I'VE BEEN THINKING... How Does A Person Without Standing Become an Outstanding Person?

I’ve been thinking…

How Does A Person Without Standing Become An Outstanding Person?

In every society of man there are persons who, because of their sex, lack of education, financial status, race, or religion are without standing.  In many communities age can be a point of non-standing; children and even unborn young can be killed or abused because they literally have no rights, while the old are often thought of as social or economic drains having no value.  Some segments of human society even consider people with handicaps as having no social, economic, or intrinsic worth. 

The insidious nature of bullying leaves the aftereffect of worthlessness in its victims.  Mankind has always been willing to humiliate others in order to achieve a feeling of superiority.  Often the ones doing the bullying are the ones who feel they are themselves inferior in some way and are trying to compensate by persecuting those they disdain or fear. 

But, I’ve been thinking about our spiritual standing before God.  I think the struggle for standing between human beings is a reflection of mankind’s concern for standing before a holy God. 

Before we acknowledged Jesus Christ as God’s loving sacrifice on our behalf, we were people without spiritual standing.  Romans 3:10-12 makes it clear, … “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” In comparison to a totally holy, totally righteous God we are worthless.  Romans 3:23 shouts the news that every human being is a sinner and is therefore lacking.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

So, that raises the question.  If we are all without spiritual standing before God, what can we do?  This is, of course, the “good news” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many of us are familiar with John 3:16… at least the first part… “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”  But what affects our standing before God is the last part, “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” 

When we accept Christ as our savior, God freely gives us each a completely new status.  We are new people.   Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.  New things include a new standing before the throne of God. 

Then, as a completely new person in Christ, I have the opportunity to be used by God to bless others with that same message of “good news.”  “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 

I was a spiritually worthless person – completely without standing before a righteous God.  But, as a Christian, I am now a person who belongs to God as one of His own children…  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 

Looking at scripture.  God, almost as a rule rather than exception, takes people of little or no consequence and changes them into outstanding people.  Little David – from shepherd boy to king.  Jacob – from cheating scoundrel to father of a nation.  Daniel and Joseph – from lowly slaves to second-in-command to kings.  Gideon – from an inconsequential individual of a small defeated tribe to a mighty judge of Israel.  Ruth – from a non-Jewish widow to the grandmother of King David.  Mary Magdalene – from prostitute to the first person to see the risen Christ (Mark 16:9).  Peter – from fisherman to church leader.  Matthew – from detested taxman to writer of a gospel.  Onesimus – from condemned runaway slave to future bishop of the church (Philemon 1:10,11)…  And literally countless others throughout the Bible.  And then there’s me – from a worthless, self absorbed, directionless sinner to a person who, in Christ, found a purpose for life and a confidence in the future.  (1 John 4:16-18) 

People without standing become outstanding people because God has moved in their lives. 

As those of us who are Christians go through life serving our Lord and serving those around us, we truly live out the miracle of going from people without standing to outstanding people.  (Mark 10:43-45) 

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21 (ESV)

Think about it…

Are You Seeing The World Through Your Songlasses?

I’ve been thinking…

Are You Seeing the World Through Your Songlasses?

Yesterday I was getting ready for a ride on my motorcycle.  I went outside on a bright and beautiful sunny day.  Almost immediately I noticed that I couldn’t see very well.  It was so bright I had to squint making the things around me, including road conditions, out of focus – fuzzy looking.  It would have been uncomfortable, not to mention dangerous, to ride with my sight compromised in that way.  I put on my sunglasses and it was instantly like that old song, “I can see clearly now…”

So, I’ve been thinking…  Do we see the world through our “Songlasses?”  That’s not a typo.  Are we seeing things through the filter of Christ’s vision?  I’ve often heard that as believers in Christ, we are to have a “Christian World View.”  But it’s never been totally clear what that view really looks like day to day.   

There are all kinds of scholarly definitions of “Christian World View” out there.  When I try to read some of them I know that I fall way short in the “smarts department.”  It confirms that my education has far exceeded my mental capacities.  So, Let me simplify the definition of “Christian World View” in this way… by looking at the specific words. 

Christian – meaning “of or about Christ.”  Do I see the world as Christ sees it?  We have a hint of His “World View” in Matthew 9:36 - Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.  

World – meaning “the entire creation – both physical and spiritual conditions.”  It is often used in the New Testament to describe a place of spiritual lures and dangers, in other words as a system contrary to the spiritual agenda of heaven.  John 8:23 – And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.  Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  1 John 2:15-16 – “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”  

View – meaning “perspective or way of perceiving.”  Do I look at things with a scriptural, spiritual perspective?  Am I seeing my health concerns, job challenges, financial difficulties, ministry obstacles, family stresses, and spiritual trials through the lenses of my “Songlasses?”  Do I see them as Jesus sees them?  When confronted with a stranger, family member, friend, or co-worker do I see them with Christ’s eyes?  Do I have a spiritual viewpoint about governments, world economies, the eco-system, and overall struggles of humanity?  I Samuel 16:7 says that God doesn’t see the way man sees.  Genesis 6:11,12 says that God looks at the world and sees corruption and sin.  John 3:16 tells us that, even in that corruption, God loves the world enough to send Jesus and, as we’ve seen, Jesus looks at the world and has a view of love and compassion.  

