23

Jump Start # 2744

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2744

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”

Life– more than existence, but truly living. Jesus came to give that. That life was not free from trials, troubles or temptations. That life wasn’t about zip lining among trees, or skiing down a mountain or traveling to exotic places in the world. That’s how others define life. There are those who do not travel much. There are those who are content to be home. There are those who live a simple life. Many would scream, “Boring.” But, what many have found is life in Jesus Christ. They have found meaning, purpose and relationship. And, what they found cannot be equaled by any external or material experience.

Raphael Samuel went to court in 2019. He brought suit against his parents. He claimed that they brought him into the world without his consent. “Life,” he declared, “was imposed upon me.” And, in the lawsuit, which was tossed out, he demanded compensation from his parents because they didn’t ask him if he wanted to be born, which would be rather impossible to do. Basically, what he was saying, “I was given life and I didn’t want it,” which is really a troublesome thought. In some ways, he sounds like Job who wished he had died at birth. Job felt that way because of all the suffering he was enduring. The rich man in Luke 16 would love to have had one more day on earth after he saw where he was going. In the parable of the rich farmer, the barn builder would have loved to have one more day after he learned what was awaiting him.

Life is a wonderful gift. There is nothing like that. But eternal life is even better. Life here can be crippled and riddled with troubles, sorrows and pain. Life can have many disappointments and frustrations. But eternal life, real life, is free from all of those things. And, what Jesus offers isn’t just a taste. He doesn’t give us just a thimble full. He awards it abundantly. Our cup overflows.

  • The abundant life is joyous
  • The abundant life is busy with purpose and helping others
  • The abundant life is God focused
  • The abundant life is prayerful, considerate and thankful
  • The abundant life brings happiness to others
  • The abundant life holds on tightly to God’s hand

To give us this life, Jesus had to die. And, in dying, He raised us from the sewer of life and gave us dignity, hope and love. When we come to the end of our journey here, and an obituary is written to describe our life, many achievements and accomplishments will be listed. But the greatest of all is to know that we have truly lived in Jesus Christ. We have not lived in fear. We have not lived in worry. We have not lived in the past. We have not lived defeated. We have not sat on the sidelines of life. Life abundantly was offered and we took hold of it with both hands. It changed us from the inside out and it’s something that we have never regretted. If we could do it all over again, we’d do it again.

As this year wraps up, there will be many, many thoughts shared on social media about how terrible this year has been. There will be so many who have nothing good to say about 2020. The list of complaints will be long. But for those who have really lived, what a year it has been. It has shown us the value of true worship. It has reminded us of the power of fellowship. It has illustrated for us that life is more than vacations, sports and going out places. And, in all of this, there has been our wonderful God, sitting upon His throne. His love continues. His promises remain untouched and unchanged. His hope is strong.

We have life and we have it abundantly. It’s not something that begins in Heaven. It begins in Jesus. It begins when one commits their life to the Lord and follows Him. It begins now, if you want it. The sorrow of the world makes us hang our heads. But the joy of the Lord lifts our eyes.

Abundant life—no one can take that away from you. It’s the wonderful, wonderful life found in Jesus Christ.

Roger

22

Jump Start # 2743

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2743

Philippians 3:18-19 “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”

Here in the midst of this joyful book, we find Paul crying. He wasn’t laughing so hard that he cried. He wasn’t so happy that he cried. These were tears of sorrow. The verse today says, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.” The ESV uses the expression, “even with tears.” And, why was Paul crying? It was because some were not walking with him. Some were no longer following the pattern and example in Christ. Some had become enemies of the cross and had set their minds on earthly things.

There are different ideas as to who Paul has in mind here. Some think he is talking about the troublesome false teachers, specifically the Judaizes. I tend to think he is referring to brethren. This is why he was crying over them. They were not strong. They were not committed. The winds of adversity, and the pull of error has led these folks to return to where they once were. Our verse today describes the terrible condition they were in and the emptiness of their lives. Their god was their appetite. On the level of an animal, they were led by their impulses. Out of control and without thought to consequences, their minds were earth bound.

They set their minds on earthly things, implies a choice. This is what they wanted. No thoughts towards God. No including the eternal in their plans. All here. All now. All physical. What a terrible way to exist and what a terrible way to face each day. Yet, this was done by design, their own design. They were doing what they wanted to do.

In contrast, we remember the apostle’s words to the Colossians, “Set your mind on things above”. Earth bound or Heaven bound. Earthly thinking or Heavenly thinking. Material or spiritual. Those contrasts truly distinguish where people are today.

So what does it look like to be Heavenly thinking?

