Nothing to Lose

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it. . .” (Luke 14:28 MKJV)

Jimmy Cagney, in 1956 a made-for-radio production, played a vagrant reporter caught up in a mission for justice in a small town being bullied by a powerful man of low integrity. A political official told him not to expect help in his quest. “You have nothing to lose,” the man told the reporter.

Nothing to lose! We’ve learned about the rich man Y’shuaJesus asked to sell all, and then to give the money to the poor. The cost was high. He had much to lose. Too much. At least that’s what he thought.

When we have something, how do we have an attitude toward G-d that is as if we had nothing to lose? In part it’s loyalty, dedication, integrity. Y’shuaJesus said (Luke 14:26) “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” And we’re all familiar with (Mat 6:24) “No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

So we applaud the reporter for his persistence in seeking justice, boldly speaking truth. It’s something big, something obviously needing a crusader. That reporter stirred people against the tyranny of the reprobate. But then he could, he couldn’t himself be attacked. Unlike one character in the story, he didn’t have a home with a mortgage that might come under jeopardy by fighting against evil. He didn’t hold a public office. He couldn’t be fired. He was foot-loose, fancy-free, as the expression puts it. A vagrant. No job. No home. Nothing to lose.

But how can I live my life as if I had nothing to lose? Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Strong faith enables the servants of God to look with calm contempt upon their most haughty foes. We know that our enemies are attempting impossibilities. They seek to destroy the eternal life, which cannot die while Jesus lives.”

So to the love we have toward our Lord and Savior that fosters dedication, integrity, loyalty, we add the knowledge of our true life: eternal life. An eternal perspective. It can’t be taken from me. Y’shuaJesus granted it; He will keep it for me. With that in mind, what else is important? There is to be only One Who is to be my Lord, my Master. I must focus upon Him, who holds the key to Heaven, and ultimately the key to Earth.

Focusing on G-d each day is making a choice to be loyal, dedicated to Y’shuaJesus. It is integrity. It is honesty. It is considering G-d and His glory in each decision I make during the day. In the little decisions. In the big decisions. In each choice, I must choose the way that exalts G-d, that is true to Him. This applies equally to small things as big. It applies to things in private, unseen by anyone, as to things very public, seen by all.

Live today as if we have nothing to lose. For really we don’t. Earth will pass away. Heaven awaits us all, if not today, then tomorrow or the next tomorrow. Eternity with G-d awaits those called by Him.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Lip Service

“You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience.” (Jeremiah 12:2 HCSB)

“Small Town Southern Man” by Alan Jackson played; I sat in wonder at the chorus: “. . . and he bowed his head to Jesus, stood for the country, and loved one woman. . . .” I like country music when it includes this type of theme. I like Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” I hope, I pray, that it is not only with their lips that they speak of our Lord; I want desperately to believe they bow their head, their lives, to our G-d. I have hopes that people will hear and understand that it’s really okay to live an observant Christian life, to have a life that encompasses Y’shuaJesus.

Am I naive? Do they, rather: “. . .play lip service to [G-d], but do not serve, do not worship [G-d].”

Previously we have looked at service based upon an obligation that we have as children of the Creator, believers in the salvation wrought upon the cross by Y’shuaJesus, empowered to live by the Holy Spirit. Noblesse Oblige! But what marks us as believers? Can we preach the Gospel without words, as St. Francis said? Are we observant of any Biblical regulations, though not a requirement for salvation?

What is an observant people in light of the freedom we have in Christ as the fulfillment of the Law? Since we no longer feel a compulsion to observe the 613 laws derived from the “Old” Testament, as our Orthodox Jewish brethren do, what do we observe? Will we continue to call legalistic anyone who would observe a regulation based upon the Bible. We are free to live without regulation. We are free spirits, blown in the Spiritual breeze. Our salvation is assured. We didn’t earn it. So we can forget the Law?

Am I cynical to say that the only time regulations are spoken of from the pulpit is when it’s time to play the tithe card, or when it suits the preacher? We teach children about the Ten Commandments, but do we teach them to live them? What do we teach new believers in Messiah about obligations and regulations?

I don’t have answers. I have questions that demand examination. We need to each examine the different Laws for ourselves: the dietary; the rituals that include dress codes; and the moral codes. I think we can agree we have an obligation to continue observance of all moral Laws, at least.

If we observe the moral laws, then this must mark us as slaves of Y’shuaJesus. Yet even non-believers observe moral laws. So what marks us as Christians? Is it having a fish on our cars? Is it wearing a cross around our necks? If I read the Bible in the morning, if I pray throughout the day, will you know that I’m a Christian? What marks me as different? Think about it.

