The good news of Christ
Pour out your blessing, Lord of light,
Lord of sight, Lord of sound,
Pour out your Spirit, full of might,
Full of power where gifts abound.
Pour out this soul, a life to give,
A life to live, a life to serve;
Pour out your servant, his work receive,
A sacrifice without reserve.
Pour out, O God, upon this earth,
The word to save, the word of love;
Bring forth for many a spiritual birth,
That all to heaven might soon remove.
Father, help me begin well this day and end well.
Let my mind lead every step with good and positive thoughts, and with plans to do your will.
Show me where the good is to be found. Make me understand exactly what the nature of good is.
May every person who lives, moves, and breathes be the focus of salvation today, as I seek to offer a message of hope.
Bless my family of faith, that each one may grow in certainty of your presence and in usefulness to the kingdom.
May each task that comes before me today be done with cheerfulness and dedication, knowing as I do that you turn a saint’s hand to impact eternity.
Father, help me be aware each moment of this day that you are working in my life.
O those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer …
I come from a long line of work-aholics … therefore, I’ve always struggled in this area. Work first, play later–but later there’s always more work to do! Because I’ve always filled every moment of every day with tasks to accomplish, I’ve never really learned to relax or develop hobbies. Industriousness, after all, is praised in the Bible:
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise …. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” Proverbs 6:6-11.
But so is rest! “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest …” Leviticus 23:3. I know, I know, that’s Old Testament Law and meant for the Israelites, but does that mean that we in the New Testament age should never rest?
I suppose that many in my position as an evangelist of a small church in a remote area of the U.S. surrounded by all of the cultural opulence and abundance of the 21st Century might go the opposite direction and be lazy in leisure and luxury. I cheer inwardly when I read the many proverbs against this, like … “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth” Proverbs 26:15.
But maybe it’s because that’s someone else’s problem, not mine! We had a cat who would eat lying down with her head in her dish, munching every once in a while when she was not napping there. We mocked her for it, but she didn’t care–she was a cat!
It’s easier to point out the sins of others than deal with our own weaknesses. Isn’t that what the self-righteous Pharisee said about the humble tax-collector too ashamed to lift his eyes? “God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11).
Maybe that’s the point. In this polarized age of immersing ourselves in what we agree with, we cannot do that with God’s Word. We have to let the double-edge of the Sword come back on us (Hebrews 4:12-13) and let ourselves be taught, corrected, rebuked, and trained (2 Timothy 3:16-17) by the passages that make us squirm the most.
So, I think I might go read a book … right after I mow the lawn.
There are certainly many sections of Scripture that most of us would admit we skip or at least skim. When the unpronounceable names and unfathomable numbers pile-up, we shrug, not knowing these people, and look for the next bit of story. But, every once in a while a spiritual gem can be mined from these passages. This week while skimming (I admit it!) such a chapter in Nehemiah that mentioned who was rebuilding the wall next to whom, I found one that made me almost fall out of my chair:
“And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.”
Nehemiah 3:5.
First, let’s look at the context. In successive waves, starting with the best and brightest who had skills or could oppose him, Nebuchadnezzar had brought the inhabitants of Judah into captivity in Babylon, where they would become ‘Jews.’ Seventy years later, Cyrus allowed all those who would want to return to go back and make a life out of the burned rubble of Jerusalem. They didn’t need to and many chose not to. Those who did, we would think, would have a pioneer spirit, willing to do whatever was necessary to survive and serve God who, in His mercy, had allowed them to return to the promised land.
But not these nobles! As the very defense of what little life they and their neighbors had managed to scrape together was at stake, they “would not stoop to serve their Lord.” It was beneath them. These nobles would be that friend who you take camping who sips iced tea from a lawn chair while you pitch the tent. They are Mr. and Mrs. Howell on Gilligan’s Island. As some who returned were alive when the city and temple were destroyed, it’s hard to imagine that they believed they were coming back to the Golden Age of Israel under Solomon when the Queen of Sheba was so impressed with what she saw that surpassed the reports that she proclaimed, “Behold, the half was not told me.” No, this Jerusalem required sweat and the rolling up of sleeves.
Sadly, we have those in the church who believe themselves ‘too good for God.’ While many labor around them rebuilding the walls of broken lives, these ‘nobles’ will not stoop to serve the Lord. Too wrapped up in their own lives to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, or teach the lost, they only warm a pew for an hour on Sundays and gain a smug checkmark on the attendance roster.
But, the way up is down on our knees. If God is so beneath us that stooping to serve Him is detestable to us, then how can we expect Him to lift us up? After all, if Jesus, who was God in the flesh, could stoop to wash feet and then die on the cross for us, can’t we follow His example?
Having grown up doing a lot of work to cut wood and bring in hay as part of a family, I’ve always been partial to rugged, outdoor clothing–even though now my work is more at a desk rather than stacking brush or throwing bales. I glance at catalogs and shake my head at models dressed in flannels with waterproof boots, completely free of mud and sweat, who look like they’ve never worked physically a day in their lives.
They are a lot like Christians who love to hear the Word of God preached but don’t apply it.
Most have sung “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock” from Matthew 7:24-27 and at a youth event. There are several principles from this illustration that are important to understand.
I. Both the wise and foolish men were ‘building.’ Both were sincere in picking up the tools and actively engaged in construction. They did not just read a book about house building and agree with the techniques used. They both worked hard and ended up with a place to live. Everything that we say and do–even if we refuse to say and do–we end up with a life, good or bad, that we have built.
II. The distinction between the two men is whether he puts Jesus’ words into practice. Both hear Jesus’ words, but only the wise man applies them to the building of his life, right from the first choice, perhaps the most essential choice: which foundation to build upon. The wise man chose the rock while the foolish one, who probably felt justified and had good excuses, chose sand.
III. The reason we must build well is because the storms of life do come. Notice that nowhere in Jesus’ illustration does he say if the hard rains, the rising streams, and the terrible winds come. They will, and only the wise will be prepared for them. Throughout many years of ministry and in my own life, I have weathered and helped others weather life’s storms. Some houses have fallen with a crash.
So, in your life are you the outdoor catalog model in new clothing, holding an unused axe? Or, are your sleeves rolled up in readiness, your knees dirtied from prayer, and calluses lay across cracked and toughed hands? Are you building? Are you building on the rock? Will your house withstand the storm?
Lord of lords and God above all gods, your name deserves praise from every heart and tongue. You are worthy, O heavenly Father, to receive worship and fear and blessing from every person, for you created us and all that the universe contains.
Look down upon us in mercy. Have pity on our struggles. Pour upon us your grace. Make us powerful in our work of sharing the message of salvation. We are few in number, but make us strong in faith. Cause the Word to multiply in this city.
Strength the hearts of those who are weak here. Enliven the slow to act. Break out among us the inexpressible joy of your salvation.
Start all this with and in me. Let the brethren grow beyond what I am able to provide. Keep the gospel from being limited by my limitations.
May the Lord Jesus fill our vision. Let the Holy Spirit empower our service. May his revelation to us be constantly on our tongues. Help us to trust in your eternal purpose.
Father, we trust in you. We believe you hear and answer our prayers.
I have confidence in your promise. I will work till Jesus comes, even if I see no fruit from my labors, for in your time you will produce the good results of the Word. Let many be saved. Save me according to your mercy.
Lord, thank you for giving us work which provides for physical needs, gives us meaningful activity, and allows us to glorify you by our word and example.
Thank you, heavenly Father, for making the curse of the sweat of the brow into a channel of blessing of salvation in Christ.