The Price of Freedom

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?    Galatians 5:13-15 (The Message)

Lectionary texts for July 4th: Deuteronomy 10:17-21, Hebrews 11:8-16, Psalm 145, Matthew 5:43-48

I am a weepy patriot. I will be watching the “Capital 4th” presentation tonight on PBS and the songs, like God Bless America, the military personnel and their families in the crowd, the wounded warriors in the crowd, and little children waving our country’s flag will have me in tears before the first commercial break! I love my country and I do not take it for granted that I live in this land by God’s extravagant grace.

This week demonstrations took place in my hometown by those who are strongly against same sex marriages and those who believe it should be allowed. Both groups are exercising their constitutional right to voice their opinion. My sadness as I read and listened to the accounts of the event comes from those who are against same sex marriage and verbalized that their #1 reason is because we are a Christian nation and so the Bible says that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. I am not going to argue about that point here in this devotion. My heart is heavy because I am asking myself that just because I have the freedom to speak so publicly on this and tell people when I believe they are wrong (and imply, if not outright say, they are sinners) is that ultimately building them in their faith or destroying them? Jesus certainly publicly rebuked the Pharisees in their sin but when they brought Him the adulterous woman, He rebuked or warned her not to sin any more only after everyone else had left.

I met an elderly woman in Hungary who, during the Communist regime in her country, had to bury her young daughter with prayers said secretly behind closed doors. Publicly she had to stoically follow the coffin to the cemetery as if she didn’t know the Hope because any public display of religion could have ended in bloodshed. I met her in church where she came with a big smile on her face. She could enter the doors in view of everyone and sing without fear that someone would bust in and demand that the praises cease! She reminded me what was important. Jesus and Him crucified for the sins of us all.

Do I “demonstrate” against my own sin just as I do the sins of others? Do I work out my salvation with fear and trembling just as I admonish others to do so?

“If you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:47-48 (NIV)

The lectionary texts were hard for me to read today. I hope you will take time to read them. They pointed out to me that from Deuteronomy to Hebrews God has told me, His child, to love the alien, to love my enemies. Jesus showed me how to interact with sinners and it wasn’t with a voice of condemnation but with love. Let us worship our LORD who has so graciously given us freedom because of Jesus. Let us allow His Spirit to convict us in our sin and lead us to repentance. May we agree today that we need to pray for our country, its leaders, and citizens, that God’s wisdom, which He promised to all who would ask, will guide and direct us in the days to come.

God Bless the USA written and sung by Lee Greenwood (1984)

 

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What Am I To Be About Today? Matthew 10

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,] “So don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.
All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me. But all who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they do not belong to me.

Don’t think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword…

Those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life.”                 Matthew 10:31-34, 37-39 (NCV)

I have a friend who begins each day in prayer. She intentionally asks the LORD to guide her steps for each day, that she would do what He wants her to do. I admire her because she does not get stressed when her schedule gets rearranged. She is on God’s timetable.

I was reading this chapter in Matthew’s gospel and I was pulled into this story of Jesus’ instructions as He sent the disciples out to do “the real stuff”, as John Wimber said.

Go where I tell you to go. God has spoken to me before about how large His vineyard is and that there are plenty of jobs to be done. Just this week I was asking myself “Why?” I should go to this place. I didn’t see the “Kingdom” point of it! I was wasting my time and effort! And God showed me in a “chance” encounter “the why” of the effort it took for me to go.

When adversity comes, don’t worry – I am with you. Conflicts, all kinds of battles, are going to happen, and not just in the “worldly” aspects of my life. Jesus tells me not to worry when the conflicts come – He will tell me what to say – and, I suspect, what not to say. There will be conflicts in families and inside the Church. Jesus can navigate me through those treacherous waters. Do not worry about people who even might try to kill me but be more of God who will destroy both my body and spirit if I do not remain true to Him.

I am God’s child. I do not fully grasp the HUGE-NESS of that statement. If I openly, and without hesitation, say, “Yes, I AM A CHILD OF GOD and am NOTHING without Him!” then He also says, “Yes, SHE is MINE!” From the very beginning, God has made it clear that He will not tolerate a child with divided loyalties. I am first His child. My love for my parents, spouse and children comes after God. I may know that in my head but is that how I live my life and make decisions about my time? Something to think about.

