Friday, September 17, 2010
God Myth #4: Grace & Consequence. “Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be…teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love!” There’s something about the grace of God that blows our minds. We just can’t seem to wrap our heads around the fact that God would love us enough to send His only Son Jesus to pay for our sin – to be our replacement. But that’s exactly what He did. That’s the nature of grace.
However, the sad truth is that sometimes we use “the grace of God as a license to sin,” as Paul wrote in the New Testament. We seem to think that because we’ve received the unmerited, unearned favor of God through what Jesus did, that we can somehow get away with sin now. We almost live as though there are no consequences anymore. But that’s just not the way it works.
Paul wrote to the Galatians that “whatever a man sows, that shall He also reap.” He said that “God is not mocked.” He was talking to church people – to those who had trusted Christ. What he was saying was simple: if you sow to the flesh, you’ll reap corruption and negative consequences. If you sow to the Spirit, you’ll reap life. This rule of life is so very true, even in the year 2010 for us.
If I plant a squash seed, I expect to get a squash plant. If I plant a watermelon seed, I expect to get a watermelon plant. That’s the universal law of sowing and reaping – you get what you sow, and you always get more than you sow as well.
If my life is spent sowing to the flesh, doing what feels good, yet I know it goes against what He’s called me to and called me from, I’ll reap bad consequences. And the reaping will be greater than the sowing – it’s just the way it works. May we never buy the lie of the enemy that so long as nobody knows it’s okay. God knows, and He’s the One that sends the harvest, whether good or bad.
“Those who the Lord loves, He chastens.” Just like a good parent disciplines their child to teach them the best way to live, so God disciplines us to keep us from falling back into the life of sin that will hurt, and even kill us. So today, take note of what kind of seeds you’re planting with your life. Because when the harvest starts coming in, it’s so painful to see a life wasted on ourselves, instead of invested in the things of God.
I pray that though my sins are forgiven by Him, I never again, even for a moment, take for granted the grace of God upon my life. My eternity is sealed, but this life can still bring about consequences for my choices.
May all our seeds sprout with life, and may our harvest be plentiful and kingdom filled.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
God Myth #3: Distance
Thursday, September 16, 2010
God Myth #3: Distance. Have you ever felt far from God? Almost like when you pray He’s so far away there’s no possible way He hears? Or when you worship it just feels different? Like God is detached – far off – distant? I’m sure we’ve all probably felt this way at some time or another at different times in our relationship with God. And we start to wonder, Why did God wander off from me? There’s where we’re wrong – He never moved.
It’s been said that if we find ourselves distant from God it’s not His fault – we’re the one that moved. And that is true. His Word is very clear about the fact that He’s promised to “never leave us or forsake us,” that He’s the “same yesterday, today, and forever,” and that He’s that “friend that sticks closer than a brother.” So how in the world can we feel distant from Him? That’s simple: our choices.
By our daily choices we can draw near to Him, or push Him further away. It’s the same with any relationship. Husbands and wives can get closer by the day or let their marriage fall apart. Friends can get stronger or weaker. Co-workers can build tighter bonds or slowly begin to work against each other. The difference is that in our relationship with God we’re given this guarantee by James: “Draw near to God, and He’ll draw near to you.” So there’s yet another promise that God will always keep: if we initiate closeness with Him, He’ll always, without fail, move closer to us. That’s good stuff.
So today, I’ll share with you just what I told our Victory Students last night at Real Life – would you take a moment to evaluate your relationship with God? If you’re distant, don’t blame Him. He’s already done everything necessary to be close to you. He sent His Son Jesus to remove the sin barrier that existed between Him and you. And He’s promised to never, ever, ever, ever walk away from you once you’re His. So if you feel far off, a long way away, like God’s distant…when and where did you move? Because the Truth is, He’s where He’s been all along.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
God Myth #3: Distance. Have you ever felt far from God? Almost like when you pray He’s so far away there’s no possible way He hears? Or when you worship it just feels different? Like God is detached – far off – distant? I’m sure we’ve all probably felt this way at some time or another at different times in our relationship with God. And we start to wonder, Why did God wander off from me? There’s where we’re wrong – He never moved.
