Tag: Maturing

Today’s Word Is STRENGTH

Tue-Mar-3-2020

After you have made it through a tough time, a stressful deadline, a challenging crisis, or maybe just made it through the day, hopefully you get a chance to relax and breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe you begin to reflect on how this all worked out, what you learned, and where  the strength came from. As believers, we should know that giving ourselves the credit doesn’t really tell the whole story.

Listen to King David after a victory against an enemy:

I love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

And I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3)

When King David says, ”I am saved from my enemies,” he means the battle is over and we won! Yes, we. Through it all, the Lord is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer.

How good are you at giving God the credit? It is much easier to quickly acknowledge and thank him when we have started out confiding and trusting in him, asking for guidance in the morning and throughout the day. I have made much progress over the years, but I still sometimes find myself seeing a problem or opportunity and just taking off with my own solution. Carrying on that day-long conversation is a great habit, which can keep me from being too hasty and disregarding my greatest source of strength. Then when the job is complete, problem solved, success achieved, victory won – I am more prone to give thanks to God my Father for the strength.

A famous Budweiser commercial shows a young colt alone in the barn beside the huge wagon that the older horses pull as a team. He steps under the harness, puts his neck in place and tries to pull. At first it doesn’t budge. He pulls harder – then suddenly the carriage moves forward, and he starts walking!

Obviously, he is thinking – wow, I’m really doing it! Then the camera angle widens and you see that the wagon is being pushed from behind by one of the huge Clydesdales, which I take to be his Dad.

So it is with you and me. Whether small or large, the things we accomplish are made possible by the God who is helping far more than we often give him credit. It is actually by his strength that we accomplished anything.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” – Jesus (John 15:5)

Give thanks and give credit,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is PERSECUTED

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #8
Persecuted for Doing What’s Right
Thu-Feb-27-2020

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:10-12) (Beatitude #8)

The 8th Beatitude, unlike the other seven, is three verses long, because Jesus had a lot to say about what it means to be persecuted. It was the very thing that was going to end his life, being arrested, tried, convicted, and put to death for doing what was right. He knew it was coming. But it did not stop him from fulfilling God’s purpose and doing God’s will.

The night before his death, Jesus told the Disciples in the Upper Room, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you… “ (John 15:18-20b)

A reasonable expectation would be that if we do the right thing, people will appreciate it. Not always so. As the saying goes: “No good deed goes unpunished!”

The calling on your life to be a peacemaker is higher than you may think. It’s not just about solving disputes. There is a sense of “big picture” to it. You are building people. You are paving highways. You are seeking justice and mercy, spreading the love of Jesus. As you do the work of the peacemaker in your realm of influence, at some point someone is not going to like what you’re up to! You’re going to offend someone along the way! Guaranteed!

But when you get insulted, when you are not appreciated for your kindness, when you get told to “mind your own business” … there is one last step of maturity … and that has to do with how you handle being ill-treated. Jesus says to consider yourself blessed when this happens. Wow … It’s not very American to think of being persecuted as a blessing! But we must have the higher attitude of Jesus, even when people insult us, persecute us and falsely say all kinds of evil against us.

If your sense of identity and security comes directly from God, and you are reaching higher levels of maturity, then you will reach a point where the criticism really doesn’t bother you as it did in your earlier days. You will not be ruffled by it. You may almost come to expect it. In America people get offended easily, but not you. Remember, you and I are different than the world. Jesus said, ”You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world.” (John 15:19) Thus your response might even be to smile and take the criticism as an indication that Satan is upset because you are invading his territory!

Jesus is telling us as disciples that when we are doing the business of the kingdom, touching lives, making a difference … we will get insults, but must not let them shake us up. We just accept them as part of the package … we don’t get angry … nor do we try to over-analyze.

Jesus listed the issue of persecution as the last of the eight Beatitudes for a reason. He is saying that fulfilling your calling (Beatitude #7, being a peacemaker) is not the highest level of maturity. It is fulfilling your calling AND not being bothered by the criticism, not being angry or derailed when persecuted. What a peace there is when the insults don’t irritate you anymore.

