Category: Christian Living

Reclaiming Your Spiritual Authority

Glancing in the rearview mirror, my heart skipped a beat as I saw the police car’s flashing lights. A quick look at the dashboard showed that I wasn’t speeding before I eased the car onto the shoulder. I’d been taking a shift behind the wheel as my husband and I made the 1700-mile drive to our son’s college halfway across the country.

Leaning into the passenger side window, the officer scanned my license and registration and asked where we were from and where we were going. His heavy boots crunched in the roadside gravel as he returned to his police cruiser to check my information. There was nothing we could do but wait. He had total authority over the situation. Eventually he returned and explained I hadn’t been following a driving law that was unique to his state. Thankfully, he let me off with a warning. (But not before my husband snapped a photo in the sideview mirror to rat me out to our son…)

I hadn’t even realized I was doing something wrong because the rules of the road are different where I live. Nonetheless, the police officer had authority over me as I drove through his jurisdiction.

It may sound strange, but that incident came to mind as I was reading Genesis 1 & 2 recently.  God created the world and then gave Adam and Eve authority to rule over it. (Their authority and “jurisdiction” were a bit more significant than the officer who pulled me over.) God gave them free will, allowing them to choose His way or to follow their own path.

Everything He had given them was good, but it wasn’t long before Satan came in the form of a serpent and enticed Eve to doubt God. By tempting her to disobey Him and eat the forbidden fruit, the enemy implied her Creator might be withholding something desirable from her. He mocked the Lord’s warning that eating from the tree would lead to death:

“‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:4-6, NIV)

By choosing to disobey, Adam and Eve unknowingly relinquished the authority God had given them at creation. They were too naïve to understand that everything under their authority would fall when they fell. Their actions brought a curse on all of creation and gave Satan authority over all that God had given them. The world would be under his jurisdiction from that point forward.

Because of this, Satan could legitimately claim authority over the earth when he tempted Jesus many years later: “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours’” (Luke 4:5-7, NIV). Fortunately, Jesus refused the enemy’s temptation and succeeded in obeying His Father where Adam and Eve had failed. During Christ’s life on earth, He set aside His nature as God and lived as a human so He could pay the penalty for the sins of humankind:

“[Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8, NIV)

When God resurrected Jesus from death, Satan was defeated and stripped of his authority: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive… Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 24-25, NIV).

Jesus commands ultimate authority and respect and, as His followers, we have access to that same authority. Jesus said to His disciples: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:18-19, NIV). He returned us to the original place of authority for which we were created. He also gave us the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us (see Acts 2:38-39).

We have jurisdiction over the earth– it is ours to reclaim, if only we will recognize this and act upon it.  Satan was defeated at the cross, but he will continue to wreak havoc on the earth until Jesus returns. There’s no need to fear, however, because we know how the story ends: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:20, NIV).

Do you understand the authority God has given you? Are you using it to combat the enemy and to expand the Lord’s kingdom in your spheres of influence?

If you want to learn more about these concepts, consider reading Charles Kraft’s book I Give You Authority, which provided the inspiration for this post. The information here is only a brief overview of this weighty topic.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation: A Study of Genesis 1-11, Lifeway Press 2017

Be Fruitful and Multiply

If my kids ever decide to map out their family tree, they’ll discover that the branches aren’t balanced or symmetrical. Some of their ancestors came from enormous families and produced limbs that were laden with bountiful fruit. Some stand alone, signifying the final offspring of a branch. Until recently, I never thought about why we use the symbol of a tree when we depict our ancestry visually. Maybe it has a connection to God’s language  when He delivers His plan for humanity in the opening pages of Genesis. Moments after creating man and woman in His image, God gives them some clear instructions, usually referred to as the Cultural Mandate:

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28, ESV).

At first glance, the mandate He gives seems straightforward and practical: they need to “be fruitful and multiply” by procreating to populate the earth. Their job is to bring order and structure to His creation and to oversee it according to His plan. However, I think there is also a deeper meaning to His words. Along with multiplying the number of people in the world, God was calling Adam and Eve to advance His kingdom on earth—to rule with, wisdom, love, and justice. He wanted them to carry out His will so that others on the planet could know and love Him as they did. Unfortunately, their choice to sin complicated this plan, but it didn’t thwart it entirely.

