Hostage Situation

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

- Proverbs 4:23, NIV

"Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it is almost impossible to eradicate."

If that sounds familiar to you at all, that's because it's a line from Inception (which is one of my favorite movies, by the way). Throughout it, the movie emphasizes the strength of ideas and the power of our thoughts. 

If you need an example for just how powerful and binding thoughts can be, we need to look no further than our own spiritual lives: How about sin? After all, it has to start somewhere - and sin starts in the mind.

In Mark, Jesus says:

"What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'" (Mark 7:20-23, NIV)

But it doesn't stop there. "The smallest seed of an idea can grow," says Dom Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) in Inception. "It can grow to define or destroy you." These sinful thoughts - these seeds - germinate and grow into the poison flower of sinful action.

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15, NIV)

Because "an idea is like a virus - resilient, highly contagious," (yes, that's another Inception quote) we need to make sure that the ideas in our head are pure. We have safeguards we can put up against sinful thoughts - mainly, focusing on Christ.

But this isn't easy. The devil and the world are always seeking to bring us down, to take our thoughts off of the Christ we strive to follow. They want to see us trip up, they want to see us fail, they want to see us stray. And where does this start? The mind, of course.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV)

We have to be proactive and assertive in maintaining a mindset of Christ because it goes against our sinful nature. Like training for a sport, we need to build up our mental muscle memory, through repetition and practice. Restraining our thoughts requires definitive action, constant effort, relentless vigilance. 

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV)

Taking every though captive - this is a hostage situation. We "capture [our] rebellious thoughts," as it says in the New Living Translation. Taking our thoughts captive means an ambush, a storming of our own Bastille. It means taking sin's legs out from under it, catching it off guard, before it gets the chance to set up camp in our minds. It means letting the devil know who is boss, and it's not him - it's Him.)

"Whatever you resist persists because it keeps your attention," tweeted Rick Warren, author of A Purpose-Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church. "Instead, REFOCUS on something else to defeat a temptation."

The mind is an amazing thing that God created, and it does amazing things. The brain, part of our central nervous system, is our body's "command center." (That's the extent of my knowledge about the nervous system, so don't ask questions.) It's the engine that drives our cognitive vehicle. That said, if Satan doesn't have our thoughts, then he has no foothold. If he can't reach the steering wheel of our mind, he isn't able to drive us off course. 

Throughout Scripture we see this point emphasized, the importance of thinking pure thoughts.

I will ponder the way that is blameless. (Psalm 101:2a, ESV)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5, ESV)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8, NLT)

Taking our thoughts captive, focusing on the things of Christ instead of the things of this world...

Now that's something to think about.

Even Better Sunday

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory 

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, ESV

On Friday he died, shattering the Earth but bridging the chasm between Heaven and Hell. On Saturday the earth stood still, torn by its loss and stung by hopelessness.

But on Sunday, that all changed. With his resurrection, the powers of Hell were conquered.

When the stone was rolled away and the empty tomb was exposed, when Jesus appeared to his disciples, when he showed his scarred hands, his scarred feet, his pierced side, what was bleak became bright.

Life - hope - was restored.

And we can have new life, too, if only we ask Him.

Sin is death. It kills us, from the inside out. But by surrendering himself - in our stead - on the cross, Jesus Christ became our sin, became our death, so we don't have to die.

Christ conquered death, and because of that now we can have the hope that allows us to see and to live beyond the grave. We can live forever with Jesus Christ, spending eternity worshiping Him in a heaven beyond our wildest expectations.

Because Christ rose from the grave, through the Holy Spirit we have in us the power of the resurrection - a power not of revenge, but of redemption. 

It's the power of a promise fulfilled; it's the power of Life and the power of Love; the power of a sin not just forgiven but vanquished; the power of a life renewed and a hope restored; the power of a love exhibited and a sacrifice given freely; the power of a victory over Satan, sin and Hell. 

But it's more than that. It's the power of a sickness healed; the power of an addiction conquered; the power of a sinful self washed away; the power of a man born again; the power of a fresh start; the power of a life dedicated to spreading the Good News that - thank God - that grave was empty.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He gives us this power through the Holy Spirit.

Yes - once Sunday came, the same power that conquered the grave now lives in us.

And we thought Friday was good.

Good Friday

I was there when you entered the city last Sunday. I placed my shirt on the ground, waved my palm branches, and cried "Hosanna!" I worshiped you like the true King you are.

But when you were brought before the court I didn't so much as stand up for you. I  jeered when your face was shown. I found my voice shouting for Barabbas when Pilate asked who to release.

I condemned you.

I whipped your back till the skin was torn like paper shreds. I pushed the crown of thorns onto your forehead until I saw a flow of blood. I sat silently as you were kicked, slapped, punched, to the point where your human features were indistinguishable.

