These tumultuous times are pushing many believers toward a necessary redefinition of the meaning of life.  Things we counted on in previous years (a home, a job, a vacation, a retirement) are threatened by a very uncertain economy.  Others may be skating thorough these storms of financial insecurity but might be facing a battle with terminal illness or family breakup.  Whatever the nature of life’s problems, they clearly provide an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the nature of the Christian life.

In part one of this devotion (which you can read below), we considered the meaning of Colossians 3:4, where we read of “Christ, who is our life.”  In an effort to embrace this truth, we looked at two key commitments:

Remember Your Status - We are “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1) and must fully embrace the implications of this truth.

Refocus Your Pursuit - We must “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Three additional commitments, found in Colossians chapter three, are vital to a core redefinition of our life.

Recalibrate Your Thoughts - When a computer fails to function properly, the user is commonly instructed to reboot, or restart, the computer.  Our cluttered and distracted minds often need a similar intervention – usually many times throughout each day.

Colossians 3:2 states, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Literally, this is the idea of a continual commitment to “fix the attention” or “give serious consideration” to something.  “Things above” speaks of matters of eternal significance.  These should become the dominating focus of our mind and its considerations.

Our thoughts determine our behavior and future.  In light of the constant bombardment of needless information, tempting images, and carnal input from people around us, we must re-engage our disciplines of thought on a daily basis.

Our minds naturally drift to temporal and worldly concerns.  They become polluted by the influence of the media and culture.  We must embrace a proactive and purposeful pursuit of things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Reaffirm Your Death - Dead people do not respond to any external stimuli, no matter how enticing it may be.  Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  As Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ.”  In writing to the Christians in Rome Paul reiterates that believers are dead to sin (6:2, 7 & 11).  Previously in Colossians, Paul has told these Christians that they are not subject to religious regulations because they died to the power of rules and legalisms (2:20).

Every day, because Christ is my life, I must reaffirm that I do not have to respond to the values, demands, and expectations of a fallen world.  I can live as one “dead” to these allurements and one fully alive and defined by Christ.

Relish Your Destiny - Ultimately, we must keep our hearts fixed on the hope that “Christ who is our life” will appear, and that we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4).  Eternity, along with its reward and ultimate worship, is just around the corner.  Any definition of life, other than Christ, is going to evaporate into irrelevance.  All that we currently see with our physical eyes will be gone.  The real scoreboard of life will triumph and we will receive everlasting reward for a life dedicated to the Lordship and centrality of Christ.  It will be worth it all – and that will be glory for us.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

What defines your life?  Good Christians know the “right” answer – but what is our real answer?  In truth, the things that dominate our thinking and consistently spark our interests are what define our life.  The real definition of our life can often be reduced to those things that we rely on for security, acceptance, and hope in this life.

The bad news for many people in today’s unsteady world is that their core definition is being threatened by the stripping away of possessions, position, and pleasures.  Like a dead bouquet of flowers, no life remains in what used to be a colorful and carefree existence.

For the true Christ-follower, these present days force a decision upon us.  Will we redefine our brief appearance on this planet in the terms of biblical truth, leading to a fresh discovery of true meaning and fulfillment?  Conversely, will we prolong the pain by clinging unnecessarily to those phantom trappings that cannot be preserved and will not provide purpose?

The Truth about Life

Colossians 3:4 speaks of “Christ who is our life.”  Christ is the definition of life itself.  The Scriptures affirm this powerful truth.  For example:

• John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
• John 14:6 – "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.'"
• John 20:31 –  “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
• 1 John 5:12 – “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

When we actually embrace this powerful truth of Christ as our very life, we can enjoy the freedom of a redefined existence.  Practically, we experience a transition in focus and a transformation in heart:

• From a life obsessed with accumulation to a life embracing simplicity
  
• From a life controlled by busyness to a life that cherishes relationships
  
• From a life worried about reputation to a life pursuing integrity
  
• From a life consumed by ambition to a life discovering contentment
  
• From a life sustained by success to a life resting in significance
  
• From a life ruled by competition to a life rejoicing in brokenness
  
• From a life enamored with status to a life in pursuit of humility
  
• From a life marked by drivenness to a life existing in peace
  
• From a life concerned about winning to a life poured out in love
  
• From a life preoccupied with earthly recognition to a life pursuing eternal reward
  
• From a life fearing earthly loss to a life delighting in eternal gain
  
• From a life of frenzied effort to a life of fulfilling purpose
  
• From a life of debilitating insecurity to a life of mature identity

Yes, But How?

So how do we embrace this core definition? This necessarily involves a daily redefinition in our thoughts and affections because our flesh constantly seeks to glom on to the false realities of this temporal world.  From the first four verses of Colossians chapter three, let me offer a few practical steps.

Remember Your Status!