Throughout the Old Testament we see God’s people in a continual cycle. It would start when they rejected His way and sinned, which led to their decline as a people. This would be followed by consequences allowed by God’s hand. Eventually this would lead to them to repentance, renewed obedience, and restored relationship with Him. In between failures, the Israelites fitfully furthered His kingdom at different points in history. But it isn’t until Jesus arrives on the scene that we fully recognize the magnitude of God’s plan. “From the beginning, humanity was mandated to represent God, build culture and bring shalom to His world. Although compromised by the Fall, the mandate remains in place and is in fact fulfilled in Christ, the true God and true man who will ultimately restore His creation.” (“The Cultural Mandate: Living as Divine Image-Bearers” by Subby Szterszky. Click here for the full article.)

With Jesus’ birth, God renews His plan for His people to be fruitful and multiply to expand His kingdom—only this time it’s not so much about increasing the population as it is about changing the culture one heart at a time. His goal was for us to view ourselves and the world from His perspective instead of our own, which is why Jesus says: “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3, NIV). It is not until we are spiritually transformed that we can recognize God’s kingdom all around us and participate in advancing it further. Jesus explains, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst’” (Luke 17:20-21, NIV).

God’s kingdom has always been present in the world. And once we identify the places He’s moving and join Him in His work, He uses us to impact our surroundings. That’s what we’re inviting Him to do when we say: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10, NIV). Those words reveal our longing for God to carry out His will on earth so that His kingdom will continue to expand. This prayer acknowledges that we’re putting aside our wills and aligning ourselves with God’s agenda.

In the final days of His ministry, Jesus commissioned His followers to continue multiplying and bearing fruit when He said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV).

He assured them of His constant presence with them, reminding them that multiplying and bearing fruit was only possible by staying closely connected with Him. Perhaps they recalled His earlier teaching:“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5. NIV).

Every follower of Jesus represents another branch on God’s family tree. And by abiding with Him, we’re equipped to share His love with others so that the branches will multiply and continue to bear more fruit in His ever-expanding kingdom.

When we walk consistently with Jesus and allow His love to flow through us, we’re doing the work of advancing God’s kingdom in a world that desperately needs Him. One of my favorite songs describing the impact we can have on our surroundings is “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective.  Listen and make it your prayer today.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation: A Study of Genesis 1-11, Week 4 Lifeway Press, 2017

Note: the cycle of God’s people described in paragraph four is a commonly held truth among Bible Scholars.  This particular statement is paraphrased from Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength by Priscilla Shirer.

Under-Sabbathed

I’ve lived my entire life in busy metropolitan areas teeming with opportunities. My husband and I have raised our kids in a community where youth sports and extracurricular activities dominate the calendar seven days a week. For the most part, stores and restaurants are open every day too. And because of the internet, we have twenty-four-hour access to virtually everything we want or need. Life never shuts down unless we choose to remove ourselves from the normal flow of activities.

So, imagine our surprise when our son started college in another part of the country where Sundays actually look a little different from the rest of the week. The first time we visited, we were thrown off by the number of restaurants and local businesses that were closed all day. The town felt quiet and sleepy—and something about it was just so incredibly restful.

Recently I’ve been studying the account of creation described in Genesis 1 & 2. For six days God labored as He created things like light, land, stars, plants, sea creatures, animals and human beings. And at the end of each day of creation, Scripture tells us, “God saw that it was good.” This repetition continues until the seventh day: “God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:2-3, NIV).

Other passages in Scripture tell us that God doesn’t slumber or sleep (Psalm 121) and that He will not grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28). So why did He rest? It wasn’t because He was tired, but because His work was complete and He saw that “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Later in Scripture, after sin enters the world and God’s people have been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, He delivers them under the leadership of Moses. The Lord gives them the Ten Commandments to instruct them how to relate with Him and with one another. His fourth commandment to them is this:

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:8,9,11, NIV).

Is this an archaic commandment that no longer applies to us today? Was it abolished when Jesus fulfilled the law later in the New Testament? The simple answer is “no.” Times have changed, but the need for deep rest for our bodies, minds, and souls remains the same. There are many reasons to observe the Sabbath, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll touch on two highlighted by respected author, pastor and teacher Timothy Keller.

Keeping the Sabbath Reminds Us We’ve Been Liberated from Enslavement
God told the Israelites: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you” (Deuteronomy 15:15, NIV). When we fail to take a Sabbath rest, we are allowing ourselves to be enslaved to the tasks we’re compelled to accomplish. This could be a job, but it could also be any form of busyness that we do without ceasing. If we have the need to be productive constantly, something is out of balance and we are letting those activities enslave us.

