16

Jump Start # 2698

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2698

Revelation 1:5 “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.”

The saving blood of Jesus Christ is THE message of the N.T. Because of that wonderful sacrifice, Jesus brings in hope, life, purpose and a future with Him. As our verse states, He “released us from our sins by His blood.” Jesus put a separation between us and the sins we committed. He removed those sins.

It is interesting to consider what Jesus saved us from. Our verse would tell us that He saved us from our sins. On a grander scale, some would say that Jesus saved us the Satan, and that’s certainly true. Satan has been after us for a long, long time. He is deceitful, dishonest and never goes away. He may flee, as James teaches, but he always seems to come back. Yet, in still another way, Jesus saved us from Hell. For some, salvation is a get out of Hell free card. It’s not so much coming to Jesus as it is avoiding Hell is what some are looking for. But the truth is, Jesus saved us from the consequences of sin and that is Hell.

But there remains yet another aspect that we often do not consider very often. While all the above is true, Jesus actually saves us from ourselves. We are our own worst enemy. We can blame influences, temptation and even the devil, but in the end, we are the ones who have hurt ourselves. We didn’t have to open the door to temptation, but we did. We didn’t have to make those choices that we did. We didn’t have to ignore what the Lord said.

On our own, doing as we pleased, following whatever we wanted to hasn’t worked out very well for us. Spiritually, it has ruined us. It has peppered guilt, shame and consequences throughout our lives. It has led us to making messes of relationships and hurting others. We’ve gotten smarter, but not wiser, especially spiritually.

On our own, we’ve believed that we could work out any problem and do alright, on our own. But, that hasn’t been the case. The problems have been bigger than we are. The issues are complex. Living without kindness, grace and forgiveness, which are virtues of Christ, we have become sour, grumpy and miserable.

On our own, we’ve gotten confused about what’s life all about. Is it the biggest house, the most exotic vacations and the showing off of stuff that matters? Is it how fat we can make the 401? Keeping up with others has made us exhausted, burned out and unhappy.

On our own, we’ve become glued to the TV, addicted to materialism, superficial and worldly. Funerals terrify us. We do all that we can to avoid old age and to keep on going. National news, social culture shapes how we feel and our moods. We hide behind the façade of we’re doing ok and life’s a blast, but it’s not. On our own, this is all we have. There is nothing to hope for behind the grave and there is no one beyond ourselves to help us.

On our own, we are lost, empty and selfish. On our own, we have messed things up. On our own, we are living not the way God intended. On our own, this is as good as it gets. On our own…

Jesus saved us from ourselves. We put ourselves in the place that we are. His saving blood cleansed us and His righteous ways have paved the way for us to live better, nobler, and even godlier. Following Jesus, we don’t get in the mess we once were in. Following Jesus we understand a grander purpose in life and that is to glorify God. Following Jesus we open our eyes and our hearts to others. Following Jesus, kindness follows us. Following Jesus, we become the best people that we can.

What did Jesus save us from? He saved us from ourselves. This may be why the first step of discipleship is to deny yourself. It is ourselves that got us into trouble. It is ourselves that made the mess that we were living in.

So all of this reminds us that we need to:

Listen more to Jesus. He is the way out of the mess. He is the way out of ourselves. His thinking is superior to ours. His way is that of truth and holiness. His character molds the best character in us. Rather than quoting others, we ought to be quoting the Lord.

Learn to say “No,” to self. That’s the “denying” yourself part of discipleship. “I don’t feel like it,” and, “I don’t want to,” are the words and the language of one who is following self and not Christ. You may do things you do not want to, such as forgiving someone or apologizing to another. If we only did what we felt like doing, then we’d be right back in the mess that we left. Following Christ means that I have crucified self. Christ lives in us.