Climbers know that as you scale a high mountain there is a place called the “fly line,” where annoying insects cease to exist. They can’t live or function above that elevation. May it be the same for you, as you grow forward in faith and operate at a high elevation, that you cease being irritated by opposition. Instead, you pray for those who persecute you, and you carry no anger or resentment. I suspect very few people in the church get there. But you can and should, because it is a place of peace and fulfillment.

Persecution, says Jesus, is a blessing … after all … if the enemy shows up to persecute you, it could be a clear sign that you are on the right track, doing something good, advancing the kingdom!

Keep on keeping on,

Chaplain Mark

COMMENT: The Beatitudes, like much of Scripture, have various levels of interpretations or points to make. This study is not meant to replace the things you have understood and believed about the meaning of these verses, but to add a new depth to their meaning.

NOTE: This is the last of the 8 Beatitudes. If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. This series has described the faith journey toward Christian maturity as spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is PEACEMAKER

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #7
Peacemaking – Becoming Partners with God
Wed-Feb-26-2020

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Jesus (Matthew 5:9) (Beatitude #7)

Buckle your seatbelt. This is a biggie! This is the central Beatitude regarding fulfilling your purpose.

A peacemaker is someone who has “gone into business” with God. If you are following the steps of Christian  maturity in the Beatitudes … humility, release, genuineness, ready for more, merciful, and being purified … you are now to the point where you claim your purpose, your calling.

In the old western shows, you might see a sign in town called Smith Hardware. But when Mr. Smith’s son grows up and goes into business with his dad, Mr. Smith has his sign remade so that it says Smith & Son Hardware. The father is the founder of the business, but the son speaks for him by an impartation of the father’s authority.

This is what God wants for you, to be in business together with him … the Kingdom business … the peacemaking business … the God business. You have been told that God is with you everywhere you go, and you probably thought of this as a form of comfort and protection. It certainly is that, but it is far more than that. You are God’s transporter and presence in the places he wants to go. It is God & Daughter, or God & Son, heading into any and every situation to do Kingdom business!

It’s like this … when YOU show up … that means GOD shows up. When you walk into a room, you change the atmosphere. When you show up and say, “I’m here to help” … the clear implication is “God’s here to help!” … because you are his partner in the Kingdom business.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us …” – The Apostle Paul (2nd Corinthians 5:20a)

Let’s talk about the “peacemaking” business. First, there is a difference between a “peacemaker” and a “peacekeeper.”

A peacekeeper is interested in peace and quiet … A peacemaker is interested in peace and progress.

A peacekeeper is willing to do anything to stop the disturbance. (Such as repeatedly solving the same crying child problem by saying: “Give him a piece of candy and he’ll be quiet.” … Which ends up being a temporary solution that is creating a long-term problem of another sort.) … A peacemaker is not willing to let a disturbance detain him or her from getting to the root of the problem.

A peacekeeper looks for options to appease certain people, which often serves to unfairly punish, frustrate, or alienate others. … A peacemaker looks for an equitable long-term solution that involves sacrifice and benefits on both sides.

A peacekeeper is sometimes afraid to confront selfish or unfair people. … A peacemaker “speaks the truth in love” to all parties. (Ephesians 4:15) These solutions may seem too hard to accept for one or both of the parties in conflict. Truth can very often offend someone.

As an example, think of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery (8th chapter of John). To her accusers he said, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” And to her, he offered forgiveness, but then added, “Go and sin no more.” He was kind and yet firm with both parties and pointed them both to their better future. It takes “guts” to do that. If you watch the TV show “Blue Bloods,” then you can see that Police Chief Frank Reagan is the peacemaker.

The role of peacemaker is not easy, but it bears the marks of integrity, truth, and godliness. Such a person is stepping into the highest levels of Christian maturity, wisdom, and respect.

AND NOW … HERE’S THE WHAMMY … Once you reach this stage of Christian maturity, you are operating at full steam in the Power of the Holy Spirit. You have overcome the fear that Satan has used to hold you back from making a difference. And being unafraid of Satan’s tactics, knowing that he is already defeated, you can say with conviction and confidence … “I USED TO HATE IT WHEN SATAN SHOWED UP, BUT NOW SATAN HATES IT WHEN I SHOW UP!”

