Day 15 - We Want the Best for Our Children

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—
    take God seriously.”

Micah 6:8 (The Message)

When my husband and I first decided to tackle parenthood, we were both completely idealistic… and totally naïve, which isn’t exactly a winning combination.  But, through God’s grace, we have made it this far… battered and bruised (and incredibly tired), but, nonetheless, we’re hanging in there.  Yet, after 11 years of parenthood, and more importantly, after 11 years of pursuing Jesus, we’ve seen an amazing transformation in our desires, our hopes and our dreams for our children. 

A little over 10 years ago, with only one child in tow, I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.  At the age of one, I had my eldest child in EVERYTHING imaginable: gymnastics, art, music, swimming, dance, weekly museum visits, and an endless supply of play dates.  It was enough to drive a person mad… and it just about did.  I was completely overwhelmed with the expectations of being a “good parent.”  I remember talking to other moms about getting my daughter into one of the best preschools... and being horrified when I found out that some of them had a three year waitlist, which meant I needed to pick a preschool before I even had a baby!

In the days that followed this revelation, I began to fall for all of Satan’s lies:  If my children don’t go to the right preschool, then they won’t get into the best grammar school, which OBVIOUSLY means they won’t go to the best college; if they don’t play little league at the earliest age and continue to play for every available team until the end of high school, then they will NEVER get a scholarship; if I don’t steer my children into math and science, they will never find a good paying job that will provide them with the life they need (which, of course, includes vacation time, a 401k and a sizable retirement package.)  Do you see where this is going?  I allowed the world to shape my definition of success; to map out the course… an incredibly ridiculous course that would keep me and my family so distracted with life and worldly achievements that I would never have the time or the energy to set my eyes and my heart on the one thing that matters. 

Now, please don’t get me wrong, none of these things are inherently “bad” (school, sports, extracurricular activities).  In fact, I would even argue that they serve an amazing purpose.  They allow our families to shine a bright light in a broken world.  However, I recently listened to a sermon that shared a completely different perspective, one that truly challenged me.  The pastor said there’s nothing wrong with all these activities, as long as we’re giving God equal time… more than equal time.  We have to make God our number one priority.  He then went on to say that if we have our kids spending more time doing other things, then we’re teaching them to prioritize those things over God.

I thought of all my children’s activities, hours worth every week.  Then, I thought about how much time they spend with Jesus (reading the Bible, devotionals, praying, going to church). At first, I must admit that I was a little nervous.  But, then God brought Micah 6:8 to my mind. (If our family had a life verse, this would be it.) In His mercy, He reminded me that “scheduling” Jesus… like any other activity in our lives… isn’t really the point.  Jesus wants to be involved in EVERY aspect.  As parents, it's our job to make sure we teach our children how to incorporate Jesus into every part of our lives; how to follow Him at every turn; how to depend on Him when times are tough; how to praise Him when they’re not.  Ten years ago, if you asked me what I wanted for my children when they were old enough to leave the house, I would have said that I wanted them to be prepared to go to college and be able to stand on their own two feet.  If you asked me that same question now, the answer would be completely different.  Now, I want my children to know how to lean on Jesus; to trust Him completely; to love Him unconditionally; and. to follow Him wherever He shall lead. 

Challenge

Spend some time thinking about the desires and expectations you may have for your children.  If you don’t have children, think about the expectations you have for yourself.  Were they cultivated by the world, or by Jesus?  Look at your week… or maybe just start with a day.  Are you fitting Jesus in (scheduled quiet times or Bible reading) or do you acknowledge His inclusion throughout the day?  If it’s the former, ask Jesus to help make you aware of times throughout your day where you can invite Him to join you in experiencing life… together.          

Day 14 - Who Am I?

“But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

 Luke 6:49 (NIV)

            “It comes down to this . . . do you believe that Jesus is who he says he is?”  This is undoubtedly a question with profound implications that should, if answered affirmatively, transform the very fabric of a Christian’s life on this earth.  This question was directed to me recently during a conversation about what it means to follow Jesus.  Deirdre, my sister and I were debating the story of The Rich Young Man (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31) and Jesus’ admonishment that “… it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  When I questioned whether following Jesus required such a radical act (selling all material possessions), my sister’s response struck me right between the eyes: “He was willing to die for my sins, so who am I to say no!” 