Because I fly so much these days, I enjoy “elite” status on several airlines.  This simply means that I get to board early, avoid luggage fees, and enjoy occasional first-class upgrades at no charge.  I earned this status by the number of miles I have accumulated in flight.  I only maintain this status by continuing to fly in excessive amounts.

Because of Christ, every believer has a supernatural status.  Yet, we did not earn it nor do we need to maintain it.

Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you were raised with Christ.”  This is a bedrock truth for a redefined life.  Ephesians 2:5-6 describes our status: “Even when we were dead in trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  We are literally “co-resurrected” with Christ.  This is our status, because of His death and resurrection.

I remember the old Gospel song that said, “This world is not my home.  I am just passing through.“ Hebrews 11:13 describes people of faith as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  Paul reminds us that our “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). After saving us by His grace, God left us here “on assignment” to share His life with others.  Yet, our actual status is already Heaven – and we should live accordingly.

We do not move our living room furniture into the Holiday Inn when we check in for a one-night stay.  We do not install an expensive stereo in a rental car.  Neither should we pretend that this world is a permanent reality for us.  Because of grace, our status is secure and settled in Heaven.

Refocus Your Pursuit!

Living in the reality of this truth requires a daily commitment to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).  Literally, this means to “keep seeking.” It is a continual choice and commitment.

Most of us go where we look.  When we drive, we gaze at the road ahead – and tend to go there.  When we walk, we focus on the things in front of us and usually move ahead safely.  Conversely, when we get distracted and focus on something other than our desired destination, havoc occurs.  We wreck.  We trip.  We get hurt – and often hurt others.

Therefore, we must presently and actively seek the things of eternity.  Literally, this is a command to “desire”, to “set the heart” – even to ”worship”.  In spite of the many enticing distractions of the lusts and attractions of this world, we can refocus our passion moment-by-moment on the greatest reality of Christ, at the throne of God – calling us to Himself in worship and reinforcing us with holy passions for the best life possible.

Today, let us remember our status and intentionally refocus our pursuit.  A better definition of life will burn within our souls and we will find the strength we need to live righteously and godly in this present age.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

----------------------

As you read these words today, you surely have some ”unanswered” prayers.  I do.  Perhaps you have begged the Lord for the healing of a sick friend, the restoration of a relationship, the alleviation of a heavy personal burden, or clarity about His direction for your life.

Our Sympathetic Savior

Christ understands.  Of course, He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin.  As a result, He can sympathize with our weaknesses, struggles, and perplexity (Hebrews 4:14-15).  He does not reject our cries for relief because He also cried out prior to the cross.  He “offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death.” (Hebrews 5:7).  He was fully God, and knew the Father’s plan for His glory through the atoning sacrifice.  Christ was also fully man, and knew the incredible agony of the cross.  His prayers for deliverance from the cup of suffering went unanswered, but His ultimate desire for the Father’s glory and redemption of man were fulfilled.

Our Good Father

The Bible tells us that “our Heavenly Father gives good things to His children who ask” (Matthew 7:11). Yet, His will, not our desires, determines what is ultimately good for us because He is ultimately good.  Our prayers are never ignored or unheeded.  Our temporal longings may not be satisfied, but His eternal designs will be accomplished.  We soon learn that God’s answer to a particular plea may be “no”, yet with the sure promise of something greater.

Paul’s Example

Yet our perplexity remains as we live with the pain of the burden and the questions about the road ahead.  The Apostle Paul writes transparently about this very kind of journey.  In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he tells of his experience with his thorn in the flesh.  We can only speculate of the specific nature of the thorn, but can firmly deduce its severity.  It was like a “stake” that impaled him.  Paul felt “buffeted” (beat with a fist) by this messenger of Satan.

As we often do, Paul repeatedly begged the Lord to take it away.  Yet, God did not remove the pain.  Instead, our wise and sovereign Lord responded, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).   While Paul’s problem apparently did not change, his perspective changed dramatically.   He went from being problem-conscious to power-conscious.  Paul embraced the weakness he felt and, thus, experienced the great power of Christ’s sufficiency.

No Unanswered Prayers

In reality, the Christ follower's prayers never go unanswered.  Our sympathetic Savior, the goodness of our Father, and the example of Paul assure us that God hears and responds.  His answers may not always be in accordance with our immediate desires but fulfill God’s ultimate design for our lives.  To help us respond properly and endure honorably, Christ gives us sufficient grace.  Truly, He has tailor-made grace for everything we face.  He lavishes grace on our unique pain and strengthens our inner being to make us thrive, even in the midst of our prolonged perplexities.

The Lessons of Grace and Glory

In the same book where Paul wrote about his thorn, he gives us powerful insight about the change in thinking that occurs in the heart of true disciples, even when our trials threaten to undermine our well-being.  Paul writes, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).  Paul learned that his difficult external circumstances and his plaguing physical frailties unleashed a greater power at work in and through him, bringing glory to God.  This is the power of the grace of the Gospel.