This is not a form of self-promotion. It requires maintaining that humility you started with in Beatitude #1. And it is a declaration of your determination to accomplish Kingdom business and to give the glory to God!

You can do it!

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is PURIFICATION

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #6
Filtering Out the Junk
Tue-Feb-25-2020

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:8) (Beatitude #6)

In this series, I haven’t told you yet what the word Beatitude means. The dictionary says it is “a state of extreme happiness or bliss.” Each Beatitude starts with the Greek word “makarioi” [pronounced ma-kah-ree-oy] translated “Blessed.” But some versions translate it as “Happy.” To the Jewish reader in Jesus’ day, it was a word that meant to live a full life of trusting God, following his commandments, enjoying his blessings, and being thought of by others as a very blessed and happy person.

In our journey thus far, we have gone from humility, turning to God, releasing our old ways, being genuine and self-accepting, and becoming hungry and thirsty for the best life God has for us, to leaping forward into a life that shows mercy and compassion to others. In this process we are being transformed inwardly from a self-centered person into someone who is “pure in heart.”

This doesn’t mean perfect. We are human, and often must remind ourselves and others that “nobody’s perfect.” It is a way of admitting that all of us are right sometimes and wrong sometimes … and that’s OK. But as we change, we are becoming more like Jesus in our behaviors, attitudes, interests, and purposes. The word for this process is “sanctification,” meaning “being made holy.”

Growing up in my family in which my Dad was a pastor, I sensed an expectation from many sources that I was supposed to be perfect. And so, I tried … and failed miserably. Based on my personal experience, perfectionism is not recommended! There is a healthier way.

The Christian life is not about earning perfection, but rather is a relationship with God, who by his grace and through our faith, “clothes us with the righteousness of Christ.” He declares us to be acceptable in his sight because Jesus paid the price for it. (See Scriptures below.)

This “new life” has a purification aspect to it. It is not about being pressured into being perfect, constantly struggling and stressing, feeling unacceptable. Rather … it happens like this … as our life of faith gets better and stronger, we begin to lose desires for certain things we used to like that were bad for us. In addition, we see things in ourselves that hinder us and decide to lay them aside for his sake.

Think of the oil filter in a car. It removes impurities. And this is what the presence of the Holy Spirit within us is doing. Were there undesirable, unhealthy, or sinful things within you that you used to like and gravitate toward but are no longer interesting or tempting to you? As you mature in faith, you begin to be increasingly less interested in self-destructive things. This is what Jesus is talking about … the “pure in heart” … those persons who are having the “junk” filtered out of them.

Many years ago, I decided to switch from secular music to Christian music on the radio. It didn’t happen instantly! I tried a little bit at a time. After a couple of songs, I would have to go back to my rock-n-roll station. But more and more, the contemporary Christian station became my “go to.” Sometimes, I would listen to those good old songs from the 60’s and 70’s … the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel … but after two or three songs, I would have to go back to my Christian station, and I became blessed by that. Secularism was being “filtered” out of me. I still occasionally listen to those old songs, but my norm has changed.

And the more this purification happens, the more you “see God.” You see him more clearly for who he is, and you see him in many situations and people. You increasingly feel clean, alive, more interested in enjoying God’s way of life, and less interested in getting into hurtful behaviors that leave you with problems.

Today’s word is “purification” rather than “purity,” because it is more about a process than a demand for instant perfection. We still need to maintain those beginning steps of humility and genuineness, that hunger for more, and that merciful attitude, as we move on to higher levels of maturity.

Purity is a worthy concept, but be patient, purification takes time. In the meantime, are you feeling it? There is a new you, the best you, emerging.

May your life be blessed!

