Prepare the Way of the Lord

"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'" (Isaiah 40:3-5)

The prophet Isaiah refers, in this passage, to the "desert" and the "wilderness" in which the people were living. As we said on Sunday, the spiritual climate for the nation of Israel was a bumpy one at best. The periods of great revival and faithfulness to their God were generally followed by periods of rebellion and idolatry. They would become so evil in their rebellion that God would allow captivity or bondage or some other hardship to bring them to their senses. They would repent and seek God, for a little while at least!

It seems to me that we are in a desert/wilderness today. Our nation certainly displays signs of that. For a country that perhaps has more Bibles per capita than any nation on earth, we are spiritually destitute. We have abandoned the God of the Bible and chosen instead to become a nation of secular humanists. Divorce is on the rise. Abortion has become the norm. Church attendance is down. Our fellow Americans affirm that there are "many roads to heaven." It reminds me of the days of Noah when everyone was kind of doing as they pleased. If you recall, that didn't turn out very well, did it?

With that in mind, it seems that we are truly to be "different" in such a way that we prepare the way of the Lord by pointing to the Lord.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9)

Are you living your life in such a way that those around you--family, friends, neighbors--see you pointing to the Lord? You may not be running around with a sign that says, "Repent! The end of the world is coming!" but the way you live your life can speak LOUDLY and CLEARLY the message of your life.

Actually, it is probably more correct to say that your life DOES speak loudly and clearly about something. The question is, what does it say? The way you live your life tells those around you what your priorities are, what you value, what you believe, and about your God. They are watching. Don't ever be mistaken about that.

They are noticing

• Where you spend your time and money
• How you treat those around you
• If you live a life of integrity
• If you are walking your talk

Ask the Lord to help you to be the example you need to be in order to prepare the way of the Lord in the lives of those around you. It is a huge responsibility.

So I leave you with the questions I gave you yesterday. How are you preparing the way of the Lord in people's lives? Can you specify how YOUR LIFE is helping someone else to be more open to the ways of the Son of God? How will revival touch this (or that) person because of the influence of the Risen Lord in your life?

Talk to me! I want to hear what your thoughts are!

What Have You Done for me Lately?

On Sunday we talked about the lepers in Luke 17 who Jesus healed of the dreaded disease of leprosy. As you recall, I likened that physical disease of leprosy to our spiritual disease of sin.

As we enter this Thanksgiving week, we all become abundantly aware of our blessings: family, friends, food, job, shelter, material blessings, and more. The list goes on and on. But often we leave out our biggest blessing of all.

Today I am going to borrow a quote from Beverly's e-mail signature (thanks Honey!). You have all seen it before, I am sure, but it is what I want to focus on here:

"When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that God is enough." Maude Royden

When it is all said and done, God is all that we need. Years ago, I heard a song at a concert. While I don't remember the words exactly, I absolutely remember the gist of it. Basically, it was reminding us that when God called Himself "I AM" He was basically saying that He is all we need. I like that.

But today, I really want to hone in on our basic need. Our fundamental need in life is for a Savior. The Bible tells us that we were "helpless in our sins" (Romans 5:6) and God, in His mercy and grace, saw our need and our helplessness and sent us the only One who could rescue us from our desperate situation. Jesus Christ--Son of God, King of kings, Lord of lords--came to earth as a lowly impoverished baby, sent for one purpose alone--to rescue us and save us. He bought us and brought us back from the grip of death.

In the end, isn't that what matters? All the "stuff" that we count so important in our lives (and I'm not saying that food and shelter isn't important), pales in comparison to the work of the cross on our behalf.

Every year on Thanksgiving, our family has a tradition of going around the table and having everyone say what they're thankful for. Maybe your family does that too.

This year, maybe one of the things on your list will be salvation! Maybe it will be at the top of your list! I hope so!

Talk to me! What are your thoughts about thankfulness for salvation?

Resilience

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Erika shared Sunday morning. She talked about persevering and being content and being grateful. There’s another word that also comes to mind -- resilience.

I received a brochure a while back from a company specializing in "resilient furniture": simple, sturdy, water resistant tables and chairs — not fancy in any way, but built to last. They're not cheap either; a plain white folding chair is about $60. They're not as pretty as the office chairs we could buy at Office Depot or Staples for about the same price, but those chairs don't have a long life-span.

There's something to be said for basic, unadorned resiliency — the ability to get through, get over, and thrive after trauma, trials and tribulations. In this sense, sturdy beats stylish every time.