Paul gets more specific as he continues to write, “we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).

Then, he reflects on one more benefit of this journey of grace, marked by pain and perplexity.  He writes, “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).  Through his trials, Paul tasted deeply of grace and was given a vision of God’s ultimate glory in his life, and through his life in fruitful ministry to others.

Perspective for Today

Today, many of us face pain and perplexity that will not go away.  It may be physical, emotional, relational, or financial.  God may answer our prayers in a way that removes the pain and solves the immediate problem.  He may answer our prayers by unleashing new grace in and through the pain.

Either way, we can embrace the right perspective.  Read these words carefully, remembering they came from the heart of a man whose “thorn” never went away.  May God give us all grace to live with these truths always in mind.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Among all of our American celebrations and festivities, there is nothing like Christmastime.  It is a time for all-out decorating, family gatherings, mouth-watering feasts, thoughtful generosity, evocative worship, and much-needed vacation.

Two Kinds of Christmastime

The New Testament speaks of “time” in two primary ways.  The first is chronos, from which we get the word “chronology.” This is the idea of continuous time that we measure in hours, minutes, or seconds.  The second word for time is kairos, which is the idea of a fixed moment or a season of opportunity.  The difference between these two words is the difference between a minute and a moment.  A minute is measured by seconds on a clock.  A moment is measured by an experience or an opportunity.

In my book The Seven Most Important Questions You’ll Ever Answer, I speak of this issue extensively.* One conclusion I draw is that we must learn to find kairos in the chaos of our chronos.  This is especially true when it comes to Christmas.  We experience a lot of chaos in the rush and bustle of the season.  Yet, wisdom dictates that we look for and focus on kairos in the midst of the commotion.  This is the secret to a truly meaningful Christmas.

Looking for Christmas Kairos in all the Right Places

Practically speaking, how do we seize the moments, not just spend the minutes, as we celebrate the birth of the Savior and seek to enjoy the time we share with others?

Discovery, not just a date – This year our family celebrated Christmas on the weekend prior to December 25th, rather than the weekend of December 25th.  Our second son and his wife have to be back in Texas for Christmas, where he serves as a worship pastor.  Therefore, we made December 19th & 20th our Christmas celebration.   This reminded me that the focus is not on a number on the calendar but on the joy of what God has for us around this season.  It was a discovery of the moments of being together, not just a date that we rigidly have to clench.

Generosity, not just gifts – This Christmas, economic realities have changed the way many people manage their gift-giving budgets.  While the gifts may be smaller, they are more sacrificial.  This is a good reminder that Christmas is not about the presents, but the purpose of giving.  In many ways, more sacrificial and meaningful gifts are more Christ-honoring than just piling presents under a tree because it is the thing to do in a materialistic culture.

Trust, not just traditions – Families love to create and capture Christmas traditions.  Good as these may be, they inevitably change.  Children move away, family members pass away, and the “good old days” fade away.  However, Christmas is deeper than even our cherished traditions.  Christmas is the “mass of Christ” – the worship of a Savior.  He is not just a figure in history but also a living Lord, present and powerful in December 2009.  You may have lost many of your holiday traditions through the changes of time – but you can trust the living Christ with every thought, emotion, and concern of your life.

Intimacy, not just activity – Ultimately, the most wise and considerate way to experience Christmas kairos is to focus on issues of eternal significance, even though all the trappings and activities can be so captivating.  Ultimately, we must give our best energies to those eternal moments with our eternal God – and eternal moments for eternal souls.  Time spent in intimacy with Christ brings us back to the reality of the true meaning of Christmas.  Time spent focusing on eternal souls for the sake of Christ represents the heart of the Christ of Christmas.

Last year, on Christmas day, we experienced the first Christmas when not all of our children were home.  Justin and Christa were in Minnesota enjoying family in their first holiday as a married couple.   Rather than bemoan the change, the rest of us decided to go to a local nursing home – sing Christmas carols, give gifts, and pray for those less fortunate.  It was a different way to spend the day – but so meaningful.  We remembered that Christmas could have eternal significance even when the temporal trappings change.

Biblical Insight for an Ideal Christmas

God’s Word gives us solid reminders about what we do with our time this Christmas. Paul wrote, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15–17).

Paul reminds us to be wise, not foolish, in how we manage our moments and live our lives.  Good advice for the Christmas holiday.  He tells us to “redeem” or make the most of our time, because the days are evil.  The idea here focuses on purchasing something, buying something back.  Paul is saying, “Redeem the time.” It is not yours automatically.  You have to seize it, reach for it, and grasp it.  Why? Because the days are evil.

With similar insight, Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Christmas is a moment when we must be wise to rise above the ever-present and growing evil of this world in order to grasp the meaning of life and the real treasures of this journey.  Let us seize these kairos moments – for the glory of Christ and the good of our souls.

