22

Jump Start # 820

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 820

Acts 26:28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

Our passage is taken from Paul’s address before King Agrippa. Paul had been arrested and he was allowed to speak on his own behalf. He used the opportunity to tell the King about the real King, Jesus Christ. This was not a quite discussion over the kitchen table. Rather, it was a grand affair. Agrippa’s wife was there. Military commanders were there. Prominent citizens were there. The governor Festus was there. This took place in an auditorium. One gets the impression that the place was packed. They were curious. They wanted to know what all the clamor was about Paul.

Paul told of His vision of Christ and how he preached Christ crucified. Festus had enough. He said with a loud voice, you are mad! Agrippa seemed to make the connections between the prophets and Christ. He declared, as our verse states, in a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian. With that, he left the auditorium.

The King James Version uses the expression, “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Almost. Almost is close. There are many almosts in a person’s life. Almost made varsity, means you didn’t. Almost got invited to the White House, means you didn’t. Almost bought Apple stock when it was very cheap means, you didn’t. Almost met a movie star…almost got published…almost had a record contract…almost hit a home run in high school…almost got my master’s degree…almost got a patent for an idea…almost got a hole in one in golf…almost got a full ride in college…almost inherited a million dollars…almost got a free trip…almost. Almost isn’t there. Almost isn’t success. Almost is the theme song for second place. Almost won. Almost, but I didn’t.

Agrippa’s almost is the worst of all. Almost became a Christian. Almost believed enough to do something. Almost made a commitment. Almost surrendered my life to the Savior. Almost got forgiveness. Almost received Heaven’s grace. Almost became a follower of Jesus. Almost had Heaven. There will be no “almost” in Heaven. The almost song will be sung from Hell. What a sad story that is. To know enough to almost be a Christian. To love God enough to almost do it. Almost.

Our passage reminds us that a Christian is something that one becomes. It is something you are. I can vote a political persuasion but that does not mean that I have become that. Often, it’s a choice between two candidates that I don’t like. Neither floats my boat. So I choose one. This is not Christianity. It’s not a choice of voting between Jesus and Satan. It is a matter of becoming one who belongs to Christ. The “becoming” involves believing and accepting and liking and wanting and changing. You become a Christian. You choose to belong to Christ. A person looks at the evidence. It is overwhelming. There is no doubt that Jesus is the Messiah and our Savior. You look at how much He loves you and wants you in Heaven. You see what it takes. It’s more than going to church on Sunday, it’s becoming like Him. You become one of His. It affects your attitude, behavior, outlook and choices. But you are glad. You want that. What you had before wasn’t so hot. What you had before got you in trouble. You like what Christ is and you want to be that. You become a Christian.

Those that wanted that, were baptized, immersed into Christ. That’s what we find in Acts. After the resurrection of Jesus, everyone forgiven, was first baptized. There is no exception to that. You want to become means you decide to be baptized.

Christians worship and act like they belong to Jesus. They are not perfect, but they try. They learn, they grow, they become.

Agrippa was close. He was a lot closer than Festus was. He saw. He knew. It was working on his mind and heart. But he shut all of this down when it came to the point that he would have to make a decision. Maybe another day. Maybe when it’s not so busy. Maybe when school’s out. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe after my vacation. Maybe in the summer. Maybe when the weather is better. Maybe after tax season. Maybe after March Madness. Maybe…Maybe and almost are twins. They know each other so well. The almost people are just like the maybe people.

We don’t know what was holding Agrippa back. His important position? Festus? Image? Unwilling to give up some lifestyle choices he was involved in? Fear of Caesar? Not convinced that all his sins could be forgiven? Not sure he could do it? Not certain he wanted to leave the world he was in? We can guess and guess about ole’ Agrippa.

What about us? What about you?  Almost…maybe…real close…have you given it a serious look? Have you asked questions? Have you looked hard at the Bible? Have thought about it? Are you going to stay with Agrippa in the land of almost? Will almost become your song?

Sure, being a Christian can be tough. Certainly, you have to put effort into it. But it’s the greatest thing there is. It affects everything you do, see and touch. It’s the greatest choice you will make and it will change your destiny. Can I help? Got a question? Want to talk? Email me at Rogshouse@aol.com.

Let’s move past almost. Those that have been where you are and have chosen Jesus are so glad they did.  Aren’t you glad you are a Christian! I am.

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 819

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 819

Acts 11:26 “And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

The disciples were called Christians. The word “Christian” is the most common expression to define the people who follow Jesus. You’d think the word is found everywhere in the N.T. It isn’t. The word is used twice in Acts and once in 1 Peter. That’s it. Three times. All three times, it is used to describe the people of God. Today, people talk about a Christian school, a Christian bookstore, a Christian nation.

