I Wanna Get Ahead

(Part Three in the Disciples Series. Scroll down to see the introduction called Different Strokes.)


It had been eating away at him all day. He had thought this out every possible way and it was right. It was good. This was as it should be. Surly the Rabbi would agree.


James cleared his throat and straightened as the object of his musings rounded a bend and started toward him.

His heart did a flip as it always did whenever this amazing Teacher drew near. Some said he was the Messiah. Time would tell, but there was no doubt he was coming into some kind of kingdom any day now. He'd made that clear.

On his fingers, James ticked off the five major reasons for this request. He squirmed at number one: Mother. Everyone said he got his ambitious streak from her side of the family. He couldn't argue with that. John had taken after Father: laid back, introspective, deep. Always thinking. Always writing.

But James was restless. He was destined for greater things than that fishing business. Fishing was just a time killer until his real life's work started. He still wasn't sure what the Teacher had meant by that "fishers of men" comment, but was too embarrassed to ask. Frankly, it didn't sound like what he had in mind for his future anyway. Why waste time with the little people when an exalted Rabbi like this could take over the world if he wanted to?

James would forever remember that moment his future changed. That moment when the Rabbi came strolling along the beach and called his name. No one had to tell James twice what an opportunity this was. He hadn't made the cut into Rabbinical school, but this was almost as good. He and John had talked this over for months now. This famous Rabbi was going places and they wanted to be right there with him. On the winning team.

He straightened his spine and tried to look confident. Why was it so hard to maintain your composure in the presence of this Nazarene?

The Master stopped before James and gave him a curious look. Before he could speak, he heard a familiar shriek.

"Rabbi!"

Mother?

A burly housewife shoved past her son without a look and eyed the tall Galilean. "Hail to you, and all that. What I came here to find out was if my boys can be your top aides when you come into your...your, uh, whatever it is you're bringing. They say you're inheriting some kind of kingdom. Now that's wonderful. Your mother must be so proud. Now, my boys would be perfect for slots two and three, right after you."

James shrank back, wincing at her audacity. As crass as it sounded from her lips, that was the question James was poised to ask. Didn't matter who it came from. Whatever he had to do, he would be first to make it to the kingdom.

Ambition.
It is lauded by the world,
but it doesn't work so well in the spiritual realm.

Do you identify with James? Are you driven to succeed? Do you find it frustrating to read Jesus' words: "The first shall be last and the last, first." Does something inside you want to argue that you can't get ahead that way?

Jesus didn't give up on James and his personal ambition. He simply granted it in the way that only God can. James was the first to enter the kingdom of Heaven---he was the first apostle martyred. (Acts 12:2)

God often uses our weaknesses and failings by transforming them through the power of the Holy Spirit. He takes out the selfish part and turns our weakness into strength to accomplish his purposes. What began as selfish ambition propelled the Apostle James into untiring ministry and eventual murder at the hands of King Herod. James' selfish ambition was transformed into a passion to glorify God.

What might you accomplish if you laid your ambition at the foot of the cross and allowed the Holy Spirit to transform it?

God can often do more with our weaknesses than our strengths
when we commit them all to him.
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Oh, And There's Andrew

(Part Two in the Disciples Series. Scroll down to see the introduction called Different Strokes.)

Andrew held back as the crowd surged forward. The disciples were arguing again, each pretending he knew exactly what the Teacher meant by that last parable.

Andrew grinned to himself. None of them did, but they'd die before they would admit it.

He studied their backs and thought again about his role in all this. Sometimes he didn't seem to fit. They were all so intense, so passionate about everything, even when wrong. He wasn't. He was just Andrew, Simon's little brother.

His timidity used to bother him, but not any more. He was used to holding back. How could you do anything else when your big brother was Simon? Simon, the limelight stealer.

He laughed to himself when he thought of his brother. The funny thing was, he didn't mind. Simon was so forceful, so convinced that everything he did was right, he sorta swept you along. How many crazy schemes had he gone along with simply because Simon had convinced him it would work? He had almost drowned in that harebrained automated boating idea and still carried the scars from Simon's attempts to make him fly like a bird. Sometimes the ideas worked, but it was always Simon's triumph. Andrew was just there.