First, and always first, God and His ways are at the forefront of all that we do. The spiritually minded person is one who dwells upon God’s word, not once in a while, but all the time. There is not a time when he forgets about God. When this person buys clothes, he thinks about modesty and what others might think. Before this person shares things on Facebook, he checks to see if there is anything that would be offensive to God. This person looks at life through Sunday. How many days until the next Sunday. Sunday is the most important day of the week.

The worldly minded person would assume that the description above would paint a picture of a monk. Always serious. Always against any fun. Always frowning. But such a picture isn’t what we find from the Scriptures. Joyous. Happy. Busy. Connected. All those things, yet, righteous. The imprisoned apostle who wrote Philippians was joyful.

Second,  the spiritually minded person has found a peace and calm in Christ. The things that trouble those of the world doesn’t seem to bother the spiritually minded person. Worry. Fear. Doubt. Those three plague earthly thinking people. On-line liquor sales have increased 150% since the Covid pandemic. Why? Could be people don’t want to go out to get their booze. Could be that some are trying to find solace, comfort and peace from a bottle. Simple things tend to bother those who do not have much foundation. Spiritually minded has a resource, an anchor and a hope that is greater than this life. The view of life, success and even death is so different between the worldly minded person and spiritually minded person.

Third, the spiritually minded person treats others much differently than the worldly minded person. Remembering to turn the other cheek, praying for enemies and doing good to all people, the spiritually minded person is careful and compassionate towards others. He realizes how God has been towards him. Grace, forgiveness and love help shape the spiritually minded person’s attitude and heart. The spiritually minded person is a joy to be around. He has a way of lifting spirits and finding the right thing to say.

I think Paul’s tears were shed in feeling a loss as to why some would return to the twisted way of thinking that they came from. It didn’t work before and it won’t work now. And, we must realize that if it happened then, it can certainly happen now. Worldly thinking just doesn’t think of others. Worldly thinking forgets about Biblical passages and truths. Worldly thinking gets one into all sorts of trouble.

Earthly minded or spiritually minded. This is a way of life. This is a choice. What have you chosen?

Roger

21

Jump Start # 2742

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2742

Acts 22:6 “And it came about that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from Heaven all around me.”

Our verse is found in the context of Paul giving his defense in Jerusalem. He tells what happened years ago as he was on the Damascus road on his way to persecute more Christians. Jesus appeared in a vision. Paul couldn’t see. But then, he did see, spiritually. He came to understand who Jesus was. He was baptized and he spent the rest of his life proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

And, what follows are a series of four questions. Great questions in the context. Great questions to ask family and friends. Let’s take a look at these four questions.

First question: Why are you persecuting Me (v. 7)? We’d ask, “why are you doing what you doing?” Why are you living the way you are living? Why are you thinking the way you think? Many people don’t know. They are just doing what everyone else is doing. Many haven’t put much thought behind that. Many don’t think that deeply. Just getting through today in one piece is all that they are about. However, they never realize that’s what they did yesterday. And, likely, that’s what they will do tomorrow. Those days add up quickly to be a week, then a month, then a year. Before you know it, that becomes a lifetime. This is why many are at retirement age and they are broke. They haven’t put much thought into tomorrow. They haven’t anticipated a time when they wouldn’t be working. Living paycheck to paycheck works as long as those paychecks keep coming in. But once those paychecks stop, then reality hits.

Why are you talking the way you talk? Why are you thinking the way you think? Are you just repeating what you hear on TV and what you find on Facebook? Each person must give an account of himself before God. It begins with why are you doing what you do?

Second question: Who art Thou, Lord (v. 8)? Who is Jesus, that’s how we’d ask the question. Is He God? Is He good? Is He real? Is He alive today? Great questions to ask. Four years of liberal college may lead them to say that Jesus is make believe. To some he is no more real that Santa or the Easter Bunny. And, with that smug answer, they have removed any reason to be spiritual or obedient to God. But don’t settle for that. Where’s the proof? Historically, there are layers and layers of evidence that Jesus was real. And, what about that Bible? If Jesus isn’t real and if he is not God, what about all those pages in the Bible that says otherwise? What about the fulfillment of prophecy? What about the miracles? What about the sermons? And, greater than that, what about that Bible? Where did the Bible come from? If not God, then from whom? And, why isn’t there any other book even close to what the Bible is like? How does the Bible talk about things that were not known?

For many people, this gets too deep, too quickly and they just don’t want to think about those things. But who is Jesus? Great question.

