Monthly Archives: July 2018

FOR MEMBERS ONLY

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” (Philippians 3:20).

For most of us, there has been a time when we have profited from the application of the motto, “Membership Has Its Privileges.” Once the slogan of the American Express Card, the implication was that for the payment of an annual fee to have an Amex card, there were benefits to be had. This has been extended over the years through the offering of ‘members only’ store cards to online ordering memberships where those who pay a periodic fee will receive free expedited shipping and special access to other online services. The concept of somehow being part of an inner circle is not a new one. It certainly has been promoted over time by many fraternal organizations as well as limited memberships to organizations such as country clubs and professional associations. In doing so, the sense of community they create is sometimes criticized as being carried out at the expense of excluding or discriminating against others who might otherwise want to belong.

Following the American Civil War, the question of how to create a sense of belonging for those who had been brought here as slaves became part of the struggle of healing during the Reconstruction Period. Ratification of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution on July 28, 1868 attempted to resolve questions of African-American citizenship by stating that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States…are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside.” The amendment then reaffirmed the privileges and rights of all citizens and granted these citizens “equal protection of the laws.” In the decades which followed, the equal protection clause was cited by many African American activists who argued that evolving racial segregation denied them what they believed the law had intended. Indeed, there have been many Supreme Court cases challenging the concept of due process and equal protection. In addition – the ‘birthright citizenship’ of the amendment has raised modern-day controversy regarding the assumed citizenship of those whose parents have immigrated into the country illegally.

It’s interesting to reflect on the reference that citizenship plays in our faith journey. Recalling the faith shown by Abraham and Sarah, the Apostle Paul spoke these words: “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16). In some ways, their journey is also ours. We spend most of our life trying to belong, seeking inclusion, and at times determined to gain some sort of membership for our own earthly satisfaction. But as we give our life to Christ, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” (Ephesians 2:19).

It is important to realize that being a good citizen is complemented by being a good Christian. Our neighborhood, our town, and our state are enhanced when our citizenry membership is exemplified with a demonstration of our Christian values. After all, the very same ingredients that make a good Christian should also make a good citizen. You do not have to look far to see obvious examples of contempt and hate for our government officials, deteriorating civic pride, and outright disrespect for the symbols of our nation. As we model God’s character here on earth, we are honoring Him. Consider today how your words and actions convey where your citizenship lies. Enjoy the assurance of your eternal citizenship and be grateful for what Jesus did to secure your place, as He paid the cost for you and all who love Him.

REFLECTION: Do you have a membership in any organization that excludes others? Are you able to justify this exclusion? What happens to our relationships with God and community when we refuse or fail to participate in support of good government? How can you remain faithful to God and show your respect to those in authority, even if there are times you do not like them or disagree with their decisions?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. AUGUST 4, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

THE WALK

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Stepping off the lunar landing module Eagle, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon, 240,000 miles from Earth. As he made his way down the ladder, a television camera attached to the craft recorded his progress and beamed the signal back to Earth where hundreds of millions watched in great anticipation. At 10:56 p.m. on July 20, 1969 – Armstrong spoke his famous quote, which he later contended was slightly garbled by his microphone and meant to be “that’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” He then planted his left foot on the gray, powdery surface, took a cautious step forward, and humanity had walked on the moon. “Buzz” Aldrin joined him on the moon’s surface at 11:11 p.m., as they took photographs and planted a U.S. flag. Knowing that they were doing something unprecedented in human history, Aldrin felt he should mark the occasion. So he made the following statement: “This is the LM pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.” In a not-often-told story, he then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, read a verse from the Gospel of John, and followed with communion. He later reflected – “It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”

Among the items the astronauts left on the moon’s surface was a plaque that read: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon–July 1969 A.D–We came in peace for all mankind.” In doing so, these men left their mark in the history of space exploration. If you were asked who you feel left the greatest mark on the history of mankind, who would you name?  It might depend on what has influenced your life to that point.  Scientists might cite Newton, physicists possibly Einstein, or others could consider Edison as the greatest inventor. Churchill or Julius Caesar might be named as the greatest of all politicians, while Mozart and Beethoven would undoubtedly be at the top of the list of composers.  Humanitarians might look to Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa. However, those who have fallen in step with Jesus as their Lord and Savior would not have to think about their answer.  In fact, Time even had Jesus Christ at the top of its list as the Most Significant Figures in History in 2013. Dr. James Allan Francis reminded us that Jesus “never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.” Yet no individual has “affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life.”

