Tag: Witnessing

Today’s Word Is BECOME

Wed-Jun-10-2020

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

It matters with whom we associate. We cannot avoid being around all kinds of people. Some will be likable and some not … cheerful or not … kind or not … problem solvers or not … complainers or not … and wise or not.

Contact and collaboration are necessary with all these people. But … we do not have to “walk with” everyone in the sense referred to by this Proverb. Everyone must choose their principles and beliefs, and in so doing you will discover whom you should walk in step with. And by observation, others should be able to figure out who you “walk with.” They are the ones with whom you share a common faith, the ones you admire and want to imitate. These are the ones who will back you up in a disagreement, because you know their heart and they know yours. Skin color, cultural background, education, social standing, and affluence have nothing to do with this.

If I could make a group photo of the people I have “walked with” in my life because I sought their wisdom … They are from cultures and colors all around the world … Some have been far older than me, some far younger … Some have lived in mansions, some have lived in a tent camp in the woods … Some count their money in the millions, while some have no bank account, just what is in their pocket … Some have doctorate degrees, some never went inside a school … Some are popular with others, some not … Some are widely known or famous, some count their friends on one hand. God will show you with whom you should walk in order to become wise.

As we relate to those whom we think of as wise, we are influenced by their character and behavior. We observe how they have a positive effect on the world around them. We ask them questions and learn their secrets of peace, motivation, boldness, and wisdom.

I hope you have a desire to become a wiser person. God loves us as we are … yes … but he loves us too much to leave us the way we are. It has been said that you can’t “go with God” and stay where you are. And an important aspect of becoming who God wants us to be is that of walking with wise people.

Do you know that there are lots of very smart people who are foolish? The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) Intelligence and foolishness can coexist within a person. There is a great difference between being smart and being wise. My admiration goes to those wise people whom God has placed in my life for the purpose of lifting me up and showing me the way.

Have you noticed that some folks are attracted to foolish people? They associate with them because it appears at times that they are carefree and unburdened. Whereas the wise person appears to be doing too much work, or getting redirected sometimes by inconvenient interruptions, or even being forced to make sacrifices that are not appealing. However, the wise person chooses these inconveniences for the greater good of others and for the high calling of character and integrity.

For you and me to become the best we are meant to be, it matters whom we admire and imitate. As for the one who is foolish, but appears on the outside to “have it made” … a window into their private moments might show us the “flip side” of their lifestyle, which includes hidden inner suffering, and whose behaviors create undesirable consequences. They get tied up in a pattern of repeatedly making botched attempts to reverse the results of their foolishness. These are the things they hide from us.

Spending time with foolish people can be a good thing. They may seek us out because they admire something about us. But again, there is a difference between spending time with someone and being their “companion.” Do you see that? If we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14), then we must get close to and involved with people who need salt and light. Our companions, however, are those with whom we stand in lockstep in the faith, ready to change the world.

Have you ever suffered harm because you were the companion of fools? Hopefully, we have left that behind and moved on. If not, now would be a good time to resolve to walk with the wise, and in so doing become wise.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

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 INVITE

Wed-Feb-5-2020

If your participation in a local fellowship of believers has been life-changing, why not invite someone along? There are more opportunities than you might think. One of my hospital co-workers once told me that a patient she was caring for invited her to church. This was not the first time she had received such an invitation, but for some reason, this time she felt God’s nudge and surprised herself by suddenly saying “OK!” So … she went. Why not?

What happened was a spiritual connection that she had not anticipated, and her faith began to emerge and grow. Life is now different and blessed.

So how do you know who to invite? I would say, “Listen. Let God speak to you.” As Jesus left this earth, one of his final statements to the disciples was, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

This is a clue to where we will encounter folks whom God wants to bless by being a part of his church. First, it is in Jerusalem, which was home base to the disciples, where they were around familiar faces. These are the people close to home, people that you know. When we are in our usual territory, seeing people that we frequently see, there is someone who needs to get an invitation to a new life of faith and to a church.

Then there is the area called Judea, which is people further out, people you don’t know. You are in places where you feel comfortable, but around people who are mostly strangers. Many of us find ways to talk with others that we don’t know. And there is an approach that we can each develop from our own personality, by which we can bring up faith matters without scaring people off. Don’t let your initial awkward attempts deter you from developing your style.

Further away from Jerusalem is the territory called Samaria. Jews only ventured into this territory by necessity. Samaritans were culturally different and mostly despised, because they were intermarried with various cultures. For our day and time, this regards the barriers of racial, cultural, and religious differences. I don’t know the accuracy of this statement, but I have heard it said that 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning is the most racially and culturally divided time in our society. We could change that.

Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4:7), and the disciples were surprised Jesus had been talking to her. In another story where Jesus healed ten lepers, only one came back to say thank you, and he was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16). And of course, we all know the parable of the Good Samaritan, where the hero is a foreigner of a different culture (Luke 10:30).

After the resurrection, the new community of Christians realized that their message was not only for familiar folks, but also for those who are “not like me” … different color, different spirituality, different country, different level of income. So, they dared to approach and invite them, and many successes followed.

The final place that Jesus named as an area for sharing our witness is “the end of the earth.” He was saying that there are no limits on where you can find someone to invite. Anywhere you are there are people who need what you have found through faith in Jesus.

Most people go to church because someone invited them … and according to research, in the vast majority of cases, it wasn’t the pastor doing the inviting. It was just regular folks with changed lives. Don’t be afraid to invite someone to church.

One final note … attending church does not make us a Christian. Salvation comes by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. In other words, church never “saved” anybody! Jesus does that! But an invitation to church can be the first step!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark