Equilibrium is similar to balance but to me it has more to do with the "inner game." It is processing information from the Lord properly to keep things in balance. Spiritual equilibrium assists me in knowing when to accept criticism as valid and when to reject rejection. It helps me distinguish God's voice from the voice of the world, the devil, or even my own self. Equilibrium, in the spiritual sense, helps me sort through "the urgent" as is competes with "the important." It helps me keep the main thing the main thing and live life in the right order (priorities).
In the natural, if you have an "inner ear" problem, then your balance will be negatively affected. You can get dizzy, disoriented, and "off balance" possibly (probably) causing you to experience difficulty doing ordinary things well. In the same way, if you experience "spiritual inner ear problems" you can also easily get "out of balance" and subtly (but assurededly) veer off track a degree or two. This may not sound like much of a problem in the short-term but in the long-term you can suffer harm. If a rocket, for instance, leaving earth is off by only a degree or two from its intended target a million miles away, it will certainly miss it.
The ability to listen and hear God's voice, discern God's will, and then follow through with obedient action is what I call spiritual equilibrium. And I want it.
3. GODLY ALIGNMENT
Alignment to me is super important. It means accepting the responsibilities of being under authority so I can enjoy the benefits of being in authority. I want my body to "line up" under my soul. I want my mind, will, and emotions to "line up" under my spirit. I want my spirit to "line up" with the Holy Spirit of God so that I walk in perfect submission and total obedience en route to maximum fruit. Alignment means I impeached my flesh nature as president of my life and replaced it with Jesus Christ, the King. I substituted a democracy of my own making with the theocracy of the kingdom of God. I am craving the Lord to help me live in perpetual alignment with His will for my life so that I can live long and prosper.
4. GODLY RHYTHM
Finally, there's rhythm. What I'm praying for is for my life to be "in rhythm" or "in sync" with God's plan and timing for my life. The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. I don't want to get ahead or lag behind God's timetable for my life. Jesus was never rushed or in a hurry and He never succumbed to feeling frustrated and aggravated because He didn't get what He wanted when He wanted it.
If I can break through to godly rhythm in my life, I guess I will feel like test pilot Chuck Yeager did when he broke through the sound barrier and flew into the history books. I want to "rip a hole in the atmosphere" and get the turbulence behind me instead of in front of me. That, I believe, can be accomplished when we get in the very center of God's will and timing for our lives. We'll find ourselves in the right place at the right time most all the time when we live in this realm.
So there you have it. I may not be able to say it just right, but I do want to be able to pray it right so I can obtain these breakthrough godly qualities and get a little farther down the road in my pursuit of Christ-likeness.
DSR
7/25/04
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Divine Detour
by David Scott Robertson
I got in my car and turned the key in the ignition and nothing happened. Huh? I had been driving my 1998 Toyota Corolla for YEARS without this happening. Suddenly, without warning, my car battery was dead and it was dark, it was raining, and I didn't have jumper cables.
How could this happen to a fine Christian young man like me? Don't I pay my tithes faithfully? Don't I read my Bible every single day? Don't I try to have a decent prayer time on a regular basis? And now my car battery is dead and I'm stuck. That's makes about as much sense as my getting diarrhea on a missions trip I took to Indonesia one time.
Was God mad at me? Did I slip up and sin along the way and now God is rebuking me through my car? Am I being tested for patience or tempted through frustration?
This impromptu dilemma taught me three valuable lessons about suffering that we may benefit from learning.
1. KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE
A dead car battery is really not a major deal. It may have been inconvenient but it was not life threatening. Millions of other people have to deal with body parts not functioning properly on a daily basis and all I faced was a minor and temporary problem one rainy night. Look at your problems in light of the bigger picture.
2. GUARD YOUR ATTITUDE
I needed to keep my attitude in check. Kicking the car, throwing my keys, slamming the hood, and grumbling and complaining about the whole deal would be senseless, particularly if anybody saw me acting in such an immature way. In this case, I had to ask others for assistance--something men generally don't like to do! But people watch (and listen to) how we react to the same problems they face. If we can maintain a positive, faith-filled, joyful attitude during a crisis--large or small--we can make a lasting impression that God can capitalize on later.
3. LOOK FOR GOD IN THE "DIVINE DETOUR"
I don't view a dead battery as "God's judgment" unleashed on my life. Rather, situations like this can be approached with a sense of excitement to see what God is up to. I have learned in walking with Jesus for over three decades now that often unexpected problems lead to unexpected pleasures and opportunities. Furthermore, God's Word contains comforting promises that bring balance and hope into the situation like these classic passages:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23 KJV).
Knowing these facts from the Bible can alleviate needless stress, activate faith, initiate God's miracle provision, and advance God's plan in and through the Christian's carefully monitored, closely observed, and divinely ordained life.
Back to the dead battery story. All is well and everything worked out fine (according to God's plan).
- I borrowed jumper cables from a man whom I am now going to breakfast with next week.
- I got home without incident and replaced the battery for $20 the next day.
- My dad assisted me in the replacement and we went to lunch afterward for some father/son time.
- The delay may have saved my life from a tragic accident.
- Who knows what trouble the Lord kept me from or what opportunity the Lord is leading me to through this unplanned diversion?
