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Truths flapping in the breeze …

Featured ~ Joseph ~ Leave a comment

We all like for things to end well. A book, a movie, or a story pleases us when it ends warmly. We like resolution, especially resolution that makes us happy. This allows us to tidy up the story, smile, and walk away.

Bible reading isn’t like that. We can never bring the Truth to resolution. Instead, it un-resolves us. God’s Word takes us apart, then stitches us back together, not in ways that we determine, or appreciate, at times. It’s this work in us that makes us more like Christ, whole, joyful. Those three are themes in the book of Philippians. Philippians is rich in truth for daily living. Truth that undoes us, then re-does us (yes, I know that is bad grammar, but it seems the best way to state it.). Let’s gather up the bits that we have whittled on in our month-long study of Philippians:

Chapter One:

  • We are to be thankful.
  • We are to “partner” in God’s work with others — pastors, fellow believers, your church.
  • We are to trust God as He does His sanctifying work in us, and submit to Him as He does.

Chapter Two:

  • We are to look out for fellow believers.
  • We are to surrender to God’s work in us. (There’s that one again … hmmmm)
  • We are to pour ourselves out for others.

Chapter Three:

  • We are to rejoice — find joy and contentment, and express it — in all things.
  • We are to forget the past and press on to the future. We do this through Christ, our Redeemer, Forgiver, Sustainer, and Power.

Chapter Four:

  • We are to seek unity in Christ.
  • We are to grow in knowing peace in Christ.
  • We are to develop strength in Christ.

Each of those truths alone stand out as day, week, or life-changing. As we survey them we see that they are made of solid granite, yet dripping with mercy. God wants us to live them out. By His grace and the power of His Spirit we can. As we close the study of Philippians there is an important application to make: As each of these truths flap and snap on the clothesline in our hearts and minds we must resist the urge to unclip them, fold them crisply, sort them into neat stacks, and put them away. Tucking truth away is a sure way to spiritual stagnation. We must allow the truths we learn to hold our attention.

We must restrain ourselves from seeking to resolve the truths of God’s Word or conform them to our wishes. They cannot be tamed, or domesticated. Let the truth roust and rough-house about with you. Let it do it’s firm, yet merciful, transforming work in you. As God’s Word rubs hard on us, pricks us, and nudges us, we change; we grow; we become more like Christ.

Thank you for being a part of this “virtual” study. My prayer and goal for this study has been to offer a small ray of light on this book. I hope that it has been helpful to you. I have not yet settled on our next study. So, stayed tuned. We will take a week or so off and then begin to walk through another short book of the Bible together.

Thanks again for reading along, your feedback, and comments. Catch your breath, we will begin another study in a week, or so. And, remember to let the loose ends of the truth dance in the wind …

Peeking around the corner and looking to the past …

~ Joseph ~ Leave a comment

We begin this chapter with a memory verse:

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. – Proverbs 22:3

This verse is stuffed full of truth, and has solid handles to hoist it up and take it along with you each day. It teaches us that through godly wisdom we can anticipate what is coming, and practice a discerning discipline to avoid trouble. Combining this with other elements we have learned along the way, if flatterers, gossips, and trouble-generators are involved, stop, turn around, and head in a different direction. Quickly.

Speed round, go …

  • Verse 4 – The world loathes things that God loves, and vice versa. 1 John 2:15-17 illustrates this further:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

  • Verse 6 – God’s principles are always true, God’s promises always arrive; we must not confuse a principle with a promise.  This verse is not a promise though many latch onto it as one; it is a principle. We must not hang our hope on a non-promise, but we obey it as a principle knowing that it leads to good, not a guarantee.
  • Verse 10 – Separate yourself from scoffers and your life will develop a newfound peace and quiet.
  • Verse 13 – The lazy create imaginative excuses to not head out the door to work.

Note: In verses 17-21 the tone shifts from short snippets of instruction to dialogue. Note that the commands, “incline your ear, hear the words, apply your heart,” etc.