The only way we can have God’s perspective in every moment of our lives is for us to put on those “Son” lenses and see through Christ’s eyes.  When we start our day’s journey if we put on our “Songlasses” we will be able to see the day’s events much more clearly.  We’ll see people and situations with a perspective we couldn’t have if we just went through the motions of the day with our eyes partially closed in a squint. 

The view through my “Songlasses” is summed up in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.  Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.” 

Now those are cool “Songlasses” … 

Think about it…

Why do The Avengers appeal to our human nature?

I’ve been thinking…

Why do The Avengers appeal to our human nature?

Like countless others, my wife and I went to see the movie “The Avengers.”  We enjoyed the banter between the characters and, of course, the action was amazing in digital 3D.   

After the movie I began to think about the main characters and why millions of us are attracted by them (the movie has already grossed over 1 billion dollars).  Stan Lee, the driving force behind Marvel Comic enterprises, would be the first to tell you that these characters are fiction.  But they have almost universal appeal.  Why?   

I’ve been thinking that these characters each represent a different facet of the human nature that John MacArthur calls “the natural man” in his commentary of 1 Corinthians.  

“Without exception, man’s wisdom elevates himself and lowers God.  It always, no matter how seemingly sincere and objective and scholarly, caters to man’s self–will, pride, fleshly inclinations, and independence.  Those are the basic characteristics of the natural man, and they always direct and determine the natural man’s thinking, desires, and conclusions.  The reason men love complex, elaborate philosophies and religions is because these appeal to human ego. They offer the challenge of understanding and doing something complex and difficult. For the same reason some men scoff at the gospel. It calls on them to do nothing—it allows them to do nothing—but accept in simple faith what God has done. The cross crushes man’s sin and crushes man’s pride. It also offers deliverance from sin and deliverance from pride.” 

In our sinful pride man likes to think that somewhere in himself he has the power to overcome anything… literally to be an avenger of wrongs done to him.  You can see these characteristics in the Avengers of the movie. 

From my perspective: 

The Hulk –  demonstrates the danger & power of rage and the struggle to make that anger serve the circumstances.    (Proverbs 14:29, Ephesians 4:31) 

Iron Man – shows the capabilities of Wealth & Technology.  Man thinks that if he is rich enough, smart enough, and inventive enough he can overcome any challenge.  (Obadiah 1:3,4) 

Thor – represents the spiritual strength found in good myth.   He is a god fighting against his brother, an equal but opposite god of evil… shown in the character of the movie’s antagonist, Loki. (Exodus 20:3-5) 

Black Widow – exhibits the determination & ferocity of the female psyche.  Although, as Christians, women are to be respected as equal before God (Galatians 3:28), they are not to rely upon their personal strengths any more than men are.    

Captain America – displays the leadership strength of patriotism, a characteristic to be admired… in moderation.  But when devotion to a nation or dogma overshadows devotion to the one true God it is a dangerous and destructive tendency.   (John 18:36, Philippians 3:20) 

Hawk Eye – to me, is like Cupid on steroids.  He uses very old, basic technology of the bow and arrow to achieve success using a keen eye and precision of action.  But only God has the power to shoot those kinds of arrows.  (Lamentations 3:12,13)   

Lastly, Nick Fury – is an example of all of unbelieving mankind’s desire for tough independence with the need for assistance when overwhelmed.  Without Christ we are truly at a loss against the powers of sin in this world.  (1 John 2:15-17,  James 4:4) 

Like in the movie, we face a terrible foe who is intent on our destruction.  But we are not to rely on our own strengths, abilities, or recourses.  We are to look to God.  Fighting for His children is His responsibility and He can do it very well.  (Jeremiah 9:23,24)   

1 Thessalonians 4:6 says, “The Lord is the Avenger  in all these things.”  Do you believe that?   (2 Chronicles 20:12, 15, 17; Ephesians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Think about it…

I’ve been thinking…

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

In my first book I said that the word “wait” was the worst four-letter word in the entire Bible.  I still think it is the hardest word to put into practice.  Isaiah 30:18 tells us that God waits to be gracious to us and shows mercy to us in the meantime.  The verse then ends with the fact that those who wait for Him are indeed blessed.   [Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.] (ESV)

So, I’ve been thinking… Why does God wait?  Why does He make us wait?  He is God!  He could just have a thought and it would instantly happen.  Miracles take no effort on His part.  Like the universe, He just speaks and it comes into being. 

I had a pastor years ago who was talking about the trials and suffering we face in life.  He said, “It takes crushed grapes to make sweet wine.”  He was right.  But you know, it also takes something else to make sweet wine.  It also takes time.  Time to mature, time to sweeten, time to give God the glory for everything we learn along the way. 

Is God making you wait?  Have you been praying for something for a long, long time?  When I’m waiting I run through a mental checklist of faith.  It goes like this:

Is God, God?  Yes! 

