What Proof Do You Have?

Yesterday I asked the question "What Is the True Evidence Of Your Faith?".  Today I'd like to ask "What proof do you have?". 

I was reading in the 5th Chapter of Mark today and in a very short space Jesus told someone to have faith and to believe.  I looked both of those words up and they have much the same meaning.  They both refer to having faith or believing in something with no "real" proof to back it up.

As we try to reach those who don't know Jesus, one of the questions is what proof do we have?  That's a tough question to answer, especially because a lot of people are skeptical. 

We can show them the Bible.  In our lives it represents the Word of God.  To others it is just a book.  You and I both know that there are enough little inconsistencies in there that if someone is looking for a reason to doubt they will find one. 

Now you and I know that there is historical evidence of Jesus' existence independent of the Bible.  And if someone were truly willing to take the time to do an in depth study I think they would come to see that as well.  The problem is that takes time and commitment and most people just aren't that interested.  So what should we do?

As I've said before, I think the personal testimony is one of the most effective witnessing tools we have.  What kind of real life difference has believing in Jesus made in my life?  How is my life tangibly better with Jesus than without? 

You see until we can answer "what's in it for them" the proof generally won't matter.  But once they are ready for some proof, what do we have to offer that is short and sweet and can get them interested in learning more?

I think it goes right back to the personal testimony.  What is it that convinced you?  I think we all have stories where we can look back in our lives and see things come together in a way that are too much to be circumstantial.  We can look back and know without a shadow of a doubt that God intervened in our lives for the better.

Yeah but won't I sound foolish?  Maybe.  But let me ask this.  Do you think believers are the only ones that see where God has intervened in their lives?  Or do you think it is possible that many out there who aren't believers have experienced that same thing?  They just never connected it with God.  To hear you make that connection may be all the "proof" they need.  Just to hear you express something that they sensed deep down inside but didn't know what to call it, may be all that is needed to make that connection.  That is the proof they are looking for.

So have some fun and spend a little time looking back in your life and remembering those times where you can see God intervened.  Relive those times.  Thank and praise God for those times.  Now remember those times and share them next time you get the chance!

What Is the True Evidence Of Your Faith?

I believe the true evidence of your faith is how you handle a crisis of unimaginable proportions.  It's easy to handle the good times.  It's how you handle things when life heads south that counts. 

That was never more evident to me than this past weekend.  You see a 25 year old man was murdered last week.  This man was the child of some friends of mine.  He was a med student at the U of M where he was murdered in his apartment.

We have known this young man and his family since all of our kids were in high school.  By all accounts it would be hard to find a finer, more gifted young man out there.  He was a young man that touched more lives than might be expected for someone his age.

There are a couple of lessons that I think we can learn here.  Number one is the example that Paul set in the way he lived his life.  He was a man of God who lived life to the fullest, and he did it with a great big smile on his face.  Scripture tells us to run the race to win and Paul certainly did that. 

The second lesson leads back to the question I asked in the title.  What is the true evidence of your faith? 

It's no wonder that Paul turned out to be such a fine Christian young man.  You see he is from a fine Christian family who live their faith every day.  And that faith was never on display more than it was this weekend.

You see Paul was a runner.  The community held a vigil at the high school track on Saturday night. 

http://photos.mlive.com/kalamazoogazette/2013/07/lovee_your_familyzip_2.html

Put yourself in his families place.  Just days before they had learned that their son/brother had been murdered.  How would you handle that?  It's hard to know for sure so let me just tell you how they handled it.  

With a grace and hope that could only come from the comfort of their faith in God.  The whole family, while sad at the loss, still had a smile on their face and you could see the joy that they were experiencing, even in the middle of their pain, hearing all the people in the community share their memories of Paul. 

At the funeral today it continued.  They talked about all of the miracles that have come about in the middle of this tragedy.  They were praising God for all of the good things that were starting to come out of their son's death.  They were praising the fact that someone came up after the prayer service on Sunday night and let them know that he/she had just accepted Christ because of Paul.