I am God’s servant. Jesus, God Himself, came not to be served – but to serve. That is my example. I know a church in West Virginia that had their power restored rather quickly after the recent storms. So they opened their doors to “whosoever would come” and provided cool a/c, water, ice, etc all week. They gave freely of what they had been blessed to receive. And when Sunday morning came, their doors were also open and those same people could come and worship God – “give even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones” (Matthew 10:42). This is the daily business that I am to be about. “How can I serve Your children today, LORD, that it may glorify You?”

When the Music Fades by Matt Redman, sung by Michael W. Smith

 

 

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He is The King I Follow

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron, and he made an agreement with them in Hebron in the presence of the Lord. Then they poured oil on David to make him king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled forty years. He was king over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and he was king over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem for thirty-three years…

So David lived in the strong, walled city and called it the City of David. David built more buildings around it, beginning where the land was filled in. He also built more buildings inside the city. He became stronger and stronger, because the Lord God All-Powerful was with him.              2 Samuel 5:3-5, 9-10 (NCV)

Lectionary texts: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, Psalm 48, Mark 6:1-13, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

The texts this week are so very encouraging as I look at the trials that are going on throughout this world. Wildfires burning down blocks of homes. Unexpected storms destroying homes, knocking out power. Then there is Somalia, the Sudan, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Iran. I just found out tonight another friend is battling breast cancer.

I read the “coronation” of David as king of Israel. For a time he was king over a great portion of the known world. And this Scripture says that he became so strong and – invincible – because he was with his God All-Powerful. It was not in David’s own wisdom or military might that David became powerful. It was the One to whom he swore his total allegiance to.

Paul also bears witness to the truth that any and all that he achieved in his ministry was done because he was so weak. In that weakness, God was able to be who He was – All-Powerful. The very reason that God did not remove the “thorn” from Paul may have been to keep him weak.

Mark tells me about Jesus’ wisdom that He spoke to the disciples then and to me now. There will not be “honor” for me among my own town or among those who think they really know me. There will be people who will not listen to the teachings and wisdom that God gives me because they think they know who I really am and am not. Jesus says that I shouldn’t let that slow me down in doing what He has told me to do. Just keep moving on and doing what He has told me.

This isn’t easy. I have just in the last two days been in a struggle to “stop trying” in an area of ministry. I feel as if I have been beating my head against a wall. But every time I decide to stop, I am able to see how God was able to encourage someone or give someone a word of wisdom. I know that I am to continue to be available and open for a a breakthrough. I am not to turn my back on this group yet. Jesus is so faithful to lift me up and encourage me through His own example of persistence, grace, and mercy. Even in a place like His hometown, He did what He could – and moved on.

It is God who keeps the Big Picture in His eyesight and gives me my orders for the tasks He has for me. I do not need to “tweek” His plan or criticize others on what they are or are not doing. There is no tribulation to big for our LORD. Pray and stay the path that God has given me.

For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14 (NIV)

Glory to the King by Darlene Zschech (1997)

 

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Pray for Children

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from March 16, 2011]

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,… Romans 1:8-9 (WEB)

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (WEB)

Do you pray for your children? Your grandchildren? The child you saw at the store today that was disciplined by a tired, over-worked mom? The children on the bus in front of you? The children of Japan, Haiti, Libya, Ethiopia and the Sudan, Turkey and Afghanistan?

Most of those children I will never know by name. But God does. I may not know their specific, daily needs (even my children and grandchildren as they live so far away). But God does. The daily routines of many Third World children are beyond my imagination and comprehension. But God knows their going out and their coming in, when they lie down and when they are afraid.

My husband, Henry, has a truth that he shares when he teaches about prayer:

God answers our prayers better than we pray them.

God invites me in on His relationship with His children. When I see a bus on the road, I can speak a blessing:

Father, bless each one of the children on that bus. Let them embrace the fun of learning something new today. Bless them with wisdom and understanding. Bless them with friends that will encourage them to be a better person. Bless their families with a spirit of unity, compassion, and desire for Your presence in their lives.

