A Willing Heart

A willing heart; a heart that lets go of what I want so I can do what God wants.

The other night I found myself hurriedly trying to throw dinner together. I was adding spices and stuff to ground beef before shaping it into hamburger patties; my oldest daughter was mixing up coleslaw.

My youngest daughter loves to sit on the stool beside me whenever I cook. At four years old, she is already quite the little chef. She can measure, pour, mix, and even chop a little (with a table knife, not a sharp knife). This particular night she badly wanted to help; however, the nature of the meal left few opportunities for her assistance.

Her older sister asked her to help by retrieving ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator. However, my youngest felt those tasks didn’t fit with her particular skill set. I could tell she only wanted to do the “bigger” jobs such as mixing and measuring. Plus, she wanted to help me – not sister. Even with her diverse skills, she could do nothing to help with the hamburger patties.

So often I have seen myself in her position. She sits beside me and watches me work. Likewise, I have sat in God’s presence and watched Him work. Like my helpful daughter, I eagerly want to join in and help in His work. So He gives me a job to do.

Perhaps He says, “Make a phone call.” But I say, “No, I don’t want to do that. I want to teach a lesson about this issue.”

Or, He says, “Donate some money.” But I say, “Hey, I could write a really great blog article about this.”

I might hear Him say, “Tell her about Jesus.” So I respond with, “No, not now. I’ll just be a good listener.”

Like my daughter, my heart is in the right place and I truly want to be helpful. The things I want to do are all good things – but if they aren’t what God is asking me to do, then am I really being helpful?

The Rapture: For one brief moment, we all agreed...

An odd phenomenon happened in the days building up to May 21, 2011. For what may be the first time, atheists, agnostics, Christians, and people of other faiths came together in agreement on a religious issue. They all agreed the predictions of Harold Camping and the Family Radio ministry were laughable and not going to happen. People shared jokes, sarcasm, and staged photos in the media, on social networking sites, and in face-to- face conversations. However, in the midst of our new found, and perhaps short-lived, spiritual unity, did we stop to consider a chasm of difference still exists between our two perspectives?

Atheists, agnostics, and people of other faiths directed much of their ridicule and disbelief toward the Christian belief in the Rapture and subsequent Judgment Day. Whether malicious or humorous, comments from these groups revealed either a lack of acceptance or a lack of understanding for these end-times events.

Many Christians, on the other hand, didn’t focus their ridicule and disbelief toward the idea of an event known as the Rapture. Instead, Christians ridiculed the timing prediction and the faulty Scripture interpretations on which Camping based his predictions.

As is always the case with the truth, whether or not you choose to believe it doesn’t change its reality. Simplified, truth is truth whether you choose to accept it or not. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).

In His Word, God reveals to us that at some point a significant seven year space of time will begin. During this time – which Christians call the Tribulation – plagues, natural disasters, disease, famine, wars, and persecution will multiply to a scale we can’t even imagine right now. At the end of that seven year period, Christ will return, in all His glory, and establish a kingdom on earth. Either at the beginning, middle or end of that seven year tribulation, Christ will take all who believe in Him to be with Him in Heaven. Christians refer to this snatching away as the rapture.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

I feel sorry for the many people who sold their possessions, quit their jobs, and gave away their life savings only to find out they were following a false belief system. Although a person is wise to get ready for Jesus’ return, these followers chose to do so in an unwise manner. To truly be ready for the imminent return of Christ, we need to be ready spiritually. This passage from 1 Thessalonians tells us to encourage each other with the message of the rapture. The only way we can find encouragement in such an event is to know we will be one whom He takes when He comes for His own. We find that confidence by accepting Jesus’ death as payment for our sins, of which we all have many. Click here to read more about Jesus’ message of salvation.

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus didn’t only die; He also resurrected three days later. This event, among other things, guaranteed the coming judgment:

“For He [God] has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed [Jesus]. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

I hope we're all ready when the day really does come because when it does there won't be media build-up, billboards, or blogosphere announcements.

Who Really Won Survivor?

Survivor is one of the few shows I watch on television; it is probably the only show we watch as a family. Whether it is outwit, outlast, or outplay, the show has a pull for every member of our family. The most recent season, which ended this past Sunday night, went beyond family entertainment and became a source of spiritual instruction and encouragement for our family.

A new feature to this season was the addition of “Redemption Island.” After being voted out by their tribe members at Tribal Council, the player would then go to Redemption Island where he might be able to win the right to reenter the game. Francesca and Matt were the first and second person, respectively, to arrive on Redemption Island. Matt won their duel which enabled him to stay. So began a 29-day saga where he won many consecutive duels. He lasted until the end of the season, albeit on Redemption Island instead of in the tribe. As the season progressed and Matt’s faith was revealed, our family started to speculate that God was up to something on Redemption Island. Our God is all about redemption, so it doesn’t seem odd that He chose to show up in this location.