           

            In his book, The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns, the CEO of World Vision, writes the following: “… [I]f Christ is God, it changes everything – there is nothing more important, more authoritative, or more central to the human race, to the way we live our lives, and to our very understanding of the world.  Christ is an all-or-nothing proposition, and one way or another, every one of us has already made a choice about Him.  We have either committed our lives to Him wholeheartedly, or we have not.”  If these words fail to convict you, here are a couple passages from Luke:

“Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)

“Jesus replied, ‘no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62 (NIV)

            In light of all of this, would I be willing to surrender everything?  If I’m honest, I want to follow Jesus on my own terms (nothing too far out of the comfort zone) – and I suspect I’m not alone here.  We’ve all been conditioned, from a very young age, to pursue the things of this world: success, prosperity, material comfort - the so-called “American Dream.”  At least for me, striking a balance between these contradictory pursuits – one foot in the world while the other is in the Word - has proven extremely difficult (maybe because it’s impossible).  The danger that we need to be wary of is allowing worldly things - our possessions, our careers, our busy lives - to define us, and worse yet, to distort our true identity and purpose.  We need to be ever cognizant of this eternal threat as we attempt to shift our thoughts and actions to Jesus' mission for our lives.

Challenge

What idols in your life are preventing you from following Jesus?  How can you take steps to eliminate them?  What if following Jesus required you to walk away from everything that you consider familiar and safe, or to surrender everything?

Day 13 - Christianity vs. Humanitarianism

“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) 

"So what's the difference between a humanitarian and a Christian?" This question was posed to me a few months ago by one of my friends who isn't a believer.  She went on to ask a rather rhetorical question in her eyes, "Aren't all Christians (individuals who are truly following Christ, not just in name only) basically humanitarians?" So, that's the question I pose to you. 

I think the first place to tackle this is in the dictionary. According to Merriam-Webster, a humanitarian is "a person promoting human welfare and social reform." A Christian is defined as "one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ." I personally like the definition in Dictionary.com a little better: "exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ." Once we looked at these definitions, my friend made a completely reasonable assumption.  She argued that Christians, by definition, were humanitarians because the teachings of Jesus Christ promoted human welfare and social reform.  And at that very moment, her words convicted my heart in such a way that my soul grieved.  In the brevity of a moment, every "good deed" flashed before my eyes, everything I had done because I wanted to show the love of Jesus.  I realized that while He was my motivation, His name was almost NEVER mentioned.  And I couldn't help but wonder why. 

In their book, Humanitarian Jesus, Christian Buckley and Ryan Dobson write the following: "We could spend an entire life serving people and never once risk offending anyone.  But if we open our mouths and share the biblical gospel of salvation, then we risk offense, humiliation, and scorn.  We risk being called unloving, narrow-minded, and intolerant.  We risk being persecuted rather than praised.  … Christ opened His mouth and the apostles did the same.  The consequences for almost all of them were severe, but if you if you asked any of them, they would confirm it was worth it.  Our evangelism must include what we do and who we are, but it must also include words.” (p.70)

I began to realize that so many of my “good works,” while conceived out of my love for Jesus, failed to give credit where credit was most certainly due.  If someone were witnessing these "good works," it's quite possible... okay, it's HIGHLY probable... that they reflected the actions of a humanitarian, not the heart of  Christian because I never mentioned the love of the Father, His saving grace, what he did on the cross.  I think Buckley and Dobson say it best: “Jesus was a humanitarian, but of a unique kind.  He healed to reveal true healing.  He fed to reveal true food.  He quenched thirst to reveal everlasting water.  Christ’s actions were temporal, but His intended impact was for His every word and deed to be eternally transforming.” (p. 26)  Our "good works" need to reflect this purpose... His purpose. This will never happened if we refuse to open our mouths and share the Gospel.

Challenge

Spend time thinking about your “good works.”  Do they reflect the works of a humanitarian or of a Christian? Spend time talking about the difference… and, if need be, how we can introduce Jesus into our “good works.”  In the week ahead, share Jesus with someone.  Do something nice for a neighbor or a co-worker and simply say, “Jesus put you on my heart.” Just make the introduction.

Day 12 - Snuffing Out the Light

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)

My husband recently shared a sermon he heard while driving home from work one day.  The sermon was about our responsibility, as Christians, to be a shining light in a dark world.  In my arrogance, I thought I knew where the story was going.  I mean… let’s be honest… how many times have we listened to sermons about being the salt and the light?  But, I have to admit, where my husband went with Matthew 5:14-16 caused me to take great pause. 

His analogy was a familiar one.  We are called to be a light, like the solitary, luminous candle in the darkness.  As a glass cup is slowly placed over the candle, the flame begins to flicker, and then slowly dies as the last amount of oxygen is consumed.  In that moment, the light is overtaken by darkness.  In the countless references to this analogy in the past, the glass represented some sort of disobedience (not repenting for our sins, refusing to read our Bibles, not remaining in the Word, being influenced by the world).  But, in the sermon my husband listened to, the glass represented the church.