  • Verses 24-25 – Your friends’ character will shape yours, choose your friends wisely.
  • Verse 28 – New ways rarely generate spiritual good. Don’t drastically Change something that has stood the test of time.

“Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.” – Jeremiah 6:16

Now that verse is one that deserves to be read, re-read, memorized, and mediated on. How many “ancient paths” and “good ways” have been forsaken for that which is modern or fashionable. And we wonder why our society is like it is …

The on-ramp to wisdom …

~ Joseph ~ 2 Comments

Like many others, you are considering resolutions for 2019. You know the typical ones: exercise more, lose weight, spend less, stop shouting swear words at your children, etc. Just kidding on that last one, unless you actually do cuss your kids on a regular basis. If you do, stop it, or at least cut back a little.

So, now that some of you with a potty mouth have been pointed out, let’s get on with the blog post. May I suggest a remarkable resolution for the New Year? One that will only take a few minutes a day and can improve most every area of your life. What is it? It is reading one chapter per day of the book of Proverbs.

When I became a Christian in 1993, a wise man told me, “Son, you are an idiot, you should read the book of Proverbs; that might be able to help you.” Actually, that fine gentlemen told me that reading a chapter of the book of Proverbs each day would help a young fellow immensely. I tried it. He was right. I continue to do so to this day. The Proverbs are bite-sized truths that can transform us. If they can help me, then they can help anyone!

If you are up for a challenge, will you join me for the month of January in reading one chapter of the book of Proverbs? Beginning on January 1, please read chapter 1, then chapter 2 on January 2, and so on. As a help to you, I will post a short introduction to the next day’s reading that will share hints and helps for the next chapter. This will serve as a tail wind to propel you along. Are you in? C’mon, it’s better than counting calories and trying to be “keto.” And, it won’t make you hangry.

With that said, here is the map for tomorrow’s reading of Proverbs 1:

The book of Proverbs — written by Solomon, the wisest man of his time — focuses on gaining wisdom and growing in your relationship with God. The Proverbs cover many areas of your life: family, work, relationships, money, discipline, taming your tongue, etc. The Proverbs were written in the form of Hebrew poetry, which might seem repetitive at times, but the style was intended for impact and contrast. Roll with it. It’s like Old Testament-style Twitter: short thoughts, plainly stated, that pack a punch.

The book of Proverbs focuses on three types of people:

  1. The wise: they seek to honor God and grow in His grace and truth.
  2. The foolish: they are selfish and sinful. They only look out for themselves and want harm for others. The Hebrew word for these folks is pronounced “in-laws.” Hehe …
  3. The simple: they are not wise, but not foolish; they could go either way depending on their pursuit of God’s truth or hanging out with fools. Most of us fall into this category.

Before you read chapter one, commit those three categories of people to memory. Look for them in each chapter. As you read each day ask yourself which category describes you, your family, and your circle of friends. Trust me. You will see that a pattern will soon form.

In the first chapter of Proverbs, verses 20-23 provide great hope to us all:

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.”

These verses paint a picture of God’s Truth standing in the middle of the city, at the frequent meeting places, and in the city gates calling out for us to listen, and grow in wisdom. These verses also link to a great promise in the New Testament in James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Here’s the take-a-way truth: God wants to provide His wisdom to us. It’s there for the asking, and receiving. Will you spend a few minutes each day reading one chapter of Proverbs? It could be your on-ramp to the road to wisdom. C’mon, let’s go. I’ll share a daily map for the journey. The map will point you down the path, make you smirk some, and also serve as a way for us to dialogue. Please post here and share your thoughts, what you are learning, and suggestions for upcoming posts for the month. My hope is to shape this in a way that assists you. Your feedback would be appreciated!

Blow the dust off your Bible, grab a cup of coffee, scream at your kids for the last time, and let’s get going.

Riding or Driving?

~ Joseph ~ 2 Comments

Your thoughts do not stand still. They move. They act. They are causative. Your thoughts matter.