Many people enjoy the strategy of playing the game and the temporary fame it might bring. However, many, if not all, contestants on all 22 seasons are really just after one thing - the $1,000,000 prize for being the sole survivor. Matt’s survival until the last episode and then failure to win the final challenge - disqualifying him for the $1,000,000 - may seem tragic to the world. But from a spiritual perspective, Matt is one of the biggest winners. He was in the right place at the right time to be used by God.

When fellow player Krista lost her chance on Redemption Island, she left Matt the luxury item she had brought for the show – her Bible. Already a believer and with hours of solitary time on his hands, Matt seemingly spent many hours in the Word each day. Partway through, the game shifted and more people stayed on Redemption Island. 

Julie was one of those people. After spending a short amount of time with Matt, she left the game by saying that although it would have been nice to win the money to get her house out of foreclosure, “I’m walking away with something bigger. My life is changed by seeing Matt’s story with God and I am looking forward to going back home, finding a church, and getting involved.” 

Fourteen of Matt’s 29 days were spent with another player, Mike. In a post-series interview, he said of his time on Redemption Island, “Spending 14 days on Redemption Island with Matt was really, really good; to step outside our daily life of phone calls, emails, traffic, and what-nots and to really do some soul searching and find your purpose in life. I can say that Survivor changed me and transformed me in a way that I’m really happy about.”

I believe these four players - Krista, Matt, Mike, and Julie - will reap a greater reward than $1,000,000 would bring them. Two of them were faithful to God, one by bringing His Word and another by enduring the long, hard fight. The other two either found or renewed a relationship with God while on the island. Boston Rob may be the literal winner, but when his $1,000,000 is spent, these four people will have "stored up treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20).

For Krista, although her part was small, it was critical. Bringing the Word of God to a person or place is the most valuable thing you can bring. "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:7-8).

For Julie, although things may seem bleak in the matters of the world, a relationship with God is all that matters. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).

For Matt, although the journey may be long and hard, that isn't what matters. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

For Mike, although this experience may have been life-changing, it won't stick unless it is maintained. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).

Please note I have not interviewed these players. The preceding are only my observations, speculations, and applications.

You...Complete...Me

The title may be a little misleading but I can’t help but think of the movie “Jerry Maguire” as I work on this part of my current series on John 13-17. After a tumultuous relationship threatens divorce, Jerry (Tom Cruise) bursts into the home he shared with his wife, Dorothy (Renee Zellweger), and Dorothy’s sister. Jerry arrives during the ladies’ divorce support group meeting; despite the setting, he declares his love for Dorothy by saying, “You…complete…me.”

My Sunday morning class continues to study through John 13-17. This week we studied John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (NIV). This verse got me to wondering what it means for our joy to be complete. As I dug into the concordances and Bible dictionaries, I found that in this context, for something to be complete, means not only to make perfect but also something predicted has come to pass.

If the idea of completed joy was predicted, or prophesied as one might say in Christian speak, I wondered where. I found my answer in Psalm 16:11. At the end of a prophecy of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, this verse prophesies we will be filled with joy in His presence.

So there is our Old Testament prophecy; where is the New Testament fulfillment? In the NT, ten aspects of our Christian life complete our joy; I think these are a mere sampling of the ultimate fulfillment which will take place when we are united with Christ for eternity.

Joy is completed when…

• The bridegroom announces His arrival (John 3:29).
• We remain, or dwell, in the love of Jesus (John 15:11).
• Jesus rose from the grave. We can now have a relationship with Him and God the Father (John 16:19-24).
• We follow the teachings of Jesus (John 17:13).
• We follow the call of Christ even if it leads to persecution (Acts 13:49-52).
• We trust God (Romans 15:13).
• We extend encouragement, comfort, relationship, tenderness, compassion, and unity to one another because Christ extends those things to us (Philippians 2:1-2).
• We unite with someone else who is faithfully serving Christ (2 Timothy 1:3-4).
• We proclaim the message of Christ (1 John 1:3-4).
• We come together in person, a rare thing in our technological day, to mutually edify and encourage one another in the Lord (2 John 1:12).

A lot of things are stressful in my life right now and my joy seems low.

Finances

Relationships

Work

Parenting

Ministry

As I sit and look over my messed up areas, I realize the list of times when God completes our joy speaks to all of these messes in one way or another.

Trust God

Live at peace with one another

Proclaim His message

Remain in His love

Let Him...Complete...His joy...in Me.

Look back over the list of ten areas where God completes His joy in us. Which one might help relieve some of the stress in your life right now? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments below...