Could you do that?  Would your faith carry you through like that?   Faith in Christ has many times been described as the comfort or peace that surpasses all understanding.    Do you have that kind of faith?  Would you like to?

Then maybe you should meet Paul's friend and Savior, Jesus.  I know nothing would make Paul happier.  Nothing would make Jesus happier.  And, you'll have to trust me on this, but nothing will make you happier in the long run than having Jesus beside you the rest of your life and into eternity.

So if you don't know Jesus yet then just simply introduce yourself to Him.  Ask Him to give you the salvation and comfort that he gave Paul.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…." 

Wow! Jesus In Your Face

The over riding picture that most people have of Jesus is peaceful, kumbaya Jesus.  I like the picture the following Scripture paints as well. 

Mark 3:1-6(NKJV)

1And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 

2So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 

3And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 

4Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 

5And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored £as whole as the other. 

6Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Here is what I see.  Jesus is willing to engage in debate and discussion as long as they are serious about the debate.  But once it gets to the point that He knows that they aren't at all interested in serious debate but are instead just trying to set him up, what does Jesus do? 

He goes junk yard dog on them.  He gets right in their face, with anger.  He "hits" right back with a question of his own.  Then stares them down.  Then boldly heals the guy right there in front of them, effectively daring them to do something about it.  How much more in your face can you get then that?

Now am I suggesting that we got out and try to attract people to Christ with this attitude all the time?  Of course not.  What I am saying is that these is indeed a time for righteous anger.  There is a time when get in your face is called for.  Don't use it often, but when you do, use it effectively!

The Sabbath Was Made For Man, And Not Man For the Sabbath

Mark 2:27-28(NKJV)

27And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 

28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

I like referring back to this Scripture anytime I see religion getting too complicated.  It seems that man has a tendency to create new rules and rituals where non existed before.   To what purpose?  I think it is about control more than anything else. 

I think man has a tendency to twist the rules to mean things that the rules were never intended to mean.  Let me give you an example from Mark 2.  Here is a fuller version of the text above.

Mark 2:25-28(NKJV)

25But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 

26how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

27And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 

28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

What is another name for the Sabbath?  The Day of Rest.  That is it's whole purpose.  Back then there was no such thing as the weekend.  You pretty much worked 7 days a week.  The Sabbath gave people a chance to rest and recharge.   Look what the Priests translated that into.

You can't do any "work" whatsoever on the Sabbath.  You have to sit around on your butt and do nothing.  Now for some people that is OK, but to others that doesn't really help them rest and recharge.  It would drive me crazy.

You see there are many of us out here that find doing things that some would call work very enjoyable.  As an example, I love to work on my own car.  It gives me a great sense of fun, enjoyment, and satisfaction.  These are all feelings and emotions that help me recharge.  But according to the Priests of old working on my car on a Sunday would be forbidden.

Now let's go over to my common sense approach to God.  As I've said before, my favorite paradigm of God is God the Father.  As a parent yourself, as long as your kids are attempting to follow the spirit of your instructions, to rest and recharge, do you really care how they do it?  Isn't it best left up to them to decide what helps them feel refreshed and reinvigorated?  And if you feel that way about your kids, isn't it logical that God probably looks at it the same way?  I happen to think so.

So the next time you are be overwhelmed with do's and don'ts, rules and regulations, ask yourself this.  "Is this an example of Sabbath for Man or Man for Sabbath", and choose accordingly. 

For He Taught Them As One Having Authority

Mark 1:22(NKJV)

22And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Have you ever met someone who "taught as one having authority"?  What exactly does that mean?  I have met someone like that and so I'll explain what I think it means.

In my mind it means someone that has not just the book knowledge but the heart knowledge.  In other words they have read and studied it so much that it has become a part of them.  They know the subject so well that they can speak with authority without notes.

