Christ-follower, Husband, Dad, Pastor

Devotional

May 17, 2013

Surrender All

Let Christ reign without a rival in your life. Acknowledge His unconditional right to reign and surrender to His Lordship. Worship God by submitting every part of your life to the Lord. Worship as a living sacrifice yielded to God’s purposes. Let Him have all of you.

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 MSG)

Abraham gives us a picture of total surrender in Genesis 22:1-18. Even when he didn’t understand fully what God had in mind, Abraham trusted God completely. Abraham’s willing worship released new understanding of the Lord who provides.

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Do you allow the Lord to work in every area of your life in whatever way He desires?

A world of confusion and disappointment results from trying to believe without obeying. This puts us in the position of a bird trying to fly with one wing folded. We merely flap in a circle and seek to cheer our hearts with the hope that the whirling ball of feathers is proof that a revival is under way … A mere passive surrender may be no surrender at all. Any real submission to the will of God must include willingness to take orders from Him from that time on. When the heart is irrevocably committed to receiving and obeying orders from the Lord Himself, a specific work has been done, but not until then. (A.W. Tozer, This World: Playground or Battleground?, p.80-81)

May 13, 2013

Stop Nitpicking; Start Overlooking

My Grandma Martin told me the story of a woman longingly reminiscing the days before her wedding. “Before we were married you called me an angel,” the wife complained. “And now you don’t call me anything!”

Her husband fist-bumped his chest and said, “You ought to be glad I possess such self-control.”

I think my Dad’s greatest premarital tip was: “Go into marriage eyes wide open, half shut afterward.” Get all the facts before you get married. Make sure you know all you can about the person you are considering marrying. There will be plenty that you need to overlook after the ceremony.

In fact, some of the very things you think are cute before marriage, become irritating over the years.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13 NLT)

“Put up with each other” (Colossians 3:13a CEV & GW)

You will destroy your marriage if you cannot learn to “put up with each other”. It sounds easy enough, but the walking out of it is harder than a two-year-old biscuit. Arguing over ever little issue erodes the foundation of martial life. Always pointing out the thing you don’t like, kills love.

I regularly have to remind myself of this. My wife is an excellent cook and I enjoy eating whatever she makes, but I have never liked the name she picked for one particular dish – “Mexican Goulash”. For some reason, that name doesn’t seem appetizing.  Let me reiterate, I like Patti’s cooking! But, please, can we please call this dish by a new name. How about “Texas Stir-fry” or “Chili on a bed of rice and lettuce” or something else.

Okay, please drop those stones you are gathering to throw, I do appreciate my wife’s cooking. For whatever reason, I don’t like the name; don’t call it “Mexican Goulash”. After more than twenty-five years of marriage, you would probably think I would be “over” this already, but Patti rarely calls the dish by any other name. I think her mother coined the term. (Mema, what were you thinking?!?) About five years ago, Patti adopted “Texas Stir-Fry” for a few months, but when I keep complaining about the old name – she went back to the original.

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Honestly, does the name really matter? No, I tell myself. So why then, do I find myself still nitpicking about the name of that dish? Why haven’t I let it go? Apparently, I haven’t yet learned the lesson I am trying to communicate to you today. But, I am acknowledging that I have a problem. Nitpicking, nagging over trivial details, kills love. I have got to start overlooking!

“One word can start a war.”  (Jewish Proverb)

“Quarrels are the weapons of the weak.” (Jewish Proverb)

A pastor in Texas introduced a sermon with an excellent story of how one woman handled the irritations of marriage:

There was once a couple who had been married for 60 years. Throughout their life they had shared everything. They loved each other deeply. They had not kept any secrets from one another, except for a small shoebox that the wife kept in the top shelf of her closet. When they got married, she put the box there and asked her husband never to look inside of it and never to ask questions about its contents.