Chaplain Mark

CLOTHED WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2nd Corinthians 5:21)

“… so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith …” (Philippians 3:8b-9)

“And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is MERCIFUL

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #5
Giving and Receiving Mercy
Mon-Feb-24-2020

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:7) (Beatitude #5)

Beginning at birth we all sing a song that goes like this … “It’s all about me, it’s all about me, it’s all about me, it’s all about me.” (You can make up your own tune.) You can also add a second verse, but of course it has the same lyrics as the first verse. From day one the demands are: feed me, change my diaper (especially when it contains a surprise), make me comfortable, hold me, rock me, pacify me. Repeat.

A narcissist is someone who never gets past the self-centeredness they were born with. Some narcissism is so extreme that such a person is like a sponge, soaking the life out of others and into themselves. In practical terms, this person is expensive to be around. Their demand for attention tends to increase over time. All the while you may begin suspecting that their interest in you may actually be based on selfish motives more than genuine appreciation and concern for you as a person.

What is missing in such a person’s life is the motivation and inspiration to jump the hurdle from self-centeredness to merciful. In the life of Christian faith and maturity which Jesus is describing in the Beatitudes, we have reached the point where that leap takes place. Jesus has spoken four blessings (Beatitudes) prior to this one … blessed are the poor in spirit (humble); blessed are those who mourn (letting go of what holds us back); blessed are the meek (genuine, at peace); and blessed are those who are hungry for right things and for things to go right.

In a way, this is the description of conversion to belief in Jesus … humility, confession, repentance, turning around, leaving the old life behind, and following him. For instance …  Jesus said to him [the rich young ruler], “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21) … and also … [Jesus said to them], “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)

These first four steps are about us as individuals becoming converted to and established in the faith. But now, in Beatitude #5, Jesus starts to describe the effect your new life has on your character and your desire to make a difference in the world around you The Holy Spirit moves in your heart because you feel blessed and as a result you become continually thankful. Then something springs forth from within you that wants to share this better life and to be a blessing to others. In other words, having been shown mercy by God, you become a merciful person toward others … like the song entitled “Pass It On” or the movie entitled “Pay It Forward.”

Now here’s the kicker … the favor you show to others gets returned to you. And these blessings come both from God and from others around you.

And here’s the paradox … we don’t receive this mercy by seeking it. If your motive for ministering to the needs of others is to cause them to be nice to you, it generally backfires. That’s because you are demonstrating not that you are a merciful person, but that you are a selfish person, more interested in your own needs than others.

The merciful person expects nothing in return, and yet receives in abundance.

Be merciful!

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is RIGHTEOUSNESS

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #4
Hungry for More
Thu-Feb-20-2020

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:6) (Beatitude #4)

I am sorry that “church” over the last 100 years has misled people in some things, has been too judgmental, and has in some ways caused average people to think that the practice of faith is boring and intended to suppress your enjoyment of life. Nothing could be further from the truth!

I dislike the word “religious” as it gives a connotation that by acting a certain way, we can earn our way into heaven or into favor with God. No one can live a “good enough” life that would impress God into granting heaven or any other special privilege. God does not want us to “practice religion,” he wants us to live in “relationship” with him, and through this we receive righteousness as a gift.

You see, the church has also failed to adequately explain “righteousness” in the Christian life, by inaccurately implying that it is about doing good, being good, acting good … or about being holier than thou, better than others, whatever … for the purpose of proving our worthiness. Nope … doesn’t work. Righteousness in the New Covenant made by the death and resurrection of Jesus is a gift, not something earned or achieved.

If you recall the first 3 steps (Beatitudes) I have discussed …

>> Blessed are the poor in spirit … humility, asking God to take over

>> Blessed are those who mourn … releasing things not good for us

>> Blessed are the meek … embracing the genuine self that God made us to be

… Then having experienced these things, we discover that in this process, things at the “big picture” level begin to “go right” in life. Really, they do. There will still be disappointments and tragedies, but we look at them differently now. They are not fatal. We learn from them and overcome them. Everything that is delightful as well as everything that is difficult all seems to fit together, and it is good.