It’s been said that if we find ourselves distant from God it’s not His fault – we’re the one that moved. And that is true. His Word is very clear about the fact that He’s promised to “never leave us or forsake us,” that He’s the “same yesterday, today, and forever,” and that He’s that “friend that sticks closer than a brother.” So how in the world can we feel distant from Him? That’s simple: our choices.
By our daily choices we can draw near to Him, or push Him further away. It’s the same with any relationship. Husbands and wives can get closer by the day or let their marriage fall apart. Friends can get stronger or weaker. Co-workers can build tighter bonds or slowly begin to work against each other. The difference is that in our relationship with God we’re given this guarantee by James: “Draw near to God, and He’ll draw near to you.” So there’s yet another promise that God will always keep: if we initiate closeness with Him, He’ll always, without fail, move closer to us. That’s good stuff.
So today, I’ll share with you just what I told our Victory Students last night at Real Life – would you take a moment to evaluate your relationship with God? If you’re distant, don’t blame Him. He’s already done everything necessary to be close to you. He sent His Son Jesus to remove the sin barrier that existed between Him and you. And He’s promised to never, ever, ever, ever walk away from you once you’re His. So if you feel far off, a long way away, like God’s distant…when and where did you move? Because the Truth is, He’s where He’s been all along.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
God Myth #2: Beliefs
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
God Myth #2: Beliefs. We live in a world of beliefs. Everyone has them about just about everything. Even those who claim that they don’t believe have beliefs. So it really should not catch us totally off guard when we hear this claim that “It doesn’t matter what you believe really, so long as you’re sincere.” We hear that everywhere, even from folks who many consider leaders in the “world of Christianity.” I’m just not so sure that makes much sense, though.
Seriously – what does it say about the One we believe in if there’s no settled truth about Him? To me, that is almost like saying, “My beliefs bring me comfort, but they really aren’t true. Everyone needs comfort at times, so it doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you have something that gives you that comfort.” I think more of my God than that. Much more.
There are those out there that honestly believe that God isn’t that concerned about what we believe, so long as we’re “seeking after Him.” The only problem with that is that He poured out His Spirit into about 40 men over a period of about 1,500 years to compile a Book we call the Bible, and in it, He says a few things about Himself and what we believe. The bottom line, Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of John, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” Call me crazy, but that sounds a little bit closed minded to me.
So in a world of pluralism, I hope we can see that though everyone has opinions on everything under the sun, opinions/beliefs are a different issue when it comes to God. It’s not about what we think, feel, or even believe. It’s all about Who He is. And that’s settled.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
God Myth #2: Beliefs. We live in a world of beliefs. Everyone has them about just about everything. Even those who claim that they don’t believe have beliefs. So it really should not catch us totally off guard when we hear this claim that “It doesn’t matter what you believe really, so long as you’re sincere.” We hear that everywhere, even from folks who many consider leaders in the “world of Christianity.” I’m just not so sure that makes much sense, though.
Seriously – what does it say about the One we believe in if there’s no settled truth about Him? To me, that is almost like saying, “My beliefs bring me comfort, but they really aren’t true. Everyone needs comfort at times, so it doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you have something that gives you that comfort.” I think more of my God than that. Much more.
There are those out there that honestly believe that God isn’t that concerned about what we believe, so long as we’re “seeking after Him.” The only problem with that is that He poured out His Spirit into about 40 men over a period of about 1,500 years to compile a Book we call the Bible, and in it, He says a few things about Himself and what we believe. The bottom line, Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of John, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” Call me crazy, but that sounds a little bit closed minded to me.
So in a world of pluralism, I hope we can see that though everyone has opinions on everything under the sun, opinions/beliefs are a different issue when it comes to God. It’s not about what we think, feel, or even believe. It’s all about Who He is. And that’s settled.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
God Myth #1: Goodness
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
God Myth #1: Goodness. Our society at large tries to convince us that mankind is by nature good. Just yesterday a well known cable news personality that I happen to think a lot of said these words, “People are good. We are just, by nature, deep down inside, good.” There’s only one tiny problem with that idea…it’s wrong. God’s Word says we are, by nature, just the opposite. Every single one of us has sinned, according to Romans 3:23. Just ponder on this idea with me for a moment, would ya?
