23

Jump Start # 568

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 568

Romans 15:14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

Paul had to say several powerful things to the Roman Christians. They needed further instructions and they needed to put in practice what the apostle was teaching. It is easy to go to an extreme when someone is trying to help another person. Since they needed more instructions, one could concluded that they didn’t know anything or that they weren’t doing very well. That’s not the case. This is one reason our verse is found in the midst of many instructions. It was to remind them that they were doing well, yet, they still needed instruction.

Our verse today contains three incredible statements. Together, these statements illustrate growth and maturity in Christ. It is what every Christian should be after a while. This is the dream situation for elders, to have members who manifest these three qualities. It’s easy to find one or two in folks, but all three—and at the same time, that’s our goal.

  • Full of goodness. I like how that is stated. It’s more than they are good people. It’s more than they are doing good things. They are full of goodness. Now we’ve seen the opposite—full of mischief, full of problems, full of deceit, full of pain. These Christians were full of goodness. When one is full of goodness, stand back, because good things will be happening. Good to one another, good words, good deeds, good help, good attitudes, good hearts– these are the things that come out of someone who is full of goodness. These folks see others more than themselves. They are eager to help. They don’t have to be told and they don’t complain when there is an opportunity. You know people like this. They show up when someone needs help moving, painting, with yard work. These are the ones who are sitting with you in the hospital waiting room. These are the ones who hand someone who is struggling an envelope with cash or gift cards in it. These are the ones who show up on a Saturday work day at the church house. These are the ones who compliment. These are the ones who smile. They are busy. Their minds swirl with ideas of how to help others. Full of goodness—a church is hopelessly stuck without these folks. Visitors notice those who are good. Goodness is attractive and a powerful means of opening the eyes of others to Jesus.
  • Filled with all knowledge. These Romans were “doubly” filled—first with goodness and now with knowledge. Without knowledge to govern, set the boundaries, and stay within the guidelines of Scriptures, hearts filled with goodness can go overboard and push for things that the Bible doesn’t allow. This often happens on the congregational level. Good hearts want to rush in and use the church money and just “do good.” It’s hard to put the brakes on those ideas and activities, but filled with all knowledge will. It will take us to Scriptures and show us exactly what can and can not be done. God sets patterns and those need to be followed, even when good things are the goal. Filled with all knowledge—that keeps the Bible at the forefront of things. We need Biblical knowledge to lead us. It’s the teachings of the Bible that will comfort the hurting. The answers of the Bible will drive away doubt, fear, worry and confusion. Filled with knowledge is what we want our preachers to be like. We want our Bible class teachers to be filled with knowledge.

Having knowledge but not a heart that is filled with goodness, leads only to discussions, lectures and intellect. We become thinkers and not doers. We talk but we don’t produce. Knowledge and goodness go together.

  • Able to admonish one another. To admonish is to warn, teach and instruct. Here our two earlier expressions come together. Without knowledge, we cannot admonish correctly. Sure we can give our thoughts and opinions and advice, but it may not be sound. It may not be true to what God wants. The knowledge is necessary, but so is the good heart. It is the heart that is filled with goodness that wants another person to do well. Love drives the person to speak to them, to help them, to teach them. This shows the connection and relationship that we have in a congregation. We are there for each other. We help one another.

Would you know what to say to someone? Knowledge teaches you that there is not one method nor one formula that is a “one-size-fits-all” remedy to admonish others. Each person presents unique backgrounds, baggage and needs. Knowledge reveals that. Knowledge knows that. The widow who is struggling has different spiritual needs than the teenager, as does the young family, as does the mature Christian, as does the immature Christian. Often a one-size-fits-all approach to classes leaves some without answers or help. Some admonishing needs to be done one-on-one, so it can be directed, personal, and just what a person needs.

Full of goodness…full of knowledge…able to admonish one another. This is where we need to be as brethren and as congregations. It takes time and effort to get to this. It doesn’t just happen. One must fight selfish feelings, or they will never be full of goodness. One must fight the lazy bone in us, or they will never learn. One must fight being demanding, overbearing and threatening or they will never be able to admonish.