Our passage does not tell us who came up with the word “Christian.” Some believe it was the opponents who used the expression as a slang or derogatory expression. What was intended as an insult became the rally cry for the followers of Christ. Others, believe it came from the Holy Spirit. They believe God was behind this and He intended the followers to be called this. A passage in Isaiah, about a new name, has given some credibility to that. Our passage in Acts doesn’t tell us.

The word “Christian” means, “belongs to Christ.” That term expresses an accurate concept. We DO belong to Christ. His blood paid the cost to release us. We have been bought by Christ. We belong to Him. We are His!

But more than a title, this word is about impressions. The disciples in Antioch were called Christians because they left that impression. They followed Jesus. They were devoted to Jesus. They worshipped God. They followed the teachings of Jesus. They were busy in kingdom work and they shared the story of Jesus with others. They were Jesus’ people. They were “Christians.”

We all leave impressions upon others. Our impressions is how others see us. It may not be the way we see ourselves and it may not be totally accurate, but it’s how others see us. I go to a certain dry cleaner. I’m there a lot, every week. The same manager always waits on me. The other day I popped in to drop off some shirts. A customer in front of me was getting his pants altered. After he left, I told the manager that I didn’t know they offered those services. She pointed to a sign which listed all the services they offer. She then commented, “You are always in a hurry and probably didn’t read the sign.” YOU ARE ALWAYS IN A HURRY. That’s how she saw me. There is a truth to that, especially when it comes to the dry cleaners. There’s not a lot of hanging around the ole’ dry cleaners for this guy.

Impressions is how people see us. You are always in a hurry stuck with me. Now, when I go to the dry cleaners, I try to hang around a bit more and do some chit-chatting.

How do your kids see you? What they see, may not be how it is, but it is to them. Impressions. How do the folks at the church house see you? Are you the one who is always in a hurry? Are you the one who has the smile? Are you the one who has candy for the kids? Are you the one who hangs around and talks with others? Are you seen as grumpy? Are you the one who seems to be against everything or everyone? Are you viewed as a positive person? Are you viewed as a negative person? Impressions.

How does your mate see you? You may believe that you are kind, sensitive and caring. Their impression may be that you are moody or always busy doing things or more interested in the TV than your mate. Impressions are how people read us. The read could be wrong, but it’s how they see us.

 

How does God see us? We’d like to think that He sees us as a loving child who trusts Him and will do anything for Him. That’s how we want God to see us. Instead, His impression may be that we are preoccupied with stuff or are bothered by so many things or are consumed with worry or are always in a hurry.

There is a wonderful passage in the O.T. about a poor man who pretends that he is rich and a rich man who comes across like he is poor. We understand that. Certain labels can draw attention. Certain brands costs more than others. We can be flashy to draw attention and leave the impression that we are somebody when we are really not. Trying to impress others is usually vain and superficial.

How do we get impression and reality to be the same? First, it comes from being genuine and true all the time. Stop putting on a show. Stop pretending. Stop being one way at home and a different way at work or worship. Be yourself. Be humble. Be honest. Don’t worry about others, don’t compare yourself with others or try to be someone else. You are someone who needs Jesus. You are a work in progress. You have good days and bad days. You want to go to Heaven. Your talk reveals that. Your attitude shows that. Your choices prove that. Reality and impression become the same when we act the same. Some seem spiritual on Sundays but they don’t leave that impression on a Thursday. Why? Should that impression be any different at work, play or worship?

The disciples were called Christians, because that’s what they were. They belonged to Jesus.

 

How do people see you? Is it the way you really are or do you need to leave a better impression?

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 818

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 818

James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

Our verse today looks at the pride of a person who believes that he is in control of his life and knows exactly what will happen down the road. He plans for the future not knowing that he may not have a future. The passage isn’t a strike about making plans. It is a warning about the arrogance that comes from a life that has forgotten God. The Lord is still upon the throne. The Lord determines life. The following verses show how one must be mindful that life is precious, fragile, and short. No one is promised a long life. The person who includes God is aware of these things and has an eye to the eternal. He realizes that life is a gift and each day is a blessing. He makes his plans with that in mind.

The spiritual person recognizes the folly of making plans and counting on those plans but forgetting to count upon the Lord. Yet there is another folly that is just as serious. It is a person who makes no plans for the future, and specifically, no spiritual plans. This person just hasn’t given much thought to where they want to be spiritually in a year or five years. They love the Lord and want to serve Him, but haven’t thought about their personal development.

In a year or more, will they be in the leadership position of a congregation? In a year or more, will they be teaching Bible classes? In a year or more, will they be preaching? Are congregations thinking out a year or more? Are they making plans that are forward looking?

It seems that the failure to make spiritual plans leaves us just living day to day. We get through today and then there may be a tomorrow. Just one day and then another day. Little thought that the choices today, the habits today, the plans today will lead to developing the goals of the future. Could it be that one reason that so many churches lack great leaders is that little thought was given to that?

All of this leads to the thought, where do I want to be spiritually in a year or five years from now? Am I content where I am now? Do I want to do more, know more, and be better? How will I get there? What steps do I have to take to get there?

 

We understand this type of thinking when it comes to saving for retirement. A young person, with their first job, sees a little out of every pay check going into a retirement fund. A first it looks like nothing, just a drop in a bucket. But he stays with it. Years pass, the bottom of the bucket is covered. Soon the bucket fills. One day, the bucket is overflowing. It took a plan to accomplish that. He achieved his goals.

We understand this with losing weight. We drink water instead of the soda. We walk more. We have a goal and a plan. At first, nothing much happens. We stay with it. Before long a few pounds are shed. We feel better. One day our goal is reached. It was hard, but it was worth it.

 

Now, shouldn’t the same thing be happening to us spiritually? A goal, a plan, a path, a specific target. Not just Heaven, but a spiritual target here? A spiritual goal here.

Give that some thought. Chew on it a while. Where do you want to be spiritually in five years? How are you going to get there.

Making plans without God is not good. Making no plans is not good either. Jot some ideas on a piece of paper. Pray about them. Stick that paper in your Bible so you can see it. Work at it. Be patient. One day, if the Lord allows, you will see your goal realized. Won’t that be wonderful!

Roger

 

 

 

 

 

19

Jump Start # 817

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 817

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Our passage today is a very familiar one to many of us. Like a movie that we have seen over and over, a familiar passage can lose it’s freshness with us because we know it so well. The insight and reflection and depth that can be found in rich passages, such as this one, tend to be nothing new. However, let’s take a look at this passage. There is much there.

 

All Scripture is inspired by God. Not some Scripture. Not most Scripture. Not the big stuff. Not just the doctrine. All Scripture. The expression, “inspired by God” means God breathed. There are words that are “breathed” out. Try this: put your hand right in front of your mouth and say aloud the word “peace”. Feel your breath. Many words are “breathed.” God breathed the Bible. The words came from God. The choice of words. The order of the words. These all came from God. It helps once in a while to look at words in the language they were spoken in. The New Testament was in Greek. It traveled through the Latin language, then the German language before it became English. There are a lot of jumps there. Some times words lose their power in all of those jumps. The word “love” is one example. The Greeks had multiple words for love. We have one. The Bible is God’s book, not ours. The Bible is the heart of God revealed. Don’t fall for Satan’s little tricks that there are missing books, like the Gospel of Thomas, or things were added later on. There is so much proof and evidence for what we have that those thoughts don’t stand a chance.

This God breathed book is profitable. Profit is good. Profit means growth, advancement. The Bible will do just that.

 

  • It is profitable for teaching. Some translations say, “doctrine.” Simply, the Bible tells us what is right. God defines the boundaries of right and wrong. We need to know. Can you imagine playing a game, any game, and you don’t know the rules. Life has rules. God defines them. This is important. The church doesn’t decide, God does! When someone asks, “what does your church teach about…” they are asking the wrong question. It doesn’t matter what the church believes. God defines. A Methodist church in Carolina has declared that they will not hold any weddings until the states allow same-sex marriages. They are petitioning all churches to go along with them. No one gets married until we allow the homosexuals marriage. Who do these people think they are? We do not make the rules. God does. It seems that they are a social and political front that believes the whims of society changes the rules. Study the history of Methodist doctrine. They didn’t think homosexuality was acceptable fifty years ago. Who changed? God? Their doctrine. God sets the rules, not the church. The only by-laws or creed a church has is the word of God. Anything else, ought to be tossed out with the trash!

 

  • It is profitable for reproof. This defines what is not right. God warns. He tells us what is wrong. The Bible is necessary for that. We need to know. The world is dangerous and Satan is alive and well and after us. Warnings protect. Warnings keep us safe.
  • It is profitable for correction. That simply is how to get right. When we are wrong, how do we get right? God’s word tells us. Faith in Christ, who is our Savior is the answer. All have sinned, the Romans were told. All, therefore, need to know how they can be right.
  • It is profitable for training in righteousness. That is how to stay right. How do we keep on the path? How do we keep ourselves between the ditches? The Bible is the answer. It shows. It teaches. It provides examples. It is message that we need.

The Bible provides us with the tools that are necessary to go about life. Worry a problem? The Bible has an answer for that. Lust knocking on your door? The Bible has great examples of what to do. Fear? Sorrow? Questions about what happens after death? Go to the Bible. The answers are there. Now the Bible won’t answer every question I have. It is not intended to. Which TV show should I watch? The Bible won’t answer that. Which stock should I invest in? The Bible won’t answer that. The Bible deals with character, faith, and God. It is intended to connect me to my Savior and then to my God. It is intended to build faith and trust in God. It is made to mold me into the image of God’s Son. It is written to show me how to find God’s grace and go to Heaven.

