Out on a Limb in a 1st Century Church

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.     Acts 2:42-47 (HCSB)

Here I am out on my usual limb and today I am going to talk about our churches, or whatever you call the fellowship that you are a part of. God’s Word is clear that it was His plan for His children to be a part of group of Believers who would meet together to study and worship, pray and serve. Too often in my travels I have heard adults and teens who are done with organized churches. They say they are done because the characteristics of the 1st century Church are not seen in the church that they attend. And it is worse if they are members of committees or hold offices in the church. What is going on? What can we do?

Pray. It is an obvious point but one that is not done enough and certainly not done first. It is so much easier to complain, whine, rant and rave. I am guilty of it. There is so much to complain about! When I spend the majority of my time and spiritual energy complaining, I, first of all, am telling God that I know better than He does about the problems. I must pray first. I must ask God to bless the leadership of the church with wisdom, obedient hearts (obedience to Him), and encouragement. It is not about praying that they will see things my way but that we all get some of that “holy fear” that is noted in this passage of Scripture.

Encourage the leadership. Most churches have a very “top-down” hierarchy. The pastor is the leader. I do not see that model in Scripture. The apostles worked together. The Head of the Church was Jesus! Not Peter. Not John. Not James. Not Paul. What if I went to my pastor and told him/her that I didn’t expect him/her to do everything? What if I said I was praying and shared how I am praying and then said, “How can I help?”

Serve. If you are not currently serving in your church, then get on your knees and ask God how He wants you to serve. My husband wrote a book if you need a tool to help you, Identifying Your Gifts and Service . If you are homebound, get some note cards and start sending notes of encouragement. Make a pan of muffins on Saturday and give them to someone on Sunday. Help someone in church school. Help the choir or praise band by singing, running copies of music, or learn how to work the sound board. Decorate the bulletin boards. Help write up or fold the bulletins. Use your talents – or lose your talents (Matthew 25:14-30).

Money. While most people in a church will say that we should tithe and they pick 10% of our income is the “right amount”, the truth is – it all belongs to my LORD. All of my income, monetary or otherwise, comes to me by the grace and favor of my LORD. It is to Him that I must give obediently and with joy (2 Corinthians 9:6-14). It is true that many fellowships(usually associated with organized denominations) are compelled to give to programs(apportionments) that are difficult for me to reconcile as approved by God. Which brings me back around to prayer. Luke says in this passage that there was distribution to those “in need”. There are plenty of people in need. There are many people who would be blessed to receive a “hand up”, a gift of encouragement, that might look like money but it could be a bag of groceries or some gently used clothes or school supplies for their children. Maybe your job is an opportunity to give something “pro bono” to someone else.

Every day the 1st century Church met together to pray or break bread; to encourage and support each other. Yes, we say we want to belong to a 1st century church – but are we willing to prioritize our lives to make that happen or do we just want to visit the 1st century one hour per week to see what it can do for us? Something to pray and think about, isn’t it, while I am out here on that limb?

 

Posted in Acts | Comments Off on Out on a Limb in a 1st Century Church

This Day

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from August 23, 2010]

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

While this is a very familiar psalm, most of us have probably sang a song from this psalm, have you ever taken the time to read the verse in context with the rest of Psalm 118? The psalmist is speaking a paraphrase of Job’s words that though the LORD slay me – I will hope in Him (Job 13:15). It is a choice to receive what God has given for the day and be glad that He has given me the day!

It may be a difficult concept to consider that God has control over the good and the evil of this world. When I think of the events on September 11, 2001 or the death of my son on September 22, 2004, I want to say that satan caused those awful, painful things to happen. And, in truth, this is satan’s playground where he twists and spreads his evil, destructive seeds. But God is Creator of all and so has power over all, and so it must be that He does ultimately have the choke chain around satan! In Job we see that God allows satan to torment Job. God does not allow satan to kill him. God has the control. So what happened on 9/11? Did God get distracted and miss that satanic mischief and so could not stop it? Was God on vacation in the summer of 2004 and so did not get the message that James needed to be healed?