All of us have said at one time or another … Things are not going right!!!! Well, as you walk the steps of maturing as Jesus describes them in the Beatitudes, relinquishing to God the job of being in charge of yourself, and by accepting yourself, liking yourself, experiencing the love of God, life is now “going right” … not perfect, but blessed … to the point that you are hungry and thirsty for MORE things to go right! You want things in your life to continue falling into place, believing in God’s plans for you, as he opens new doors of adventure.

Righteousness is not about rules or perfection. It is a gift bestowed on those who believe in Jesus. We don’t have righteousness of our own, so he gives us his! It is about living life oriented to the Kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of this world.

As you live this Kingdom way of life, you want things to go God’s way, to open up the flow of love in and around you, to experience peace that leads to joy and laughter, and an understanding of how “all things work together for good.” This is not a shallow, giddy, “head-in-the-sand” existence that ignores the tough parts of life. Rather it boldly and bravely faces every low moment, enjoys every high experience, and proceeds with confidence into whatever adventure is next. It makes you think, “This is the best life there is!”

And the reward for pursuing this new “genuine” life is that your hunger and thirst for its blessings are fulfilled!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:6) (Beatitude #4)

Be blessed!

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: Scripture Reference: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should go back and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is MEEK

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #3
Meek Means Genuine.
Wed-Feb-19-2020

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:5) (Beatitude #3)

Meek does not mean “wimp.”

It means … genuine … not self-inflated … avoiding violent or forceful solutions to problems … open and honest … accepting of one’s own strengths and weaknesses … disciplined … power under control … respectful of others.

Going back to Day 1 of our series, the Beatitudes began with deciding to embrace humility and to ask God to direct our life … (1st Beatitude). Next, we realize that God accepts us we are, but also wants us to develop into our best self. So, we step forward by letting go of our old selfish ways, even though the process will involve grief … (2nd Beatitude).

Now we are ready to just be who we are, as God created us. We can appreciate our uniqueness. We can stop the self-criticism, stop the obsession with seeking approval from others, and simply be satisfied with things as they are. We can honestly say, “I like being who I am. It makes me smile to think that God created me a certain way for a reason. He wanted me in His world for a unique purpose. I am not a mistake. I don’t have to fight to earn the right to be here. I am the me that is supposed to be.” This is what it means to be meek … genuine … satisfied. (3rd Beatitude)

When I reached this realization, I finally relaxed. As a teenager and young adult, I had been afraid that I might be flawed and unacceptable. But that constant haunting feeling that I was defective and needed to fight my way upward went away when I fully embraced my acceptance. The essence of meekness is that I know God loves me, and I don’t have to struggle to prove anything. Nor do I need to always feel hurt or get offended by criticism. I am me, and that is good.

To get things right with God is not so much about worrying  that we must change ourselves to become acceptable to him, as it is to be at peace and receive his love. Then we can go about pursuing our purpose in life one day at a time.

What does it mean that the meek “inherit the earth”? Your inheritance, your earth is the sphere of influence that God gave to you. It includes family, neighbors, fellow believers, strangers, career, community, whatever you touch. Jesus is saying to you that as a meek, genuine, peaceful person, you are to “take charge” of your sphere of influence as your inheritance … to saturate your territory with love, joy, hope, and peace so that it radiates and touches others, and to let others see the new you, the real you.

Having started with humility and then releasing those things that hold you back, you are ready to live more fully. You can use your gifts and talents; you can love and mentor your family; you can have a positive effect in your workplace, your church, your circle of connections. You have been set free to make a difference, to use your “world” and your “gifts” to leave a legacy.

Being meek or genuine is the launch pad to a great future full of adventure and fulfillment.

Be blessed!

Chaplain Mark

If you have not read the previous steps of the Beatitudes, you should go back and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is GRIEF

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #2
Grief Comes from Letting Go
Tue-Feb-18-2020

The Beatitudes describe a process of maturing in the faith. Yesterday I shared with you that the road of faith and maturity toward a blessed and influential life starts with humility. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) (Beatitude #1). Jesus next addressed those who mourn.

Grief is most frequently associated with the feelings we have when someone dies. But … grief also happens on many other occasions as well. It is the emotion that surfaces when we lose or give up something that is important to us, something that we depend on, or are just accustomed to, whether it is good for us or not.