For 60 years the man honored his wife’s request. In fact, he forgot about the box until a day when his wife grew gravely ill, and the doctors were sure she had no way of recovering. So the man, putting his wife’s affairs into order, remembered that box in the top of her closet, got it down, and brought it to her at the hospital. He asked her if perhaps now they might be able to open it. She agreed. They opened the box, and inside were two crocheted dolls and a roll of money that totaled $95,000. The man was astonished.

The woman told her husband that the day before they were married, her grandmother told her that if she and her husband were ever to get into an argument with one another, they should work hard to reconcile, and if they were unable to reconcile, she should simply keep her mouth shut and crochet a doll.

The man was touched by this, because there were only two crocheted dolls in the box. He was amazed that over 60 years of marriage, they apparently had had only two conversations that they were unable to reconcile. Tears came to his eyes, and he grew even more deeply in love with this woman. Then he asked about the roll of money. “What’s with this?” he asked.

His wife said, “Well, every time I crocheted a doll, I sold it to a local craft fair for five dollars.” (David Daniels, from sermon titled “Meditation”)

Stop nitpicking; start overlooking.

May 10, 2013

Why Argue?

Why do I sometimes actually enjoy arguing? Why do I want to use argumentative tones when Patti and I actually agree about the subject we are discussing? Why do I pick at a point of contention instead of just letting the matter go?  Why do I let myself argue like a fool?

“Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.” (Proverbs 20:3 NLT)

Folks who knew me in high school and college probably recall that I liked to argue. Several jokingly chided me, “You should be a lawyer, argue all you want then.” I confess, the less sound my argument, the louder I tended to talk. My enjoyment of successful arguing my viewpoint was advantageous in FFA (yes, I was a “Future Farmer of America”) Parliamentary Procedure competitions, FBLA speech contests, and college debates. Yes, that picture below is of me in high school.

Liking to talk is not necessarily a bad thing for a “preacher” to enjoy. But wisdom suggests:

“Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.”  (2 Timothy 2:23-24 NLT)

I know what God’s Word says about avoiding quarreling, but I too often slide right into it. In the middle of the discussion, why do I forget that I am not the only person who has a right to his or her own stupid opinion?

Why do I feel the need to argue a point that I know I will not change? In the late 1800’s, American romantic poet James Russell Lowell advised, “There is no good in arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat.”

I have noticed that I tend to be more argumentative when I am tired or don’t feel well. Unfortunately, that was the case for me yesterday afternoon. Sinus pressure pinpointed over my left eye shortened my “grace” limit. My wife and daughters pointed out what I was doing. Patti strongly suggested, “Greg, take something for that headache!” I wish I could replay some of yesterday afternoon, but that is NOT the way life works.

I wish I could blame my argumentative nature on allergy irritations! But, feeling poorly is NOT an excuse for being argumentative. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut. Why can’t I just let some matters slide? I wish I could click an undo button for some of my conversations. Wow, Greg, when will you learn to shut up?

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For all the wants which disturb human life, which make us uneasy to ourselves, quarrelsome with others, and unthankful to God, which weary us in vain labors and foolish anxieties, which carry us from project to project, from place to place in a poor pursuit of we don’t know what, are the wants which neither God, nor nature, nor reason hath subjected us to, but are solely infused into us by pride, envy, ambition, and covetousness. (William Law: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life and the Spirit of Love, p. 153)

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1 NLT)

Ouch! I think James nailed me there. Why do I argue unnecessarily? Because there is pride, stubbornness, and self-centered desires that still need to be weeded out of my life.  I still need to yield areas of my mind, will, and emotions to Christ’s Lordship.

I need to clothe myself “with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.” (Colossians 3:10 AMP) I am in need of renewal. Lord, help me!

LEGEND OF THE QUAIL:  The quail would have been happy except for their enemy. The hunter imitated the sound of a quail, gathering the covey together. As they loitered about, he threw his net over them. The birds struggled, but were eventually placed into his hunting basket and carried off to market.

One wise quail, observing this ordeal, offered, “Brothers, I have a plan. If the hunter casts his net over us, we should each put our head into a section of net and begin to flap our wings. Together we can lift the net and fly away with it.” All the birds agreed. When the fowler threw his net upon the covey, they organized their efforts and flew off with his net.

