Archive for February, 2022

A Matchless Master to Model – 7/18/99

John 13:1-5

JESUS CHRIST is our intended model. His mission in coming was to do the will of Him who sent Him in seeking and saving. Those saved then are to allow Him to be their role model. Christ is the prototype of what God the Father wants us to be.

All that the Son was to the Father we are to be to the Son.

All that the Father was to the Son the Son wants to be to us.

Most folks have at some time enjoyed playing any one of many types of games where items are hidden and persons try to find them. Often the best hiding places are those where hunters would least expect to find the item. It is so easy it is overlooked. Practically everyone is looking for happiness, a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and joy. Where they are found is so obvious it is overlooked.

Francis of Assisi, son of a wealthy merchant, gave up his inheritance to live a life of poverty serving among the poor. He distilled principles leading to happiness and fulfillment in this verse:

Lord make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury – pardon.
Where there is doubt – faith.
Where there is darkness – light.
Where there is sadness – joy.
Oh, divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love.
For it is giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we pardon.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

The unsuspected place where life finds meaning is in being a servant. We tend to think that is the last place it can be found. Instead of looking there we tend to turn to celebrity hood.

One reason so many people, especially youth, don’t have a sense of purpose and fulfillment is they have material things they know they don’t deserve and didn’t earn and deep down they feel guilty. Knowing the material things haven’t satisfied they perceive more material things will satisfy. Unfortunately that only deepens the sense of emptiness.

Life only has meaning when it has a purpose and the more challenging the purpose the more meaningful the life. Serving Christ in your daily life affords that gratification.

Let’s engage in a case study of Christ cast in the role of a servant to better understand our role as servants. John 13:1-7 reveals a very special ministry Jesus performed to His own. Contained in this account are found secrets to fulfillment and happiness.

The moment at hand was one of great stress. Christ knew He was to die the next day. At times of stress and difficulty most folks want strokes and warm fuzzes. Instead, Christ sought solace in service. By observing His responses to stress we can see how we too can handle it. He —

I. SHOWED COMPASSION
His disciples had followed Him about three years and still had not caught on to what He was truly trying to do in their lives. They were still arguing over their positions of order in His kingdom (Luke 22:34).

Privately the mother of James and John, an earthly aunt of Jesus, had tried to gain a family favor by asking that her boys be allowed to sit on his right and left in His kingdom. This upset the disciples. They weren’t disturbed because she did but because she beat their own little Jewish mothers to the point. They were still concerned about status not servanthood.

Customs of the day help us understand the true teaching of our test. Guests normally bathed before going to a special dinner. Sanitation and dusty roads caused persons walking to get their feet dirty. Therefore, hosts had servants to wash the feet of the guests. The towel was a symbol of servanthood. Jesus, Himself, laid aside His robes, took the towel and washed their feet. This is a picture of Philippians 2: 5 – 8.

This took commitment. If we are going to follow our Teacher and Lord, we must also have commitment. There are ten different Greek words in the New Testament for commitment. A look at two of them will aid our understanding.

First Peter 4:19, “There fore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit (PARATITHESTHOSAN) their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” This word for commitment means to lay down something for another. It is an appeal for the kind of commitment that prompts one to lay down their life in service for Christ.

John 2:24, A great group of people sought Christ because of His popularity and near celebrity status at the moment. “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men.” This word means to entrust. We are to commit, that is, entrust ourselves to Him because He is trustworthy.

Being committed doesn’t mean you will be victorious at all times. It does mean you will always be successful by God’s standard. Some loss and failure is part of life.

There is a commercial featuring Michael Jordan. It pictures him striding on the court where he helped lead the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. The crowd is chanting his name. As he pauses in the commercial, we hear his thoughts: “I’ve missed 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost over 300 games. Twenty-six times I took the winning shot and missed….and because of this I’m a success.”

Any achiever “misses” and “loses” on occasion. They achieve because they are committed and consistent. Any person who consistently serves Christ is a winner by the standard of our Lord.

II. SPOKE A COMMAND “Do as I have done” (Vs. 15)
Foot washing has often been misunderstood and on occasion practiced with the wrong spirit. There is a rural church in Tennessee with its name on the sign out front: “Left Foot Baptist Church.” The church was a split off from the mother church. There a dispute arose over which foot should be washed first, the left or right. Being unable to resolve the conflict an element withdrew and started the new church giving it the name of their preference; “Left Foot Baptist Church.” It would have to be Baptist!

This is not a command to engage in foot washing. We know this because:

Foot washing was a very common practice and Jesus said He was giving us “A new commandment” (vs. 34).

If it were merely foot washing about which He spoke, He would not have said, “What I am doing you do not understand…” (vs. 7). They understood foot washing, BUT they sure didn’t understand loving servanthood.

If it were merely foot washing He would not have asked, “Do you know what I have done unto you?” (Vs. 12).

If it were foot washing He would not have said, “you should do as I have done to you” (Vs. 15), but would have said, “you should do what I have done to you.”