Rejoice with the new found life. What you will quickly notice is that your life becomes better because of Christ. The misery, darkness and trying to impress others is gone. Now, you live better. Now you think better. Now you are better. Better outlook. Better attitude. Better hope. The shades have been raised and the sunlight of Jesus Christ shines brightly into your heart. What a wonderful, wonderful life God has planned for you. It doesn’t take too long for a person to realize that he never wants to go back to that old self again.

Jesus has saved us. He saved us from ourselves.

Roger

15

Jump Start # 2697

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2697

Matthew 25:13 “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Our verse today is how the Lord ends the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The wise virgins were prepared. They had extra oil. They didn’t have any more insight than the foolish ones. They weren’t given a tip, a signal or some special notification that things were going to be delayed. There were not told that they just might want to take along some extra oil. They didn’t know. What they did know was that things happen at weddings. Even the best plans are often upset, delayed and changed. Weather does that. An outdoor wedding suddenly becomes an inside wedding. There isn’t enough food. The cake didn’t make it. All kinds of disasters can happen at a wedding. And, here in the Lord’s parable about a wedding, the groom was delayed.  He was delayed so long, that the ten bride’s maids became sleepy. The yawns started. The conversations died down. One falls asleep. Then the next. Pretty soon, they are all sleep. With dreams of weddings dancing in their minds time passes. Suddenly, there is a shout. The groom is coming. Up, up all the girls get up. They straighten out their dresses. They fix their hair. The lamps are turned up and now, it is discovered that some of them do not have enough oil. It’s midnight. It’s dark. They will have to travel through the streets with the groom to his parents home. Lamps are needed. The five foolish beg for oil from the other girls. They don’t have enough to share. What to do? Ideas and thoughts race around the room. Off to the market, at that hour, to find more oil. They leave in a whirlwind. They are going as fast as they can. But while they are gone, the groom comes. The five with the oil are off with the groom to the wedding. When the other five finally show up, it’s too late. The door is shut and they are not allowed in. They missed it. What a great disappointment. They had been looking forward to this for a long, long time. And, now, they are left outside. Blame the groom for the delay. Blame the others for not sharing their oil. But, as it is, they simply did not anticipate, prepare nor plan for such a long delay.

Our verse sums up this parable. Be alert. You do not know the day, you do not know the hour. The Lord is not talking about the starting of a wedding, but His return. He is coming. You don’t know when. Be ready, by living ready.

Not knowing the day nor the hour is revealing to us.

First, there are some projects that simply will not be completed. There are some books that will not be finished. There are some sermons that will not be preached. There are some houses that will still be under construction. Some students will not have graduated. Some babies will not be born. Some prizes will not be awarded. Life will come to a sudden halt when Jesus comes. It’s not going to be a very slow process in which everyone sees it coming. No. Instead, no one knows the day nor the hour. Not knowing, means plans will be made. People will not be expecting it, not at least on that day.

Second, some good intentions will never be realized. There will be some who were planning on coming home to the Lord. One day they would do that, is what they’ve told themselves over and over. This and that got in the way and they never fully got back to the Lord. Oh, they intended to and they had great thoughts, but they never got around to putting their feet to those plans. And, now, a day has come when they weren’t expecting and it’s too late. They never got their priorities in the right order. The Lord never was first for them.  There are others who planned to apologize. There were some who planned to forgive. They were waiting for the right moment. They knew they had to do this. But the right moment never came and now the Lord has and it’s too late. There were cards that were going to be sent, but they never were. There were words of encouragement that was planned to be shared, but they never were. A day came and the Lord came. All those good intentions were left undone.