I laughed at you, the Creator who gave me my very breath.

I mocked you, the King of Kings. 

I taunted you, the Son of God. 

I lorded myself over you, the Lord of All.

I didn't carry your cross. I turned away when you came near. I averted my eyes from your piercing gaze. When your cross was raised up, I hung my head. 

You died for me.

I was Sin. You were the sacrifice for me.

I was Shame. Your blood covers me.

I was dirty. You washed me clean.

I spat in your face. You smiled at me.

I drove the nails. You forgave me.

I pierced your hands, your feet, your side. You embraced me.

I cursed you. You told me you loved me.

I denied you. You accepted me.

I betrayed you. You gave me a second chance.

I was lost. You left your 99 sheep to find me.

I was a prodigal. You called my name, and ran to embrace me when I returned.

I am fallen, and I live in a fallen world. You are perfect; you sit on a throne, and want me to join you.

I deserve death. You died so I could have life.

I deserve condemnation. You give us hope for eternity.

You were bruised, broken, poured out - for me. 

On the cross you were Sin. You were Shame. You were Suffering. 

For me.

In my place.

You were perfect, and yet you took upon yourself what I deserved - betrayal, torture, death.

You were the embodiment of love without condition and without limit.

May I never forget your sacrifice.

Sincerest Form of Worship

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 11:1

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But when it comes to our relationship with God, imitation is more than mere flattery. 

It's the sincerest form of worship.

"If you love me, you will obey my commands," Jesus says (John 14:15, ESV).

When we love Christ, a desire to follow and obey Him will flow naturally out of our hearts.

But we don't live in a vacuum, devoid of influences and pressures, both internal and external. We live in a sinful and fallen world, surrounded by followers of the Darkness. They live lives of carnal pleasure and instant gratification. And when everything in their lives seems peachy keen, it can be tempting for us to follow in their footsteps. 

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:14, ESV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12-13, NIV)

We are called to stand firm in our faith because our reward awaits us. In the meantime though, we face a battle day in and day out to live godly lives - lives that shine with the light of Jesus, that carry His love, that act out the worship due His name.

Painting a picture is made easier when you're painting it based off an image that you can see - a model, or a landscape in front of you. Cooking something is easier - for a guy, at least - when he can watch someone else doing it too. (Thank goodness for the Food Network.) Likewise, we can find it easier to follow Christ when we have godly people in our lives who we can imitate.

Humans are impressionable - that's why it's so important to be careful about who we hang out with, who we spend time around, who we're close to. That's why we are not to be "unequally yoked" in marriage, believer with unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). For good or ill, people rub off on other people.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV)

Check out that second verse in the God's Word Translation. I love how it makes this point crystal clear. The language is blunt:

Don't let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people.

Paul recognized the importance of imitating those who imitate Christ; the idea is a common theme in Paul's first epistle to the church in Corinth, a place where pagan culture - sexual immorality, idolatry, disunity, self-centeredness and arrogance - was pervasive.

Paul writes the letter to the Corinthians as a call for them to live their lives in a way that is set apart from a society that denies Him. 

In 1 Corinthians 4:16, Paul writes:

I urge you, then, be imitators of me. (ESV)

As I said, even though this is introduced here, the idea will be carried throughout the rest of 1 Corinthians, and can even be found in some of Paul's other letters. He even goes so far as to describe Christians being a "mother" or "father" to other Christians.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (Philippians 3:17, ESV)

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you... (2 Thessalonians 3:7, NIV)

Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, NLT)

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. (Titus 2:7, NLT)

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ... For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11-12, ESV)

I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. (1 Timothy 1:2a, NLT)

To Timothy, my beloved child... (2 Timothy 1:2a, ESV)

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. (Philemon 10, NLT)

And the idea isn't exclusively Paul's:

...be examples for the flock to follow. (1 Peter 5:3, GWT)

Clearly the idea of being a "mother" or "father" to fellow Christians, of having them follow in one's footsteps, is prevalent. Even though Christians are imperfect, we can still learn by following the example of other people living to please our Heavenly Father. 

I'm blessed to have been raised by two parents who love the Lord and who continually seek His face. Since I was young they instilled in me Christian values. They talked the talk and walked the walk; they led by example. I used to resent it at times, but as I've grown in my faith, as I've gotten older and my perspective has been broadened, I realize how blessed I was and still am to have such strong Christian influences in my life.

Mom, Dad: Thank you.

But I shouldn't just be satisfied that I have a good example for my own life. We shouldn't be satisfied just with following others' positive example.  Our desire should be to imitate Christ as closely as possible so that other people will be able to follow our example.

Like the Phillips, Craig and Dean song, we should cry out: "Lord, I want to be just like you, because ___(fill in the blank)______ wants to be like me."

