Celebrate Freedom

Psalm 137: 1 – 6 (NIV): 1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its skill]. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

    Israel had been defeated and taken captive by Babylon in 605 B.C. The people who survived the onslaught were taken back to Babylon (modern Iraq) and turned into slaves. They had lost their freedom and their home. They had lost their spiritual worship center, and their identity as God’s people had been severely diminished as they were now slaves to a foreign, pagan society.

   They sat and wept by the water’s edge. The captors wanted them to sing songs about Jerusalem (Zion) and about their faith, but how could they sing joyful songs when their joy had been taken from them?

    This week in America we have been celebrating freedom and well we should. We probably take freedom for granted – at least until it is taken away from us. When we lose our independence we want nothing else but to have it back. That’s why Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” Liberty is worth dying for. Life isn’t worth living without it.

   This Psalm is a cautionary tale because Israel was taken captive because of its rebellion against God. The people wanted to do their own thing. They wanted to enjoy God’s goodness, but refused to give him their loyalty in return. One of the ironies of our faith is that when we give ourselves as slaves to Christ, he sets us free. And when we refuse to give him our lives and stubbornly go our own way, he allows our sin to enslave us.

   Celebrate Freedom. Enjoy it. Breathe into your soul the life that freedom gives. But remember, it was purchased for you at a price. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” Paul said in Galatians 5, “stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”

Run After God

Matthew 6: 31 – 34 (NIV): 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

     True, we shouldn’t worry. We should let God worry about us instead. God, who takes care of his creation and knows full well everything we need. God, who loves us so much he sent his only son to die for us. If he will give us such a remarkable and expensive gift, won’t he provide for our daily needs?

    But I want us to notice how Jesus said, “the pagans run after all these things.” Pagans are people who do not worship the true God. They are people who worship idols and false gods.  They serve their own appetites. Jesus had previously said, in verse 24, “You cannot serve both God and money.” You have to choose. You will be fully devoted and completely loyal to either wealth or God. It’s an age-old conflict - materialism versus faith.

     Running after materialism leaves us unfulfilled. It’s a carrot on a stick that we can never quite reach. It is never enough. No matter how much we spend we are left unsatisfied, wanting more. Running after God will give us fulfillment, purpose, love, acceptance and peace. And it will keep us from worrying. Worrying only makes things worse. The stronger our faith, the less we worry. Concentrate on building your faith instead of your portfolio and let God take care of you.

     Seek God First. Run after him. Get to know him. Desire having a relationship with him most. Concentrate on being more and more righteous. Let God take care of everything else, one day at a time.

Father's Day 2013

Ephesians 6: 1 - 4 (NIV): 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.   

    Dads set the spiritual thermostat in the home. There's no way around this. Children look to their fathers to see what is really important. If they see that a father's faith is truly important to him, they will mirror this in their own lives. If a dad's faith doesn't mean that much to him, they will tend to follow his lead.

    And it's not what a father says that shows how important his faith is to him, it's what he does. This is one of these instances where actions speak louder than words. Children are watching to see how important their dad's relationship to God is. They are watching to see how much he honors God; how much he fears God; what importance he places on his faith. And if a father says his faith is important to him, but doesn't live like it, they simply won't buy it.

    It's a tremendous privilege to have this much impact on our children. God made them to be putty in our hands, ready to be molded into worshippers. God made them to mimic us. Yes it is a privilege, but also a terrible responsibility. When I stand before God, he will ask how I did with HIS children, that he entrusted me with for a short period of time. Everyone ultimately makes up his own mind and chooses his own level of faith, but the stage is set at home and the father is in the lead role.

    Paul tells fathers not to exasperate our children. This means we don't discourage and frustrate them, but teach them by our own actions to honor God.

    Fathers, it's our job to teach them his Word. It's our job to teach them the importance of having genuine faith.

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

Proverbs 3: 1 – 12 (NIV): 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

 

     It’s not enough to hear good teaching, we must remember it. And the way to remember it is to do it. There’s an old saying, “Use it or lose it,” and it’s true, we tend to forget what we do not use. But we tend to remember what is important enough to us that we continue in it day after day. Jesus said we are wise if he hear his words, “and put them into practice.” Again, it’s a lifestyle of faithfulness, love and obedience to God that gives us success.

    A proverb is a wise saying that is generally true.The Bible isn’t teaching here that you will live to be a hundred years old if you keep God’s commands. What it is teaching is that you will not sabotage your life and cut it short. It is teaching that you will not derail yourself as you go down the path of your life. It is teaching that, in general, we will live a long, successful life if we follow God’s ways.

    So don’t forget to be wise. Don’t make foolish choices that you know will hurt you. Bind God’s Word around your neck and write it on the tablet of your heart – in other words, keep it close and don’t ever forget it. Memorize it; know it; don’t ever forget it; live it.

    Trust God with all your heart – not half-hearted. Go all in and completely trust him. Then you will begin to see wisdom at work in your life. Respect and honor God with all your decisions and with your lifestyle. Yes, God will discipline us, but that is to make us better and stronger and wiser. And that’s a good thing.