When these three characteristics are running through our hearts, the kingdom marches on. This can be you. It can be of all Christians who walk with the Lord. Goodness—knowledge—admonishing…need this in the home, in the congregation and in our lives.
Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 567

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 567

Romans 12:17-18 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Peace—what a wonderful word. Peace in the world, peace in the church, peace at home, and peace in the heart—those are things that most would love to see. The opposite of peace is war, turmoil, or trouble. We know what that’s like—it’s illustrated all around us. Soldiers are overseas because there is tension among the nations. Churches split and divide because there is a lack of peace within the congregation. Parents and grown children fuss at each other because peace is missing in their relationships. People can’t sleep at night because of shame, guilt and sin. Peace is missing in their hearts.

Jesus came to give peace—not a temporary, external peace, but an internal, lasting peace that begins with a relationship with God. It’s hard to have peace anywhere, if it is not first with God.

Paul’s words in our verse today illustrate that we often hold the key to peace. The practical section of Romans illustrates what Christian living looks like. Here, Paul addresses the idea of what to do when one has been hurt by another. The first reaction is to bust them in the chops. Can’t do that. It’s not the “Christian” thing to do. Remember what Jesus said, about turning the cheek? Paying back evil for evil, makes you on the same level as the person who wounded you. By your use of evil, you become evil. Your counter attack starts the argument, the fight, the war. It’s just like nations that go to war against each other. One nation will fire a missile. The other nation feels compelled to retaliate, so it will fire a missile back. A war soon breaks out. This is the same tactic and ingredients that lead to an argument. Someone says something that is hurtful, so the other person fires an insult back. The war begins. This happens in the home, in the church, at the work place and among nations.

Paul’s words are clear. First, NEVER pay back evil for evil, to ANYONE. Never. That just about covers every situation, every angle, every time. Never. Not most times. Not to just fellow Christians, but NEVER to ANYONE. Don’t stoop to evil. Don’t break God’s rules just to make you feel like you’ve had the final word, the final act in all of this. Don’t go there. Don’t do that.

Second, respect what is right in the sight of all men. ALL MEN is like the ANYONE Paul stated in the previous expression. This is the positive side of what was just said. The negative: never pay back evil. The positive: respect what is right. What is right? Christ. Treating others as Christ would want you to. The golden rule. Respect carries the idea of caring for another person. Respect comes in the tone of your voice, and the choice of words that you use. Respect comes in the care of another person’s property.

Third, be at peace with all men. Paul puts a qualifier on this, “as far as it depends with you.” Some things are beyond you. Some things you can’t fix, but there are areas that we can. We can offer forgiveness instead of hatred. We can put aside selfishness. We can be patient. We can overlook things done to us. There are things that we can do. Can’t change another person. Can’t make them apologize, do right or even be right. But I can do things. If there is a war, it won’t be because of me.

Now in all of this, a person can’t give up his position with Christ. There can be no selling of truth or compromising of what God said. There is a stake in the ground there and that stake cannot be moved.

I wonder how often pride keeps us from doing what the apostle says here. Someone hurt us. It isn’t right that they aren’t hurt back. That’s how our thinking goes. Somehow they should feel and experience what they have done to us. So our mind gets busy thinking of ways we can turn their world upside down. Pride keeps us fixated upon pain rather than restoration. Pride won’t let go. Pride won’t seek solutions. This is why Paul says, “as much as depends upon you.” Much of it does depend upon us—we could make things better, if we tried. We think the other person ought to be the first to come to us. We think they ought to offer the olive branch first. We wait, for a short while and nothing happens. Pride and impatience takes over. We fume. We fuss. We complain. Finally, we decide that we have to do something, and what we settle for, often isn’t good.

These are hard things to do. This is why the Christian way is always the higher road, the best choice, and often the hardest choice. The easy thing to do is smack the person back, fire that missile, start the war. We don’t live by human nature anymore. It’s the nature of Christ that governs us. It’s Christ ways that keep us in check. We remember the Christ who uttered no threats back when crucified. We remember He could have called down angels, but He didn’t. We remember the Christ who prayed for His Father to forgive the crucifiers.