The next time something negative or inconvenient happens to you--large or small--may I encourage you to keep things in perspective, guard your attitude, and look for God's fingerprints in the "divine detour"?
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).
DSR
7/18/04
I got in my car and turned the key in the ignition and nothing happened. Huh? I had been driving my 1998 Toyota Corolla for YEARS without this happening. Suddenly, without warning, my car battery was dead and it was dark, it was raining, and I didn't have jumper cables.
How could this happen to a fine Christian young man like me? Don't I pay my tithes faithfully? Don't I read my Bible every single day? Don't I try to have a decent prayer time on a regular basis? And now my car battery is dead and I'm stuck. That's makes about as much sense as my getting diarrhea on a missions trip I took to Indonesia one time.
Was God mad at me? Did I slip up and sin along the way and now God is rebuking me through my car? Am I being tested for patience or tempted through frustration?
This impromptu dilemma taught me three valuable lessons about suffering that we may benefit from learning.
1. KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE
A dead car battery is really not a major deal. It may have been inconvenient but it was not life threatening. Millions of other people have to deal with body parts not functioning properly on a daily basis and all I faced was a minor and temporary problem one rainy night. Look at your problems in light of the bigger picture.
2. GUARD YOUR ATTITUDE
I needed to keep my attitude in check. Kicking the car, throwing my keys, slamming the hood, and grumbling and complaining about the whole deal would be senseless, particularly if anybody saw me acting in such an immature way. In this case, I had to ask others for assistance--something men generally don't like to do! But people watch (and listen to) how we react to the same problems they face. If we can maintain a positive, faith-filled, joyful attitude during a crisis--large or small--we can make a lasting impression that God can capitalize on later.
3. LOOK FOR GOD IN THE "DIVINE DETOUR"
I don't view a dead battery as "God's judgment" unleashed on my life. Rather, situations like this can be approached with a sense of excitement to see what God is up to. I have learned in walking with Jesus for over three decades now that often unexpected problems lead to unexpected pleasures and opportunities. Furthermore, God's Word contains comforting promises that bring balance and hope into the situation like these classic passages:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23 KJV).
Knowing these facts from the Bible can alleviate needless stress, activate faith, initiate God's miracle provision, and advance God's plan in and through the Christian's carefully monitored, closely observed, and divinely ordained life.
Back to the dead battery story. All is well and everything worked out fine (according to God's plan).
- I borrowed jumper cables from a man whom I am now going to breakfast with next week.
- I got home without incident and replaced the battery for $20 the next day.
- My dad assisted me in the replacement and we went to lunch afterward for some father/son time.
- The delay may have saved my life from a tragic accident.
- Who knows what trouble the Lord kept me from or what opportunity the Lord is leading me to through this unplanned diversion?
The next time something negative or inconvenient happens to you--large or small--may I encourage you to keep things in perspective, guard your attitude, and look for God's fingerprints in the "divine detour"?
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).
DSR
7/18/04
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Two Minutes to a Miracle
by David Scott Robertson
"… but I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?' The king said to me, 'What is it you want?' Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it'" (Nehemiah 2:3-5).
* * *
It's Monday morning. Early. It's barely light outside. As is my custom, I'm heating a cup of water to make some hot tea and getting ready to settle into a time of prayer and Bible study.
I program the microwave to heat for two minutes. The timer starts the countdown and as I watch the digital readout of descending numbers, it hits me. In the time it takes for me to heat a cup of water, God can do a miracle in my life.
I find myself saying out loud "Lord, before the water heats up you could heal my eye disease." You could inspire an idea that will save millions of dollars or thousands of lives. You could translate me to the third heaven and show me things unlawful to share. You could let the revelation of the gospel bring a lost soul I've been praying for to a knowledge of the truth and he could get saved before the microwave announces it's finished. Two minutes is plenty of time for the Creator of heaven and earth to do just about anything He wants to do in my life, or anybody else's life for that matter.
It's also a great opportunity to invest two minutes in worship, in praise, in intercession, in praying in the Spirit, in holy silence listening. Really, two minutes is far more time than God needs to implement miracles in response to the prayer of faith.
The Bible tells the story of Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes, who prayed for less than ten seconds one time and God answered that short (most likely silent) prayer by granting unusual favor with the king (Nehemiah 2:1-9). God's response to Nehemiah's short prayer is one of the most astonishing encouragements to pray about anything, anytime, anywhere that I have found in the entire Word of God.
The Lord heard His servant's extremely brief and simple prayer, and God caused the king to grant Nehemiah a leave of absence from work, letters to regional governors guaranteeing his safe passage, the king's generous permission to requisition all the free materials Nehemiah needed to rebuild the fallen walls and decimated gates of Jerusalem, PLUS the added bonus of all construction materials necessary to build Nehemiah a house to live in while on his assignment!
If you ask me, that's a whopping return for a ten-second-or-less investment in prayer! If God can (and did) respond to one man's prayer that took a few seconds (see Nehemiah 2:4), can you imagine what God can do if a full two minutes worth of faith-inspired prayer is offered up to Him? If that were the case, just imagine what God can do in your life in the time it takes to actually drink a cup of hot tea!
