Fishers of Men!

Quite often I wear a bracelet that is very special to me.  I would say it didn't cost me much, but that would not be the truth.  Sure, this bracelet is made of simple fishing swivels that you can buy a for a few dollars at your local tackle shop.  However, this bracelet was given to me by someone who reminded me of who I am in Jesus Christ.  He told me when I put it on, "Jeff, I want you to know that you and I are FISHERS OF MEN."  Truth be told, this bracelet actually comes with a great cost.  Every time I look at it and put it on, I am reminded of Matthew 4:18-20... 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  20 At once they left their nets and followed him.  With this bracelet I am reminded of the price Jesus paid for my life.  Jesus gave up His life for me, dying on the cross for my sins, facing the wrath of God for my sin.  I am also reminded of another passage found in Matthew 16:24-25... 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  With this bracelet I am reminded of the price I must pay to be Jesus' disciple.  I must deny myself (sacrifice).  I must take up the cross (humility and service).  I must follow Him (obedience).  

I am so thankful for the call of God on my life.  As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5, I am God's "ambassador" in this world.  As Peter says in 1 Peter 2, I am God's "special possession."  As John says in 1 John 3, I am "a child of God."  When I humbly repent of my sin before Almighty God and surrender my heart to Jesus and call Him my Lord and Savior, I become a child of God, an ambassador of God, a special possession of God who is called to declare His praises and shine His light in a dark world. And I am not alone.  There are many others who are also FISHERS OF MEN.  We are a band of brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, and we go forth together as vessels of God's love, grace, and mercy.  As Christ followers, we should never take this call lightly, and we should always remind one another of who we are in Jesus Christ...even with simple yet costly bracelets like mine.  There is no greater call in this life than the call by Jesus to become FISHERS OF MEN!  

The Pleasing Aroma of Christ!

Earlier today I was headed to get my Chick-fil-A for lunch, but something really cool happened.  As I turned the corner, an amazing fragrance blasted my nostrils!  Yep, Great American Cookies worked its powers on me.  Before I even made it to Chick-fil-A to get my lunch, I picked up a chocolate chip double-doozie.  I could not resist!  Has that ever happened to you?  It happens to me at Cinemark, as well.  I go to see a movie, but when I walk through the doors the fragrance of buttered popcorn captivates me.  Even when I am not hungry at all, I find myself ordering a large buttered popcorn.  Isn't it amazing how easily we can be captivated by those kinds of things, those kinds of fragrances?

What about our walk with the Lord?  Is our walk with the Lord as captivating as some of these things in life that have no eternal value?  I love Paul's words to the church in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15.  Paul says, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  Wow!!!  Think about those words for just a moment.  As Christ followers, through humble repentance of sin and true faith in the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ, we are "the pleasing aroma of Christ" to the world in which we live!  I had to stop and really think about these words.  I had to ask myself a very serious question: "Am I the pleasing aroma of Christ to everyone I come in contact with on a day-to-day basis?"  In other words, does my attitude and do my words and my actions captivate others in a way that leads them to God?  In my home?  In my workplace?  In my church?  In my community?  When others are passing me by in the highways and byways of life, does my life give off the pleasing aroma of Christ to those being saved and to those who are perishing?  Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 2:17, "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.  On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God."  We are jars of clay!  Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."  He says in 2 Corinthians 4:15, "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."  

What does it take to be this pleasing aroma of Christ to the world?  It takes prayer.  It takes repentance of sin.  It takes humility.  It takes love.  Only when we know and rely on the love of God can we be a vessel - a jar of clay - which is poured out to others and for others.  We can be that pleasing aroma of Christ to the world, but we must deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.  We must turn from sin and self and trust in God's gift to us, namely Jesus!  I don't know about you, but I want to be that pleasing aroma of Christ to my home, to my workplace, to my church, and to my community.  I want God to be praised with shouts of thanksgiving!  Lord, let it begin with me!  I pray that You, Lord, will help me be that pleasing aroma of Christ in this world.  I pray that You, Lord, will receive praises of thanksgiving as I continue to commune with You and share the knowledge of Your love with others.  Amen!

Responding Carefully or Carelessly???

RESPOND.  "Respond" means "to react toward something or someone; to say something in return."  A few days ago, I was driving down the road when a large firetruck passed by me with its lights flashing and sirens blaring.  I pulled over and let the firetruck pass, as did the other cars around me.  As I pulled up to the next red light, I noticed the men get out of the firetruck and walk casually into a restaurant.  I have to be honest with you, though.  My first thought was not a good one: "Did those guys just use their truck to get to lunch quicker?  How dare they use their position, their title to push people to the side so they can grab a quick lunch!"  Like I said, I'm just being honest with you.  However, that thought in my head didn't last long.  Instead, I spoke these words out loud: "God, I pray for those firefighters and whatever they are about to do.  If they are in danger, protect them.  If they are helping someone, bless them and use them to do good.  Amen."  

