“I Quit” – (Part Two)

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This entry is part 2 of 7 in the series I Quit

Why do people quit on each other and on church? Last week we began by looking at the loss of PERSPECTIVE. When we loose perspective, our problems become larger than they really are. It’s similar to holding a quarter up to your eye, and not being able to see past it. But if you hold it at arms length, it’s not so big.

Perspective, the ability to see things as they really are in relation to other things. It is the ability to discern, really see the IMPORTANT as opposed to the NOT SO IMPORTANT. When we QUIT over something, we are saying that this issue, this problem is SO IMPORTANT, that our family here at New Horizon, the unity we have, IS NOT WORTH IT. The next time you are tempted to walk away, TRY praying for proper PERSPECTIVE of the cross. The problem may be truly, NO BIG DEAL. (Read Ephesians 4:3 “Make EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE.” Question: Are you really doing that or not?)

People quit, walk away because of PRIDE. Some wise man said, “Pride goes before a fall”. PRIDE shows itself in many ways. (Pride is not always bad. We should have some pride in ourselves, and what we do, to have a quality in life or work.) However, when a person has too much of it, it leads to a fall.

PRIDE keeps one from admitting a mistake, it inhibits making a change to a better way or path of action.
PRIDE keeps one from trying to communicate and correct.
PRIDE keeps one from forgiving each other. Paul said, “FOR BY THE GRACE GIVEN ME, I SAY TO EVERYONE OF YOU: DO NOT THINK OF YOURSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN YOU OUGHT, BUT RATHER THINK OF YOURSELF WITH SOBER JUDGMENT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEASURE OF FAITH GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.”
PRIDE keeps one from listening, and considering another way, another thought.
PRIDE keeps you from growing. It will destroy a family and result in divorce, and will destroy a congregation.
PRIDE will seek to have ITS OWN WAY AND LEAVE WHEN NOT SATIFIED. Paul said in I Corinthians 13:4-8 about real love, that it “… is NOT PROUD, RUDE, SELF SEEKING, EASILY ANGERED…”

Man’s PRIDE put Jesus on the cross, real love FOR MANKIND kept Him there.

It is hard for God to fill a cup with His humility and power when it is full of self.
We are in dire need of humble hearts. Hearts that are truly seeking God. Humility that surrenders, bends the knee, raises the hands, cries out to Him. ‘Hearts’ that won’t quit.

Adelaide Pollard wrote that in 1902!
“Have thine own way Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mould me and make me, after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.”

Perhaps Adelaide understood more than we do where the real power is. Until we understand it, growth is but a dream at best! “I QUIT” will continue to be a ‘tool’ to use to get ‘our way’. Instead of letting the Lord have His own way.

Dear Lord, I pray that You will help us to rid our lives of PRIDE that leads to division and strife. Help us Lord, help us! Help us run to You and with humility of heart, cry for You to fill us, make us, mould us, guide us in your ways. We praise You, in Jesus name, Amen.

 

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“I Quit” – (Part One)

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This entry is part 1 of 7 in the series I Quit

Jesus On The CrossHave you ever wondered what Jesus thought when things got difficult? What about when the critics came at him from everywhere? What about when his own disciples complained and argued? What about when His disciples were filled more with fear and doubt, than they were with faith?

What about when people were crying out for his own death, when he had done nothing but good for people?

Well I guess I could go on, but I think the point is made. Obviously, Jesus was not a quitter. He was quite the opposite, he persisted to the completion of his mission, no matter what. Sometimes he had to be blunt with people, (“…get behind me satan…” he said to Peter).

Jesus had to have a special focus about him to deal with everything he had to deal with. He invested time with his disciples, teaching them, correcting them, but never quitting on them. Why? obviously he loved them “to the end”. His eternal mission depended on them as much as it depended on himself. Without his disciples, what would happen to the church after he ascended to be with his Father?

His disciples likewise, had to learn to, ‘not quit’, even to the point of giving their lives for their Master. They had to grow, and mature. They needed some things… let’s take a look at some of these things briefly…

Why do people quit? Various and sundry things happen I suppose. One thing seems to stand out. Loosing perspective.