Never pay back evil for evil—Jesus didn’t. We shouldn’t. It’s hard not to, but you can when you walk with the Lord.

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 566

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 556

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

One of the wonderful blessings of belonging to a church family is the dual benefits of sharing and receiving comfort and encouragement from each other. We need that. We need to be encouraged by others and we need to be encouragers to others. Encouragement keeps us in the fight and it keeps us going. When the road becomes long and hard, and the encouragement is lacking, that’s when some start dropping off. Discouragement takes over and they just don’t think they can do it anymore.

Encouragement is not something that is only found in religious settings, it’s part of life. The parents in the stands, cheering their child on, as they watch him play basketball, are encouragers. The proud celebration that comes when a child shows a parent a report card that has good grades, is encouragement. The praise of co-workers, the appreciation of bosses, the sweet compliments of a mate are all forms of encouragement and necessary to life. Encouragement is not flattery, false praise or saying things just to get something in return. Encouragement comes from the heart and it recognizes the good of others and the achievements of others. Encouragement comes from a heart that sees others. That may be one reason why people are so hungry and so needing encouragement today—everyone is so busy thinking about themselves and talking about themselves that they have quit encouraging others.

  • Encouragement reminds us that others need us and are counting upon us. That’s true in a marriage, a work environment and especially in our church family.
  • Encouragement is positive, uplifting, and a wonderful feeling. That’s needed. We often run on empty and can get so tired that we wonder whether our efforts are doing any good. Without encouragement many would give up and quit.

 

  • Encouragement comes in many forms. There is not just one way to encourage. Seeing a church house full of people who are glad to be there is so encouraging. Hearing voices singing out praises to God fills the heart. Hugs and smiles are encouragers. A note, an email, even a text message, expressing appreciation can be just the thing a person needs.

 

  • A gift, whether it’s a plant, a book, a gift card or an invitation to dinner are ways to encourage.

Paul’s thoughts in our verse are important. We need to be encouragers. We need to recognize how powerful, needful and helpful encouragement is. We’d hate to think that one among us gave up because he felt alone and all he needed was someone to encourage him. It’s easy to encourage the preacher, the elders and those who are so visible. What happens sometimes is that we forget about others. We forget about the widow, who is alone now and struggles.  She could use some attention. We forget about the teenager. His mind, hormones, and heart are spinning around all the time. He needs encouragement. He’s trying. Then there are the new people. They don’t know many people and they can feel left out. Then there are the hard working families that are solid and steady and dependable. They, too, need to be encouraged.

As a person thinks about it, there is no one that does not need encouraging. That thought ought to make us busy with ideas and ways to help each other. We need each other. We need to show that and express that. We need to pray for each other, be there for each other, and help each other.

These are the things that make a church, a family and they make it a special place. The energy, the connections, the love becomes obvious. People want to be there. People want to do things, because they come to love a church like that.

Encouragers—you can do that. One of my favorite people in the Bible is Barnabas, who got that name from the apostles, because he was “an encouraging.” He helped Saul at Jerusalem, when the folks there weren’t sure about him. He defended and supported his cousin, Mark, when Paul wasn’t sure about him anymore. He strengthened brethren. His life was a life of encouragement. He built up. He pumped air into the souls of brethren. He  was a good man who made a difference. He was an encourager.

You can do that. It doesn’t take a lot, just noticing others and helping others. It starts with your circle of association. Look among them. You’ll see those who are struggling, those who are tired, those who complain, those who are talking about giving up. Reach out. Be there. Find the gift. Write the note. Smile the smile. Give the hug. Share a passage. Encouragement doesn’t have to be big, expensive or complicated.

A while back I was preaching and another preacher was in the audience. I looked at him while I was talking, he smiled and gave me a wink. That was awesome. It was a thumb’s up. It was, “I’m with you.” It was, “keep preaching preacher.” It was what I needed. It was encouragement. I haven’t forgotten that.

We need each other and we need to let each other know that.