On behalf of our family and ministry, I pray for Christ’s provision and presence in all of your Christmas moments.  Thank you for your friendship and partnership.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* This book is available here at www.strategicrenewal.com and is a very relevant resource for the beginning of a new year.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a pastor in Florida, following a recent renewal weekend held in Titusville.  He wrote:

“I just heard a lady on our local Christian radio station speaking about the Prayer Summit so I thought I would drop you a line and pass on her comments. She said she had never experienced anything like it before in her life. This is the first time that she actually experienced the presence of God and it was powerful. She said she would never be the same as a result.”

Of course, I was deeply encouraged by the testimony of this unnamed caller.  I am sure she also blessed others as she shared her experience with listeners.

On the other hand, I find it quite interesting that so many believers, like this lady, have a genuine void in their sense of experiencing the presence of Christ in their lives.  It is so easy for all of us to go through our days with a dutiful commitment to Christian doctrine and behavior, yet not enjoy a powerful sense of His presence.

The Christmas Promise for Those who Believe

At this Christmas season, we must embrace the message delivered to Joseph in the days before the birth of Christ.  Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the angel declared, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’“ (Matthew 1:22-23).  Jesus is the manifestation of God’s fullness (Colossians 1:19 & 2:9) and His finished work on the cross made it possible for His presence to live in and among us in a personal and permanent fashion.  We have become His temple, individually (1 Corinthians 6:19) and collectively (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:21) as the church.  Truly God is “with us” because of Jesus.

The Compelling Reality of God’s People

To better understand the issue of God’s presence among men, let’s make a quick review of this doctrine.  First, there is the fact of God’s GENERAL presence.  The Bible speaks of His omnipresence in passages like Psalm 139, where the writer affirms that he cannot go anywhere in the universe apart from God’s presence (Psalm 139:7-10).  Second, there is the truth of God’s PERSONAL presence, revealed to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, made possible through the finished work of Christ, our Immanuel.  Third, there is the reality of God’s MANIFEST presence, when God’s glory is revealed in an unusual way.  This was seen in the Old Testament through the “shekinah” of God in the cloud by day, the fire by night, and the holy manifestation of God’s presence in the temple.

In a New Testament sense, this is this idea of Christ living in the fullness of His power in the believer and among His people.  The doctrine of “glory” really represents this idea.   I define the New Testament doctrine of glory as “the magnification of the person of Christ by His people and the manifestation of the presence of Christ among His people."

When presenting the Gospel message to the crowd in Acts 3, Peter described this good news as “times of refreshing” that would come from “the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  Christ wants to fill the church with His glory (Ephesians 3:20).  We are all invited to experience His presence “with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” so that we will be “transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  When this occurs in a context of biblical worship, unbelievers in our midst are captivated and exclaim, “God is truly among you” (1 Corinthians 14:25).

The Call to Draw Near

While our sense of the presence of Christ cannot be reduced to some occasional feeling, we must truly experience this presence in real and powerful ways.  Otherwise, we have reduced “Immanuel” to a theological principle and a historical religious figure.  Like the Florida caller, many of us do not experience His presence as we should.  Why was her experience so powerful during our Prayer Summit?  How can you understand and sense the power of Immanuel this Christmas?

Psalm 145:18 says, “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”  James 4:8 elaborates: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  Hebrews 10:19-22 speaks of the boldness with which we can “enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,” inviting us to “draw near with full assurance of faith."

The call to Christmas is a call to “draw near.”  I often say, “The Lord is always glad to oblige when we give Him our undivided attention.”  Jim Cymbala notes, “The main thing God asks for is our attention.”  The Florida group drew near to Christ over several days – worshiping earnestly, reading His Word, and calling out to Him in extended, focused fashion.  They sought Christ with sincerity, repentance, faith, and passionate love.  He drew near with His gracious, transforming, and holy presence.

The Present of Presence

This Christmas we do not want to miss the best present of His manifest presence.  We do not want to be like the religious people of the Old and New Testaments who drew near with their mouths but whose hearts were far from God (Matthew 15:8).  Busyness, distraction, and apathy will keep us from the fullness of Immanuel.

Take time to give Him your time and attention – beyond the common presentations and church services of the season.  Carve out quality time to really draw near to Immanuel.

Remember, “it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).  Enjoy the gift of His presence as you seek the face of the Christ of Christmas.

Thanksgiving requires a cultivated memory.  Forgetfulness is the fuel for ingratitude.  Remembering the ways and works of God in our lives excites profound gratitude and authentic faith.  Genuine gratitude spans beyond the immediate sight of food on the table or even the review of a decent year of life.  A thankful heart is captured by the active goodness of God in the entire course of one’s life – and throughout the history of the generations.

