23

Jump Start # 1274

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1274

Luke 24:5-6 “And as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee”

  Our verse today comes from Luke’s account of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Christ is God’s exclamation point. It is the defeat of Satan. It is the crown jewel of the entire Bible. Many things can be said and studied about Jesus, but to not focus heavily upon the resurrection is to miss the main point. The resurrection gives us a living King. What better way to express it, “He is not here.”

 

All four Gospels give great detail to the events surrounding the resurrection. Following Luke’s lead, several women came to the tomb to pour spices upon the body of Jesus. This was a common thing, often done at burial, but with the haste and the Sabbath, they are now doing it on Sunday morning. It’s early dawn, still somewhat dark. An eerie time to be in a cemetery. There are shadows and noises that would make the hearts of these women on edge. They come to the spot. The stone has been rolled away. Odd. Who did that, they must have thought. They went inside. It must have been very dark in there. The body was gone. Who steals bodies? Where would it have gone? Who took it? Romans? Jews? Then the appearance of two men in dazzling clothes standing near them. Standing NEAR THEM, Luke says. Where did they come from? Who are they? What do they want? Luke tells us that the women were terrified. They bow in respect and probably in fear. These Heavenly visitors speak. Our verse today is what they said.

 

  Here is not here. What a great statement. They knew that. They had just been inside the tomb. Nothing. These two were confirming what they knew. These two knew something that they did not. We sing, “Up from the grave He arose,” and so He did.

 

  He is risen, remember?  The women are given explanations now about Jesus. No one took Him. He came to life. He was risen from the dead. Then that simple word, “Remember.” These two Heavenly guests then quote what Jesus said. Now it made sense. Now they knew. They remembered. Fear gone. Hope springs forth. From trembling to excitement. They make it back to the city, I expect nearly running, and tell the disciples.

 

What happened here is a powerful example of what we need to do to encourage others. People become frightened. They fear what the medical tests will reveal. They fear their job won’t last much longer. They fear their marriage is slipping away. Fear is a terrible place to be. In the middle of the night we are awakened by a noise. There isn’t supposed to be any noises. You grab a flashlight and take a look through the house. Fear.

 

Peter experienced fear many times. When in the boat with Jesus and the others, a storm caught them. So severe was the storm that they thought they were going to die. Jesus calmed the storm. The text says they became frightened. Frightened by a storm and frightened by the One who could calm the storm. On another trip on those waters, Peter asked the Lord if he could walk on the water. He started. He saw the winds and waves and became frightened. He started to sink. Jesus saved him. Then there was the trial of Jesus. Peter was outside in the courtyard with the enemy. Someone recognized him. Scared, he denied it. Frightened, he denied the Lord. Peter understood fear.

 

Notice the three things that these Heavenly guests did:

 

First, they stated a principle. He is not here, but He has risen. It showed that they understood the situation. It showed that they knew things that the women did.

 

Second, they asked the women to remember. This was not new teaching. This was something that they had heard. They now understood and remembered.

 

Third, they quoted Jesus. The proof. Remember what Jesus said? Everything is according to plan. This is exactly the way Jesus said it would be.

 

These same three simple things work today. Frightened by death—here’s the principle. Then a reminder. Then the proof, a Bible passage. Frightened by the unknown…same thing, principle, reminder and Biblical proof.

 

Those things drive away fear. They calm an unsteady heart. They restore hope. They keep us going. Principle, reminder, Biblical proof. This worked with the women, because they had something to remember. They knew the words of the Lord. For someone who doesn’t have this, these things will just add confusion. For the believer, there is hope. Our foundation is built upon the rock and that unmovable rock is Jesus.

 

We live in troublesome times. Fear fills the hearts of many. Opinions abound. What we need are absolutes. What is it that we can be sure of, count on, and know for certain? Principle, reminder, Biblical proof. In the midst of storms we forget. When scared we forget. In crisis, trials, and heartache, we forget. We need someone like these Heavenly visitors to settle us down. That’s the role we all play in God’s family. When some are shaken, others need to assure them. How? Principle, reminder and Biblical proof. When it’s our turn to be shaken, we need to invite others into our lives who will help us by sharing the principle, reminding us, and giving us Biblical proof.