When I watch CNN tell me about what is happening on the other side of the world, I can lift those children up out of the darkness of fear.

Father, I asked that You be a tangible presence in the lives of the children of _________. By whatever name they now recognize You, may You be revealed to them in Spirit and Truth. May they know that they are not alone, nor are they helpless. May the children of _________ see You in visions and dreams. I claim the promises that You said that children shall lead (Isaiah 11:6) and their importance in Your Kingdom (Matthew 18:1-3).

When a missionary friend contacts me, I can pray.

Jesus, bless Your messengers who carry Your Good News, not just to the adults, but to the children. Bless the children with joy as they learn about You. Bless them with Your peace and wrap them up in Your extravagant love.

I can pray any time, any where. I can pray aloud, in whispers, or in my spirit and heart where only You and I can hear. Prayer has no cost in my life as it is time with God multiplied more than I have words to describe the number! God takes my tiny hope for a child and converts it into His Hope

O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.
For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,
so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.
Then they will not be like their ancestors—
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.   Psalm 78:1-8 (NLT)

 

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A Beautiful Mouth

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl. Proverbs 25:11 (NCV)

I am so excited to have been asked to share a message with some young girls and mothers today. It is part of the summer small group meetings that our church is doing. I don’t do a lot of teaching to children – formally, I mean. In the last 10 years, God has really been pointing out to me how important it is for me to open my eyes for opportunities that He offers for me to share with my own grandchildren and the children around me. I found out quickly that things I might share – will surely convict me, too!

This passage from Proverbs is one that I will share with the children. Have you ever looked in a concordance or thought about how often from Old Testament to New that there is some warning about the power of our words? Have you ever had words seemingly “fly out” of your mouth and wished immediately that you could call them back? Oh, yes. The very real problem is that once you have spoken those words, there is no way to call them back. You can apologize but it won’t erase the words.

I absolutely have a choice to speak or not speak the words that come out of my mouth. I begin that choice by what I put inside me. Jesus says that my words are the overflow of what is in my heart (Luke 6:45). Do I choose to take in what is true, pure, of excellence (noble), lovely, admirable and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8)? If instead I take in what is of little worth or dirty, then the dirt will flow out of me, somewhere and sometime!

Example #1: There’s a new movie out now, Magic Mike. If I say that I am going to that movie because it tells a great story of a man who “does what he has to do” to make a living, I submit there are other movies that do not involve male strippers that tell that story. So I am choosing not to see that movie.

Example #2: I walk down the hallway on my way to Sunday School and there are a couple of friends “sharing” about why someone hasn’t been seen at church lately. “She moved in with ______ and I guess she feels guilty about it!” I choose to keep on walking and ask the Holy Spirit to wash me of that gossip.

For me, both of those examples can put into me “stuff” that can infect the goodness that God wants to grow inside of me. The #1 example is just a no-brainer for me and can give me an arrogance that I wouldn’t do that! Whereas #2 can be more subtle – but no less disgusting in what infects me!

As I put on my lipstick to go to this small group meeting, I am going to think about if my mouth is really beautiful. Does the lipstick just cover up a mouth that whines, yells, refuses to forgive, and tears people down? Or does the color draw the eyes to someone who praise, encourages, speaks the truth, and knows when to stay shut?

Thank you to my friend, author Kimberly Gordon, who shared through her book, It’s In The Bag, what God had said to her about having a beautiful, Godly mouth.

 

 

 

 

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Church: Alive or Dead: Part II

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from April 27, 2010]

Henry Neufeld

Now awe came upon every person, because many miracles and signs were accomplished through the ministry of the apostles. 44All the believers were in unity and had there possessions in common. 45They sold their possessions and assets and divided among all those who needed them. 46Every day they went faithfully to the temple, they broke bread in their various houses, receiving their food with rejoicing and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and being gracious to all the people. And the Lord added daily those who were being saved.              (Acts 2:43-47 HN)

Let’s look at some individual elements of the five principles given in this passage of Scripture.

