Be Noble

Have you experienced bad things happening? Have you seen evil in this world? Have you done anything to oppose evil? Or have you allowed evil to creep into your life? Do you long for justice to be done? Would you like to convert bad people to good?

Bad things happen in our world. We may have had bad things happen to us. We may have seen bad things happen to others. We know there are bad people. We try to avoid them. But evil exists in the world, and we cannot always avoid it.

The Apostle Paul tells us to overcome it with good. That may sound like a wishful dream. We may think we do not have the strength for that. We would be right. But God can and has overcome evil. Paul tells us how we can work along with God. First, we are not to avenge evil ourselves but leave it to God (v.19).

Paul gives us several things we CAN do. Bless them (v. 14), think what is noble (v. 17), feed them (v. 20), and give them something to drink (v. 20). His advice may seem odd or out of place. It may seem to be counterintuitive. But we must remember that Jesus came into this world to turn it on its head.

Often, it is by showing kindness to someone that we help them step away from evil. Many people who have a bad attitude, do bad things, or are downright mean have not experienced the love of God. We can show it to them by doing what Paul tells us to do. Drawing them away from evil may not happen overnight, but if we are persistent and pray that God work in their lives, we will see them turn from darkness and into the light.

I pray we all adhere to Paul’s advice. I pray we seek to do good to ALL people. I pray each one of us will leave vengeance to God and pursue being noble in thought. Seek to do good. Seek to live in harmony. Bless others. Think noble thoughts. Feed your enemy. Give them something to drink. Be like Jesus.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Honor One Another

Do you like competing in contests? What kinds of contests do you like? What kinds are you good at? Are you better at physical or sporting contests? Are you better at educational or memory contests? Have you thought about competing to be more like Jesus?

We like to compete. There are hotdog eating contests, spelling bees, and marching band contests. We watch contests such as the Olympics, the Stanley Cup, the World Series, and the Super Bowl. Competition is all around us and we actively participate in it.

We compete in our jobs and in our families. We strive to get a promotion. We seek the attention of others. We work hard to outdo someone else to be recognized for our accomplishments. Competition is as natural as breathing. It is not bad in and of itself. But it can become bad if we are competing with the wrong attitude and for the wrong reasons.

The Apostle Paul encourages the church in Rome to compete. Not for trophies, but to show the love of God. He encourages us to outdo one another in showing honor. Imagine how our churches might look if we were to compete in showing honor to one another. They would be attractive to everyone who stepped in them.

How do we compete in showing honor? First, we must love one another as Christ loves us. Rather than nitpicking every little thing someone does that is different than what we would do, we appreciate them being different. Rather than arguing, we calmly debate and agree to disagree without making derogatory comments. We praise God and lift one another up for the work God is accomplishing through them. Honoring one another is a competition we should all compete in.

I pray we all seek to honor God. I pray we make every effort to love one another as Christ loves us. I pray each one of us compete to honor one another as the family of God. Honor one another. Celebrate diversity. Debate calmly. Praise one another. Seek to honor God in all things.

Romans 12:9-10 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Gone Ahead

Have you driven through a desert? Was it a large desert or a small desert? Did you think about others who had been through the same desert? Did you think about those who built the road you were driving on? Are you going through a desert in your life right now?

Driving through a desert can be dangerous business. You want to ensure you are in a reliable vehicle. You need to ensure you have a full tank of fuel. You should also ensure your air conditioner and heater work properly. The desert can be hot during the day and cold at night.

I have not driven through a desert, though I have driven through barren land. I also experienced a flat tire while driving through a windswept and dry valley. It was warm outside but not unbearable. Thankfully, the rental car we were in had a spare and we had cell phone signal. I changed the tire, called the rental car company, and headed to the nearest rental car store to exchange that vehicle for another one.

While driving through that barren valley, I never gave a thought to the people who originally built the road nor the people who maintain it. We take those for granted, don’t we? But someone prepared the way. Someone went ahead of us. The preparation and work were done so we don’t have to.