Do your thoughts follow the lead of your mind and will? Or, does your mind, will, and life lag behind your thoughts? A strange question, you might think. But, it is an important question. When answered and acted upon it can alter the course of your hour, day, or life (and, ahem, your mood).

While free-ranging beef might be healthy, free-ranging thoughts are not. Let’s see how we can rustle and round up our thoughts.

God gives us the opportunity, ability, and power to harness our thoughts. He does it by His Word and Holy Spirit. We cannot do it on our own. We need Him. He delights in our  reliance upon Him. In Philippians 4:8-9 the Bible reveals how we can gain control over our minds, and the benefit of doing so.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Let’s begin with the end of these verses. Knowing the peace of God is the result of controlling and focusing our thoughts as He prescribes. Working backwards from verse 9, Paul shows us how this can be realized in the life of a believer.

Philippians 4:9 shows us that having the peace of God in our minds is realized by “doing.”  The Christian faith is a full contact faith, not one that stands on the sideline and observes. Paul says that we are to practice, or do, what we have learned from God’s Word. Bible study is not a passive activity. We are to read and study God’s Word, then apply it. It is not knowledge to placed upon a shelf and admired, it is not to be agreed with, it is to be applied. James says that we are to be “doers of the Word.” (James 1:22).

Once we consistently apply God’s truth to our lives we can begin to focus our lives, and thoughts, on a particular kind of thinking: namely, good thoughts, and though patterns, that honor Him. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think on — this word means to think on, dwell on, and meditate on — things that are true, good, praiseworthy, etc.

Here is a key that unlocks our thought life: God grants us the power and ability to decide what to think about. You are not captive to your thoughts. They should not control you. You have the choice of driving your thoughts, or bumping along behind them. As God tells us to think a certain way, and on certain things, He is pointing out that we can determine how we think and what we think about. In 2 Corinthian 10:5 we are told to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

You can gain control of your thought life by following Philippians 4:8-9. Then, and only then, the peace of God will reside between your ears. You will soon notice that once planted in your mind, the peace of God will bloom in the rest of your life.

Do your thoughts often stampede away dragging you behind them? You can take charge of them. You can begin this process by committing Philippians 4:8-9 to memory. With a bit of effort, prayer, and awareness you will be amazed as peace and contentment take root in your noggin.

Time to take the wheel and drive …

 

A mouthful of bite-sized poems

~ Joseph ~ 2 Comments

Fashioned with

a mustache

of spindly ferns,

and a beard

of mossy stones,

the hillside spring

whispers year round.

Sages, ripe with sense,

our forefathers

would not have bothered

with books

about growing

a better beard!

Our dogs —

fierce hunters

of belly rubs.

Over the years

the stone

bloomed lichens

in silhouetted circles.

A perfect day is a gift from a perfect God

~ Joseph ~ 1 Comment

 

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The picture below is evidence of the truth of that statement. As you would expect, there are many words, and entire stories, pulsing through this picture.

image

 

Let me share a few of them. I do so to highlight the principle that we should make the most of each day, and in doing so thank God for His daily gifts. This principle sings loudest this time of year. Friends and families spend more time and more focused time together around Christmas. This picture will remind me to do that with greater frequency well after the Christmas season and long into the New Year.

 

I also share this picture and posting to brag on Emma, our oldest daughter. To not brag on her would mean that I am remiss in my role as a doting dad.

 

Last August I began running on a regular basis. Prior to this I had only run every-now-and-then. By that I mean I ran if chased by our kids, our dogs, or an occasional nagging notion that I should exercise more. One of my commitments for this year was to exercise more. After a short time Emma took an interest in running with me. We officially began trail running — running off-road in the woods — the first week in November. We quickly set a goal to train for the Mt. Nebo Bench Trail Run on December 17. It is a 7K (4 mile) trail run around Mt. Nebo. It only gave us six weeks to prepare. We trained hard, and, we had a lot of fun together in the process. We enjoyed daughter and dad talks as we ran (she did most of the talking, I was too out of breath to talk most of the time). While running one cold, rainy night we also found and “rescued” a kitten. You get the picture. It was terrific fun running and training together.