It may sound cliché to some but God’s ways (His sight, His understanding, His plans, His love, His judgment, His mercy) is not the same as mine. It may seem trite but it is true. My way of seeing events and seeing the fairness of this world cannot be compared to infinite God who holds oceans in His hand! There may have been a dozen other planes headed for other major cities that did not happen on that September 11th morning. There may be bombs, nuclear or ‘dirty’, that fail every week, because God hauls back on the choke chain and says, “No!” It may have been in satan’s mind to execute some horrible, painful, heinous death on James and God said, “No!” I don’t know.

As I was reading Psalm 118 (please take the time to do so today!), I was slipping some notes of my own life into the verses of the psalm. It is so easy to list the many difficulties and situations that cause worry. What if instead I got up in the morning and said, “Today is the day You created, Lord. I know You are here with me now. Walk with me through the day, Lord, and direct my steps, my words, and my thoughts.” And every night when I lay down I say, “Thank You, Lord, for the day” and list the blessings and, yes, the difficulties of the day, putting them in God’s hand (there’s room even with the oceans!) for His care and plan.

Peter said to give all my cares to God because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). He also said that God isn’t slow to keep His promises (2 Peter 3:9). But Peter said a lot more. He said that there would be suffering in my life just as Jesus suffered but there is also the promise of glory just as Jesus is glorified (1 Peter 4). He said that God is patient because He doesn’t want anyone to perish but to repent and receive His promise of eternal life (2 Peter 3).

Our LORD has our days in that hand of His. It is our choice on what we do with it. God gave us choice. I will rejoice and I will be glad in this day!

Posted in Psalms | 1 Comment

I Am Different

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Then all the council members stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.     Acts 6:15 (CEV)

Stephen was one of seven who was given the job of caring for the Gentile widows. It wasn’t a “high level” job in the early church. The Gentile women were – women – but also not Jewish. But Stephen was seen in high regard by those who had the discernment to really see (Acts 6:8). And the ministry to which he was called must have been “Kingdom important” because it was making the enemies jealous and mad. They hauled Stephen up before the Sanhedrin and demanded he defend himself. (Remember how Jesus said not to worry about what to say when I have to defend myself to an adversary? Luke 21:12-15)

Stephen didn’t have to worry either. His face took on an un-earthly glow. And he spoke the inspired words of God to those who were attacking, not Stephen, but God Himself. God doesn’t need me to defend Him. He’s got that covered. Being a witness isn’t about confrontation and arguing someone into believing. It is about truly reflecting Jesus to them and letting the Holy Spirit do the convincing.

God’s message through Stephen was correcting the church leaders. I need to listen too. Stephen wasn’t being disrespectful to the Temple (Acts 7:44-47) because it was God built in His will and He gave the instructions on how to build it. But we have forgotten that God cannot be contained inside a structure. We have forgotten how big God is.

I began my spiritual journey 17 years ago this July. I was so small and unworthy before this mighty God who reached down to touch and heal me. I knelt before Him; allowed someone to dunk me in a pool of baptism in front of a thousand or more people I didn’t know, in a church that I was not a member. I didn’t care. I was clean and new and loved in a way that I had never been in my life. I was a child reaching out dirty little hands to my sinless Father. David, Peter, the thief on the cross, even the sinful woman were all people with whom I could identify. I learned about grace up close and personal.

I had nothing to boast about. My nose wasn’t in the air. I gave God my heart without question because I knew He was the only way. God is the way. He shows me the way. Gradually I changed under His teaching and example. People noticed the changed. Felt good. I forgot Who brought me to this new place. I began to think I’m changing the world when I am just really along for the ride on Jesus’ plan.

In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil…

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.              Ephesians 2:1, 8-10 (HCSB)

Jesus had more reason to boast than any of us and yet He never did. What gift can I give to another that Jesus did not give first? What truth can I teach that Jesus didn’t teach first? I can love but Jesus loved first. What am I doing in God’s Kingdom that He couldn’t do without me? I am blessed to remember that it was Jesus’ plan to use Stephen; to use me. Stephen remembered that he was only an instrument in the hand of God and so God remembered him.