USA Weekend did a cover story a while back on the subject of resiliency, asking the question, "Why do some people bounce and others break?" The article noted how some people who experience trauma withdraw into a shell, while others facing the same crisis not only bounce back, but bounce back stronger than ever before. It talked about how resiliency is being studied in universities and taught in corporate seminars. Resiliency, the article said, could become the most important skill of the 21st century.

Why do some people break down while others bounce back? Unlike furniture, I don't think it has to do with our design. A chair can only be as strong as it was made to be; it can't decide to be more resilient or less resilient. We, on the other hand, have access to support beyond ourselves. Our "design" — our emotional make-up resulting from parental and societal influences — can be overcome. A person who is naturally weak and easily discouraged doesn't have to stay that way.

There's a verse in Philippians that I shared a couple of weeks ago. Let’s look at it again. Paul is talking about being able to face hard times as well as good times, and he states confidently, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Resilience comes down to a decision: whose strength will I draw from — my own, or God's? One of the wonderful truths of the gospel message is that if you will look to God for strength, He will give it to you.

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

What are your thoughts? Talk to me!

Discovering the Secret of Contentment

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9

Paul, in his letter to the church at Philippi, writes to them about the need to THINK about positive things--noble, just, true, pure, lovely, and of good report. He then goes on to talk to them about his own contentment in the midst of not-so-great circumstances, humanly speaking.

Paul learned to be content, he tells us, which kind of implies that he hasn't always known how. Read 4:13, where he says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Christ is his strength, and Christ is his source of contentment.

Paul tells them what to think about, and tells him he has learned to be content, and then tells them that he can do all things through Christ.

That gets me to wondering: What would life be like if I only thought about Jesus Christ? Now that might seem like a tall order, but think about this. What if in every situation where I am tempted to be discontent, I see Jesus in the midst of the situation? What if I think of things to be thankful for in the midst of it? (see 4:6-7)

When I am unsatisfied with my living conditions, what if I focused on thankfulness for having a roof over my head?

When I am unhappy in my job, what if I thanked the Lord that I have a job?

When I want something I can't afford (a new computer, an i-pod, a new car, a room addition, an electronic toy, etc.), what if I were to look around at the abundance that I DO have, and be thankful?

When I don't have enough, according to my own standards, what if I were to be thankful that God supplies what I need (not necessarily what I want)?

What if in my temptation to be discontent, I instead made a choice to be content because Jesus Christ has saved me from my sins and given me eternal life? What if I were to focus on gratitude for that awesome gift? Isn't that really all I need after all?

Being discontent is a choice. Being content is also a choice. Which do you choose?

In This World You Will Have Trouble

John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus' final talk with His disciples was meant to be an encouragement to them, but it seems like it was also a bit of a reality check. He knew that they were focused on His kingdom coming on earth, and fervently hoped that Jesus would rid them of the yoke of the Roman rule. (See Matthew 18) Even one of the moms got into the act and asked Jesus to make her sons rulers in His kingdom. (See Matthew 20)

These people apparently thought that Jesus had come to set things right in terms of freeing them from the iron rod of the Romans.

Jesus, in John 16, is telling them some things that will help them not give in to discouragement when the hard things come. He is telling them ahead of time, "I want you to know that hard times are ahead, but know that I am with you." I have a sense that some of them didn't "get it," and others didn't really believe it. That is evidenced by the the way they huddled together in Jerusalem after Jesus' death.

When I think of them huddled together, I imagine that there was some processing and praying going on. I have to wonder if one of the disciples didn't remind the others of some of the things that Jesus had said where He had predicted his own death. (Maybe James spoke up and said, "Oh, so that's what He meant!") We'll never know, will we? But I wonder how they felt about Jesus' teachings or their own beliefs about the Kingdom of God--AFTER Jesus died.

I wonder if it was in those three days following His death that they began to understand what He had said about them having trouble. Reality was setting in for sure. Jesus actually meant it when He said they would suffer and die because of Him!

However, Jesus had told them that they would have trouble, but He went on to remind them that when that happened He would be with them.

Here's the thing, folks: We will have trouble in this world. Do we want to have the Lord in our hearts and our lives when we go through it, or do we want to go it alone? I think we would all agree that during dark days of sickness, death, financial ruin, family trouble, war, strife and turmoil, it is a wonderful blessing to have the Lord go through it with us.

God has promised to be present with His people since the beginning. The Old Testament is full of His promises to be an abiding presence in our lives. Here are a couple of examples to get you started.