 

Yesterday was the big day. It was our first “race” ever (although Emma had done some 5K walk/runs with her mom in the past). We got up at 5 a.m, fixed our “runner’s breakfast,” and loaded up for a 2.5 hour drive. On the way we laughed, talked, and planned our race strategy. For the sake of brevity, and to not test your patience, I will highlight the stories captured by the picture in bullet points:

  • As the race began we kept our pace and watched those around us. We came up with code words for passing certain people — for example, “Code Red” meant we would track down and pass the fellow in red who was just ahead of us for most of the race.
  • As we approached and passed a fellow runner (a woman in her 50s.) Emma said, “I have to tell you that you smell great!” The lady appreciated the comment and replied, “So, I don’t smell to perfumy or strong?” “No,” Emma replied, “you smell very clean, just right.”
  • While other runners grabbed and chugged the water from a volunteer at the halfway point Emma preferred that we stop, enjoy our water, and thank the volunteer for being there. Emma also took the time to put our paper cups in the trash bag (she was appalled that other runners threw their cups on the ground; I later told her that the volunteers would pick them up).
  • As we neared the finish we turned on our “deer legs” for the last big hill and later Emma used “cheetah legs” (more of our code talk) to try to track down a another runner who had stayed ahead of us the entire time. It is worth noting that it was no small effort to catch up to people that we had passed prior to the “water break” and overtake them a second time.
  • Emma finished 12 seconds before I did, thanks to her “cheetah mode.” When I heard them announce her name over the PA system as she crossed the finish line my heart and eyes welled up. She had done it. A 7K trail run full of hills and slippery paths couldn’t stand up against her young legs and strong will.
  • As I crossed the finish line she high-fived and hugged me. We had finished, shaved 30 seconds per mile off of our training times, and logged one of our best experiences ever.

 

image

 

On the way back home we replayed the day, planned our next race, and talked about seeing the new Star Wars movie. She soon fell asleep. As I drove I could only think, “Thank you God, thank You for Emma and for a day like today.” As I bathed in the delight of the day I remembered that this very sense of delight is the delight that God has in us as His children. What a wonder. What a God. What gifts He gives.

 

As you think on these words, and smile at the photos, think beyond them. Think beyond them to the gifts that God gives to you. Then, think beyond the gifts that He gives and enjoy Him. His gifts are great; He is greater.

 

His greatest gift to us isn’t our children, or our best days, it is His Son for us and in us each day!

 

By the way, Emma won third place in her division. I couldn’t resist … Merry Christmas from the ole Bearded Acorn!

Good words for a good week…

~ Joseph ~ Leave a comment

Some of God’s greatest gifts arrive wrapped in rough paper. Likewise, some of God’s good news begins gruffly. With that in mind, let’s leap in.

 

Do you ever find yourself shying away from using the word “sin?” It seems harsh, personal, and condemning. It is all of those things, and from God’s view it is rightly so. Why? Sin wrecks the world, and each person in it. Until we call it what it is we cannot deal with it honestly. Not correctly identifying inherent sinfulness as our primary problem would be like accepting a doctor’s diagnosis of: “Yes, you certainly have a terrible disease, but let’s not identify it, or label it specifically — that would be harsh and upsetting — rather, let’s call it something more pleasing and see if you can improve your health by ignoring it.” That’s industrial strength negligence. Although it would seem like a ridiculous approach to physical health some have no qualms about handling their spiritual matters in this manner.