So, how is your walk going? Consider a journey you have committed to taking with another individual. When you walk with that person, you won’t be going in opposite directions. If you decide, for whatever reason, to do that – you won’t be able to effectively listen. You can’t enjoy them, you can’t share things with them, and you won’t be able to understand them. The same is true in your walk with the Lord. Referencing a journey with Christ, the Apostle Paul said – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). When you walk with the Lord, your will is going to align with His will. When you fall in step, walking side by side with Him – your focus will be on Him, and you will not falter. The Old Testament prophet put it this way: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). We have all heard someone say how much easier it is to talk the talk then walk the walk. If you are unable to walk your talk, the worth of your words will be lost. When you are true to God’s Word, your walk will reflect His talk.  Someone once spoke this truth “In the end, it’s not the talk but the walk that matters.” The English Standard Version of The Bible puts it this way: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” (Colossians 2:6).  Think of someone who you could honor at their funeral by saying, “This world was a better place because they walked here.” Wouldn’t it be great if someday the same could be said about you? Simply walk the walk.

REFLECTION: As you examine your journey with Christ, what areas of your walk with Him do you need to improve? How might you use others to truthfully advise you when your walk is not matching your talk? How will you commit to set an example for those who are drifting in a direction apart from God?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. JULY 28, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

THE OLD BOOK

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Several decades before the fictional Dr. Spock of Star Trek fame became a household word, another Dr. Spock was making a name for himself providing child-rearing advice for millions of Americans. On July 14, 1946 – Dr. Benjamin Spock released his book, The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, which would become one of the best-selling books of the twentieth century. Unlike his own mother’s fairly stern parenting style as well as leading child care experts prior to the 1940s – Spock encouraged a gentler approach to bringing up children, telling parents to trust their own instincts and common sense. Mothers heavily relied on Spock’s advice and appreciated his friendly, reassuring tone as he offered practical tips on everything from toilet-training to calming a colicky baby. Later in his life, he was motivated by politics, explaining, “It isn’t enough to bring up children happy and secure, you need to provide a decent world for them. And this is why I have expanded my horizon.”  While much of his advice is appropriate today, some has been replaced and even discredited. Spock suspected that he was being punished for his liberal politics. Some referred to him as the overly-permissive childrearing expert, even labeling him as the corruptor of a generation.

While the effectiveness of most advice books wanes with the evolving of each successive generation, there is one such book which has stood the test of time – The Holy Bible.  While many dismiss it because it references people and events from long ago, this doesn’t make it outdated or irrelevant. It tells us about an unchanging God and His eternal presence. Just as pertinent is the aspect of human nature as part of God’s very own creation. While our culture has developed over time, we need God no less than those who walked the earth thousands of years ago when the first texts were written. The Apostle Paul would have us know that the child-rearing advice and lessons for life we obtain in the scriptures is the best we will ever receive.  He says: “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).”

Over eight decades before Dr. Spock published his book, George Washington Carver was born in 1864 near the end of the Civil War. He was the son of a slave, orphaned as a baby, and raised after the abolishment of slavery by his former owners, Moses and Susan Carver. Carver became a prominent African-American scientist and inventor, and he is best known for the many uses he devised for the peanut. In 1920, Carver spoke at the United Peanut Association of America’s convention. His success gained him an invitation to speak before Congress about peanuts and the need for a tariff. Carver captivated their interest by drawing them into his testimony about the many products he had made from peanuts. The story is told that when he was asked how it came to be that he knew so much about peanuts, he said he had learned it from an ‘old book.’  This prompted the question as to the name of the book. He replied that it was The Bible. Then someone asked if all the things he had learned about peanuts had come from The Bible? He replied that was not the case but that old book taught him much about the One who had created peanuts. “Then,” he said, “I asked Him what to do with them, and He showed me.”