Perhaps nothing external marks us as belonging to Messiah, being a Child of G-d. Perhaps! Yet faintly I hear in my mind the chorus of a song we sung back in my days with Calvary Chapel of Susanville, California. “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

It is our love that marks us as Christians, disciples of The Messiah, believers in the Son of G-d, the Son of Man. It is love that binds us together. It’s not about external stuff, it’s not even about external actions. It’s about love. G-d loved us first. Now we love.

May G-d grant us the mind of Messiah and the love of G-d to worship with holiness with our lives. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Noblesse Oblige; More Thoughts

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses. . . to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 HCSB)

Previously we’ve established that we are nobility. We are the children of The King. With this privilege comes a responsibility, an obligation. It is the obligation of the noble–noblesse oblige. Furthermore we agree that we did not earn this place as children of G-d and our eternal salvation, but were grafted in to the Kingdom through the sacrifice of Y’shuaJesus, His death and resurrection. Now let’s move forward, and talk about fulfilling our noble obligation.

Last week I wrote that our life might well be summed up as seeking righteousness and seeking humility. In all situations into which we are thrust, we weigh options, consider responses. It is to our benefit if we seek a righteous response, if we seek humility in all situations. To do this we are not alone. We have been given Spiritual power to live, to act, to love. Y’shuaJesus said that we’d have the Holy Spirit come upon us to be His witnesses to the ends of the Earth.

But Friday I didn’t feel much like a witness of Y’shuaJesus. My kids were getting on my nerves. It was hot. It was humid. The traffic was terrible as we returned from Perimeter Church where they’ve been attending an outdoor course. They were tired. I was tired. They squabbled. I wanted it to stop. I finally said to be quiet or else. I don’t really know what the “or else” actually means, but they quieted down and the hot wind coming through the half-opened windows put them to sleep.

Once home, I fretted that I really don’t feel like I have power over situations. There are so many things I can’t control. I don’t even feel as though I have the power to truly respond to situations in a holy manner. I don’t feel. . . And here’s what Peter wrote: “For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 HCSB)

It seems to me that the point is that Peter didn’t say I’d feel powerful and holy in sharing the divine nature. He tells me that in the “knowledge of Him who called us. . . we have promises.” And that we “escape the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.” As I write this it occurs to me that sharing in the divine nature shapes my desires. And my desires are being shaped that they are not evil desires. Perhaps it is not so much what we do, how we react within the drama of our daily lives, but it is what we don’t do, how we don’t react, that makes us witnesses of G-d.

We are children of G-d. We are nobility. We are being shaped by the indwelling Spirit of G-d. We grow in our knowledge of Messiah, in His promises, in His ways. When we stumble, we have forgiveness. And we are able to forgive. Our growth is that we always are seeking righteousness and seeking humility.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon you, this week and eternally. Amen.

Noblesse Oblige ReVisited

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:45-46 ESV)

In our second time with Noblesse Oblige, let’s begin with the end in sight. There are two possible scenarios: first, our flesh dies then our spirit flies to Y’shuaJesus; second, we greet our Lord when He returns to Earth. In either case, our lifetime is summed up in what we are doing when we meet Y’shuaJesus. We can see this in light of the parable of the talents, too: Y’shuaJesus will settle accounts with us when we see Him. (Matthew 25:19 HCSB)

Point One: Yesterday I walked into the room where my kids sat, idle, and reminded them that they had a couple chapters to read for today. I said, “Your mom will be home soon, it’s worth some points if she catches you reading.” It occurred to me at that moment, that’s how it is when we see Y’shua; we’re rewarded for our continued service to Him.

Point Two: We’re not talking about service that earns salvation. We are, however, talking about continued service that does earn rewards. When I was young I was a Boy Scout. I was a Boy Scout with out having to earn any awards. But I did earn some rewards. The rewards are called merit badges. During meetings we proudly wore our merit badges on a bandolier, or sash, across our chests. Perhaps at the Feast, the Wedding Supper, we will take our assigned seats wearing crowns with badges affixed showing the services we’ve performed.

Point Three: I said we’re rewarded for our continued service to Him. This is our noble obligation. Paul wrote, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not give up.” (2 Corinthians 4:1 HCSB) We must not become discouraged. I love Habakkuk’s third pray in which he expresses his confidence in our Lord. He says “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is not fruit on the vines. . . yet I will triumph in the LORD. . . .” (Habakkuk 3:17,18) We don’t see the fruit of our service. We look around at the world and see horrid conditions, evil seeming to abound. Are we tempted to give up? Let us remember Habakkuk’s prayer. Let us remember that the Lord is faithful to gather us to Himself.