 

You are wondering where the good words are, aren’t you? Well, we must first ascertain  that sin is the ailment before we can apply the cure. With that out of the way, here’s the cure:

 

“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,” Romans 4:3-5

 

The deeply personal bad news is that we are all sinners, and sinful. The worse news is that many people believe that it is possible to work their way out of it. Attending church, doing good deeds, and giving to charities are all common approaches to “doing more good than bad.” The truth — Bible truth that is — tells us that we cannot do so. We do not have the ability, capacity, or consistency to do “good” that will erase our sin. No one will be forgiven and receive eternal life because of what he or she did. No one; not you, not me, not anyone, ever. Romans 4:4 makes this jarringly clear: if you attempt to work to earn God’s favor and forgiveness you actually go further into debt to Him for your sin. Hint: trying to earn God’s favor is a sin in itself as it attempts to reduce God’s standards to ours and exalts our abilities to those of Christ. Ouch!

 

Now to the good words, good words to encourage you toward a good week.

 

Romans 4:5 gives us three astounding truths:

  • Our relationship with God is grace-based, not works-based. Whew!
  • The “ungodly” and “unrighteous” — that’s us — are forgiven and justified by faith in Jesus.
  • The righteousness of Jesus is applied to those who believe in Him.

 

In summary, you and I cannot earn God’s favor and forgiveness; we receive it by His grace through faith in Jesus. And — this is a a big one — we are forgiven by faith in Jesus and His righteousness is applied to us (that’s a big “and”). So, God does not see you as a sinner huddled under the Name of his Son, rather, He sees you cloaked in and covered by the righteousness of His Son. He looks at you through the lens of the Lord Jesus. How’s that for good words from God’s Word?

 

He did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves and gives us what we could never earn. That’s a grand description of God’s grace. His grace for you, and to you, each day. Good words indeed…

Simeon’s example…

~ Joseph ~ Leave a comment

With Christmas speeding down the rails, let’s take a moment and look back at an often over-looked scene of Jesus’ arrival.  Please take a moment and read Luke 2:22-35; really, go ahead, read slowly. Read it out loud — use your indoor Bible-reading voice please — and soak it in. There, now that you have read it, let’s take the narrative apart so that it can assemble for us an up-close portrait of the Christ-child. Here are some of the notables of the narrative that will guide you as you study through this stirring passage.

 

In Luke 2:25 we meet an older fellow named Simeon. He is found nowhere else in the New Testament. His single inclusion in Scripture is brief, but it is one that will moisten your eyes.

 

First, Simeon was a fellow who knew God. Many know about God; Simeon knew Him. The introduction to Simeon shows this in verse 25. He was a resident of Jerusalem who greatly anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, was led by the Spirit of God, and was godly and devout. It’s worth noting that the folks to whom God revealed the birth and identity of Jesus were not mainline religious folks. The on-the-fringe folks — magi from the East, shepherds, Joseph and Mary (carpenter and his young wife), Simeon, and a very unique 84 year old lady named Anna — were the ones who received Jesus’ birth announcement.

 

The point here — a serrated point nonetheless — is that the folks who should have been ready to recognize Jesus didn’t, not at all. They swung and missed. They were busy steeping in self-righteousness and marinating in man-made rules. To bring it to the present, almost all “good church folk” nowadays would have missed Jesus due to thier serving on committees, crafting new bylaws of behavior for others to follow, and congratulating one another on their own acumen in doing both. Instead, some farmers, a handful of foreigners (somehow they made it made it over Donald Trump’s “wall.”), an old fellow, and a very Pentecostal-like 84 year old would have recognized Jesus first. Ouch.

 

Second, and to advance the previous point, Simeon had ears to hear what God had said and was saying (verse 26). Jesus frequently stated, “he who has ears to hear (God’s Word), let him hear.” There is a reason that he said that, and said it a lot of times to lots of people. Simeon had ears to hear God. He listened; he heard; he believed. It goes in that order.