We surely get discouraged now, just as the disciples did then. Life is hard for sure. Quitting becomes easier when one gets tired, discouraged, upset.

When you consider marriage, it is much the same. Divorce (quitting) seems to come to people’s minds too quickly nowadays because people lose perspective. Little things become ‘big’ and big things become little without perspective.

How can we gain perspective? Well, life has taught (continues to teach) me, that some (perhaps many) things are NO BIG DEAL (NBD). The key is figuring which is a BIG DEAL and which is a BIG DEAL, and worthy of stopping everything, and dealing with it (ie confrontation). How do Christians gain perspective, and the discernment needed to see what is a BIG DEAL? I think, if we will learn to see things from the cross it will really help.

What happened on the cross? Well, Jesus, having been nailed to it, was then raised up, and the cross went into a hole with a sickening thud! Already he was beaten half to death, and mocked, and spit on, and slapped, and was so weak that he could not carry his own cross piece. Now he hangs there. Dying. In deep pain, exposed to the elements, thirsty, and every thing in his body writhing in anguish. Picture this and see him looking at you. Going through this just for you. Through his suffering and stripes, ‘you are healed’. Blood is flowing. He is getting weaker and weaker. All for you and I.

Having this picture in your mind… lay your issue at the foot of the cross. Now, what would he say to you? Answer that, and you are gaining perspective.

Somehow, our problem doesn’t seem so big a deal anymore. Maybe we even feel ashamed for getting so upset, or discouraged over it.

My encouragement is, before saying, “I quit”, think of Jesus on the cross, just you and the Master. Leave the scene with a renewed determination that you will not quit. Determine that foolish pride, petty disagreements, will not ever drive you away from Jesus or His people. Surely, this is part of growing in Jesus. Quitting and divorce should be forever put out of our minds, and has to be in order that we can grow.

Perspective…

 

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“Free Indeed”

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Nothing thrills the heart like ‘being free’. Our own history is all about ‘freedom’. A freedom that millions round the world long for. Martin Luther King Jr., fought hard for freedom for racial equality, he was assassinated. Sir William Wallace, fought for freedom of Scotland in 1300’s. He was beheaded, drawn and quartered. Today Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and more are struggling for freedom from oppression. Freedom isn’t cheap.

Even more precious is our ‘freedom in Christ’. Being free ‘INDEED’ in Christ means, “entirely, absolutely, completely, and fully free, not partially, maybe, ‘probationally’ free… “FREE INDEED”.
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,” (Luke 4:18). Not ‘freedom’ from Rome! Slavery, as bad as it is, was not the focus of Jesus. The freedom Jesus came to give is spiritual freedom. Freedom from a far worse ‘master’ than man can be to someone else … sin and Satan.

Paul spoke of Jesus and said, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:7-8.

In Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 17 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

In Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Friends, FREEDOM IS NOT CHEAP!

Now, let’s look at three things regarding our freedom.

  • FREE INDEED
    John 8:31-36 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”What are you talking about Jesus?!” “We have never been enslaved! (I guess they forgot about Egypt, and the period of the Judges, and what about the Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greeks, and Romans!) How could they say, they had never been slaves. But Jesus ignores this and gets to the heart of their slavery… IF YOU SERVE SIN, YOU ARE THE SLAVE OF IT. But Jesus came to set mankind free. They just couldn’t (wouldn’t) get it. Maybe this is understandable, since they felt ‘righteous’ before God anyway. So what’s with this salvation from sin. Keeping the Law was ‘their thing’. Jesus challenged this. So the message of “Repentance” went out, Lk. 3:1-3.

    The fact was that they were indeed NOT FREE, they were the SLAVES OF THEIR MASTER SATAN.

  • FREE FROM SIN
    Paul says in Romans 6:11-12, 16-18, 20, 23.
    11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
    17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

    20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

    23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    Sadly, being free from sin doesn’t interest everyone. In spite of the awful cost of Jesus dying on a Roman cross. Yet the sacrifice remains viable, and redemption, open for all who would ‘come’ to Jesus.
    If we could just see the ‘sinfulness of sin’, the pain and suffering and the terrible guilt that follows. If we could just see how great His grace and forgiveness. We would run to Him. He offers FREEDOM FROM SIN.

