Monthly Archives: March 2017

EYE ON THE PRIZE

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14)

The story is told of a well-known major league baseball player who was 78 hits shy of breaking Ty Cobb’s all-time hit record. In an interview during that year’s spring training, the player was asked how many at-bats he would need to get those 78 hits. Without hesitation, his matter-of-fact response was “78.” A reporter questioned his philosophy. The player simply answered with this claim: “Every time I step up to the plate, I expect to get a hit! If I don’t expect to get a hit, I have no right to step in the batter’s box in the first place!” “If I go up hoping to get a hit,” he continued, “then I probably don’t have a prayer to get a hit. It is a positive expectation that has gotten me all of the hits in the first place.” It is not unusual for athletes who have a success story to attribute their success to keeping an eye on the prize.

If you have ever learned to play a musical instrument, you soon became aware that maintaining the proper beat is just as important as playing the correct notes.  For that reason, it is not unusual for music teachers to make use of a metronome, a device that produces an audible sound set to an established tempo assisting the beginner to internalize a clear sense of timing. As they advance and these student musicians take their place in bands and orchestras, the role of the metronome is replaced by the conductor.  Here combined instrumentation with changes in rhythm and tone force the musician to pay close attention to the conductor’s baton.  They learn to position themselves and their music in such a way that they are equally aware of both. When successful, the melodies to which they contribute result in a powerful performance in part because they have become very aware of the conductor.

It is for that reason that I reminded an old friend of mine who was having a health crisis that he needed to recollect our times together in high school band.  I urged him to recall that when we focused too much on the music, we could easily become out-of-sync with the director resulting in a failed performance. Similarly, I cautioned that with his illness – he needed to focus on the One who could lead him through the music he was facing rather than on his disease. The Apostle Paul said: “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-25).

When runners prepare to compete in the 100-meter race, they learn never to look to their right or left but only to keep their eyes fixated on the finish line . . . because in 10 seconds or less, the race can be over. Paul is saying don’t waste your time over the past. Don’t worry about the circumstances or obsess about the detractions that might come your way. He is telling us not to get caught up in the moment but to stay centered on what truly matters. He would agree with the hymnist who must have been aware of Hebrews 12:2 as she wrote: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace” (Helen H. Lemmel). I personally like the thoughts of pastor and author Dr. David Jeremiah who wrote, “We should be holy people eager to greet our Lord when He returns, ready at any moment for the trumpet’s call, people of optimism, busy in evangelism, hands to the plow, eyes on the prize.” Likewise, we do not need to take our eyes off the music and risk losing our place as long as we maintain complete awareness of the conductor. Fix your eyes on the only prize that matters —in both life and death—and you always be in tempo.

REFLECTION: What is one of your most memorable prizes or awards that you have received? What effort or sacrifices did you have to make in order to stay focused on the task at hand?  How can we keep our eye on the prize offered by God when there are so many worldly prizes that seem to be within our grasp?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., APRIL 1, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

RULES FOR WINNING

 “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching…” (Proverbs 1:8)

After a late-winter snowfall one March, I became very aware of the rules of living in small town America. Being very conscious of an article I had seen published in the local newspaper, I knew that it was a requirement that sidewalks must be shoveled within twenty-four hours following a snowfall.  That one made sense to me. I had also heard that when removing snow from the walks, you were supposed to throw it on your property instead of the street. I guess I could understand that one also, since it would only make additional work for someone else or could create a slippery area on an already-treated road.  Then, I thought – “Gee I wonder if there’s a rule that the snowplows cannot throw snow onto my sidewalk? ‘There oughta be a law’ about that one,” I mumbled to myself.  I laughed as I recalled that had been the name of an old cartoon strip years ago.