Continuing “power” ministry — the necessary elements of “power” ministry are the infilling of the congregation, as a group, with the Holy Spirit, the empowering of the members with the gifts of the Spirit, and releasing all the membership to do ministry.  Not all of these elements are specified in Acts, but they can be supported scripturally through 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:9-16, and Romans 12:3-8.  But they can also be established logically.  If only the pastor or a small leadership group carry out the ministry, very little can be accomplished.  The goal clearly must be to have everyone acting together.

Unity and mutual support — Logically, the need for unity and common support follows.  If the entire body is to work together, it must be healthy.  Too often we work with numbers and percentages, assuming that if a portion of the body is in good shape, we can just ignore the rest.  I would add a note on the church owning everything in common.  That seems to me something that was practical and appropriate in Jerusalem, but not so practical now.  But there is a principle that should be applied today.  We should be ashamed that there are people in our churches who are in need and are not receiving care.  The resources exist for us to make sure people receive proper care, and we should consider this a responsibility of the church, not just an option.

Faithful common worship — This is an essential of maintaining unity.  Our common times of worship must offer us the opportunity to worship, but also an opportunity to fellowship–to worship together and to bond as the body of Christ.  This fellowship involves encouragement and accountability.  We encourage one another in our discipleship and ministry, and we hold one another accountable for what God expects of us.

Worship beyond the worship center (homes, small groups) — At the same time, the larger the church, the less of the encouragement and accountability can take place in a large, common worship service.  We have the need of smaller groups to provide this additional needed fellowship.  Such small groups also provide additional opportunities for mission.

This fellowship will include at least the following elements:

a.    Bible study In a living congregation the members knows why they are doing what they are doing.  They will be aware of their basic doctrines, and they will be able to study these things for themselves.  This does not mean that “doctrinal purity” is a primary essential of a living church.  It does mean that Biblical and doctrinal awareness is important so that members know why they are doing what they are doing  (see Acts 2:42 and 17:11).  There are some basic essentials that are important, and we should learn to distinguish the essential from the non-essential.  (See the Participatory Study Series pamphlet Understanding Christian Apologetics.)
b.    Prayer is communion or conversation with God.  This is an essential part of keeping the body breathing.  The Holy Spirit is the breath in the body of Christ, and we receive it in communion with God.  (See I Want to Pray! pamphlet and book.)
c.    Grace We are recipients of God’s grace, and if we understand that, it will motivate us to have grace ourselves. Many people believe that having more rules and better enforcement is the way to go, but people don’t come to church to find out what the rules are.  Most people know the basics of behavior.  What they are looking for is the motivation and the ability to put that knowledge into action.
d.    Action If a new member does not find a way to get active, they will not remain in the church.  Some may continue to attend out of habit, but they become dead weight.  It may be risky to have everyone active–some of them will make mistakes, but it’s the only way to go.

And finally, God-powered outreach brings us full circle.  We are not called to do what we can do; we are called to do what God can do–through us.

I Lift Up My Eyes sung by Paul Wilbur

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Church: Alive or Dead: Part I

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from April 26, 2010]

— Henry Neufeld

Now awe came upon every person, because many miracles and signs were accomplished through the ministry of the apostles. 44All the believers were in unity and had there possessions in common. 45They sold their possessions and assets and divided among all those who needed them. 46Every day they went faithfully to the temple, they broke bread in their various houses, receiving their food with rejoicing and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and being gracious to all the people. And the Lord added daily those who were being saved             (Acts 2:43-47 HN)

When Paul says, “You are the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) he introduces a powerful metaphor for use all around the Church.  One of these applications is the question of life.  A live body has breath, blood flow, and most importantly doesn’t have substantial dead pieces falling off of it.  (I’m aware of dead skin and hair cells.)  Visitors to a church will often say something like, “This congregation is really alive,” or “This congregation is totally dead.”  They don’t mean, of course, that the members of the one are physically alive and of the other physically dead.  They mean that there is a spiritual life of the whole body, collectively, that can be seen, felt, and experienced.

So what makes a church alive?

I find the definition in the passage from Acts that I quoted above.  I’m not one of those people who want us to closely imitate the early church in every detail.  I believe that there can be a wide variety of ways in which a church can work in a community.  I live in Pensacola, FL, and I don’t expect every little detail of the church in 1st century Jerusalem to be the same as it is for my church in 21st century Florida.  But I do think the principles will be the same.