 

It is interesting that God was concerned about these women. He made sure that their fear was conquered through faith. He didn’t leave them on their own to figure things out. He didn’t leave them alone in that dark cemetery. God sent someone to them. He does the same for us. It may come through a Sunday sermon—principle, reminder and Biblical proof. It may come through a Bible class we happen to be sitting in. It may come through the words of a friend. It may be the leadership of the shepherds. God doesn’t leave us in our fear. He’s there. He helps.

 

Principle, reminder, Biblical proof. Pretty simple, isn’t it? Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Something that you can do.

 

Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 1273

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1273

Proverbs 21:16 “A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.”

  I just love Proverbs. So plain. So practical. No soft punches. It just tells it as it is.

Our verse today is one of many that deals with wisdom, understanding, insight. This wisdom isn’t intellectualism, but rather, knowledge of the Lord. Wisdom in Proverbs is the same as knowing the way of the Lord.  Here is a man who found such insight. He had wisdom and understanding. He was on the right path. Things were going in the right direction for him. But now, he wanders from that. He doesn’t stay the course. He doesn’t see the conclusion or the finish line. He’s back to where he started. Maybe careless. Maybe pulled by temptation or friends. Maybe no longer diligent. Whatever the cause, he’s away from understanding.

 

Sheep are prone to wander. They don’t pay attention.  The lure of green grass leads them to the edge of dangerous cliffs. In the Lord’s parable in Luke 15, one sheep out of one hundred had wandered off. The shepherd, left the 99 and went and found the lost sheep. Without the actions of the shepherd, the rest of our Proverb would have been true for that sheep. The verse in Proverbs ends, “will rest in the assembly of the dead.”

 

The assembly of the dead is not a welcome nor wholesome thought. Straying from wisdom cost this man’s life. He died needlessly because he would not stay with the wisdom and understanding from God. How true this is. It happens most times spiritually. A person becomes discouraged. They tire of things. So instead of lighting the fire again in their hearts, they walk away. They point fingers. They blame others. Often, they were just looking for the exit door all along. Their interest waned. Sleeping in, sports, camping, hunting, fishing, golf become more exciting and more interesting than worshipping the Lord. There is enough guilt still in them that they simply can’t walk away without saving face. So, they blame. They state that they never really believed all along. They look and find hypocrites and that to them, justifies them becoming apostates.

 

Once they have found the exit door, a new freedom takes over. It doesn’t take long and they enjoy doing what they want. They don’t miss brethren, preaching, or praising the Lord. Sunday becomes FUN-day. Things are great. What they don’t see and what they don’t realize is the gradual slipping away from all things good and right. They start saying and doing things that they would never do before. At first, they still feel the sting of guilt, but the fun in doing these things drives away all the guilt. They say words that they would have never said before. Their habits, character and lifestyle slowly drift to being more edgy, more brazen, more ungodly. Attitudes shift. And in just a very short time, you’d never know that they were once walking with the Lord. They keep a Bible but it’s stuffed at the bottom of a nightstand and covered with papers and cords and junk.

 

This departure for some becomes very severe. The marriage falls apart. A sudden and noticeable ungodliness takes over. But for most, that doesn’t happen. The marriage continues. The slipping away from understanding doesn’t take these folks to drunkenness or addictions. It’s more subtle. They live comfortably without God. They journey on, very pleasant without God. They are not opposed to others walking with God, it’s just not for them.

 

Then the bottom drops out. Death comes. Natural death. Real death. We’re talking about funeral homes, cemeteries, funeral directors in dark suits, picking out caskets, finding a place for burial and the memorial service. Now it comes all back. Who will speak at the memorial service? Not golfing buddies. Not the guys in the fishing boats. They can’t stand before a crowd and say anything. The big dilemma unfolds. A call is made to the church house. An unknown preacher is asked to speak words about someone he doesn’t know. Why me, the preacher thinks. Because a long time ago, this guy once attended there. A long time ago, he was once interested. Since then, he’s wandered from it. Now, his dear family has no connection to God. They reach back to the last place that meant something.

 

The family is convinced that the departed is in Heaven, because he was such a nice person. He was fun. He was kind. No one dares mention that he walked away from understanding. No one has the nerve to say that he threw in the towel with God and that he gave up. Those things are overlooked.

 

For many, many families today, what I have written is their story. I know because I have been the person to get that phone call from the funeral home. I’ve been asked to speak to strangers about a loved one that I never met. Now in the worst moments, this family is forced to think about God, life after death and all those things. No time to think about it when alive. No need to talk about it. Those thoughts, those words were never discussed. The Bible was never opened to seek answers. But now, out of the woodwork comes all these family members. None of them know God. None of them are interested in following the Lord. As soon as the funeral is over and a family meal is eaten, they will return to their ways, unchanged and unmoved about what has happened.

