30

Jump Start # 508

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 508 

Proverbs 25:25 “Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.”

NOTE: Like last week, with the holiday, our Jump Starts tries to follow the schedule of most businesses. We will not have a Jump Start on Monday but will be back on Tuesday.

  The thought in our passage is easy to understand and the image is very vivid. The weary soul, the thirsty soul is revived by cold water. You see this during time outs of a ball game. The players gather around the coach and they each drink some liquids to keep them going. That is what good news does. It lifts the spirit, it encourages the heart and it builds confidence that there is yet hope. Good news has been received. I think of time many years ago, when young men went off to war. Communication was through letters and only letters. Folks back home would hear about intense battles. They huddled in their homes and church buildings to pray for their young men. Letters arrived. All was well. Rejoicing took place. Good news from a distant land.

  Our news today travels rapidly. We get instant traffic updates on our cell phones. We have weather alerts that pop up on our computer screens. Email, facebook. Twitter all make the world a very small place. God has given us the opportunity that other generations would never dream of, to spread good news into distant lands, rapidly and without leaving our homes. What a blessing and opportunity that is. Much good can be done.

  Many congregations are actively engaged in this. They put forth material, sermons and studies to remote places that were closed by ignorance. The sharing of good news is something that can even be done on the individual level. Many of you are doing that with these Jump Starts. You send them to people that you know and in many ways you are part of sending good news from a distant land.

  Now, if good news from distant land is refreshing, what would bad news be? Defeating? Heartbreaking? Hurtful? This tells us of the importance and responsibility we have on things like facebook. It can be the avenue for good news or the sharing of bad news. It seems that some private things ought to remain private and not be aired for all to see and read. Also, gossip isn’t always verbal. It can be just as deadly and just as wrong in written form and in the form of social media.

  The best news from distant land is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It came, He came, from Heaven. The word “Gospel” means “good news,” and what good news it is. It shows that God hasn’t given up on us even though we sinned and don’t deserve another chance. It shows that God believes that we are worth saving. We’re not junk as Satan wants us to believe. God knows that we can change, that’s why He sent the Gospel. It’s not a message of the impossible, but the probable. We can be His disciples. We can walk in righteousness. We can be holy as He is holy. We can go to Heaven. Now that’s good news!

  As we end the year and we look to a new one, remember the good news of God. Many families are struggling today. The economy is shaky. Many have issues in their hearts and homes that are not resolved. Strained marriages, prodigals that refuse to come home, dysfunctional congregations make our souls weary and beaten down. We often wonder if we can go on. The stress is hard. Those not walking in those shoes, have a hard time understanding all this. They add to the weariness. The new year is looked upon with hope and change, and I hope it does for you. The good news is simply that—it’s good news. It reminds us that God is with us, even in the storms. The apostles learned that lesson. It reminds us that our problems stay in this life, they do not go with us to Heaven. It reminds us that God cares, He always has.

  The hope for the new year is the Gospel. That is the best news we could ever receive. Maybe more time in prayer, more time in Bible would help all of us, but knowing God is ever for us and with us, is the best news ever. We want our problems to go away. God often uses them to mold us and teach us. There are things we see in night that we never see in the day. There are things we see in problems that we never see in the good times.

  May each of our readers realize that we are blessed by the God of Heaven and earth. I pray that we all have a great coming year and that God’s news, the good news, will bring us closer to Him, even in ways we can’t dream or imagine.

Roger

29

Jump Start # 507

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 507 

Mark 14:8 ”She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.” 

  This chapter begins with the Jews planning to kill Jesus. They had enough of Him. Jesus was in Bethany, at Simon’s house. A woman came bringing very costly perfume, most likely saving this for her own wedding or burial, whichever came first. She used the perfume to anoint Jesus. She was honoring Him. The disciples complained. They estimated that the perfume was worth a year’s wages. Their thought, sell the perfume and give the money to the poor. Their comments and lack of compassion for what she was doing made her feel guilty. Jesus defended her.

  Jesus states three things.

1. She has done a good deed for me

2. She has done what she could

3. Wherever the gospel goes, this story will be told

  She did what she could. What a great statement. She didn’t do everything, but she did what she could. We can learn from this example.

  Often, we feel like we have to do the impossible. We get overwhelmed and frustrated and burdened with guilt because we couldn’t do it all. No one can. You can only do what you can do. No one can be everywhere. No one can read the minds and the thoughts and know exactly what others need. No one person can do it all in the congregation. God knew that. There are teachers and there are students. There are shepherds and there are sheep. The makeup of a congregation is like a team. We help each other. No one player can do it all. He needs everyone around him to help. If everyone did what they could, much would get done.