Several months later the hunter decided to again try his luck at capturing some game to sell at the market. After the luring call was given, the birds came together. This time the birds quarreled with one another over who was lifting the most and which bird would be in the middle of the net. The fowler took advantage of their distraction and quickly gathered up his net, capturing all the birds.

At times all our finger-pointing and bickering ends up doing us all in and nothing is accomplished. If we find ourselves constantly amidst controversy and strife, we need to take a good hard look at ourselves. What are we really fighting over? How is God being glorified? (James Grassi, Wading Through the Chaos, p. 58-59.)

May 9, 2013

BIG or little Name – Live For God’s Fame

If you are famous – great – use your fame for God’s glory. If you are unknown – fine – use your anonymity for God’s glory. Most of us will never have the fan-following of Tim Tebow (Forbes.com survey’s recent designation as the 2013 most influential athlete), but that’s no excuse for failing to honor the Lord with your reputation, your work-ethic, your lifestyle. You can be the difference in someone’s life!

Our contemporary society loves superstar personalities. Media attention swirls around the latest happening in the life of _______(fill-in-blank with latest fad). Much too often, Christian society imitates the world’s fascination with celebrity and fails to appreciate significant faithful service of relatively unknown folks.

The names listed in the conclusion of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth – Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquila, and Priscilla – don’t easily roll off my tongue. For most folks, I don’t think the five names would be quickly recognized. I have studied God’s Word for over thirty years, but only two of the five stick out in my memory. Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned several times and I recall how they taught Apollos, but the rest? I guess their names would make great answers for a Bible trivia game.

You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well. The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with Christian love. Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. (1 Corinthians 16:15-21 NLT)

Perhaps, you are familiar with all five. If so, I am surprised, because there aren’t a lot of sermons preached about these individuals. However, Paul thought enough of them to include their names in his Spirit-inspired letter. Paul and the Holy Spirit recognized their peculiar importance, instrumental for what God was doing on earth. They were highlighted because of the investment of their lives into the Kingdom of God – unknown by most, yet noticed by heaven.

Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquila, and Priscilla received written applause and documented appreciation, forever recorded in the pages of the New Testament. They served – refreshing Paul, encouraging the saints, advancing God’s purposes. Paul doesn’t detail the service specifics, but acknowledged they served the Lord and served the people around them.

You may never be written up in the newspaper or interviewed on a news program. Your name may never highlight an advertised Gospel crusade. Your name may never head the deacon’s list. You may never receive earthly accolades worthy of the sacrifices you have made for Christ body the church. Nevertheless, God knows your name and notices your efforts.

Give yourself fully to God’s work:

  • “knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].” (1 Corinthians 15:58b AMP)
  • “God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” (Hebrews 6:10 NASB)

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You have a vital place in Christ’s church. Every child of God has an assignment, a gift, a mission, an obligation. The work of ministry isn’t relegated to a few paid pastors. Every Christ-follower must contribute to the growth of Christ’s body.

“He [Christ] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT)

It doesn’t matter if your name is recognizable or not. God knows your name. You matter to God. BIG NAME or little name – make sure you live for God’s fame.

May 8, 2013

God Knows Your Name

The Lord knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what you ate for dinner and why you like eating it. He knows why you are timid in front of your boss. He knows what you thinking during your last disagreement with your spouse. He knows how long it took you to prepare for that recent speech. He knows the tears you cried when your child was sick. He knows everything about you. He even knows your future.

“The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.” (Psalm 33:13 NLT) I’ve heard people joke about how busy God is and think that somehow He is too busy to care about everything going on in the world. Even Christian students joke about it.