How many times do we RESPOND to things we see or things we hear?  All day and every day, we RESPOND to things and to people.  The real question should be this one: Do we respond CAREFULLY, or do we respond CARELESSLY?  There is a real difference.  "Carefully" means "to be marked by caution; attentive concern; painstaking effort to avoid error or omission."  On the other hand, "carelessly" means "to be unconcerned with; not showing care or concern for something or someone."  So many times in my day, I find myself responding CARELESSLY.  I am quick to judge and quick to speak.  And as a Christ follower, I know better.  James 1:19-21 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."  This passage of Scripture is applicable in so many areas of my life.  It applies in those times when I look at things with my eyes and want to be judgmental.  It applies when I am listening to conversations and want to be harsh with my comments.  It applies with what lies in my heart, what rolls around in my head, and what eventually comes out of my mouth.  I truly want to be a man who RESPONDS CAREFULLY to the things I see and the things I hear.  I want my responses to be marked by caution and attentive concern for others.  And for what it is worth; those firefighters that day were responding to a griddle fire that had filled up that restaurant with smoke.  I could clearly see the smoke rolling out of the building after I passed by on the other side of the parking lot.  On that day, I was glad I squashed my initial response and began praying.  Now, if only I could respond like that more often than not...in my home, in my workplace, in my church, in my community!  

Lord, help me be a better listener.  Help me be quick to listen and slow to speak.  Lord, help me be a man who is concerned for others.  Forgiven me when I am judgmental with my thoughts and/or with my words and actions.  I pray that I will be a careful responder rather than a careless responder to anyone or to anything you put in my path.  Help me, Lord, to glorify You by applying James 1:19-21 to my life each and every day.  Amen!

That is TEAMWORK!

 Another passage of Scripture that I love to read and be remind of is 1 Corinthians 12.  What an incredible passage of Scripture for Christ followers working together in kingdom ministry!  For many years before I was called to be a pastor, I was a high school basketball coach.  TEAMWORK was something I learned as a kid playing ball, and it was something I continued to learn and to value as a coach.  I was watching a college basketball game just a few nights ago.  One of my favorite college teams recruited and signed a 5-star athlete.  He is incredibly gifted, but during this game he was struggling defensively and offensively.  The coach continued to stick with him because he knew that he was a difference-maker on the floor.  With the game tied with less than thirty seconds, this 5-star athlete had the ball and began driving to the basket.  I actually thought he was going to take the shot, and I would have been fine with him taking the shot...possibly the last shot.  

As a coach, you want athletes who are confident in taking those kinds of shots.  As he began to drive, I saw one teammate set a screen for him.  On the opposite side of the basketball, where most people were not looking, I saw another teammate set a screen for another player.  As the 5-star athlete rose to the rim with a defender in his face, he softly passed the ball to his left to a wide-open teammate who made the game winning shot!  That is TEAMWORK!  I saw a few things in that game that reminded me of this passage in 1 Corinthians 12.  Everyone was on the same page; everyone was taking care of his responsibility in his place of service.  One thing that really stood out was that even though the 5-start athlete and leader of the team could have take the very much contested last shot, he was willing to pass the ball to a teammate who had the better shot.  And even though this college basketball game was entertaining and they were PERFORMING at a high level, what I saw was PARTICIPATION by a team of athletes.  I did not see a PERFORMANCE.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that kingdom ministry is TEAM MINISTRY.  Kingdom ministry is about PARTICIPATING with God not PERFORMING for the crowd.  As Christ followers, God saves us and calls us unto Himself, but He also brings us together to PARTICIPATE in what He is doing in the world for an eternal purpose.  Pauls says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 that we have "different gifts, different kinds of service, and different kinds of working."  However, he goes on to say that we have "the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God."  Our differences are not given to us to create division or separation.  Our differences are gifts given to us by God to do incredible work TOGETHER!  Our PARTICIPATION in kingdom ministry TOGETHER is for "the common good."  Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ."  In verses 18-20, Paul says, "But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body."

So what does the enemy - Satan - want to do to our hearts and minds as Christ followers?  We know that he wants to "steal, kill, and destroy."  Satan also likes to use DIVISION to create chaos in our lives...at home, at work, and yes, at church and in kingdom ministry.  If you are a "foot" in ministry, he wants you to focus on the "hand" and wants you to feel like you are less because you are not the "hand."  If you are the "ear" in ministry, Satan wants you to focus on the "eye" and wants you to feel like you are less because you are not the "eye."  You get my point!  Satan wants you to put the focus on YOU: what you want, how you want it, and when you want it.  Satan wants you to make kingdom ministry like the Burger King slogan: "Make it YOUR way RIGHT away."  However, what we see in 1 Corinthians 12 and in 1 Peter 4 and many other passages, kingdom ministry is about what God wants...the way He wants, when He wants, and how He wants it.  We are not PERFORMERS; we are PARTICIPANTS.  Yes, God has equipped some of us to be leaders, ones making important decisions and, even at times, out front.  However, God has equipped some to be behind the scenes taking care of what we call "little things."  I can tell you from a coaching perspective that the "little things" are what make the "big things" possible.  Wherever you are serving right now in kingdom ministry, BE THANKFUL!  Keep your FOCUS on God...who He is and what He wants.  Kingdom ministry and TEAMWORK is all about surrendering, suffering, sacrificing, and serving; it is about PARTICIPATING not PERFORMING.  

