I don't get it!

Ephesians 5:17  "So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

I was teaching Algebra to 8th graders, explaining how to factor quadratic equations.  Most of the students caught on pretty quickly, but two or three just couldn't grasp the concept.   I used every example and approach I could think of, but the more I tried, the more confused they became.  It was frustrating for both of us and we finally decided to give it a rest and get a fresh start the next day.

As I read the Gospels, Jesus and the disciples walked through the same scenario, not just once, but over and over.  The subject wasn't mathematics.  It was life.  Often the writer reported, "...but the disciples didn't understand", but occasionally we see the phrase, "Then they understood..."  I think the teacher in Jesus was jumping up and down with joy when that happened!

Far too often I find myself in the shoes of the disciples.  There are puzzle pieces scattered in my mind and no matter how hard I try, I can't get them to fit together.  I know I'm not alone in this dilemma.   Trying to discern God's will is among the top five concerns I encounter in pastoral counseling

So, what's the key?  It must be possible to understand God's will or the Holy Spirit wouldn't have commanded it.   Unlike Algebra, there is no simple formula to memorize, no logical sequence of steps to follow.  There are, however, guidelines, principles that will assist in the process.

When trying to discern God's will in a particular situation, I ask myself the following questions:
1. What does the Bible say?  Is there a definite statement, a direct command, a Biblical principle that applies to my decision? (Psalm 119:105; Joshua 1:8)
2. Have I asked God for wisdom? (James 1:5-7)
3. Have I sought Godly counsel? (Proverbs 1:5)
4. Am I really listening, or am I doing all the talking? (Proverbs 23:19)
5. Do I have peace in my heart? (Colossians 3:15)

The bottom line for me is to trust that God has the answer and that He will give me the direction I need when I need it.  He doesn't promise to reveal every detail ahead of time, but He will point me in the right direction and guide my steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Dear Lord, I love what You say  in Luke 24:45 ..."Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..."  Holy Spirit, there are so many unanswered questions floating around in my head, so many puzzle pieces anxiously waiting to be assembled.   Please open my mind, give me clear direction and strengthen my resolve to follow where You lead.  I trust You even when I don't "get it."  Amen.

Watch your step!

Ephesians 5:15  "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

I love to hike and, although I haven't done it for a while, I really enjoy back-packing.  I remember my favorite trip as though it were yesterday.   It was the last week of June several years back.  A few close friends and I hiked out of Lake Mary (Mammoth Lakes), made our way past several high sierra lakes, huffed and puffed our way over Duck Pass, and spent a week "roughing it" at Purple Lake.  Having that pristine little lake all to ourselves, we fished and explored all day long, and enjoyed fresh trout cooked over an open fire each evening.

The week of camping was relaxing, but the hike to the lake was an adventure!  Getting across Duck Pass (10,797 ft. elevation) in the spring presented  a bit of a challenge.  Although the weather was warming up, at one point the trail traversed a glacier-like section of frozen snow and we had to plan each step carefully and execute it with precision.  A misstep would not have had pleasant results!

For me, life often resembles that "walk" across Duck Pass.  It's not a casual stroll, and if I don't watch my step, I can go from "up" to "down" in an instant.  Paul tells us to walk wisely, "circumspectly" (KJV), looking carefully before stepping out.  Why?  Because we live in a dark, hostile culture that is watching us and waiting for us to misstep.  It's not easy, but as we daily demonstrate a genuine walk of faith, the light of God's Truth will shine through us, exposing and dispelling the darkness.

Dear Lord, please walk with me today.  Help me not to be careless with my words or actions.  I want to make the most of this day.  I want to make a difference.  Thank You for illuminating the path.  Amen.

Walk this way...

Ephesians 5:2  "...and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."

I chuckle whenever I hear the phrase, "Walk this way."  It takes me back to family outings with my wife's parents.  We would be  heading toward our destination and my father-in-law would utter that phrase. Thinking he wanted us to follow him, I would look up to see him mimicking Charlie Chaplin's penguin-like gait.  What followed was a comical parade of three laughing adults and two young children following suit.

Twice in Ephesians 5 Paul describes how we should walk.  The tense of the verb in both cases is important; each time it is "present active", which indicates continued action, ie. a way of life.  The person we are to continually follow is none other than Jesus.  The "gait" we are to mimic is His selfless love.  Unlike our family parade, following our Savior's example is no laughing matter.  It's hard work.

In most cases He doesn't ask us to give up our physical lives, although that possible scenario lurks in the back of my mind.  Most times it entails "dying to self", like Paul described in Galatians 2:20... "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Living out Christ's selfless love in my day-to-day encounters doesn't come naturally.  As a matter of fact, it is not possible without the always accessible Holy Spirit who lives inside me. It is He who arranges the "Divine appointments" (otherwise known as interruptions) and prompts my prayers for those I meet.  It is He who enables me to respond in love rather than react in anger or frustration.  It  is He who keeps my self-centeredness and pride in check.  Usually.