Sabbath rest reminds us that our work and our accomplishments don’t define us, our relationship with Christ does. He liberated us from enslavement to sin and freed us from needing to find our sense of worth in anything other than Him. Observing the Sabbath helps us to put things back into perspective. It’s meant to remind us we’re free.

Keeping the Sabbath Reminds us to Trust God
Being productive makes us feel powerful and in control. It can also make us have a misplaced idea that we are indispensable. As much as it feels like it, everything doesn’t rest on our shoulders. The world won’t stop spinning on its axis and the sun won’t forget to rise if we take a day to rest. That’s why the Psalm says, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NASB) When we pause from the acts of achieving and accomplishing, we’re reminded that it’s God who holds all things together. We labor and strive in meaningful endeavors He’s given us, but ultimately it is the Lord who provides for us. We can rest because He is trustworthy. Everything doesn’t depend on us and taking a Sabbath is an act of humility that acknowledges this.

Few people would disagree with the idea that we are over-stimulated and under-sabbathed in our society today. But how should we spend our time when we change gears and downshift one day a week to let our souls catch up with us? Tim Keller suggests three things to devote ourselves to when we take a Sabbath day.

1) Enjoy an activity that is outside your usual daily routine/ occupation. Do something that re-charges and rejuvenates you. Don’t use the Sabbath to accomplish tasks on your to do list.
2) Make time for contemplation. This means taking your eyes off yourself and putting them on God. Start by attending a worship service. Add to it by spending time in prayer or reading Scripture. Set aside specific time to give the Lord the honor and praise He deserves.
3) Make time for inactivity. Let your brain and body rest. Give God room to speak to you by clearing your mind. For highly productive and capable people, doing nothing is often the one thing they struggle with most. (If this makes you squirm, know that I’m right there with you. Even writing these words is painful for me.)

Johnny Diaz’s song “Breathe” beautifully captures the importance of rest. If you don’t think you have time to watch the video, then you need to click on it right now!

Inspired by Timothy Keller’s sermon “Work and Rest” and
Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, Week 3, Lifeway Press  2017.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Look Up Before Looking Out

It happens more often than I’d like to admit. I have an interaction with another person that throws me into a tailspin and causes me to feel discouraged or insecure. It might be a text message that sounds a little abrupt that causes me to fret, thinking I’ve annoyed or offended a friend. At other times, my mind ventures into negative territory when I read an unsettling news article or hear a podcast with an alarmist tone. Suddenly I’m sure the world is going to hell in a handbasket and there’s nothing I can do about it. At other times, it happens when I’m watching a show that reveals the transformation of a home. Inevitably, I look around my house and feel like it’s inadequate by comparison, causing me to be hesitant to invite others over. Sometimes it’s a pop song on the radio with an underlying message telling me that fueling anger, resentment and bitterness is the best way to feel powerful.

Sadly, the list of examples could go on endlessly, but in each case, they have one thing in common: my focus is horizontal instead of vertical. A few years ago, I realized that where I’m directing my attention has a profound effect on every aspect of my life. When I have a horizontal focus, I’m letting the standards of the world and the people around me inform my worldview, my actions, my choices and my attitudes. When I don’t think about it, my natural inclination is to let the input I receive on a horizontal plane affect me. Sadly, most of it is negative.

However, I’ve discovered a remedy that works to counteract these destructive thought patterns. It’s called having a vertical focus. When I take the time to read the Bible consistently, to apply what I’m learning, and to pray, everything changes. Maintaining an eternal perspective by looking to Jesus and the Bible to inform my worldview, actions, choices, and attitudes significantly impacts the way I approach every person and situation I encounter during the day.

The Bible encourages a vertical focus in many places, but one of the most succinct is in Colossians 3:1-2: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

With a vertical focus, I stop examining myself and evaluating how people and circumstances make me feel and I start looking at how the Lord is calling me to respond to them. As I set my heart on the things of God, He influences my hopes, dreams, feelings, desires and goals. When I fix my mind on Jesus, I filter my thoughts, attitudes, opinions and intellectual pursuits through Him and choose to fill my mind with things that would honor and please Him.

When I’m focused horizontally, it’s easy to get offended, to nurse a grudge, or to be annoyed by another person. However, when I’m looking vertically, I consider what God would have me do with those negative feelings. It’s hard to cling to pride and stay resentful toward another person after reading a passage like this one:

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful…And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-15 & 17, NLT)

Having a vertical focus changes my daily life drastically and puts me in a balanced, healthy place where I am grounded and able to see myself and others with the love of God. And as I spend time with Him and in His Word, the natural effect is that I begin to have a horizontal impact on others. God’s love and grace flow through me without my effort. I don’t have to try harder, I just need to be with Him consistently.