Sometimes we are grieving and don’t know it or don’t want to admit it. One thing that inhibits the process of healing from our grief is to deny it. Another is to pretend we are “strong” and can deal with anything … “no help needed, thank you very much.”

Let me surprise you a little … When Jesus says: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) (Beatitude #2) … one additional thing he has in mind is that there are things we need to let go of, and we are going to miss them. We will grieve over losing them, but they have to go. Our health and happiness depend on it. The things that need to go include … selfishness, worry, fear, gossip, bad habits, distrust, etc.

Intentionally giving up things that are unhealthy is part of the maturing process, but it may still cause us to grieve, because we’re used to them. The promise of this Scripture verse is that if we let go of anything that holds us back or is bad for us, no matter how much we liked it and didn’t want to let go of it, God will replace it (in His timing) with something better that “comforts” us in a healthier way. Someday we will look back with thanks and peace rather than resentment and regret. The tears of grief help to wash away the hurt so that we may fully receive God’s comfort and move forward.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” … Get it?

How does this apply to salvation and Christian maturity? When we receive salvation, we are gifted with marvelous things, like peace, hope, joy, love, and forgiveness. But gaining these things involves releasing other things that were part of our old nature … sinful and unhealthy things. Unfortunately, we liked some of those bad things … we were used to them. Isn’t that true? Just like we sometimes love to eat food that is unhealthy for us, we also have habits and possessions that we are fond of, even though they are not good for us.

Do you see where Jesus is going with this? There will be parts of our old life that have to go for us to receive the wonderful things of God. This is a favorable trade-off, and yet we must recognize that the process of grief is going to take its course, as we say good-bye to those familiar but destructive tendencies. Once you know how to release these things in a healthy manner, the way forward into deeper faith looks promising and exciting. In the meantime, the process of letting go is infused with a promise … you will be comforted by God himself.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles …” (2nd Corinthians 1:3-4a)

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

If you have not read the previous steps of the Beatitudes, you should go back and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is HUMILITY

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #1
It All Starts with Humility.
Mon-Feb-17-2020

Christian maturity is a process which is described in Jesus’ teaching called The Beatitudes. The journey starts with humility. Jesus calls it being POOR IN SPIRIT.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) (Beatitude #1)

The movie Rudy is the true story of a high school football player who has the dream of being on the University of Notre Dame football team. He is really not scholarship material for this caliber of school, so he enrolls and begins working on a way to play football as a walk-on. (You must watch this movie, if you haven’t yet.)

Rudy is talking to the university chaplain at one point, as he needs some hope and encouragement while trying to figure out how to make the team. He is wondering why things aren’t working out, and the chaplain is trying to explain that he needs to be patient, that there is someone “bigger than you” who has to be trusted. The chaplain puts it this way … “There are two things I have learned in life … One: There is a God, and Two: I am not him!”

Becoming a disciple of Jesus starts with admitting that we need help. This takes humility. To reach this point, most people have tried to make life work out right in a variety of unsuccessful ways. Along the way, we go through periods of frustration, guilt, failure, hurt, and hopelessness. No matter how good things are at various times, and no matter how many years it takes, eventually we will come to a point where we cry out for help.  We have dug our hole so deep, that we finally have to admit we will never get out of this pit on our own. Hallelujah! This is the moment at which we are finally ready to embrace God’s way … a Savior named Jesus, who gave his life so that we might be saved from our sin and futility and be set free.

Why did Jesus start the Beatitudes with “blessed are the poor in spirit”? It is because humility and surrender are where life truly begins. The creators of Alcoholics Anonymous picked up on this principle. Step 1 of the 12 Steps is to admit you are powerless over alcohol, and Step 2 is to believe that only a power greater than yourself can restore you.

Pride and determination will never be enough to achieve true peace, joy, hope, salvation, or eternal life. These are gifts given by God and can’t be earned. We may as well say that our starting point is “emptiness.”

Empty is good. God can’t put much in your hands if they are already holding on to things that you think will work or that you treasure above the “higher” things God would like to give you. This fight against embracing humility is universal.

