Don’t Let Team Whiner Win!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 1 of “Fan or Follower – Shine Brightly” (LISTEN HERE).
Every athletic competition has a match up between at least two competing individuals or team. The outcome of the contest can be determined by a number of factors.
Sometimes a matchup is won or loss based on a measure of skill. At times one team just has better talent than the other and that talent overwhelms the opponent. Sometimes matches are lost because the mental game is lost. One team sees an opponent and perceives they are bigger, stronger or more talented and already concedes the game before it even starts. Sometimes memories of past matchups plague the confidence of team and even though the players and circumstances have changed, the outcome is already determined in one’s mind.
When we are invited by our Savior out on to the field of following him, skill and talent are probably not the problem. Rather, I know what makes following Jesus challenging is the mindset to engage in following him. How I perceive the one I follow and the obstacles I encounter has great influence on the way I follow Jesus.
As we address different “matchups” in our following of Jesus, sometimes there will be a skill that needs to be honed, however more often it is a mindset and perspective that the Spirit of God wants to form in us to grow our confidence and conviction as we follow Jesus.
The matchup this week is if we are going to play for “Team Whiner” or “Team Shiner.”
Team Shiner of course. But be careful, our minds and perspective can take us to pull for Team Whiner. What do I mean? Here’s Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:13-16. (For fun, read the words like a coach would be saying them to his team just before they run out onto the field…)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Salt is a seasoning, a preservative and a purifier. As followers of Jesus, we have opportunity to be all three. However, Team Whiner scores points in our heart when we are convinced that salt will not be effective in the world around us.
I recently read a report that today about 65% of America still professes to be Christian. By 2050, the same report projected only about 35-40% of America will profess to be Christian. For the first time ever, in not very many years, Christianity will be a minority faith in America. A stat like this works in our mind to believe that while we are called to be salt there is no way we are going to be an influence. Whining tells us that “it doesn’t matter.” “People don’t want Christ” “It just is going to keep going.” Whining tells us to not even try because the tide is shifting and the momentum of the “game” is shifting to the anti-Christian movement and influence.
Team Whiner scores points in our heart when we feel like it is not safe or we are embarrassed to let our light shine for Jesus. We worry about how our friends, family, classmates and coworkers will respond if they see too much of our “Jesus light” shine out. So, we feel more safe to keep our faith hidden and put aside so we don’t attract too much attention. As we are whining and complaining, Satan is winning as the reality of Christ continues to wane around us. The influences of the world around us begin to lessen our impact as Christians. As a result, we “lose our saltiness” and are willing to be trampled by men.
Whining is NOT winning.
And we don’t want Team Whining to be the winning team.
Apply: How do you play on Team Whining from time to time? What makes you complain or be discouraged when you think about following Christ and sharing Christ?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for whining about following you. I know with you I am always on the winning team, yet I forget and feel like your followers are losing instead of winning. Overcome the whiny thoughts in my mind and replace them with the hope, confidence and certainty you want on your winning team! AMEN.
Fan or Follower?
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 1 of “Fan or Follower – Shine Brightly” (LISTEN HERE).
The football season has gotten into full swing. Friday nights are filled with high school games, Saturday with college matchups and Sunday with NFL showdowns. I guess if you don’t like football, it’s not really your “season.” Even if football is not your season, if you have played or had a child or grandchild that played, you know that the ability to compete on the field takes hours of work, dedication, practice, and willingness to persevere over adversity.
Being a fan on the other hand is the fun of tailgating before the game, sitting in the stands, cheering, criticizing the refs, groaning when a play doesn’t go your way, or jumping up and down when your team scores or comes out on top. Most fans engage for a few hours as the game is being played and then they are done. There is no training to be a fan. It doesn’t take a Monday morning in the weight room to be able to hold the remote control. It doesn’t take years of prep to drink a beer and it certainly doesn’t take days of watching film to be an “expert” play caller from the comfort of your easy chair.
As someone said, “Football is 100,000 people desperately in need of exercise and 22 men desperately in need of rest.”
So when Jesus invites us in Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me,” he is inviting us out of the stands and onto the field. He is asking us to leave the comfort of being a fan and to take up the challenge of being a follower.
Perhaps as we sit in our easy chair and watch a game on TV, we say, “I could do better than that,” but then when given the opportunity we say, “No way!”
This can happen in our Christian life as well. We maybe find comfort on Sunday looking at the “TV Screen” of culture, the people around us, etc. and say, “I can do better than that” and then when given the opportunity to live out our faith in our school, work, community or home, we cower back and say, “No way!”
