True to His Last Breath

01.31.13

Acts 7.59-60 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (NIV)

Saint Stephen was arrested in Acts chapter 6 for speaking the truth. Man has always needed the truth and yet for some reason he’s mostly denied it. The truth is: there is a God and man needs Him. But man cannot accept that fact – that truth. Man is more content to follow a god of his own making so that he can control that god when things get uncomfortable. As there are many men on the earth – so there are many gods.

So Stephen argued with his fellow Jews about the truth and when they couldn’t refute him and it looked like they might lose the argument, they conspired against Stephen and came up with lies with which to arrest – and try – him.

Acts 7, is comprised mostly Stephen’s defense of his stand: the truth. And when Stephen neared the end of his defense he leveled this statement: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” (Acts 7.51-53 NIV) And that is when the dam of their fear, anger, and hot hatred burst…

As Stephen was being stoned for defending the truth, instead of reviling his executioners, he blessed them. Stephen prayed: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And then he prayed: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He didn’t revile, he cried out for their salvation.

Preaching and teaching the truth may have an element of discomfort but it is always to be for the redemption of others. Stephen didn’t call those Jews that day ugly names for what they did to him: he called out to God to be merciful to them; to forgive them for their misunderstanding.

Teaching and sharing the truth about Jesus is never meant to be a club of sorts with which to beat people over the head: Jesus came to free us from that. Teaching the truth is to be gentle, merciful, and redemptive despite what thorniness may accompany the speaking out the truth. If teaching and defending the truth is just beating people up, it’s no wonder they don’t want anything to do with the message or the messenger.

Lord, As I think about Stephen this morning and how he dealt with others who didn’t know the truth about You, may I be redemptive in my manners, message, and methods. We, Your creatures, need Your truth and though we all deserve the worst, You have given us the best: Your mercy, Your love, and Your Son. May I live today, like Stephen – true to his last breath, to honor Jesus…faithfully proclaiming His truth no matter the consequences…

A Waiter in God’s Café

01.30.13

Acts 6.5c ... and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. (NIV)

Nicolas, was apparently a Greek from Antioch. The name Nicolas means loosely: victory people or the victory of the people or victorious people. Nicolas had converted to Judaism. I’m guessing, but I think he saw the marvel, the mystery, and the majesty of the God of Israel and wanted to be a part of that. I’m also guessing Nicolas to have been searching for something that Greek Mythology just couldn’t deliver with its hero worship and gods that acted a whole lot more like mere men than deities without any kind of beneficial power to change people’s lives. So, Nicolas, the Greek, became a Jew.

I really think Nicolas was on a journey of sorts and he was looking for truth. I think his journey led him to Judaism with its rigorous laws and rituals and feasts and liturgy. But I think he was still hungering for more: obviously because he ended up becoming a Christ-follower. Whatever Judaism offered to him it wasn’t quite enough and he just happened to be around when the Infant Church was born and he’d witnessed the changed lives of those who’d given themselves to follow the apostle’s teaching and to proclaiming the Lordship of Christ.

Nicolas wasn’t the first Jew (born into or converted into Judaism) to convert to Christianity. The book of Acts says that many Jewish priests converted because in Christ they finally saw and understood the purpose and plan of God to redeem men from Adam’s fall. The inconsistency of Judaism was,it offered a way of life that was ultimately not much different from Greek life: it didn’t hold any power to change a man’s heart. It really boiled down to the rest of life: keeping the rules or facing the consequences for failure.

Call it being in the right place at the right time, or whatever, but Nicolas got saved and found himself a part of the thriving and growing church in Jerusalem that worshiped and witnessed for Christ; the Kurios: the Lord. And Nicolas found himself being named a deacon (which from the Greek world meant: "servant", "waiting-man", "minister" or "messenger") in that church because he met the apostolic criteria of being “…known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” (Act 6.3b NIV) Nicolas’ early-life journey led him to the ultimate life-journey: following and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. All this and becoming a waiter in God’s café…

All roads lead to Christ. It doesn’t matter one’s family, heritage, education, vocation, nationality, personality – all roads lead to Christ. It doesn’t matter one’s religion, philosophy, perspective, dogma, doctrine: all roads lead to Christ…even if you’re a Greek converted to Judaism. Nicolas found Jesus and his life was ever changed because he was ultimately a man known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Nicolas through his life-journey met Jesus and was convinced that his whole purpose in life was to serve only Him…even if it meant dishing up plates of spaghetti in a church kitchen in the early first century. Nicolas had found his mission and his Lord.

It makes me think of my own journey and my going off to work in a hardware store in Baker City, Oregon. It makes me think of my life here and my church and reaching out to those who maybe, like Nicolas, are searching for truth and trying everything they can to find it – and just need someone to introduce them to Jesus, so that they may see and know and follow and serve. Lord, as Nicolas found You and became one of Your own, may I too see the Nicolas-es around me, in whatever package they show up in, and, as someone did for him, lead them to You. I remain Your waiter in the ACE store…and in Your church. Amen.

It’s Expected

01.29.13

Exodus 23.15b “No one is to appear before me empty-handed." (NIV)

These were industrious people, the Israelites. They had to be. They had to provide for themselves and care for their families and flocks. They had to raise their crops or at the very least, go and gather the fruit of the land that grew all around them. And they were expected to be industrious and contribute to the welfare of their own, and the community at large.

No one was to appear before the Lord at their festivals empty-handed: everyone was to bring something. Everyone could cook or sew or bake or do something. It was expected. Participation was not optional.