Third, there will be some who are so glad to see the Lord. They have expected this day for a long time. They have loved the Lord, followed the Lord and knew one day He would come. Their faith is strong. Their hope was real. And, now that the Lord came, they are so delighted to be in His presence. What a grand day this is for those who are ready. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins follows the five foolish ones. But think about the five wise ones. They followed the groom to the wedding. The door was shut and there they experienced the greatest joy, fun and love that they have ever seen in their lives. They couldn’t believe how wonderful it was. The food was fantastic. The music touched their hearts. The laughter, smiles and celebration was so wonderful. And, there the groom, the Lord, made them feel so at home. The atmosphere was magical. The people were the greatest. It was a night to remember. It was a celebration that one wanted to last forever. And, in the symbolism of Scriptures, it would. It would be Heaven. It would be with the Lord. Didn’t the wise leave things unfinished when the groom came? Certainly, but those things do not matter. Not now. Didn’t they have things still to do? Yes. But none of those things mattered. Nothing was more important than being at the wedding. It wasn’t just any wedding, it was the wedding of a lifetime. There is no other place they would rather be. They didn’t feel pulled to leave and go home and finish some other tasks. They were with the groom and that’s the only place that they wanted to be.

He’s coming. He’s promised that. We don’t know when. But, you don’t want to miss it. Be ready. Be alert.

Roger

14

Jump Start # 2696

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2696

Matthew 9:4 “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?’”

Our verse today comes from the miraculous healing of the crippled man. Before Jesus healed him, he said, “Your sins are forgiven.” That sent the Pharisees into orbit. Jesus can’t say that. Only God can forgive. Who does he think he is? Their thoughts were going south. They were thinking blasphemy. They were thinking of doing evil to Jesus. And, the Lord knew all of this. Without them saying a word, Jesus knew. “Knowing their thoughts,” our verse reads, Jesus knew they were thinking evil. To show and to prove that He had the authority to do these things, including forgiving sins, Jesus healed the crippled. “Take up your bed and go home,” was the command of the Lord. The crippled man did just that.

Knowing their thoughts is a great expression for you and I to give some consideration.

First, as much as we would like to, we really do not know the thoughts of others. Once in a while, we might guess right, but most times we do not know. So when we say to someone “I know what you are thinking,” we really don’t. And, many times what we say reveals that we do not know. Even couples that have been married for decades, do not know what the other is thinking. For instance, the number one question asked every Sunday is, “Where do you want to go eat?” If we knew, we wouldn’t have to ask that.

Second, it is really good that we don’t know what others are thinking. There are two sides to this and neither side puts us in a good place. If we knew the negative things people said behind our backs, it would crush us and hurt us. And if we knew how praise-worthy some think about us, we might believe that we can walk on water. Don’t try it, because you can’t. We need to spend our time focusing upon why we think the way we do and not worry about how others think. Some are so obsessed with others liking them and approving of them that they will do just about anything to please them. The approval of others can be very vain and actually not put us in a good place. We can think too highly of ourselves. Reminds me of a story I heard recently. After Sunday service, an older lady told the preacher that his sermon was among the greatest she ever heard. In fact, she declared, you are one of the greatest preachers of this generation. On the way home, as the preacher was telling this to his wife, he said, “I wonder just how many great preachers are in this generation.” His wife said, “One less than you think.”

Third, God knows what we are thinking. God knows what we need before we ask Him. There is no fooling God. He knows your motives. He knows your heart. He knows how sincere you are. He knows when you are playing a game with Him. He knows you. He knows what you are thinking.

Now, the negative side of this ought to cause us to shape up and do what is right. We can fool each other. We can play pretend all day long. We can be the hypocrite. But not with God. He knows. He knows when your tears are real and when you are trying to get attention. He knows when you are faking and when you are trying hard.

Now, the upside to this is that He knows when words escape how we feel about Him. He knows that love Him and want to be with Him. He knows when “thank you,” just doesn’t seem to be enough. He knows. He knows when you are hurting. He knows when others have hurt you. He knows when we want others to do well. He knows how much you care. He knows.

Fourth, since God knows, a fair question to ask is why then do we need words? Why pray if He knows? Why sing hymns if He knows? Why praise Him if He knows? We could just sit in silence, like a group of monks and just stare off into the distance. No words. No actions. Just thoughts. Just thoughts that God already knows. Why assemble to worship if God knows?