 

In a few years, the same story is repeated when this man’s wife passes. His kids, worse off than he was, will have no connection what so ever to God. When it’s their time to bury a loved one, they will rely upon the funeral director to find someone, anyone to do the job. How sad. No place for God while alive, but in death, find a preacher, and find a Bible and get the person into Heaven.

 

This is the cold truth about our passage today. When one wanders from understanding they will rest in the assembly of the dead. The dead, physically. The dead, spiritually. The dead, without hope.

 

So the prevailing thought is to stay with understanding. Do not walk away from it. Do not wander from it. Not only are you doing yourself good, you are also helping your family. If you are discouraged, find solutions. Wandering away is not the answer. If you are bothered by things, work them out. Don’t blame God for wrong choices you have made. Don’t get angry with a good God who wants to be with you. Wisdom, understanding, Bible will build your faith. It will give you the confidence to face the giants in your life. It will allow you to face your cross and your Calvary.

 

Stay with it. Stay with God.

 

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 1272

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1272

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

  This verse has been on my mind lately. I’ve been reading a book entitled, “Autopsy of a deceased church.” One of the common denominators among dead churches is that preachers move in and move out rapidly. They don’t come and stay. The author, Thom Rainer, noticed a cycle among preachers:

  • Year 1: Honeymoon
  • Years 2-3: Conflicts and challenges
  • Years 4-5: Crossroads, part 1. This is when many preachers leave.
  • Years 6-10: Fruit and Harvest
  • Years 11 and beyond: Crossroads, part 2.

 

I’m not sure what I make of his cycle. It seems too simplistic and it certainly isn’t true in many cases. It’s doesn’t fit my preaching career. The first congregation I was with for about two years. Then to Greenwood, Indiana for 15 years. Then to Kansas City for 10 years. Now, back to Indiana and starting my 8th year. What kills this cycle is that family situations and relationships with people and leadership within the church is different in every place. No two places are the same. No two places have exactly the same blessings nor troubles. Some congregations are old and they feel old. Some are very active and busy. Some need guidance. Some just need the barn door opened and you to get out of the way. Not only are congregations different, but so are preachers. We can be a strange breed. We have egos. We have ideas and plans. We get tired. We get our feelings hurt. And as we age, we change, hopefully for the better.

 

There are several congregations that are looking for preachers right now. That’s a common thing. Preachers move. Preachers die. Our passage helps us to see a few things that ought to be helpful in understanding what the preacher is supposed to do. We need reminders of these things.

 

Paul gives us four wonderful concepts:

 

  • Be sober in all things. This is defining and describing the character of the preacher. Sober carries the idea of seriousness. All Christians are to be sober. This has nothing to do with alcohol, but everything to do with clearness of thought and vision. The work we do is serious. The preacher is not the local comedian. He is presenting the Holy God upon the Throne of Heaven, not the stage of a local theatre. Our words are serious. We deal with life and death situations. Sin, souls, Heaven, Hell are not to be taken lightly. I want a preacher who will not throw punches, but with kindness, tell me the truth. I need to know. Sober doesn’t mean sour, ugly, mean, or grumpy. We deal with the Gospel. That very word means, “Good news.” Some almost apologize for telling us good news. I like a preacher that smiles. I like a preacher that is kind. I like a preacher that works up a sweat when he’s preaching. Lincoln said he liked preachers that looked like they were fighting bees. That’s my kind of preacher as well. Sober. Sober in all things.

 

  • Endure Hardships. Preaching isn’t a cake walk nor is it for the faint of heart. Hardships come from many places. Some are internal that no one ever notices. It comes from the prayers and tears that are poured out as he tries his best to find the right words to lead people to Christ. Some hardships come from brethren. They ought to be the preacher’s greatest cheerleader, but often they are not. Critics catch every misused word. They find every typo in print. They ride the preacher, expecting perfection, even though they are not close to that standard themselves. Hardships can come financially. Our times are the best for preachers and what they are paid. I’m treated like a king where I’m at and that bothers me often. But for many good preachers, they struggle financially. The brethren don’t see the need to pay the man very much. He never complains. He works hard for the Lord. Brethren live in fine homes, vacation to exotic places and drive the newest automobiles, while the preacher struggles. His kids need braces but he knows that he cannot afford that. His kids must go to community colleges because that is all they can afford. It hurts, but he continues on. Then there are those external hardships. People who consider his views to be too narrow. He doesn’t fit in with many because he is “the preacher.”