Years ago we had a missionary speak at our church.  His name was Dave Greene.  He had been a missionary in Africa for 30-40 years.  He was leading us in a Bible study.   He told us to follow along as he read such and such a passage.  I looked up and he wasn't really reading.  He knew it by heart.  A little later the same thing happened.  To me that is a great example of someone who teaches with authority. 

Do not be afraid

Do not be afraid

Matthew 28:10(NKJV)

10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Do you know how many times the phrase "do not be afraid" or "do not fear"  appear in the Bible?  99 times.  If we were to expand it to similar phrases that give the same meaning I'm sure the number would be even higher. 

This seems to be a common theme in the Bible so I wanted to look a little deeper into it.  First let's define fear so we are all on the same page.

fear

1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm. Antonyms: courage, security, calm, intrepidity.

2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights. Synonyms: phobia, aversion; bête noire, bogy, bogey, bugbear. Antonyms: liking, fondness, penchant, predilection.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
4. reverential awe, especially toward God: the fear of God. Synonyms: awe, respect, reverence, veneration.
5. something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of: Cancer is a common fear.

But how do we not fear?  Isn't that unrealistic?  To completely eliminate fear is probably unrealistic.  Let's face it, if I jump out from behind a door and scare the snot out of you, no matter how cool and calm you normally are you are going to get a jolt of fear.

What I think Scripture is referring to is the condition of living in fear.  No matter how bad things are, if you are a Christian, there is absolutely no reason to live in fear.  Living in fear or not is a decision.  Think I'm being too simplistic?

God tells us very clearly not to live in fear.  God does not set us up for failure.  So if God tells us not to fear you can be sure that God gives us the tools we need to make that happen.  The tools He gives us is our faith, Scripture, and a belief in Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us not to fear. 

Scripture tells us that God is in ultimate control and has a plan for our lives.

Scripture tells us that we can do all things through Christ.

Scripture tells us that God wants us to prosper in all things even as our soul prospers.

What more do you need?  Stop fearing and start standing on those promises!  Does that mean things will always work out perfectly and be all hunky dory in every situation?  Nope.  But what it does mean is that in the end it will all work out for the best if we truly have faith.

Let me give you and example.  Back in the 70's Chuck Colson went to prison for his part in the Watergate Scandal.  But out of the experience, because of his faith, came a multi decade, nation wide, prison ministry.  It all worked out to the glory of God in the end.

So how do you get this faith?  The first step is asking Jesus to be the Lord of your life.  Have you done that yet?  It's easy.  Just have a conversation with Jesus asking Him to take control.  "Dear Jesus…."

Now get into the Word.  Seek God's wisdom in the Bible.  You don't have to read it all at one.  Try reading 1 chapter a day in the New Testament and 1 chapter a day in the Old Testament.  Shouldn't take more than 15-30 minutes.  From there it is just a matter of taking control of your fear.  Anytime you feel the fear, lean on what you have learned in Scripture and then lean on God.  Make a decision to no longer fear.  

That's it?  That's all there is to it?  Well not exactly.  It is a decision that you will have to make again and again throughout your life.  Faith is like a muscle.  The more you exercise it the stronger it gets.  So over time it will become easier and easier, but it still all starts with a decision not to fear.

Have faith.  You won't be disappointed!

The Blessings of God's Timing

Being self employed and working right out of my home I have to be a self starter and goal oriented.  So most days there are things that need to be accomplished.  It's easy to get too focused and lose sight of why you are working so hard in the first place. 

I have found that occasionally God will step in and give ma a break if I will just listen.  I have learned over time to be more and more open to those breaks in my routine.  Today was one of those days.

I was watching by Grandson and I saw on Facebook that the Lake Michigan water temperature was around 79.  That is really warm for Lake Michigan.  All of a sudden God struck me with the inspiration to take my almost year old grandson for his first trip to the beach.

What a great time.  So nice to get a surprise break from work and to just create some memories.  God is sooo good!

Freely You Have Received, Freely Give

Matthew 10:8-9(NKJV)

8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, £raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

9Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 

That is one of the best pieces of advice you will find anywhere in my opinion.  Our salvation is free.  All that we have; our time, health, and treasure all are a gift from God. 