Dear Lord, thank You, not only for giving me an Example to follow, but also the Power to follow through. Please help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit's leading and responsive to His "nudge".  I want to walk like You today.  Amen.

Just like my old man...

Ephesians 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children..."

I used to enjoy watching the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour back in the 1960's.   I loved their satirical sense of humor, and some of their signature lines, like Tommy's "Dad liked you best!" still stick in my mind. So do several of their songs.  One of my favorites was, "Just Like My Old Man", the last stanza of which says, "I'm going to be a  cotton pickin', finger lickin', chicken plucker just like my old man."

I also remember an anti-smoking TV commercial from the same era where a young boy is outdoors walking with his dad.  His dad picks up a rock and throws it.  His son follows suit.  The father begins to whistle a tune and his boy mimics him.  Finally the dad fishes a cigarette out of a pack and lights up.  The commercial ends with the boy looking to his father and then to a cigarette pack he finds on the road.

Both memories tell a similar story.  It's natural for a little boy to grow up imitating his dad, wanting to be just like him   I am fortunate to have had a father who loved the Lord, and it makes me feel good when people tell  me that I remind them of him.  He was a good role model.

What made my dad a good example was that he tried his best to imitate his Heavenly Father.  No, he wasn't perfect.  None of us is.  But he showed me day in and day out what it means to be a child of God, and he directed me to follow Him.  Much of who I am today comes from trying to walk in my dad's footsteps.

Now that I am older, I find myself looking back and hoping that my footsteps have been worth following.  I also keep my eyes focused forward so I don't lose track of the footprints of Him Whom  I try to imitate.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me an earthly dad who was worthy of imitation and who pointed me towards You.  Thank You for adopting me and patiently teaching me what it is to be a godly man.  I still feel like a little boy, watching You and wanting to grow up to be just like "My Old Man" (no disrespect intended).  I would love for people to see a FAMILY resemblance.  Amen.

Under construction...

Ephesians 4:32 "Become kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

I remember sitting in the Long Beach Arena in the mid-80's, listening to a middle-aged preacher named Bill Gothard.  His seminar, "Institute of Basic Youth Conflicts",  was sweeping the evangelical world, filling churches and auditoriums across America.

Although some of the specific applications of his teaching were seen as"ultra-conservative", his basic "seven life principles" are solidly grounded in Scripture and should be foundational for each of us.    Just as influential as those life principles was the little badge I found tucked inside the bag of materials we received.  Printed on it were the letters P.B.P.G.I.N.F.W.M.Y. Those letters still impact my self-image and my view of other Christians to this day!  They stand for the phrase, "Please Be Patient, God Is Not Finished With Me Yet".  In other words, each of us is still "under construction".

Paul says it this way:  "Become kind to one another..."  I think the word "Becomer" is a good synonym for a Christian.  This is a word of new beginnings; it speaks of something or someone coming into existence. Before I became a Christian, it was not my nature to be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving.  Those are fruits produced in us by the Holy Spirit when we become Believers.

Just as the fragrant blossoms on my fruit trees go through a process in their journey to become oranges and lemons, so God is "ripening" me in my journey to become more like Jesus.  He keeps reminding me that  I must be patient, both with myself and with others, because none of us is a finished product!

Dear Lord,  thank You for being so patient with me!  You know my tendency to be impatient with myself and with others.  Please help me to remember that each of us is a work in progress.  You can see the mature person I will one day become.   Please let me catch a glimpse of him today.  Amen.

No rotten fruit!

Ephesians 4:29  "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."

I love my orange tree!   We planted it in the back yard shortly after moving into our house 33 years ago. Each winter since, we have harvested scores of juicy navel oranges.  Even now, as I look out my study window, I see a couple dozen near the top of the tree, just waiting to be picked.

For me, it's hard to beat the cool, sweet taste of a  freshly picked orange.  Occasionally I will select one that has been on the tree a little too long.  When I peel off the rind, instead of finding fresh, sweet fruit, I am greeted with a rotten, sour mess!  What a disappointment!

Sometimes it's like that with me.  God "planted" the Holy Spirit in me nearly 60 years ago and He has been busy producing fruit in my life ever since.  Sometimes the fruit is seen in what I do, but more often it is first tasted in the words I speak.  Just as a tree loaded with navel oranges awakens the anticipation of a delicious treat, so when a fellow-Christian interacts with me, he expects tasteful, appropriate, edifying conversation.