This same sentiment was voiced by Richard Stearns in The Hole in our Gospel: "If [there is no] outward vision to become salt and light in our world, to promote social and spiritual transformation, pursue justice, and proclaim the whole Gospel, then the Church will fail to realize its potential as an agent of change. It will become inwardly focused on meeting the needs of its members to the exclusion of its nonmembers.  It will be a spiritual cocoon, where Christians can retreat from a hostile world, rather than a “transformation station” whose primary objective is to change the world. (p. 179)  

With the religious climate what it is today, it’s far too tempting to stay within the safety of our church walls, surrounded by people that understand us.  It’s just easier.  If we are that light on a hill, we will shamelessly proclaim the Gospel and introduce the people we know, and interact with, to Jesus, even if it potentially exposes us to ridicule and hostile derision.  We will turn our backs on the things of this world as we turn toward Jesus.  It means being different no matter how difficult.  

With this in mind, we need to rethink the purpose of church.  Instead of seeing it as a place of enlightening pep-talks and encouraging words that will merely help us survive the week ahead, we need to begin seeing church through a different prism.  Without question, the messages and sermons are an encouragement, but I contend that these words hold more power... a far greater purpose.  They ready us for battle, equip us with the armor of God, and kindle our fire as Jesus prepares us to go out on the hill. If we only give praise to God within the safety of our churches ... if we only acknowledge His sovereignty in the company of believers, then our lights will never shine in the darkness of our world.  While digesting all of this, contemplate another quote from The Hole in our Gospel: "Even a small match lit in a place of total darkness gives off a blinding light."

Challenge

What does it mean to you when you hear the phrase “be a light on the hill?”  Is it about being a moral person or is about pointing people to Jesus? Many people say that our actions can speak as loudly as our words… but, if Jesus is NEVER mentioned, do our actions mean anything?  Spend some time thinking about this… it will prepare you for tomorrow’s devotional!

Day 11 - Groupon vs The Gospel

^“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

Ephesians 6:19-20(NIV)

Two years ago, God revealed a rather painful truth about the condition of my heart… about my love for Him.  Up until that point, one thing was undeniably certain:  I did church REALLY well.   I served on committees; sang on the worship team; taught preschool; attended small groups.  I never suffered from a reluctance to serve Jesus… but the same could not be said about my willingness to share Him with others.  And, through His infinite supply of humor and grace, God revealed this morsel of truth to me through an unassuming Groupon. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the Groupon phenomenon, it’s a “deal-of the day” coupon that local businesses use to expand their customer base.  On this particular day, the Groupon was for a local day-spa.  As soon as I saw the advertisement, I immediately called my neighbor, knowing she would be interested in snatching up the deal.  But somewhere between the time she said, “Hello,” and my ability to explain the details of this great deal, it hit me like a brick: I was more willing to share the news of a Groupon than I was to share The Gospel.  For all the years we’d known each other, I never actually presented her with The Gospel.  She knew my faith was important to me; she saw me live it out with my family.  I had even invited her to church.  But, I never once told her about Jesus… that He is the only way to the Father… that He wants a better life for her.  Immediately I began to think about all of the possible reasons why: a fear of rejection; an inability to defend my faith; or, the possibility that my faith was merely a reflection of my heritage and not my true belief in Jesus.

In the weeks that followed, God continued to reveal things in my life that were placed above Jesus; obstacles that severely limited my ability to be an effective disciple for His Kingdom.  These realizations marked the beginning of a journey that helped me find a love for the Savior that has consumed my heart, and consequently, my life.  (Something I never thought was possible… because the concept of falling in love with Jesus seemed so abstract, and quite frankly, weird.)  Yet, I’ve come to realize that loving Jesus is anything but weird… and that having a relationship with Him isn’t theoretical symbolism. But, it requires more than attending church and reading your Bible. It requires placing Jesus above all else… and, sometimes, that’s easier said than done.  Sometimes we’re not even aware of the idols in our lives, of the sin that drives a wedge between us and the Father.  Other times, we’re very much aware of its existence, we’re just not willing to let it go. 

Challenge

Spend some time thinking about the things in your life that take precedence over Jesus.  Does your time (how you spend your time) reflect your love for the Savior… or does it more accurately reflect a greater love for something else?  Ask God to reveal a stronghold that might exist (i.e., a fear, an idol, an insecurity)…an obstacle that prevents you from introducing Jesus to your friends and family.  If you’re doing this challenge as a family, spend time discussing this question together and then praying for God to reveal those things you placed before Jesus. 

Day 10 - Where is My Abundant Life?

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”

John 10:10 (Amplified)

Okay… confession.  For the longest time, the idea of an abundant life had always been a little abstract.  In theory it sounds pretty good: to have AND enjoy life…to the full… till it overflows.  But, unfortunately, for way too long, the only things that had been full and overflowing at my house were diapers, the dishwasher, the laundry basket, and every now and again, a toilet bowl. I had cultivated inaccurate assumptions about living an abundant life.  I wrongfully assumed that putting my hope and trust in Jesus would “magically” make all things better…more accurately, I thought it would immediately change my heart, if not my circumstances. 