Question Three: What shall I do, Lord (10)? What does God want you to do? Just be happy? Do whatever you feel like? Every person does their own thing in their own way? Is that what God wants? Would that work in a home? Would that work in a business? How would a person know what God wants him to do? Feelings? Or, could it be written down so it would be the same for every person, every where. Finding the answer to this question takes one to the Bible. There one sees the goodness of God and what God’s will is. There one comes to find what pleases God. One learns how a sinful and broken person can be right with God. One sees that Heaven is possible for all of us. God has been so patient and loving towards us. There is something that God wants you to do. What you have been doing, hasn’t worked. It’s time to find out what does work and that’s the way of God.

Question Four: Why do you delay (16)? What’s the holdup? If you understand that you need Christ in you life and that He can save you from your sins, why not take hold of that. Afraid of what others might think? Afraid that you can’t do it? Afraid that it will change you too much? Afraid that you won’t fit in? Don’t delay. Don’t stop forgiveness and grace from being a part of your life. Don’t stay in the wilderness of sin. The family of God longs for you to find what they have found. There is no better time than now.

Paul had to face those questions. Paul became obedient to the Lord and was baptized. Those same questions are ageless and timeless.

Four great questions. Four questions to ask others. Four questions that can make a difference.

Roger

18

Jump Start # 2741

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2741

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

Today we wrap up our little series on hymns. I’ve been looking at different hymns that are meaningful to me personally. Each of us could make up our own lists, and that might be a good exercise. In this last installment, I want to consider a modern song, “Thank You, Lord!” Eighteen times in that short, two verse song, the words “thank you” are used. The song demonstrates a heart that is so grateful to the wonderful Lord.

The song was written in 1990 by Dennis Jernigan. The Oklahoma native also gave us the song, “You are my all in all.” Jernigan was born in 1959 and said in an interview that he wanted to express his thankfulness to the Lord for changing a sinful life and making it a useful vessel for the Lord. And, for all of us who are Christians, that is our story and that is our song. As stated in the wonderful hymn, Amazing Grace, “I once was lost but now I’m found.”

So, here in this hymn, Jernigan brings to the forefront the expressing of thanks to our God. The Lord didn’t have to save us. He didn’t owe us anything. He very easily could have turned His back on us. He could have said, “You made the mess. Clean it up.” But, He didn’t. From the early pages of Genesis, there is God, covering Adam and Eve and beginning the process of bringing man back to God where we belong.

Our verse today well describes all of this. Thanks be to God. So often the words, “Thank you,” just do not seem to be enough. The gift is so great. The expression of love is so enormous. All we have is simply two words, “Thank you.”

But, thank you are more than words. They become a way of life. A grateful life. A thankful life. And, this is what it looks like:

First, to be thankful, one expresses it in words. “Oh, they know,” just doesn’t cut it. We need to, and we must, say it. “Thank you,” with a smile on a face and heartfelt warmth towards the giver. In our prayers, we must remember to thank the Lord.

Second, to be thankful, one values, honors and cares for the gift that was given. In this case, it’s our salvation. We show our thankfulness by protecting our salvation. We walk close to the Lord. We guard our faith. We resist the devil. We put on the armor of God. Being careless shows that one isn’t very thankful. Being indifferent shows that one isn’t very thankful.

Third, to be thankful is to praise the giver. Here, it is God. We praise Him in worship. We praise Him by living righteous lives. We praise Him as we tell others about Him.

In this hymn, there are several directions that are pointed to. It begins with thanking God for all that He has done. That’s past tense. That would include in our lives. That would include in Biblical history. God has been there to open prison doors, shut the mouths of lions and part seas. He’s protected His people in fiery furnaces, in arks, and in dark dungeons. And, look at what amazing things God has done in your life. He has answered many prayers. He has forgiven you. He has opened doors for you. He has helped you in so many ways.

From there, the song swings to the future. For all that You’re going to do, are things yet to be seen. God is going to send Jesus. God is going to raise the dead. God is going to open the doors of Heaven. There will be more times in our lives that God will be there. When we are finished here, the angels from Heaven will carry us home.

The song then switches to all that God has promised. That would included the prophecies that have been fulfilled and the hope that remains for us. God is true to His word. He doesn’t make promises and then changes His mind and breaks them.

And, just like that, the hymn turns to God. It says, “and all that You are is all that has carried me thro’. The focus is upon the nature of God. The righteous, holy, powerful and loving God. He is the one behind the forgiveness. He stands behind those promises. He is the reason we are thankful.