Scripture tells us that we can't out give the giver.  It sounds like a cliché but it is true.  Try it sometime.  Give more of your time than you normally would.  Go out of your way to help someone.  The rewards of giving freely are hard to believe until you experience them.  Give it a try.  You won't be disappointed!

Paying the Price For Poor Judgment

One of the issues I think is important to look at regarding the poor is how much of their being poor is because of choices they have made and how much is because of circumstances beyond their control.  The reason I think the distinction is  important is that I think there is a difference in the way those two groups should  be handled from a Biblical perspective.

Matthew 25:1-12(NKJV)

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

2Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 

4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

5But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom £is coming; go out to meet him!’ 

7Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 

8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

9But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 

10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 

12But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Notice in this story that those who were wise and prepared were rewarded.  Those who weren't prepared were shut out of the good times.  Were they shut out for some reason beyond their control?  Not at all.  They were shut out because they were foolish and not prepared, something they controlled directly.  Notice what happened when the foolish virgins came back later saying give us a break, let us in.  What did Jesus tell them?  Take a hike.  You missed the opportunity. 

For those who have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own I think compassion is in order.  They deserve some help and a hand up to get back on their feet. 

On the other hand we have those who have made poor or foolish choices throughout their lives that have limited their ability to enjoy life to the fullest.  What I am thinking of here are things like getting a degree in Underwater Basket Weaving instead of getting a degree in something that they can actually earn a living at.  Things like having a bunch of kids when they haven't even graduated high school.  Things like watching their industry change and not taking any initiative to upgrade their skills and get a better job before their current jobs is gone.

The Scripture above seems to indicate that those people should suffer the consequences of their foolishness.  Does that mean that we shouldn't help them as well?  Not at all.  However in my opinion I think the single most valuable thing we can do for those people is make their help conditional on their recognizing and admitting that it is their own mistakes that have put them in the position they are in. 

In other words, they aren't victims!  They brought it on themselves just like the foolish virgins above.   There are many that think this approach is cruel.  I think it is even crueler to let them hide from the real cause of their problems by coddling them and telling them it isn't their fault when it is!

Whatever Is Right I Will Give You

Today's passage is a long one.  My thoughts are at the bottom and they are brief.

Matthew 20:1-15(NKJV)

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 

2Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 

3And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 

4and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 

5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 

6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing £idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 

7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, £and whatever is right you will receive.’

8“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 

9And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 

10But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 

11And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 

12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 

13But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 

14Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 

15Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 

In today's world we hear a lot about fairness, social justice, and income equality.   By today's standard many would consider what the owner did to be unjust, but is it? 

Notice that throughout the story he says something like  "and I will give you what is right.".  Who determines what is right or "fair"?  The owner does.  It's his money and it is his property.  Notice that it begins with negotiations between the owner and the first workers.  They agreed to work for a certain amount of money.  They made that choice of their own free will. 

So if the owner decides to pay other people more, does that affect the fairness of the first deal?  I believe the message of this Scripture is that it does not.  It seems like a logical conclusion to me but it is nice to have some Scriptural backup.

But You Were Not Willing

Matthew 23:37-39(NKJV)

37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 

38See! Your house is left to you desolate; 

39for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”£

I wrote a piece called Let Them Alone! A couple of weeks ago and this verse just seems to reinforce that message.  It again shows Christ's method of outreach. 

The offer of salvation is there, free for anyone to take advantage of.  But as Jesus says in this passage, "but you were not willing".  In other words some rejected Jesus.  This is the part that I find interesting.  Does Jesus "stalk them" and keep evangelizing to them?  Nope.  As it says elsewhere, at the point that they reject Jesus it is not a c'est la vie moment, they have CHOSEN to become an enemy of God. 