This happens in other areas of our lives. God sends someone ahead of us. He prepares a way for us to go. God knows where we are heading before we do. What are we to do? We are to give thanks to God for going before us. Thank him for preparing the way, for providing what we need when we need it. Just as God sent Joseph ahead of the Israelites into Egypt, he prepares our way for us.

I pray we all understand God prepares our way. I pray we trust he will provide what we need. I pray each one of us will give God the thanks he deserves for preparing our way ahead of us. God knows where you are going. He prepares the way. Trust God to provide. Give him thanks for preparing your way.

Psalm 105:16-17

When he summoned famine against the land,

and broke every staff of bread, 

he had sent a man ahead of them, 

Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

The Great I AM

Has there been someone who has been a mystery to you? Have you seen them from a distance and wondered who they were? Have you worked for a company that was large enough you didn’t know who the president of the company was?

We occasionally come across people of intrigue. We wonder who they are. We may work for a company not knowing who their president or other senior officers are. We may seek out the information. We may find out who is at the top of the company.

Moses was concerned the Israelites might wonder what the name of God was. After all, the Egyptians had names for their gods. So, if Moses was going to tell the Israelites he had spoken with God, which was unheard of since Adam and Eve, he thought he should know God’s name.

The verbal exchange between Moses and God is an early indication that God doesn’t play by human rules. In effect, God says to Moses, “I don’t have a human name.” He is the Creator. He has always existed. But he doesn’t go by a human name in the way gods of other peoples.

We have grown used to calling God the Great I AM. We sing hymns with this name. We have heard sermons or been in Bible studies that look at Jesus’ “I AM” statements. The Israelites gave God a name that was unspeakable as a way to indicate that God’s name was too glorious for us to speak or to indicate it was in a heavenly language we do not know.

Calling God “I AM” is our way of acknowledging he is far more powerful than we are. It is acknowledging he is above all human rules. We acknowledge we are incapable of knowing all there is to know about God. We acknowledge he has always been, is now, and always will be.

I pray we all recognize the amazing glory of God. I pray we acknowledge he is beyond our full understanding. I pray each one of us know that God has always been, is now, and always will be. Give God the glory. Know him as Creator. Be in awe of God. Know he has always existed. Know his is in the moment. Know he will always be.

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ”

Burning Bush

Have ever been surprised? Have you been going about your business then something out of the ordinary suddenly caught your attention? What were your immediate thoughts? Did you wonder where it came from or how it occurred? Did you attribute it to God?

We may witness a miracle of God and not fully recognize it unless we interact with him. We may see something amazing and view it from afar. Seeing something out of the ordinary can catch our attention. Yet, it is when we close in on what’s happening that we can encounter God.

Moses was going about the business of guiding the flock of sheep to a place where they could graze. He might have been thinking about where he was going. He may have been wishing he was back home with his wife. He may have been pondering how God had seemed to be distant from him. Regardless of what he was thinking, God grabbed his attention. Seeing a bush that was burning but not being consumed by the fire should catch anyone’s attention.

Sometimes, God does something to grab our attention. I often wonder if I miss those moments. I wonder if all of us miss them. Though God doesn’t speak to us through burning bushes anymore, he does speak at us at times. I think he speaks to us when we have near miss of being in an accident. I think he speaks to us when we stand next to someone in need. I think he speaks to us through other Christians. The message God wants to relay to us will be relayed. The only question is, will we hear it and adhere to it?

I pray we all look and listen for God to speak to us. I pray we recognize when it is God calling out to us. I pray each one of us not merely hear the message but follow God’s guidance. Be attentive. Look for God. Listen to God. Hear his message for you. Follow God’s guidance for your life.

Exodus 3:1-2 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.

Who Do You Say?

Have you wrestled with a tough question? Have you been confronted and needed to give an answer right away? How did you handle it? Did you quickly say what you believed? Or did you stumble and stutter trying to find the right answer?