It is important to say it. A husband and wife love each other, but it is important to say it. Sure they know it, but they like to hear it. A parent likes to hear their child saying, “I love you.” The parent knows, but it’s wonderful to hear it. But saying it in prayers, hymns, preaching and praise, encourages others. It teaches others. It shows that we truly put God first in all things. And, the people of God have always expressed it. Blessed be the name of the Lord. God’s name is to be held in the highest honor. God’s name is an expression of authority and honor.

Finally, what we think on the inside and what we do on the outside ought to match. Just having good thoughts without an obedient life is not right. Nor, is it good to outwardly do what God says, yet our hearts are miles away from Him. In vain, the prophet Isaiah declared, the people worship me but their heart are far from me. Outside, we assemble on Sunday. Inside, we daydream, sleep, pay games on our phone. Or, we have wonderful and generous hearts on the inside but we do not follow the Biblical pattern on the outside.

God knows. The inside and the outside need to be the same. They need to mirror each other. They need to match.

Jesus knew their thoughts. Jesus knows your thoughts. Sure is something to think about.

Roger

13

Jump Start # 2695

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2695

Ecclesiastes 7:5 “It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than to listen to the song of fools.”

Ecclesiastes is the reflective, observational book that takes a deep look into the soul of a person. Within Ecclesiastes, especially this seventh chapter are a series of upside down statements to us. At least seven times Solomon contrasts opposites and he declares which opposite is the best one. He doesn’t leave it up to us to decide. That’s good. We’d choose the easiest, safest and most convenient choice. Here are some things Solomon puts on the table:

  • Good name and good ointment. Good name is better.
  • Day of death and day of birth. Day of death is better.
  • House of mourning and house of feasting. The mourning is better.
  • Sorrow and laughter. Sorrow is better.
  • The end and the beginning. The end is better.
  • Patience and haughtiness. Patience is better.
  • Rebuke of a wise man and the song of fools. The rebuke is better.

If we didn’t know the Bible and we went through that list and had to pick out a choice for the day, I’m certain that I’d pick the wrong choices. Who likes death? Who likes sorrow? Who wants to be rebuked? Solomon is looking beyond the moment to what those things do for us. They cause us to think. They lead us to change. They are growing moments in our spiritual journey. Feasting, laughter, songs, we are none the better after those things. We do not change. We do not look inward because of them.

Our verse today is about the rebuke. The rebuke of a wise man is better than the song of fools. Rebuke has many names. We call it criticism, reproach, censure, giving a talk to, reprimanded. And, the thing about rebukes is that they sting. They can sting worse than what a wasp can do to you. They hurt because someone recognizes that you were wrong. There are many classic rebukes in the Bible. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and the sea became still. Jesus rebuked a demon and he left a person. Nathan rebuked David.

Solomon’s words are not about giving a rebuke, but rather receiving one. There is a way one needs to know how to correct someone. This needs to be done in kindness and love, standing upon the golden rule as how you would want others to correct you. But Solomon is directing these words towards the one getting the rebuke. Something wrong was done. Now a person was being called on the carpet about that. And, that process is better than listening to the songs of fools.

It’s hard to listen to rebuke that is directed towards you. This is true through a sermon in which the preacher tans your hide and steps on your toes. This is true when it comes through a face to face conversation. We tend to get defensive and pull out a bag of excuses to justify what we did. We often turn the tables and point out the wrongs of others. We may even attack the person confronting us. We get angry. And, through all of this we have heard the words of rebuke but we have not listened. And, we have not changed. However, when rebuked is truly listened to, it leads to change. It leads to repentance. It leads to apologies, better attitudes and better behavior. Without the rebuke, we remain unchanged. Without the rebuke we are likely to die being wrong.