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 565

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 565

Acts 5:38-39 “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

Our verse today focuses upon the advice of Gamaliel, a famous Jewish rabbi in Jerusalem. He tutored Saul who later became the apostle Paul. He was highly respected among the Jews. The apostles, especially Peter and John, were preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. They were arrested and threatened and then released. They immediately preached again. They were arrested again. During the night, an angel appeared and released them. The next day, they were again preaching Jesus. Again, for the third time, they were arrested. The crowd of Jewish authorities grew impatient and hostile by Peter’s continual accusations that they were responsible for the death of Jesus. That was a real twist. Before the crucifixion, these Jewish leaders told Pilate that he would be innocent in all this and let the blood of Jesus, be upon them. Now that it was done, they didn’t want fingers pointing to them. The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Peter and John.

That seemed to be the solution that they turned to so often when someone disagreed with them, kill them. They did that to Jesus. They wanted to do that here with Peter. They would do that later with Stephen. Silence the messenger instead of answering his arguments.

Gamaliel was present for these hearings against the apostles. He offered a calm voice to a riotous crowd. He reminded the audience of two other uprisings in recent times. One by Theudas and another by Judas of Galilee. They both had a following. Both men died and what they started died out and went away. Gamaliel sees a parallel between the examples of these two radicals and Jesus Christ. Jesus, like the two radicals, had a following. Like the radicals, Jesus died. Gamaliel’s thought was that this Jesus movement will die away as well. His advice, “stay away from these men” was based upon the idea that if the movement was from men it will be overthrown, however, if it is from God, nothing will stop it.

The audience listened to Gamaliel. Little did they realize that Peter and John were part of God’s eternal plan and indeed, it would not be stopped. God had established His kingdom and it would grow and fill the entire earth, just as He planned and purposed.

There is a part of Gamaliel’s advice that isn’t right. He thought that if something is not from God, then it would be overthrown and not survive. That’s not true and that advice has led some to think that God is behind things that He’s not.

  • Error has been around for a long, long time. It hasn’t died out. There are some religious teachings that are as old as Christianity and they are not part of the Gospel of Christ. They are not correct Biblically. Leaving them alone is not the answer. Paul told the Ephesians not to participate in the deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Error is not to be left alone. It will not go away. It needs to be rebuked and shown to be false. God has allowed “strange delusions” to exist for those who do not love the truth. Gamaliel’s advice doesn’t work with error.
  • Sin has been around for a long time. Again, leaving it alone will not cause it to go away. Usually, just the opposite happens, it tends to grow and spread and affect others. Paul told the Corinthian church that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Sin influences others to join in and welcomes all to walk in darkness. Sin hurts God, wounds our relationship with Him, and destroys the good that we are trying to do. Ignoring or tolerating wrong is never the right answer.
  • Ignorance is another thing that just doesn’t go away. Spiritual or Biblical ignorance cripples the possibility that a church has and limits what it can do. The spiritually ignorant can’t teach a class, they don’t understand. The spiritually ignorant continually bring up ideas that are inaccurate and concepts that are not Biblically sound. Often, the Biblically ignorant can be very loud and vocal and their opinions thought to be as true as Scripture. Leaving such people in the darkness of ignorance is not the answer. Teach them. Show them. Explain to them. Enlighten them. That’s the answer. God’s call is for us to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.”

The advice of Gamaliel isn’t true even though on the surface it seems good. That ought to tell us that the advice of others may not be any better than Gamaliel’s. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone thinks their opinion is the best. Often it’s not. Dumb advice is common. People will advise you about what you need to do with your money. They advise you about diets, raising kids, health tips, exercise plans, even buying cars and where to vacation. Everyone’s got an opinion. Some are good. Some stink. Some are right. Some are wrong. Some talk without thinking, advising others on things that they have never done themselves. Some haven’t thought out their advice. The consequences of what they advise can be dangerous and even unBiblical, but nevertheless, they are quick to tell others what to do.

This tells us that we need to measure what others say with God’s word. Advice from brethren, even preachers, need to considered in light of what God has said. Any one is capable of handing out dumb advice. That’s easy to do. We love to tell others what to do and how they ought to do it. Seems to me that if people put that same amount of effort into their own lives as they do other people, then they would be better off.