Jesus looked up, caught his eye over the heads of the other disciples, and winked. They shared a special knowledge and it was enough. That knowledge had elevated his position for the first time in his life and it was enough to sustain him forever. He had been the first of the twelve to recognize that this carpenter from Nazareth was the promised Messiah.

For the first time it was Andrew who had discovered a secret, a knowledge so thrilling, so incredible, that he had gone to get his brother. And he had been right. This time Andrew was first.

Jesus knew it too and always reminded him of it with a special look, a thoughtful consideration of anything he ventured to say. Sometimes Jesus even acted like Andrew was the teacher and it both humbled and exalted him.

He thought again of that time on the hill when Jesus had told them all to find food for thousands of people. The other eleven had nearly panicked, but it was Andrew who quietly walked over to the kid with the basket and asked if Jesus could have it.

He felt a little foolish. What was one little lunch? But he'd watched this Teacher long enough to expect anything. His hands were shaking when he brought the basket to Jesus. He had listened for the rebukes sure to come from the others, but none came as he held out the basket and gave Jesus something to work with.

Jesus had given him that special smile again and the slightest nod that had sent chills down his spine. The Teacher could say so much with one look. He'd never known anyone like this. His heart quickened again as he thought about the hints the Master had been dropping lately. Something about dying. For once he wished he didn't understand.

The eleven had finished their debate and Jesus quieted them. He was gonna explain it. Andrew would never say this aloud, but he already understood the parable. He knew what the Master was about to say.

The others sat down around the Teacher, but Andrew stayed where he was, in the back, leaning against a tree.

Jesus gave him a quick grin, as if he knew Andrew already had it. Then he began to explain what Andrew had known he would say.

Understanding seemed to come to him faster than to the others. Maybe that's what happens when you are content to hold back, stay out of the limelight, simply listen and observe. Maybe understanding comes to those who are truly ready to receive it.

Are you an Andrew?

Are you usually overlooked? Taken for granted? Is there someone in your life who is always better, smarter, more attractive and who takes any attention that might be yours? Do you crave the feeling of being first at something?

Learn from Andrew. Jesus knows where you are. You are first with him. And that is enough to last a lifetime.

Simon, Simon, Simon...

(Part One in the Disciples Series.)

"Simon, your Torah rabbi came to see me. Again!"

Simon's mother stood in the doorway, frowning at her son. What a boy! Torn tunic. One sandal flopping. He gave her a jaunty wave as he tumbled past, tripping over the door post.

"Why can't you think before you act? One more trouble and they will throw you out. Oy! You'll send me to my grave before my time."

She rolled her eyes heavenward and twisted her hands in her apron. Would he ever amount to anything? Impetuous. Hyperactive. Lord, help us. Flunked Torah school. Ach! Such embarrassment! He'd never be a rabbi like Martha's son. Why couldn't she have birthed a nice quite boy like those gentile's down the road? Tabitha's son, Luke? Now that was a nice boy. Gonna become a doctor, that one. Make his mother proud.

"But my Simon..." She blew out a heavy sigh and tuned one ear to his new plan for building a boat that could hold three days' catch without sinking. Boats and fishing. That's all he talked about. One more year in Torah school and then he'd be off her hands. Out there on the sea with his boats and his fish. He'd probably stay there until he died. Nothing could tear that boy away from the water. Nothing.

The underachiever.

The hyperactive kid no one expects much from. Can't seem to sit still. Always dreaming, planning, overly eager to please and never quite getting it right.

Was that you?
Someone you know?

Jesus knew exactly what Simon was like. He took the flighty, impulsive Simon and transformed him into Peter the Rock. In the hands of Jesus, that bold impulsiveness became the foundation of his Church.

Don't underestimate your weaknesses. Jesus loves them.

In His hands, they become strengths.

Different Strokes

Boy, are we all different!

The world is colored by a vast array of personalities, opinions, and interests.