DSR
7/11/04
"… but I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?' The king said to me, 'What is it you want?' Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it'" (Nehemiah 2:3-5).
* * *
It's Monday morning. Early. It's barely light outside. As is my custom, I'm heating a cup of water to make some hot tea and getting ready to settle into a time of prayer and Bible study.
I program the microwave to heat for two minutes. The timer starts the countdown and as I watch the digital readout of descending numbers, it hits me. In the time it takes for me to heat a cup of water, God can do a miracle in my life.
I find myself saying out loud "Lord, before the water heats up you could heal my eye disease." You could inspire an idea that will save millions of dollars or thousands of lives. You could translate me to the third heaven and show me things unlawful to share. You could let the revelation of the gospel bring a lost soul I've been praying for to a knowledge of the truth and he could get saved before the microwave announces it's finished. Two minutes is plenty of time for the Creator of heaven and earth to do just about anything He wants to do in my life, or anybody else's life for that matter.
It's also a great opportunity to invest two minutes in worship, in praise, in intercession, in praying in the Spirit, in holy silence listening. Really, two minutes is far more time than God needs to implement miracles in response to the prayer of faith.
The Bible tells the story of Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes, who prayed for less than ten seconds one time and God answered that short (most likely silent) prayer by granting unusual favor with the king (Nehemiah 2:1-9). God's response to Nehemiah's short prayer is one of the most astonishing encouragements to pray about anything, anytime, anywhere that I have found in the entire Word of God.
The Lord heard His servant's extremely brief and simple prayer, and God caused the king to grant Nehemiah a leave of absence from work, letters to regional governors guaranteeing his safe passage, the king's generous permission to requisition all the free materials Nehemiah needed to rebuild the fallen walls and decimated gates of Jerusalem, PLUS the added bonus of all construction materials necessary to build Nehemiah a house to live in while on his assignment!
If you ask me, that's a whopping return for a ten-second-or-less investment in prayer! If God can (and did) respond to one man's prayer that took a few seconds (see Nehemiah 2:4), can you imagine what God can do if a full two minutes worth of faith-inspired prayer is offered up to Him? If that were the case, just imagine what God can do in your life in the time it takes to actually drink a cup of hot tea!
DSR
7/11/04
Sunday, July 4, 2004
What to Do When Trouble Finds You
by David Scott Robertson
"JESUS COULDN'T PLEASE EVERYONE."
I love this statement because it really takes the pressure off me. If Jesus, being perfect, couldn't please everyone while on earth, what hope do I have? The underlying truth of that statement is that Jesus didn't come to please everybody. That wasn't His assignment. The fault was not found in Him but with those that found fault with Him.
Where am I going with this? Well, it all came about the other day when I innocently logged on to check my email…
A few days ago I received an email from someone I didn't know. It was a stinging, scathing rebuke and verbal assault on me for my writing "Thoughts About God." Apparently a friend on my distribution list had forwarded one (or more) of my "Thoughts" to them. The person vehemently disagreed with my views (no problem there) and bludgeoned me with his words (problem). He thoughtfully ended the email with "love you my Christian brother."
Another example. Recently, my pastor was preaching his Sunday morning message and used me as a sermon illustration (that's what staff pastors are for!). He told the congregation the story of how a former church member had absolutely no use or respect for me. This person so chaffed under the my authority as an associate pastor that they not only refused to submit but elected to leave the church rather than remain and solve the problem (instead she and her husband left and started their own church). My pastor shared with our congregation how I had tried to make overtures of reconciliation that were soundly and repeatedly rejected to the point that my pastor instructed me to stop trying to make things right. Whoever made the statement "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me" obviously had never been cussed out.
I'll bet you who are reading this can identify with me. Somewhere along the way you've been misunderstood too. Your motives were judged before all the facts were in (and please understand that we NEVER have all the facts!). You were labeled, stereotyped, booked and sentenced before you even knew there was a problem!
What's an imperfect Christian like me to do? Well, I don't know it all but at least I know a few things NOT to do:
Don't get mad.
Don't get jaded.
Don't get cynical.
Don't get even.
Don't stop what God started.
Don't call off what has God called on.
If you've ever been mistreated, misrepresented, misquoted, misinterpreted, then you've joined an elite club that has many distinguished members of profoundly misunderstood people. Here are a few of your longstanding fellow members:
PAUL THE APOSTLE - All he ever wanted to do was preach the gospel and they beat him, stoned him, and imprisoned him for it. PAUL'S RESPONSE: "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man" (Acts 24:16).
DAVID, ANOINTED BY THE PROPHET SAMUEL TO BE KING OF ISRAEL - All David ever wanted to do was be faithful to one man who was his boss, his father-in-law, his general, his best friend's dad, his king, that is, Saul, who was hunting him down like an animal to murder him. DAVID'S RESPONSE: "May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you" (1 Samuel 24:12).
JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH - All He ever wanted to do was preach the good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, release the prisoners from darkness, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:1-3). But alas, the God-Man, the perfect, sinless, faultless Holy and Anointed One, the Only Begotten Son of God was, according to the opinion of the religious leaders, so offensive that they deemed Him not fit to live. JESUS' RESPONSE: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Lord impressed on my heart one day while pondering such things that "at any given time there may be a small number of people upset with you. But until I make you aware of it, don't worry about it. When I do, do your best to make things right." Does that bear witness with you? Doesn't that sound like something God would say? How does the Bible tell us to make things right?