[Jesus said,] “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”          Matthew 10:32 (KJV)

Does God “glow” throughout every part of my life? Do I live like I know that He is the air I breathe, the Light that guides me in darkness, the nourishment that supplies all that I need, and the wisdom and knowledge for all that He calls me to do? The difference in my life always comes back to God.

Posted in Acts, Ephesians, Matthew | Comments Off on I Am Different

Thank You, LORD

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; 
He saved them from their distress.
He sent His word and healed them;
He rescued them from the Pit.
Let them give thanks to the LORD
for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for all humanity.
Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and announce His works with shouts of joy.     Psalm 107:19-22 (HCSB, my emphasis)

[Jesus said,]“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.”     John 3:16-18 (HCSB, my emphasis)

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.     Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT, my emphasis)

Lectionary texts: Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21

The lectionary texts this next week may be the hardest to live. They speak to me about the extravagant love of God. Did you see that word? EXTRAVANGANT That is what God’s love is to me. He gives us more than I ask for. He surprises me every day with ways He shows how much He loves me. Do I live like I know this?

The psalmist gives me “visuals” of how God shows His love for me. There isn’t a day that goes by that there isn’t something to “cry out to Him” about. Last night I heard of someone’s death in an accident. Last week there were two funerals of people I know. There are people that I care about who need comfort, Lord. Henry and I pray every day about the ministry that God has given us and the people we know who are in need of His touch. God saves, rescues, and heals. Our prayer time always includes our thanks – even thanks before we know what He is going to do because He has proven that He is faithful.

John 3:16 may be the single most quoted Scripture. It’s the verses after #16 that I need to commit to memory. Jesus came and saved me. Free gift. I believe that I need a Savior because I can’t “fix” my sins and so I believe in Him. I commit my life to Him. It isn’t a perfect life – but He knows that and loves me and so He teaches me how to live by His example, His Word, and His Spirit. He doesn’t condemn me when I sin. His Spirit convicts me so I know it. That’s just another way He shows His love! If I feel condemned – “Jody, you are so dumb! You just keep screwing up! You are so much worse than ____. Get it together!” – that is not God!

Paul tells me that God did not save me because of anything that I have done or didn’t do. I can’t do something to make Him love me more or make a mistake so big that He won’t forgive me when I ask and still love me. I am God’s masterpiece. Can I wrap my brain around that? I am going to enjoy trying because I will keep moving through the facets and layers of God.

God created me to do good things. What good things do You want me to do today, God? I am humbled and awed that He lets me be a part of His eternal plan. It is an adventure and I am glad Jesus is with me, before me. Thank You. Thank You, Jesus.

Thank You, LORD by Bobby Wilson, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson Sung by Don Moen

Posted in Ephesians, John, Psalms | Comments Off on Thank You, LORD

God’s Way

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”

Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not sin.” And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.      Exodus 20:18-21 (HCSB)

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.       1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (NLT)

But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature.    John 2:24 (NLT)

This week has been a week for digging into the lectionary texts. From Old Testament to New Testament there has been a lot to read and re-read and think about.

Have you ever been in a worship service and you just couldn’t connect and enter into worshiping God? There are many reasons that can cause that “blockage” but the first question I should ask – Lord, show me any sin that is keeping me away from You.

I am shown in this Exodus passage a group of people who did not want to draw near to God when He wanted to be near them. They knew they had sin in their lives. They still had “secret gods” that they turned to and worshiped. God had just destroyed Pharoah and his army so they knew that God could destroy them. They had “the fear of the Lord”. Moses tries to explain that the fear can be “good” to keep us from sinning.

God is my Creator. He knows my flesh. He knows my heart. He knows my weakness. The “success” of my relationship with Him is not about how perfect I am but how much I desire to learn and follow Him. Mighty God wants me to draw near to Him so that I can hear and see and learn more about His way that is a paradox to the world’s way.

Jesus looks at my heart and though the world may not even see me or see me as very little, Jesus sees me as a follower of Him; a servant in His Kingdom. He knows the level of trust that He can give me to be His ambassador. I build trust with Him as I obey and go where Jesus sends. He builds trust with me as He faithfully goes before me.