From this passage about the early church, I see several principles:
1.    Continuing “power” ministry
2.    Unity and mutual support
3.    Faithful common worship
4.    Worship that extends beyond the worship center (homes, small groups)
5.    Continuing “God-powered” outreach

I believe I can summarize these points with the word “discipleship.”  It’s important to note that discipleship is closely related to mission.  In fact, one cannot exist without the other.  A church may have different specific missions, and various emphases, but at some point in all churches there must be the two elements of following Jesus (discipleship) and mission (reaching out to others).  Try operating without the element of mission, and you get an ethical club.  Without the element of discipleship, you have a simple social service organization.  (Either option may be alright under appropriate circumstances, but they do not constitute a church.)

Days of Elijah by Robin Mark (1994)                                 

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All That I Am

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.             Psalm 130, 1-5 (NLT)

Lectionary texts: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43

The lectionary texts this week are not all familiar ones to me. I like that because it motivates me to read them several times during the week.

The 2 Samuel passage tells me that David has learned of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths. He writes from his heart a song about them. He proclaims that all the men of Judah will remember and sing this song. It is interesting that it is a song about the good of Saul. After all that David has endured at the hand of this jealous, vengeful king, David sings a song about the good that was in Saul’s life. David made a choice.

Psalm 130 is about the greatness of the LORD’s mercy to forgiveness my sins. I acknowledge that my sins are too great for me to “work off” and it is only through my LORD that I can live in any hope. I can’t imagine singing this song without many tears of gratitude.

Mark relates to me the story of the death of Jairus’ daughter and the woman who is dying from a hemorrhage. Jesus stops on the way to Jairus’ house to acknowledge that a miracle has happened. I believe that He did that to complete the woman’s healing. It wasn’t just about her physical need. She also needed to be restored to the community. There is attempt to stop Jesus again from getting to Jairus’ home when the people relate that the child is already dead – so there is no longer a need for Jesus. Jesus shows that His work is not complete. He restores the child to her family. Jesus made a choice.

2 Corinthians 8 is Paul rejoicing that the church promised to give their gifts. Now he wants them to carry through on that pledge of giving. But there is an important point to what Paul says. He tells them to not focus on the amount but to give as they have been instructed by the Holy Spirit, whether pennies or in great wealth.

Today God is speaking to me about carrying out the mission or ministry that He has placed in my heart. It is not about the numbers with which man assesses success or failure but it is my choice to cling to Jesus, counting on Him to supply me with all that I need. Will I do it without any mistakes? Probably not. Like Saul – I may REALLY mess it up! Like in the stories in Mark, there may be distractions that try to stop me or tell me I’m done or that it can’t be done!

In all ways, it is Jesus that sets my standard and teaches me how to accomplish God’s plan and determines its success or failure. It is Jesus who taught me that all glory goes to God. If I am never credited or given any applause by people around me, so much the better. It was God who made it all possible. His love is great for one and for all. God has separated me from my sins. He lives inside of me that I might be His hands and feet in this world, be it for the blessing of one – or many. May I choose to complete that which He has begun in me.

In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty (2001) sung by Adrienne Liesching & Geoff Moore

 

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The Truth Is —

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Then the king sent horses, chariots, and many troops to Dothan. They arrived at night and surrounded the city.

Elisha’s servant got up early, and when he went out, he saw an army with horses and chariots all around the city. The servant said to Elisha, “Oh, my master, what can we do?”

Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. The army that fights for us is larger than the one against us.”            2 Kings 6:14-16 (NCV)

What is going on in your life? On a scale of 1 to 10, how much pain are you in? How “stressed” are you about your job and finances? Your children? Are you and your spouse going through a rough seasons and can’t seem to communicate the way you used to? Are your parents ill, even dying? Is your child sick? Or maybe you have received bad test results?

“Oh, my LORD, what can we do?”