Look at verse 38.  "Your house is left to you desolate".  Again not a live and let live moment.  Jesus specifically uses the word desolate.  Take a look at the meaning.

des·o·late

1. barren or laid waste; devastated: a treeless, desolate landscape.
2. deprived or destitute of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited.
3. solitary; lonely: a desolate place.
4. having the feeling of being abandoned by friends or by hope; forlorn.
5. dreary; dismal; gloomy: desolate prospects.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Desolate>

Now is someone who has rejected Jesus an enemy of God forever?  Nope.  Who decides.  The person that rejected Jesus gets to decide.  They are free to seek Jesus anytime that they want.  The only catch is that once they reject Jesus, He says in verse 39 that the only way He will take them back is if they come to Him from the start admitting that Jesus is who He says He is". 

So where does that leave us in our mission to spread the news about Jesus.  I'd say share your faith with all that you have the opportunity to but if they choose not to embrace Jesus move on, you've done your job.  They have made their choice.  Jesus is willing to respect their choice (that whole free will thing) let them suffer the consequences of their choice so I think that is the example that we should follow.

That's Where That Came From!

1 Chronicles 22:5(NKJV)

5Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.

If you have ever traveled in Europe you know that there are some magnificent cathedrals over there.  There are some pretty impressive churches in the US as well. 

I have at time heard Christians criticize other Christians for building big churches like that.  They feel it is a waste of resources that could better be used for the poor.  Could they have a point? 

I can see some validity in both sides of the argument and I'm not here to debate the issue.  What I find interesting though is that it is an issue that seems to go all the way back to the time of King David. 

From David's point of view, he served a mighty God, the God of all gods, and God deserved nothing but the best of the best.  I think that may be where this really got a start.  The Israelites had made temples and alters before but nothing as ornate as what David had a vision for.  He stock piled the materials so that when it came time for his son Solomon to build God's house, supplies would be of no concern whatsoever, and the age of the Mega-God's House was born.   

The Hatfields and The McCoys

We've all heard of the feud between the Hatfield's and the McCoy's.  What I didn't realize was that there was a similar thing going on in the Old Testament.  Take a look.

1 Chronicles 20:4(NKJV)

4Now it happened afterward that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed £Sippai, who was one of the sons of the giant. And they were subdued.

1 Chronicles 20:5(NKJV)

5Again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of £Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

1 Chronicles 20:6-8(NKJV)

6Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, with twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant. 

7So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of £Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

8These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

We all know the story of David and Goliath.  What I didn't realize was that it developed into a long running feud between David and his relatives and Goliath and his relatives. 

As the Old Testament tells us in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun! 

Any Time You Try To Rationalize….

Recognize it for what it is and do what you know is right.  Come on, you know we all do it occasionally.  Here is what I am talking about.

I've got a lot to do today and so I really wanted to get a jump on things.  I started rationalizing how it would be OK to do this and this first and then around noon get to my Bible study.  It was like I was running it by God for His OK.

And here's the cool thing.  He'd have let me if that was really the way things needed to be that day.  No punishment or anything.  I find God is a really understanding God. 

Fortunately there was another part of me that realized it for what it was and said "Oh no.  You always say "Put God first and everything else will fall into place.  So do it!"  :)

So here I sit doing my Bible study first thing and you know what?  I got two new things to write about out of todays reading.  I'll share them with you in the future.  For now just remember to recognize what is going on anytime you try to rationalize why you can't spend time with God.

Be Of Good Courage and Let Us Be Strong

1 Chronicles 19:13(NKJV)

13Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”

You may recall a couple of weeks ago I wrote about The Dichotomy of the Meek and Strong.   I ran across this verse and it just reminded me again of that dichotomy.

David's army is out there doing God's work.  They are just about to go into battle against two armies at once.  Did they pray for meekness?  Heck no!  They prayed for courage and strength!

Hmm!

I personally think this is a much healthier approach to our Christian walk, as long as we remember where that courage and strength come from.

Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

13I can do all things through £Christ who strengthens me.

Is Jesus strengthening you in your daily walk?  Have you asked Jesus to take control and guide you?  Why not do it right now?  "Dear Jesus…."