Sunday, August 28, 2011

Storm Warning

As Hurricane Irene threatened to touch down, the East Coast prepared for the deluge. Shore communities were evacuated, and in many inland communities, windows were boarded and outdoor possessions were tied down. One local business owner, who had recently invested in an impressive LED billboard display outside his store, reprogrammed it to read, “Irene, please don’t knock down my sign!”

As public officials preemptively declared states of emergency and grounded airplanes and mass transit, the public response ranged from cautious to panicked. Just gauging the emotions of my own friends and neighbors, I noted that the more prepared folks felt, the less worried they seemed to be about the storm. Isn’t that much like our spiritual state of being?

Whether faced with a personal situation or emotional tragedy, our spiritual preparedness usually determines how we will deal with it. We may be less likely to freak out or completely “lose it” when we are tied down with the Word and boarded up with faith. And with a good spiritual grounding, we know that whatever the outcome, God is in control and our trust is in Him.

Before the hurricane, many of us ensured our inventory of water, flashlights, batteries, and other essentials were accessible. Right now, it’s time to take inventory of our lives. Proverbs 10:25 assures us, “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.”

Let’s make sure our spiritual resources are readily available in the event we’re faced with the storms of life!




Sunday, August 21, 2011

Somebody’s Watching Me

In this day and age, you never know who’s watching you and where. There are cameras mounted in traffic lights, strategically placed along city streets, and even embedded in our personal computers. It’s amazing to see what these hidden cameras have caught on film. And while many of us are concerned about how people see us in the natural world, are we as conscious about how we are seen spiritually?

There was a song back in the ‘80s in which the singer declared, “I always feel like somebody’s watching me.” Truth be told, someone is always watching. Our Heavenly Father is always with us, watching out for us, and watching over us. Above all, our daily goal should be to walk in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Yet we are also being watched by the people around us. When we tell others that we are Christians, we declare our faith in Christ—but our actions provide the evidence. In speaking of his followers, Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:16) Our spiritual walk separates us from the natural realm. So in times of despair, temptation, and confusion, our behavior should reflect a Godly response.

We should live each day as though we expect someone to play back our spiritual tape. Let’s strive to be caught in the act of Christ-like behavior!



Sunday, August 7, 2011

Testimony or Example?

Every action has a consequence. The choices we make each day put in motion a chain of events that have a direct affect on our lives and the lives of others. When we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that choice can lead to a powerful testimony. But when we decide to do things our own way…we can become a terrible example.

Imagine a child who is confronted by a parent for eating cookies before dinner. The child can choose to tell the truth, “Mommy they smelled so good, I took one!” or the child can choose to lie, “I didn’t eat any cookies!” The first choice might result in a light scolding and a small lecture about self-control—and maybe even leave the parent with a funny anecdote about how cute the child was, holding up a chocolate-covered finger with the confession of one stolen cookie. But the second choice—the lie—might lead to more dire consequences, including punishment and restriction from eating any more cookies from the batch. The parent may feel the need to make an example out of the situation to help the child make the right decision in the future.

The Bible gives many accounts of folks who are testimonies (those who encourage us) and others who are examples (those who warn us about how to live). Some exist side-by-side, and give us great contrast, such as Able, who loved the Lord and chose to make a good sacrifice to Him, and Cain, who simply went through the motions and had his offering rejected by God. Some were at odds with one another, such as David, who chose to trust in God throughout his life, and Saul, who (although called by God), often decided to do things according to his own judgment and lived miserably.

In the ministry of Jesus, we clearly see the difference between a testimony and an example in those who chose to follow Him. No greater invitation was there than when Jesus Himself said, “Follow Me.” We applaud the disciples who immediately chose to walk away from their lives as they knew them and decided to follow Christ (Matthew 4:18-22). Yet we are warned by the example of the rich young ruler who decided to hold on to his earthly possessions when Jesus invited him to discipleship (Luke 18:18-23).

Let’s make Spirit-led choices to become testimonies—not examples.