David Seamans, author and professor at Asbury Seminary, tells a story about the campus where the seminary shared cafeteria facilities with Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. On one occasion, students moving through the cafeteria line found near the beginning a large basket of bright red apples. The cafeteria staff had placed a sign above the basket, quite appropriate for a Christian college campus, “Take one only please—God is watching.”
As students made their way through the line selecting meat loaf or taco salad, and peaches or chocolate mousse, they found at the other end a large box of broken cookies which the staff had put out. Attached to the box was a piece of notebook paper containing a note obviously scrawled by a student. It read, “Take as many as you want; God is watching the apples.” (Holman New Testament Commentary: Acts, p. 257)

I laugh at that joke, but the reality is that Heavenly Father never loses His focus. The Lord in His omniscience sees everything you do and knows everything about you. That isn’t meant to scare you. He is more concerned for you than He is for birds – yet, He still cares for birds, too. “What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do.” (Matthew 10:29 MSG)

  • He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head!” (Matthew 10:30 MSG)
  • “He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done.” (Hebrews 4:13 LIVING)
  • Job rhetorically asked, “Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?” (Job 31:4 NLT)

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Amazingly, people matter to God. YOU matter to God.

As I type this conclusion, I’ve got a worship album cranked up with Tommy Walker’s “He Knows My Name”. Several people have recorded it and the message will encourage you. Look for the song online and purchase it for yourself. The lyrics are:

I have a Maker; He formed my heart.
Before even time began, My life was in His hand.

I have a Father; He calls me His own.
He’ll never leave me, No matter where I go.

He knows my name

He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call; He hears me when I call. [He Knows My Name by Tommy Walker © 1996 Doulos Publishing (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)]

Why not call out to God now? He knows you. He knows your name. He would love to talk to you – right now!

May 7, 2013

Gabby’s Story

Andrew and Bethany Frazer, the onsite pastors for Casa Angelina Orphanage in Guatemala, spoke during chapel services at Valley Fellowship Christian Academy. Patti and I and the Valley Fellowship Church family are so thankful to be able to partner with such an awesome team. They shared several stories of children who have been delivered by the efforts of What Matters Ministries and Missions (www.whatmattersmm.org). Gabby’s story really touched my heart. I was graciously given permission to share her story on my blog. (The pictures below are of Gabby at Casa Angelina and of the Frazers speaking in elementary chapel).

Gabby arrived at Casa Angelina expecting the worst. She had no documentation – no birth record, no information about her background – and doctors used her teeth to guess her age at eleven years old. She and her younger brother had been passed from one place after another and Gabby described her abusive journey as “moving from hell to hell.” Deep hurts from people who should have loved and protected her gave her little evidence that anyone could be trusted.

Casa Angelina is a beautiful place, but Gabby was reluctant to open up at first. At the start, her big wish was to be hugged by someone who actually loved her, like she was family. Five years later and with lots of love, Gabby’s dreams are much bigger. God has healed her during her time at Casa Angelina and Gabby now dreams of being a professional singer who travels the world.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.” (Psalm 68:5-6a NIV)

The transformation within her hasn’t always been easy. Gabby had to deal with powerful emotions. Not too long ago, Gabby was very upset by the visit of a social worker. The worker spoke honestly that without documentation, Gabby didn’t exist officially in the eyes of the government. The stark reality hit Gabby deeply. She wept and wept as she pondered, “no records, no birth certificate, no name.”

Over the next several days, the paperwork and redtape to create official records for Gabby offered her a unique opportunity. Gabby was given the chance to name herself, but she was satisfied with that option. Gabby thought about it, but she didn’t want to name herself. She wanted her name to mean something. She wanted to be named by people who loved her.
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The name “Gabby” did mean something special to the staff and ministry and children of Casa Angelina. After consideration, Gabby’s name was officially documented as “Gabriela Celeste Tait Royal”. Her name is special. She is a King’s kid with a bright future.

The government of Guatemala may not have known Gabby’s name, but the Lord certainly did. Gabriela was rescued and carefully placed into the family environment she so desperately desired. The Tait family loves her, the staff of Casa Angelina love her, Valley Fellowship Church loves her, Patti and I love her, but most importantly Heavenly Father loves her!