Joshua 1:5 "I will not leave you nor forsake you."

Isaiah 42:5 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and I will hold Your hand."

So how about you? What do you feel about going through tough times with the Lord in your life? Anyone feel like sharing? Post a comment!

The God Questions (Part IV) "If God is So Good, Why is there So Much Bad in the World?"

(Beverly is my ghost-writer today. Thanks, honey!)

There once was a little boy named Adam who had no home. Adam’s parents had died, and he had no relatives to take him in, so he was put into a foster home. After a year or two, Adam was adopted by a couple who had deeply longed for a child. They were so thrilled to finally have a son, and it was with great joy that they welcomed him into their family.

On that first day, they brought him home and showed him the room they had prepared for him. His eyes got as big as saucers when he saw the wonderful room that was there for him. He had his very own big bed, with a bedspread that had his favorite cartoon figures on it. Curtains to match. There was a TV set with all sorts of DVDs. He looked over by the closet and there was a box of sports equipment balls, bats, helmets, roller blades, and an assortment of other things as well.

His parents had bought every kind of toy imaginable, and there were shelves and shelves of books, puzzles, and games. In the closet he discovered brand new clothes, just his size! He couldn’t remember ever having brand new clothes before! Adam’s parents had thought of everything, that was apparent! This was a bedroom that some kids only dream about!

Adam’s dad told him, "Son, this is all for you. All you have to do is take care of these things, and you’ll be able to enjoy them for a long time."

Adam began to settle into his new home, and in the next few weeks he enjoyed reading the books and playing with the toys he had. He played with them carefully, and always made sure to put them back in their proper place, so as not to lose any of them.

Sadly, eventually, Adam got careless with his belongings. He got into the practice of not putting things away, which brought disastrous results. Game pieces got lost. Puzzle pieces too. Toys were left out, leaving them in someone’s pathway to be tripped over and broken. The sports equipment was all gone, because he had left the things outside where they had been lost or taken by a passer-by. Adam’s parents kept reminding him to take care of his things properly, but he did not heed their warnings.

In a relatively short amount of time, what had been every kid’s dream room became a disaster. There was not one book that wasn’t torn or scribbled in. There wasn’t a game or puzzle with all the pieces. Not one toy still worked as it was designed to work. All because of one boy’s disobedience of the only rule his parents had given him: Take care of these things.

Adam starting whining and complaining that he had nothing to do. He started throwing tantrums and demanding that his parents buy him new toys and books and puzzles. He wanted new sports equipment.

He begged and pleaded and cried for his parents to replace what had been lost or ruined. When his parents didn’t do that and they reminded him that the reason he had no toys to play with was because of his carelessness, that is when things really got ugly. Do you know what he did? He began to blame his parents for the losses, saying that if they would have bought him better things they would have lasted. In other words, this situation was not Adam’s fault. It was his parent’s fault.

This story reminds me a bit of how we blame God for all that is wrong in the world. If God is so good, why are there so many bad things that happen in the world?

God created the world and all that is in it, and pronounced it GOOD. God only gave one rule to Adam and Eve, and all was well until they chose to disobey. When that happened, sin entered the world and all the consequences of sin. Is that God’s fault? Can we blame God for all the bad things in the world?

What do you think?

The God Questions (Part III) "Do All Roads Lead to Heaven?"

On Sunday we did a whirlwind tour, examining the top ten religions in the world.

It is my hope that what emerged for you was an awareness of the ways in which Christianity stands alone, distinct from every other religion or philosophy.

1) The other religions are "me centered." They are about being dependent upon myself to do the right thing, think the right thing and change myself. As Christians, our dependence is upon Christ and His shed blood which saves us from our helpless condition of sin.

2) Some religions offer no eternal reward. Others offer a reward of paradise or nirvana. Those are very "me centered" as well. As Christians, our eternal reward is a continuation of our relationship with Christ, with joy, love, and peace being full and complete.

3) Some religions have many gods. Some have no gods. Some religions make us gods. As Christians, we serve a God who is Three in One, and who is bigger than all things created. I would have a real problem worshipping a God who manifests as a leaf or a snail or a volcano. While all of those things have life or power, our God's power is bigger than all created things combined.

4) Other religions are work centered. Christianity is Jesus-centered. He is the beginning and the end, and our salvation is totally dependent upon He who died to buy our ransom from sin.

I feel grateful to have come into the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. How about you?