When Adults Forget – Children Suffer

Recently I meditated on Psalm 78, which tells the story of Israel’s history with the express purpose of counteracting spiritual rebellion and ingratitude.  The Psalmist reviews the profound punctuation of God’s patience, mercy, and goodness to a fickle and disobedient people.  The Psalmist writes, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done” (v. 4).  The passion of the Psalm is to stimulate a good memory of God’s works so that many generations to come would be grateful and faithful to God.

As the writer goes on to recount the detailed history of God’s goodness, he describes his purpose in these words: 

"That the generation to come might know them; the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children; That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.“ (Psalm 78:6-8)

Later in the Psalm, the writer describes these ungrateful ancestors by noting that they "forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them" (v. 11) and "they did not remember His power" (v. 42).

Forgetfulness Fosters a Faithless Heart

Clearly, forgetfulness fosters a faithless heart.  Psalm 106 presents a similar account of Israel’s history and the perils of forgetfulness.  Psalm 106:3 notes, "They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel," while v. 21 reiterates, "They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt."

I have often wondered about the ten lepers Jesus healed as described in Luke 17:11-19.  Only one Samaritan returned and fell down on his face at the feet of Jesus to give thanks.  What happened to the other nine?  Were they completely ungrateful for the miracle Jesus accomplished in their bodies?  On the other hand, were they just forgetful in the midst of the excitement of their newly endowed health?  I suppose they were both forgetful and ungrateful.  The two tend to go together.  Jesus said of the one who returned, “Your faith has made you well.” What could be said of the other nine?  We might conclude that in the midst of their miracle – forgetfulness resulted in faithlessness.

Cultivating Thanksgiving Memories

Every Thanksgiving we go around the table and do a fun exercise called “Alphabet Thanks.” We each take a successive letter of the alphabet and name something that starts with that letter, expressing thanks for that person or blessing.  Sometimes the expressions are very thoughtful, often a bit silly – depending on the letter.  This Thanksgiving, I would like to work harder on a more meaningful exercise of real remembrance of God’s goodness.

Here are some conversation starters for this year’s Thanksgiving gatherings as we reflect beyond the turkey, parades, and football games:

• What stories have you heard about God’s goodness to your parents and grandparents?
• Early in your life, how did you see God’s goodness and faithfulness to you?
• In the last ten years, what highlights do you recall as you think about God’s faithfulness to you?
• In the past year, what has God done to demonstrate His care and provision?
• When you think about other family members or friends, what stories come to mind about God’s goodness?

Keep Remembering

Psalm 103:2 tells us, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  All His benefits.  That exercise will cultivate a lot of gratitude.  This Thanksgiving, ask the Lord for a healthy, holy sense of memory.  Let that commitment spark rich gratitude for all that the Lord has done.

Imagine visiting your local zoo.  As you approach the camel pen you see a big sign: “Don’t eat the camels!”  You’d likely laugh out loud.  Who would ever try to eat a camel?  Yet, Jesus posts just such a sign on the Christian pathway to spiritual maturity.  It seems an odd warning – but let’s take a look at its indispensable message.

Imagine the absurdity of someone trying to swallow a camel in one big gulp.  Clearly, not smart.  Certainly impossible.  Probably deadly.  Yet often attempted by stalwart religious people, according to Jesus, who described the ultimate theologians of His day as those who “who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24)

His comment was probably a brief humorous illustration in the context of the most scathing sermon of His earthly ministry.  If you are feeling like you have some thick skin today, you can read the entire message in Matthew 23:13-36.  The common sermon title is “Eight Woes to the Religious Leaders.”  Our Lord preached it among a large crowd in the temple as He pronounced His judgment on the Jewish religious elite.  Some say it is in contrast to the eight blessings found in the Sermon on the Mount.  Preacher Jesus didn’t make any friends that day with his “woeful” sermon.

The sermon targets those who take great care to strain the small bugs out of their drinking water then turn around to gulp down a camel without even realizing the contradiction and hypocrisy of the experience.  We might call it a very bad case of spiritual myopia, packed with contradiction and leading to destruction.

Modern-Day Camel Swallowers

We’ve all seen camel swallowers in the church.  Maybe it’s an attendee who did not like a particular song in the service, then goes around slandering the music pastor and creating massive disharmony.  I’ve known people who want to go “deep” into the Scriptures and are critical of any teacher whose delivery doesn’t adequately meet their preferences.  Yet, in their own lives they tolerate sinful habits and consistently exhibit a caustic and unrestrained tongue.  I’ve heard stories of church leaders who create significant disunity within the leadership team over an issue of personal preference.  The examples could go on for miles.  The “Hall of Shame for Christian Camel-Eaters” is packed with ignoble examples.

