As I have written before about Romans 8, sometimes a passage in the Bible which seems overused and tired comes to life again in a fresh light. This has been the case with 1 Corinthians 13—the famous love chapter, which the elders of Cornerstone have decided to study individually and apply to their lives. I don’t get very far substituting my name for love (Ted is patient, Ted is kind) before I realize I have failed in every one of these areas.
For example, “Love always protects.” The other night I was in bed and Lucibeth wanted me to come out to the car with her (in the dark) to look for something. I (very reluctantly) got out of bed to go with her, realizing even as I went that the attitude of love is as important as the action of love. Not only was I being self-seeking by wanting to stay in bed, but I was only reluctantly protecting, rather than cherishing to do so. And I also sought to explain away my sin in my mind by believing that there is no real threat in our neighborhood anyway.
The good part about this exercise with the elders is that it exposed the sinfulness of my heart and gave me an opportunity to repent. Lord, forgive me and help me; help me to be so tender toward Lucibeth, help me to so cherish her that I would delight to offer her protection before she even thinks of her need.
And forgive me Lord that I allow parts of your Word to feel ‘tired’ to me, and I may not look at these parts for years as a result. Thank you that the very fact that these passages come back to life to me and jump off the page testifies to the supernatural nature of this Book.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
God's Presence
In our preaching series we are coming up on one of my favorite passages, concerning the presence of God (Exodus 33). God is angry at Israel for their disobedience and basically says, “I’ll send an angel with you on your journey, but I will not go with you myself.” Moses’ response is classic: “God, if your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” God promises a bounteous land full of blessing and luxury, and Moses would rather stay right where he is if God is not going to go with them.
God, do not send me home tonight to my family without your presence. Do not let me run errands today without your presence. As I work on the message this week, I do not want to read one word of Scripture without your presence. I do not want to read one commentary without your presence. I do not want to write one word of notes without your presence.
God, do not send me home tonight to my family without your presence. Do not let me run errands today without your presence. As I work on the message this week, I do not want to read one word of Scripture without your presence. I do not want to read one commentary without your presence. I do not want to write one word of notes without your presence.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Evangelism Through Prayer
As I read Matthew I am reminded and amazed at the centrality of the theme of outreach. To name just a couple instances, in chapter 4 Jesus says to his disciples, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In a very real sense being fishers of men is the central calling of a Christian. In chapter 5 He teaches that we are light and salt, and that the reason we are to let our light shine before men is so that others will see and praise God in heaven.
Then in chapter 9, Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion on them. Interestingly he does not here send out his disciples. Rather, he teaches them to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” Two points are important here. First is the connection between vision and action. Jesus 1) saw—with compassion; then, he 2) acted—instructing his disciples to pray. I am convinced that evangelism is not on most Christian’s radar in life, and the reason is that they do not see the need. If you don’t see the need and you don’t have compassion on the eternal destiny of others, I suggest don’t just pray for God to send out workers; pray first for God to change your heart and your spiritual eyesight.
The second point to be made here is that when I think of different methods of evangelism—relational, tracts, inviting to church, etc., rarely is prayer on my list. Do I truly believe Jesus when he said, “Ask and you shall receive?” Am I praying—consistently, persistently, passionately, urgently—for the lost around me? For my family members, neighbors, for divine appointments?
God, make me so aware of the lost around me, so compassionate toward them, that I not only become a man of prayer for their salvation, but that their salvation becomes one of the main themes and driving forces in my life.
Then in chapter 9, Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion on them. Interestingly he does not here send out his disciples. Rather, he teaches them to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” Two points are important here. First is the connection between vision and action. Jesus 1) saw—with compassion; then, he 2) acted—instructing his disciples to pray. I am convinced that evangelism is not on most Christian’s radar in life, and the reason is that they do not see the need. If you don’t see the need and you don’t have compassion on the eternal destiny of others, I suggest don’t just pray for God to send out workers; pray first for God to change your heart and your spiritual eyesight.
The second point to be made here is that when I think of different methods of evangelism—relational, tracts, inviting to church, etc., rarely is prayer on my list. Do I truly believe Jesus when he said, “Ask and you shall receive?” Am I praying—consistently, persistently, passionately, urgently—for the lost around me? For my family members, neighbors, for divine appointments?
God, make me so aware of the lost around me, so compassionate toward them, that I not only become a man of prayer for their salvation, but that their salvation becomes one of the main themes and driving forces in my life.
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