Lord, help me.  Lord, help me be a team player when it comes to kingdom ministry.  Lord, I am thankful for salvation and thankful for participation.  Lord, help me to focus on the gift(s) You've given me so that I can be a vessel of Your grace, love, and mercy.  Lord, help me to remember that what You've given me and where You've placed me is about the "common good."  Lord, help me honor You in all I say and do in kingdom ministry.  And Lord, thank You for giving me the opportunity to be a part of Your TEAM!  Amen!

Is This PERFORMANCE or PARTICIPATION???

I love 1 Peter 4...every single word!  Over the past month, I've really been praying and pouring my heart out to God about kingdom ministry and my participation.  I've been serving in kingdom ministry in the church and community for a long time.  In just a few weeks, Lord willing, I will have served at my church as pastor for ten years. Kingdom ministry has really been on my heart this past month.  I've thought about the different areas of ministry in the church: pastors, deacons, teachers, women's ministry, men's ministry, student ministry, children's ministry, and many more positions of service.  A question that I've asked myself is a tough one: "Is this PERFORMANCE or PARTICIPATION?"  I have learned that if I am not completely humble in all I say and I do then what I am saying and doing for the kingdom can become a PERFORMANCE.  If I am not completely humbled before God and completely surrendered to God then kingdom ministry can actually become the idol of my heart.  Without true humility and true surrender, I begin to make kingdom ministry what I want it to be; I begin to make kingdom ministry a glorified platform for what I want to say and what I want to do rather than a humble position of saying what God wants me to say and doing what God wants me to do.  When kingdom ministry is about PERFORMANCE in my life, I will compare myself to others; I will become judgmental and domineering; I will become the exact opposite of who Jesus saved me and called me to be.  Kingdom ministry is not about my PERFORMANCE.  Kingdom ministry is about my PARTICIPATION. 

1 Peter 4:1-2 says, "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.  As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."  Peter goes on to say in verses 7-11, "The end of all things is near.  Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things GOD MAY BE PRAISED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen."

I thank God for our salvation that comes through humble repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ.  I thank God that through salvation we become children of God and ambassadors of God in this world.  We are not called to sit around and watch what God is doing; we are called to PARTICIPATE in what He is doing!  What a blessing!  Peter's words in 1 Peter 4 remind me that everything I say and do is about Jesus and for Jesus.  His words remind me that my goal is that "GOD MAY BE PRAISED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST."  Kingdom ministry is never about me; it is never about a PERFORMANCE to glorify myself or my words or my actions; it is not so others can see me or think that I am so good or better than.  If that is what I make it, then the truth is I look a whole lot more like the Pharisees than I do the Christ followers.  In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus had many conversations with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.  Jesus wanted them to know the truth of God's Word; He wanted them to know that it was the law that exposed their sinfulness and their desperate need of a Savior.  However, as we see in Scripture, for many of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, the law had become an idol in their hearts.  They began to PERFORM for the crowds rather than to PARTICIPATE with the Lord.  Kingdom ministry for the teachers of the law and the Pharisees had become a show, a spectacle.  I have been praying to my Father this past month about kingdom ministry and my part in it.  I have also been repenting of my sinfulness, the sinfulness of PERFORMANCE over PARTICIPATION...making kingdom ministry about what I want to say and what I want to do rather than humbling surrendering to God and being His vessel, His ambassador.

As Peter shows us in 1 Peter 4, kingdom ministry is about PARTICIPATION, and that PARTICIPATION includes surrendering, suffering, sacrificing, and serving.  It is about being completely humbled and completely committed to God in every area of our lives.  If we are more concerned about getting our way with others...if we are more concerned about getting the prizes of man (trophies, t-shirts, applause, etc)...if we are more concerned with positions over others...then maybe we need to step back or even step down.  If we are PERFORMING for man then we can't be PARTICIPATING with God.  

Lord, help me.  Lord, show me the truth.  Lord, forgive me of my sinfulness and my selfishness.  Lord, thank You for saving me and calling me to PARTICIPATE in kingdom ministry.  Lord, help me stay humble.  Lord, help me stay focused on You and what You want me to say and what You want me to do.  And Lord, help me to love others deeply, offer hospitality with grumbling, use my gifts to serve others, and be a faithful steward of the grace You've given me.  Let my PARTICIPATION cause others to praise You through Jesus Christ.  Amen!