“Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”
Everyone hates hypocrites. Most people have a sixth sense which allows them to “smell out” a hypocrite when they encounter one.
I’m fascinated with the success of Mitch Williams (the “wild thing”) as a sports analyst. He’s the one who threw the home run to Joe Carter in the 1993 World Series which cost the Phillies a championship.
One would think he’d be reviled forever in this city of rabid angry fans. But it’s exactly the opposite. The city loves him and so do I. He is simply honest. He tells it like he sees it and makes no excuses.
No excuses. He owns up. He admits failure and takes whatever blame he deserves. He doesn’t blame others, or circumstances.
I wonder if he’s not a personification of fans’ self perception when they are at their best. He gives each of us permission to own up to our own failures, admit them, come clean and move on.
In short he gives fans the possibility of becoming something other than a hypocrite.
The truth is that we don’t have a whole lot of options. Each of us fails every day. We either cover it up and act like we’re something better, which is ultimately hypocrisy, or we “fess up”.
Jesus, said don’t try to look like something you’re not. No one likes it in you and it’s a bad witness to others.
Don’t try to look godly even when you’re doing godly things. Don’t brag about your good deeds. Do them secretly.
God knows you inside and out. What’s real in you will sooner or later be revealed, probably much sooner than you think.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 15, 2009
“don't let anyone know about it”
When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, he is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God's love. Why do you give?
It's easier to do what's right when we gain recognition and praise. To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity (Mat 6:4), prayer (Mat 6:6), and fasting (Mat 6:18). Those acts should not be self-centered, but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. The reward God promises is not material, and it is never given to those who seek it. Doing something only for ourselves is not a loving sacrifice. With your next good deed, ask, "Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?"
When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, he is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God's love. Why do you give?
It's easier to do what's right when we gain recognition and praise. To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity (Mat 6:4), prayer (Mat 6:6), and fasting (Mat 6:18). Those acts should not be self-centered, but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. The reward God promises is not material, and it is never given to those who seek it. Doing something only for ourselves is not a loving sacrifice. With your next good deed, ask, "Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?"
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
October 14, 2009
“We didn't have any hidden motives”
This pointed statement may be a response to accusations from the Jewish leaders who had stirred up the crowds (Acts 17:5). Paul did not seek money, fame, or popularity by sharing the gospel. He demonstrated the sincerity of his motives by showing that he and Silas had suffered for sharing the gospel in Philippi. People become involved in ministry for a variety of reasons, not all of them good or pure. When their bad motives are exposed, all of Christ's work suffers. When you get involved in ministry, do so out of love for Christ and others.
This pointed statement may be a response to accusations from the Jewish leaders who had stirred up the crowds (Acts 17:5). Paul did not seek money, fame, or popularity by sharing the gospel. He demonstrated the sincerity of his motives by showing that he and Silas had suffered for sharing the gospel in Philippi. People become involved in ministry for a variety of reasons, not all of them good or pure. When their bad motives are exposed, all of Christ's work suffers. When you get involved in ministry, do so out of love for Christ and others.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
October 13, 2009
“we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
An ambassador is a representative of his home country living in another country. One of his really big jobs is to know and love the citizens of the country where he lives, yet represent his own country in the best possible way.
We live in a world that is currently not God’s home country. We are actually citizens of God’s Kingdom and we are functioning as his ambassadors. As such we must love the country, region, locale, to which God has assigned us and we must, at the very same time, do all we can to make our “home country” and Him who presides over that country look awfully good to others.
“Lord, help me to have ‘people eyes’, to love people, to notice them. Lord, help me to have an outward countenance that makes the inner reality of my love for you. Lord, do whatever you need to do within me to make me a witness in whom others sense an irresistible draw to You.” Amen
An ambassador is a representative of his home country living in another country. One of his really big jobs is to know and love the citizens of the country where he lives, yet represent his own country in the best possible way.
We live in a world that is currently not God’s home country. We are actually citizens of God’s Kingdom and we are functioning as his ambassadors. As such we must love the country, region, locale, to which God has assigned us and we must, at the very same time, do all we can to make our “home country” and Him who presides over that country look awfully good to others.
“Lord, help me to have ‘people eyes’, to love people, to notice them. Lord, help me to have an outward countenance that makes the inner reality of my love for you. Lord, do whatever you need to do within me to make me a witness in whom others sense an irresistible draw to You.” Amen
Monday, October 12, 2009
October 11, 2009
“Never once did we try to win you with flattery”
Manipulation is one of the most common of human sins.
We manipulate others to achieve outcomes by outright lies, shading the truth, flattery, subservience, brashness, fear, monetary influence, praise, pretense and so much more.