In Leviticus, God calls us to strive for holiness. 

"For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy....For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44-45, ESV)

The note in my ESV Study Bible says this: 

"The Lord, who is himself holy, calls his people to consecrate themselves, i.e. dedicate themselves to holiness...[to] practice a holy lifestyle." 

It goes on to say:

"Personal consecration (in which a person imitates God's own character) is a response to God's gracious initiative."

God showed us grace. When we accept Him, our response to His grace and love is to strive to imitate God's holiness. 

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV)

We're human. We will fail. But the important thing is to run the race in a way that will show others how transformative is Christ's love...to run the race in a way that worships the Lord with every step.

When we do this, we'll be walking closely with Christ as we strive to live out our faith in order to show His love to the lost.

Could an act of worship be any more sincere?

Undivided Attention

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...

- Psalm 37:7, ESV

We live in a culture that thrives on the flashy and shocking.

Sex, drugs, violence - all these things are part of marketing ploys to grab and keep our attention. They inundate us from left and right.

Someone doing homework with iPod headphones in, a cell phone in one hand, a TV on in the background - this is a common sight in college, high school and even in younger children.

Soccer, tennis, baseball, debate, dance, drama - we fill every spare moment of our day with some sort of activity.

Get the point yet? We as a people love things that are flashy, because they can hold our attention - at least for the time being. (Until we become numb, that is.) And we love to multi-task, to be as busy as possible.

It's no wonder drugs like Ritalin and Adderall are so prevalent in society. We're addicted to the hectic, the humming and the hyper, victims (and, simultaneously, self-causes) of a chronic busyness syndrome without remedy.

Even in conversation with someone else, we'll get distracted (or is it bored?) and not hear what the other person is saying. We'll ask a question and then not listen to the answer.

And we carry over this mindset to our relationship with Christ.

When we read our Bible, we get bogged down in the geneologies or the levitical laws or God's specifications for the ark of the covenant and all of a sudden find ourselves asleep, bored by inaction or our own lack of enthusiasm.

So we don't read our Bibles. There are more pressing things to do, better ways of spending our oh-so-precious time.

When we pray, our minds wander. We'll be praying for something, and then 10 minutes later - down a completely separate train of thought that likely has nothing to do with our prayer - remember what we were doing: Oh yeah, I was talking to my Creator. My bad.

So we don't pray. There are more pressing things to do, better ways of spending our oh-so-precious time.

We're getting nowhere. It becomes an endless cycle of circular reasoning, the self-perpetuating result becoming the oft-repeatable cause.

Why aren't we getting anywhere? We get so caught up in ourselves sometimes that we forget our relationship with the Lord is a relationship. And relationships involve maintenance, an effort to keep open the lines of communication in order to draw closer together.

Reuben Morgan tweeted: "We need to step out of the rush and the roar to seek God." That's exactly what we need to do.

What does that mean? Set aside time when we'll be able to do nothing but focus completely on Christ. That means doing whatever it takes to minimize distractions in order to enter into His presence rather than the Las Vegas of our minds, where hedonism is king.

Turn off the TV, the music, get away from the constant buzz of life and seek Him.

If you fall asleep when you pray with your eyes closed, open your eyes. If you get distracted when you pray with your eyes open, close your eyes. If you have trouble finishing a thought when you pray, pray out loud.

The key here is to realize that when we pray we aren't just muttering general requests or speaking in abstractions to a vague and distant God. We're talking one-and-one with the Creator of the universe and of us, who loves us so much and craves an intimate relationship with us.

He's God of everything, and yet we have His undivided attention. Can we not give Him ours?

And when we ask God a question, when we petition and pray for something, do we listen for an answer? Or do we talk and flap our jaws until we've said all we had to say, then open our eyes and go about our business?

One-sided conversations aren't fun. And it's no way to maintain a relationship. How can we expect to recognize an answer from Him if we don't tune ourselves to His voice?

Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. And yet all too often we're guilty of reciting our soliloquy to the supernatural and then packing it in, checking that off our to-do list that lengthens by the second.

In this busy world, we need to quiet ourselves...and simply, humbly, seek the throne of Grace.

He's our Heavenly Father, and the Lord of All. He created us, molded us into being, sacrificed his only son for us, and one day will be coming back for us. He loves us more than we could ever fathom. And He deserves our undivided and uncompromised attention.

“Uncrowd my heart, O God,

until silence speaks

in your still small voice;

turn me from the hearing of words,

and the making of words, and the confusion of much speaking, 

to listening,

waiting,

stillness,

silence.”

- Thomas Merton, 20th century Catholic writer

Trailblazers

For we cannot tarry here, 

We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger, 

We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend, 

Pioneers! O pioneers!

- Walt Whitman, "Pioneers! O Pioneers!"