* * * 4 STEPS TO BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION * * *
1. GO "QUICKLY" TO THE "ONE" WHO HAS OFFENDED YOU (OR WHOM YOU HAVE OFFENDED): "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over" (Matthew 18:15).
2. RETURN, IF NECESSARY, TO ESTABLISH THE MATTER WITH ONE OR TWO OTHER WITNESSES: "But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses'" (Matthew 18:16).
3. TAKE THE MATTER TO YOUR PASTOR/CHURCH LEADERS: "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Matthew 18:17).
4. TREAT THE OFFENDER AS A PAGAN - "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him" (Titus 3:10).
* * * 5 PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO WHEN TROUBLE FINDS YOU * * *
1. PRAY (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7).
2. REFUSE TO ALLOW YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN A CRITICAL SPIRIT (Joshua 24:15; Numbers 13:32-14:2).
3. RUN (DON'T WALK) TO THE SCRIPTURES FOR INSTRUCTIONS (Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 18:19).
4. GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO BE NICE TO THE "OFFENDING" OR "OFFENDED" PARTIES (Romans 12:20; Luke 6:36-38).
5. IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU WITH GOSSIP OR A GRIEVANCE ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE, ATTEMPT TO THE CONNECT THE TWO PARTIES RAPIDLY (Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 5:9).
* * * 7 BENEFITS FOR HANDLING CONFLICT WISELY * * *
If you will do these things, here are seven benefits for handling conflict wisely that will be yours: (1) answered prayer (Matthew 18:19), (2) unhindered prayer in your home (1 Peter 3:7), (3) you will love life and see good days (1 Peter 3:9-10), (4) You will dwell in God's sanctuary (Psalm 15:1-3), (6) honor (Proverbs 20:3), (7) contentment (1 Timothy 6:6), fellowship (Amos 3:3), and a wonderful opportunity to glorify God (John 15:8; Matthew 5:16).
DSR
7/4/04
"JESUS COULDN'T PLEASE EVERYONE."
I love this statement because it really takes the pressure off me. If Jesus, being perfect, couldn't please everyone while on earth, what hope do I have? The underlying truth of that statement is that Jesus didn't come to please everybody. That wasn't His assignment. The fault was not found in Him but with those that found fault with Him.
Where am I going with this? Well, it all came about the other day when I innocently logged on to check my email…
A few days ago I received an email from someone I didn't know. It was a stinging, scathing rebuke and verbal assault on me for my writing "Thoughts About God." Apparently a friend on my distribution list had forwarded one (or more) of my "Thoughts" to them. The person vehemently disagreed with my views (no problem there) and bludgeoned me with his words (problem). He thoughtfully ended the email with "love you my Christian brother."
Another example. Recently, my pastor was preaching his Sunday morning message and used me as a sermon illustration (that's what staff pastors are for!). He told the congregation the story of how a former church member had absolutely no use or respect for me. This person so chaffed under the my authority as an associate pastor that they not only refused to submit but elected to leave the church rather than remain and solve the problem (instead she and her husband left and started their own church). My pastor shared with our congregation how I had tried to make overtures of reconciliation that were soundly and repeatedly rejected to the point that my pastor instructed me to stop trying to make things right. Whoever made the statement "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me" obviously had never been cussed out.
I'll bet you who are reading this can identify with me. Somewhere along the way you've been misunderstood too. Your motives were judged before all the facts were in (and please understand that we NEVER have all the facts!). You were labeled, stereotyped, booked and sentenced before you even knew there was a problem!
What's an imperfect Christian like me to do? Well, I don't know it all but at least I know a few things NOT to do:
Don't get mad.
Don't get jaded.
Don't get cynical.
Don't get even.
Don't stop what God started.
Don't call off what has God called on.
If you've ever been mistreated, misrepresented, misquoted, misinterpreted, then you've joined an elite club that has many distinguished members of profoundly misunderstood people. Here are a few of your longstanding fellow members:
PAUL THE APOSTLE - All he ever wanted to do was preach the gospel and they beat him, stoned him, and imprisoned him for it. PAUL'S RESPONSE: "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man" (Acts 24:16).
DAVID, ANOINTED BY THE PROPHET SAMUEL TO BE KING OF ISRAEL - All David ever wanted to do was be faithful to one man who was his boss, his father-in-law, his general, his best friend's dad, his king, that is, Saul, who was hunting him down like an animal to murder him. DAVID'S RESPONSE: "May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you" (1 Samuel 24:12).
JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH - All He ever wanted to do was preach the good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, release the prisoners from darkness, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:1-3). But alas, the God-Man, the perfect, sinless, faultless Holy and Anointed One, the Only Begotten Son of God was, according to the opinion of the religious leaders, so offensive that they deemed Him not fit to live. JESUS' RESPONSE: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Lord impressed on my heart one day while pondering such things that "at any given time there may be a small number of people upset with you. But until I make you aware of it, don't worry about it. When I do, do your best to make things right." Does that bear witness with you? Doesn't that sound like something God would say? How does the Bible tell us to make things right?