 

Third, Simeon had eyes to see what God was doing (verse 27-28). He had listened, heard God, and believed Him. Then, he saw. It goes in that order. When he saw Jesus he knew who and what He was. He did so instantly. How? Simeon ears were perked to hear and his eyes were focused to see through sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Notice that Simeon went to the temple “in the Spirit.” This was his normal practice. Verse 25 states that “the Holy Spirit was upon him.” This was his usual spiritual state.  In what “spirit” do you go to worship? What is your usual spiritual state? We tend to think that going to church will help us to become Spirit-filled, and it can, but shouldn’t we first arrive there packed-to-the-gills full of the Spirit? We know the painful answer, don’t we.

 

Fourth, Simeon’s faith finally held its long-awaited object. When by enduring faith he received God’s promise worship welled up and poured out publicly. His faith had been based on God’s Word to him. His peace (verse 29) had been based upon God’s promise to him. At last his faith and peace were woven together in realization through recognition of the Messiah. And, he got to hold the Messian with his owns hands.

 

Lastly, Simeon’s worship of Jesus introduced others to Him. Notice the roles of and titles for Jesus that Simeon revealed to others: Savior (verse 30), Light for revelation to the Gentiles (32), Glory for Israel (32), Messiah (32). He recognized Jesus and aptly told others about him through praise. This passage is referred to as “Simeon’s Psalm.” In light of that, the question must be asked … if Simeon’s words and worship revealed Jesus, then what do our words of public worship reveal? Honestly, much of our worship highlights how we feel, what we think, and what we like about God. It focuses on God through the lens of our thoughts and feelings toward Him. Re-read that. Once more, please. We are not good lenses. Scripture is the perfect lens. Simeon’s worship was Scripture-dense and Spirit-loaded. Ours is often experience-based and situation-soaked. Here’s a quick test:  recall and think through the words of songs that you sing at church and the lyrics of your favorite Christian songs. Do those lyrics burst with Scripture or bleat out about feelings? Count the use of “I, me, and my” in them and that will distill out the answer.

 

In closing, this short just-after-Christmas story found in Luke 2 shows that your personal spiritual walk must be Scripture-filled if you are to truly know God and see Him at work. Then, it should fuel your worship so that the spotlight rests on Jesus and His greatness, not on your thoughts or feelings — both of which may be non-Scriptural — about Him.

 

Over his lifetime Simeon listened to God’s Word; he heard; he believed; he saw; he worshiped rightly. It goes in that order. Let this order our celebration of Christmas and the upcoming new year as well.

 

Merry Christmas!

Minding your spiritual mind, mind you…

~ Joseph ~ Leave a comment

I have pondered this post for a while. It’s a topic that I have a natural attraction to, but I realize that not everyone shares this same fondness. It is the topic of feeding, growing, and weeding your “spiritual mind.” Now, I know that we shouldn’t separate our “spiritual” mind from our physical one, but there is clear teaching in the Bible about spiritual mindedness and the new mind that we have in Christ. So, let’s get on with it.

Early on in my Christian life this verse knocked me off my feet, and still does:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV

Read it carefully. Paul instructs us to be transformed by renewing our minds. In other words, the primary growth for Christ-followers takes place in the mind, not the will, or emotions. Sorry. If we are to become mature, effective Christ-followers we must grow our minds on God’s Word — which is how we are renewed — and allow God to do His transformative work in our minds first (see also Ephesians 4:23). This occurs when we consitently feed our minds on God’s Word . No shortcuts, no alternate routes.

To get on with building your spiritual mind you must first tear down two barriers that keep you from it. Both barriers are used by our Enemy, and appeal to our natural tendencies. The first barrier that we must overcome is that of being driven by our emotions, and allowing them to dictate the timbre and tone of our spiritual growth.

God created us to have emotions, and they play an important role in life. But, emotions are NOT the primary vehicle for spiritual growth, or even a dependable vehicle for growth at all. Sadly, American Christians tend to fall for this two-bit idea and think that our feelings about Christ and His Word will drive us toward depth and strength; instead, they tend to steer us right off the cliff.