 

In an interesting contrast in this context, Paul reveals that the congregation will not endure sound doctrine, but the preacher is to endure hardships. He is doing what the congregation won’t do. His heart and hide bear the marks of hardships. To a young Timothy, these words might involve prison, beatings and eventually death. They did for the beloved Paul. Endure. Hang in there. Quit complaining. You are doing what you signed up for. Do not throw in the towel. Endure.

 

  • Do the work of an evangelist. Evangelize. Preach. Teach. Use every medium you can. Reach every person you can. Not all your teaching is done to the congregation. Not all takes place in the church building. Not all your work is done on Sundays. Do this work. Often, a congregation fails to understand what this work is. They think the preacher is the one to give rides to the airport, because “everyone else is working.” What do they think the preacher is doing? NOT WORKING. He is called to help someone move. He is there to help paint. He is viewed as the church handyman. He is the one to put shingles on the church building. He is the one to cut the yard around the church building. He is the one to pick up trash, lock the doors and do everything but count the money. Again, more and more places are getting away from this kind of thinking. It still prevails among some. What the congregation sees on Sunday morning is the easiest part of preaching to me. It’s all the phone calls, studies, visits, emails, research, writing that takes place behind the scene that most never know anything about. Most wouldn’t know how class books are made. They are just “done.” Do the work preacher. Work hard. Work long. Wear yourself out in service for the King. A lazy preacher is a bad preacher. A sloppy preacher isn’t much better. Pay attention to details. Put thought into what you are doing. Have a schedule. Teaching and preaching takes preparation. It takes time to study, think, write, research. It is a balance between spending time with the books and spending time with people. Both are needed. Both are important.  A 9-5 guy probably won’t do well. Get busy preacher. Do the work.

 

  • Fulfill your ministry. Finish what you have started. We understand the expression “the fulfillment of prophecy.” That simply means the prophecy came to be. What was said, became reality. Peter said, “This is that” concerning the prophecy of Joel. Fulfilling your ministry means bringing it about. Don’t be just talk. Show folks. Be an example. People shouldn’t be complaining about the character, work habits, or attendance of the preacher. Fulfill. Finish. Show folks. Be the example. Be the leader. Be the first one.

 

Thank you for letting me share these thoughts. Have you told your preacher that you appreciate what he does? You ought to let him know that. Does he feel alone in what he is doing? Does he know that he has your support, confidence and prayers?

 

The role of preaching is important. It is important to God. It ought to be important to us.

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 1271

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1271

2 Kings 7:3-4 “Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, ‘Why do we sit here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans.”

  Our passage today comes from the days of Elisha, the prophet. It was a terrible time for Israel. The nation was facing two incredible enemies, one inside the city and the other outside the city. Inside, there was a famine. So severe was this famine, that simple items were not affordable. Some resorted to cannibalism. The chapter before tells of two women who made a pack to eat each other’s child. Outside the city sat the other enemy, the Syrians. They had surrounded the city and just waited. Instead of attacking, they waited. They let the famine do it’s work. Death, was certain, either by starvation or the sword.

Outside the city, where our verse takes us, sat four lepers. They could not be in the city because of their illness. Unlike the people within the city, these four men had yet another enemy, a deadly disease. Famine. Syrians. Leprosy. They sat. They ran out of hope. No one was going to bring lepers food, when there was no food for the healthy. Desperation and fear drove out any hope they had for survival.

 

These lepers came up with a plan. There was nothing in the city. They knew of the famine. They would starve like everyone else. The only place where there was any food was in the Syrian camp. Go to the Syrians. If they were killed, it’s not much better than sitting around and awaiting for death to come.

 

As they approach the camp of the Syrians, they find it empty. In the night, God caused a mighty sound like approaching horses. The Syrian leaders thought the Egyptians had come to save Israel. The Syrians fled, leaving everything. Our four lepers come to find food, clothes and supplies. They rush back to the city to tell the good news.

 

I love this story. It’s awesome. There are two prevailing thoughts that drive our verse today.

 

First, these four lepers understood the situation that they were in. Things were bad. They were very bad. Death was most certain, either by disease, Syrians or famine. They understood this. Knowing this leads to the next step.