The “new commandment” related to:
A. Humility. Christ was — Appealing to His followers to set aside rank. Assuming even the lowest rank for “one another.”
B. Cleansing. He was picturing for us our role in stopping to help others enjoy spiritual cleansing. Galatians 6:1, “brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourselves lest you also, be tempted.”
C. Love. In verse 13 He said, “You call me Teacher (Master) and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.”
“Teacher” one from whom to learn.
“Lord” one to follow.
In essence He was saying, “I have taught you humility and love now follow my example.”

III. STRESSED CLEANSING
Verse 10 teaches a great spiritual truth. Christ used two words of significance: “He who is bathed (LOUO) needs only to wash (NIPTO) his feet…”

“Bathed” refers to salvation in which a person is totally forgiven of all sin.

Christians walk in the world and unfortunately though they are saved they sometimes yield to temptation and commit a sin. Though this sin doesn’t rob the sinning Christian of salvation, it does rob such a one of the joy of their salvation and clouds their effective witness. Therefore, such Christians need spiritual cleansing. I John 1:9 is a short course in HOW TO.

Peter went from one extreme to another. Before he understood what Christ was teaching, he said, “You shall never wash my feet.” Once he caught on, he over did it and said, “Lord not my feet only, but also my hands and my feet” (Vs. 9).

Some persons confuse the issue and say they want to be saved “again.” If they were ever once saved what they need is spiritual cleansing, that is, I John 1:9.

If you want to be a happy servant, get cleansed and help others get cleansed — “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them” (Vs. 17).

Let’s go back to the word COMMITMENT. According to the Word of God to make a commitment is to turn something over to someone. I want to appeal to each of you to turn your life over to the Teacher/Lord and become His servant.

Revelation 19 tells us that Jesus Christ comes back, He is going to have “on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Will you today by your actions say, “He is my Sovereign, the One I obey?”

What Would You Give for Self-Control?

Acts 24:24-25

Jesus wants to enable you to have self-control. Do you want self-control?  It is available only to those who dare bring themselves under His supernatural control.

Understand it clearly.  In speaking of self-control, reference is not simply to will power. That is only a part of true self-control. Galatians 5: 22, 23 refers to the fruit, that is the harvest of the Spirit. The ninth item is self-control.  It is thus depicted as a product of a life under the control of the Holy Spirit.

To think of exercising self-control apart from the power of God would be as foolish as an astronaut going into space without the proper support system.  The Lord gives us His Word, His Holy Spirit, His personal presence, His enabling grace, and His strength. He then says, “I have given you the tools, now you do the job,” — show self-control.

Do you have self-control?  Can you listen to a beautiful bird and not want to cage it?  Can you see a beautiful flower and not want to pick it?  Can you see an attractive member of the opposite sex and not want to sexually compromise him or her?  Can you break a chocolate bar into four parts with your own bare hands and only eat one piece?

To help maintain self-control think of your vain imagination, improper impulses, inordinate appetites, and impure emotions to be four wild horses. Consider yourself as having the reigns in your hands and giving them over to Jesus to control. Then apply Philippians 1:5 which exhorts believers to “let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.”  At this point you turn the person, item, or situation that is about to gain control over to Christ. Don’t just try to quit thinking about it. Think about it in a manner you think Christ would think of it.  Have the same mind about it you know He would.

The best time to do this is when you first realize you are losing self-control. The Scripture speaks of “that sin which does so easily beset you.” (Hebrews 12: 1) The NKJ says, “the sin which so easily ensnares you.” It simply means there is a sin to which you are more vulnerable than any other. Right?  Right!  

First, identify it. Next, think for a moment about the things that normally precede you losing self-control regarding this sin. Do the conditions involve a place, situation, person, or feeling?  What happens just before you lose self-control?

At that point focus on two things: 1) the Christ mind — you are going to think His thoughts, and 2) the presence of Christ — you are going to behave as though you are in His presence. . .  because you are.

F.W. Boreham, the great Australian preacher, said, “We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us.”

The Source of Life’s Dynamic

Acts 17:28

Jesus adds a new dimension to life. One of the first persons to enjoy this life change was Paul. In Athens he preached at Mars Hill. Lining the roadway up to the Acropolis were statues of gods. He used the statue to an unknown God to make known his God. Paul was an intellect; he quoted two obscure Greek poets – Aratus & Cleanthes. Thus, he related to the people in a way they could understand. He said in Christ we: “…live and move and have our being….”

Many persons are living a life described in Hamlet as “stale, flat and unprofitable.”

A modern philosophic writer, James Dillet Freeman, expressed it: “We live in a time of revolt against reason. Revolt against beauty. Revolt against joy. Life stinks, people say, life stinks!” 

“In Him….” As a person in a submarine is dependent upon it for survival while surrounded by an alien environment, so we are in Christ in this world.

We live, that is, we EXIST, have vitality. Therefore, “Walk in newness of life…” (Romans 6:4), “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind…” (Ephesians 4:23)

We live an estimated average of one half million hours. Use this hour to consider the greatest hygiene the world has ever known. Jesus cleanses and purifies. 

We move, that is we EXERCISE, have dynamic energy.

We have our being, that is, we EXPRESS, the completeness of our personality.