I don’t know how your week has gone but my week has been pretty typical. There have been some struggles and Jesus and I have talked. But what is in my mind and heart most today is how I have felt God’s presence throughout the week and heard His voice as He corrected and encouraged me. I am so very grateful and that leads me into Sabbath worship with a joyful heart.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you…

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.      Psalm 51:10-13, 17 (NLT)

 

Posted in 1 Corinthians, Exodus, John, Psalms | Comments Off on God’s Way

God’s Miracles

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.    John 2:18-22 (NLT)

Jesus ticks off the Church leaders because He humiliated them. He kicked their moneymakers out of the Temple. The Law said that you had to give a perfect animal in order for your offering to be perfect. Inside the Temple courts was a marketplace selling animals for the sacrifice. And, if you happened to be from out of town, they even had moneychangers who would give you the “right” kind of money – for an extra price. Then you could buy an animal – but not all animals were the same quality. There too they “got you” by selling you “fair”, “good”, “perfect”, and “really perfect” animals at different prices. What a racket! It’s too bad we haven’t learned yet. Today we have monetary tithes and flowers to buy for our altars and gold plates to tack on to any surface in a church that proclaims our “offerings”. And if Jesus tries to “clean house” by convicting us about our budgets and big buildings, the first question is: “By what authority are you saying this?”

God’s miracles are in front of me every day. There are too many days, however, that I allow my eyes to be distracted by worry, frustration, and the _______ trials of this life. (The blank is for whatever word you want to put in to describe an event that happens “just because”.) It’s not about ignoring real life and living in some fantasy world. It’s about seeing it all with honest eyes. Jesus wants me to keep my eyes on the Big Picture.

Jesus tells the leaders that the Temple can be destroyed and God’s Kingdom will still live. But they can’t see beyond the stones on a building and that a day is defined in 24 hours. No!

God’s Kingdom is alive and growing if God’s Great Commission is being executed. Contrary to what most church leadership believe, it is not about numbers of people in the pews or how many are tithing. If leaders are Jesus’ disciples and they are about growing more disciples for Jesus, then the church will be doing “the real stuff” like missions, outreach, service, worship, studying the Word, and tithing – well, that will happen because people give to their passions. Each group has to listen and hear and obey the call that God has placed on them. It’s not about how big the building – it’s about how big is our LORD! Do we see Him? Do we magnify Him for others?

Praying. Being able to talk to God is a miracle. He listens any time of the day on any given day. He doesn’t get “tired” of hearing my voice. I get one-on-one time with Him!

Personal Trainer. Jesus is my personal trainer. Jesus is in the miracle business. He is there with His Spirit to teach me, review, teach me again. Whatever it takes! If I will show up for class, He will teach. Physical health is essential. Spiritual health is vital! Being spiritual healthy in this world is a miracle.

Every Moment Miracles. Too often I look for a miracle by my definition and miss so many other miracles. I asked God to heal my son of a cancer that has less than a 25% chance of surviving a year. He lived five years. There were many miracles. Less side effects. He participated in a national indoor guard competition (took 3rd place!). I can’t speak for all the ways that God used him to impact his peers but I know there are people in the Kingdom because of his witness. Those are miracles! Salvation is the best miracle! It means an eternal life!

James used to laugh and say it was a miracle when we got a parking spot close to the door at Wal-mart. Have you ever had a budget tight week and found that God gave you a menu plan that brought you in under budget? I have. We’ve done a week’s meals on $50 or less. That is a miracle!

Sunshine for a wedding day when rain was predicted. Laughter and joy abounding when rain came any way! Family together with unity and encouragement is always a miracle and is certainly worth praise and thanksgiving.

Let’s ask God to give us eyes to see His many miracles today. And then take time at the end of the day and give thanks for those miracles.