  What the woman did in the story doesn’t seem all that great. She didn’t heal anyone. She didn’t preach the message. She didn’t walk on water. All she did was pour perfume on Jesus. Often some may not understand the value of what one does. The disciples didn’t. They complained instead of complimenting. They heaped guilt instead of praise. They made her feel bad for something that was good. That happens sometimes. Shame on us when we do that. Not everyone is going to do what we do. Not everyone is going to do what we think they should. If they only do what they can do, isn’t that something to note and praise?

  This woman sacrificed greatly. If the apostles were right, this perfume was very costly, “over three hundred denarii.” One denarii is what a common laborer got at the end of a day. That’s how much the workers got paid in the parable of the vineyard—one denarii. Perfume costing 300 denarii, was a year’s worth of wages. I don’t know about you, but we certainly do not have any perfume in our house that cost a year’s salary. Most of the people that followed Jesus were simple, common people. I expect she was the same. It would have taken her a long time to get that perfume—possibly an inheritance.

  This woman used something very special. This perfume wasn’t the everyday stuff that you’d splash on as you head out the door—it was too costly for that. It would have been saved for special occasions –very special. For her, this was a special occasion. She didn’t bring some of the perfume, she brought it all. She gave it all to the Lord.

  This woman understood that Jesus was to die. She didn’t bring this because she thought Jesus smelled and this would help Him out. She understood the nature of what was going on. The disciples didn’t. They lived in denial land. Generally, a body was perfumed after death. The common folks did not embalm. Burial was immediate and the body was washed, and layered with spices and perfume. Nicodemus did that for Jesus after the crucifixion. She is doing this ahead of time. It shows her love, faith and dedication to the Lord.

  She did what she could. What she did was amazing. I don’t read of any of the apostles giving anything that costly to the Lord. If you and I could only catch her spirit and do what we could do—wouldn’t that be amazing. We talk ourselves out of it. We fear what others might say. She just did what she could do.

  As we end this year, could you say that? Could you say that ‘you did what you could do,’ or do you think that you should have and could have done more? Were there things that you didn’t do because you were just too busy? Were there things that you just didn’t feel like doing, so you didn’t? She did what she could.

  What could you do? Could you invite someone to services? Could you serve as an elder? Could you preach? Could you send Jump Starts to someone else? Could you help a widow in the neighborhood? Could you give someone a ride to church services? Could you give more?

  She did what she could. What she did was amazing. Jesus noticed. Heaven recorded it. And today, we remember it. I expect she wasn’t interested in all that attention. She was only doing what she could.

  This coming year, how about doing what you could? Think you could do that? Jesus will notice…He always does.

Roger

28

Jump Start # 506

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 506 

Colossians 3:1 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” 

  It doesn’t take reading the New Testament very long until one sees that there are many passages about responsibility and taking ownership of our spiritual walk. The apostles didn’t need a calendar to motivate brethren to be better, do more, dig deeper, walker closer with the Lord. The “resolution” that they used, was not a new year, but Jesus Christ. He alone was the reason to change and become motivated to be more spiritual.

  That sense of ownership comes from reflecting and closeness to the Lord. The spiritual man is constantly looking inward, upward and outward. He has regular reminders and helps. Prayer will do that. Scriptures will do that. The Lord’s Supper will do that. Those regular habits keep a person adjusting their attitudes, behavior and heart to become more pleasing to God.

  Our passage is one example of that. Here Paul tells the Colossians to “keep seeking the things above…” The KEEP part is a continual practice. It’s not something that can be done just once. Keep seeking the things above crosses our minds when we are talking to others. Is what I’m saying appropriate? Is it gossip? Is it helpful? Should I not say anything? These little inner thoughts a person has helps them to keep seeking the things above. Keep seeking crosses our minds when we make choices above movies, clothing, and even friends. Everything has an impact and an influence upon us as we do others. Keep seeking thinks about that. Keeping the soul strong, healthy and working for the Lord is a constant thought for those seeking things above.

   I read the other day a collection of letters from soldiers during the Civil War. A young man from Alabama, homesick for his family, wrote, “I am here, but my mind is with you there.” That’s the essence of the spiritual man. He is here, but his mind is there with Christ. He lives with one foot in Heaven.