Rebuke is hard because it can ruin friendships and separate brethren. It shouldn’t be that way. We ought to be thankful for the one that loves us enough to try to help us. And, it may be we have seen so much judgmental, picky attitudes, that some folks can never be pleased. Some would rather point the radar gun at you than hold the mirror up to themselves.

None of us are without improving. Even the best and the strongest among us make wrong choices. All of us need each other. We tend to give ourselves an easy pass while holding others to the letter of the law. There is an unequal balance often in how we view others and how we see ourselves. Rebukes have a way of leveling those things out.

Here are a few thoughts:

First, when someone wants to talk to you, find a time and a place where you won’t be interrupted. Don’t keep putting this off. As painful as it may be, you need to hear what the other is saying.

Second, as you meet, begin with a prayer. Pray that you will listen honestly and not interrupt. Pray that your heart will be touched. Thank the Lord for the person who cares enough about you to come to you. Pray for wisdom. Pray for your friendship to grow through these things.

Third, listen and listen well. Some people may perceive things in their minds that really are not there. Some read motives when there were no motives. Years ago I had a guy get angry with me because I never called on him for prayer. I never put more than a half second thought into who I was going to ask. Most times, it’s whoever caught my eye before a class. He had it in his mind that I didn’t like him. He was real worked up and nearly ready to leave for another congregation. There was no motive. I just didn’t keep track of who had and who had not led prayer. It wasn’t a big deal to me. It was a huge deal to him. I apologized and wrote his name on the top of my notes so I would remember to call on him for prayer. After that, all was fine. He thought something was there. It was how he perceived it.

Fourth, don’t be too big to apologize if indeed you have done wrong. Don’t try to make something wrong right by bending the rules or pointing out the wrongs of others. Be a big person and do what is right.

Finally, as you part, pray again to the Lord asking Him to forgive you for the wrongs that you did. That’s the point of rebuke. It’s more than a listing of your wrongs, it is to move you to better behavior. Recognizing your wrongs will cause you to ask the Lord for forgiveness. It will lead you to make adjustments and changes  in your life. The rebuke will turn you into a better person.

It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man…hard to do, but it’s the best thing to do.

Roger

12

Jump Start # 2694

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2694

Mark 5:25-26 “And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse.”

Our verse today describes the woman with the issue of blood. She caught up with Jesus in a crowd. The Lord was being hurried on to Jairus’ home. This was an urgent emergency. It was a 911 moment. Jairus’ little twelve year old daughter was dying. Time was of the essence. On the way there, in the midst of a massive throng of people, this woman with an issue of blood finds her way to Jesus. She doesn’t bow. She doesn’t ask. She reaches out. She touches Jesus’ garment from His backside. Maybe she thought she could get healed without anyone knowing. Maybe even Jesus wouldn’t know. Silent. Quiet. She touches. She believes she can be healed. She must have heard others talk about miraculous healings. Just a touch. She did and immediately she was healed. Immediately, the text tells us, Jesus knew. He turned. She’s discovered. She falls to her knees, scared, embarrassed and afraid. The Lord doesn’t scold her. The Lord doesn’t rebuke her. The Lord doesn’t shame her. He talks. A conversation takes place. He calls her “Daughter,” one of the very few times Jesus ever used that word. As Jairus’ daughter slips into eternity, Jesus is having a conversation with another daughter. Both are important. Both need Him.

In our verse today, Mark gives us the back story to this woman. He tells us how long she has been ill. He tells us all that she has tried to do to get well. Now, she was broke, and worse. Helpless, hopeless, only the Lord can help her.

I want to look at the expression within our verse, “was not helped at all.” I don’t think the docs back then were quacks. By our standards today, we may think that way, but with what knowledge they had, they did the best that they could. I don’t see in this that they purposely drained her of money with the evil intentions of not helping her. The text doesn’t support that suspicion. I believe the physicians tried, but they couldn’t help her. Sometimes our modern doctors face the same thing today. They see the problem but they cannot fix it.