I don’t ever remember my parents having to give me a lesson in how to lie. I didn’t have to be taught that – I was born a pro! I never received a lesson in how to steal. Nor did I have to have lessons on disobeying my parents, or disrespecting them. I didn’t have to be taught how to hate people, or treat them badly. I never remember seeing anyone giving murder lessons, or writing self-help books on how to commit adultery. Nope, we don’t need help with this stuff. We were born professionals.
But I do remember my parents trying to raise me up to learn how to live in honesty. They taught me how to respect others, including them. How to love people, and treat them the way I wanted to be treated. They taught me it was wrong to take something that wasn’t mine, and to hurt someone or kill them wasn’t right. And purity – there’s another trait I had to be taught as I grew up. Because by nature, I wasn’t good, and neither are you. By nature, we’re messed up.
Think about it – do you really think if there had been another way, that God would have still sacrificed His only begotten Son on the cruel cross in such a horrific way? If getting to God was a multiple choice test – if we can just attain goodness that is enough to make us right with Him, would Jesus have had to go through what He went through? Absolutely not. To try to be convinced that we are naturally good is to say that what Jesus did wasn’t really necessary. That we can just become who we’re supposed to be on our own because, after all, we’re naturally good anyway.
No, God knew that we were, and are, totally depraved sinners. Not only are we naturally not good, there’s nothing good in or about us. The truth is, we weren’t born knowing goodness. As soon as we were big enough, we were getting into everything we could get our hands on. So the first of our “God Myth Series” is this: we aren’t good. He is. That’s why He gave us Jesus.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
God Myth #1: Goodness. Our society at large tries to convince us that mankind is by nature good. Just yesterday a well known cable news personality that I happen to think a lot of said these words, “People are good. We are just, by nature, deep down inside, good.” There’s only one tiny problem with that idea…it’s wrong. God’s Word says we are, by nature, just the opposite. Every single one of us has sinned, according to Romans 3:23. Just ponder on this idea with me for a moment, would ya?
I don’t ever remember my parents having to give me a lesson in how to lie. I didn’t have to be taught that – I was born a pro! I never received a lesson in how to steal. Nor did I have to have lessons on disobeying my parents, or disrespecting them. I didn’t have to be taught how to hate people, or treat them badly. I never remember seeing anyone giving murder lessons, or writing self-help books on how to commit adultery. Nope, we don’t need help with this stuff. We were born professionals.
But I do remember my parents trying to raise me up to learn how to live in honesty. They taught me how to respect others, including them. How to love people, and treat them the way I wanted to be treated. They taught me it was wrong to take something that wasn’t mine, and to hurt someone or kill them wasn’t right. And purity – there’s another trait I had to be taught as I grew up. Because by nature, I wasn’t good, and neither are you. By nature, we’re messed up.
Think about it – do you really think if there had been another way, that God would have still sacrificed His only begotten Son on the cruel cross in such a horrific way? If getting to God was a multiple choice test – if we can just attain goodness that is enough to make us right with Him, would Jesus have had to go through what He went through? Absolutely not. To try to be convinced that we are naturally good is to say that what Jesus did wasn’t really necessary. That we can just become who we’re supposed to be on our own because, after all, we’re naturally good anyway.
No, God knew that we were, and are, totally depraved sinners. Not only are we naturally not good, there’s nothing good in or about us. The truth is, we weren’t born knowing goodness. As soon as we were big enough, we were getting into everything we could get our hands on. So the first of our “God Myth Series” is this: we aren’t good. He is. That’s why He gave us Jesus.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Monday, September 13, 2010
Feelings.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Feelings. I think that’s probably one of the biggest differences in childhood and adulthood. Feelings. When you’re a child, one trait of the immaturity of such a young age is the fact that so much of what you do is driven by those feelings. How many times do we hear a small child say to his parents, “But I don’t want to…” “But I don’t feel like it…” I remember those mornings when I would wake up and try to put together a good plan to get to stay home from school because I didn’t feel like going. Usually it failed, though. Turns out, my parents could see through my feelings.
