Archive for April, 2009

thoughts on quitting

I remember listening to Tom Landry, the legendary coach of the Cowboys, a Christian man and also a Methodist, speak after an amazing come from behind win over the Washington Redskins, I still remember what he said, “They were just hoping the clock would run out before they got beat!”. And did they ever get beat, the Cowboys were four touchdowns behind to begin the second half. They won because they didn’t quit!
The only way to lose as a Christian is to quit! I will say it again, the only way to lose as a Christian is to quit. In the light of God’s amazing grace, His unlimited power, His unending love, His rich promises and faithfulness, those who trust Him will always eventually win, even if they are behind four touchdowns as they begin the second half. Too many people have a quitters gene, having created a lifelong habit of taking the easy road; when God saves us and calls us and challenges us to pick up our cross and follow Him, one of the things His spirit is working to do is to root out that gene. The Christian life is about overcoming, overcoming anything in the name of Jesus Christ. The only way to lose as a Christian is to quit; it takes us out of the game.
Mike

Nothing

As I was working in the yard the other day I noticed how a tree that had recently been planted was growing so well. I was proud of myself because I had given it good care, including fertilizing it. Then it dawned on me, God made the tree, gave it the ability to grow, created water, makes the sun come up, helped me get the money to buy the tree; you get the picture, God did everything and I get to participate in what God is doing. This is a clear analogy for our lives. We want to make ourselves so much, build some kind of significance, and often that journey takes us away from God and who we are rather than toward our creator. Apart from God we are and can do nothing the Bible says. But in His rich grace and love, life becomes full and eternal.
We are told in Philippians that “Jesus made Himself nothing”. It adds that “He humbled Himself, by becoming obedient even to the point of death on the cross.”
Jesus as God is really the only one who had the right to make Himself “Something” this is what Satan tried to get Him to do at the Mount of Temptation; prove to Satan and others that He was something, more than a carpenter in the wilderness. What is so interesting is how humanity trys so hard to make themselves “Something” when they are not. It is an intriguing reversal of roles lived out in the Biblical word in Romans, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly”, and then in an even more direct word in James, “‘God exults the Humble”. When we quit trying to make ourselves something, and accept the nothing that Jesus as God became, we might get an inkling of what it is to walk with Jesus and belong to God in the great abundant life He continues to promise all those who are willing to give their heart to Him.

Think what this might mean.

Good Friday

Last Night our Church celebrated a special Holy Thursday that included the Passover/Seder service and ended with Communion. This commemorates the Last Supper Jesus had with His Disciples during Holy week. The culminating moment of this supper is the end when Jesus says “This is my body broken for you; This is my blood shed for you”. It is a defining moment for the week, the Church, and everyone that claims the name of Jesus Christ. With these words Jesus promises to become all that the passover is about, deliverance, salvation, faithfulness, hope, God with us; redemption. From here Jesus went to the Garden and prays “Not my will but thine be done”. This prayer was offered on the Mt of Olives not far from the Wall around Jerusalem. Jesus would be able to see the Temple and the wall from here. While he is praying; what else is going on? His disciples who are with him are sleeping. The Religious leaders of Israel are finalizing the plot to have Jesus arrested. Judas is preparing to betray him already having taken the 30 pieces of silver. Barabbas is in prison waiting for the time of his crucifixion. Pilate is hoping that this Passover week will end with no major disruptions among the Jews. Most of the rest of the world is consumed by small chores, hopes, and problems totally unaware of the drama of life and death that is about to be played out. God is about to offer a sacrifice that will save the human soul, a soul that was lost millenniums before when Adam and Eve listened to the devil and ate the fruit. Hosanna God, Hosanna, Save us now.