With a vertical focus, I can shrug off the poorly worded text message from a friend and assume a more generous explanation for her harsh tone. Instead of feeling insecure and wondering what she thinks of me, I can give her grace and pray for her. With a vertical focus, I can read a disconcerting news article and be thankful that God is still sovereign.  I can flip through a magazine with beautiful décor but realize that opening my home to others is a way to show God’s love through hospitality, not to impress them. I can also recognize more quickly when input I’m receiving is having a negative effect on me. When the stream of pictures I’m scrolling through on social media is making me feel inadequate or left out; when the song I’m hearing makes me feel justified in staying angry; when the show I’m watching is tempting me to think outright sin is reasonable or acceptable, that vertical focus kicks in and tells me to stop feeding myself lies.

Ultimately, having a vertical focus builds a firm foundation for my life. And it will do the same for yours. It starts with spending time consistently with the Lord and letting His Word speak into your life. Gathering regularly with others who are striving for a vertical focus is also a key part of maintaining that perspective. Over time, you’ll notice a difference in your heart and your mind. And you’ll be equipped to show God’s love to others in a way you could never do on your own.

Want to boost your vertical focus right now? Click on the link and enjoy FOR KING & COUNTRY’S song, “Fix My Eyes.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeZoQoyPn6I&start_radio=1&list=RDEeZoQoyPn6I

Knit Together

Turning the page on the calendar, there is finally the slightest hint of fall in the air. Kids are back in school and the long sunny days of summer are starting to wane. It’s cool and damp in the mornings and temperatures seem to drop as soon as the sun sets in the evenings. Suitcases have been emptied and stowed away. We scroll through vacation photos with fond memories, but are ready for the rhythm of the fall to begin. Although we enjoy the unstructured months of summer, many of us are craving a more regular routine. It’s not so much the repetition that we long for, but the consistent overlap with others. As much as we love the freedom of doing what we want when we want, we all need consistent encouragement, accountability, and support. Relationships with others keep us tethered to the things we value.

Without a doubt, one of the things I look forward to most is returning to a group Bible study. Although I continued to study Scripture and pray on my own during the summer, I’m looking forward to being with others who are ready to dive into God’s Word together. I think that’s why Paul’s remarks in Colossians jumped off the page when I read them recently:

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. (Colossians 2:2, NLT)

I love visualizing the community of believers as being “knit together by strong ties of love.” I picture God taking individual strands of yarn and looping them together to create a warm blanket of love. Another translation describes being knit together as being “encouraged in heart and united in love.” Who wouldn’t want that?

Although I’m not a knitter, I’ve noticed something about those who are: they’re always working on a blanket, sweater, scarf or hat and looking for someone they can bless with it. And because we were created in God’s image, I know they are mirroring what their Maker does. Turning the pages of Scripture, it’s clear that God created us for one another.  He loves taking stray threads and knitting them into the fabric of fellowship. He offers this gift to us throughout our lives, just as He’s done with people since the beginning of time.

The Greek word for fellowship is Koininia, which author and teacher Kelly Minter describes as “joint ownership, mutual sharing, community with God or one another around the shared life of Jesus in our everyday lives.” My favorite part about Koininia is that it’s not a closed system or a defined group—there is always room to add someone else. This has been true since the early days of the Christian faith:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer…all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42 & 47, NLT)

So, I can’t wait to see God’s “knitting projects” for this year. I look forward to re-connecting with old friends and discovering new ones. I’m eager to see how the Lord will use His Word to speak to us, to inspire us, and to call us to action. I love that He’ll be doing this wherever people gather in His name all over the world. He creates beautiful things as He knits believers together.

Fellowship starts by building our lives on the firm foundation of God’s love. When we pursue Him, we’ll be blessed to experience authentic community with others who are doing the same. It’s worth the time and effort to invest in a group that desires to grow in faith and to be grounded in biblical truth. If you haven’t made plans already for this fall, take the time this week to find or start a group you can grow with this year. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be encouraged in heart and united in love.

“Build My Life” by Housefires is an awesome worship song that puts words to this idea.

Trading Places

Riding my bike has been one of my favorite things to do since I was little. I still remember the pride I felt when I bought my first bike. It had a banana seat and long handlebars and was a knock-off of the Schwinn Stingray (which was way out of my price range). A few years later I got my first bike with gears and handbrakes and thought I’d hit the big leagues.

My love of two-wheeled transportation continued into college when I got my first mountain bike.  At the time, I was reading Tim Hansel’s book Holy Sweat and was delighted when I discovered this poem by an unknown author.

The Road of Life

At first, I saw God as my observer,
my judge
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know whether I merited heaven
or hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture when I saw it,
but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on
when I met Christ,
it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike,
and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was
that He suggested we change places,
but life has not been the same since.

When I had control,
I knew the way.
It was rather boring,
but predictable…
It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
up mountains,
and through rocky places
at breakneck speeds,
it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious
and asked,
“Where are you taking me?”
He laughed and didn’t answer,
and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life
and entered into the adventure.
And when I’d say, “I’m scared,”
He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed,
gifts of healing,
acceptance
and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey,
my Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again.
He said, “Give the gifts away;
they’re extra baggage, too much weight.”
So I did,
to the people we met,
and I found that in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him,
at first,
in control of my life.
I thought He’d wreck it;

but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up
and pedal
in the strangest places,
and I’m beginning to enjoy the view
and the cool breeze on my face
with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore,
He just smiles and says…”Pedal.”

It’s a powerful illustration of trading places with Jesus to give Him control. Maybe, like me, you accepted Him to be your savior at one point on your journey, but weren’t quite ready for Him be Lord. Switching seats to let Him ride in front is both frightening and exhilarating. But almost thirty years later, the poem still resonates with me because I’ve lived what it describes. Giving Jesus the front seat as Lord of my life continues to be a daily choice that requires trust, humility, and obedience.

How about you? Are you riding solo or have you traded in your single bike for a tandem? Who sets the course for your journey each day? Who determines the speed and cadence of your ride? Trusting Jesus isn’t easy, but there’s no better way to live.

Need some reassurance of His faithfulness? Click on the link and soak in the truth of Pat Barrett’s song, “The Way.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOzsJlk8p6I

Better Together

Glancing at my notes from a recent sermon, I was reminded that being in community is healthy for our minds, bodies and spirits. This is God’s design for us because our consistent connections with others are catalysts for spiritual growth and conduits of emotional strength. I can attest to the truth of these ideas because I’ve experienced the power of community. But if I’m honest, I vividly recall how disillusioned and discouraged this topic once made me feel.

I still remember walking out of church a decade ago upset and angry during a similar sermon series. A hard shell of cynicism covered over the hurt I was nursing from some close relationships that were unraveling before my eyes. At the time, I remember feeling that sermons touting the joys of community were riddled with half-truths. They never seemed to acknowledge the hard parts when relationships splinter and communities fall apart.

I remember feeling embarrassed and ashamed that I had seemingly failed at one of the cornerstones of the Christian lifestyle. I felt lonely and insecure and hesitant to share my pain with anyone else. I wondered if I had some glaring flaw that made me incapable of being part of a community. Worse still, maybe everyone else could see it but me. I now know those were only lies.

Since that season of pain, God has used Scripture, wise people, and life experience to teach me some significant truths about the blessings and challenges of being in Christian community. If you can identify with any of the negative feelings I described above, I hope you’ll be encouraged by what follows. (And even if you’re feeling great about community, it wouldn’t hurt to be aware of what can happen).

Truth #1- Communities Ebb and Flow; Even Good Ones Don’t Last Forever: People and circumstances continue to change and evolve over time. When we connect with a good group of people, this doesn’t mean it will last forever. We’re setting ourselves up for disappointment if we expect our relationships to remain static in an ever-changing world. Sometimes a group just runs its course and you can sense it’s time to move on. It may be wiser and healthier to view the good times with cherished communities as seasons rather than assuming they’ll last indefinitely.