This morning I’m thinking about this, because when I woke up at 5am, my feelings were telling me to stay in bed. The alarm was screaming at me (both of them), but my feelings were saying, “NO! Not yet! You’re not done with your dreaming! Just stay here! Call in sick for the bus route…get a sub. You need some more sleep!” Those were my feelings, and had I bowed down to them as I did so often as an immature child, I’d still be in bed right now and a substitute bus driver would be getting ready to pick up my kids. And in a couple hours I’d be very regretful of that decision.
But instead, I put my feelings on the shelf. It just didn’t matter how I “felt”…the fact of the matter is, I have to get up at 5am, I have to go drive the bus, I have to get some things accomplished today at the church, and that’s the way it is. And undoubtedly, many of you reading this understand that reality on a Monday morning, don’t you? So all this talk of feelings drove my mind to another reality…how many of us let feelings drive our relationship with God into the ditch?
There are, no doubt, days when we don’t feel like praying. There are days when we don’t feel like cracking open God’s Word and reading. There are definitely days when we don’t feel like sharing Him with folks that don’t know Him yet. There are days we just don’t feel up to worshiping. And there are Sundays or Wednesdays that we don’t really feel like going to church. But just as is the case with the other areas of life, it’s in those times that we have to put our feelings on the shelf. It’s in those times that we have to ask ourselves, “Am I an immature child in my faith, or am I growing up in Him? Will who I am in Him be determined by what I feel, or by my obedience?”
So there’s the paradigm: feelings or obedience? Which will you choose today? As for me, I’ll sign off here, go jump on the big yellow joy-ride called a school bus, and fulfill my other responsibilities today, after having started my day, and week, off strong with Him in His Word. And though I didn’t feel like it at the moment, I have to admit – in hindsight it sure feels great to have chosen obedience.
PS: Please pray for Jake today. It appears they'll begin to wean him off the meds that have kept him sedated since the accident. Pray he wakes up like he needs to. God is working!!!
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Feelings. I think that’s probably one of the biggest differences in childhood and adulthood. Feelings. When you’re a child, one trait of the immaturity of such a young age is the fact that so much of what you do is driven by those feelings. How many times do we hear a small child say to his parents, “But I don’t want to…” “But I don’t feel like it…” I remember those mornings when I would wake up and try to put together a good plan to get to stay home from school because I didn’t feel like going. Usually it failed, though. Turns out, my parents could see through my feelings.
This morning I’m thinking about this, because when I woke up at 5am, my feelings were telling me to stay in bed. The alarm was screaming at me (both of them), but my feelings were saying, “NO! Not yet! You’re not done with your dreaming! Just stay here! Call in sick for the bus route…get a sub. You need some more sleep!” Those were my feelings, and had I bowed down to them as I did so often as an immature child, I’d still be in bed right now and a substitute bus driver would be getting ready to pick up my kids. And in a couple hours I’d be very regretful of that decision.
But instead, I put my feelings on the shelf. It just didn’t matter how I “felt”…the fact of the matter is, I have to get up at 5am, I have to go drive the bus, I have to get some things accomplished today at the church, and that’s the way it is. And undoubtedly, many of you reading this understand that reality on a Monday morning, don’t you? So all this talk of feelings drove my mind to another reality…how many of us let feelings drive our relationship with God into the ditch?
There are, no doubt, days when we don’t feel like praying. There are days when we don’t feel like cracking open God’s Word and reading. There are definitely days when we don’t feel like sharing Him with folks that don’t know Him yet. There are days we just don’t feel up to worshiping. And there are Sundays or Wednesdays that we don’t really feel like going to church. But just as is the case with the other areas of life, it’s in those times that we have to put our feelings on the shelf. It’s in those times that we have to ask ourselves, “Am I an immature child in my faith, or am I growing up in Him? Will who I am in Him be determined by what I feel, or by my obedience?”
So there’s the paradigm: feelings or obedience? Which will you choose today? As for me, I’ll sign off here, go jump on the big yellow joy-ride called a school bus, and fulfill my other responsibilities today, after having started my day, and week, off strong with Him in His Word. And though I didn’t feel like it at the moment, I have to admit – in hindsight it sure feels great to have chosen obedience.
