Shared Heritage

"I, John, your brother

and the one who shares with you

in the persecution,

kingdom,

and endurance that are in Jesus,

was on the island called Patmos

because of the word of God

and the testimony about Jesus."

Revelation 1:9

Sometimes it's good to know I'm not alone.  When I struggle with pain, I can think of my sister who patiently suffers through chronic pain and experience some comfort.  If I get drawn into this world, my mind can dwell on those who have gone on to glory and are enjoying their reward.  For the times that I am mistreated, I think of those who are under the sword for the cause of Christ yet stand firm.  We are not in this alone.

As believers, we are part of a greater family.  We are kin through faith in Christ and have much in common.  Not only do we share in our hope, but there are certain experiences and qualities which are familiar to all followers of Christ.  This is our inheritance.

Suffering

The pain was too great for one to bear alone.  In agony, she cried out, taking the risk of rejection because the need was so serious.  What hope did she have?  Mercifully, a sister heeded the call and came alongside, encouraging, exhorting and reminding her of the truth.  The burden lightened and her faith returned as she could see beyond herself.

We've all been at the end of our rope at one time or another.  When the time of suffering, difficulty or trial comes, God did not create us to carry the load alone.  Even though our faith in His ability to strengthen and sustain is vital, He designed us to live in tandem with others.  It is God's desire that we come alongside of each other during periods of hardship as well as during joyous times.  (Romans 12:15)

The apostle Paul endured many difficult times during his years of ministry.  Though he gave all the credit to the Lord and knew it was the strength of Christ that kept him going, he encouraged members of the family of God to share in his troubles.  (Philippians 4:14)  Likewise, I should never expect to go it alone.

All members of God's family through faith in Christ share in the suffering of one another.

Kingdom

The thought of it swept him away.  He labored day and night to reach his goal, desiring nothing more than to attain the position of power and glory he had so long craved.  He went to church each Sunday, praising God with his lips but his heart was not in it.  (Isaiah 19:13)  The Word of God fell on deaf ears and the thought of leaving this world grieved him.  This man valued the world more than he did God's kingdom.  (Matthew 6:21,33)

There is something greater than can be found in this world for every believer.  If I settle for following my fleshly desires, sinking back into my old pattern of living, the world will seem to hold infinite value.  If, however, I let go of my old ways and desires, plunging myself into the cleansing living waters that are offered by faith in Christ, I will enter into a new way where I desire nothing more than to please God.  (Philippians 2:12-13)

Jim Elliot, missionary killed by native people in Ecuador for the cause of Christ, wrote in his journal some 7 years before his death that, "One of the great blessings of heaven is the appreciation of heaven on earth."  He then went on to write the well known phrase, "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."   

Jim Elliot understood that the value of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is so much greater than anything found here on earth; even his very life.  In the same way, all believers can share this same upside-down-from-the-world way of looking at things.  To those outside the kingdom, an unexpected, unborn child is disposable, to a kingdom-dweller it is an intentional, chosen life.  

To those in the world, the janitor who faithfully cleans the floors is to be looked down upon, but to those who uphold kingdom values he is a prince.  

For worldly types, a hospital stay is a great inconvenience and period of fear, but to anyone who is in the kingdom it is an appointed time of spiritual growth and faith building.

All members of God's family through faith in Christ share a common, kingdom-perspective.

Patient Endurance

Runners share a kind of strange obsession.  There is an addiction that occurs for those who run on a regular basis and it is nearly impossible to deny.  That feeling of euphoria that comes to those who hit the pavement is what keeps them going, mile after mile.  Studies show the release of endorphin that gives runners that "high," can be just as addictive as drugs.

While this phenomena may explain why exercise fanatics keep such a regular, consistent regimen, it will not help when it comes to enduring the difficulties of life.  Time keeps ticking on and the trials and tragedies keep coming my way.  There is no release of pain-relieving endorphins like what occurs in long-distance running, so how can I keep trudging along?

As a follower of Christ, I share in His sufferings, of that I am familiar.  The good news is that I also will share in His glory!  ( 1 Peter 4:13, Romans 8:17)  Knowing I have such a privilege to look forward to can give me the strength and will to carry on.

