Paul « Journeyman Journal

Doing It “My Way”

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Paul is talking about the people of Israel, but I think the truth of his statement applies to most of us (myself most definitely included):

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. (Romans 10:1-4, NLT)

I hate to admit it, but what Paul says here strikes a cord with me today. I may have the right level of enthusiasm for God, but am I directing it in the right direction? Am I refusing to do things God’s way because I want to do them my way? Am I clinging to my own way of doing things…including getting right with Him and walking with Him…or am I truly trying to do things God’s way?

Sometimes His way is the hard way. He doesn’t do things the way I want them done. He doesn’t do things when I want them done. Sometimes it’s not even about me–SHOCKING!!

At the same time, His way is so much easier. After all, Christ has already done the hard work…the part I couldn’t do myself. He has made me right with God. All I have to do is truly believe in Him. I’m going to work harder at letting go of “My Way” and embracing “God’s Way”…with His help of course! ;o)

26.07.2011 Devotional, Discipleship, Jesus, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

A New/Old Command

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

I started personally reading 1 John yesterday and I’ve been doing some intensive study in Galatians in preparation for a sermon in a few weeks. And a single concept keeps coming up over and over again the past few months. It’ s one of those times when God seems to be trying to get my attention and I’ve only just started to catch on (I know…I’m the only one, right?). So this morning I decided to stop, listen, and do a little digging. And boy was I a little surprised (pleasantly). Here’s the passage that got me started this morning…

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. (1 John 3:23, NLT)

This simple little concept keeps coming up: We demonstrate our love for God by loving one another. That’s the test for us as Christians. Period. End of story. It’s not about how good we are. It’s not about where or how often we go to church. It’s not about anything else…it’s all about how much we love each other. And John even takes it a step further and calls out bluff on saying that we love each other…

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:18, NLT)

Dang it…we’d he have to step on that toe? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone in my safe little bubble thinking it was okay just to have the right attitude toward others, “Sure, I love the people around me.” John says, “Prove it!” It’s our actions that count here, not our words.

As this started settling in I remembered how often this concept of loving one another has come up lately. So I did a quick search on two different phrases: “Love one another” and “Love each other”. In the New Testament alone these two phrases come up over 100 times! Everyone gets involved. Peter and Paul loved the concepts, but Jesus started it…

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:34, NLT)

A new commandment to love each other…pretty simple, but oh so hard. And then He ups the ante in the very next verse…

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:35, NLT)

It’s not our bumper stickers or even our worn Bibles that prove to the world that we’re Christ followers. Only one thing does the job: Our demonstrated love for one another!

Jesus says this a new command, but John says it’s actually not new (at least not anymore since Jesus already gave it to us)…

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:1, NLT)

It’s everywhere…here are a few other passages you can try on for size in case you’re interested: Romans 13:8, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:2, Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 4:8and 1 John 4:12 (to name but only a few).

And here’s the question that God laid on my heart as I started getting into this deeper. If this is such an important aspect of my faith, why don’t I focus on it more…and why don’t I DO it more?

03.11.2010 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Cutting the Rope

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

This afternoon I finished a two-month-long journey through the book of Acts. I’ve read it several times, but every time I read it I am reminded of some great stories from the early days of Christianity. It’s always good to look back, especially at the lives of Peter and Paul as they followed God’s leading to start something that would shape the world forever…and that’s certainly shaped me.

In addition to getting a few reminders I almost always read something I’ve read a thousand times before in some new light. And that happened this afternoon as I finished the book. Paul is on his way to Rome having appealed his absurd case to Caesar. Along the way the ship they’re on gets into a bad storm (which would have been avoided had the captain listened to Paul, but that’s another story).

At the end of this horrific storm the sailors run the ship aground and are about to abandon ship. Wise in human standards…not so much a part of God’s plans though…

Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. (Acts 27:30-32, NLT)

Now, by this time Paul had some credibility with the captain since everything he had warned them about had come true. So I understand why the soldiers decided to change their plans (and I must admit I would have been all for getting in that lifeboat). But what they did next is what got my attention…they cut the ropes!

There was no going back after that…no change of heart allowed. They accepted God’s plan to stay on a sinking ship instead of trying it their way. The plan made no sense, but they did it anyway. They didn’t just follow God’s plan…they got rid of the safety net. No more choice but to do it God’s way.

I wish I did that more often, but I must confess that too often I follow God’s plan but I don’t always cut the rope. Sometimes I keep the safety net in place…just in case. Now that I say it it sounds ridiculous (that’s because it is). In case what? In case God’s plan doesn’t work out? Ludicrous…He’s God and I’m not.

Again, this is the decision that Pinecrest faces as we come together over the next three weeks to seek God’s face about our direction and finances. Will we follow His plan no matter how crazy it might sound? And will we cut the ropes or will we keep our safety net intact?

Here’s one vote for cutting the ropes.

23.09.2010 Devotional, New Pastor Journal, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Suffer and Work

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Over the past few weeks I have been reading through 1 and 2 Timothy. There is some great instruction there from a seasoned veteran of the faith to relative newcomer to the hardship (and rewards) of ministry. Given my current station in life and wait awaits me in the near future, much of Paul’s words to Timothy are encouraging and instructive.

This morning…instructive, not so encouraging…

Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News,
and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
2 Timothy 4:5, NLT

I don’t think Paul understands how we American Christians function. Suffer? I don’t think so…just need to pray harder or figure out what we’re doing wrong. If we’re suffering…something must be wrong. And we don’t really suffer much anyway…can’t remember the last time I really suffered for God (especially within the context of what Paul considers suffering).

This whole idea of suffering…and not being afraid to suffer for His Kingdom…has me thinking about how I pray. I pray too much for my own comfort. I search for it…I strive for it. Frankly, I’m afraid of being uncomfortable, much less suffer. But there it is, in black and white: Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.

And I can make no mistake…He was talking to me this morning. Who knows what He has around the corner…what He’s trying to prepare me for…but I’m in His hands and I will continue to work and carry out the ministry He has given me.

That’s in black and white too.

21.09.2009 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Gaps in Our Faith

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

This is just a quick thought on a passage of Scripture I read this morning…it has my wheels turning:

Night and day we pray earnestly for you,
asking God to let us see you again
to fill the gaps in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:10, NLT

Paul is writing to Christians here. Persecuted Christians. Christians living out their faith in tough times. And he tells them that he wants to come see them so that he can help “fill the gaps” in their faith. A couple of thoughts here off the top of my head:

I don’t often think of my faith like this…having gaps. It makes me ponder where the gaps are in my own faith.
It strikes me that the remedy for these gaps, how they “get filled”, is within community. We can’t fill these gaps ourselves. We need on another to fill the gaps in our faith. This underscores just how important we are to one another.

Anyone have some thoughts to add to this one? Do you know the gaps in your own faith? Have you ever been a part of filling the gaps in someone else’s faith?

20.12.2008 Faith, Fellowship, Spiritual Musings No Comments