Rules…rules…rules. Some say they are only made for breaking. Not so, if you want to be a member of St Anthony’s in New Jersey where Bob Hurley has been coaching for over fifty years. His presence has been a Godsend to hundreds of inner city kids. Now a thousand victories and several dozen state championships later, how does Hurley explain their success?  Rules!  Each player (and their parents) are expected to sign a ‘Student/Athlete Contract’ which contains a list of twenty expectations the team members must do to succeed.  The list includes maintaining a clean-cut appearance (no facial hair, tattoos, or mohawks), refraining from all forms of substance abuse (alcohol, drug and tobacco use), as well as no cell phone use while in school. The coach says. “So at the end of four years, we’ve taken you to a place where you can go to college.”  They must be doing something right, because the entire student body has had 100% college acceptance for twenty-five years.

Since the creation of mankind, God gave us a choice to follow His rules or to break them. In the beginning, it was simple. “And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die’ ” (Genesis 2:16-17).  That one didn’t work out so well. In the Old Testament, one discovers that God handed down many rules – some of which man obeyed, and many died in disobedience of others. Not only did God speak through Moses in the provision of The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21), He also provided this direction: “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God” (Numbers 15:38-40).

Throughout the many centuries, civilizations have established rules for their citizens to follow for the creation of societal living. Jesus found Himself in the middle of such a society where the teachers of the law were often more concerned about the ritualistic details than they were about the heart of its instruction. They frequently planted spies in Jesus’ public gatherings asking questions where He might improperly speak against the government authorities.  In one case, He was quite aware of their attempt and simply responded with the line, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Luke 20:25). Once, one of the Pharisees, an expert in religious law, tried to trick Jesus by asking: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:35-40). Herein are the most important rules for each of us now and always.  Whether we find ourselves on the basketball court or shoveling snow on the sidewalks of our hometown, they guarantee we will have a winning season.

REFLECTION: Are you more in conflict with breaking the rules of man or God? What are some ways you can better practice His greatest commandments? What personal rules might you put in place to do so?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 25, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

RIDING THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE

 “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

I was confused recently when I read two different devotional books back to back on the same day.  The first one was titled, The Way Up is Down. The subject matter related to the topic of humility. It concluded with the following statement: “You’ll find that the best way to go up is to reach down to others.” The second focused on prejudice and proclaimed, “Looking up to Jesus prevents us from looking down on others.”  Without much thought, I laughed at the perceived inconsistency and asked the easy question: “So is it up, or is it down?”  It appeared as though these two devotions offered up a contradiction. On closer examination, I am convinced that the messages actually supported each other.

Our lives, likewise, are full of ups and downs. We often describe them as being on an upswing or a downswing. This has come to be reinforced by the way that our culture defines the ebbs and tides of everything about us.  If we are an investor, we are happy when the market is up and tend to find it worrisome when it is on a downtrend. It’s not unusual to base our purchases or entertainment selections on whether others have specified a thumb up or down rating for the product.  Additionally, we become obsessed with the lifestyle of the upscale of society and pay little, if any, attention to the downtrodden. There’s an old story about a man who jumped out of an airplane only to discover that his parachute was jammed. As the wind rushed by him, he took it off and desperately tried to untangle it. Suddenly a man shot past him, flying upward at tremendous rate of speed. The man with the chute looked up and yelled, “Hey, do you know anything about parachutes?” The other man called down, “No. Do you know anything about gas stoves?”  I guess it’s all in our perspective.

When it comes right down to it, we spend more of our life in the valley or going up and down the mountain than we actually do on the mountaintop itself. Whenever we fail to accept that ‘down times’ are a natural part of life, many will attempt to correct their station in life by creating a world of excess. This can range anywhere from substance abuse to buying sprees, searching for anything or any way to make them feel better. The absence of a spiritual connection can result in attempting to climb the mountain with an accumulation of material wealth becoming overwhelmed with emptiness, dissatisfaction, and a need for change. Evangelist and author Rick Warren has stated it this way – “Transformation is a process, and as life happens, there are tons of ups and downs. It’s a journey of discovery – there are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair.” Therefore, it is important to acknowledge to ourselves that, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But be assured that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