This is why Jesus said, “let your yes be yes and you no be no. Anything more than this is of the devil”. He meant that we must trust God. We must simply do our best to speak with pure motives and then let the chips fall where they may.
I try very hard to make the Gospel intelligible to others so that lack of understanding is not a barrier to others. But it is very easy to cross the line into trying to make the Gospel palatable to others. The Gospel should be shared with others lovingly, clearly, intelligently, personally, but not with anything that smacks of manipulation. The gospel can and will stand on it’s own and on it’s reality and vitality within you.
Manipulation is one of the most common of human sins.
We manipulate others to achieve outcomes by outright lies, shading the truth, flattery, subservience, brashness, fear, monetary influence, praise, pretense and so much more.
This is why Jesus said, “let your yes be yes and you no be no. Anything more than this is of the devil”. He meant that we must trust God. We must simply do our best to speak with pure motives and then let the chips fall where they may.
I try very hard to make the Gospel intelligible to others so that lack of understanding is not a barrier to others. But it is very easy to cross the line into trying to make the Gospel palatable to others. The Gospel should be shared with others lovingly, clearly, intelligently, personally, but not with anything that smacks of manipulation. The gospel can and will stand on it’s own and on it’s reality and vitality within you.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
October 10, 2009
“God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly”
Why are so many of us so reluctant to talk about Jesus and God with others? There are some very good reasons to be concerned of course, not the least of which is the growing public perception that anyone who talks about Jesus or even Christianity must be a judgmental, right wing nut case.
However notice the rest of today’s verse:
“in spite of great opposition”
There has always been opposition to God and there always will be. Yet if Christians are not out there setting the record straight, who will?
We must speak about our faith, do so freely, but never with acrimony or judgmentalism, or put downs of others of differing views, or with arrogance or, in my opinion, threats of hell (though hell is real, fear evangelism only lasts as long as the fear lasts). Evangelism is about the love of God.
Paul said it well, “speak the Truth in love”.
When was the last time you asked God to lead you to speak of Him to someone who is far from God?
Why are so many of us so reluctant to talk about Jesus and God with others? There are some very good reasons to be concerned of course, not the least of which is the growing public perception that anyone who talks about Jesus or even Christianity must be a judgmental, right wing nut case.
However notice the rest of today’s verse:
“in spite of great opposition”
There has always been opposition to God and there always will be. Yet if Christians are not out there setting the record straight, who will?
We must speak about our faith, do so freely, but never with acrimony or judgmentalism, or put downs of others of differing views, or with arrogance or, in my opinion, threats of hell (though hell is real, fear evangelism only lasts as long as the fear lasts). Evangelism is about the love of God.
Paul said it well, “speak the Truth in love”.
When was the last time you asked God to lead you to speak of Him to someone who is far from God?
Friday, October 9, 2009
October 9, 2009
“the coming wrath”
“Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NLT)
The “day of the Lord” is the time of Jesus’ second coming. It is when evil will finally be destroyed and God’s Kingdom will be established here on planet earth. Believers will be resurrected with new bodies and will live on a renewed, restored, and reconstituted earth.
Right now the world wide church is engaged in the task of eradicating evil, bringing others to salvation, and growing them into mature co-workers with God in restoring the world for good.
But today, or tomorrow, or next month or 2012 (there’s a new movie coming out) or 2050 or 2400 or whenever, Christ will come back and complete the restoration of the world.
Are you ready? Are you in collaboration with evil or with God? That which is not of God will be destroyed along with all those who cling it. Those who belong to God will be restored to a new world.
Where is my hope? It is in the realization that the sin and evil which are part of my soul have been forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross.
My task therefore is to remain “in Christ” and seek to share that salvation message with others and to join God in His mission to heal the world until Jesus comes and finishes the job.
“Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NLT)
The “day of the Lord” is the time of Jesus’ second coming. It is when evil will finally be destroyed and God’s Kingdom will be established here on planet earth. Believers will be resurrected with new bodies and will live on a renewed, restored, and reconstituted earth.
Right now the world wide church is engaged in the task of eradicating evil, bringing others to salvation, and growing them into mature co-workers with God in restoring the world for good.
But today, or tomorrow, or next month or 2012 (there’s a new movie coming out) or 2050 or 2400 or whenever, Christ will come back and complete the restoration of the world.
Are you ready? Are you in collaboration with evil or with God? That which is not of God will be destroyed along with all those who cling it. Those who belong to God will be restored to a new world.
Where is my hope? It is in the realization that the sin and evil which are part of my soul have been forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross.
My task therefore is to remain “in Christ” and seek to share that salvation message with others and to join God in His mission to heal the world until Jesus comes and finishes the job.
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