Avoiding the Camel Choke

So how do we avoid choking our personal, family, and congregational vitality through camel swallowing?  As a pastor, I am responsible to encourage people to watch their dietary habits when it comes to gnats and camels.  As one who has a burden for the body of Christ in our nation, I hope we can have a diet revolution and learn to stay away from the camels.  As a follower of Christ, I pray for the personal wisdom to know and discern my own ways in order to please Christ and honor His character.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Learn to discern. There is a difference between a legalistic approach (creating false standards of spirituality, and then judging others by your preferential standard) and a truly biblical approach of personal discussion (vs. open criticism) with a loving attitude.  The only way to do this is to know the Scriptures enough to discern between myopia and maturity.

2. Check your motives.  Is your heart motivated by grace, coupled with a passion to edify others and build up the body?  Or is your approach simply a desire to control others (or even the direction of the church) through complaining and criticism?

3. Look in the mirror first.  It’s been said that the critic who begins with himself will have little time to take on outside contracts.  Are you careful to first evaluate your own heart, life, and words before launching your campaign against another brother or sister?

4. Invite accountability.  We can often get so caught up in the subjectivity of our thoughts and feelings that we can’t even see the camels we are feeding on.  Ask a truly godly, discerning, and courageous brother or sister to give you honest feedback about your behavior and words.  Then, be ready to humbly listen and accept responsibility for whatever they tell you.

5. Keep a clear conscience.  If you find out you’ve been gulping camels and have hurt other believers or a group of believers, demonstrate the sincerity of your self-evaluation and repentance by confessing it to the Lord and humbly seeking forgiveness from those you’ve hurt.

6. Remember eternity.  All camel-eaters will ultimately be exposed.  Eternity is a long time to live with the regret of a silly camel diet.

Let’s keep Jesus‘ warning about hypocrisy and myopia always in mind.  It helps underscore our own desire for spiritual authenticity.  It’s a great idea for parents raising their children in a spiritually confused world.  It is an essential principle for our dealings with one another.  It is crucial for church leaders. 

When asked, “How do you eat a camel?” I hope our answer will always be, “We don’t. It is no longer on the menu.” 

Some months ago I had the joy of preaching at an installation service for a dear friend of mine.  He is a young, up-and-coming pastor with great potential.  I spoke from 2 Timothy 4:5.  The message still captures my heart as follower of Christ and leader of His people.

This verse is Paul’s final admonition to Timothy, and the final advice of his life. (The remainder of this chapter involves a personal commentary of Paul’s faith and various reflections about a wide array of people.)  Shortly after he wrote this last section of his letter to Timothy, he was martyred and his earthly ministry was terminated.

We are all aware of the potency of a person’s “famous last words.”  We should be particularly attuned to the final words of unambiguous challenge from Paul to his “son in the faith” – and to each of us.

Paul wrote, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.“  Four ultimate concerns mark this passage and need to move our hearts.

Be Watchful

First, Paul says, “Be watchful in all things.” Other translations read, “Keep your head in all situations,” “Be sober in all things,” and “Keep control of yourself in all circumstances.”  It is the idea of keeping a clear mind in order to properly control your behavior.  Satan targets our minds with lies, doubts, condemnation, and temptation.  The world targets our minds with distorted values, lusts, and false gods.  Our flesh battles against a clear mind when we succumb to discouragement, fear, self-reliance, and pride.  The list goes on.  Paul learned, and so must we, that our primary concern is ourselves, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Endure

The second challenge says, “Endure afflictions.”  The Message says, “Accept the hard times along with the good,” while the New Living charges, “Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.”  Those who live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.  At the end of Galatians, Paul’s ultimate mark of credibility resounded in these words: “Let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ."

The Bible places great value on “those who endure to the end” as a mark of real salvation.  We do not find “three easy steps” to avoiding affliction.  Instead, we are called to walk in His steps as we bear up under the pressure of suffering, with the result of becoming more like Christ, deeper in our character, and more fruitful in our lives of service.

Stay on Mission

Third, Paul calls Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.”  We say it so often: the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  Cultivating a constant burden for the lost and striving toward consistent witness keeps the heart in touch with the heart and mission of Jesus, who came to “seek and to save those who are lost.”  It is easy to get so absorbed in keeping the aquarium that we lose our passion to fish for men.

Finish!

Finally, Paul says, “Fulfill your ministry.”  We are told to perform our whole duty – to complete the ministry God has given us.  Someday when we get to Heaven we will be asked, “Did you fulfill the unique ministry I gave to YOU?”  We will not be responsible for living life in the pattern of some other person, or imitating another individual.  Rather, we will want to stand before the Savior and say, “I completed the special and unique ministry You entrusted just to me.”  What joy that will be!

So today, my friend, it comes down to these vital questions: Are you thinking clearly and biblically right now?  Are you keeping your eyes on Christ as you endure the disappointments and attacks of life?  Are you cultivating a burden and consistent witness to the lost?  Are you dialed in to what God has called YOU to do and seeking to stay focused on your specific race?  If so, Paul’s famous last words will bear fruit in your life for the good of others and the glory of Jesus.  When it is all said and done, this is what really matters.

