No Jesus

I've been working my way through a gospel Bible study, reading passages from the various gospels and answering the same questions each day. God has certainly been revealing Himself--and my own thoughts and heart. There are things a person can justify in the mind, but as soon as they're spoken or given words, they turn to sinful sludge.

This is here, not because it's greatly insightful, or because I need a place for confession, but because I saw it in others this morning--and myself--and it may open some thoughts in your own mind.

There is a sense in which I want to see everything as just fine, perfect, not needing change. In my head, I know that can't be true; it's all touched by sin and if I look closely, there are flaws here, there and everywhere. But I want to think it's all good. And it's not just me, it's others, too. We keep working toward, and wishing for, the perfect family, the perfect home, the perfect job, the perfect future. Even if we substitute the word, "better" for "perfect," our thoughts are that the next purchase, relationship, or life change will solve our current problems and fulfill us. It just will because, well, that's what's what we want; it's what's in our heads and hearts.

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In my biblically-thinking mind, I chalk up that desire for wanting good, or perfect, things to Ecclesiastes 3:11: "He has also set eternity in their heart." It makes sense that as beings created in the image of God that, with a sense of longing captured in a world of imperfection, we would seek perfect, God-like things. And that is not wrong.

The piece that so easily eludes me at times--and perhaps you, too--is wanting them without Jesus. There's a rebellious, prideful corner of my heart that wants what I want, when I want it, without bowing the knee to the perfect, all-powerful Son of God. Not His way. Not in His time. Not with His restraints of goodness, righteousness, and humility. I want it big. Even, if I may admit it, a bit of selfish greed (just enough to suit my style, not yours or anyone else's--remember, this is all about me). I want to have life my way without Jesus. And that, friends, when it pervades our hearts and finally makes it to the surface, is what nails me to the cross every time.

In that moment of realization it becomes very clear that there is nothing I can do, even on my best days, to deserve or earn the blessings of life. There is nothing I can sacrifice or pledge that begins to make up for the sinful sludge in my heart. I. must. have. Jesus. There is no other hope. No other goodness. No other grace. No other mercy, peace, kindness or source of joy. He alone is the Giver of life. He alone is worthy. He alone is deserving of praise, adoration, and the gifts of my life, polluted as they are, and He will have them.

Whatever it is, whether it's the next good gift--or the present one--I will never experience it fully apart from the grace of God through Jesus. I won't. I can't. The only place "my way" exists perfectly without Jesus is in the tainted imaginary world in my head. And, like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, I must decide to pursue my kingdom at the cost of my life or surrender it to His--and gain it. That is the choice.

This morning, I choose Jesus.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:24-26)

Great Expectations

Heart check. When you or I are busy with ministry, how often do we pray for God to do our will? And how often do we ask God to do His through us?

I am working my way through Matthew 11 and processing what God is communicating through Jesus and His Word. In that passage John the Baptist sent messengers to Jesus asking, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” In other words, "Are we working together?" John's sacrificed all he had and could have had for Jesus and the sake of the gospel: his career, a family, home, priestly reputation, creature comforts. He was all in. Even so, after intense ministry and in the midst of sacrifice, he was checking to make sure he was where God wanted Him, working alongside the Father, making way for the Savior. He didn't take his role and ministry for granted.

The people, on the other hand, wanted Jesus (and John) to meet their expectations. John was a curiosity. Jesus was a disappointment (see Matthew 11:7-9, 16-19). John was interesting. Jesus was out of control: a glutton, drunkard, friend of tax collectors and sinners. Neither one met their  profile of the ideal religious leader.

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The cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were unwilling to repent. They saw the miracles. They experienced Jesus and said, "That's great, but we're not interested." They had a religious system, a way of thinking about life and themselves that suited their comfort and interests.

How often, as I'm planning and doing, do I think, "God, Your plan's not (glitzy/good/exciting/whatever) enough. I'm going to tweak it"? The temptation is to control or seek a specific outcome rather than please and serve the Father. The truth is that it's not about my idea, goals, or mission. It's about His glory, His power, His ways, His plan--and He will accomplish His will with or without me. Life and ministry is not about God aligning with my plans, but me aligning with His. That's the importance and power of prayer through God's Word--getting my heart and brain in the right place before (and in the middle of) serving God and others. It's a matter of realizing that God's desires and ways are better than mine. His ways are perfect, best, loving, and holy. Mine are not.

When I have great plans and goals for my life (and ministry), I wear myself out with unnecessary effort. I push for my way of ministry, my desires, my long-term goals, my "way of doing things." As one mom said recently, "I'm going to make my child ______ or die trying." The answer? You'll die trying. Instead, I'm learning to stop. Look at God's Word. Prayerfully seek His will and way. Examine my heart. Repent of personal demands. Ask for wisdom. Wait. Consider. Move.

When I'm churning my wheels in the "...or die trying" phase, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Personal newsflash: God's not all about VBS, summer carnival, tents, concerts, and 5 day clubs. He's about Himself. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). As I let go of my expectations and represent Jesus in spirit and truth, not only does my job gets easier, but His joy and peace increase exponentially.

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You.”
As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 16)

Effective Ministry

We spent this last week on a mission trip with our youth--and I'm home now, trying to catch my breath, encouraged by seeing the truth of God's Word at work.

When we minister within our churches through Bible studies, teaching, and our lives, we may wonder what, if anything, we're accomplishing. Days are long, rest is rare, tests and trials abound.

But as I reflected on our experience this week, the phrase "[equip] the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" came to mind (Ephesians 4:12). And that, I realized, is the test of effective ministry. It begins with the pastor and leadership. Their equipping affects parents, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and lay leaders which then trickles down to every area of ministry. And the teaching of those in authority is reflected by service to others.

No service? No effective ministry. Know service? Know effective ministry.

Before passing the buck to your pastor or leadership team, it's important to recognize our individual responsibility. Am listening to and responding to the equipping God has provided in my local church? If so, how am I equipping others to serve and build up the body of Christ?

If that's not happening, it's time to stop and evaluate what's really happening.

In our case, youth serve alongside and under adults in many different ways in our local church. This week, as we ministered together in both manual labor and spiritual endeavors, they did so with a cheerful heart and ready hands. Service doesn't determine spiritual growth, but the result of spiritual growth is service; a love for God and others that makes itself evident in outward speech, attitude, and action.

It's a valid test for my own life as well. Am I serving only when others' eyes are on me? Or am I regularly, intentionally, secretly serving others for the glory of God? It's the test of effective teaching and ministry.

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
'Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.


“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 5:1-18, emphasis added)