John Stott writes that although Jesus is our example, that is not enough, we need him as our Savior. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us to follow the example of Christ.
When we read the Gospels, we see how Jesus responded to people. We see how he treated those who treated him poorly. We see how he returned kindness for disdain and rejection. We see how he handled their disbelief. These actions set a standard for us. Yet we find ourselves challenged by the effort of trying to turn the other cheek as Jesus taught and modeled.
That's why we need a Savior. We are not capable of following Jesus' example, or even Paul's, without the help of God. We stand powerless to obey. But thank the Lord, through the blood of Christ we are forgiven, and the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers us to make right choices. By that power we can follow the example of Jesus.
The bar seems high, and so it is, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can clear it!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Long Obedience in the Same Direction
I named my blog A Long Obedience in the Same Direction because I pastor the church I planted 26 years ago.
Praise God for the Free Methodist Church, which considers its pastors tenured, and doesn't arbitrarily move them around. If the church and pastor are happy, they are allowed to continue serving God together.
Research has shown that longer pastorates produce better results. And certainly you gain some history with people, which can turn into opportunities.
One of those happened for me today. It's not too often you can remember how long you've known someone or ministered to them, unless a significant event triggers that beginning.
We have a wonderful prayer warrior who has been part of our church from the beginning. Twenty-four years ago I visited her son in jail, I know this because I was pregnant with my second daughter, and she just turned 24.
I reminded him of that today when I visited the mom to take her communion (she doesn't get out much now) and he joined our conversation.
When it came time to serve communion, I explained to the son that my mentor (Rev. Walter Orr) who had given me the communion set I was using had taught me that anyone could come to the Lord's Table if they came with a repentant heart. He said he wanted to. I told him I would help him pray. I offered a simple line like "Lord forgive my sins."
He hesitated, and I wondered if he'd feel comfortable praying aloud, and then the next thing I knew, he asked for forgiveness, and kept going. He apologized for his choices, times he had let God down, told God how he always knew God was with him, and also asked Jesus to be in his heart. All without any further prompting from me.
Twenty-four years is a long time to pray for someone to come to Christ. But it's nothing in light of eternity. I would say I had the privilege of leading someone to Christ today. But I didn't even lead, the Holy Spirit did that.
Not a blessing I would have had, if not for the privilege of pastoring in the same place for over two and a half decades. Thank you Jesus, and thank you to a denomination that allows such. And thank you to Rev. Orr, for teaching me that the Lord's Table can be a place for conversion. I'm sure Rev. Orr is partying with the angels right now.
Praise God for the Free Methodist Church, which considers its pastors tenured, and doesn't arbitrarily move them around. If the church and pastor are happy, they are allowed to continue serving God together.
Research has shown that longer pastorates produce better results. And certainly you gain some history with people, which can turn into opportunities.
One of those happened for me today. It's not too often you can remember how long you've known someone or ministered to them, unless a significant event triggers that beginning.
We have a wonderful prayer warrior who has been part of our church from the beginning. Twenty-four years ago I visited her son in jail, I know this because I was pregnant with my second daughter, and she just turned 24.
I reminded him of that today when I visited the mom to take her communion (she doesn't get out much now) and he joined our conversation.
When it came time to serve communion, I explained to the son that my mentor (Rev. Walter Orr) who had given me the communion set I was using had taught me that anyone could come to the Lord's Table if they came with a repentant heart. He said he wanted to. I told him I would help him pray. I offered a simple line like "Lord forgive my sins."
He hesitated, and I wondered if he'd feel comfortable praying aloud, and then the next thing I knew, he asked for forgiveness, and kept going. He apologized for his choices, times he had let God down, told God how he always knew God was with him, and also asked Jesus to be in his heart. All without any further prompting from me.
Twenty-four years is a long time to pray for someone to come to Christ. But it's nothing in light of eternity. I would say I had the privilege of leading someone to Christ today. But I didn't even lead, the Holy Spirit did that.
Not a blessing I would have had, if not for the privilege of pastoring in the same place for over two and a half decades. Thank you Jesus, and thank you to a denomination that allows such. And thank you to Rev. Orr, for teaching me that the Lord's Table can be a place for conversion. I'm sure Rev. Orr is partying with the angels right now.
Friday, July 6, 2012
A Drawer for Insurance
In Sharon Creech's children's book The Unfinished Angel Mr. Pomodoro was once a poor child whose mother brought home a box of chocolate covered cookies for her children. He knew that when shared he would only get one cookie, so he snuck the box to the basement and ate them all, enjoying their chocolately goodness.
As an adult, Mr. Pomodoro has a drawer full of chocolates of every kind, so that whenever he wants, he can open the drawer and select a chocolate. And now he doesn't really need to, but it's like insurance to him.
The angel of the story draws a parallel to a drawer in our head, where all of us stuff something we need to hold onto for insurance, something we felt deprived of, friendly words or looks or praise.
Saving up kindness and appreciation can surely bring comfort on those days when we feel neglected or misused. Jesus said a cup of cold water given in His name will not lose it's reward. I have mostly thought of that verse as meaning we are stockpiling rewards in heaven. But perhaps just as importantly, we are depositing into other people's drawers, helping them get through the difficult moments of their lives.
My aunt had a safety deposit box at her bank, something most people don't use anymore. A place to keep the most valuable objects one wouldn't want to leave around the house. These drawers within others can hold even more important treasure, lasting into eternity, formed of kindness and helpful actions, loving words, encouraging looks, applause for accomplishments.
Make a deposit in someone you love today. Or even better, in someone you don't particularly enjoy.
As an adult, Mr. Pomodoro has a drawer full of chocolates of every kind, so that whenever he wants, he can open the drawer and select a chocolate. And now he doesn't really need to, but it's like insurance to him.
The angel of the story draws a parallel to a drawer in our head, where all of us stuff something we need to hold onto for insurance, something we felt deprived of, friendly words or looks or praise.
Saving up kindness and appreciation can surely bring comfort on those days when we feel neglected or misused. Jesus said a cup of cold water given in His name will not lose it's reward. I have mostly thought of that verse as meaning we are stockpiling rewards in heaven. But perhaps just as importantly, we are depositing into other people's drawers, helping them get through the difficult moments of their lives.
My aunt had a safety deposit box at her bank, something most people don't use anymore. A place to keep the most valuable objects one wouldn't want to leave around the house. These drawers within others can hold even more important treasure, lasting into eternity, formed of kindness and helpful actions, loving words, encouraging looks, applause for accomplishments.
Make a deposit in someone you love today. Or even better, in someone you don't particularly enjoy.
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