We like the comfort of being a “fan” for Jesus. We cheer him on as he heals the sick, raises the dead, or challenges the religious elites. We agonize as he is flogged, taunted and hung on the cross. We jump out of our seats as he comes out of the tomb alive, cheering his victory over death…realizing we get the benefit of it all with out having to do the work to earn it all.
So we get the championship t-shirt.
But wouldn’t you like to get the championship RING?
Jesus promised, “Be faithful to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelations 2:10)
Faithfulness is a lifetime of following.
So in this series we are going to ask for the Spirit-given ability to get out of the stands and on to the field of the Christian life. It’s not going to be easy. In fact, Jesus said, (Matthew 5:11) “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The opponents that will stand against our life of following Jesus will be well prepared and have in mind to defeat Christ and our Christian faith. We will seek to be prepared, equipped, and ready for the match up. As always, Jesus never calls us to do something for which he does not equip us. And when he equips us, teaches us and prepares us, by his power and grace we gain the victory.
We don’t follow with hope of victory…we follow with the certainty of victory!
So, Christian, get ready. The Lord is calling you out of the stands and onto the field…to stop just being a fan and to be a follower!
Apply: In your life with Jesus, what makes it easy to be a fan? What makes it challenging to be a follower?
Prayer: Spirit of God, empower each of us to leave the comfort of the stands and to eagerly and readily engage in the challenge of following Jesus. Lord Jesus, thank you for providing the leadership and coaching, and most of all the confidence of certain victory so as we follow you we always have strength in the One we follow. AMEN.
Relationship ROI
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Authentic Community” (LISTEN HERE).
Are you a risk taker?
Some people naturally have a thrill of throwing themselves out of airplanes, hang gliding off of cliffs, or jumping into the ocean from a rocky crag. You might say they are risk takers. What’s the return? Perhaps the return is a huge adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment.
Some people are financial risk takers. They are people willing to invest in start-up companies. They buy a dilapidated house and hope to flip it. They invest in the market and hope to make a return.
Every risk taker evaluates the ROI – Return On Investment.
Some are willing to settle for a small ROI, others want a more significant ROI for their investment.
What about relationship risk takers?
Relationships are risky. Every relationship has the potential to end in failure, heart ache, and deep hurt. Ask one recently divorced. Ask one recently laid off. Ask one estranged from their parents. Relationships can leave deep scars emotionally, spiritually and sometimes physically.
We get hurt once, we are less likely to invest in that relationship again…and perhaps less likely to invest in relationships at all.
Like a financial investor who loses all their investment in a start up that blows up, we can become more and more risk-averse when it comes to relationships…and as a result keep our distance from them.
However, authentic community needs risk takers.
If your relationship risk averse at the moment, perhaps it’s important to remember the “upside” of the risk which God desires us to be blessed by.
Nearly 60 times the Spirit of God gives direction to what blessings come when we enter into relationships with one another in the Church. Here’s just a sampling…
- We have people to love and people to love us – John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
- We have people to carry our burdens when life gets difficult – Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- We have opportunities to serve others and individuals to help us when needed – Galatians 5:13 serve one another humbly in love.
- We have people to pray for us and opportunities to pray for others – James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
With all the encouragement and promises that come when the community of the church God established functions under the love, grace and mercy of God, authentic community becomes very much a blessing to every person involved.
Relationships are risky because we all struggle with a sinful nature that gets in the way of showing each other the love God desires. However, if we focus on the negative risk, we will avoid the people God has put around us to also bless us. Rather, let’s choose to focus on the positive ROI God designs us to experience in his church as WE invest in building, keeping and growing authentic community around us.
Want to see an example of great ROI on investing in relationships? Here’s the description of the early church in Acts 2:42ff.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The Lord will bless you and through you bring blessings to others as we take the risk and invest to build authentic community in our churches!
Apply: How do you perceive the risk of relationships? Positive or negative? Perhaps take time to evaluate what is keeping you from investing in relationships and what things are preventing you from investing in relationships.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for taking a risk on me and bringing me into your family of believers through faith in Jesus. Empower me by your Spirit to engage in the risk of relationships and invest fully to love, care for, and serve the people around me that I might be a positive blessing to all in the work of your church. AMEN.
Don’t give up!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Authentic Community” (LISTEN HERE).
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Make EVERY effort…
It’s easier to walk away.
In 25 years of ministry, I have seen people give up on people way too quickly. People get along until they don’t. Instead of doing the hard work to restore the relationship, they move on to another church. (What is interesting is that often this is a pattern in their church relationships.)
Developing and maintaining authentic community is work. Sometimes sin becomes impossible to overcome, but often we take minimal action and call it good.