* * * 4 STEPS TO BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION * * *
1. GO "QUICKLY" TO THE "ONE" WHO HAS OFFENDED YOU (OR WHOM YOU HAVE OFFENDED): "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over" (Matthew 18:15).
2. RETURN, IF NECESSARY, TO ESTABLISH THE MATTER WITH ONE OR TWO OTHER WITNESSES: "But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses'" (Matthew 18:16).
3. TAKE THE MATTER TO YOUR PASTOR/CHURCH LEADERS: "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Matthew 18:17).
4. TREAT THE OFFENDER AS A PAGAN - "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him" (Titus 3:10).
* * * 5 PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO WHEN TROUBLE FINDS YOU * * *
1. PRAY (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7).
2. REFUSE TO ALLOW YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN A CRITICAL SPIRIT (Joshua 24:15; Numbers 13:32-14:2).
3. RUN (DON'T WALK) TO THE SCRIPTURES FOR INSTRUCTIONS (Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 18:19).
4. GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO BE NICE TO THE "OFFENDING" OR "OFFENDED" PARTIES (Romans 12:20; Luke 6:36-38).
5. IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU WITH GOSSIP OR A GRIEVANCE ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE, ATTEMPT TO THE CONNECT THE TWO PARTIES RAPIDLY (Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 5:9).
* * * 7 BENEFITS FOR HANDLING CONFLICT WISELY * * *
If you will do these things, here are seven benefits for handling conflict wisely that will be yours: (1) answered prayer (Matthew 18:19), (2) unhindered prayer in your home (1 Peter 3:7), (3) you will love life and see good days (1 Peter 3:9-10), (4) You will dwell in God's sanctuary (Psalm 15:1-3), (6) honor (Proverbs 20:3), (7) contentment (1 Timothy 6:6), fellowship (Amos 3:3), and a wonderful opportunity to glorify God (John 15:8; Matthew 5:16).
DSR
7/4/04
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Ten Ways to Add Value to Your Employer
by David Scott Robertson
1. YOUR COURAGE - Boldly accept new challenges and job assignments with zeal and without complaining.
2. YOUR MATURITY - Resist getting caught up in office gossip and limit your speech to encouragement and affirmation of your superiors and co-workers.
3. YOUR HUMILITY - Serve your boss and co-workers whenever possible. The pathway to greatness is paved with humility.
4. YOUR WINNING ATTITUDE - Be a "can do" person. If you are a Christian, God says you "can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Philippians 4:13).
5. YOUR PROGRESS - Learn your job well and become good at what you do. If your name is on the project, let it be done right and to the best of your ability. Take a few moments each day (even on your lunch break) for professional development. Read the manual - take the tutorial - enroll in the class.
6. YOUR TENACITY - Never give up. Never let the title "quitter" apply to you. Most difficult tasks get done only through dogged determination and perseverance. Do this consistently, and guess who will earn the reputation of being a valued employee?
7. YOUR COMMITMENT- Avoid job-hopping. Stay loyal to your company, employer, or department head. Let your boss have confidence in you that when you commit to doing something it's as good as done.
8. YOUR ABILITIES - What are you especially good at or enjoy doing while away from the job? Baking? Writing? Music? Share some of who you are with those you work with.
9. YOUR TEAM SPIRIT - Those who add value to their employers are those who accept that the sum is greater than its parts. Necessary sacrifices are not deemed as unacceptable to the team player. Team players link their success with the fruitfulness of their work group.
10. YOUR FAITH LIVED OUT - This one is for Jesus. You take care of God's business and He will take care of your business. There are many, many ways to share your faith on the job in an appropriate and respectful way that is non-offensive and very effective.
DSR
6/20/04
1. YOUR COURAGE - Boldly accept new challenges and job assignments with zeal and without complaining.
2. YOUR MATURITY - Resist getting caught up in office gossip and limit your speech to encouragement and affirmation of your superiors and co-workers.
3. YOUR HUMILITY - Serve your boss and co-workers whenever possible. The pathway to greatness is paved with humility.
4. YOUR WINNING ATTITUDE - Be a "can do" person. If you are a Christian, God says you "can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Philippians 4:13).
5. YOUR PROGRESS - Learn your job well and become good at what you do. If your name is on the project, let it be done right and to the best of your ability. Take a few moments each day (even on your lunch break) for professional development. Read the manual - take the tutorial - enroll in the class.
6. YOUR TENACITY - Never give up. Never let the title "quitter" apply to you. Most difficult tasks get done only through dogged determination and perseverance. Do this consistently, and guess who will earn the reputation of being a valued employee?
7. YOUR COMMITMENT- Avoid job-hopping. Stay loyal to your company, employer, or department head. Let your boss have confidence in you that when you commit to doing something it's as good as done.
8. YOUR ABILITIES - What are you especially good at or enjoy doing while away from the job? Baking? Writing? Music? Share some of who you are with those you work with.
9. YOUR TEAM SPIRIT - Those who add value to their employers are those who accept that the sum is greater than its parts. Necessary sacrifices are not deemed as unacceptable to the team player. Team players link their success with the fruitfulness of their work group.
