Northern Ireland Update

Greetings from Northern Ireland. This past week has been refreshing, encouraging, and a blessing for Don and I. We arrived on Sunday afternoon April 17th and then spoke to around 50-60 young adults that evening from 3 different churches. God allowed us to encourage and challenge them to make disciples and to make in difference in their churches and communities. The next morning we shared for a couple hours with local youth leaders, pastors, and young adults about Off The Wall Ministry. There were many questions and it was encouraging to see how God is giving many people a desire for authentic discipleship and community. We learned a lot from them and hope that we could share some wisdom with them.

Over the course of this past week we have been able to follow up with people, observe and be part of a street reach event with local churches, and share coffee and meals with local young adults. There are some great people here with a heart and desire to passionately follow Jesus Christ, to reproduce people who reproduce passionate followers of Jesus Christ, and challenge one another to be the church God has called us to be.

In the midst of all this we have been blessed with incredible sunshine and the ability to do some fun tourist things as well. Along with taking many walks and enjoying the beautiful scenery we got to tour a castle and take a coastal drive. The history is rich over here and I am reminded how our Christian history should be important and dear to us as believers. We are where we are today because someone before us has paved the way. We have salvation in the name of Jesus because he came and died and rose again as an all-sufficient sacrifice for us. My prayer is that this weekend you will remember, celebrate Easter in its fullness, express to your God and Savior how thankful you are for all he has done.

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love

“Our fears and inner barrenness make love a narcotic, a way to medicate ourselves, and addicts always make foolish, destructive choices.” - Timothy Keller

We all do crazy things in the name of love. Jacob is a prime example. Not only did he want to make Rachel his wife but viewed her as his “savior.” When we reach this state we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see. Our reality becomes jaded and we veer far from truth. In a sense we create our own reality and become governed by the idol of “love.”

Have you ever been here? Maybe its a romantic relationship, or parents and their children. The questions we must ask ourselves is where are we setting our hope? Are we putting are hope in Jesus Christ? In His plan, His purpose, His eternity or our wants, our desires, our fleshly needs? There is no person, not even the best one or thing outside of Jesus Christ that can give your soul all that it needs.

We must take our heart’s deepest hopes and place them in Christ. Living through your children, through a spouse, or just through a need to be validated will leave you empty, constantly searching but never finding. This path can be destructive, not only for you but those closest to you. The amazing and beautiful thing about the God of the Bible is that he came into this world to accomplish salvation for us and give us grace we could never attain ourselves. Today may you turn to Him, be amazed by His grace and allow him to be our heart’s deepest desire and hope.

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world (something supernatural and eternal).”
- C.S. Lewis

Further Reading: Genesis 28-31

In Him

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” - Ephesians 1:7

If you read Ephesians 1:1-14 you will find the following words used:
you (r) 4 times
our 4 times
we 5 times
us 6 times
in 16 times
God, Christ, etc. 37 times

Our union with Christ is the key theme and doctrine of Scripture in this passage. “In him” or “In Christ” is used repeatedly to remind us that we are united with Jesus Christ. Life is all because of God and everything is for him. This is a vertical unity with Jesus, however this provides us a horizontal unity with other believers. If we are “in him” we are family, we are on the same team.

In Christ we find our true identity. Anything outside of “in him” will eventually leave us wanting, hopeless, and wandering. Paul is encouraging the Ephesians, he is wanting them to know the blessing of unity with Jesus and with one another. This is why he repeats these words, they all have to do with union. I want to encourage you to read this passage today and as you do look for the words above. Take note and ask God to help you understand what all your union with Christ means.

...every aspect of God's relationship to believers is in some way connected to our relationship with Christ. From God's counsels in eternity past before the world was created, to our fellowship with God in heaven in eternity future, and including every aspect of our relationship with God in this life—all has occurred in union with Christ. - Wayne Grudem

Further Reading: Ephesians 1:1-14

Fill In The Blanks

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” - Philippains 1:21

These epic words of Paul jump off the page reading through Philippians. His short proclamation should echo in our hearts and mind. It should cause us to rethink our perspective, our outlook on life, and challenge our priorities. What does life mean to you? Is it really all about Christ?

I have often noticed that Jesus is very hard to bring up for most people in everyday conversation. I honestly believe most Christians like talking about Christ, they may want to discuss Biblical truths and stories but somehow have bought into the lie that it would be weird or awkward to talk about God outside of “church.”