Can He do anything He wants to? Yes!
Can He make miracles happen?  Yes!
Have I prayed and surrendered to His will on this?  Yes!
Could He do it?  Yes!
Has He done it?  No!
Why?  It’s none of my business!  God knows what He’s doing!

Now there are lots of reasons why God doesn’t answer prayers.  In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus says that a good father doesn’t give a snake when the son asks for a fish.   

But I’ve been thinking… what if the son, in his ignorance, asks for a poisonous snake?  A good father will say, “NO – but wait – I’ve got something coming that will be even better for you.” 

Because we live in an “instant” world of fast food and microwave cooking, when we pray, we want the answers to be “what we want – and when we want them.”  God often answers our prayers with, “NO – but wait – I’ve got something coming that will be even better for you.” 

If we search the scriptures we find that God often makes people wait for blessings.  Even his “special” people have to wait.  I’ve been thinking about Abraham who waits many years for the promised son, Joseph who had to wait in jail for God’s plan to come about, Moses who waits 40 years tending sheep in Moab before God gives him the call to ministry, David who waits years between being anointed king and actually being king, Daniel who had to wait for his dream to be explained, Paul who waited about 14 years before he went on his very first missionary journey.  These were not spiritual lightweights yet God put them on hold for significant periods to produce the “sweet wine” we each can learn from today. 

Even Jesus waited 18 years to start His earthly ministry.  He was 12 in the temple with the wise men when He showed He was fully equipped to begin teaching and ministering.  But God had Him wait until He was 30 to start His public ministry of building His church.  Why did God make even Jesus wait?  Luke 2:52 gives us the clue.  It says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” 

Perhaps God is giving each of us an opportunity in our waiting – an opportunity to give Him all the glory and praise for the process.  Through the process of waiting and learning how to submit to God’s will in our waiting, God is increasing our wisdom, and our stature, and our favor with people around us, and our favor with God himself.  That’s a growing process.  If we can graciously wait on God, it can be a real testimony to those who haven’t yet learned to.  And… 

That is why God gives us the growing experiences of making us wait.   He’s waiting until we are “sweet enough” for His purposes.  So, while you’re waiting on God be the best “waiter” ever, giving Him all the praise and glory along the way. 

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.    Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

Think about it…

Being a Christian is Counter Intuitive

I’ve been thinking…

Being a Christian is counter intuitive!

First a definition of what I mean when I say counter intuitive.  Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “intuitive” as, “quick and ready insight.”  And I’ve been thinking that, after all these years of being a Christian, there is nothing intuitive about living the life of a believer in Jesus.

Take for example the fact that a Christian is born again into a brand new life.  But, to live that life every believer must die to themselves.  (Galatians 2:19,20)

To gain increase, we must give sacrificially. (Luke 6:38)  To lead, we’re called upon to serve. (Luke 22:25,26 ) To win the victory, we’re told to stand and watch God win the battle on our behalf. (2 Chronicles 20:15,17)  When we suffer, we need to rejoice.  When our enemies hate us, we are to love them. (Luke 6:27,35)  None of these actions make “common sense”... They are counter, or in the opposite direction from, what makes a “quick and ready insight.”  You could say that the Christian life makes “uncommon sense.”  This only figures since God is such an uncommon person. 

Think about that.  There is nothing at all common about Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit isn’t a common individual.  And the Father?  Well, try using common sense when figuring out the Trinity, His creation, or, for that matter, why He loved us even while we were His enemy. (Romans 5:8-10)  He just doesn’t make sense.  He is counter intuitive.

When God has a plan for Abraham to build a great nation, He doesn’t tell Abraham to start having as many kids as possible.  No!  He tells Abraham to wait for one child.  Then, after years of waiting, Isaac is born and God instructs Abraham to go up on a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice.  Now that is counter intuitive.  Yet, Abraham doesn’t use common sense.  Abraham says to his servants, “We are going up to the mountain and we will return.” (Genesis 22:1-5)  In his faith in God’s promise Abraham goes against his common sense and knows that if God asks him to kill the child of that promise, God will cause some miracle to bring that child back to life.  Counter intuitive?  That’s a giant, Yes!

In this time of empirical reason when man only wants to believe what he can see, touch, and measure, for us to turn over the control of our dreams, thoughts, and actions to this unseen, untouchable, and completely immeasurable Savior? (John 20:28,29) It’s counter intuitive for sure.  But that’s exactly what a counter intuitive God wants from you and me.  To walk in a lifestyle pleasing to Him, we’ve got to follow His will and instructions not our own understanding or “quick and ready insights”…

We need a “renewing of our mind.” (Romans 12:1,2  Ephesians 4:22-24)  Depending on my “old-life” thought processes will run me into an intuitive dead end.  We’ve got to breakout and by faith obey all these things mentioned above and trust that God will prove himself faithful. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)  He is fully capable of defending His own instructions for living.  And that’s even counter intuitive!

Think about it.

Link to Len's website:     lenmallen.com