I Don't Belong Here

Have you ever gotten the feeling like you don't belong where you are? Maybe it's with a group of friends. Everyone is laughing and having fun, but you get the feeling like you'd rather be somewhere else. Welcome to the world of a Christian, living in "The World."

As near as I can figure, it's because you and I have been set apart for a different purpose.

"Be holy for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:16

And what does "holy " mean in a Biblical context? It means 'set apart.'

We can feel incredibly alone at times. It's better, in a way, to be totally alone than being surrounded by strangers. Know what I mean?

Do you know why that is? Why we feel so alone, even when we're not? It's because we don't belong here.

Do you have a very close friend? Someone you can trust? Why do we feel so comfortable with them? Similar political views? Similar life experiences? Some kind of special bond?

In the song linked below the words 'I don't belong here' are repeated over and over again. A good reminder for us as we walk through this place.

"We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:8

At the same time though, we can feel quite at home with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That's because they are our NEW family. We have common thoughts and experiences. A common love for our Savior. The common bond of love.

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth he said, "I wish that all of you were as I am" - 1 Corinthians 7:7

Paul was speaking about being single, as opposed to being married. Perhaps if we took that opening verse from 1st Peter and tweaked it a bit we could better understand God's meaning for us as we live in today's world.

"Be lonely for I am lonely."

We are supposed to feel alone here because this is not our home. But we don't have to STAY lonely. That's one of the benefits of a church family. Go to church and find a family you belong with. A family who loves you.

Visit a friend you haven't seen in a while. Hours will fly by like minutes. Why? Because your 'at home' with them. Give them a hug and hold on for a while.

The Beautiful Letdown - Switchfoot

Set Apart?

I watched some of the Super Bowl yesterday. The first couple of series anyway. Then something began to grate at me. What was I watching? And why was I watching it?

My wife and I used to watch the game just for the commercials and maybe that's what's bothering me this year - the commercials. Ads are designed to sell things. Companies want to make their products / services look appealing so we will want to buy them. But what are they selling? And why?

I think if it was just another football game, this game would have been a good one to watch. Two great teams, two good coaches, playing their hearts out. But then, in creeps "The World." Politics, luxury cars, fantasy movies . . . Mr. Peanut.

And the half-time show. Oh my. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira? I don't have to tell you what THEY were selling. I heard it was just shy of a strip tease show. I was glad I bugged out in the first quarter. I wonder how many impressionable kids watched the show?

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

If we are  to be transformed, how are we to do that? I think it's through reading the Bible and through prayer. Listening for that "still, small voice" and receiving God's Holy Spirit within us. Not by wallowing in worldly things.

The more we read and learn, the more our eyes are opened. We move closer to God and farther away from "the world" when we follow God's Holy Spirit and His leading.

We are Christians. We are called to be Holy, which means to be "set apart." And perhaps that's a good question for us this post Super Bowl Monday morning. Are we set apart? Are we holy?

Are we Christians?

I'm not picking on any Christians for watching the game (Yes, I am). I watched some of it. But I AM asking this question. WHY were we watching the game? For the football? For the commercials? For the halftime show? Did any of those things make us holy? Set apart from the rest of the world? The world we are not supposed to be like? Probably not.

Lord, help us not to conform to this slowly sinking world. We do the things we say we shouldn't do. We are no better than the rest of the unbelieving world. We should not be part of this world. We are YOURS! Help us act like it. Please!

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God." - 2 Corinthians 6:14,16

Forgive Me - Tenth Avenue North

Nonconformity

I read something today that made me stop and think about the way I am living my life right now. I'd like you to read it too and see what you think.

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16

What that basically says to me is, "All that stuff you were doing before you were saved? Yeah, don't do that anymore."

We humans are prone to temptation. We are also creatures of habit. When something we used to do in our past dangles itself in front of us in our present, what is our future going to look like? That depends on what we do right here and now.

How can we prepare for temptation? Take proactive steps. Does taking a drink tempt you? Get rid of the bottles in your house, don't go to bars, don't go to parties where alcohol is likely to be served. Don't go down the beer aisle at the grocery store.

Here's another helpful tip. Don't watch television, especially the commercials. Television ads are like IED's -  roadside bombs. You think you're safe then, BOOM! There it is.

Am I being too drastic? Too picky? Too idealistic? Legalistic?

I used the example of alcohol here but it really could be anything. Sexual temptation, gluttony, greed, the list is endless.

What does it mean to be holy? Set apart? From what? We are to be set apart from the world, sin and everything "the world" represents. We were made holy by the precious blood of Jesus and our faith in God. Should we be acting like it?

Every time we are tempted we should pray and get out of the situation we are in. We also should take steps to avoid temptation. We belong to Jesus, not the world.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Ball of Confusion - The Temptations

The Need For Repentance

There are times we leave church feeling really wonderful and uplifted. There are also times when we leave church feeling incredibly convicted and down on ourselves. But it's not just church. The same thing happens when we read the Bible or hear some particular lyrics in a song. Why it that?

Let me give you an example. Amazing Grace is a really uplifting song for me. Check out these lyrics.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on a cross, my burdens gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Wow! That fact that God would do that for us amazes me and it lifts me up just knowing that God cares about us THAT MUCH. :)

Here's an example of a song that convicts me. It's by the Sidewalk Prophets.

If I saw You on the street and You said, "Come and follow me."
But I had to give up everything; all I once held dear and all of my dreams.
Would I love You enough to let go, or would my love run dry when you asked for my life?

And now for the convicting chorus, as if the first verse wasn't enough . . .

When did love become unmoving, when did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me, Father of Love, You can have me. You can have me.

Ouch.