While in college I memorized a poem by Walter D. Wintle that said:

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win but you think you can't,

It's almost certain you won't.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can.

While this poem may just sound like a dose of “Positive Mental Attitude,” we know Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that “as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  I find that those who live a victorious Christian life have certain patterns of thought that make the difference.

The Inward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Discipline Toward Praise

In a recent e-devotion, I taught on the idea of biblical self-talk (see http://strategicrenewal.com/_blog/Weekly_E-Devotional/post/Start_Talking_to_Yourself/).  With this concept in mind, I am reminded that an overcomer disciplines his internal conversation toward praise.  Discipline involves regulating your thinking and conduct by principle – not emotion, impulse, or circumstances.

We’ve observed the mental discipline David employed when he wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5, 11 & 43:5).  Again in Psalm 103:1 & 2 he disciplined his thinking with these words: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

An overcoming life embraces the discipline of Philippians 4:8: “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things."

The Upward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Delight in Love

An overcomer also looks upward to the risen Christ and experiences a delight in His unfailing love.  He constantly rejoices in the source of an overcoming life – the victorious love of the Lord Jesus.

In Romans 8:35-39, Paul expressed this in such a powerful way:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Consistent victory in the Christian life is an expression of the security that comes in knowing that we are loved.  When children know they are loved, they live with a confident freedom to do what is right, focus on others, and follow their dreams.  The principle applies to spouses, friends, and employees.

1 John 4:18-19 assures us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us."

I always cherish those powerful moments in Prayer Summits when the Spirit leads us to the biblical theme of God’s love for us.  Often we take time to praise Christ for His love in words like, “I praise You, Lord Jesus, that you love me even when…” or “I praise You that You love me even if…” It is so empowering to know that we cannot do anything to cause Him to love us less or coerce Him to love us more.  He has set His love upon us because it is His character to do so.  That is security.  That is the delight of an overcoming heart.

The Outward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Dedication to Faithful Impact

A victorious follower also looks outward at a needy world and rests in the truth of the indwelling, overcoming Christ.  His dedication to faithful impact is rooted in knowing that Christ is faithful to live in and through his abiding heart.

First Corinthians 15:57 & 58 inspires us, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  Second Corinthians 2:14 offers similar encouragement: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

As an overcomer we must live in the firm faith that He will live through us to express His life and light in a broken and dark world.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

Living in Unashamed Victory

So, as we look inward we discipline our thoughts toward praise.  As we look upward we delight in His overcoming love.  As we look outward we are dedicated to faithful impact, knowing Christ will live through us.

As a result we can walk in fellowship with Christ and one another, manifesting His victory and declaring an authentic message.  Enjoy this great reminder as we resolve to live a victorious and unashamed faith:

"The Fellowship of the Unashamed"

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear, for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). – (by Dr. Bob Moorehead)

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Recently, I had the joy of preaching a message from Daniel 9:1-19, where we find a powerful, passionate prayer offered by Daniel on behalf of the people of Israel.  The 70 years of captivity were about to end and the Jews would have the opportunity to return to Jerusalem.  Daniel worshiped, confessed the sins of his people, and anguished over their spiritual condition.  He was more concerned with what would happen in their hearts than he was about the superficial issues of simply changing locations with their newfound freedom to return home.

Clearly, Daniel’s prayer is a model for all of us.  It is an example of the great need for spiritual anguish in our prayers.  As we look around our nation, and particularly at the spiritual condition of the body of Christ, there is much to be grateful for – but there is also much that should stir a sense of spiritual anguish, marked by fervent confession, pleas for God’s mercy, and longings for a restoration of His power and presence.

The Secrets of a Heart of Anguishing Prayer

Let us look briefly at this prayer of anguish and then allow our own hearts to sense the need for a similar pursuit in our prayers.

1.      Anguishing prayer is birthed from the truth of God’s word

We find that his reading of God’s word ignited Daniel’s prayer.  Daniel 9:2-3 tells us that he had been reading the prophet Jeremiah (probably the portions we identify as Jeremiah 25:11-12 & 29:10). As a result, he was aware that the 70 years was almost over.  His response was, “I set my face toward the Lord God…"

Even into his 80’s at this time, Daniel’s reading and deep understanding of God’s word led to deep and passionate prayer.  In fact, further study reveals that much of his prayer comes right out of the Scriptures.  There are allusions to Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Exodus, Psalms and, of course,  Jeremiah.  Throughout the prayer, Daniel referenced God’s “commandments” (verse 4), His “commandments and ordinances” (verse 5), the “prophets” (verse 6), God’s “teachings” (verse 10), God’s “Law” (verse 11), the “Law of Moses” (verses 11, 13), and God’s “truth” (verse 13).