God’s Word, as found in the Holy Scriptures, shows us the way to lead a blessed life. As he praised his Maker, the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). In those days, a lamp would only illuminate, at best, a few feet ahead of one’s steps at night. Sometimes in life, all we need is enough light to take the next step as “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). As we make our journey, we can take advice on that faith from lots of sources.  This might include the reading of an old book.  As you make your selection – pay attention to the One who guided its words, and know that any advice worth remembering will stand the test of time for all generations.

REFLECTION: Do you view God’s Word as an old book full of stories about how to live a good life? Or do you see it as a living, breathing document that has relevance until the end of time?  How would you provide sound rebuttal to someone who says that the truth of The Bible is that it seeks to justify itself?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. JULY 21, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

STILL BEING CALLED

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching       ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions…”                    (2 Timothy 4:3)

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third presidents of the United States, respectively, both passed away on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.  Both men had been central in the drafting of the historic document in 1776.  Twenty years later, Adams defeated Jefferson in the presidential election, but Jefferson became vice president because, at that time, the office was filled by the candidate who finished second. In 1800, Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans defeated the Federalist party of Adams and Hamilton, and Adams retired to his estate. Their contrasting political views caused them to develop an intense rivalry, and the two did not speak for well over a decade.  By 1812 they started corresponding and eventually mailed more than 185 letters, regarded as masterpieces of American enlightenment. Over the next few years, a tenderness crept back into the founders’ relationship. As he grew older, Jefferson wrote: “Crippled wrists and fingers make writing slow and laborious. But while writing to you, I lose the sense of these things, in the recollection of ancient times, when youth and health made happiness out of everything.”  By remarkable coincidence, Jefferson and Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the semicentennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Adams’ last words were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives,” though his old friend and political adversary had died a few hours before. At the time of his death, Jefferson was 83, while Adams had turned 90 the year before. Though both were not well, their deaths came as a surprise to many.

In those days, men like Adams and Jefferson were viewed as true patriots and noted members of the clergy as well as prominent politicians felt that their same-day passing was more than a coincidence. Then there was a spirit that America and its people were exceptionally blessed by God. Gifts like theirs, according to Daniel Webster, were “proofs that our country and its benefactors are objects of His care.” While eulogizing these men, he said: “Adams and Jefferson are no more. On our 50th anniversary, the great day of national jubilee, in the very hour of public rejoicing, in the midst of echoing and re-echoing voices of thanksgiving, while their own names were on all tongues, they took their flight together to the world of spirits.” In those young days of a new nation, there was a lot of pride in the country. Today, not so much. A Gallup poll taken in June, 2018 shows a record low percentage of Americans identifying as “extremely proud” of their nationality, lower than at any other time in the prior 18 years that the group had conducted the poll.  This significant decline in the poll numbers is anything but inspiring news about the country’s patriotism, thereby painting a dismal picture of our nation.

The same can be said for Christianity and the commitment of believers to their faith. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless” (Matthew 5:13). The message is similar in the prophecy of John where Jesus provides this revelation: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). At times through our own selfish interests, we lose perspective that we were meant to serve Him. It’s okay to be free to be who you are, but at the same time we must never forget where we came from. There is a trend these days to ignore or erase history in order to somehow satisfy our own passions. For when we decide to follow the lessons of false teachers, we often do so merely to validate the hollowness of our own existence. Jesus is calling us to be hot or to be cold. When we are just sitting on the fence, we neither quench the thirst of those who are lost nor soothe the souls of a hurting world. Our founding fathers would remind us, as did the great apostle, that we should “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). Most times, however, we are neither good patriots or model Christians.  Yet we are still being called to be both.

REFLECTION:  Have you lost your saltiness as a follower of Jesus? What steps do you need to take to revitalize your zest? In what ways do you value the lessons of scripture and of history and apply them in your life? How might you mentor others who have become self-centered regarding historical perspectives?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. JULY 14, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.