  • FREE FROM LAW
    Paul says in Galatians 3:13-18
    “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. “

Is something wrong with law? No, because without law we don’t have guidelines, (Gal. 3:21-22), but because of Jesus, we are not saved by our ability to keep law. We are saved by faith, Gal. 3:26.
Baptism (Gal. 3:27) is an act of faith, the response of faith, which puts us into Christ.
Law provides a ‘rule of action’, ‘governs’, ‘commands’, but it does not save. Not the law’s fault, it’s good. God gave it. We just don’t obey perfectly. Since the promise to Abraham was given before the Law, it continues after the Law, above the Law, and in spite of the Law. By grace we are saved, through faith, (Eph. 2:8).

Thus we are free because of the WORK of Jesus, and with this come privileges, but we cannot and must not ignore RESPONSIBILITY. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Let’s look at another passage. Galatians 5:1-13 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

Someone has said, “We have the freedom to give up our rights, be WE NEVER HAVE THE RIGHT TO GIVE UP OUR FREEDOM.”
Take your freedom SERIOUSLY. Guard your freedom COURAGEOUSLY. Use your freedom LOVINGLY.

We are free to:
THINK, reason, ponder
GROW, become, mature, learn from mistakes
STUDY, learn, question, be stronger
PRAY, praise, worship
CONSCIENCE, personal conviction, opinions
TRADITIONS, accept or change
CREEDS, written or unwritten, we follow Jesus.
ORGANIZE, methodology, programs
DISCIPLE, follow and serve.

We need to understand, “congregations are made up of VOLUNTARY CHRISTIANS BONDED TOGETHER” in love for Jesus and each other, AND WE ARE FREE INDEED.

A congregation in California put this in their bulletin, “Penitent, immersed believers are free to believe anything they want in their effort to grow up… As long as they don’t disturb others with it.”

In the end, love is the bond.

 

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Flowers for Mom

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   We were not rich growing up. Dad was a preacher, making $135.00 -$165.00 per week. We lived in the preacher’s home, provided by the local congregation. Mom and dad tried to save money wherever they could. Of course back then money seemed to be worth more, (five cent bubble gum, twenty five cent Coca Cola, huge banana splits for $1.00). Allowance was twenty five cents a week, but we had chores to do during the week which seemed to give us the value of our allowance.

   Holidays were special, but mother’s day seemed to trump them all. It was a time that dad reminded us well in advance to save some money to get something for mom. We didn’t complain about having to use our well earned allowance. We had seen mom every day working at home, cleaning, washing, cooking, taking care of three boys, and later three girls as well. She always fixed us breakfast, and prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a Twinkie, and orange juice for us and pout them into brown paper bags for school lunch. We didn’t have any one tell us that our lunches were not healthy. Mom did her best to help save money, by making our clothes last. We played hard, and the first thing to ‘give’ in my clothes was the knees in my blue jeans. We didn’t have, nor did we insist on name brand jeans. We didn’t have to worry about anything… it was all provided and we were taken care of by mom and dad. We always knew that mom loved us… even when she got on to us or gave us a well deserved ‘swat’. We didn’t threaten to call Family Services… we knew better than to threaten mom and dad.

   Mother’s Day was the time we gathered our pennies, nickels, and dimes, and went to Woolworths five and dime store, and get mom a book mark, or a pen, or just something to say I love you mom, you are special. I guess the best gift was when dad would take us all for a walk and we would pick flowers for a bouquet. Our favorite flower… Dandilions, and Daisies. We would pick them and then dad would point to some Tansies… and even though we didn’t know what they were, we picked as many as we could hold. The night before, we prepared the flowers. We took all the petals off the flowers, and put them in a bag, and early on Mother’s day we got up and prepared for mom to get up and make an entrance into the kitchen. Breakfast had been prepared by dad especially for mom, and we all waited. Finally mom came, (of course she knew what was going to happen), we hid ourselves behind the wall and when mom came in, we tossed all the flowers on mom. “Happy Mother’s Day mom!”, we all shouted. She smiled, acted surprised, and loved it. All day long, she was not to lift a hand to do any of the normal work she did. We washed the dishes. We cleaned up our bedrooms. We put our clothes away. We opened the door for mom in the car. We served her lunch in her easy chair as she sat and watched television. We swept and mopped the kitchen after the dishes were done. Why? We loved mom. So it didn’t matter where the flowers came from or the amount that was or wasn’t spent… it is the fact that we cared, and did something to show we cared.

