“You’re not the boss of me!” Have you ever heard some six year old say that? Or maybe a 36 year old. Truth is we are a people that don’t like to be fenced in. Therefore, identifying who the boss is really is important. The wrong “boss” keeps us from doing what we want to do, the right one gives us more freedom.
So how do most people feel about surrendering their life to Christ? In essence, we submit to His authority and let Him be “the boss.” Why is that so difficult? Perhaps the same reason that six year old doesn’t want to surrender their right to be “it” to someone else. How do we know that “the new boss” will do what I want? Or even more basic, treat me fairly?
Jesus made it clear throughout His ministry, and even more so after His resurrection that all authority had been given to him. But what would Christ do with “all power and authority” while He’s in heaven? Why would He need it up there if He’d already proven that His mission wasn’t to control people but to persuade them to follow Him, to listen to Him, to act like Him?
When we understand just how God “abides with us,” then it begins to make more sense why He has all the power and authority. This is what Paul was praying that the Colossians would do, to come to a “complete knowledge of his will and to [have] spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” (Colossians 1:9-10)
Letting someone else “be the boss” is easier to do when we know them. Unfortunately, many Christians really don’t put much time into getting to know God. Too often, our time is spent following the leadership example of the Pharisees rather than coming to an understanding of where and how Christ is really leading us today. Spend an unrealistic time in prayer this week, dedicate too much time to meditating on God’s word this week, go volunteer too much of your time to help someone in need, or go tell too many people about why you believe in Christ as your savior. By doing so, you’ll probably notice how much of a comfort letting Christ be the boss really is to your daily schedule.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Life After Grace
Kiosks and infomercials are wonderful places to discover gidgets and gadgets you never knew you needed. Sometimes you don't even know what it does, even if you buy one. In many respects, someone who is able to convince you to trade your hard-earned money for something you don't even understand is the sign of an effective salesman. While that may seem borderline unethical, what about things that we know aren't gimmicks? What about salvation?
Consider what a person knows about God, Christ, and Christianity before becoming a follower compared to what you'd think they might know after taking the plunge. Sadly, there isn't an app in your head for instant understanding; you just got to see how this actually works.
Since the Church of Christ broke away from the Disciples of Christ in the early 1900's, there has been a concerted effort to help people better understand what it means to become a Christian from a biblical perspective. The Scriptures make it plain what a person needs to know before they should choose to follow Christ – He IS the Messiah, the promised son of God who came to earth, AND He IS the only way through which any of us can become part of God's family. Outside of that there isn't much a person needs to know... yet. After a person realizes their need to be added to Christ's body (God's family) by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins, there opens up a whole new world of behavior transformation.
For the most part, the Apostles would spend the rest of their earthly lives helping believers understand life after grace. The Epistles were written to do just that. Colossians is one of several letters (books of the New Testament) written to help us out.
The complaint many new Christians have is that they felt welcomed and included while they were considering becoming a follower, but nearly forgotten once they make the decision. As mature believers, we have to follow the example of the Apostles in spending more time helping believers understand their new life, and not leave them half finished. 2 Peter 2:20 reminds us it would be better never to have known the way, than to have known it and then to fall away.
Let's encourage one another to be students of our faith.
Consider what a person knows about God, Christ, and Christianity before becoming a follower compared to what you'd think they might know after taking the plunge. Sadly, there isn't an app in your head for instant understanding; you just got to see how this actually works.
Since the Church of Christ broke away from the Disciples of Christ in the early 1900's, there has been a concerted effort to help people better understand what it means to become a Christian from a biblical perspective. The Scriptures make it plain what a person needs to know before they should choose to follow Christ – He IS the Messiah, the promised son of God who came to earth, AND He IS the only way through which any of us can become part of God's family. Outside of that there isn't much a person needs to know... yet. After a person realizes their need to be added to Christ's body (God's family) by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins, there opens up a whole new world of behavior transformation.
For the most part, the Apostles would spend the rest of their earthly lives helping believers understand life after grace. The Epistles were written to do just that. Colossians is one of several letters (books of the New Testament) written to help us out.
The complaint many new Christians have is that they felt welcomed and included while they were considering becoming a follower, but nearly forgotten once they make the decision. As mature believers, we have to follow the example of the Apostles in spending more time helping believers understand their new life, and not leave them half finished. 2 Peter 2:20 reminds us it would be better never to have known the way, than to have known it and then to fall away.