A biblical example — the Gospels record more than two handfuls of times when Jesus asked His disciples what they thought about a situation or His teaching. How many times do the Gospels record Him asking, “how do you feel about this?” Zero. It wasn’t their emotions that He was after, it was a matter of putting His truth into their heads and souls. (Now before you send me a naggy email, or unfollow this blog, give it some thought. Emotions are icing on the cake, not the flour and eggs that make the cake.).

Here’s another example for you:

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…” Luke 24:45

What did he open for the understanding of His Word? Their hearts? Their souls? Nope, it was their minds!
To further the point, here’s a practical example: if a strong stirring of emotions could produce favorable and long term results then you would only need once dose of encouragement per year, football coaches would give one pep talk per season, extra pounds could be shed and never return by you having a single feeling of inspiration about a diet and exercise program. I could go on — and would enjoy it — but you get the idea. True life transformation takes place through the renewing of our minds, which can be hampered by our emotions and a reliance upon them for change.

The second barrier to growing our spiritual minds is lack of discipline. Rather than engaging and training our spiritual minds each day, we allow them to crawl up on the front porch and doze while gnats gather to buzz around their hind-parts. Sad, but true. It’s no wonder that more than a decade ago, Os Guinness quipped that American Christians pursue fit bodies but have fat minds.

It is easy to allow our schedule, commitments, and work to gobble up time and energy. This is where discipline comes in. At the beginning of the day, or at its end, when we are tired, is when we have to make up our … well, you know, our minds, to take the time to read God’s Word in a systematic manner and think on what we have read.

In sum, dial down the emotions and crank up the discipline. And, as a corollary to your Bible study and thinkin’, add in some reading of great Christian thinkers. Supplementing, not replacing, your personal Bible reading time with C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, John Piper, J.I. Packer, and so on will do you miles of good. I have it from a good source that if a believer has not read J.I. Packer’s Knowing God and C S Lewis’ Mere Christianity at least once in his/her lifetime, then he or she will have to sit through remedial classes in heaven for his/her first six months there.
Here’s a challenge for you for the rest of the month: commit to forsake being led along by your emotions and circumstances, draw on spiritual discipline, and read through a chapter or two of God’s Word each day, then think on it, and pray through it. Also, memorize Romans 12:2, and add in a solid Christian book as a strongly brewed supplement for your spiritual mind.

My oldest daughter loves horses. This past summer she attended six days of Girl Scout “horse” camp. Yesterday, she went back to the Girl Scout camp for the next level of training in horseback riding. She loved it. One thing that stood out to me was that the teacher continually gave instruction to Emma about her riding form while she was riding, not before or after. Form matters.

The form that we need for feeding, growing, and weeding our spiritual minds is one of a disciplined ingestion of God’s Word, thinking on it, and supplementing it through reading solid-minded Christian writers from the past. Emma’s instructor would also frequently say, “keep going, that’s it, finish it out.” When you are tired, or loose your train of thought while reading a passage remember to keep going, finish it out. Your spiritual mind will grow, and you will grow in Christ-likeness.

Wisdom, Waves, and Double-Mindedness

~ Joseph ~ Leave a comment

The click-clack-click-clack that you hear as you begin reading this post is the fast-paced movement of your cart climbing to the apex of the roller coaster. After you reach the top, then tip over it, the ride down will whoosh by and end abruptly at the platform. As you unbuckle and stagger out of your cart you will think, ‘Wow, that was fast, what do I do now?” This is by design. Fasten your safety harness please, and keep you hands and arms inside the cart throughout the blog post.

Last night I read James chapter one before going to bed. If it has been a while since you have last read in James, then let me refresh your memory. James is written to believers who were going through persecution, the real go-to-jail, get-a-beating, or flee the county variety of persecution. Thus, James does not beat around the bush. The book is loaded with to-the-point teaching that cuts to the bone. While there are encouraging points in the book of James, it is, to me, mostly like a warm embrace from a python –the truth tightening slowly, but steadily, and without relenting.

