WHO AM I IN THE EQUATION?

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.  Romans 14:13

         When my faith was young and fragile, I was easily disillusioned when I saw flaws in someone I looked up to.  My spirit felt the crash as they came tumbling off the pedestal I had put them on.  If the offense, in my eyes, was serious enough, I would wonder if they were even Christians.  This is what those who are weak in the faith do when they pass judgment.

         Those who are stronger in Christ and are seasoned followers of the Spirit have far more latitude.  They understand more about true liberty within the parameters of God’s moral law.  Because of that, it’s easy for them to look at the weaker Christian, become exasperated, and call them childish.

         James Boice describes this best.  “The weak are not to judge the strong by considering them unspiritual, and the strong are not to judge the weak by considering them immature.”

         If I am a young Christian, I am looking for the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of scripture.  I want God to make everything clear for me.  I am a toddler – looking to a Daddy to tell me what to touch or not touch, what to embrace and what to avoid.  I need clear and concise commands to show me how to walk. Continue reading “Who Am I In The Equation?” →

TRUSTING THAT TIME WILL STAND STILL

Why do you pass judgment on your brother?  Or you, why do you despise your brother?  For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”  Romans 14:10-11

         Every powerful encounter I have had with Christ, one where He was speaking to me, had one element that remained constant.  It seemed like time stood still.  It seemed suspended.  A powerful five-minute encounter seemed like hours.  And a several hour encounter seemed like it could have been a whole day.  When I recorded my last music project on CD, the one with piano, flutes, and recorder, I named it SUSPENDED IN THE SPIRIT.  I prayed that the music would ‘suspend’ each one who listened to the music to heaven’s time; one where God speaks and the moments are timeless and poignant.

         Why talk about that with these scriptures?  Judgments are passed on others because I am caught in the frustration of earth’s time.  I’ve heard nasty words spoken or seen unfair actions taken against me.  I either lash out in response or mutter unkind words under my breath.  Either way, I speak as if my words were needed to make final judgments.

         Here’s the thing ~ Whatever I say is a temporary judgment and it is not my place to make it. I will stand before Christ one day and be accountable for my nasty retort and the one who wronged me will also give an account for what he/she did.  Every knee will bow.

         Who is frustrating me today and wounding me on a personal level?  Who is hurting the body of Christ in a way that makes me simmer in anger? Continue reading “Trusting That Time Will Stand Still” →

THERE IS NO ‘WAS ALIVE’!

For to this end Christ died and lived again that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.  Romans 14:9

         Both my parents are in heaven.  Both of my husband’s parents are in heaven, too.  In speaking of them and recalling favorite memories, it’s easy to say, “When my mother was alive, she did such and such.”  The truth is, my mother’s life never ended and there is no ‘was’.  She is alive.  She is God’s daughter and though her body died, her soul never skipped a beat.  It left her bodily shell and flew to Jesus.  How well I remember my mother’s face, moments after she died at age 64, and it was so obvious that the essence of her had left.  I was looking at an empty container. Continue reading “There Is No ‘Was Alive’.” →

WAY TO WRECK A SUNDAY!

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.  Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.  Romans 14:5-6

         The same legalistic churches and groups that had rules about dancing, card playing, and movies during my childhood also had rules about the Sabbath.  Sunday was a day for nothing other than total quiet.  For a kid, it meant ~‘no fun!’  Other families played games, went swimming in the summer, ice-skating in the winter, and went outside to play ball with their fathers.  On Sundays, we brought home company for dinner after church, then sat in our living room and visited for several hours.  The guests left middle of the afternoon and then everyone went to bed for long naps.  Gee, couldn’t wait for Sundays!  And what did my sister and I do while our parents visited with company in the living room?  Sat on the floor of the hall and rolled a ball back and forth.  Are we having fun yet? Continue reading “Way To Wreck A Sunday!” →

WHAT IS A WEAK CHRISTIAN?

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.  One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.  Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.  Romans 14:1-3

         A weak believer is one who has strong opinions about a secondary issue.  He sets out to argue about it with anyone who disagrees.  It becomes the center of his focus.  His quarrelsome approach destroys fellowship.  Knowing a fight is coming, others nearby will brace themselves when they see the weaker brother approaching.  The nature of his relationships within the church is argumentative.