With regard to John 10:10, the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries notes: Jesus does not offer an extension of physical life nor an increase of material possessions, but the possibility, nay the certainty, of a life lived at a higher level in obedience to God's will and reflecting His glory. (So, for the record, abundance has nothing to do with a prolonging of life or obtaining wealth.)  Instead, it speaks to the fact that acknowledging Jesus’s lordship, surrendering to it through baptism, is only the first step.  The abundant life, promised to us here in John 10:10, is found when we live in obedience and reflect His glory.  This isn’t a “one-and-done” scenario.  It’s a day-by-day, sometimes minute-by-minute, journey where the ordinary days far out number the extraordinary ones.  When we simply must do our best in serving God… no matter where we are: at work, at home, with friends. 

In his book, The Jesus Life, Stephen Smith states, “Dailiness is where we most long for our transformation- whether it involves losing your temper with your child, speaking curtly to someone at work, losing patience in the checkout line at the store, arguing with your spouse and then muttering words you hope he or she doesn’t hear, or neglecting your prayers or Bible reading for long seasons.”  This is the “challenge” of redefining the abundant life for so many of us.  The abundance Jesus speaks of isn’t found when we escape our seemingly mundane realities… it’s found IN the mundane realities, the commonplace, the humdrum, the monotonous.  This is where the transformation takes place; where Jesus takes a hold of our hearts and molds them; aligns them with His… when we learn to appreciate where we are...no longer longing to be somewhere else, because we truly understand that He is enough... that He is the abundance.

Smith goes on to say the following: “The abundant life is not based on a plethora of options that seem exciting, life-giving and dramatic.  If this were so, then Americans above all people groups in the world would be living the abundant life, simply because we have the most choices.  But as I have said, if you were to ask American Christians to use five adjectives to describe the Christian life, would you hear abundant often?”  And that, my friends, is a very good question…

Challenge

 Today, practice the “dailiness” of following Jesus.  Spend some time thinking about obstacles, or strongholds, you’ve had in the past (or that you’re currently struggling with).  Whether it’s in your interactions with your children, or a co-worker that you’re not too friendly with, show them the love of Jesus. Offer them a cup a coffee with a smile (the co-workers, not the kids!), or simply take time out of your day to be intentional in your interactions.  Sit down and invest your time in someone… this is the basis of discipleship.   

Day 9 - What is Spiritual Heritage?

“He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.”        

Psalm 78:5-8

I recently came across a quote from an elderly minister, which made an interesting point with regard to generational heritage as many of us see it today: “We’ve given you so much to live with, but we haven’t given you very much to live for.”  There was no context given for the quote, so I won’t even attempt to explain his intention.  However, his words immediately stirred my mind and my soul.  I couldn’t help but reflect on my own spiritual heritage… passed down from my parents and from theirs… as well as the spiritual heritage that my husband and I are passing down to our children. 

Without dredging up too much of my back-story, I will say this.  My mother did “church” very well… something that was passed down from her mother.  Serving our church was never a problem, missing church was inconceivable… honestly, I think we were at church more than we were at home.  But, once we left church, once we physically stepped off the premises, Jesus was never mentioned.  If you looked at our lives… behind closed doors… there was no evidence that Jesus was even a part of our lives.  And I can’t help but wonder if this is why so many of my generation… and the generations after mine… have walked away from the church… have walked away from Jesus.

Through the years, I’ve been able to look back on my spiritual upbringing, with the gift of His grace and mercy…and see the beautiful gift I was given.  The Word of God was imprinted on my heart at such a young age… even if only within the walls of my church.  However, coming to this realization wasn’t easy because I had to look past the imperfections of my parents.  I had to accept the fact that they weren’t perfect; that their parents and grandparents, for generations, weren’t perfect.  It wasn’t until I had children that I appreciated this fact… when I saw my own imperfections begin to adversely effect their spiritual growth.  I’ve never seen a finer example of where God’s grace is sufficient. I’ve never been so thankful that His grace and mercy is made new each day.  The great thing about spiritual heritage is that it isn’t written in stone. We are not held captive by the sins of our ancestors.  We must make the decision to intentionally pass on our knowledge of Jesus to our children.  We must teach them how to pray and serve; how to put Jesus first in their lives.  If we don’t take the time to teach them these things…to live out the Gospel in our own lives everyday… our culture will be more than willing to lead them astray.

Challenge
Spend time reflecting on you own spiritual heritage.  What traditions have you incorporated into your own family?  Which have you let fall away? If your kids are old enough, ask them to share their perspective.  Please, know this could be difficult to hear… but also realize that this conversation could forever change the trajectory of your family’s spiritual heritage… for generations to come.