Salt and Light

The biblical concept of “sin” has rightly been described as an aberration or deviation from the way things ought to be. Part of being “salt and light” in this world (Mt.5:13-16) is to strategically say and do the kinds of things in any given situation that help to make it more like what God intended it to be. While it is true that God will one day bring everything in the universe in line with what is absolutely right (1Cor.15:24-25), in the meantime we should seek to follow the lead of God’s Spirit to do what we can to see more of “his will” realized here on earth, like it now is in heaven (Mt.6:10). So whether it’s in our homes, offices or neighborhoods let us thoughtfully and prayerfully exert a kind of redemptive influence that will move things from the way they are to the way they ought to be. It may not always be awarded and rewarded in this life, but God will be honored and you will give those around you a foretaste of Christ’s kingdom of which we pray they will one day be a part.

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Pain and Thanksgiving

Pain hurts, and few of us would choose it if we had a choice. But often God chooses it for us, so we can experience his strong deliverance and learn to praise him more perfectly. Consider Psalm 102 (a psalm with a preface that reads “the prayer of an afflicted man”) where we discover that amid the psalmist’s pain he has learned to recognize God’s providential rescue. More than that, he is resolved to utilize God’s answer to his prayers as a springboard for liberal amounts of thanksgiving and celebration. He even directs it to be written down and memorialized so that others can join with him in worshipping God for his gracious relief. So when your stormy trial encounters those respites of peace and calm, let us follow this inspired example and share our incremental victories so that together many can rejoice in the deliverance that God is providing!

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Priorities

So often we discover that the challenge of the Christian life is to stay focused on the big picture of what’s eternally significant. While the demands of everyday life shout for our attention, it’s the issues of supreme importance that usually sit quietly in the back of our minds while we run to our next appointment. As any good time manager will suggest, the distinction between “the urgent” and “the important” has to be assessed on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the time management books fall short of accurately defining what is truly important. Jesus understood the difference. And while there were several onlookers whose expectations and demands weren’t met by Christ, at the end of his life he could confidently say to the Father, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (Jn.17:4). May God grant us the strength and the fortitude to pause often enough to see his heavenly agenda through the clutter of earth’s pressing concerns. May we strategically live our lives with our eyes fixed on divine priorities so that one day we will be able to say that we have fulfilled God’s call for our lives.

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Thinking Christians

One of the great things about real Christianity is that it calls us to sincerely engage our minds and always check out the facts. Unlike those who say that “faith is something that is to be embraced in spite of the truthfulness of the particulars,” the Bible tells us we’d be better off without it if its message is nothing more than inspiriting stories or fables to live by. In referring to the historic basis for New Testament theology 1 Corinthians 15 emphatically asserts that if the accounts of Jesus are not factual then “preaching is useless,” “faith is futile,” the apostles are “liars” and we are a pathetic bunch of deceived people that the rest of the world should “pity” (vv.14-19). If we are going to base our lives and daily decisions on the ministry and teaching of Jesus Christ, then we’d better accept the challenge to be “thinking Christians” who understand that “faith” feels much more like a well-reasoned confidence than an emotional wishful thinking.

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Thankful Always?

First Thessalonians 5:18 requires that Christians “give thanks in all circumstances.” While to some this may seem crazy or at least a strange kind of spiritual masochism, the Bible has good reason for directing us to be grateful even when life hurts. For starters, Christians affirm that God is sovereign has good intentions when he enlists trials and pain in the lives of the children he deeply loves. As we parents interact with our young children (assuming we are humble enough to accept that we are God’s “kids”) we should quickly recognize that pain is often a strategic path to healing, maturity and prosperity in this world. If only our kids could see through their immaturity that the bad tasting medicine, the hassle of homework, or sting of discipline will eventually yield great benefit, then perhaps they, like us, could learn to complain less and even find the strength to be grateful in the face of circumstances that are less than fun.  May God give us the maturity to “give thanks” in good times and bad.

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Family and Warfare

The familial terms like “Father,” “brother” and “sister” which are used in the Bible to describe the Christian experience remind us of the importance of love, devotion and connectedness that ought characterize our congregation. But it is important that we are not led to believe that all our Christian expectations should settle on feelings of cozy, docile family room gatherings. Remember that the Scriptures also utilize balancing analogies for the Christian life which employ terms like “Captain,” “fellow soldiers,” “Master,” “servants” and “athletes.” These images transport our minds and expectations from the family room to the battlefield, the harvest fields and fields of strenuous exertion. Add to that our understanding of the prophetic schedule which promises a future age of rest and reward preceded by the current age of kingdom advancement and struggle with the flesh and the devil. While we all long for the days of relaxing together at the ultimate family reunion, for now we are brothers and sisters fighting to do what is right as we strategically assault the gates of hell with expansion of our Lord’s Church.

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Three Kinds of Prayer

There are three primary settings for biblical prayer which should have priority in our lives. The first is a focused type of scheduled prayer (Mt.6:6). This is the kind where, like Daniel’s three times a day or Jesus’ predawn appointments, we plan to meet with God for a significant session of “pouring out our hearts before the Lord” (Ps.62:8). The second setting for prayer is a team effort. This is when we meet with other Christians in groups to help one another direct our thoughts, intercessions and thanksgivings to God (Ac.12:11). Praying with others allows us to share one another’s burdens (Gal.6:2) and prompts us to express requests and concerns to God that would have never otherwise crossed our minds. A third setting for prayer can take place in your life right now. It is the kind Paul called “praying continually” (1Th.5:17). These are the comments and request that should punctuate our lives as we reach out to our omnipresent God amid all the events and activities of our day (cf. Neh.2:4-5). Let’s make all three a priority as we seek to deepen our relationship and communication with the living God.

For more devotionals sermons and resources go to http://www.focalpointministries.org/