I heard that song on my way to work Thursday morning, the day after I had written my last story for this blog. I felt convicted about that particular story because it was more of a rant about our two presidential candidates that is was about the God I love.

And so today I write THIS story about repentance. I am writing about the conviction I felt upon hearing a song lyric that made me take action and repent of something I did.

Do you ever hear songs like that or a sermon on a Sunday morning that makes you change the direction of your thinking? They are usually rare but when they occur they can be life changing. It is God's Holy Spirit working in us. Refining us. Changing us.

It's good to have those moments of incredible highs and humbling lows because most days I tend to drift back towards the world I came out of - a world God called separated from. We must always be on guard against drifting back . . . backsliding into who we used to be.

Or love SHOULD be consuming! It should be MOVING! When it's not, we must examine ourselves and make corrections because we are definitely to "be holy, as I am holy" (Leviticus 20:26). To be "holy" means to be "set apart."

I re-wrote my story from Wednesday. You can read it here. If you have read it before I invite you to read it again to see if it have become more God honoring than it was before. I hope you will find it a better example of a "Christian" blog than you did on Wednesday.

Thank you Lord for sending your Holy Spirit who moves in us and through us. He convicts us of our sin, He draws us nearer to You. He is our interpreter - making our words acceptable to your ears. (He had a lot of work to do this past Wednesday for this servants story). Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy and for teaching us to "walk humbly this our Lord" (Micah 6:8)

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised (the Holy Spirit); but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” - Luke 24:45-49

Amazing Grace - Alan Jackson
You Can Have Me - Sidewalk Prophets

The Appointed Ones

Do you think you are special? Unique? Our fingerprints prove that there is no one exactly like YOU, but are we actually unique in a spiritual sense?

I was listening to the Book of Acts in my car the other day. The Book of Acts leads me to write more of these stories, I think, with every time I read it or listen to it. I will hear something from Peter, Paul, Stephen or Phillip, and "boom!" I get convicted in some way or it makes me notice something in a different way. Like when I heard this:

^"44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. ⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us: 

‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,

That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 

⁴⁸ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." - Acts 13:44-48

Only those who had been "appointed to eternal life believed." If they were "appointed," who did the appointing? Well, that would be God. But this sentence implies that there are those who hear the Word but were NOT appointed. They did not believe. My take away from this is that not everyone is appointed to believe. Not everyone will be saved.

Jesus confirms this in the Book of Matthew when He speaks about the "sheep and goats."

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ - Matthew 25:31-36

So some of the non-believers we know might not make it? What if that means that our mother, or brother or sister-in-law is doomed? What hope is there for them?

God knows when, where and how every person will come to believe in Him. HE has appointed the day, the hour, the very second that we will be His. Hmm. So, what is the point of evangelism then? If God already knows we are going to be saved next Thursday for example, why should WE care?What does that have to do with us?

What if God wants to use you to do it? What if God wants to use YOU to deliver His message of salvation to one of the goats?

No pressure.

The point of this story is to serve as a reminder to us that . . .

1. God is in control.
2. God knows all things.
3. God knew the person who spoke the words of life into each of us.

With those facts in mind, here are some questions to be answered by each of us:

Question 1: Is God going to use YOU to speak into someone's life today?

Question 2: Are you ready?

Jesus told us that we are to be a light unto the world . . .

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

Are we shining brightly? Are people looking at us and seeing Jesus? We who believe, were chosen. We were chosen by God! And WHY were we chosen? Not because we're pretty or because we smell good. I believe we were chosen for a purpose. The question has already been asked. Are we ready?

^"14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14

"You don't need no ticket, you just praise The Lord."

 People Get Ready - Curtis Mayfield

World

There is a constant, steady pulling that we humans experience, day in and day out. It is a force as steady as gravity. It is also just as unnoticeable. It is something that is not readily visible to the untrained eye yet it is all around us. No, I am not writing about The Force or The Matrix. Those concepts are fictitious. My topic for today, although similar, is all too real. I am writing about something the Bible refers to as "The World."

We are told in God's Word that we are to be IN the world but not OF the world. What exactly does that mean? What is "the world" anyway?

Well, the concept of "The World" in scripture comes from the Greek word cosmos. Sound familiar? It should. Cosmos is a word we use today to describe the universe. But back in Jesus' day cosmos described the inhabited earth and the people who lived on it. Our present-day definition is typical of how we humans tend to see our importance, bigger than we really are.

To help us understand this concept let's listen to what our Lord has to say. In this example Jesus is talking to his disciples.

"19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:19

So if we are "of the world" worldly people will think we are normal. That makes sense. And if we are "not of the world" people will hate us and think that we don't belong. I have found that to be true.

In this next example Jesus is praying to God. He is seeking God's protection for the disciples.

"14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." - John 17:14-16

If we are disciples of Christ would He not also pray for us? Would He not seek to protect US from the evil one? I think He would. That's why he warned us several times here not to become part of the world!

It is so easy to find ourselves pulled, pushed, nudged, diverted and cajoled in it's direction, just like gravity. We are made to think that joining in on all the "fun" is expected of us. It is easy to feel that way because the world is all around us, waiting for us. Waiting to devour us.

So how can we keep ourselves from falling prey to the evil one (who controls this world)? By feeding ourselves with the Word of God. That is our weapon. Pray to our Lord's continued protection, that we might not fall prey to the schemes of the devil. And gather together. You have heard of the phrase "there is safety in numbers?" There is truth in those words. We must help one another and keep each other accountable. Being saved is one thing, but being safe is another.

Cling tightly to Jesus. Hold fast to His teachings. Place your faith and trust in the One who died for your sins so that you might appear righteous in God's eyes. We who believe are NOT a part of this world.

"2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2