   Now mom is gone, she passed away June 13, 2010. She and dad were together again, happy again, not lonely any more. We were left with the memories of a mom that loved us incredibly, with no regrets. Mother’s Day will always be special, and bring back the memories of tossing flowers, hugs, special times and mom’s smile. While you have the time, show mom the love and respect she deserves. O, and don’t forget the flowers.

   Happy Mother’s day mom, we love you.

 

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Feelings

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   The most obvious difference in the mind of man and computers are emotions and feelings. Of course this is what computer genius’ are trying to create… they call it artificial intelligence, which at it’s best is still artificial.

   James says, “Is any merry, let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Our feelings are truly important, for they come from the ‘heart’. Feelings can be expressed in different ways, and thanks to ‘self-control’ some feelings are ‘toned down’ or ‘put on hold’. Jesus speaks of the heart as being the source of many of our troubles due ‘feelings gone wild’, (cf. Matt. 15:1-20). However, the heart of man is also the source of many good things, and again feelings are involved.

   Paul writes, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (feelings), kindness (feelings), humbleness of mind (feelings), meekness (feelings), long-suffering (feelings), forbearing one another (feelings), and forgiving one another (feelings), and if any man have a quarrel against any (feelings), even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (feelings) and above all these things, put on charity (love feelings) which is the bond of perfection.” (words in brackets mine, JHE), Colossians 3:12-14.

   Feelings are limited. Some religious ‘zealots’ allow their feelings to become extreme and authoritarian, and some have reacted to this by sub-dividing and going to the opposite extreme in Christianity.

   Many equate ‘quietness’ with ‘reverence’ and ‘out-ward polish with inward praise’. The old joke(?), “You can’t praise God in here” may apply all to well to the average assembly of the saints. In doing away with all “shouts of joy”, clapping, raising hands, “hallelujahs”, and verbal “amens” as evident signs of emotionalism… our extreme silence may become only a counter balance to other people’s extreme noise. Both extremes when artificial are empty and distracting.

   Feelings and truth. Feeling good does not make us good. Feeling right does not make us right. Truth belongs to God. He alone is “good” and “right”. He has revealed truth and good, not through feelings but by revelation. Yet there is no virtue in not feeling, or discarding feelings altogether. Understanding feelings in relation to truth is important. Feelings do not precipitate truth, nor confirm truth. A good conscience may even be misleading, (Acts 23:1), and many who are lost, “feel right”. Feelings should not lead – they should follow. They do not act – they re act. So when truth is known and believed through evidence, FEELINGS SHOULD SURROUND, EMBRACE AND SUPPORT TRUTH.

   “And they went on their way rejoicing” is recorded again and again as an aftermath of conversion. “By grace – through faith – in Christ – praise God!” Seeing ourselves as saints, living in the temple of God as well as being the temple of God, offering ourselves as living sacrifices, (I Peter 2:5; I Cor. 6:19-20; Rom. 12:1-2).

   The eunuch went on his way rejoicing after he had been taught about Jesus, believed it, and come out of a watery grave (baptism), (Acts 8:36-39).

   No one rejoices in dying, and the burial scene is hardly the place for “shouts of joy”. But brother let us sing praises at the resurrection – the beginning of the new life.

   Knowing truth, believing truth, obeying truth brings that ‘deep gut feeling’ (bowels of mercies) and knows no other way of expressing itself than to praise God in every waking moment.

   Spiritual computer? That’s not us.

   Automatic worshipers? That’s not us.

   Praiseless, laughless, joyless Christians? That’s not us.

   To the contrary, when we are in Christ, saved by grace, serving from a heart filled with love, there’s little left but to sing and shout His praises.