Mahalia Jackson rose from the Mississippi levy to London’s Albert Hall. Her dad worked on river docks during the week and preached on weekends. She grew up singing.  One of her recordings sold over 8 million copies, entitled, “Moving On Up.” These lines are in it: “What do you want to be? Where do you want to go?” There is a condition; “You’ve got to have a made-up mind.”

Have you a made-up mind regarding Jesus. If not, what will you do with Jesus? There are three possible responses: YES, NO, MAYBE.

Because of the “X” factor known as death, that uncertainty of life, to say “maybe” is to put yourself in the NO category. Therefore, resolve to have a made-up mind to trust Him.

Writer Tolstoy asked some Russian peasants to teach him their secrets of happiness. Their joy prompted them to treat everyone like a gem. One answered: “You were created by God. When you stay in creative contact with God, then joy is continuous. But if you get away from God, then you get away from the life force. You can get away from continuous joy. Return to God, my friend, return…to His Son, the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and you will find good days.” Do so and in Him you can live, and move, and have your being.

God’s Goads

Saul the scholarly member of the Sanhedrin, (the Supreme Court of the day) was a prime persecutor of the followers of Jesus. So zealous was he the court appointed him the chief investigator of the resurrection, giving him the credentials to ferret out, persecute, imprison, and even kill believers. He was anti-Jesus.

On his way to Damascus to persecute believers there he encountered Jesus and Saul the persecutor became Paul the Apostle. This transformed follower of Jesus was divinely appointed as the Apostle to the Gentiles.

Facing the possibility of the death penalty, Paul stood before King Agrippa, Queen Bernice, Governor Festus, and other dignitaries in chains a defender of the gospel giving this testimony, “And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” (Acts 26: 14)

As an aside Jesus asked why are you persecuting “me?” It was the church Saul was persecuting, but the church was so precious Jesus referred to it as Himself. This speaks of the vitality of the church.

Then the statement, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” The word translated goads is better understood today as “pricks.” When oxen were being used for plowing they needed guidance and often discipline. A long sharp pole was used to prick the animal on the flank, that is, poke it. At times a rebellious ox would resistantly kick against the pricks. 

Jesus had brought influence to bear on Saul, to guide and discipline him. Paul had kicked against them, that is, rebelled against them. On occasion Saul had resisted God’s chastisement intended to direct and discipline him.

When an ox kicked against the prick, it hurt the ox more than the initial prick. His kick was met with a kickback. 

King David had used the ox analogy regarding his experience, “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” (Psalm 73:21-22) May that caution enlighten us so that we avoid such an experience when disciplined by the Lord. 

Some contemporary goads are: friends, deaths, sermons, suffering, doctrine, difficulty, adversity, affliction, godly counsel, holy confrontation, conviction of the Holy Spirit, financial reversal, natural disasters, business failure and academic probation. Add your own list as you consider your own experiences.

Consider times that in retrospect you kicked against God’s goads.

In our hours of disobedience Jesus goads us in order to direct or discipline us.

May our responses be positive and affirming, not a kickback to them.

The Liberty to Love

Posts regarding what God does for us are a blessing, but then comes along one like this related to what God wants us to do for Him and then it challenges us. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Gal. 5:13) “Meism” is the mandate of the hour. Self-fulfillment, not self-denial, is the cry of the age. Christ said, “If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

If you truly want to fulfill yourself lovingly, deny yourself and give yourself in service to others. Forget yourself and serve yourself into joy and fulfillment.

Self-restraint is a vital part of liberty. Every person has some restraints. They are typified by three dogs. One in a pen that restrains him. One is on a leash, that limits him. Another is controlled by his obedience to his master.

Only love expresses liberty in a way that enhances rather than destroys. Bible love has two distinct qualities. It has its origin in God,“ we love because He first loved us,” and it has its relationship with people, “beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Love isn’t a word to describe your feeling, it is not a technique by which you fulfill your need. It is not a pure abstract ideal on which you meditate. It is acting in response to God and in relation with people.

If we can’t see people in relationship with God, if God is not the lens through which we see others, then we can never freely love them. We will either want to get rid of them because they are in our way, or we will want to use them in order to get us on our way.

The Norwegian dramatist, Ibsen, tells the story of Peer Gynt going to a mental hospital. No one seemed crazy. Everyone talked sensibly and logically about their plans. He felt sure everyone was sane. In response to his inquiry, the doctor said, “They are mad. They talk very sensibly, I admit, but it is all about themselves. They are, in fact, most intelligently obsessed with self. It’s self-morning, noon, and night. We can’t get away from self here.” We must get away from self and along with the Lord often if we expect to live properly with one another.

Liberty without love resembles a blind person without a guide. In an interview in “Psychology Today,” Victor Frankl said, “I often tell my American audiences that freedom threatens to degenerate into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend to you Americans that you should have a “Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.” Apart from responsibility, liberty quickly disintegrates into anarchy such as described in Judges 21:25, “every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

The result of such unbridled liberty is described by Paul, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.” (Gal. 5:15)

Because we have the right to do a thing does not mean it is the right thing to do.

That is our big challenge to start doing through Jesus today. Love one another. If you resolve to do it, be on the lookout for someone in your life who will make it hard to love them today.