 

But how many never see things as they really are. They live in a fantasy world. They have allowed pride to color their vision and have accepted denial rather than reality. The marriage is sinking, but they don’t see it. The church is falling apart, but they think things couldn’t be better. It was the reality of the situation that led the prodigal to his senses and then to take the next steps to coming home. Without seeing things as they are, he would have crawled right in with the pigs and ate next to them.

 

There is a balance between being optimistic, pessimistic and seeing reality. Some never see anything good. It’s always dooms day. It’s always black. Others, only see sunshine, even in the midst of a storm. Hope lives in optimism. However, reality is what will lead us to taking the proper steps.

 

Do we see things as they really are?

 

The second step that these four lepers took was to plan what to do. They decided to go to the Syrian camp. They did not know that God was working with them and through them. Had they given up, they would have died. Had they gone to the city, they would have died. They became the saviors for the city. Their plan was based upon seeing things as they really are.

 

For us, a couple may seek marriage counseling because things are not going well. Or, they might seek financial help because they are drowning in debt. Or, they might take a teenager to counseling because of his anger issues or addictions. It’s hard to do those things. But not doing them leads to death. The death of a marriage, financial dreams or relationships. A church might have to be honest and have some serious talks among itself. The leadership may have to spend some evenings getting on the same page. They may have to try some innovative ways to pump life back into a dying church.

 

These four lepers saw things as they really were and then they did something. How sad it is when some never see things as they really are or worse, they see it, but they don’t do anything. They give up. They throw in the towel. They wait for death to come. Death of a marriage or death of a church.

 

I was with a man last week who was at this place. He is preaching for a tiny group. The church is on life support. Another decade and the church probably won’t be there. I’ve made all kinds of pamphlets where we are at. He asked me to design some for this dying church. He was going to have the members pass out 1,000 of these in the neighborhoods. He was trying to take the church to Syrian camp. Instead of just sitting around complaining or thinking about how things used to be, this one person, with the spirit of these four lepers, saw things and came with a plan to do something. I hope it works for him. I hope that he will bring life to that church.

 

Now, all of this comes to us. What about us? Do we see things as are they really are? Then, are we doing anything about it? Too many in leadership roles are doing anything but leading. There was a king in the city, but he wasn’t doing anything. He couldn’t even stop the cannibalism. Sometimes the same happens today. Members turn on each other. The gossip, mean spirited comments, mistrust eat at each other. Instead of leading toward life and hope, some leaders, as the king in this story, did nothing. Things declined. Nothing was done.

 

The hope came from a very unlikely source, four lepers. Four lepers and an abandoned Syrian camp became the hope for Israel. God can use anyone, even lepers. God can use anything, even Syrian camps, to bring life and hope to His people.

 

So, open your eyes. Look about. See things as they are. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. God was there for Israel. God is here for you. What are you going to do about the situations in your life?

 

Roger

 

 

19

Jump Start # 1270

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start #1270

Hebrews 2:1 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”

  The writer of Hebrews is trying to get suffering Christians to hang in there. Some couldn’t take it any longer. It was too much for them. Life was easier and a lot less painful and stressful when they were Jews. Since becoming Christians, things had increasingly became more difficult. Persecution was intense. There was no slowing down of the pressure and fear. Some quit. They went back to being Jews. Others were thinking about doing the same. These words were written to keep them from doing that. In saving their lives, they were throwing away their souls by returning to Judaism. Salvation was in Christ. They couldn’t walk away from the Lord.

 

Our verse is one of many principles that illustrated what these brethren needed to do. Those same words work for us. Our problem is not persecution. Ours is staying focused. Ours is the fight against temptation, worry, materialism and apathy.  We need these same words. Pay close attention to what we have heard.

 

Pay close attention. The details matter. Sweat the small the small stuff, because even the small stuff matters. Not paying attention is where we get into trouble. This is true in driving. Distractions are serious threat to safe driving. It once was simply keep your hands on the wheel and don’t mess with the radio. It’s much more than that today. It’s texting while driving. It’s eating while driving. It’s talking on the phone while driving. Those things cause one to be distracted. The distracted driver doesn’t pay close attention. He drifts over the center line. He drives too fast. He is a danger to others.

 

Details matter. If you are working on a building project, something as small as a couple of inches matters. Boards that are supposed to connect don’t. Pipes don’t line up. The new carpet is just a few inches too short. The new car won’t fit into the garage. The pants are too tight to button. It doesn’t take much. Just a little bit off, here or there and there can be a real problem. Details do matter.