For the last year or so I have served at my church in a couple different ways and I am seeing some change happening. But that doesn’t mean I go on vacation; it simply means I seek another way to serve. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed.

Nowadays our churches are structured differently than the ancient nation of Israel. We don’t have to tend flocks and gardens – we go to Safeway. But we can all bring something with us when we gather together and we can all serve in some manner or another. It’s the expectation.

Part of becoming a church and becoming a part of a church is to understand what that means and what is expected. We may not live under the Mosaic or Levitical laws, but we operate under the Law of Love – it’s expected. It’s expected that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength – and – it’s expected that we are to love our neighbor (our fellow church-goers) as we love ourselves; we’re to care for them on the same level as we do for our own well-being. That is the offering we bring these days. In those days, God expected them to show up with something; and today, we’re expected to honor God by caring for those around us in tangible ways like serving their needs.

There may have been ten thousand loaves of bread at one of those Jewish festivals because it was expected that they all show up; but each loaf was prepared by someone, and everyone contributed. Our lives in the church shouldn’t be different in that respect for we all have something to contribute. And we need to have that expectation.

Lord, it’s looking like I’m being moved in a different direction and rather than pout or panic, I pray for guidance as I look for the next place of service. Help me to remember that on Sundays, I am to show up ready to go with something to do – even if it’s as simple as sitting down and talking with someone new…I want to bring something. It’s expected. Amen.

Verbal Shenanigans

01.28.13

Psalm 12.1 1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. NIV

I’m not sure when Psalm 12 was written; apparently it was a Davidic psalm. It laments that times are tough and no one seemed to trust in the Lord anymore. It’s hard to think that that sort of culture would’ve been prevalent in David’s day, but when Saul was anointed king the nation could’ve easily slipped into feudalism or even civil war.

David may have been reacting to empty belief or empty people. Empty belief is when the mouth seems to be in it but the heart isn’t. Empty people seem to have developed a cynicism that demands: what’s the use – what does it matter? These kinds of thoughts come when there is apparent corruption and deceit in governmental circles; when no one trusts much of anything anymore.

In our day anything can be said and whatever is said doesn’t need to be defended as to whether or not it’s true. It’s called the Information Age. People want to hear the truth but because information comes from so many varying sources, there is much misinformation: stuff that just isn’t true or accurate; dis-information: stuff that is intentionally misleading; and deceit: stuff that is out and out lies and part of an effort of propaganda to mask the agenda.

All of this leads to people giving up. All of this leads to people making up their minds that God is somehow not involved, or somehow doesn’t care. And it’s been happening for centuries. David’s complaint was, “Lord the faithful (God-fearing, God-believing) are gone – the culture is far too saturated with cynicism and no one trusts in You anymore!” And it may appear that way.

But where men aren’t faithful – God always is. When men speak lies, God always speaks the truth. Where men may be caught up in their cynicism and despair, God is always present and always involved. Either God is involved or we’re all in really deep trouble.

In times of verbal shenanigans, God may actually be helping people to be able to contrast what is really true and what is really worth living for. God has promised to provide and to guide His people and it really doesn’t matter what happens because He has promised. Either I believe that or I don’t. But whether I believe it or not, doesn’t promote or negate God’s presence – it only bespeaks where my heart really is.

David’s psalm is a reminder of when the times get tough and the believing seem to be few and far in between. But Psalm 12 declares that no matter the agenda, God is always there for His own. Second Amendment or not, God is there for His people and He has told us to faithfully, eagerly, and readily tell others about Him…

Father, I am tempted to believe that all is lost, but that is a lie from hell. These days are days in which we are called to choose to what we really believe in: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; or Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done… May I be found faithful. Amen

Roll the Dice

01.25.13

Acts 1.23-26 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (NIV)

“And he was never heard from again…” This might’ve been the ending of the story of Matthias.

Peter addressed the issue of the absence of Judas Iscariot, who’d killed himself after his betrayal of Jesus (See Acts 1.15 ff.). Judas knew he’d been used and apparently felt there was no other remedy than to end his confused and tormented life. Judas’ problem was he couldn’t figure out whether he was a disciple of Christ or not. He hung around with Jesus for at least three years but his heart was confused and his loyalties were shallow. Judas never seemed to know where he really stood.

But the same could be said of many who follow the Lord; or attempt to in some manner or other. I’m not sure if Judas was the aloof kind, always with the detached and bemused look on his face; or if he was initially interested in being Jesus’ companion, but grew weary of Jesus’ “arrogant and self-centered” personality, and ministry. Sometimes God is just too much for some people.

So, to take care of the issue and to follow what they thought was God’s direction for them, Peter and the remaining disciples cast lots to see who would fill Judas’ vacant position. Sometimes you just got to roll the dice. And they did, and the numbers came up: Matthias.

This is not to disparage anyone: Peter and his associates were just trying to do what they thought they should and casting lots was a part of their understanding of how things got accomplished. After all the Roman soldiers cast lots for the Lord’s clothing – so why not cast lots for the next member of the dodecahedron? And Matthias and Justus were judged and considered and put forward: one, to be selected by God (and the dice), to fill Judas’ vacancy.

We could get into a whole theology of man’s choice or God’s choice in replacing Judas. It seems God’s choice may have been the apostle Paul. But sometimes in ministry you’ve got to just roll the dice and leave the results in God’s hands: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16.33 NIV)

My good friend Roger always said: there are four ways God answers prayer: Yes, No, Wait, or If you insist… I wonder what they’d have done if the lot had included: “neither”?

Lord, Help me to hear You entirely that I may obey You completely – amen.