There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,  a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-7, NIV)

Truth #2- People in Community Hurt Each Other Sometimes:  If we expect every relationship to be lovely and perfect all the time, we’re probably not engaging in authentic community. People usually don’t mean to hurt us, but sometimes they do. They fail to meet our expectations and disappoint us. They don’t listen to everything we say and forget important things we’ve shared. They don’t always know what to do when we’re struggling or in pain. But here’s the thing: if you remove yourself from community because you’ve been hurt or disappointed, the person most affected by this is you. When you experience pain in a community you value, try to evaluate if you need to address the issue with the offending person/people or if you just need to forgive them and ask the Lord to heal your pain. Communities often drift apart when people avoid dealing with areas where there is hurt or disagreement. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NV)

Truth #3- Strained and Broken Relationships Can Be Mended in Time: Communities sometimes fracture when our feelings get hurt and no one notices. They also fall apart when competition, jealousy, and comparison take center stage. Avoid the impulse to nurse your hurt feelings, don’t let them control your thoughts and actions. Try not to fill in the blanks with assumptions about how others view you when you’re feeling insecure. If negative feelings have taken over, it may be time to pull back for a while and lean into the Lord for a perspective shift. Take a break from the relationship, but don’t close the door on it for good. You may be surprised to discover how God redeems it later when emotions simmer down. Practice Paul’s advice: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, NIV)

Truth #4- It’s Best to Nurture Relationships in Several Communities: Maybe you’re like me and when you find a few quality people, you want to wrap your arms around them and pull them in close forever. There is danger in narrowing your community to only a few individuals. For starters, you’re missing out on other awesome people who could bless you. Additionally, when you hit a rough patch with your targeted few, you’ll have no one else to seek for comfort and wisdom. Diversify your friendships in a handful of communities and realize that no single person or group can meet all your needs. Make a goal to leave room for new friendships to grow in every season of life. This keeps relationships from becoming stale and your expectations of one person or group from becoming too intense.

Being a part of a community has the potential to bring great joy, encouragement, and growth. And at times, it may cause some pain and disillusionment. It was no different with people throughout the pages of Scripture starting with Adam and Eve and continuing with Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Paul, and a multitude of others. In good times and bad, be encouraged that we really are better together.

Be inspired by an illustration of authentic community in Francesca Battistelli’s song “If We’re Honest.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcTvtuuVU8

When Plans Reroute

I didn’t see it coming. With one swift move on the game board, my son thwarted my carefully constructed plans. We’d been playing the game Ticket to Ride and I had been quietly building my railway empire laying my black trains on tracks spanning from east to west. With each turn, I’d been amassing the cards I needed to connect cities between New York and Seattle. The route was obvious and the rail lines I needed had remained unclaimed for many rounds of play. It was a good sign that no one had drawn cards that would impede my progress. However, in one move, my son’s blue game pieces blocked my westward path in Helena, Montana.  

Despite my disappointment, I studied the game board carefully and discovered an alternate course I hadn’t considered. It was less direct and forced me to veer south to Salt Lake City, but would still enable me to link New York and Seattle on my fictional railway line. After a few more rounds of play, I successfully reached my destination, although the route looked much different than I’d planned.

Playing that game has been an illustration of my life in the past year. Time and time again I’ve anticipated plans moving in one direction only to have them rerouted. Family members have had illnesses and injuries that have caused major shifts in our routines and schedules, cars have broken down and created significant inconveniences, and ministry commitments have had unexpected and abrupt changes that have required continual flexibility.

While none of these life derailments has been catastrophic, each of them has had the potential to cause major discouragement and bitterness in me. Through a negative lens, I could tell you about many situations from the past year that have caused frustrations layered upon inconveniences compounded by heartbreak. However, choosing a negative focus would only  encourage me to have a sour attitude or to wallow in self-pity.

Think about it. Any time something doesn’t go according to our plans and we react negatively,  it’s because we think we’re being ripped off. We believe we deserve to get what we want. Really, this is veiled entitlement—the assumption that everything should go the way we prefer. And when our expectations aren’t met, we feel indignant, disillusioned, angry or bitter. The resulting behaviors are rudeness, impatience, self-absorption, and harsh treatment of others.

Most of us like control and when life goes according to plans, we assume we have it. But what if that control we thought we had was only an illusion? What if we learned to loosen our grasp on the need for control and to trust God when our plans get rerouted? What if we saw roadblocks as an inevitable part of life instead of an anomaly?

Like my train route on the game board, there are times when we are so singularly focused on getting from Point A to Point B that we can’t imagine any other way for something to work out. Yet when we’re open, flexible and willing to accept unexpected changes and interruptions, we leave room for God to teach us a few things along the way. This is how we grow.

Scripture emphasizes this idea: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV) So when things don’t go according to plan, maybe instead of getting frazzled and upset, we’d be better off asking God to show us His purpose. Surely there is something we can learn from each rerouted journey we face.