Nothing can steal our joy if we have the right mind, a single mind focused on Christ and His Kingdom. Paul was excited about Jesus, he lived to tell others about him. Jesus Christ was in Paul’s everyday conversations in all places at all times. Does Christ or the things of God excite you? Do you seek to see the Kingdom of God and his power work in and through the lives of people? It is an exciting and encouraging to watch God work and hear what God is doing. Today I challenge you to fill in the blanks.

For to me to live is __________, and to die is ___________.

What would you honestly fill in? Money, leave it all behind; power, lose it all; or fame, to be forgotten. Matthew 6:21 talks about where our treasure is there our heart will be also. Is your treasure in money, power, fame? When your treasure is Christ, when He is the purpose for living you will experience joy despite circumstances, people, things, and worry.

Further Reading: Philippians 1:21, Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:22-59

Good Measure

“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38

If your checkbook register would be projected in front of the congregation on Sunday morning what would you do? Squirm? Run? Hide? Would you be embarrassed about where your finances are going or not going? What about your mercy and grace? If we played a video in front of the congregation of your life this past week would we see mercy, grace, and forgiveness extended to others? The idea of “good measure” in this verse implies an acceptable and inspiring act. Luke is giving us a picture of how God views the importance of having a heart full of the goodness of Christ. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

We see a similar passage in 2 Corinthians 9:8,

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Paul in this passage is talking specifically about finances and giving to the work of God. In these Scriptures it always goes back to the heart. Are you a cheerful giver? Do you get excited about giving to the work of the Lord and watching the kingdom of God grow? I really want to encourage you to read the passages below today. Allow God to speak to you through them. Ask the Lord to fill your heart with good and take away the greed, selfishness, and dirt that is in there.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” - Luke 6:45

Further Reading: Luke 6:17-39, 2 Corinthians 9

Helping God Out

“While regeneration breaks the tyranny of self-interest, the deliverance is not yet complete.”

- Dennis Kinlaw

Have you ever tried to help God out? Always beware when this happens. As individuals we are very biased and always enjoy telling God what to do instead of listening for his direction in our lives. The essence of sin in our lives is self-interest. We must be aware and guard against this. Self-interest will bring damage to the fellowship in relationships, especially with those closest to us.

Abram was a devout, righteous man who followed the law and was obedient to God. He could follow the rules but the LORD had to work on his trust. God made a promise to him to be the father of many nations through his own son. When Sarai continued to be barren Hagar enters the picture and they decide to take matters into their own hands instead of trusting in the promise of God. They were thinking that if God isn’t going to fulfill his promise we will have to fulfill it for him. They thought they needed to help God out.

“We have too many Christian people who ‘do right’ with the wrong motives. They ‘do right’ to advance themselves or obtain some recognition for themselves or to receive some kind of reward for themselves. That’s self-interest.... self-interest is diametrically opposed to the character of God.” - Dennis Kinlaw

Our lives are full of self-interest because sin so easily dominates our lives and typically we choose to be ignorant to it. This is a fight we must embrace, Philippians 2:4 tells us not to look to our own interests but to the interests of others. If we are honest with ourselves we would realize we have a lot of selfish junk inside of us. If God were to pick you up, hold you upside down and shake you, what dirt would come out? We constantly need “cleaned out” and replenished. Today ask God to show you what needs “cleaned out” and then ask him to fill you with the fruit of the Spirit, to live a life with the fullness of Christ in you.

Further Reading: Genesis 16 & 17, Philippians 2:4

Mind Your Manners

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” - Ephesians 4:1

Did your parents ever tell you to “mind your manners?” Maybe it was “Stop running all around the store!” They usually said this when you were embarrassing them, which typically occurred in a public setting or when other people were around. In their eyes you weren’t walking in the manner they wanted you to. Are you concerned about the manner in which you walk? Paul is urging the Ephesians to be who God called them to be. To not run out of control but to understand the high call the Lord Jesus has placed on you and to not defame the name of Christ but to exalt it.

“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”
- Ephesians 4:2

What does your walk look like? Americans are people who want things now. We don’t like to wait. Our fast food needs to be fast, traffic jams drive us nuts, and we lose our minds when the satellite or internet isn’t working. If we truly look at our culture and our lives we see that pride runs rampant, patience is nowhere to be found, and love for the most part is a selfish replacement for what real love should be.