 

 

 

Posted in John | Comments Off on God’s Miracles

God of Wonders

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

The heavens declare the glory of God, 
and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world…

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You,
LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.             Psalm 19:1-4, 14 (HCSB)

These first verses of Psalm 19 remind me of Jesus’ response when He is told by the Pharisees to tell His disciples to “Shut up!” as they worship during Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the “rocks would cry out”(Luke 19:37-40). In other words, creation’s praise for its Creator cannot be silenced. Even during days of great trial, God’s creation speaks in wonder, joy, and magnificence the unspeakable power that is His alone. Whether it is in rain or a bird singing on a spring day, the quiet of a winter snowfall or the crashing waves at a beach, God shows a facet of His character. Yes, even in a hurricane, earthquake or tornado I see the power that God holds in the leash of His hands. It is God, and only Him, that I would trust to control such destruction, knowing that He will be there in the aftermath to pick-up and rebuild.

The “middle verses” of this psalm speaks of the commanding facets of God, His:

Law of the LORD. It is perfect and revives me with His guiding hand.

Statutes of the LORD. I can trust them to educate me in His ways, watering those seeds of wisdom.

Precepts of the LORD. God’s principles are always correct and bring joy into my heart.

Commands of the LORD. Unlike man’s laws, God’s lead to light and goodness.

Fear of the LORD. Wisdom is birthed from a holy fear of God. It is pure, not perverted.

Ordinances of the LORD. God draws me nearer in relationship with Him as I obey and follow His ways.

God’s conviction shines His light on all hidden sins in my life. And in His great mercy, He hears my cry for forgiveness and restores me to that place at His side. My sins go east as I move west into Jesus’ righteousness (Psalm 103:12).

May my life be a life of praise for all that God reveals every day. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive and express all that would be pleasing to my Rock and my Redeemer.

God of Wonders by Steve Hindalong and Marc Byrd, Sung by Third Day

Posted in Psalms | Comments Off on God of Wonders

Under the Cross

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God’s power at work…

Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise. But we preach that Christ was nailed to a cross. Most Jews have problems with this, and most Gentiles think it is foolish. Our message is God’s power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen. Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else.       1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25 (CEV)

Gruesome, humiliating, and very public. All these words describe the act of crucifixion that was practiced not just by the Romans but other empires possibly as far as Japan. While most paintings of Christ’s crucifixion depict Him covered with loincloth, that is historically thought to be incorrect because being publicly executed naked would have been more humiliating. The primary point of this type of execution was to deter other criminals. And this was the method of sacrifice that Jesus chose to submit to (John 10:17-18).

When I read this history, Paul’s words about how “foolish” the cross was to those who lived at this time moved to a new level of understanding to me. The Jews were looking (and still are) for a Messiah that would bring a physical kingdom that would absolutely rule over all others. They would be recognized as God’s chosen people once again. Whether Jew or Gentile, we are still today looking for a “now” kingdom and think it is “foolish” to focus on an eternal Kingdom that is coming – when?

I have been blessed during this Lent season by a book that God brought to Henry and me to publish, The Church Under the Cross by William Powell Tuck.

“Suffering has always been at the heart of the life of the Church, and that is still true today. Sometimes we want to put sacrifice on the back burner, but we really cannot and be the Church. I am convinced that nothing really worthwhile ever comes about in life without some kind of sacrifice. To serve or reach worthy goals there has to be some sacrifice of time, energy, effort, or money, and sometimes even one’s life.”

I have been blessed by Dr. Tuck’s book. It is a tool that has had me digging down into what The Cross means to me today. It has opened a new level of revelation as I have read God’s words in both the Old and New Testament. I have cried and I have done “The Dance” (see Evan Almighty movie!) as God has shown me His wisdom and power in this sacrificial act on The Cross.

I cannot proclaim myself a “servant like Jesus” unless there is sacrifice involved. I have a “brother from another mother” named Greg who also writes a daily blog/devotion, Greg’s Watering Hole. He has shared frequently his struggle to give of his time vs. writing a check so he can still go fishing or do whatever he wants to do. I have been blessed and convicted by his words! This is what Lent is truly all about! It isn’t giving up chocolate (which I don’t need any time of the year!) but it is about sacrificing my way and taking God’s way where there is abundant wisdom and abundant strength for every day. I can never out-give my LORD.