PS: Please pray for Jake today. It appears they'll begin to wean him off the meds that have kept him sedated since the accident. Pray he wakes up like he needs to. God is working!!!
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Friday, September 10, 2010
Remember?
Friday, September 10, 2010
Do you remember? It will be 9 years ago tomorrow. September 11th, 2001. That date will never be the same for me. I remember where I was when news came of the first plane flying into Tower 1. And I remember where I was when I watched the second plane fly into Tower 2, live. I remember the emotions. I can still taste the uncertainty and, honestly, fear, in my mouth. It was a scary day. It was a tragic day. Do you remember?
Fast forward 9 years. The date is September 10th, 2010. Debates are waging over the merit of the war we’re fighting. Fighting in Washington has grown to all time levels, and, as with any election year, ads on TV bashing political candidates are on constantly. The biggest concern to most, it seems, is whether there is a “D” or an “R” next to the name on the ballot in a couple months. But do we remember?
There were no democrats or republicans on that day. There wasn’t any fighting over who should get credit for tough decisions. We were simply Americans. All of us. Red and yellow, black and white. Regardless of our background, regardless of our upbringing. We were proudly united under the banner of the red, white and blue. I remember seeing Old Glory flying everywhere and having tears come to my eyes each and every time I saw her. Do you remember?
So tomorrow, fly your flag. Get emotional when you see her waving in the breeze. Thank a soldier for their immense sacrifice. Place your hand over your heart and pledge your allegiance to the flag. And remember. Remember that on that ever so tragic day, God comforted us, strengthened us, and gave us the resolve to stand together against a common enemy. Remember. God bless the USA.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Do you remember? It will be 9 years ago tomorrow. September 11th, 2001. That date will never be the same for me. I remember where I was when news came of the first plane flying into Tower 1. And I remember where I was when I watched the second plane fly into Tower 2, live. I remember the emotions. I can still taste the uncertainty and, honestly, fear, in my mouth. It was a scary day. It was a tragic day. Do you remember?
Fast forward 9 years. The date is September 10th, 2010. Debates are waging over the merit of the war we’re fighting. Fighting in Washington has grown to all time levels, and, as with any election year, ads on TV bashing political candidates are on constantly. The biggest concern to most, it seems, is whether there is a “D” or an “R” next to the name on the ballot in a couple months. But do we remember?
There were no democrats or republicans on that day. There wasn’t any fighting over who should get credit for tough decisions. We were simply Americans. All of us. Red and yellow, black and white. Regardless of our background, regardless of our upbringing. We were proudly united under the banner of the red, white and blue. I remember seeing Old Glory flying everywhere and having tears come to my eyes each and every time I saw her. Do you remember?
So tomorrow, fly your flag. Get emotional when you see her waving in the breeze. Thank a soldier for their immense sacrifice. Place your hand over your heart and pledge your allegiance to the flag. And remember. Remember that on that ever so tragic day, God comforted us, strengthened us, and gave us the resolve to stand together against a common enemy. Remember. God bless the USA.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Just shocking!
Thursday, September 09, 2010
“Well, that’s a shocker!” Have you ever heard some unexpected revelation about someone you know or know of, and responded with that? For some reason when someone falls short of perfection and we hear of it, it knocks us off our feet, especially if we hold them in high regard. We tend to put certain people on a high pedestal, don’t we? In our lives, we seem to think there are some people that are, I don’t know, above failure. But should it really shock us when a sin sick humanity messes up?
Oh, to the contrary. I actually think it should be quite the opposite. When someone does something innately good we should probably be impressed. Truth be told, that’s a lot less common than failure and fallings. When someone helps someone in need, we should be pleasantly surprised. When someone goes and visits someone in the hospital, we should be caught a little off guard. When someone shares a kind word with you on a particularly bad day, it should make us stop and think. Before you start typing up an email of disdain for what I’m saying, just think about it.