Better still, we might consider including God in our plans and asking for His guidance and involvement from the start:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  (James 4:13-15, NIV)

God reveals His will through His Word. When we’re continually studying it, applying it to our lives, and pursuing a relationship with Him, we can find peace knowing our plans align with His.  Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean things will always go smoothly. Life is messy. People are complicated. Things change. We can rail against this and throw a tantrum or learn to accept it and let God refine us through it. And when our plans do get rerouted, instead of getting upset, our first inclination can be to rest in the knowledge that God is still in control.

If you’re in a season of “rerouting,” be encouraged by Micah Tyler’s song “Even Then.”

Dive In

The waves were firing at the Wedge. People were flocking to the iconic spot at the end of Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula to watch the twenty foot waves crash on the shore. Because of the location’s fame in the world of wave riding, an eclectic mix of people milled around on the beach. Despite a powerful rip current, some were eager to brave the frothing water to body surf, boogie board, or use a traditional surfboard. Apparently, the thrill was worth the potential pummeling they’d receive.

Standing on the beach, I dug my toes into the sand and counted on one hand the number of heads bobbing in the water waiting to catch a wave. By comparison, there were several dozen spectators on shore despite the early hour and the coastal fog that still lingered. Looking around, it was clear a variety of locals, tourists, and photographers had come to watch the spectacle. They were eager to see those in the water take the ride of their lives or get churned in the rinse cycle and spit out on the sand.

And, as often happens at unexpected times, it got me thinking about what a fitting analogy it was for our spiritual lives. Some of us are like those wave riders. We love the thrill of pushing our faith to the limits and seeing how far it stretches. We accept challenges that force us to trust God because we know we can’t conquer them with our own strength. We believe the promises in His Word and act on them. We seek to align our thoughts, dreams, and goals with the Holy Spirit and invite Him to work in and through us to further God’s kingdom.

Others of us, however, like to play it safe. We value the comfort and safety of Christian community. We like the security of knowing God will never leave us. We see the Bible as a book to study for gaining knowledge and discussing important concepts. Like the spectators on the beach, we’re amazed and impressed when we hear stories of the stunning ways God has worked in the lives of others, but we’re fairly sure those kinds of things will never happen to us (and we’re pretty ok with that, actually). Spectators love to hear inspiring testimonies, but they don’t welcome the events that caused them into their own lives.

You don’t have to look far to see the “wave riders” in Scripture—they’re the ones whose names and stories we know well. People like Abraham, who left the only land he’d ever known to follow God to a new place. Or Moses, whose conversation with the LORD through a burning bush prompted him to lead the people of Israel out of captivity in Egypt. Or Mary, the unwed teen who praised God at the news of her pregnancy instead of fretting over the social ridicule that would surely follow. One of my favorites is Peter, who walked on water while his friends watched in amazement. The story in Matthew 14 describes how Peter and the other disciples were struggling in their boat against heavy winds and rough seas. Around three in the morning, a figure emerged from the storm and walked toward them on the waves. They cried out in fear, thinking it was a ghost. The story continues;

 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. (Matt 14:27-29, NLT)

The other disciples witnessed the miracle, but only Peter got to experience it firsthand. Ironically, even his faith wavered once he got out of the boat and took his eyes off Jesus:

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (Matthew 14:29-32, NLT)

Both the spectators (the unnamed disciples) and the participant (Peter) recognized the power of Jesus at work and praised Him as Almighty God. But only Peter would carry the memory of wobbling across the water toward Jesus while his drenched robes threatened to pull him under. Peter’s first inclination wasn’t to try and swim or to shout for his friends to throw him a rope, but to call out to Jesus to save him. I wonder how many times he envisioned that and found reassurance in the challenging years of ministry that would follow.

Maybe you already know the joy of diving into God’s great adventure and experiencing His power first hand. You’ve thrown yourself into the waves, trusting that He would be there to guide you and give you the ride of your life. Or, perhaps you’ve dipped your toes in a time or two but have gotten spooked. Maybe you’ve let life circumstances hold you back or  you’ve been perfectly content just standing and watching. Perhaps you’re not so sure you want to contend with the challenges that come with surrendering and trusting God fully.

Regardless of your experiences in the past, can I encourage you to pray about this right now? Ask God to show you one place where you can step out in faith and trust Him. Then, be alert to where He’s prompting you to act, take a deep breath, and dive in. Live like you believe His Word is true and then marvel at how He works in and through you. Once you ride your first wave, there’s a good chance you’re going to want more. And unlike those brave souls at the Wedge, you don’t have to face challenges alone. You can trust Jesus’ words to his disciples: “Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!”