  That thought keeps us from living a dual life. Some do this and it doesn’t work well. On Sunday they are spiritual. Monday-Saturday they are secular. They don’t have room nor much time for God at work. It’s dog eat dog there and there’s no room for “seeking things above” at the corporate level. Such a person is constantly being chased by guilt. He is not enough spiritual to really make a difference in his life and he has so much world in him that he knows that he has crossed the line more than once in morals, ethics and honesty. He justifies it by believing the lie that he has to if he wants to survive and succeed.

  God wants us to live a singular life. To be a spiritual person everywhere, all the time. Yes, even in the dog eat dog world, a person can seek the things above. It’s being done all the time by successful brethren who refuse to cut corners, fudge numbers, play people, drink socially, or become the corporate dog that everyone fears. They work in the cesspool of the gutter called corporate America. Their co-workers would do anything to get a step ahead, but not these brethren. They are seeking the things above. Through their influences, meetings have toned down and the language improved. Through their leadership, doing the right thing has become more important than the just showing a profit at the end of the month. They have lived “seeking things above.”  I know brethren like this. Some serve as shepherds of God’s people. Many have influenced co-workers and customers to seek the Lord. Some of you are receiving these devotionals because these brethren thought of you. They never turn off that spiritual radar. They are always seeking the things above. Work is not their life, Christ is. The way they raise their families, the way they enjoy themselves, the way they look at life, is through spiritual lenses. They have come through tragedies and hardships and heartache still maintaining their faith and seeking the things above. Some day, they hope to be above where Christ is.

  It can be done. You can do it. Even today, at the end of a year, you can begin “seeking things above.” You do this by asking, ‘What would God want me to do?’ Or, ‘What’s the best thing to help me spiritually?’ Always thinking, always looking, always spiritual. Always. Perfect? No. Sinless? No. But spiritual? Absolutely. Spiritual and Biblical conversations come easily with spiritual people. They like reflecting and learning and sharing and growing. They are becoming  better and better all the time. Their attitudes, their hope, their manner of life is spiritual.

  Seek the things above…it starts today. It starts with you. It starts with a prayer asking God to help you.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 505

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 505 

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better haughtiness of spirit.”

  We are about to wrap up another year. Hard to believe. Just about everyone says, “where did the year go?” Or, “It seems to just fly by these days.” We know in reality that the length of a year is the same in 2011 as it was in 1963 or 1934, or even in 1844. What makes it seem to go so fast is that we are so busy. Each day is stuffed like a suitcase on vacation. We have more gadgets and technology that allows us to do things better and faster, but that has allowed us to just stack more and more into a day. The day starts with the alarm clock screaming at us—”Get up! Get at it.” The day ends when we shuffle back to bed exhausted. What’s missing in a lot of this is time to reflect and time to connect. At the whirlwind speed we go through a day, who has time for sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, sitting on porches—I know I don’t, but I wish I did.

  This way of life that most of us are on, hurts us spiritually as well. There isn’t the time to count blessings, which leads to thankfulness. We are thankful, but we are busy. Could all of this be a reason why God established the Sabbath for Israel? The Sabbath had two functions.  First, it was a day of worship. Second, it was a day of rest. No cooking. No gathering sticks. No travel. The day was spent with the family. The day was spent with God.

  The Sabbath rules and regulation went out with the Old Law. The New Testament doesn’t have a built in Sabbath—one that prohibits work, traveling or activities. Sunday is not “the Christian Sabbath,” as some want to call it. I wonder if God thought we’d get the idea from the O.T. and be wiser with our day of worship? I don’t know. Under the Old Testament, God gave Israel one day a week to slow down, reflect and connect. There is so much good in that. Our bodies need rest. Our minds need to think beyond the present to the eternal. Our hearts need to connect with family and God.

  This week, our Jump Starts are going to look at the theme of a new year. It’s upon us. Will the new year be any different for us? Will we do just the same things again? Someone made the comment that you and I will be the same in five years except for the books we read and the people we hang out with. That’s talking about the influences in our lives. Maybe less TV and more books—and not just books, better books. Maybe finding time to connect with meaningful people who have insight, depth and spirituality with them. Maybe a Bible study with one of the shepherds or preachers of the church. Maybe a family Bible study.

  Solomon, in our passage, saw that the end is better than the beginning. This chapter of Ecclesiastes contrasts one thing with another and Solomon tells us which one is better. The end, is the fulfillment, the completion. Standing in a field and trying to see a house that will be built there is not better than actually standing in that completed house. Finishing a project is more fulfilling than starting a project. The end of recital is more fulfilling than the beginning of it. The end of surgery is better than the beginning. Even the end of life is better than the beginning because of the things completed and accomplished.