When I feel like giving up, then, I can remember my shared inheritance with Christ.  Nothing here can compare to the goodness I will experience in eternity.  Therefore, I can take heart when facing the darkness and agony of this world:  my anguish is not in vain!

All members of God's family through faith in Jesus Christ share the hope of glory to come.

Even though I may sometimes feel alone, as a member of the family of God I am not by myself.  I can take heart with the understanding of the truth that I share suffering, the value of this kingdom and the ability to patiently endure with all other followers of Christ.  This is our common heritage!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember my place in God's kingdom.

When do I behave like a lone ranger?

How am I at risk of giving up hope?       

Give Him all the Glory

"On the appointed day Herod,

wearing his royal robes,

sat on his throne

and delivered a public address to the people.

They shouted,

'this is the voice of a god, not of a man.'

Immediately,

because Herod did not give praise to God,

an angel of the Lord struck him down,

and he was eaten by worms and died."

Acts 12:21-23

When the crowd saw what Paul had done,

they shouted in the Lycaonian language,

'The gods have come down to us in human form!'

. . .But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this,

they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd,

shouting: 'Men, why are you doing this?

We too are only men, human like you.

We are bringing you good news,

telling you to turn from these worthless things

 to the living God, 

who made heaven

 and earth

 and sea

 and everything in them.'

. . .Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium

and won the crowd over.

They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city,

thinking he was dead."

Acts 14:11,14-15, 19

I remember watching Return of the Jedi and laughing as the Ewoks, the cute, fluffy creatures of the moon of Endor venerated the proper yet cowardly C-3P0 as a god.  The ever-sarcastic Han Solo, who at the time was held captive by the natives, said, "Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?"  Surprisingly, the droid declined.  When Solo asked why, C-3P0 responded that, "it's against my programming to impersonate a deity."

Even a droid understands the implications of accepting the worship and adoration fit only for the One True God.  Unfortunately, King Herod did not mind accepting such admiration from men.  The consequences of his decision to remain quiet and allow men to call him a god were swift and horrible, resulting in his death.  

On the other side of the coin lies the example of Paul and Barnabas.  As soon as they heard men were attempting to label them as gods, they immediately showed their fierce revulsion of of the thought.  The two men did everything they could to convince the crowd that God alone deserved praise, but their enemies convinced the mob otherwise.  Paul was stoned and left for dead.

In both cases, the outcome was death.  For Herod, God's judgment was final and true.  For Paul, man's judgment was painful but not absolute.  It only appeared Paul was dead.

Honoring God in the way I live my life does not mean that things will always turn out comfortable and to my liking.  Sometimes, God allows evil to prevail for a time so that God can get all the glory in the end.  Through this and other situations of persecution, Paul learned that God grace is enough and that it is in times when I am incapable of saving myself that God's power is made known.  ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Allowing praise to go to God alone may not result in an easy life, but there are benefits to be reaped in giving Him all the glory.

Peace

Everyone has their own idea of how to achieve peace.  Jimi Hendrix said, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."  Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that, "Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding."  Nelson Mandela's approach was through friendship. He said, "If you want to have peace with your enemy, you must work with your enemy.  Then he becomes your partner."

While these ideas may seem grand in theory, and may even have enjoyed some success in practice, there is only one way to achieve inner peace.  Jesus gives me peace and provides a way for me to benefit from a relationship with the God whom I have offended with my sin.  When He took my punishment for my sin, He made a way for me to enter into a close, intimate relationship with the God of the universe.  My sin is not longer held against me, through faith in Jesus Christ.

In this way, I am at peace with God.  Harmony with God results in a heart at peace, despite what goes on around me or how I'm treated.  

Following Jesus, however, does not mean I'll have peace with the world.  Quite the opposite is actually to be expected. (John 15:19,Matthew 10:22)  Staying true to God and not accepting credit for what He has done may not be popular with those around me, but it will keep me at peace with God.