   Sing it again James! “Is any merry, let him sing psalms.” This is saving power – converting power. People may not hear us preach, but they always hear us sing.

 

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The Danger of the Tongue

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   Everyone has heard either lessons or lectures or something on the danger of the tongue. Obviously, the Bible and in particular, the book of James comes to mind when thinking about this subject.
First I want to tell you about something that happened one day when dad and I were hunting. I was barely a teenager when it happened. Dad had what looked to me to be a ‘canon’ (12 guage shotgun), and I had a 410 shotgun. I loved that rifle! I was excited about the prospects of going out with dad on this hunting trip. We were hunting for dove that day. We were out at the ‘break of dawn’ and had been hunting for a while, but no luck. Doves must’ve heard that dad was coming and they decided to sleep in or something. But they were no where to be found

   We were getting tired, and kinda bored. Dad fired off a couple of shots, (just to be sure the gun was working well of course). I did the same thing. I remember we were walking along a dirt road, and the field on one side was fenced with posts every 15 feet, and strands of old rusty barbed wire. Dad happened to find an old fruit juice quart can that had been opened and was empty. So he said, “Jack, put the can on the post, and I’ll shoot it and see how far it travels.” Well I was excited about this, so I placed it on the post, and evened it up and made sure it wasn’t going to fall. Dad got his rifle ready, poised himself, and was standing at a fair distance to be sure he didn’t miss, (about 3 feet). BOOM!! One shot (100 pellets), sent the can flying. I went and got the can, brought it to him.
    The most unusual look came over dad’s face, as he held this can in his hand and looked at it. “You know what this is, son?” I said, “Dad, it’s a can.” (Thinking something is wrong with dad.) “No, son… this is the heart of many a person, after a well meaning, God fearing Christian has gone out and tried to ‘win them to Christ’. “This is what the person’s heart looks like when a person goes out and takes the Word of God, and blasts away, thinking they are just ‘doin’ the right thing’.
   I have never forgotten that day. Dad has held up this can all around the world, trying to help Christians understand the power of the tongue, a careless, blunt, tongue.
O, it’s not the piece of flesh per say, as much as it’s the heart that needs adjustment.
I have thought often about this illustration that dad used, and have used it as well, to help me. Watch what you say, son. You have a hard time fixing someone’s heart once it is ‘blown apart’ by carelessness.
   James says it this way, “But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20) “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” (James 3:2) James continues to speak of putting “bits” in horses mouths, and “rudders” on ships, and how these things determine the direction for the horse and ship. It is amazing how a small thing like the tongue, can cause so much damage. Yet it has the potential to accomplish so much good.
   Over the years the ‘old can’ with the result of the shotgun blast, has been viewed by many, many people. Some have learned the lesson, and some have not. The one question dad asked me after he looked at this can on that day, that I could not answer… “HOW DO YOU PUT A PERSON’S HEART BACK TOGETHER?” My answer… “I don’t know.” Jesus can heal. Jesus can help. Far better to be careful what we say, and how we say it.

 

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A Case of Beer

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   Children are weird in a lot of ways. They are full of emotions, ‘vim and vigor’. They do things they often regret or get embarrassed about. I was no different.
It happened in Sherman, Texas, and I was about ten years old, I had just come home from school. It was a sunny day, and I went into the house, and called out, “Mom, I’m home.” No sound of mom or anyone. It was unusual for me to come home and find no one there. We were still living in the days when a family could live on one income, and be happy.
   I went into the kitchen as was my custom, to raid the refrigerator, and hopefully find some Twinkies, or a piece of apple pie. No luck… dad got there first. I was disappointed and so I went back in the den and shut the door. Then I found it… a case of beer. You just cannot imagine what went through my mind.
   Now, as dad told me later, when we could laugh about it… Sherman, Texas was in a “dry county”. That means simply, NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED. Dad of course was the preacher for the Church of Christ and was pretty well known, since he was writing books and doing personal work and visiting the hospital regularly.
   I was terrified, and thought that dad gone out and bought this case of beer, and had become an alcoholic. Well, I have to confess I went a little crazy. Being the oldest son, a new Christian, and determined to save dad’s reputation, I took this case of beer, all 24 cans, out on the driveway, and a ice pick, ion very plain view of anyone driving by, and started punching holes in each and every one of those cans. Of course since they were warm, and a bit shook up, these cans didn’t ‘go quietly’. They sent beer spewing several feet into the air. One by one they went off like ‘old faithful’. I was covered in the stuff, and the drive way smelled and everyone who passed by couldn’t believe what this ten year old boy was doing much less the smell that was in the air. It’s not over… then mom and dad came home!!!
   What does a boy do? Pray!!! Well, in the end, dad had been teaching a man who was destroying his family with drinking and he had convinced him to give up the beer. Dad was going to get rid of it for him. I guess, my motives were the only thing that saved me that day.
   It would have been easy for dad to get angry that day. He could have jumped to a wrong conclusion just as I had already. But he was the adult, he had more wisdom, and patience. Me? Well I was just in the middle of growing up. I had (have) a long way to go in learning the truths of the Master teacher. Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in what way you judge, you shall be judged; and by what standard of measure, it shall be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold there is a log in your own eye?” Matt. 7:1-4