Death. Divorce. Sickness. More death. Financial pressures. There were months, even years when it seemed like “Oh, my LORD, what can we do?” is the only prayer I seemed to be able to say. I didn’t see anything past the “horses and chariots” that were surrounding me. I only knew that everything I read in the Bible, everything that I knew in my spirit, and everything that I had already experienced myself and seen in the experience of others told me that my LORD was bigger than what I was seeing. I had to trust Him to see me through whatever lay ahead. I had to trust Him to show me how to navigate through and take care of me and those that I loved.

Too often I can find myself focusing on the “horses and chariots” and when I do they get bigger and bigger. When I acknowledge their presence and then choose to turn my focus to the One who is big enough to make a change in my circumstances, soak in who He is and how He works, the “horses and chariots” of my distress become more the size of chihuahuas and go-carts.

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?            Isaiah 40:12 (NLT)

Oh, my friends, today I stand here, an ordinary woman who has been through a few crucibles. I have felt the searing heat of battle and exhaustion passed my human endurance. But through it all, God has been there. Through my own willfulness and, yes, the enemy’s deception, there have been times when God felt far away and very silent. But now, as I look back through that valley (Psalm 23:4), I see Jesus with me every step. I could not, would not, be standing here on the other side without Him.

If you feel the weight of a burden today, whether it is your circumstance or the circumstance of another, take time to drink from God’s refreshing, life-giving water. Do think you have to continue to walk on in your own strength. Take time today and spend time with Jesus and refresh. Allow Him to show you Who is really with you (2 Kings 6:17).

Never Once by Matt Redman (2010)

 

Posted in 2 Kings, Isaiah | 2 Comments

Lay Down My Life – Pick Up My Brother

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,]“This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”     John 15:12-14 (NCV)

Do you have a friend that you would die for? Is there someone in your life besides a parent, sibling, spouse or child or grandchild that you would die so that they could live?

My husband is ex-military. He tells me that when you train together like the crew that he was a part of, you know that the guy next to you would step in front of a bullet for you. There is a trust that is forged in the heat of their training for battle against a common enemy.

And so it is within Christ’s Body of Believers. When you have faced a common enemy, satan and his minions, and through prayer and unity bloodied their noses and sent them away limping, you know that you have forged a trusting relationship with Jesus and, hopefully, with each other. Trust comes with continued time together. We are together on this Vine that Jesus spoke about earlier in the same chapter of John. We are branches attached to the same Vine.

Jesus tells us to stay attached to Him so that we learn; we imitate Him. And then He takes it a step further as He foretells what He is going to do. He is going to die for His friends. He is going to freely lay down His life for His friends.

Am I willing to lay down my life? Am I willing to lay it down maybe even in a more difficult way than physically dying. Am I willing to die to what I want so that another might live? What are some specific ways I might do that?

Fellowship. I remember at one church we attended, the worship leader loved to play much more loud praise music than I would have enjoyed on a Sunday morning. I liked it a bit more mellow and worshipful. But the new people that were coming into the church, new ones every week, they were of the demographic that really liked the music a bit louder. They kept coming back maybe at first because of that. They stayed in the long term for the Word and the discipleship that was happening. I could go home and play my quiet CDs. I didn’t need to complain and raise a fuss. God was surely showing His fruit by what was happening.

Time. I know a couple that spends a lot of time with people who are “young” in their relationship with God. They invite them over for bar-b-q and watch sports together. They show by their daily walk in their family what it means to live a life with Jesus Christ. They give so others may strengthen and grow.

First I have to open my eyes to see the opportunities that God puts into my life to lay down my life for someone else. I have to get my eyes off myself and look to the needs of others (Philippians 2:3-8) just as Jesus did.

It’s interesting to me that this passage is followed with Jesus telling His disciples that the world is going to hate them just as it hates Him. He reminds them again about the Counselor coming to remind them of all that He has taught them. Let us remember that it is in unity that we will find strength for the difficult days ahead. Whether it is economic collapse or floods and hurricanes or fire or disease and death, together we can hold each other up in prayer and serve each other through the healing balm of love that is in Jesus.

Who is my brother, my sister, my friend? It is the one who seeks and serves with me in the Kingdom of God (Mark 3:33-35).

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell (1969)

 

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