Aren't we glad, though? What if we were all the same? Dull gray robots, chanting in unison. Ugh!

However, when we take a closer look at how different we are, we start to get a little prickly. Differences are fine as long as you don't bother ME!

In the Church of Jesus Christ, the differences can cause problems just as they do anywhere else.



We can learn a lot about how to get along by looking at the band of disciples Jesus chose. Each of them represented a real man with a real life, real strengths and real weaknesses, doubts and struggles just as we have.

It has been asserted that, other than Peter, they were most likely very young at the time of their calling, probably under 20 years of age. We imagine them to be aged veterans, grey-bearded and somber. But the picture we glean from scripture is very different if we set aside our assumptions first--and that mental image of the painting of "The Last Supper".


I think one reason Jesus called them was because they were so different from each other. Have you ever wondered if each of them represents a particular type of Jesus-follower? What if in studying each of them--and adding a little imagination--we could learn about ourselves?

Over the next 12 posts, I will take each disciple and paint a word picture of the kind of man I see in scripture. It may not be totally accurate, but maybe by taking a closer look at these very real and very flawed men, you can find yourself in one of them. And in so doing, you might discover another reason why Jesus chose you.

Matthew 10:2-3 says, "These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."

We'll take them in the order listed in Matthew's gospel and see what we can learn about the varied, and sometimes half-crazy people Jesus loves.

People like you and me. And her!

Remember First Love?

He brought her flowers on her birthday, bought her jewelry for Christmas, and washed her car when she asked him to. After thirty years of this---she left him.

Friends were shocked when she told them and even more shocked when she told them why. "He stopped loving me. No matter what I did, I never had his heart. I'd rather he skip the gifts and just love me."

Would you ever be guilty of such a thing? You might be surprised.

Take a look at your spiritual life. Look pretty good?

You stand against evil, humbly serve where service is needed, give appropriate amounts to worthy causes, and follow every command of Scripture as closely as you know how. You'd never claim perfection, but you're pretty sure God is impressed. Everyone else is.

The church at Ephesus was like that. God commended them for their faithful service and good works. They tossed out false teachers and picketed evil venues when necessary. They were the best church in town.

But shock of all shocks when Jesus said in Revelation, Chapter 2, "I have something against you."

The book of Revelation is often skimmed or outright shunned for its disturbing imagery and confusing symbolism. But the first half of the book is painfully clear and should be studied by every believer.

In it, Jesus sends a message to his churches. It's not futuristic. It pertains to every one of us right now. Every follower of Christ should take a hard look at these seven churches, because you're in there somewhere. Use it as a gauge to see how well your life is measuring up to God's expectation. Does he have something against you? How about your church?

The Christians at Ephesus were doing everything right. They were hard workers, diligent against sin, educated in Scripture, and careful about allowing heresies in. Yet, God was disappointed in them. He didn't spend much time fawning over their outward show of holiness. He went right to the heart, because it is only in the heart He takes pleasure.

Their crime? They had "left their first love."

What a beautiful picture. We can't miss its meaning. They had stopped loving God and substituted service for God.

Notice that he doesn't discredit their hard work, but he doesn't let them hide behind it either. How many churches in America fit this description? We've got the energized programs, the slick letterhead, the color-coordinated marketing ploys. "Bring 'em in! Spend the bucks! Fill the building!"

Sound familiar? Is it God-inspired or has God become just another marketing tool for our spiritual-feeling projects?

What about your heart? Do you have a list of 20 godly convictions taped to the insides of your eyelids? Do you judge your own commitment by your level of apparent holiness? Do your outward displays of righteousness often trump what's really going on deep inside?

None of that is wrong, but God shakes his head and says, "I have this against you. You've stopped loving me."

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." NOT serve the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

You may be hitting the mark in every way: hard worker, devoted teacher, Bible study leader, even the pastor. It doesn't matter. If your heart has lost the thrill of relationship, the Holy Spirit's voice is only a dim memory, and your actions have taken on a mechanical glint, then God isn't happy with you.

When we've stopped worshiping the person of God and started worshiping our service to God, we have slipped into idolatry and God hates idolatry.