 

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Be A Learner

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   Years ago when my brothers, sisters and I were in Ireland with mom and dad, as missionaries, I asked dad if I could learn to drive. I went through the registration process, and took driver’s education, learned the signs, and got used to driving on the opposite side of the road. They gave me a plastic sign for the front window of the van, on one side of the sign was a yellow “R” (meaning ‘restricted’) and one  the other side a red “L” (meaning ‘learner’). We placed the “L” on the window, and started off. I was now an official ‘learner’. Of course dad had to show me all the details of driving the van, clutch, gas, brakes, lights etc… One Sunday, dad decided to drive, and he took the dual carriageway (hi-way). We came to the red light, and we were on our way. All of a sudden, cars were coming at us, lots of cars! Dad realized he had made the mistake of forgetting what country he was in… He was on the wrong side of the road. We came to a screeching halt, and so did the other cars. Now there were several angry Irishmen coming at us, shaking their fists, and yelling some things best not repeated. Then one of the men stopped and pointed to the red “L” on the front window. “Give this man some room here. He is just a learner.” He took over the situation and began to motion to the others, to move back and let dad turn around and get on the right side of the road.
    Years have passed, and dad is gone now, but I still have the red “L”, that dad used from then on in his ministry to teach some special lessons.
    I can think of so many times when I could have used this little sign, just to remind me to be patient with people. Patience is hard to come by, because it usually means difficulties, and stress. When you pray for patience, God may send you a grouchy neighbor or a stubborn child or some difficult situation to ‘stretch your faith’ just a little more than last time. Patience means endurance. Endurance means to stand up under pressure. Pressure… well we don’t like that. We want everything to be peaceful, and calm. Life just isn’t that way. It is unpredictable and things happen. This is where Christianity is put to the test. Usually we react without even thinking. A harsh word slips out and then we remember, “I am a Christian”. The phrase, “What would Jesus do?” comes to mind and we feel shame for failing once again to be patient.
    You’ve seen the bumper sticker, “Christians aren’t perfect… just forgiven”. Well it is so true. Christians are not perfect. Righteous – because of the work and blood of the crucified and risen Savior… but not perfect in every situation in life. Others see the imperfections, and think, “You hypocrite”. Well, I don’t think that always fits. You see, Christians are LEARNERS. It takes time and focus and prayer and growth to be like Jesus. Not that we are asking for the world to be patient while Christians grow in Christ. That won’t happen. It will help reach the world for Christ though if those who claim to be followers of Christ will take it seriously.
    Is this growth process a bit frustrating? Sure it is. The Christian’s biggest battle is with himself. That is why the Holy Spirit was given to the Christian, (Acts 2:38-39; Romans 8). As frustrating as it is at times, hard times that come should bring to our minds, God is at work in us, (Philippians 2:12-13), and that is good, real good! Listen to James, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (patience). And let endurance (patience) have it’s perfect (complete) result, that you may be perfect (full grown) and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4.

   The Christian life is an unbelievable adventure. Enjoy it, share it, grow in it, and NEVER STOP BEING A LEARNER.

 

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