We can be confronted at any given moment to answer an unexpected question. It seems that it happens quite often when we have small children. But it can happen anywhere at any time. We should be prepared to give an answer.

Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was. If we are asked that question, are we ready to give an answer? If someone in a local store were to ask us that question, what would we say? If we fumble about with our answer, it is not very convincing. The other person may think we are lying or simply don’t have a real answer.

We are told in 1 Peter 3:15 to be prepared to give an answer for our hope. Jesus is our hope. So, we should be prepared to give His name as our answer, then answer who we believe He is. It needs to be ingrained within us. It should be an automatic response, one that is given with conviction.

Yes, give your answer with conviction, but don’t allow it to be offensive. Be confident, but not cocky. Be sure of yourself and be unwavering. Do not back down or be convinced of a lesser answer. Yet, speak your answer with humbleness and compassion for the one asking. Often, they simply want to know if you really believe what you are telling them.

I pray we all are prepared to give an answer for our hope. I pray we are prepared to tell others who Jesus is. I pray each one of us will be filled with the Holy Spirit and have the answer ready to give. Be prepared. Answer with conviction. Be confident. Be humble. Show compassion. Tell others who Jesus is.

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?

Who Do People Say?

Do you wonder what other people are thinking at times? Do you sometimes watch people, observe their actions, and wonder what is going through their minds? Have you ever asked someone what they thought of someone else? Do you think people wonder that about you?

People watching can be very entertaining. People just do some of the funniest things. But watching them and trying to discern what they are thinking is a bit more challenging. Sometimes, we would really like to know. It might shock us if we did know.

Jesus asked His disciples who other people were saying He was. He was curious what the rumors were going around the area. The answers the disciples gave Him included John the Baptist, and various prophets from hundreds of years before. Though anyone of us might be flattered by their answer, I’m sure Jesus was not.

Because people were saying He might be any one of these other prophets, Jesus knew the people were not getting what He was saying and doing. They didn’t understand the prophets were not able to do what He could do. Neither did they teach with authority in the way He did. So, I’m sure He was disappointed that their hearts remained blind to who He was.

We often say who He is, but are we any better off than the people who were saying He was a prophet? I’m not convinced I nor many people I know fully understand the magnitude of who Jesus is. There are many names for Him, and each tells us something about Him. But when we think of Him as the Son of God and as God, do we fully comprehend what that means? I believe the disciples, or at least some of them, had a good understanding of who He was before the cross. They had a much more complete understanding after the resurrection. Being in His presence was awe inspiring more than any other person we can think of. We should be as awe struck as the disciples were.

I pray we all know who Jesus is. I pray we seek to gain a better understanding of who He is. I pray each one of us will be in complete awe of who Jesus is, who God is. Know who Jesus is. Seek to know Him better. See Him as the Son of God. See Him as God. Be in awe of Him.

Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Many Parts, One Body

Have you ever played a team sport and experienced the dependency of one on the other? Have ever been part of a brotherhood or sisterhood that was very tight with one another? What is your experience in the church? Is it like that? Do you think it should be like that?

Many of us have played team sports or been a part of a team in some way or another. It is fun when everyone on the team is pulling for one another and encouraging one another. The game is a joy. We like that atmosphere. We want to be in that environment for the rest of our lives.

I remember being in my first unit as a Marine. Our platoon was tight. Oh, we picked on and teased one another. We might even get into a heated argument or fight. But no one outside the platoon was allowed to pick on someone within our platoon. It didn’t matter how mad we might have been with a platoon member the day before, we stood up for them. It was a brotherhood.

Our churches are to be the same way. Sure, we might disagree on something from time-to-time. We might not like the way someone acts. We might not agree on the color the nursery wall needs to be painted. We might not even agree on a particular viewpoint of Scripture. But we are to stand solidly shoulder-to-shoulder with our brother and sister in Christ.