I once read a book by a famous horse breeder, who told how he would always be present at the birth of a foal. When it got up on its feet, he would hold it by the tail and let it struggle to get free until it finally gave up. When he let go, the horse was calm and subdued. This little one would grow up knowing who its master was. It had a freedom and a sense of peace that lasted a lifetime. It was easy to train, enjoyed being around both horses and people, and lived a fruitful life. It trusted its master to provide all its needs.

As humans, God is not going to hold us by the tail and force us to be humble. It must be chosen. Once we do that, God begins to show us the best that life has to offer … a sense of identity, meaning, and purpose.

Once salvation is received, by grace through faith in Jesus … will our future be trouble free? Of course not. We are human, and we live in a fallen world . We will still have times of difficulty, but in those moments, we must remember that being humble before God is always a first step to having our world set right again. We may feel like we are too small and the problem too big, but we can always say, “Lord, help me. Lord, I trust you in everything.”

God can work with that! And the kingdom of heaven is yours!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

For the next few days, we will look at these verses, describing the path to maturity in the faith:

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is GULLIBLE … Plus Friday Humor

Fri-Feb-14-2020

A man was stopped by the fish and game-warden in Canada. He had with him two buckets of fish. He was leaving Shaw’s Point, well known for its great fishing.  The fish and game warden asked the man: “Do you have a license to catch all those fish?” The man replied to the game warden: “No, sir. These are my pet fish.”

“Pet fish?” the warden replied. 

“Yes, sir. Every night I take these fish down to the lake and let them swim around. After a while, I whistle and they jump back into their buckets, and I take them back home again.” 

“That’s a bunch of hogwash! Fish can’t do that!” was the outburst from the Warden.

The man looked at the game warden for a moment, and then said: “Here, I’ll show you. It really works.”

“O.K. I’ve GOT to see this!” The game warden was curious now. The man poured the two buckets of fish into the lake and stood and waited. After several minutes, the game warden turned to the man and said, “Well?”

“Well, what?” the man responded. 

“When are you going to call them back?” the game warden prompted. 

“Call who back?” the man asked.

“The FISH,” the warden said. 

“What fish?” the man asked.

I have had quite a few gullible moments in my day. As I have matured in the faith, I have seen people sometimes want to twist the truth. Their tactic is to confuse us or mislead us by placing doubt in our minds. Sometimes we have to be quick thinkers and extremely tuned in to the Holy Spirit in order to see through misleading statements or questions.

For instance, Jesus was once present for a tense situation in which a woman had been caught in the act of adultery, then brought to a public place, possibly near the temple, in order to be stoned to death as the law demanded. These Pharisees (experts in the law) saw an opportunity to trap Jesus into publicly condoning the killing of a sinful woman.

They confronted Jesus with … ‘What do you say, Jesus? Kill her or not?!” Instead of answering their question, he proposed that “whoever is without sin may cast the first stone.” They all left, of course.

Ask God to give you the ability to discern and respond to people with hidden agendas, not so you can embarrass or confound them, but to help them and others find the truth.

For two years I hosted a national call-in radio show on XM satellite radio, called The Healing Touch. It aired from midnight to 2:00 a.m. for 5 nights a week. One caller was a lady who complained that she had been praying for help from God for 7 years and he either wasn’t listening or didn’t care.

I told her that neither of those were true, according to Scripture. I asked her if she read her Bible … “not much.” How often do you pray … “not much.” Do you attend a church … “no, not really, I don’t have time, and besides they aren’t nice to me.”

I don’t know where this came from … well, really I do … it wasn’t from me. But out of my mouth came this thought … “Ma’am, you could go into your bathroom, turn on the shower, then go and stand in your living room for 7 years and never get wet.”

As you grow in faith through Bible study, reading powerful books, sharing and discussing with others the meaning of faith issues, and living in faith community with a fellowship of believers, God will teach you to see through misguided people with distracting and devious questions. Warning … he will ask you to love them anyway.

Stay alert!

Chaplain Mark