I suspect that the most powerful parts of our lives are lived in the valley rather than on the mountaintop. The valleys are where we do our struggling. In Psalm 23:4, David shows his understanding that every valley had a shepherd who would go before the flock leading the sheep to safe passage. Whether we’re in the depths of the valley, sinking into it, or trying to climb up the slopes – each season should motivate us to trust the Lord, our Shepherd, and seek His direction. Being in the valleys of life is never easy, but the challenges in those valleys strengthen who we are and gives us hope for a future.  Paul said “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever. So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). We will do a disservice to ourselves and others if we portray the Christian life only as a mountaintop experience.  It’s much more like the ups and downs of a roller coaster.  However, we can be sure the Lord is in the seat beside us and that we are never riding alone.

REFLECTION: Where do you spend most of your life, on the mountain or in the valley?  In what ways has God sustained you and help you to be a stronger person through your ‘valley’ times? What would you say to a new believer who is having difficulty facing the difficulties of life?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 18, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

GOOD NEWS . . . BAD NEWS

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus; the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Having been there before, I was telling my colleague about the many sights and sounds of New Orleans.  One of the best among them is the wide variety of great food to be found there, including home-made beignets and a freshly brewed cup of chicory coffee in the French Quarter’s Café Du Monde. I had her anticipating the experience long before we ever landed at the airport. Due to our different roles in the organization for which we worked, we did not participate in all of the same presentations at the conference we were attending. On one of our first days there, my afternoon session adjourned early. I decided to walk a few blocks down the street and enjoy one of those delicious beignets that I had been so fondly recalling to my friend.  I ordered a coffee and two beignets, one for me and the other to take back to the hotel for my coworker.  When I later knocked on the door to her room, I had a big smile on my face and greeted her by saying, “I have good news and bad news.  The good news is that I went for beignets, and I bought one for each of us.”  She looked at me and said, “Okay then, so what’s the bad news?”  I lowered my eyes as well as my voice and said . . . “I ate both of them!”

Isn’t that quite typical of most of us as we blunder through our lives?  On many typical days, we start off with the absolute best of intentions.  While we run errands, we plan to stop by the nursing home to check on our elderly neighbor who is confined there after a nasty fall.  We have every aim to have lunch with a fellow employee who recently lost his wife but then allow the piles of paper and the need to return calls to get in the way of doing so. We sit down after our evening meal with purpose to address a card or check in by phone but instead justify we really need to take some time for our self to relax. It’s neglecting those things that God would want us to do. No one understood this better than the Apostle Paul who said – “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:15-19).

In his 1970’s variety show, comedian Flip Wilson became famous for creating the character Geraldine who coined the phrase – “The devil made me do it.” Too often, we excuse our circumstances or our temptations for not doing what is acceptable in God’s eyes by finding someone or something to blame. Jesus made it clear that we must be responsible for our own actions.  “For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me… And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me” (Matthew 25:42-43,45).

During the season of Lent, we are challenged to get right with God in some way in order to exercise His will for our life. We seek to find answers to those things that keep us from being in full communion with Him. The traditional thought is that by giving up something we enjoy or rely on, we make a sacrifice thereby identifying with Christ’s suffering experience. In reality, any self-imposed denial we might make would fail in comparison with the price He paid and the ensuing grace He provides. Therefore, we should use the Season of Lent as a time to reexamine our relationship with Him. While we will inevitably fall short, we should be repentant conceding that confession truly is good for the soul. We don’t ever want to be face to face with the Lord and have Him say, “I have good news and bad news. ‘In my Father’s house there are many mansions’ (John 14:2), but unfortunately . . . there is no reservation in your name.”

REFLECTION:  Consider a few recent good intentions that you neglected to fulfill. How did your lack of action in this regard miss the mark of becoming an effective witness for Christ?  What can you “give up” this Lenten season that has until now served as a barrier between you and Him?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 11, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.