Point Four: Our noble obligation might well be summed up as seeking righteousness and seeking humility that we might be “concealed on the day of the LORD’s anger.” (Zephaniah 2:3) Hard times are ahead for us all in these days of woe. We must continue on in our work. Peter wrote, “Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10 HCSB) Do we always know what our service is to be? No. We have doubts at our effectiveness. We stress that we aren’t doing enough. We turn to the Word, the lamp and the light, and we hear what Zephaniah cried out. We take it as a Word to us.

Point Five: Our salvation is assured. Our noble obligation is our service to the King. So what else is left. We rest in the Spirit of G-d, raise hands high in praise to G-d, to His Son, our Lord Y’shuaJesus. We take joy in being available for Kingdom’s sake. And in all we do, we do as to Y’shuaJesus. And today we may be joyful in our spirit, because His Spirit is within us. And G-d takes pleasure in His people.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon us today. Amen.

Noblesse Oblige

“Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48 HCSB)

For years I’ve heard truckers complain about the way four-wheelers (car drivers) drive. I’ve heard truckers lament, too, that so many problems occur because these four-wheelers just don’t have enough road experience. Truck drivers receive special training and after a few years of driving are considered professional drivers. In one year truckers drive more that most car drivers do in a lifetime. Truckers are required to take special written and driving tests in order to receive commercial driver licenses. A car driver, on the other hand, can buy a large motor home yet isn’t required to have additional training or licensing. When the motor home crosses a white line while turning a corner, the driver is excused for he isn’t a professional; he’s not expected to be able to handle the motor home with that high degree of skill. A truck driver, however, is required to maintain his/her truck within the marked lane, even when it is five-times longer than a motor home.

The trucker is a professional. The trucker is held to a higher standard than other drivers on the road. But this doesn’t mean the trucker a better person than the four-wheeler. It simply means a trucker has a skill and that he/she is expected and required to perform at a significantly higher level of expertise.

Y’shuaJesus said, “Much will be required of everyone who has been given much.” John Gill, in his expository of the Bible, says concerning Luke 12:48, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall, much be required: the more knowledge a man has, the more practice is expected from him; and the greater his gifts are, the more useful he ought to be, and diligent in the improvement of them: and to whom men have committed much, or to whom much is committed, of him they will ask the more; not more than what was committed to him, but more than from him, who has less committed to him; in proportion to what a man is entrusted with, the greater increase and improvement it is expected he should make.”

We are sinners saved by grace, are we not? How do we differ from those we call “unsaved”? We recognize Y’shuaJesus as our savior. We recognize that we are the children of G-d. We are not better, just knowledgeable. And we are accountable for that knowledge. Peter tells us we ‘are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 HCSB)

We are nobility. Much has been given to us. Much is required of us. This brings us to Noblesse Oblige. I found the following explanations in Wikipedia, an information source on the internet. Noblesse Oblige essentially means that nobility performs a service. Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself/herself nobly, must act in a fashion “that conformes with one’s position, and with the reputation that one has earned.” It suggests noble ancestry constrained to honorable behavior. A privilege entails a responsibility. In the days of of monarchy, being a noble meant that you had responsibilities to lead and to manage, and were not to simply spend your time in idle pursuits. Noblesse Oblige is also belief that the wealthy and privileged are obliged to help those less fortunate.

Today I’m impressed that it is a time for refining. Perhaps a place to begin is to look into the noblesse oblige concerning a child of G-d. We can take a look at other teachings of our Master, Y’shuaJesus, in which He gives guidance on our behavior as Children of G-d. We can look at the apostles’ writings, too. We can discuss the various and differing roles in which we are to be noble, such as father, mother, son, daughter, employer, employee, land owner, business owner, and even the role of a country’s citizen. We can discuss rights, privileges, and obligations; the similarities and the differences; and how scripture guides us.

You are needed in this discussion! I’d like this to be a two-way discussion. Take a look at situations as they occur this coming week and look at ways in which you think–or perhaps could have thought–differently based on your status as a noble child of G-d. Examine events from your past, also. Comment! Share your thoughts. I’d like include some of them into this column in future weeks.

Thank You, LORD for You have granted us the right to enter You Kingdom. Help us live today as nobles upon Earth. In the Name of Y’shuaJesus. Amen

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. CloudWarmer.