One situation a person asked for a conversation once with an individual with whom she was at odds. When that request was not granted at the moment it was requested, they left.
To make every effort we have to start with a commitment to one another and to the community to make that effort. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
When you join a church, a community of believers, you are not just signing up for the “perks” of membership, you are signing up for the WORK of membership. You are stating you are willing to devote yourself to these individuals AND make every effort on your part to maintain and strengthen the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace among the group.
So what might that effort look like?
First, remember that every person, including yourself, is battling a sinful nature each and every day. We can choose to put the burden of perfection on everyone else (except ourselves) and when a person is not perfect, especially to us, we can “crucify” them for their faults and allow separation to occur. A much better path is to remember what unifies us is the blood of Jesus. The work of Christ brings us together and will hold us together. When we view people through the lens of the cross, and they do the same for us, we realize that even when our sinful natures gets the better of the situation, it can be addressed and restored under the cross of Christ.
Second, see people as people. We are not perfect. We are not just producers. We are people. We have experiences and emotions. We have strengths and weaknesses. We have spiritual struggles different than yours. We have a story that affects how we perceive the world. We have icebergs underneath our surface that even we don’t always understand. So yes, being in a church at times can be a mess. Take time to get to know people. Refuse to create a story in your own mind as to why someone did something. Have a spirit of curiosity that seeks to understand before seeking to be understood. Take time to get to know the people of your church so you can journey with them and they with you. Build trust. Create a safe place for all of us to show up real and genuine, in need of Christ and growing in Christ.
Third, just don’t give up. Relationships can be hard. They can be messy. You can get hurt. But in the end, like family, it takes a lot to walk away. We give it our all. We stay committed. And in that devotion, we make every effort to maintain and strengthen the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
Remember, God does not ask you to do more than what he promises and empowers you to do. Rely on him, and he will give you the strength to make EVERY effort!
Apply: If you have a rift with someone in your church, what can you do today to make an effort to restore that? If you are not in conflict with anyone, great! What person could you invite to coffee or lunch and get to know them better? Schedule someone today!
Prayer: Spirit of God, we ask that you empower us with wisdom, patience, understanding and devotion to do all we can to maintain the unity and peace which you give to our church. AMEN.
Don’t forget the heart of authentic community!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Authentic Community” (LISTEN HERE).
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?
Which of these descriptions best describes your church?
We’d all like to say we always remember Paul’s words to the Ephesians and cringe to think we would ever have issues like the Corinthians.
But here’s the truth. The reason Paul had to write what he did to the Ephesians is that they too struggled with disunity in their community. The reason Paul wrote what he did to the Corinthians was because there were visible divisions in their community.
The reason the Spirit of God preserved both is because he knew every church would struggle to overcome disunity and find genuine community as a body of believers. That means, no matter what your church is, you will need to be reminded of these words.
We can get fixated on people: “I like Pastor Mark. I like Pastor John. I wish our Pastor could be like the past pastor. I like Frank leading worship. I always go to Larry’s small group.” People, while a blessing to the church can be the focus of one’s participation in the church.
We can get fixated on programs: “I’m an early service person. I’m a traditional person. I’m contemporary. I’m for Kid’s Church. I promote kids being in the worship throughout the service. I’m the ‘need coffee in worship’ people. I’m modern instruments. I’m for the organ. …” The list of programs and preferences that have divided a body of believers is greater than we would care to admit.
If we look to a personality or program other than Christ and his Word, we will never experience unity in the community of believers. Yet we work hard to build unity around externals only to find the unity is superficial and falls apart when the external crumbles.
The heart of authentic community is always…always…Christ.
We don’t worship people. We don’t worship programs. We worship Christ.
We can be blessed by many different people because they point us to Christ.
We can enjoy many different programs and ways of doing things as they point us to Christ.
My preference ought never get in the way of connecting to Christ. When my preference is not preferred, I realize the important thing is our focus on “one Lord, one faith, one baptism…” etc.
There will never be a community of believers that always agrees on every aspect of external realities of people, programs, or preferences. So the focus the Spirit of God gives us (and he should know) is that we always go to the source of unity, Christ himself. From this perspective we view people and evaluate programs. But from this starting point most importantly we look at our brother and sister in Christ. Even if they have differences in style, preferences, or people, we know we can find authentic community with them because their faith is also grounded in Jesus Christ.
Christ is the heart of genuine, authentic community.
Apply: What large or small divisions are brewing/happening in your church? What do you think would happen if that division evaluated the difference based on Ephesians 4:4-6? How might you help get or keep your church focused on “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, etc.”?
Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I get focused on externals and forget our unity is found in you and you alone. AMEN.