Get some inspiration to stop being a spectator and to dive into the water from Matthew West’s inspiring song “All In.”

Come to the Table

Standing in our driveway, we chatted with our neighbors who had moved in a few days before. Wanting to be welcoming, I offered to host a few families on our block for a backyard barbeque so we could introduce them to more people. I had every intention of following through, but life just got in the way and before I knew it, summer turned to fall and the school year was under way. The time for backyard gatherings had passed but the unfulfilled promise nagged at me all year.

So, when we turned the page on the calendar and welcomed in June, I started making plans.  With surprisingly little effort, the six families that live adjacent to us found a date to gather in our yard for dinner. Some had lived on the block for years, but still only knew each other vaguely. Others had never met, despite living only a few doors down. The group included a variety of ages, life situations, nationalities, backgrounds, belief systems and interests. The common connection between us was simply that we were neighbors, but it was enough.

We ate, drank, laughed, and played corn hole (a game that requires little skill and provides ample opportunities for chatting). We learned interesting things about each other and swapped stories about the history of our neighborhood. The last guests didn’t leave until after 11pm.

A few nights later, I hosted another gathering in our backyard. This time it was a group of women who knew each other through the lacrosse team our sons played on together. Their boys had been to Houseboats with our youth group and since I went on the trip, I wanted to answer questions and share the significant things that had happened there. Some of the women were friends, others were getting acquainted for the first time. Despite living in the same town and having kids of similar ages, our backgrounds, belief systems and experiences varied widely. And although we didn’t know each other well, we shared openly and authentically around the table. The food and setting were simple, but the act of gathering for uninterrupted conversation was meaningful to all of us.

Curious to see the significance of shared meals around the table, I thumbed through the New Testament to see what it had to say. Several stops in different books taught me why it’s so important. Here’s what struck me:

We’re Following Jesus’ Example:  Jesus regularly gathered with others to share meals. The book of Luke records at least five instances when He ate with people, and not all of them were friends and family. He ate with the His greatest critics, the Pharisees. (Luke 7:36-50 and Luke 14:7-24). He shared meals with sinners like tax collectors and prostitutes (Luke 5:29-32, Luke 7:36-56). He provided food for people who wanted to learn from Him–and He didn’t turn them away even when there were more than 5000 to feed (Luke 9:10-36). And He ate with His closest friends–most famously recorded at the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-23). For Jesus, meals were opportunities for meaningful conversation and powerful teaching.

The act of sitting at a table and breaking bread opens doors for thoughtful discussions. It paves the way for greater appreciation of one another’s similarities and greater understanding of one another’s differences.

We’re Following the First Disciples’ Example:  The book of Acts records the early days of the Christian church. I love this description of some of the first believers:

“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”  (Acts 2:46-47, NLT)

Gathering around food with other believers is an opportunity to enjoy fellowship—to celebrate our mutual love of Jesus and our shared desire to move in sync with Him. When we include non-believers, it’s an opportunity to draw them toward the warmth of community and authentic relationships while displaying the love of Christ.

We’re Showing Obedience to God:  The Apostles Paul and Peter both wrote extensively about how followers of Jesus are called to live and act. Included in their lists of behaviors to embrace are these simple words: “Practice hospitality” and, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (Romans 12:13b and 1 Peter 4:9 NIV)

Note that showing hospitality isn’t about impressing others or being a great cook. It’s about opening your home and providing a place to share love and grow in relationships. Our yard isn’t fancy or particularly impressive. We bought our patio furniture over ten years ago. When we have more guests than we can fit at that table, we roll out our weathered old wooden table and use re-painted plastic chairs around it. But what we lack in sophistication, we make up for with warm hospitality and good conversation.

We’re Building Relationships and Creating Opportunities to Share Hope:  Followers of Jesus are called to give the reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus continually instructed His followers to tell others about the good news of life in Him. Sharing meals with others is a simple way to begin building relationships that allow us to do this. And when opportunities arise to share our faith, we can point people to Jesus who says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20, NLT)

Eating together opens the door to meaningful conversation, mutual understanding, and just plain fun. And for some, coming to the table is the first step towards discovering the hope of salvation found only in Jesus. Take time right now and pray about who God might be leading you to invite to your table, then act on God’s leading before you lose your inspiration!

Sidewalk Prophets’ song “Come to the Table” beautifully captures the significance of inviting others to sit down with you and let Jesus do the rest.