We as kids hated when our parents told us to “mind your manners.” As believers we need to embrace a manner worthy of the calling which we have been called. We need people to tell us to “mind your manners” even if we don’t like it. Christ and His kingdom has to be of the utmost importance in our lives. It has to be greater than our self.

Further Reading: Ephesians 4

Telescopes & Microscopes

telescope: an optical instrument for making distant objects appear larger and therefore nearer
microscope: an optical instrument that uses a lens or combination of lenses to produce a magnified image

Does Jesus Christ need to be magnified? Instantly we think how could an infinite, glorious God need or use a mere depraved human being to magnify the Son of God? God is so much bigger than us, but yet so are the stars. Telescopes were made so we could see these large stars that are so far away and bring them close and near to us. The telescope has helped us see what the stars really look like. Our body, our lives, our character, everything we do as a follower of Jesus Christ is to be a telescope to the world that brings Christ close and near to people.

The roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it. - C.S. Lewis

This broken world has a small view of God. For the most part it is also a very distorted view of God. A microscope produces a magnified image and so must our lives. No matter what our circumstances or lot in life may be we can magnify Christ, we can be a microscope. Our lives are a lens which others look through to see Jesus. Just as you may need glasses or contacts to see clearly, a lost world needs Christians to be the lens to see who Jesus really is. Today will you be that lens? We can have immense impact on a lost world by living a life magnifying Christ. You may not think so, but a lost world is searching and they are watching you.

“...Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or death.” - Philippians 1:20a

A God's Eye Perspective

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” - Matthew 13:44

Someone once asked me if I look at life through my own eyes or do I like the view looking over the shoulder of God? What perspective or presuppositions do we have when we read Scripture, grow relationships, think about the church, or minister to others? Do you view life from your own perspective or do you see it as God sees it?

In Luke 18 & 19 we see three stories about perspective. A rich young ruler who was trying to earn or do what was needed to enter the kingdom of God is the first one. All his self-righteousness meant nothing, what Jesus was offering was something he couldn’t see the value in because his eyes were fixed on earthly things. He held tightly to his wealth, possessions, and status which cost him eternal riches. Next week see the blind beggar and Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” After asking for sight he was healed and God was glorified. The question still lingers though, did the blind beggar have the right perspective? His primary concern was his physical need of sight, although he recognized Jesus as God the greater spiritual need took a secondary position. In the third story we Jesus’s encounter with Zacchaeus. He had a God’s eye perspective, he recognized who Jesus was, what he represented, and was willing to give up everything and follow him. What ever Jesus wanted him to do he was willing to do it.

Is that true of you? Which one of these stories most represents your life? Are you holding on to the things of this world so tightly that it is keeping you from God? Maybe you are so focused on your physical needs (or wants) that you have become totally ignorant to your spiritual need. My prayer is that you would be like Zacchaeus. That you would realize Jesus Christ is worthy and deserves everything. When Zacchaeus encountered the love and grace of Jesus he responded with a God’s eye perspective. How are you responding?

“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” - Luke 19:8

Further Reading: Luke 18 & 19

The Question of Love

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” - Malachi 1:2

One of the most dangerous places to be is questioning the love of God. Throughout our spiritual walk we will have times of doubt, we will struggle with understanding some theological concepts, but we must believe the Word of God and His promises to be true. In the book of Malachi he exposes and answers the doubts of those who question God’s love. We all have agendas, dreams, and goals that focus on us and when it seems like God doesn’t bless what we want or do things the way we want him to we start to question whether or not he loves us.

We all at times can have this struggle, an attitude like this is immature and needs to be grown into maturity. The people in Malachi’s time were complaining and begrudgingly offering sacrifices to God. They did not respect God, honor Him, or fear Him.

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?” - Malachi 1:6

What should be in question is not God’s love for us but our love for God. Sometimes I think we feel like we do a good job at loving God and he needs to do a better job of loving us. How further from the truth could we be? We often think way too highly of ourselves. We view God in our image. We have a tendency to give God our scraps and that is what Malachi had to confront the Israelites about. Is God getting your scraps? Where are your first fruits going?

God loves us, this is clearly shown in Scripture, you can’t miss it if you read the Bible. If you do not believe that He loves you I challenge you to pick up your Bible and start reading. God wants us to believe, to walk in faith, and to love Him.

Further Reading: Malachi 1 & 2