As I was reading, verses 5-8 leapt off of the page. In brief fashion I will unfold what I learned.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8

James tells us that any believer who lacks wisdom — that would be all of us in some measure — should ask God for it. And God, who gives wisdom liberally, will grant it when we ask by faith without doubting Him or His promise to give it to us. There is where it gets bothersome. In verse 5, James records that God will grant us wisdom — and remember that wisdom doesn’t shimmer down from heaven, rather, it germinates from the steady planting of God’s Word in our minds and hearts (praying for wisdom is not a shortcut around receiving it through study in God’s Word; praying reminds us to head straight back to God’s Word for it). The next three verses show us what not asking by faith, or being a “doubting asker,” looks like. It’s vivid. If you are hoping for a Bible passage that quivers with delight and wags its tail when you come close, well, this ain’t it.

The margin for doubting God’s promise of providing wisdom in verse six is nil. We do not get to harbor a millimeter’s worth of doubt if we expect to receive any wisdom. Doubting God’s promise nullifies the request for it. Pause, think on that last line for a while. Keep thinking on it. That’s it, ponder some more. Ok, now, James said that we are to ask with “no doubting,” and then goes on to show us what a doubter looks like. The one who doubts God is like a wave on the sea that is tossed about. The word picture here is a clear one, and cutting. Notice that the wave of the sea is both “driven and tossed by the wind.” Verse 8 further describes one who asks God and doubts while in the process of asking as “double-minded” and “unstable in all his ways.” Ouch. So, how does one go from asking with doubt to being “unstable in all his ways?” It’s a short walk from one to the other; in fact, it is a leisurely stroll downhill, with the wind at your back.

A return to verse 6 shows us how this gets knotted up. It really comes down to what one is “driven by” and “moved by.” Remember that James said that a doubter is both driven by and tossed or turned by the same wind. The wind is doing the driving and tossing. To put the metaphor to work on the side of faith rather than doubt, a believer who is faith-driven will not be wind-tossed. Or, to hold the pointed edge toward your own life, you should ask the question, “what drives you?” The answer to that question will be what also tosses and turns you. If God-centered, Word-strengthened faith drives you, then you won’t be tossed. But, if anything less than that drives you … well then, you can expect some choppy water ahead.

What are some things that slip in line ahead of faith in our minds and hearts, and then cause us to be double-minded and unstable? Answer: lots of things — emotion, intellect, traditions, circumstances, to name a few. If you are governed by emotion, then you should fully expect for it to drive you, and then at its own whims, to toss and churn you along the way. Likewise, if you allow intellect, or rationalism, to sit in the driver’s seat, then you should expect it to turn the wheel however it pleases, whenever it pleases. So on and so forth with traditions, circumstances, etc. (I told you that reading James isn’t a happy, clappy giggle-fest. It’s tough. And, it’s good for us).

With this idea that anything other than God-centered, Bible-buttressed faith will drive and jostle us, it is easy to see how we can become double-headed and unstable in life (verse 8). Any movement — not matter how small — away from Bible-built faith is a big step toward double-headedness and instability. If you are feeling a bit unstable in some areas in life, and sense that you spiritual noggin needs three or four hats, then immerse yourself in James 1:5-8. It will drive you back to prayer for wisdom, and strength. You will then sense God nudging you back to His word, the fountain of His Wisdom and faith (see John 17:17, Proverbs 2:6-7, and Romans 10:17). His Word will then guide you away from doubt, spiritual schizophrenia, and instability.

Here is the abrupt stop. Isn’t it interesting what Jesus says in Matthew 7:24:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Hmmm, hear his words, do them, be like a wise man, and find yourself stable on the rock. Those are the opposites of doubting, being unwise, being tossed about, being unstable, and having spiritual double-mindedness. In the spiritual game of rock-paper-scissors, Bible Rock beats Tossed Waves and Double-Minded every time. As you disembark the roller coaster, go find your Bible, read James chapter one, ponder on it, and you’ll have your legs back under you in no time…