When we get shocked by some failure and misstep of someone, what do we do? Although it’s wrong and we should be ashamed, more times than not most folks talk about it. After all, it’s a worthy conversation topic, or so we think. We hold that person up, above a sin nature, or so it seems. So when they fall down, it gets our attention. We don’t expect that. But when it’s all said and done, we are a fallen race. Humanity isn’t naturally good, as so many today want us to believe. We’re naturally bad – naturally sinners – naturally screw ups. So when someone does what comes natural to them, should it shock us?
But when someone does something different, something good, something righteous, well, that’s swimming upstream. That’s going against the flow. That’s doing something supernatural by supernatural, God-given power, and that means they have done something shocking. Why shouldn’t we talk about that? Why shouldn’t that be a worthy topic of conversation? Example: when a pastor falls, everyone, and I mean, everyone, talks about it, don’t they? But if that same pastor went every day of that week to visit someone in the hospital, or nursing home, or that was shut in their home, do we give that the same attention? Pretty sure we all know the answer.
They say good news doesn’t sale. Well, believers, let’s change that rule amongst ourselves beginning today. Let’s focus on the good news. Let’s talk about when people do something spectacular, and lay off of them when they fall. Pray for them, and try to help them back up, but don’t let it shock you. Jesus said in Luke 14:11 that those to “exalt themselves will be humbled,” and those who “humble themselves will be exalted.” Humility brings with it a deeper understanding of the fact that I am, in fact, not better than anyone on earth. That Christ lives in me, and that makes the difference, not my own goodness, because I am very much lacking in that department.
So today – find someone’s good stuff to talk about. You’ll be amazed how much better your day will end up when you focus on the positive in others.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
“Well, that’s a shocker!” Have you ever heard some unexpected revelation about someone you know or know of, and responded with that? For some reason when someone falls short of perfection and we hear of it, it knocks us off our feet, especially if we hold them in high regard. We tend to put certain people on a high pedestal, don’t we? In our lives, we seem to think there are some people that are, I don’t know, above failure. But should it really shock us when a sin sick humanity messes up?
Oh, to the contrary. I actually think it should be quite the opposite. When someone does something innately good we should probably be impressed. Truth be told, that’s a lot less common than failure and fallings. When someone helps someone in need, we should be pleasantly surprised. When someone goes and visits someone in the hospital, we should be caught a little off guard. When someone shares a kind word with you on a particularly bad day, it should make us stop and think. Before you start typing up an email of disdain for what I’m saying, just think about it.
When we get shocked by some failure and misstep of someone, what do we do? Although it’s wrong and we should be ashamed, more times than not most folks talk about it. After all, it’s a worthy conversation topic, or so we think. We hold that person up, above a sin nature, or so it seems. So when they fall down, it gets our attention. We don’t expect that. But when it’s all said and done, we are a fallen race. Humanity isn’t naturally good, as so many today want us to believe. We’re naturally bad – naturally sinners – naturally screw ups. So when someone does what comes natural to them, should it shock us?
But when someone does something different, something good, something righteous, well, that’s swimming upstream. That’s going against the flow. That’s doing something supernatural by supernatural, God-given power, and that means they have done something shocking. Why shouldn’t we talk about that? Why shouldn’t that be a worthy topic of conversation? Example: when a pastor falls, everyone, and I mean, everyone, talks about it, don’t they? But if that same pastor went every day of that week to visit someone in the hospital, or nursing home, or that was shut in their home, do we give that the same attention? Pretty sure we all know the answer.
They say good news doesn’t sale. Well, believers, let’s change that rule amongst ourselves beginning today. Let’s focus on the good news. Let’s talk about when people do something spectacular, and lay off of them when they fall. Pray for them, and try to help them back up, but don’t let it shock you. Jesus said in Luke 14:11 that those to “exalt themselves will be humbled,” and those who “humble themselves will be exalted.” Humility brings with it a deeper understanding of the fact that I am, in fact, not better than anyone on earth. That Christ lives in me, and that makes the difference, not my own goodness, because I am very much lacking in that department.
So today – find someone’s good stuff to talk about. You’ll be amazed how much better your day will end up when you focus on the positive in others.
That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake
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Feel free to write Blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com
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