Let me start off by defending myself, just in case you're slightly bewildered or taken aback as to why I'm quoting Walt Whitman on my Christian blog.

So here's my disclaimer: I'm quoting Whitman for the sole reason of his words. Regardless of his personal philosophies, political views or lifestyle choices, the man knew how to manipulate the English language into beautiful literary shapes. And so I'm quoting him here because his words illustrate my point beautifully.

The thing I like most about this selection from Whitman's poem "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" is how the narrator urges his fellow trailblazers to continue doing just that - blazing a trail - because "all the rest on us depend." The narrator recognizes the importance of their roles, and the impact they will have on future generations.

The same can be said of Christians. In a way we are pioneers, blazing a trail for our fellow followers of Christ, both now and in the future. The way we act, the words we say, can also affect non-Christians, especially when it comes to them turning to Christ.

That said...

When did we decide it was OK to blend in?

When did we stop blazing a trail for others to follow?

And what are we going to do about it?

A close friend told me recently: "Even though we Christians often say we don't care what other people think, the truth is, we do...or else we would see a much greater difference between our lives and non-believers'."

I had never thought of that before, but when she told me that I realized just how true that statement is! Others' perceptions of us make up the biggest obstacle standing between us and living a radical life for Christ.

We are called to die to ourselves and submit to Him. But often we don't. Like the rich young ruler, we don't want to give up what we have. Is it simply too hard? Is the cost simply too high? We would rather hold onto our earthly possessions than reach for the hand of Christ. And yet the love of our Savior is more precious than any material thing.

We've missed the point. We profess to be Christians but don't live like Christ. This sends a horribly mixed message to a dying world. But what do we do to correct this image? Often nothing. We'd rather just sit silently, hands in pockets, acting oblivious.

In his book Crazy Love (which, by the way, I highly recommend if you haven't yet read it), Francis Chan says, "The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives."

So let's take a step together: let's not be complacent. Let's pray for boldness and courage, for a sincere desire to live radically for him, for the abandon necessary to take the steps to do so. And let's encourage each other in this endeavor. 

A movement has to start somewhere. Let it start with us. Let's blaze a trail that can revolutionize the way Christians today live for Him.

I'll conclude the way I began: with Walt Whitman.

The poem closes with these lines, a call to action for all of us :

Till with sound of trumpet,
Far, far off the daybreak call-hark! how loud and clear I hear it wind,
Swift! to the head of the army!-swift! spring to your places,
Pioneers! O pioneers!

How appropriate is that for us as Christians?! Because we know that one day with the sound of a trumpet, Jesus will return to take home his bride!

In the meantime, spring to your places! 

Blaze a trail! 

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

Mercies in Disguise

Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 

But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” 

“Here I am,” he replied. 

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. 

Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. 

He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 

So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. 

And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

- Genesis 22:10-14, NIV

In Genesis we read of Abraham, who is about to kill his son as a sacrifice to the Lord. But instead of allowing Abraham to kill Isaac, God provides a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in his son's stead. So Abraham calls the place "Jehovah-Jireh," which means "The Lord will provide."

Doors open and doors close. Things are given and things are taken away. Sunny days inevitably give way to rainy ones. Yet amid our struggles and tribulations we can take comfort in the fact that the God we serve knows our every need.

Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide.

Job says: 

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21, NASB)

Even though Job was in a season of loss, he was blessing the name of the Lord.

Why? We've talked before about how awesome God is, and how He deserves to be worshiped not because of what He does but because of who He is. But even by looking solely at what He does, He still deserves our praise and worship. Why? Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide.

His mercies and love are never-ending. And when we think He's working against us, just remember that God is still at work. Through raindrops, tears, sleepless nights...God is at work. And especially in those times, He wants us to put our trust wholly and solely in Him. 

Remember: Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide.

There's a song by Laura Story that says it beautifully:

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

It can be hard to see Him through the downpour, but God is there even when we can't see Him, when we don't know how things are going to work out, when uncertainty abounds and chaos ensues. But He's there. And He's guiding us through life with our best interests ultimately in mind, even when we experience real-life technical difficulties. 

God's plans aren't ours. His are higher.

So...

What if our troubles are the way to His blessings? 

What if our tribulations are the path to His peace?

What if our trials are His mercies in disguise?

Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide.

But maybe the ultimate encouragement comes from this: 

We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home.

Our pain is temporary, and it reminds us that one day our struggles and sorrows will be forgotten, that soon - day and night - we will worship the Lamb sitting on His throne in Heaven. 

This is not our home. We have a better one awaiting us. It's a mansion, and God is getting it ready so that He can send Jesus to come and get us - soon and very soon. 

Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide.

"Blessings" - Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

- Jeremiah 29:11, NIV