You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Christianity’ tag.
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalms 133:1
I love watching sports and will often cheer for the underdog, unless my team is playing of course. After a big game, sportscasters will often interview coaches and star players to get their take on the win.
In all the post-game shows I’ve watched, I’ve yet to hear a player say something like, “I’m amazing. You know, the guys all know they can’t win without me on their side. I’m truly a hero!”
The old cliché, ‘there is no I in team’ is true. Each person plays their part. In fact, sometimes the winning team may have less talent than the team they beat but pulled off the win because of tenacity and teamwork.
David begins Psalm 133 with praise for teamwork. He calls it harmony, but harmony is really about working together as a team, whether it be in a family, the workplace, the playing field or church. Harmony brings victory, division brings discord and defeat.
There are four things living in harmony can do for us. First of all, living in harmony shows strength in Solidarity. Harmony provides strength that becomes a source of hope for everyone involved. It helps us to believe that challenges can be overcome and goals and dreams can be achieved together.
Secondly, living in harmony distributes the weight of the burden and lightens the load. Shared responsibility makes the journey we are on easier to bear because we know we have mutual support.
The third thing living in harmony can offer us is connection. Harmony provides a source of encouragement and a sense of belonging. The bonds that form through harmony reinforce our sense of value. We realize we aren’t alone.
Lastly, living in harmony can be a source of inspiration an motivation. When we know we have a team behind us we can be motivated to perform above the level of our ability. We begin to believe in ourselves and each other.
The early Christian church was devoted to one another. They operated in harmony and changed the world. Think of ways you can join with others to make a difference for Jesus.
I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. Joshua 14:11
“Age is just a number.”
Oftentimes, when people say that they are making a statement about the value they see in themselves.
“Don’t count me out!”
“Don’t let my age influence how you see me!”
“See my value, not my gray hair!”
Caleb was a man of faith. In his younger days, he was a courageous and mighty warrior. As he grew older, he watched as faithless family members died around him due to their lack of faith in God’s promise to give them the Promised Land.
We don’t hear much about Caleb as the people of Israel conquered the land God had promised them, but when it came time to claim the portion of land Moses promised him, he spoke up.
To paraphrase, he said something like this, “Don’t count me out! Don’t let my age fool you. My body may be older, but I can still perform the things God has called me to do.”
Paul says something similar to Timothy although it is regarding the other end of the spectrum. While Caleb was old, Timothy was young. Some may have looked down on Caleb because he was old. Some may have looked down on Timothy because he was young.
The message God has for us is this, “Don’t let age influence your influence.” As a member of the older generation, I need to learn from those younger than me, but also realize God’s not done with me yet.
Those in younger generations would be wise to glean knowledge and wisdom from those who have gone before us. If we don’t learn from the mistakes of history we are going to repeat them.
At whatever stage of life you are in, God can use you in mighty ways. Our world will be a better place is we glean Godly wisdom from those in every generation. God has walked through each generation. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.
Keep learning. Keep active. Keep open to what others have/are learning. Learning is a life-long process God has ordained for our success.
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:7
Let’s be honest. Even if you love your job, we all have those days when we just want to quit and retire to some deserted island.
This is especially true for those of us blessed with the opportunity to work with people. I say that with all sincerity. I love people. I love to hear their stories. I love when I can see a light in their eyes that says ‘they get it’, that I’ve made a difference.
But if you work with people, or even just live with people, I think you will agree that sometimes we can all be, well, difficult! People can be critical of our most sincere efforts if those efforts don’t meet their expectations. People can throw you under the bus when they want to protect themselves. People can scrutinize your words when they doubt your integrity.
Charlie Brown, the great philosopher in Charles Schultz’s ‘Peanuts Comic Strip’ is accused by his nemesis Lucy of hating mankind. Charlie replies by saying, “I love mankind, IT’S PEOPLE I CAN’T STAND!” I think we can all relate.
Some of us have been stomped on, misrepresented, criticized when we’ve done our best and taken advantage of. Sometimes, sad to say, this is all done in the name of Jesus!
So, how do we get beyond the feelings of rejection leveled against us? Paul gives us an idea. When we ‘work with people’ in whatever capacity we are subject to their opinions and standards.
The attitude we each must take is to remember we work ‘with’ people but we work ‘for’ Jesus. When we work for Jesus it’s a different story. He’s the one that created you. He’s the one that empowers you through His Holy Spirit. He’s the one that gave His life so you could live yours.
So, let me suggest that starting today you quit working for people and start working for Jesus. His expectations of you are that you will fail even on your best days. His requirements are to love Him. His promise is to never leave you hanging. And He’ll never throw you under the next bus!
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalms 55:22
One of the things I’ve always struggled with is asking for help. Asking for help is a sign of weakness. Asking for help can be placing a burden on someone else. Asking for help implies I don’t know what to do next.
All of those things aren’t necessarily true but that is how my brain works if I let it. The truth is, God created us for relationship. God created us for community. God created us to help each other bear the burdens of our lives.
That’s why, from the very beginning he states, ‘It isn’t good for mankind to go through life without a helper.’ (Genesis 2:18) We normally think of that in relation to the creation of woman, which is true, but in the broader sense, God knew we needed community.
We need to love on one another. We need to bear the burden’s of one another. We need to pray for one another. We need to encourage one another.
While all that’s true, there are some burdens others have that, in reality we can’t bear. We can pray for each other. We can do all sorts of other things to lift each other up, but the reality is some burdens can only be placed on the shoulders of Jesus, who is more than willing to take them on.
The burden of rejection from people you thought loved you. The burden of misunderstanding when you have done your best. The burden of unmet expectations. the burden of blame. The burden of criticism. I think you get the picture. Add your own burden to that list.
The reality is, even the most well-meaning people will reject you. But Jesus never will. NEVER. He doesn’t ask us to cast our burdens on him, it’s a command! You will be misunderstood, attacked and abandoned by some, but never by Jesus.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19
I love seeing stories of reconciliation. In particular, children being reconciled with parents who surprise them with a return from deployment. It’s basically the same story over and over, but I never tire of it. The child is busy with friends or class and when dad or mom appear they run into their arms, many times with tears of joy.
One thing I’ve never seen was a child looking at the parent apathetically. I’ve never seen the parent seem aloof. I’ve never seen the child being apprehensive of how peers may react to their tears. The focus of parent and child is on each other. The reaction is one of love, relief, joy, contentment.
Reconciliation is amazing! Sin has separated us from the love God has for us. Like a child without a parent we struggle with feelings of value, identity and security. Then God came to us through Jesus, offering us reconciliation. What joy!
Not only are we blessed with that reconciliation, we have the opportunity to share that joy with others. Reconciliation is an act of love not judgment. Reconciliation focuses on forgiveness and acceptance. If we have truly experienced reconciliation with the Father then we have the opportunity to share that joy with those in need of being reunited with their father…Heavenly Father that is.
Who can you help to be reconciled today. Reconciliation is the result of prayer, relationship and sharing Jesus with others.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 