Let's encourage one another to be students of our faith.
Friday, November 4, 2016
The Battle Line
Color Guard: typically refers to a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of regimental colors (AKA, the flag). It’s the duty of a selected soldier to carry “the colors,” while being guarded by experienced soldiers. The job is simple: protect the flag.
Throughout history, as armies trained they began to adopt different formations to serve in some capacity during war. In the chaos of battle, or dust and smoke on a battlefield, soldiers needed to be able to determine where their regiment was. If the soldiers couldn’t find their way to a rally point, they could find themselves fighting alone.
The colors needed to be able to be seen at all times, because this meant they were still in the fight. Similarly, as Christians, we need to be sure that our flag can always be seen in spite of the chaos Satan attempts to bring to the battlefront.
It’s interesting that Paul highlights one of the elements of Satan’s strategies in battle to cause us to lose sight of our “colors.” He says in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, referring to the man they had corrected from 1 Corinthians 5, “…forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”
Jesus had told the apostles in Matthew 16:13-19, while in Caesarea-Philippi, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” But Jesus wanted to know if they knew who He was, what flag were they holding up for the world to see, so He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” It was Peter’s reply that indicated he recognized “the colors.” He said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
It took an entire earthly ministry with Christ before they would truly understand what His flag was really about. As they argued over who would be the greatest in His kingdom, and as they were concerned with how Jesus would fulfill his age-old promise of salvation, it was critical that they realized where to rally when the battle was on.
Jesus told them, “You’re blessed because you realized this from watching me, not from the teaching of man. It’s that confession that will be the solid rock you’ll need when all the powers of Satan will come crashing against you. But trust in me, the Messiah, and Satan cannot defeat you…” (paraphrased)
Yet Paul explains how Satan uses internal division and conflict to try to defeat the Lord’s army. Many times people reject church because they see the chaos of battle right within the walls of a place that claims to be a safe haven of rest. The spirit of a congregation, much like the colors of a flag, should represent Christ and all his examples. Doctrine is important, but doctrine cannot contradict the simple message that should always point to Jesus Christ. Peter recognized it, Jesus encouraged it, and we must follow it. Jesus said that fulfilling the greatest commandment would sum up all other commands – Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (100%), and to do that you must love your neighbor as yourself. Let’s model Christianity well so that others will see our churches as a rally point during battle.
Throughout history, as armies trained they began to adopt different formations to serve in some capacity during war. In the chaos of battle, or dust and smoke on a battlefield, soldiers needed to be able to determine where their regiment was. If the soldiers couldn’t find their way to a rally point, they could find themselves fighting alone.
The colors needed to be able to be seen at all times, because this meant they were still in the fight. Similarly, as Christians, we need to be sure that our flag can always be seen in spite of the chaos Satan attempts to bring to the battlefront.
It’s interesting that Paul highlights one of the elements of Satan’s strategies in battle to cause us to lose sight of our “colors.” He says in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, referring to the man they had corrected from 1 Corinthians 5, “…forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”
Jesus had told the apostles in Matthew 16:13-19, while in Caesarea-Philippi, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” But Jesus wanted to know if they knew who He was, what flag were they holding up for the world to see, so He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” It was Peter’s reply that indicated he recognized “the colors.” He said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
It took an entire earthly ministry with Christ before they would truly understand what His flag was really about. As they argued over who would be the greatest in His kingdom, and as they were concerned with how Jesus would fulfill his age-old promise of salvation, it was critical that they realized where to rally when the battle was on.
Jesus told them, “You’re blessed because you realized this from watching me, not from the teaching of man. It’s that confession that will be the solid rock you’ll need when all the powers of Satan will come crashing against you. But trust in me, the Messiah, and Satan cannot defeat you…” (paraphrased)
Yet Paul explains how Satan uses internal division and conflict to try to defeat the Lord’s army. Many times people reject church because they see the chaos of battle right within the walls of a place that claims to be a safe haven of rest. The spirit of a congregation, much like the colors of a flag, should represent Christ and all his examples. Doctrine is important, but doctrine cannot contradict the simple message that should always point to Jesus Christ. Peter recognized it, Jesus encouraged it, and we must follow it. Jesus said that fulfilling the greatest commandment would sum up all other commands – Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (100%), and to do that you must love your neighbor as yourself. Let’s model Christianity well so that others will see our churches as a rally point during battle.