 

Doesn’t the same thought apply in our faith and worship? Details matter. Pay close attention. Ask Nadab and Abihu after they offered the strange fire which God had not commanded. Fire that did not come from the altar. Fire that had not been dedicated to the Lord. Fire is fire, right? Pay close attention. God rejected their worship and took their lives. It’s not enough that we just love Jesus, we must pay close attention to what Jesus said. I’ve heard folks say so comfortably, “It’s not a salvation issue.” In other words, it really doesn’t matter. God doesn’t care. We can differ and that’s just fine. Well, what are the “salvation issues” and “what are not the salvation issues?” It seems that if something is in the Bible, it is pretty important. Certainly  there are some application differences. We are to pray to God. How much and how often? Is someone who prays five times a day better than the one who prays three times a day? We need to spend time in our Bibles. How many chapters? You see, there are application differences that are not spelled out in the Bible, but there are a whole bunch of things that are that some seem to think “are not salvation issues.”

 

Pay close attention to what you have heard.  Not doing this leads us to being sloppy and missing too many things. A child who dresses himself might not pay close attention and his shirt is buttoned crooked. He missed lining up a button with one button hole. It doesn’t look right. Not paying attention when you park your car will put your car over the parking line and into two spots. Not paying attention to your check book may cause you to bounce some checks. Not paying attention to your health may result in some  very serious issues. Not paying attention to your kids, may cause you to lose them, especially spiritually.

 

The verse says to pay close attention to what you have heard. Look carefully in the Bible. In doing this, you find some things that you always assumed but are not actually there. For instance, my wife asked me the other day for the verse that said Noah preached for 120 years. Simple, it’s in Peter I told her. She said, no it’s not. It says he preached but not for 120 years. I’ve always heard that. I have used that. I began looking closer and the Bible never actually says that. One assumes that Noah preached the whole time he built the ark but that’s not a given. Maybe he only preached eighty years? Maybe twenty years? Maybe just shortly before the flood came? Matthew 24 says concerning the people in Noah’s day that “they did not know until the flood came and took them away.” If Noah had been preaching all that time, why did they not know? Pay close attention.

 

Here is my short list of some things that we ought to pay close attention to:

 

  • We ought to pay close attention to our attitudes. We can get negative, sour and sassy sometimes. We tend to complain more than we thank. We see the faults in others more than our own faults. We can be hard on others but give ourselves a pass. Listen to what you are saying. Pay close attention.

 

  • We need to pay close attention to the wellbeing of our souls. Are we growing and getting stronger or are we simply maintaining? Are we more bored than excited spiritually? Are we pushing ourselves to get down to the church house? Do we look forward to opening the Bible? Do we like learning? How are we doing spiritually? Pay close attention.

 

  • Pay attention to your marriage. Notice things. Is your mate lonely? Are you spending too much time away from each other? Is your mate dropping hints but you are not picking up on them? Is your marriage stronger or weaker? Do you have doubts and second thoughts? What are you doing to show your love? What are you doing to make your mate feel so glad that  they married you? Pay close attention. Don’t forget your anniversary. Mark it down. Remember it. Don’t forget birthdays. Details matter. Pay close attention to each other.

 

  • We must pay close attention to what the Bible says. Notice words. Notice what those words mean. Notice the order of those words. Those details matter in salvation. Where does the Bible put baptism, before of after forgiveness? Pay close attention. How does a church raise money? Pay close attention. What can a church do with that money? Pay close attention. Who does God allow to divorce? Pay close attention. Who can serve as elders? Pay close attention. May of the fusses in church come from people who have not paid close attention. They have an agenda. They have their own thoughts and ideas. Pay close attention.

 

  • Pay close attention to your church family. Notice those around you. Notice who’s missing. Notice those who seem to be struggling. Notice those who seem to be burdened. We are connected and we need each other. Pay attention, close attention. Be there for one another. Pray for one another.

 

Paying attention means focus. It means not being distracted. It means keeping your eyes on the road. It means measuring twice before you cut. It means looking into the eyes of someone else. It means being honest with yourself.

 

Pay close attention. How are you at doing that? Do you see what’s going on in your world? Your family? Your heart? Details matter. Listen to what your teenagers are saying. Hear what is being preached. Consider what the Bible is saying.

 

Pay close attention. It matters!

 

Roger