Used properly, the Bible will get you to Heaven. Misuse it and you will get into all kinds of messes. A person cannot be wrong with the book and right with God. You cannot separate the message from God. A person misunderstands when he says, “I know God, but I don’t know much about the Bible.” The book tells us about the author. Without the book, we are left to speculations, guess and ideas that are without foundation. To know God is to know the Bible. To obey God is to obey the Bible.

The Bible– a message from God. The greatest book of all time. The greatest help of all time. Get to know the Bible. TV shows about the Bible may be fun to watch, but they do not replace the actual story. Open the book and find out for yourself!

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 816

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 816

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we used to give this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”

Our passage today is not one that usually makes the devotional books. It is not one that is found printed in calendars or one that makes greeting cards. This passage is not talked about much.

There was a problem and a misunderstanding among some Christians at Thessalonica. Some had quit working. The following verse states that they were going around as “busybodies.” They may have misunderstood the coming of the Lord and thought that there was no need to work. Paul used himself as an example of one who worked so that he would not be a burden to the brethren. These brethren were anticipating the church helping them. Paul’s words shut that down. If you don’t work, you don’t eat.

There are some lessons for us:

First, there is a reality side to Christianity that few want to acknowledge or admit. The image that so many have today is that the church ought to feed everyone and anyone who calls and has a need. That’s not the pattern. The people Paul were talking about was not the poor, homeless guy living under a bridge. It was members of that congregation. There is a time when the church will not even help it’s own members. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. That’s harsh. That’s cold. That’s the truth. To the modern eye, Christianity is soft, kind and has no edge to it. When reality hit those lazy brethren they would find out that the food was cut off. They would then go back to work. They ought to be working. It wasn’t that there were no jobs. It wasn’t that they had disabilities and could not work. They wouldn’t. Back then, there was no government assistance to help. If you were disabled, you begged. If you didn’t work, you went hungry. Your family took care of you. The church had measures to help it’s members. But there were parameters about that even. This is one of them.

Secondly, this passage reminds us of personal responsibility each of us have. Not just in the area of working to provide food, but responsibility spiritually. The church has a role, but it’s not to take the place of your responsibility. You are responsible for protecting your faith and growing in knowledge. You are responsible for developing a relationship with the Lord. You are  to feed your soul. Sure the church has a role, but not beyond what you are supposed to do. For instance, so you don’t like the preacher. He’s boring to you or he says what you already know. So you zone out during sermons. If this is your sole source of growth, then you become stunted. Your progress stalls because you cannot connect. Instead, you ought to be reading God’s word on your own. You ought to be engaged in your own progress. You ought to be developing, sharing and building your character on your own. If we rely completely upon the church to do that, we will fail. There is a personal responsibility involved. If you don’t work, neither should you eat applies to my spiritual progress.

 

Thirdly, the same thoughts go to my family and their progress. If the only time my kids open the Bible is at the church building, then I am relying upon the church for their entire spiritual progress. There is a responsibility that parents have. At home, the Bible needs to be taught. At home, character needs to be developed. At home, faith should be grown. The principle, if a man won’t work, neither should he eat, applies to raising my family spiritually. The parent, not the church, is the number one role in the child’s spiritual development.

Fourth, our expectations can be off base. Those non-working brethren were expecting and anticipating being taken care of by the church. They thought that was the way things were supposed to be. They had it in their minds that all would be fine. We don’t have to work, because we have a church to care for us. Paul said no. It’s not going to happen that way. If you don’t work, you won’t eat. I’m sure that cause those folks to be upset, mad and disappointed. Some may have quit. They thought for certain that’s why the church existed. Their expectations were not founded upon any Biblical truths. They could not point their finger to a passage and defend their actions. They didn’t have a leg to stand on. Our expectations can be like those non-working brethren. We may have expectations about others that are just not true. A young couple about to get married, enter the relationships anticipating that they will never have a disagreement. They believe that they will always see eye to eye on everything. Those of us who have been married for a while know better. Two different people, though they love each other immensely, will not be eye to eye on everything. One trip to the grocery store together will show that. That is a false expectation.

 

We can expect the Lord to get us out of every trouble we find ourselves in. We pray and then we expect deliverance. When it doesn’t happen, we are crushed. We wonder about our faith. We wonder about the Lord. Maybe we were expecting things without foundation. God allows trials. There are journeys through the valleys of the shadow of death. God leads us through those dark times. His way is often to experience them and go through them, not remove them from us.

 

When our expectations do not work out, it makes us disappointed and even angry. We need to look at our expectations. Maybe they were unfounded, like those in our passage who would not work.

 

God will not do everything for us. We have a role. We have a part to play. We need to focus on our part and let God do His part.

Roger