         How Christians treat each other is the subject of the next 35 verses.  Paul thought it was extremely important and dedicated to dedicate a chapter and a half to the topic.  Human nature hasn’t changed much since the time he wrote this.  We are still arguing about things that don’t matter all that much in the kingdom.

         Who is the weak believer?  At times, all of us are.  Continue reading “What Is A Weak Christian?” →

CHANGING MY CLOTHES

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.  So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Romans 13:12

         The night, referring to this evil age, has about run its course. It’s not the time to faint nor sink into despair over evil. I can perceive Jesus on the horizon.  The coming Light of the world is like a racehorse at the starting gate, just waiting for His Father to say, “Son, it’s time!”  Can you hear Him panting?  Can you feel His heart beating faster?  He’s eager.  He’s ready.

         The genocide of Darfur?  Over.  Persecution and martyrdom of God’s children in the world?  Over.  Youth taking guns to school to exact revenge?  Over.  Corruption in government, in business, in church leadership?  Over.  The things that make me double over in pain and weep?  Over.

         Today is not just another day on the calendar.  It’s a day nearing the end of our age.  It elicits a strong response.  Continue reading “Changing My Clothes” →

I UNDERSTAND MY TIMES

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  Romans 13:11

         Am I fully awake?  Has God caused my spiritual senses to arise out of twilight sleep?  Like one who drives a ten-hour trip, I can numb out and not recall the last four hours of the trip.  Unaware of the scenery.  Unaware of traffic.  Just marking time and watching the mile markers change.  ‘You know the time’ has biblical history.  Oh, how I can’t afford to miss it.  It’s not about eschatology either.

         In Matthew 16, the Jewish leaders came to Jesus and asked for a sign, a sign that would confirm who He was and that what He was saying was true.  Jesus was firm that there were signs all around them but they refused to see them.

         An even better understanding of this phrase comes from I Chronicles 12.  When David was king at Hebron, a group of warriors came to his aid.  (The men of Issachar predominantly.)  They are described as those ‘who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.’  Is there anything better than keeping company with those who are spiritually astute, who know the mind and heart of God and are able to interpret the times and events!  I shouldn’t have to rely on those who have a prophetic gifting to understand God’s heart on a matter.  Yes, they possess a keen sense of God’s thinking on issues but that wisdom is available to all who seek Him and seek the truth.

         ‘Wake me up!’ is what I’m praying. Continue reading “I Understand My Times” →

HIDING FROM RESPONSIBILITY

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.  Romans 13:7

         Why is it?  If financial times are difficult and there have been several missed payments on a mortgage, the tendency is to hide from the company when they call?  To not take their call might be understandable if I’m having a bad day, but to repeatedly ignore their attempts to reach me is not ‘giving them what I owe’.  If I don’t have the money, money is – at that point – beside the point.  What I owe them is the respect and honor of communicating.  Hiding insinuates that I’m turning a blind eye to my responsibility.

         Hiding is a perfected art.  I can even hide from God when He comes calling.  If I have failed to honor Him with my life, when honor was owed, then He attempts to speak with me about it.  I hide by avoiding silence!  Continue reading “Hiding From Responsibility” →

THE CONSCIENCE OF A FOUR YEAR OLD

Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?  Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good.  Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.  Romans 13:3-5

            A few days ago my four-year-old grandson visited me for several hours.  After a particularly trying moment where he tested the limits of my authority, I informed him that he would obey me and decided he was old enough to begin to understand why.  I sat in my office chair, pulled him up on my lap and said, “The only way you will be happy is to obey whoever is in authority.  God made you that way.  Even Nana has people to obey, did you know that?  Policemen tell me what to do.  Even Jesus tells me what to do.  And when I hear His voice, my heart should say, ‘Yes, Lord!’  Nana is just miserable if I don’t obey Jesus.  I love you, Andy, and I want you to have a happy heart.  Obeying me right now is so important.”

            I’m not sure he had a breakthrough moment.  This will be the beginning of many discussions like this but it’s a beginning.  Ultimately, any of us in authority over children should handle it carefully for we are training them to grow up and say, “Yes, Lord!” to whatever He asks of them.  We don’t want them to have to learn submission through the hard road of rebellion and discipline.  Whatever we don’t teach them well, God will.  The lessons will be harder at 35 then they would have been at Andy’s age.  Let’s spare them that. Continue reading “The Conscience of a Four Year Old” →