Heavenly Father loves orphans and wants His family to share His heart. In fact, James lists concern for orphans as characteristic of a pure religion:

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:26-27 NLT)

We share a special connection with Gabriela! For the last several years, Valley Fellowship has pulled together to buy Christmas gifts for the darlings of Casa Angelina. We will be gathering funds and toys in the fall to be delivered before Thanksgiving. I’m sure that Gabriela is going to get something very special.

May 6, 2013

Time for a New Name?

Hopefully, your name gives you a positive sense of personal identity. But, do you remember the names you were called when you in elementary school or college? Would you rather not mention some of them?

Names are significant because names so often alter the way in which you see yourself, and sometimes, how world sees you as well.

During a 2008 Valley Fellowship mission short-term trip, BIG SMILES ensued as these Gift Bags (with gifts inside!) were put into the hands of the orphans at Casa Angelina in Guatemala. Each child really noticed their own name. I think the personalized bag with a personalized gift increased each child’s sense of value.

A new name may be just the ticket to increase something’s value. Years ago, fisherman renamed a deep-sea fish in order to create a market for it. The fish didn’t change, just the name did. Apparently, “Orange Roughy” sells a whole lot better than “Slimehead”.

Maybe that’s why government contractors might want label a pencil as a “portable, hand-held communications inscriber”.

In Scripture, the choice of a new name was always significant. New names signaled something. Often, the new name became a tipping point, a crucial moment that changes everything in a person’s life.

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The new name might ease assimilation into a new culture and new society. Foreign names were occasionally adopted by loyal Hebrews. Hadassah is much better known by her Persian name “Esther”. When Jesus walked through Israel, many Jews had adopted Greek and/or Aramaic names.

The new name might transition loyalty from one to another. Babylon gave new names to the Judean exiles. Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar hoped to ease assimilation into the new society, but more like an attempt to turn them from their loyalty to Yahweh. The chief official Ashpenaz integrated the names of pagan deities into the new news for Daniel and his three friends. Their Hebrew names all contained references to the one true God. Daniel’s new name “Belteshazzar” contained “Bel” (Babylonian deity also called Marduk). Hananiah’s new name “Shadrach” connected to the moon god Aku. Mishael’s “Meshach” meant “who is what Aku is?” and Azariah’s “Abednego” referenced the second greatest Babylonian god Nabu. Much to Nebuchadnezzar’s chagrin, those four young men refused to dishonor their loyalties to the God of Israel.

The new name might express a new status. With his promotion to prime minister of Egypt, Joseph was given a new name by Pharaoh (Genesis 41:45). Upon her return Moab, the sour widow Naomi ( meaning “Pleasant”) wanted her friends in Bethlehem to call her “Mara” which means “Bitter” (Ruth 1:20).

The new name might also denote a new relationship with God. “Jacob”, the heel-grabbing deceiver, receives the name “Israel”. The hot-headed “Simon” is prophetically proclaimed the rock-solid “Peter”.

Is it time for new name in your life? Don’t accept any name that is less than God estimate of your value. Don’t let the label someone put on you limit what God wants to do in you and through you. What God thinks of you is far more important than any other person’s opinion. In school, you had to put up with people calling you names, but to hear the name God calls you requires you listen. Are you investing time – reading His Word and listening to His voice?

May 5, 2013

New Name – New Status – New Future

Twenty-seven years ago (this weekend!), Patti and I stepped into Goldbro department store on Airport Road in Huntsville, Alabama to look at the rings in the jewelry section. Somehow, my mom had managed to tag along and walked behind us as we stepped into the jewelry section.

We stopped at the very first case and Patti pointed to a ring under the glass. She glanced at me and said, “That’s the one I want.”

“Are you sure? We just starting shopping? Don’t you want to look around some more?” I questioned.

“Okay, but that is the one I want.” I gulped as the lady behind the counter placed it on Patti’s finger. “Yes,” Patti said staring at the ring, “I like this one.”