John Piper tells how George Mueller said that for years he tried to pray without starting in the Bible in the morning.  Inevitably, his mind wandered.  Then he started with the Bible, and turned the Book into prayer as he read, and for 40 years he was able to stay focused and powerful in prayer.  Piper then notes, “I have seen that those whose prayers are most saturated with Scripture are generally most fervent and most effective in prayer.  And where the mind isn't brimming with the Bible, the heart is not generally brimming with prayer."

2.      Anguishing prayer is concerned with the honor of God’s name

Daniel’s petition is God-centered.  At least 19 times, he makes reference to God, while man is referenced approximately 11 times (mostly in the context of confession of sin).  In his prayer, Daniel speaks of God as the “great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy…“(9:4).  He tells of how God’s mighty hand exhibited His great name (9:15).  In verses 17-19  Daniel prays, “…for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine…the city which is called by Your name…because of Your great mercies…for Your own sake, my God…for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." Notice the God-oriented nature of the prayer – and Daniel’s passion for the glory of God’s name.  It was this desire that led to deep confession (vv. 4-15) and a prayer of great faith (16-19).

Too many times our anguish is simply over our own inconveniences and trials.  Thankfully, the Lord hears and cares.  However, our ultimate concern should be that of Daniel’s.  The fame and honor of God’s name is the deepest desire of a true Christ-follower.

3.      Anguishing prayer is sustained by a longing for God’s presence

I love Daniel’s resolve in the phrase, “…then I set my face toward the Lord God…“(v. 3).  As the English Standard Version says, “…seeking Him in prayer.”  This was a face-to-face pursuit, where Daniel resolves with sackcloth, ashes, and fasting to pursue the ultimate reality of a revival of God’s presence among His people.  That is why he prayed, “For the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate” (v. 17).  In verse 20, he noted that his prayer was ultimately “for the holy mountain of my God.”  This is a key to real anguish.  It is not satisfied with superficial progress of the religious program but desires nothing less than a full manifestation of God’s presence.

In Exodus 33:15-18 Moses exemplifies this same passion.  Even though God’s angel was going to lead them into the Promised Land, God said His intimate presence would not go with them.  Moses resolved, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."  Then he cried out, "Please, show me Your glory."

This is the same vision for our lives that Paul articulated when he wrote, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Real anguish is dissatisfied with anything less.

4.      Anguishing prayer is answered in accordance with God’s plan

Daniel 9:20-23 tells us of God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer of anguish.  The angel Gabriel was sent speedily from God’s presence to give Daniel “skill to understand” God’s plan (v.22) and to assure Daniel that he was loved by God (v. 23).  What ensues is the revelation of the “70 weeks” that would take place in the future as God restored Israel through the coming of the Messiah.  Ultimately, we must also know that His Spirit will minister to us out of our anguish to teach us that His plan and timing are always best and to assure us of His never-failing love.

Will We Anguish?

It is strange how we can have a passion for our nation in other categories, but often fail to agonize over the spiritual condition of our land.  We get excited about national sports, national news, national politics, and the national economy.  Yet our great need is a sense of anguish over our spiritual condition as a nation.  The greatest need in our nation is not better sports leagues, more political ideas, or even economic recovery.  The great need is spiritual revival.  So, how are we really anguishing about this?

I will never forget when this sense of anguish became so strong on my own heart that I felt compelled to leave the security of the pastorate in a very large local church and become a missionary by faith for the sake of spiritual renewal in our nation.  The elders at Grace Church graciously said, “You could stay here and our church could grow to 10,000 or more – or, you can go and ignite renewal in 10,000 pastors and congregations.  Which would have greater impact?”  Their support reflected a God-given sense of God’s anguish over our nation.  This anguish is something we all must feel at some level.  Then we must act by praying, serving, going, and giving.

Recently, I had the privilege of leading a prayer time at the national headquarters for Life Action Ministries in Buchannan, Michigan.  During one of our prayer sessions, we watched a video by David Wilkerson.  (As a side note, you can view it for yourself at http://tiny.cc/zIm1L.  I would URGE you to watch it and share it with others.)  Read an excerpt from that video, and let it touch your heart:

“Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God?  Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry?  It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age.  Anguish means, ‘extreme pain and distress – the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful.  Acute, deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you.’  Anguish – the sorrow and agony of God’s heart.  We’ve held on to our religious rhetoric and our revival talk.  But we’ve become so passive.  All true passion is birthed out of anguish.  All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish. You search the Scripture and you find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation, He would share His own anguish for what God saw happening to His people.  He would find a praying man and he would take that man and literally baptize him in anguish."

Praying for Anguishing Prayer

Even though I am now giving my life for the cause of spiritual awakening, I feel a longing for an increasing anguish over this calling and the spiritual needs of the American church.  My prayer is that you will share God’s heart at a deeper level for this same reality.

Let us pray for an anguish that is birthed from the truth of God’s word, concerned with the honor of God’s name, sustained by longing for God’s presence, and answered in accordance with God’s plan.  This is God’s invitation to live lives that really matter.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.