There are times when God has clearly worked out a situation in my life.  Those I work with may say, "Wow!  That was pretty smart of you!"  I can either accept the praise, or give God to glory.  When people praise my parenting skills, I can thank them and move on, or I can take the time to give God the credit for guiding me and teaching me.  During times of difficulty, others may notice my peaceful countenance.  It would be easy for me to accept their praise of my strength, but it would be more admirable for me to tell how God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)

There are many times that people try to give me the credit, but refusing to accept praise that God deserves will result in peace with Him.

Fruit

Growing fruit in a home garden is not easy.  There are many pests, diseases, and conditions to deal with, making the job quite complicated.  

In an even more powerful way, producing fruit of God's Spirit and results that will be valuable in His kingdom is completely impossible apart from Jesus.  (John 15:5)  I can try hard to win people for Christ, but if He is not leading me, equipping me and drawing them, it will not come to pass.  I can put all my effort into trying to be more patient and loving, but I will find I don't have it in me.  I can make it my life's passion to preach the truth but if it's not flowing from the One who claims to be the Truth, it will have no lasting impact.

When I acknowledge God in all my ways, though, I will begin to see things happen that I can't explain.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Lives will be changed, hearts will be softened, questions will be answered.  

Letting God rule in my life, however, means more than just giving Him all the honor and praise.  It also means letting Him take the lead, submitting to Him and His will.  In this way, everything I do will be attributed to Him.  (Matthew 5:16)  Missionary leader and writer Andrew Murray pointed out an important distinction to be made.  He said, "Do not confound work and fruit.  There may be a good deal of work for Christ that is not the fruit of the heavenly Vine."

How can I know?  By staying connected to Jesus in relationship with Him.  I do this by keeping Him at the forefront of my thoughts, obeying His lead, and responding to His prompts.  When I read His Word and His Spirit moves my heart, reacting with action to change my ways or thought processes in order to line up with what He taught me will lead to an even closer bond with Him.  As I grow closer, His love will naturally flow through me.  The minute I try to take back control or to pay attention to my flesh instead of Him, however, I'll drift further away from my Lord.

I am constantly tempted to control my own life , but when I submit to God's sovereign will, I will bear much fruit.

Kingdom

When I think of a kingdom, I picture a mighty yet benevolent king dwelling in a splendid palace, ruling over his doting subjects.  The kingdom I envision in this scenario is definitely a place.

The Pharisees must have thought similarly as they looked forward to the day when the Messiah would deliver them from the oppressive rule of the Romans.  Jesus, however, set them straight. He said, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20b-21)

Jesus has set up His kingdom in the hearts of His people.  Wherever I go, I take His kingdom with me.  When times get hard, like they were for the Jewish people during Jesus' time, I can take heart because my Lord and Savior has overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

The only way Christ will set up His kingdom in my heart is if I give up my right to establish my own kingdom, ruled by my own selfish desires.  I want to defend my reputation or the privileges I think I deserve.  My kingdom is governed by my craving for my own comfort or sense of security.  There are times when the only thing I'm concerned about is in making sure I get my fair share.  My kingdom conflicts with God's.  (Galatians 5:17)

When my highest desire, however, is to please God and walk with Him, He will rule in my heart. It is then that I'll experience His kingdom within.

Christ will set up His kingdom within my heart as soon as I get rid of the rights I claim to mine.

As I go through my life, I will experience many who try to give me credit, temptations to garner control for myself, or the desire to establish my own kingdom.  If I let God get all the glory, however, I'll experience peace with Him, fruit that lasts and the joy of experiencing His kingdom.  These are all benefits that come with making an effort to give Him all the glory.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will desire to give God all the glory.

When do I tend to steal the glory without realizing it?

How am I setting up my own kingdom where I rule supreme?

Kingdom Ladder

"Jesus  called them together and said,

'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and their high officials exercise authority over them.

Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you

must be your servant,

and whoever wants to be first

must be your slave--'"

Matthew 20:26-27

In the world, greatness is measured by output, results, looks and likability.  But in God's Kingdom, I climb the ladder of success by lowering myself to the status of a servant.

The less I think of my own status, welfare, rights, needs and reputation and the more I focus on loving God and others, the greater I become in His Kingdom.