If we don't stop it, He removes his blessing from our work. All that toil, all that effort is for nothing.

If God doesn't seem to be on your side anymore, you're burned out, worn out, frazzled, and disillusioned...you might ask yourself:

"Have I left my first love?"

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Picking Weeds

When my children were little (and I was much more industrious!) we would plant a huge garden every spring. It was usually far bigger than we needed, but we had all this land...

They were thrilled to help me plant the seeds, cover them with dirt, and drown them with water. They were not so thrilled with learning to pick weeds.

But as I explained year after year, if we don't get all the weeds out, the baby plants won't get what they need from the soil and they'll die or not produce any vegetables.

The biggest challenge was teaching five-year-olds to know the difference between a weed and a vegetable sprout. I could have focused on all the weeds they were sure to encounter, shown them what the leaves looked like, and taught them their names.

But I learned quickly that it was far more efficient to simply teach them what the good plants looked like. Once those baby fingers had stroked a feathery carrot top, a rough tomato leaf, or the smooth outer shell of a lettuce plant they remembered. If a sprout didn't look just like the real thing, it was a weed.

We are inundated today with great-sounding philosophies, enlightened ideas, and worldviews that appear very similar to ours--yet, something isn't quite right. It's easy to get confused. But just as my toddlers learned how to spot a good plant by learning all about it, we too need to keep our focus on what is absolute, unchanging truth.

We cannot possibly predict the next seductive trend or so-called "scientific" finding that supposedly disproves God's word. If we focus on the latest heresy and try to dissect it, understand it, or give it credence we lose sight of what's real. And soon we're tossing good plants out rather than weeds.

Keep your eyes on God's unchanging truth. Reality is whatever He says it is. Learn His ways, His commands, His values. When you're grounded in the Word of God, it doesn't matter what pretty little idea pops up beside you. You can spot it for what it is.

No matter what intelligent-sounding dogma filters your way, become a five-year-old in the garden. If it's not the Truth you've learned from God, it's a weed. Toss it!

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What's the Price of Your Soul?

A year or so ago, I wrote a post called "Would You Sell Your Soul?" It was based on a book called I Sold My Soul on Ebay. The author was an atheist who made an offer on Ebay to attend whatever religious organization the highest bidder chose. It was an intriguing story, and one I recommended every Christian read.

I have been amazed at how many hits that blog title has taken, according to Google. That caused me to start thinking about the people who are coming. What questions must run through the mind of someone who would type into the Google search box: "Would I Sell My Soul?"

The idea of having the power to sell out to something for a price can be intoxicating. We like to think of ourselves as masters of our own fate. "Nobody tells me what to do" sounds powerful and egotistical. Especially in America, freedom of choice is a familiar chant. The movie Indecent Proposal starring Demi Moore created a buzz back in the 90's with the idea of selling sex for a million dollars. Many women asked themselves, "Would I do it?"

Would you do it?

Would you sell your soul? Your body? Your children? For the right price?

The idea of such power is intoxicating--and one you are already making, whether you realize it or not.

The truth is, if you have not made room in your life for God, you have already sold your soul. Whether you intended to or not, the moment you take your last breath, your soul is stamped SOLD. No changing your mind. No excuses. No self-righteous explanations.

SOLD. DONE. FINISHED.

Many people like to think of themselves as free agents.

• "I follow my own path."
• "No one owns me."

They are fooled. They are fools.

If you have not freely given yourself to God, you are already owned by Satan.
There are only two choices.

Those who reject God's free gift of salvation through Christ are selling themselves every day. They sell their souls for the sake of immoral sexual relationships, a little more money, FUN, fame, popularity, and a host of other fleeting attractions that end up owning them. And they tell themselves that is freedom.

Your soul is the prize in an invisible war. You may never know about it until it's too late. But your choice today determines who wins your soul for eternity. You may think you would never sell your soul, but without Jesus, you already have.

So, what is the going price for a human soul?

What's the price for yours?

If you'd like more information, visit this link: Where Am I Going When I Die?