Mom suddenly interjected herself into the discussion, “Well, Greg, are you going to buy it?” Mom knew my bank account. She knew that I had saved money to purchase a guitar.

“MOM!” I glared back. Patti tried to rescue the moment and asked if I needed a second to think about it. I nodded and I held her hand as we took a few steps into the BABY section.

A moment later, we stepped back to jewelry department. And, May 5, 1986, Patti first sported her engagement ring.

In your case, however, this probably involved your forehead drooping and gradually coming to rest against your desk http://pamelaannschoolofdance.com/aid-6190 tadalafil cialis from india as your teacher droned on and on from the front of the classroom about the importance of doing well on your SAT. tadalafil buy cheap There are several online service provide that sell generic ED drugs at reasonable prices. The opposite causes problems too – muscles that are too hot, wear tight underwear, go biking, get cialis generic australia in a sauna-anything that might increase the temperature around his testicles. However, this is not at canada levitra all true in the first place. When a woman marries in the United States, she commonly takes a new name, the name of her husband. Thus, Patti Edmonds became Patti Simon – to my great delight! Patti’s new name was symbolic of her new status (married to me!) and her new future with me.

Within my Logos study software is a collection of the newspapers from the American Civil War, the tumultuous times of 1860 to 1865. (www.logos.com, If you purchase, please let them know I referred you.) An article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (August, 1861) suggested a new name for an inauspicious purpose:

ALEXANDER the Great hearing that there was a man of the same name with himself in his army, and that he was a notorious coward, sent for him, and said unto him, ‘”fight better, or change your name.”’
Ought not old SCOTT to profit by this example? He lost the battle of Manassas. He confesses himself to be a great coward. Why, then, should he cling to ‘”Winfield,”’ a name indicative of victory? Why does he not write ‘”Losefield“’ as descriptive of his present status?

In Shakespeare’s play, Juliet suggests Romeo throw away his name, after all, “What’s in a name?” What is called a rose still has its smell even if given another name, yet Romeo and Juliet suffer the tragedy instigated by connection to their surnames. A person may be greater than the meaning of their name, but the name remains significant.

Ultimately, real freedom – no matter what label has bound you – comes only from real relationship with the Lord. The Lord spoke through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah that the promised salvation would come with a “new name”. “The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth.” (Isaiah 62:2 NLT)

“The proclamation of a new name for Zion indicates the new condition and character that God’s salvation will provide for her.” (John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66, NICOT, p. 579)

Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” [Hebrew “Azubah”] or “The Desolate Land.” [Hebrew “Shemamah”] Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” [Hebrew “Hephzibah” which means “my delight is in her”] and “The Bride of God,” [Hebrew “Beulah” which means “married”] for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride. (Isaiah 62:4 NLT)

The new name speaks of new promise, new power, new potential, new prospective as a result of relationship with the Lord. Salvation releases new hope, new status, new future for every Christ-follower. I am not saying that we should all change our names like my wife did when she married me. But, I do think we should live up to our status as the Bride of Christ and to lives that honor His Name.

What about you? Are you ready to invest your “guitar” money, your life’s blood for the sake of God’s kingdom? Well, are you going to buy it?

May 4, 2013

Names have power

Patti and I spent quite a while discussing what we should name our children. Just after Patti got pregnant with our first daughter, my dad suggested I let Patti pick the name. “It will be a lot easier,” he said. But, I wasn’t quick to surrender my opinion in the matter. We talked and read namebooks and talked some more. That was before the proliferation of the internet, so we didn’t google names!

We finally decided to name our firstborn after Patti’s sister, but then we argued a bit as to the exact spelling of the name. I campaigned for the letter “z” to set her apart from her aunt. Ultimately, we resolved that Patti would choose the spelling of the name of our first child, and I would . . . agree to the decision. Rosalyn was given the name “Rosalyn”, but I chuckled when our daughter decided to go by the nickname “Rozy”. Yes, God always gives me much better than I deserve.

A name is much more than just a handy label for getting someone’s attention.