The thing is, by the time I become great as far as the kingdom is concerned, I won't care because I'll only be focused on glorifying God.

How concerned am I with defending my rights instead of letting the love of Jesus serve as a beacon of hope to others as I go through my day?

When do I let my desire to be served win out over humility?

Kingdom Confidence

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked,

'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'

He called a little child and had him stand among them.

And he said:

'I tell you the truth, unless you change

and become like little children,

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself

like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

Matthew 18:1-4

Children are open to anything, naturally trusting and completely dependent upon their caretaker.  The same traits that make them vulnerable also make them useful in God's kingdom.

How am I open to the Truth even when it hurts, trusting of God in all circumstances even when I can't see how things will turn out, and dependent upon Him to fulfill every need even when it's way beyond my means?

Humbling myself like a child means I am living with kingdom confidence. 

Weary of Worry

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.” 

Matthew 12:28

To-Do List

Broken modem

Family issues

Car trouble

Upcoming events

Christmas

Daily schedule

Expectations

Cycle of Worry  What keeps me from coming to Jesus?  My mind is easily distracted from Jesus, focusing instead on all the things I must do or on how I’m going to work out an unexpected problem, like a broken modem.  Instead of letting Jesus carry it for me, I work it over in my mind, exploring every possible angle until I come up with a solution.  Once a solution has been found, I analyze that solution over and over until I am sick to death of thinking about it and have added weariness on top of my burden.  Who will save me from this exhausting cycle?

Peace   Paul taught the believers at Philippi to “. . .not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)  How can I protect my mind from this endless cycle of thinking, rehashing and analysis?  By handing the thing over to God and trusting Him for the outcome.  It makes me think of a conversation that took place between Holocaust concentration camp survivor Corrie Ten Boom and her father before they were taken away by the Nazis.  She expressed her worry that she would not be able to handle whatever the future brought.  Her father asked her, “When do I give you your train ticket when we go on a trip?” 

She replied, “Right before I get on the train.” 

“And this is how it is with your Heavenly Father.  He gives you what you need at the time that you need it.” 

When I leave my problems in His hands, He will enable me to handle the situation and know the solution when the time for action comes.

Seek His Kingdom  When Jesus was teaching His disciples not to worry, he pointed to the rest of creation which trusts Him to provide for all of their needs.  Have you ever seen a worried bird?  Or flower?  But there are plenty of worried people.   The amazing human mind with it's astounding capacity for learning can also be used to worry: to think about something over and over again.   Jesus’ words as recorded in Luke 12:29-31 instruct us to act differently than those who do not have God to rely on.  “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”  It’s as if God is saying, “I got this!  You just do what I’ve instructed you to do, and I’ll take care of all that other stuff.”

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will leave my problems in God’s hands and trust Him for the solution.

How do I show my lack of trust in God by the way I handle situations?

When do I look like an unbeliever, running after the stuff I need?

My Life is Not My Own

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price. . ." 

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Frustrations

"Rrrrriiiinnnggg!"

"Somebody grab the phone, would ya'?"

"Ding, Dong!"

"Hold on, I'll be there in a minute!"

"Ruff, Ruff," 
"Mom, can you let the dog out?  I'm in the middle of something."
"Aaahhh!  Can't everyone leave me alone for just a moment?!?!  I can't get anything done. . . my life is just not my own!"

The List. This is a common scene in my house.  Interruption after interruption, and there sits my list of things to do, yet untouched.  Then the quiet voice speaks. . . This is My appointment for you this day.

The Important. When Jesus said, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:19)  He was speaking to our attitudes toward our life.  He was trying to get us see that our focus should not be on the things around us, but on Him and His Kingdom.  When I am focused on my list and getting a lot accomplished, I am being worldly-focused.  But when I turn my attention toward Jesus, He shows me all that He has for me!  My heavenly Father knows what needs to be done, and in His grace, He'll give me time to accomplish those things.  But accomplishing those things is not to be my focus.  He is to be my focus.

Focus. As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can be focused on His Kingdom, knowing that my Heavenly Father will provide what I need for this day. 

Where can I better let Jesus have his way in my life?

What part of my life am I unwilling to surrender to Him today?