10. YOUR FAITH LIVED OUT - This one is for Jesus. You take care of God's business and He will take care of your business. There are many, many ways to share your faith on the job in an appropriate and respectful way that is non-offensive and very effective.
DSR
6/20/04
Monday, June 14, 2004
Prove That God Loves Me
by David Scott Robertson
I once was asked to prove the fact
That indeed my God was real;
To analytically explain
Exactly how I feel.
I responded, "Alright then,
I'll prove that God loves me;
That His love in fact is true
Though not His face I see."
So I began with a statement
To challenge this dear soul:
"Prove to me your mother's love
That it indeed was so."
"Why naturally," he said back
"My mother's love was true.
She showed me well in many ways,
But what has that to do…?"
"But still," I said, "what does that prove,
To confirm the love of Mother?
She may have said and done nice things,
But for proof I'll need another."
"Why that's an odd request," he said,
"For she told me many times:
'Son, I love you very much,
You're a precious love of mine.'"
I said, 'the words are beautiful,
But I can't help but see a flaw.
You don't present much evidence
That would hold up in court of law."
"That's okay," he said to me,
I still believe it in my soul.
My mother's love for me was real,
I know that I know that I know."
"Now that's the way that I see God,"
I said to the frustrated man.
"On the cross Christ died for me,
And on His Word I'll stand."
"Now," he said, "at last I see,
That love you cannot prove.
It is the act of believing by faith
That we receive God's love."
(Rom 5:8 NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
DSR
6/14/04
I once was asked to prove the fact
That indeed my God was real;
To analytically explain
Exactly how I feel.
I responded, "Alright then,
I'll prove that God loves me;
That His love in fact is true
Though not His face I see."
So I began with a statement
To challenge this dear soul:
"Prove to me your mother's love
That it indeed was so."
"Why naturally," he said back
"My mother's love was true.
She showed me well in many ways,
But what has that to do…?"
"But still," I said, "what does that prove,
To confirm the love of Mother?
She may have said and done nice things,
But for proof I'll need another."
"Why that's an odd request," he said,
"For she told me many times:
'Son, I love you very much,
You're a precious love of mine.'"
I said, 'the words are beautiful,
But I can't help but see a flaw.
You don't present much evidence
That would hold up in court of law."
"That's okay," he said to me,
I still believe it in my soul.
My mother's love for me was real,
I know that I know that I know."
"Now that's the way that I see God,"
I said to the frustrated man.
"On the cross Christ died for me,
And on His Word I'll stand."
"Now," he said, "at last I see,
That love you cannot prove.
It is the act of believing by faith
That we receive God's love."
(Rom 5:8 NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
DSR
6/14/04
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Character: The Fruit of Troubled Times
by David Scott Robertson
Psalm 105:17-22 (NLT)
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them-Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
[18] There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. [19] Until the time came to fulfill his word, THE LORD TESTED JOSEPH'S CHARACTER. [20] Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. [21] Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household;
he became ruler over all the king's possessions. [22] He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers. (emphasis mine)
* * *
Joseph was a great man of God who did great things for God by the great power of God. But Joseph didn't achieve greatness overnight. It took troubles, turmoil, tears, and worst of all - time - to work this greatness into this eleventh son of Jacob.
The Bible describes this process simply by saying: "the Lord tested Joseph's character" (Psalm 105:19).
We can read over those five words in scripture in less than five seconds, but that does not diminish the years of grueling trials that Joseph had to endure to "pass the test" of character development that God had in mind for him.
Before Joseph could enjoy the pleasures of the palace, he had to first endure the pain of the pit, Potiphar, and prison, in that exact order (see Genesis 37). Why did the sequence of events have to play out that way? Answer: Because God was testing Joseph's character. Nothing builds character like adversity. It separates men from boys and the mature from the immature.
There is a universal fact that God knows about the man that He made. That fact is that a man's gifts, talents, and abilities are never, ever enough to fulfill God's destiny for his life. Until an individual's character catches up with his or her special God-given abilities, they will be in real danger of embarrassing themselves, adversely affecting those they influence, and in general thwarting God's plan for their lives. Sometimes God places a large call a person's life that will require a large amount of character to pull it off. (Consider that the next time you are facing tribulation.)
The solution? And God tested [____enter your name in this blank___]'s character.
How does He test your character? Whether we realize it not, we are already very familiar with the answer to that question! God uses your kids, your spouse, your boss, the police officer, the school crossing guard or the checkout clerk to test you - anyone or anything at all will do!
Whatever causes you aggravation, frustration, stress, or that pesky thing that gives you a tension headache, well that's just the ticket for God to use to test and build your character! How long you or I stay in the pit, in slavery at Potiphar's house, or in prison, I suppose depends on how fast we learn the lesson and pass the test!
Jesus knew and experienced this truth in that He realized there would be no crown without a cross. We are no different. God will stop at nothing to test your character because He knows this quality is essential to your handling success without it going to your head. If that happens (which can be summarized in the word "pride") you are headed for destruction and a downfall. God doesn't want that and neither do you.
So what do we do when God is testing our character? Learn! Obey! Submit! Repent! Be silent! Speak up! Generally whatever it is your flesh wants you to do in that ridiculously frustrating circumstance, do the opposite! Do the right thing! Do the godly thing! Do what Jesus would do!