It is so easy to slip into "rotten fruit" conversation.  My speech reveals where I am spending my time, what has captured my attention, and with whom I am most associating.  If I am reading, watching, thinking about things that dishonor God, my words will follow suit.

Dear Lord, please help me to listen more than I speak today... to listen carefully to others, but more importantly, to listen to You before I open my mouth.  Please filter my speech so that what I say will be honest, uplifting, and will reflect Whose child I am.  No rotten fruit today!  Amen.

Stay out of the ditch!

Ephesians 4:22-24  "...that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

There's a drainage ditch across the street from the house I grew up in.  It is part of the flood control system and, unlike the concrete lined channels of today, it was muddy.  I swear that ditch was magnetic!  No matter how often my mom told me to stay out of the ditch, I was drawn to it like a tractor beam in Star Wars.

Mom always knew when I had been in the ditch.   My shoes were caked with mud, my clothes were filthy and stinky, my hands and face were smeared with sweat-soaked dirt. Once home, I knew the drill.  I had to shed those clothes in the garage and head for the bathtub.  It felt so good to be clean again (for awhile) and to put on fresh-smelling jeans and shirt!

The gist of Paul's words to the Ephesians is, "Stay out of the ditch!"  Don't keep going back to your old habits.  Take off the clothes stained with sin, let the Holy Spirit wash you, and get dressed in the garb of righteousness.

Sounds easy.  But how do I resist the "tractor beam" of sin?  The key is in the little phrase, "be renewed in the spirit of your mind".   Paul says it this way in Romans 12:2, "...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."  In order to "keep my clothes clean", I need to spend time with God early each morning, allowing Him to speak to my soul through His Word, listening as the Holy Spirit prepares me for the day ahead.

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that Your Word is stronger than the tractor beam of this world.  Thank You for living in me through Your Spirit, please renew my mind this morning so I can represent You well today. Amen.

Whose job is it?

Ephesians 4:11 - 13. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

I remember the day in 1968.    I was 23 years old; my wife and I had just graduated from Bible college.  She and I (along with our 2 month old son) were just beginning our ministry at a small church in Carson, California.  As I sat in my tiny office that first Monday morning, I prayed, "Okay, Lord.  Here I am.  I'm a senior pastor.  What do I do now?  Help!!!"

Actually, I was aware of the basic tasks.  I had an informal, unwritten job description.  I knew that each week I had to prepare two sermons for Sunday and a Bible study for Wednesday night.  I was to visit the sick, perform weddings and funerals,  counsel those with problems, and lead people to Christ.   I knew I was expected to somehow make this church grow.

What I didn't have was a strategy.  I didn't know God's "game plan".   I was trapped in the traditional thinking that it was up to the pastor to do the "work of the ministry."  Trying to do it all nearly burned me out. Fortunately, God gradually began teaching me the principle Paul laid out in Ephesians 4:  It wasn't my job to do the work; it was my job to equip others to do the work!

The Holy Spirit has gifted each of us for a unique role in the body of Christ and He has given us gifted leaders to help us discover, develop and use those gifts.  As I embraced that process, I saw people begin to grow individually and the church begin to function as she ought.  There was a joy and excitement that was contagious.

Lord, thank You for Your wonderful plan for Your church.  I am blessed to be involved in a church that is committed to function as You desire.  Please bless our pastors today.   Give them fresh vision and energy.  Help us to encourage them and to enthusiastically join them in doing the work of the ministry.  Amen.

Following the recipe...

Ephesians 4:7  "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift."

I like to dabble in cooking, though I'll never be described as a good cook.  One thing I have learned is that I need to carefully follow the recipe, using measuring cups and measuring spoons to add the precise amount of the ingredients called for.  I haven't yet ascended to the point of adding "a pinch of this or that".

Every ingredient has a purpose.  Each contributes to the taste, texture, composition of the finished product.  If one ingredient is omitted or its measure is insufficient, the end result won't be what was intended.

Paul says that Christ has given each of us a "grace gift"; each of us is an "ingredient" in His recipe for the church.  Paul was graced with the gift of apostleship, specifically as "an apostle to the Gentiles."  He often uses the phrase, "according to the grace given to me..."  in his letters.

Not only has Christ given every Christian a specific function, He has also determined the measure of our gifts.  If the finished product it to turn out as He expects, it is essential that we contribute the full amount called for.  We can't skimp or the end result won't taste like it is supposed to.

I have come to understand what my function is in the recipe and, although He hasn't told me what the precise measure of my gift is, I know I don't always contribute the full amount.

Dear Lord, thank You for including me in Your recipe.  Sometimes I don't feel like I'm a necessary ingredient and sometimes I don't feel like pouring in my whole measure.  I'm so grateful that you are a wise and gracious and patient Cook!  Please help me to follow Your recipe carefully today.  Amen.