I am going to take up my cross and follow Jesus. What about you?

 

Posted in 1 Corinthians | Comments Off on Under the Cross

No Other

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Then God gave the people all these instructions:
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
You must not have any other god but me.”     Exodus 20:1-3 (NLT)

Lectionary texts: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22

There’s always something “good” in the lectionary texts but this next week’s selections brought me to tears. I “got” the fear of my LORD and the overwhelming love of my Savior and One who is closer than a brother.

Several times in Scripture, God identifies Himself as I AM. To me, in those few letters God gives me the core of who He is. Anything added on to I AM is just part of the explanation for the root of His being. And that is supported by God beginning His commands first with identification of who He is to me and what He has done for me.

God is my God. He is the one who rescued me from the place of my slavery. God did not put me into shackles but He is the One who sets me free from what has me bound and gagged! No one or nothing can set me free but Him. I can strive and work to find the path that will separate me from everything in my life that holds me from living a victorious, joyful life – but no matter my riches or intellectual prowess, I will not be able to be free from the sins that weigh me down without my LORD.

It is I AM and only Him who is sovereign in my life. There is to be no one or nothing that has power or authority over me except Him. Verses 4-6 makes it clear that I am not to make any idol – false god – of anything in my life that I bow to. That means nothing. Not success, physical beauty, family member, even a ministry or the Bible itself is to be more important than the LORD Himself.

I was involved in children’s ministry many years ago. We did a series of children’s musicals that brought many children and their families to a deeper knowledge of Jesus. Through songs and the story lines and the relationships we all learned more about the extraordinary love that God has for us. We also learned about the ‘idols’ that are firmly cemented inside some of our churches. The first play, we (naively) moved chairs and pulpits in order to make more room for the children. A few people – well, they reacted very negatively! Their furniture “idol” had become more important than God and what He was doing in the lives of His children. We were blessed to have a pastor who was not afraid to take a stand and proclaim the sovereignty of God, not furniture.

I am going to go even further out on this limb I am on today and say that those of us who are leaders in God’s Church need to be especially mindful of this sin of making an idol out of whatever ministry that we are passionate about. The very passion that God puts into me that keeps me excited and “fresh” about Him can be twisted by the enemy until the ministry itself becomes my god. I become possessive about the time, finances, and attention that my ministry receives.

[Jesus said,] “I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them.”       John 13:16 (CEV)

Jesus came to point me to the Father. He came to show me the Father. Jesus said that any glory that He received came from the Father (John 8:54 and 17:1). And so today, I bow before the LORD, the I AM, in praise and thanksgiving for His great mercy and love.

Posted in Exodus, John | Comments Off on No Other

The Rugged Cross I Cling To

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead…

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”          Mark 8:31, 34-38 (NLT)

It was the words “if you are ashamed of me and my message, then I will be ashamed of you when I return in glory” that propelled me to my feet in July 1995 to stand in commitment to be Jesus’ disciple. That did not make everything in my life turn into a perfect utopia. In fact, all hell broke loose. But I can say with certainty that everything I have been through since then I have come through in victory – because I had Jesus to follow. No matter what the suffering, how terrible the circumstances, whether I was rejected or “killed” by someone’s words or actions – Jesus was always there before me. I cannot express the thanksgiving that overflows my heart for His extravagant love and comfort.

Jesus is there for tearful, intimate talks in the dark night. He shows me the Light of His promises. Jesus explains to me that in this world there will be “trouble” but do not give up because He has overcome this world (John 16:33). There will be a day when there will be NO MORE tears or death or crying or pain because He will come back and there will be an New Heaven that is eternal! (Revelation 21:1-4)

So, for now while I am in this world, I will take up my cross and I will follow Jesus wherever He leads because I have walked in this world without Him and I have decided that walking with Him, even with the cross, is better. So much better!

The Old Rugged Cross by George Bennard (1912) Sung by Acapella

 

 

 

Posted in Mark | Comments Off on The Rugged Cross I Cling To