The sooner you and I become excellent students in passing the character tests that crop up as "pop quizzes" several times each week (or each day) the sooner, I believe, God will move us along the pathway that leads to "the palace"!
DSR
6/13/04
Psalm 105:17-22 (NLT)
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them-Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
[18] There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. [19] Until the time came to fulfill his word, THE LORD TESTED JOSEPH'S CHARACTER. [20] Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. [21] Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household;
he became ruler over all the king's possessions. [22] He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers. (emphasis mine)
* * *
Joseph was a great man of God who did great things for God by the great power of God. But Joseph didn't achieve greatness overnight. It took troubles, turmoil, tears, and worst of all - time - to work this greatness into this eleventh son of Jacob.
The Bible describes this process simply by saying: "the Lord tested Joseph's character" (Psalm 105:19).
We can read over those five words in scripture in less than five seconds, but that does not diminish the years of grueling trials that Joseph had to endure to "pass the test" of character development that God had in mind for him.
Before Joseph could enjoy the pleasures of the palace, he had to first endure the pain of the pit, Potiphar, and prison, in that exact order (see Genesis 37). Why did the sequence of events have to play out that way? Answer: Because God was testing Joseph's character. Nothing builds character like adversity. It separates men from boys and the mature from the immature.
There is a universal fact that God knows about the man that He made. That fact is that a man's gifts, talents, and abilities are never, ever enough to fulfill God's destiny for his life. Until an individual's character catches up with his or her special God-given abilities, they will be in real danger of embarrassing themselves, adversely affecting those they influence, and in general thwarting God's plan for their lives. Sometimes God places a large call a person's life that will require a large amount of character to pull it off. (Consider that the next time you are facing tribulation.)
The solution? And God tested [____enter your name in this blank___]'s character.
How does He test your character? Whether we realize it not, we are already very familiar with the answer to that question! God uses your kids, your spouse, your boss, the police officer, the school crossing guard or the checkout clerk to test you - anyone or anything at all will do!
Whatever causes you aggravation, frustration, stress, or that pesky thing that gives you a tension headache, well that's just the ticket for God to use to test and build your character! How long you or I stay in the pit, in slavery at Potiphar's house, or in prison, I suppose depends on how fast we learn the lesson and pass the test!
Jesus knew and experienced this truth in that He realized there would be no crown without a cross. We are no different. God will stop at nothing to test your character because He knows this quality is essential to your handling success without it going to your head. If that happens (which can be summarized in the word "pride") you are headed for destruction and a downfall. God doesn't want that and neither do you.
So what do we do when God is testing our character? Learn! Obey! Submit! Repent! Be silent! Speak up! Generally whatever it is your flesh wants you to do in that ridiculously frustrating circumstance, do the opposite! Do the right thing! Do the godly thing! Do what Jesus would do!
The sooner you and I become excellent students in passing the character tests that crop up as "pop quizzes" several times each week (or each day) the sooner, I believe, God will move us along the pathway that leads to "the palace"!
DSR
6/13/04
Monday, June 7, 2004
The Telemarketer
by David Scott Robertson
I got the call at an inconvenient time. I checked the caller I.D., didn't recognize the number, but decided to pick up anyway just before the call went to the recorder. Within two seconds I winced, realizing that I had been caught in the crosshairs of a telemarketer.
Now, I'm not one of those "just hang up on the telemarketer" kind of guys. I mean, there's a human being on the other end of the line. And please understand, I don't want to unfairly lump all telemarketers into one negative, stereotypic category. Some are excellent communicators offering a valuable product or service, and they do so in a respectful and conscientious way. Others are, well, like the call I got last night. Maybe he's called your house too.
This poor guy was peddling long distance phone service. He probably had a long shift to work, a car payment due, rent to pay, a cable bill looming, a script to read, and he had me on the line.
This man was bound and determined to get through his script. Each polite refusal only took him to another section of his script. Each objection I raised only seemed to add fuel to his fire to make a sale. Each additional minute I stayed on the phone was an enticement to him to go for it. This guy just wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Finally, mercifully, when it became obvious that we were entangled in an epic battle of right and wrong (he was right and I was wrong), of good versus evil (he was good and I was evil), and he dejectedly began to realize that the thrill of victory was not going to be experienced in this call, then and only then did he begin to wind down the sales pitch. In discernable disgust, he at (long) last ended the conversation and released me from the surly bonds that had tethered me to my phone. Surely, given the sound of his sad voice, after ending the call he would excuse himself from his workstation and hands-free phone set and retreat to the restroom for a good cry. Yeah, right.
Now I understand the man had a job to do and he was only trying to make a buck. He was just what his employer was looking for when he posted the ad in the classifieds:
"Wanted: Growing Fortune 1000 company seeks energetic, aggressive person with excellent communication skills for telemarketing position. Must be able to handle rejection well. Work part-time from your home. Day and evening shifts available, excellent benefits, pay commensurate with experience. Call…"
The boss found a guy that could handle a conversation like this:
TELEMARKETER: "Good evening sir, are you busy?"
AVERAGE JOE: "Why yes, I'm giving CPR to a man right now."