But there is a greater spiritual lesson for us here:

First, there are some problems that we cannot fix. We hate to admit that and we want to live with the idea that we can solve any and all problems, but there are times we can’t. I met a person the other day who is in poor health and is in great depression. Every suggestion I made, was countered with a reason why that wouldn’t work. I ran out of ideas. I felt sorry for him. I want to fix him. I want him to soar through the day rejoicing. But that’s not the case. I couldn’t fix him. And, what we learn is that we really can’t fix anyone other than ourselves. We can encourage, advise, teach, influence, but we can’t change. That’s up to the individual. I’ve see people destroying everything precious to them because of alcohol or drugs. I’ve know someone who spent the night in his car in a parking lot because he was evicted, had no money and no options. These kinds of stories breaks our hearts. We want people to do better, but until they want to do better, there isn’t much that we can do.

Second, there are some problems that last decades and decades. The years involved drains the life blood out of a family. It ruins some financially, going from clinic to therapy, to rehabs, only to see the problems continuing. We’d like problems to go away quickly. They often don’t. In our passage, the woman had the issue of blood for a dozen years. Weak, anemic, unclean socially, and now broke, her problem remained. Don’t you think she prayed, daily, if not hourly, for her health to return. Those prayers were not answered favorably. There are things we do not understand. Why did the Lord allow her to suffer for so long? Why have others suffered a lifetime with a disease?

Third, coming to Jesus is always the best thing to do. Sometimes we try to fix things on our own and only after there are no other options, do we turn to the Lord. You wonder why this woman didn’t seek Jesus out earlier? Could it be that He wasn’t in the area? Could it be that she didn’t know about Him earlier? Could it be that she thought the next doctor will be the one to heal her? The song, “Does Jesus Care,” ought to remind us how important it is to seek the Lord. Even in suffering, the Lord is there. Even through those dark, long valleys of death, the Lord is there. There is comfort in His word. There is encouragement in His people. There is hope in His promises. Someday, we leave this world and all of these promises. Someday we will be with the Lord forever.

Finally, it’s hard for us to know and understand what others go through. I can read this passage and pull some great lessons from this, but to know what it was like to stand in her shoes, I don’t. To know what it is like to bury a child, I don’t. To know what it is like to have a prodigal who refuses to come home. I don’t. To know what it is like to be broke. I don’t. I don’t know those pains. But I do and can understand pain itself. My pain may not be your pain, but we both can understand pain. I don’t have to walk in your shoes in order to share my compassion, prayers and love for you. My heart can be touched and even bleed for you, even though I do not understand your pain. Our fellowship is made up of hurting people. On a Sunday we gather. We all look the same. We sing the same songs, but among us are all kinds of hurts. Some have hurt for a long, long time. Some hurts you see by their walkers, canes and slowness. Some you never recognize. Some, like the woman in our passage, try to keep things secret. But a hurting people find comfort in the great Physician. The Lord knows. The Lord cares. The Lord comforts.

Jairus needed Jesus to come and come quickly to his house. The woman with the issue of blood also needed Jesus. I may think that I need Jesus more than you do. My needs are more pressing than your needs. I ought to come before you. How easily the Lord could have told this woman to wait here, go heal the little girl and then come back. If this woman has been ill for twelve years, another hour won’t make much difference. But, Jesus didn’t do that. She was as important to the Lord as this synagogue official. This woman had nothing to give the Lord, except her heart. It is easy for us to get things backwards and to think that your problem is really no problem at all. Had this woman and Jairus’ daughter arrived at the hospital at the same time, the woman would have been waiting as the staff worked on the little girl. That’s how we do things. Most important problems come first. That’s not how the Lord works.

She was not helped at all by the physicians. May this not be said of us when folks visit our congregations. May this not be said of us when people need questions answered. May this not be said of us…let us do all that we can to take people to the one who can help, Jesus Christ.

Roger