  We’ve come to the end of a year. What kind of year was it for you? If you are reading this, you are still with us, that is a blessing. There may have been trips to the hospital for your family this year, there may have been a trip to the funeral home for some, there may have been some heart ache, but there may have also been many blessings. Some in your family may have obeyed the Lord this year. Maybe you’ve grown this year. Maybe you made a difference in someone’s life this year. The end is better than the beginning.

  As we end this year, will you do anything differently this coming year? Same routines? Same schedules? Same habits? Same financial picture? Same spiritual picture? Same type of books read? Same friends to hang out with? Or, will you put a stake in the ground and determine that this coming year will be different? More spirituality? More involvement with my church family? More reaching out? More faith? More time for family? Better saving financially? Better spiritual habits? Better care of your body? A better year?

  We often call such things, “resolutions” meaning we have “resolved” to do things. But often, our first of the year resolutions last about a month and they are gone. Back to the old ways, old habits and old thoughts. Eventually these add up to a lifetime and that defines our life.

  I have found that the best diet in the world is the mirror. When a person is tired of the way they look, they will do something. The best financial plans is your bank statement. When you are tire of living paycheck to paycheck, you will do something. The best spiritual plan is Sunday—when you are tired of giving lip service to the God that loves you so much, you’ll start making changes. The motivation is I want to do better. I want to be better.

  The end is better than the beginning…Let’s make it so, by living for Jesus every day.

Roger

23

Jump Start # 504

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 504 

Revelation 1:17-18 “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”

NOTE: Our Jump Starts follows the schedule of many working people. With Christmas being on Sunday, many will be off of work on Monday. Jump Starts will take Monday off and be back with you on Tuesday. You can always read some past Jump Starts from the website.

  John, who writes Revelation, saw Jesus. He is not called that by name, but by appearance. Our verse shows John’s reaction, he fell like a dead man.  I think that happened for a couple of reasons. First, standing face to face with the Holy One, is stunning. Can you imagine? Secondly, John remembers Jesus. For three years he traveled with Him and was there at the cross. John knew Jesus. The Lord had risen to Heaven more than fifty years before this. John has not seen Jesus in a long time. John is now an old man.

  Notice the “I” statements of Jesus. I am the first…I was dead…I am alive…I have the keys. I especially like the statement, “I am alive forevermore.” What a powerful statement. What assurance and what hope. He didn’t just come back from the dead, He is alive forevermore. Forevermore has no ending point. It is ever lasting. Every person who was resurrected had to die again—all that is, except Jesus. He is alive forevermore.

  Jesus tells John “do not be afraid.” We keep running into that statement this week in our Jump Starts. Mary was afraid. The shepherds in the field were afraid. Joseph was afraid. Now, John is afraid. Over and over, Jesus tells believers, “do not be afraid.”

  The image John saw was amazing. Jesus’ hair was white, like snow. His eyes looked like fire. His feet like polished bronze. His voice thundered loudly. He wore a robe that went down to His feet.  This is not the cute baby in a manger. This is the image of one in charge. His presence commanded authority and respect. This is the conquering King. This is the Lord of lords. This is the mighty God. Impressive, absolute and powerful. This is not one to argue with. This is not one to challenge. This is Jesus.

  Not many talk about this image of Jesus these days. They want a fishing buddy, a friend to laugh with, someone to high-five and do cool things with. They want to hang out with Jesus. They want to be, as a popular religious magazine quoted one woman, “a Jesus girl who goes out and parties.”  No one would fall like a dead man if they saw that kind of Jesus. They’d invite Him to sit on the couch, eat some chips and watch the ballgame. Instead of trying to live up to Jesus’ level, they bring Him down to their level. Jesus becomes one of us.

  Our casual society and our looseness with the word of God has dethroned Jesus, tamed Him and made Him a “good ole’ boy.” Sad. Blasphemous! And missing who and what Jesus really is. He is God. He is the Lord. He wants you to obey Him, listen to Him and trust Him. I fear we leave Jesus in the crib and have manufactured our version of a God that we like. The sense of awe is missing. I see it in the popular religious books today. I see it in the attitudes of many people.

  Jesus is God. John saw that. John fell at the feet of Jesus. May we do the same as we worship Him. May we do so as we read His gospel. May we do so as walk through life. May we stand in awe of the holiness of God. Awesome is our God!

Roger