TELEMARKETER: "I understand sir, but this will only take a few minutes. May I interest you…?"
The kid got the job and now he was calling me. His trainer more than likely had told him the longer you keep them on the phone the higher percentage of your closing the deal.
All this to say that this young man, all humor aside, reminded me of me. He reminded me of me in my early days of witnessing to sinners about Jesus.
A pagan could have very well written a similar article about me back in my early days of "evangelizing" substituting "the gospel" for the product or service and me in the place of the telemarketer. He could have entitled the article "The Evangelist."
For if the truth were known, I have been rude, crude, and socially unacceptable in "sharing my faith"--all in the name of the Lord, mind you! And I did it "in love"!
Actually, I did NOT win friends or influence people when I was trying to ram and cram my belief system down another citizen's throat. I did not populate heaven with another soul for whom Christ died by tactfully forcing them to listen to my religious script. What I did do was soothe my religious conscience by "witnessing" and doing my "evangelism thing." I was caught up in "cold calling" on obvious sinners who obviously needed eternal life through Jesus, and I was the conductor passing out tickets to heaven.
Now, on the other hand, if a friend of mine were to call one day and tell me he or she had discovered a product or service that had benefited them and they wamted to recommend that I try it, I probably would. But the operative word in the previous sentence is the word "friend."
Friends have influence; friends have relationship; and sooner or later, friends tell friends about Jesus.
Food for thought: Why not consider laying aside memorized "scripts of evangelism" and be real instead? Be yourself. Or better yet, try to be like Jesus, the Friend of sinners.
DSR
6/7/04
I got the call at an inconvenient time. I checked the caller I.D., didn't recognize the number, but decided to pick up anyway just before the call went to the recorder. Within two seconds I winced, realizing that I had been caught in the crosshairs of a telemarketer.
Now, I'm not one of those "just hang up on the telemarketer" kind of guys. I mean, there's a human being on the other end of the line. And please understand, I don't want to unfairly lump all telemarketers into one negative, stereotypic category. Some are excellent communicators offering a valuable product or service, and they do so in a respectful and conscientious way. Others are, well, like the call I got last night. Maybe he's called your house too.
This poor guy was peddling long distance phone service. He probably had a long shift to work, a car payment due, rent to pay, a cable bill looming, a script to read, and he had me on the line.
This man was bound and determined to get through his script. Each polite refusal only took him to another section of his script. Each objection I raised only seemed to add fuel to his fire to make a sale. Each additional minute I stayed on the phone was an enticement to him to go for it. This guy just wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Finally, mercifully, when it became obvious that we were entangled in an epic battle of right and wrong (he was right and I was wrong), of good versus evil (he was good and I was evil), and he dejectedly began to realize that the thrill of victory was not going to be experienced in this call, then and only then did he begin to wind down the sales pitch. In discernable disgust, he at (long) last ended the conversation and released me from the surly bonds that had tethered me to my phone. Surely, given the sound of his sad voice, after ending the call he would excuse himself from his workstation and hands-free phone set and retreat to the restroom for a good cry. Yeah, right.
Now I understand the man had a job to do and he was only trying to make a buck. He was just what his employer was looking for when he posted the ad in the classifieds:
"Wanted: Growing Fortune 1000 company seeks energetic, aggressive person with excellent communication skills for telemarketing position. Must be able to handle rejection well. Work part-time from your home. Day and evening shifts available, excellent benefits, pay commensurate with experience. Call…"
The boss found a guy that could handle a conversation like this:
TELEMARKETER: "Good evening sir, are you busy?"
AVERAGE JOE: "Why yes, I'm giving CPR to a man right now."
TELEMARKETER: "I understand sir, but this will only take a few minutes. May I interest you…?"
The kid got the job and now he was calling me. His trainer more than likely had told him the longer you keep them on the phone the higher percentage of your closing the deal.
All this to say that this young man, all humor aside, reminded me of me. He reminded me of me in my early days of witnessing to sinners about Jesus.
A pagan could have very well written a similar article about me back in my early days of "evangelizing" substituting "the gospel" for the product or service and me in the place of the telemarketer. He could have entitled the article "The Evangelist."
For if the truth were known, I have been rude, crude, and socially unacceptable in "sharing my faith"--all in the name of the Lord, mind you! And I did it "in love"!
Actually, I did NOT win friends or influence people when I was trying to ram and cram my belief system down another citizen's throat. I did not populate heaven with another soul for whom Christ died by tactfully forcing them to listen to my religious script. What I did do was soothe my religious conscience by "witnessing" and doing my "evangelism thing." I was caught up in "cold calling" on obvious sinners who obviously needed eternal life through Jesus, and I was the conductor passing out tickets to heaven.
Now, on the other hand, if a friend of mine were to call one day and tell me he or she had discovered a product or service that had benefited them and they wamted to recommend that I try it, I probably would. But the operative word in the previous sentence is the word "friend."
Friends have influence; friends have relationship; and sooner or later, friends tell friends about Jesus.
Food for thought: Why not consider laying aside memorized "scripts of evangelism" and be real instead? Be yourself. Or better yet, try to be like Jesus, the Friend of sinners.
DSR
6/7/04
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