The Apostle Paul is trying to get this point across to the church in Rome. He used the analogy of body parts, but the meaning is the same. Each of us fits into the body of Christ with gifts and graces. Those gifts and graces are needed for the body to function well. Our feet meet not be pretty, but we aren’t going far without them. We may have dirt under our fingernails, but that simply means we have been working. Every body part is needed. Every member is needed. Every member needs to use their gifts for the body to function as God desires.

I pray we all know we are needed. I pray we set aside differences to support one another. I pray each one of us will use our gifts to help the body of Christ function as it should. Know you are needed. Tell someone they are needed. Be thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ. Use your gifts as God desires.

Romans 12:4-5 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Renew Your Mind

Have you ever felt lost? Have you wondered why you are where you are? Have you wondered what your purpose in life is? Are you willing to listen to good advice? Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life? Do you want to know what his plan is for you?

Often, we think we know what we want to do. But that’s the crux of the issue, isn’t it? It is what we want to do, not necessarily what we are gifted to do. We pursue what we want only to discover we aren’t really gifted for it. We may become miserable while pursuing what we want.

On the other hand, we may need to go through a series of pursuits to not only find what we are designed to do, but to prepare us for it as well. For example, I am on my third profession (fourth if you count my short stint out of the Marine Corps). I have been a warehouseman, driving a forklift, stocking gear, and conducting inventories. I have worked in the information technology field as a programmer, database administrator, network engineer, and enterprise architect. Finally, I have landed in my current position as a pastor.

In each of these professions, God has taught me something I can use in my pastoral role. I have had experiences in my travels around the world and living the life of a “normal” person before going into the ministry. This helps me understand the quandaries someone else is experiencing.

Coming to the ministry only occurred, though, as my mind was renewed through my willingness to submit to God’s will. Understanding his will only came as I studied his Word and built my relationship with him. This is the renewing of the mind the Apostle Paul is talking about. As we become closer to God, focusing on him, our mind becomes clearer. We then see where he wants us to be and what he wants us to do. It takes time and a willingness to submit to God.

I pray we all submit to God. I pray we seek to build our relationship with him. I pray each one of us will allow God to renew our mind and focus on discerning his will for our lives. Submit to God. Build your relationship with him. Allow God to renew your mind. Discern his will for your life.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Narrow Miss

Have you ever had a close call? Have you narrowly escaped a tragic incident? Were you nearly in an auto accident but missed by a hair? What were your thoughts afterward? Did you breathe a sigh of relief? Did you shout with joy? Or were you angry? Did you give thanks to God?

As we travel through this life, we will have close calls. We may be at the wrong place at the wrong time and yet just miss being caught in a catastrophe. We may miss being in an auto accident by an eyelash. We may have missed a bad situation without even knowing it.

I have experienced someone pulling out in front of me, suddenly breaking hard, and cutting me off making a lane change. I have even nearly attempted a lane change with someone next me. Accidents happen. Thankfully, in these cases, I was able to avoid one. I can say my heart rate jumped in each case. In some of them, I was either thinking or yelling at the other person. Not really the appropriate reaction.

There have been other times when I missed being in a bad situation without initially knowing it. For example, I missed being in a multi-car pile up on I95 because, for whatever reason, I decided to take a different route home from work. Afterward, when I heard of the accident, I thanked God that he had given me the thought of taking a different way home.

That should be our reaction—to thank God. I confess, that has not always been my reaction. But we need to remember that God is always working. He helps us narrowly escape bad situations, likely more than we know. Think back on your own life. Remember a time when you missed being in a bad situation because you had a feeling you should go a different direction or not go at all. When you remember one or more of those, give thanks to God for guiding you elsewhere.

I pray we know that God is constantly working. I pray we recognize those times when God guides away from bad situations. I pray each one of us give thanks to God for guiding us to safety. Know God is working. Recognize his intercession. Listen to God’s guidance. Give thanks to God.

Psalm 124:7-8

We have escaped like a bird 

from the snare of the fowlers; 

the snare is broken,

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.