In this crazy year that we’ve had, there has certainly been many reasons for people to complain. And, most have. But, there remains God. He hasn’t changed. He is the same before Covid, during Covid, and after Covid. He has been our anchor this year. He has not left us. He has not given up on us. He has not turned off the fountain of His blessings. Have we been forgiven this year? Have we had prayers answered this year? Have we been helped this year?

And, to all of that, we say, “That You, Lord.” Those words cannot be said enough. And, I hope that when we reach Heaven, those will be the first words on our lips.

Thank You, Lord!

Roger

16

Jump Start # 2739

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

Jump Start # 2739

Psalms 42:8 “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.”

  We started a mini series yesterday focusing upon some of our hymns. We are giving a little background story to the hymn and then making some application and connections to us. There is no particular order in the hymns I have chosen other than I like them.

The hymn we look at today is: FOOTPRINTS OF JESUS. This song takes me back to a child at the Emerson Avenue congregation in Indianapolis. That’s where I first heard and first fell in love with this song. It is interesting how hymns can take us back to funerals or worship services decades ago. Warm feelings. Wonderful and precious memories.

The lyrics of this hymn were authored by Mary Slade. She was born in Massachusetts in 1826 and died in 1882. She authored many other hymns including, “Who at my door is standing,” and, “Tell it again.” Mary was a school teacher and assistant editor of the New England Journal of Education. Footprints of Jesus was written in 1870. The music was written by Asa Everett. Originally the hymn had seven verses, but in most modern songbooks it has been trimmed down to just three.

Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow; we will follow the steps of Jesus where’re they go. That’s the chorus, but that’s also the call of our Lord.

  • Luke 9:23 “…If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
  • Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.”
  • Matthew 4:19 “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”
  • Matthew 8:22 “But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.’”

And, when we follow those divine footprints of Jesus, where do they take us? What do we see?

First, we see the footprints of compassion. Jesus loved. Jesus cared. He was with all people, including outcasts, unclean and those not approved of by the Jewish system. His heart was touched by what He saw. You don’t see Jesus caring about crops, barns, fences, bugs, financial reports, but rather people. People made in the image of God. People that He came to die for. People that were lost. People that had made mistakes. People that had messed up their lives. People that problems. Jesus cared. And, as we follow those footsteps of Jesus, they will take us to places and people that we may not enjoy. It may lead us to broken hearts at a funeral home. It may take us to hospital bedsides. It may take us to homes where marriages are falling apart. It may take us to jails where young people have made mistakes. Jesus didn’t wait until people got cleaned up before He loved them. He loved them, dirty as they were. And, so must we. We must pray for all. We must do what we can for all. Following those footsteps will lead us there.

Second, we see the footsteps of righteousness. That’s how Jesus lived. He was tempted, yet He was without sin. He was holy. He was pure. He was obedient to His Father. He wasn’t a rebel. He wasn’t going against His Father’s will. And, if we are following Jesus, we’ll need to walk with Him into the fields of righteousness. That means we must work on our attitudes. Less complaining and more thankful. Less pointing the fingers at others and more working on ourselves. Less talking and more listening. It also means, working on our words. Tone down the sharpness. Be more patient. Be forgiving and extend grace. It means being righteous in our walk of life. As we follow the steps of Jesus, others will follow our steps. They see Jesus through us. Make sure what they see is the true picture.

Third, we follow the steps of Jesus in suffering. That’s the specific language of Peter. Jesus left us an example to follow, he tells us. Reviled, He did not revile back. He uttered no threats. His example needs to be our example. No fighting back. No cursing. No threatening to get even. No kicking and screaming. No violence. Jesus taught us and then showed us, turn the cheek. Go the extra mile. Pray for your enemies. Do good to all. Our times certainly needs this. We get too many folks willing to push those who do not agree with them. Those pushed, want to push back. And, before long, an ugly melee takes place. Anger, hatred, finger pointing, accusations fill the air, but no one is acting like Jesus.

Fourth, we follow the steps of Jesus all the way Home. That’s where His steps lead us. It’s more than a better life here. It’s more than being civil. His steps take us to Heaven. The hymn states, “we will rest where the steps of Jesus end at His throne.” Keep going until He stops us. Keep following. Keep up. It will all be worth it. It is now, but even more so in the eternal.

An interesting side point about Mary Slade who wrote the hymn Footprints of Jesus. Mary lived in Fall River, Massachusetts. There was another well known woman from that same town. About a decade after Mary died, a woman by the name of Lizzie Borden was tried for the hatchet murder of her father and step-mother.

Two women from the same town. One reminds us of our wonderful walk with the Lord. The other, famous for crimes and sins against her family and her Lord.

Sweetly, Lord, have we heard thee calling, ‘Come, follow Me!”

Roger