So we need to measure what advice that is given to us and we need to be careful in giving advice. Parents of grown children have a hard time with this. It’s hard to see your child as grown and often we parents get a bit too involved in things that aren’t our business anymore. Our advice can be as welcome and comforting as a cold winter morning. Who wants that? It puts a strain upon our the mates of our children because it is received as butting in and running their lives. Unless things are dangerous or Biblically wrong, parents have to take a deep breath and realize that their grown kids may do things differently than mom and dad. Be careful with the advice, especially if it is not asked for nor wanted. The good that you advise may cause more harm as it is perceived that you are sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.

Notice today how much advice floats around. You’ll hear it at work, school, stores and at home. Some of it is good and helpful and can make a difference in your life. Some of it is dumb and the person giving it doesn’t know what they are talking about. Be thoughtful. Be kind. Speak as God would want you to.

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 564

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 564

Luke 23:12 “Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.”

What a strange set of circumstances that bring these two long time enemies together. Herod, came from a long line of murderous rulers, beginning with Herod the Great, who killed all the baby boys in that region when Jesus was born. He was jealous that another king was born. Now one of his descendents is reigning as king of Judea. This was a position that the Romans allowed to appease the Jews, since Herod was a nominal Jew. Pilate was Roman through and through. He was the appointed governor, and the official Roman voice and authority in that area. There are many reasons why Pilate and Herod would have hated each other and have nothing to do with one another. Politically, they both were in position to cause each other headaches and upset Rome. Pilate would have liked nothing better than to climb the Roman chain of command to the senate in Rome.

Jesus had been arrested. The Jews were causing Pilate problems. Riots were nearly breaking out because Pilate refused to act. Word of civil unrest would have been the death blow to Pilate’s future career. Pilate found Jesus innocent. He didn’t know what to do. Learning that Jesus was from Galilee, and that Herod happened to be in town, opened the door for Pilate to shift responsibility, blame and anything else to Herod. Jesus is taken to Herod, who had heard about Jesus and was hoping to see a miracle, like a side show carnival. Herod found Jesus to be harmless and innocent, so he sent Him back to Pilate. The blame, problem and responsibility shifts back to Pilate once again. The rest of the story we know. Pilate again questions Jesus and finds Him innocent. He offers the crowd a choice—a no brainer. Jesus, who did nothing wrong, and Barabbas, a legendary murderous thug who tried to rebel against Rome and brought the troops into town and made life unpleasant for everyone. Jesus or the real criminal? The crowd responded, “Crucify, Crucify” when Pilate mentioned Jesus.

Through all of this, two long time enemies, Herod and Pilate became friends. These were not  the only enemies that came together at Jesus’ death. The Pharisees and the Sadducees worked together to bring about Jesus’ death. The Jews and the Romans worked together to try Jesus. Odd, how differences came be thrown out the window for a common cause. Hatred and love, though opposites, tend to do that.

Hatred will cause enemies, like Herod and Pilate, to unite. They united around a common nuisance—Jesus. Herod and Pilate becoming friends. Misery loves company, the saying goes, and these two corrupt, selfish politicians forged a friendship because of Jesus. Wicked Herod. Ambitious Pilate. Different backgrounds, different goals, yet friends because they both had no place for Jesus.

Love will do the same. People that are at odds, will unite when love prevails. When the prodigal left home, he was glad to leave. His father was hurt and he was glad to be moving away from that situation. Love brought them back together. The love for what is right will cause people to apologize to each other. The love for the Lord will cause people to reach out to others and connect with others, even those who are different than they are

Even in His death, Jesus had a way of bringing people together. He still does. That is the beauty of a church family. We can be very different in personalities, and likes and needs, but through Jesus we can connect, unite and work as one. Individuality is put aside as we look to one another, as Jesus does. Selfishness is destroyed and compassion for others prevails. Through forgiveness, we who were once separated from God, are now united with Him. That same forgiveness allows those who have been hurt to connect, restore and enjoy a powerful and wonderful relationship.

Jesus unites. Jesus brings enemies together. Jesus is the means to relationships that would not be possible. The majority of the people I consider friends, have come about because of Jesus. Had it not been for Jesus, we would have never met.

What a friend we have in Jesus…Indeed!

Roger