Parents living in Biblical days often gave a name to a child to make an announcement about that child or to communicate something through that child. A famous example of this is clear naming of Jesus which means “Savior” (Matthew 1:21). “There is a sense of the significance of the proper name. The name denotes the person, establishes its identity, and is a part of it. It can often be said: ‘As a man is named, so is he.’” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 254)

The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible summarizes six common motivations for Biblical names (p. 1522-1523):
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  1. To record some aspect of a person’s birth. Jacob (“heel grabber”, “deceiver”) connives for Esau’s (“red”) blessing.
  2. To express parental reactions to the birth. Isaac (“laughter”) recalls the laughter of Abraham and Sarah.
  3. To secure the solidarity of the family. As is common today, a child is named after a parent, an uncle, or a relative.
  4. To reveal the nature of the person, his function, or some other significant thing about him. “Nabal” is a “fool” (1 Samuel 25:25).
  5. To communicate God’s message. Isaiah named his son “Shear-jashub” to warn that only “a remnant shall return” after God’s coming judgment.
  6.  To establish religious affiliation. All the names in the Bible with the endings -iah or -el (e.g., Jeremiah, Nathanael) are in fact statements with “the Lord” (-iah) or God (-iel) as subject.
May 3, 2013

Forgive as the Lord Forgave You

I am thankful for forgiveness and new life in Christ Jesus. God loved me long before I knew Him. “If You, Lord, should keep account of and treat [us according to our] sins, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You [just what man needs], that You may be reverently feared and worshiped.” (Psalm 130:3-4 AMP)

The sacrament (ordinance) of water baptism  is a celebration of forgiveness and a powerful public testimony of the change that has taken place on the inside of a Christ-follower. Baptism is a powerful metaphor for a believer’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – dead to the old way of life and risen to new life in Christ.

We also  celebrate the Lord’s forgiveness when we extend forgiveness to others.

  • “Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” (Colossians 3:13 NASB)
  • “Be kind to each other, be understanding. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32 PHILLIPS)

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John Perkins is a powerful example of the power of forgiveness. Perkins experienced first-hand the hatred and abuse of racism, yet he never lost his sense of purpose and compassion. Following one civil rights demonstration, Perkins was nearly beaten to death in a Mississippi jail, but even in that tortured state he refused to surrender to hate. Perkins writes of that experience:

The Spirit of God worked on me as I lay in that bed. An image formed in my mind. The image of the cross—Christ on the cross. It blotted out everything else in my mind. This Jesus knew what I had suffered. He understood. And He cared. Because He had experienced it all Himself. This Jesus, this One who had brought good news directly from God in heaven, had lived what He preached. Yet He was arrested and falsely accused. Like me, He went through an unjust trial. He also faced a lynch mob and got beaten. But even more than that, He was nailed to rough wooden planks and killed. Killed like a common criminal. At the crucial moment, it seemed to Jesus that even God Himself had deserted Him. The suffering was so great, He cried out in agony. He was dying. But when He looked at that mob who had lynched Him, He didn’t hate them. He loved them. He forgave them. And He prayed God to forgive them. “Father, forgive these people, for they don’t know what they are doing.” His enemies hated. But Jesus forgave. I couldn’t get away from that.…

It’s a profound, mysterious truth—Jesus’ concept of love overpowering hate. I may not see its victory in my lifetime. But I know it’s true. I know it’s true, because it happened to me. On that bed, full of bruises and stitches—God made it true in me. He washed my hatred away and replaced it with a love for the white man in rural Mississippi. I felt strong again. Stronger than ever. What doesn’t destroy me makes me stronger. I know it’s true. Because it happened to me. (John M. Perkins, Let Justice Roll Down, p. 196-196)

Refusing to retaliate isn’t easy, but extending forgiveness after such abuse seems impossible. Yet, with Christ’s strength Perkins forgave. Guess what? With Christ’s strength you can forgive too. You don’t have to hold on to unforgiveness. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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