Perseverance

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Galatians 6:9-10

Perseverance is one of the most difficult things in the world for a human to master.  If we could only manage to do the simplest things every day then the most complicated and challenging would seem little more than an extension of that consistent effort.  Such is the great challenge of all humanity.  As believers we find this challenge particularly important to our moment by moment fellowship with the Lord.  It doesn't seem complicated, but the "Important things" like getting to work, meeting a deadline or winning an argument are so often impeded by the "small things" like spending time in prayer and Bible study each day, loving our family members and sharing the gospel.  Make the "small" decisions right consistently and the "big" decisions will make themselves.

The Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1:7

I remember as a young child getting to go water skiing in the St. Louisa inlet in British Columbia.  There was a trilling moment when I fell or dropped the rope.  I couldn't see the boat and I was in the largest body of water that I could imagine.  A thrill overtook my stomach.  I felt so small in comparison to the vast ocean.  The ocean is too big for me to consider.  It is this reverent feeling that helped me understand the fear of the Lord.  It is a question of understanding how great, how might, how power, how entirely "other" is the Lord.  When we grasp, to whatever degree that we can, that reality then we are able to learn.  Short of that realization of God at the core of our being we become only fools.  Might we come to the word that we might learn "the fear of the Lord." Psalm 34:11

Those Who Rule

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Romans 13:1 NASB

Americans have a very strong sense of individualism.  We have a tendency to become overly infected by our options and our freedoms.  These are not necessarily bad things, but we can easily forget Who is in charge.  Thus, we may be tempted to be defiant towards authorities.  We can develop and attitude that does not honor the government.  We may even quite piously say, "I have no authority but God!" But this attitude is simply sin.  God, in His sovereignty, set up authorities over us to rule and to reign.  God established these governments in Genesis 9 and confirms the throughout Scripture.  He also takes final responsibility for them.  There is not one earthly ruler that could not be taken out of the picture in a moment if God so desired it.  This means that to rebel against the government for any other reason than that government prohibiting us from the basic tenants of our faith is telling God He doesn't know what He is doing.  Think of Christ's response to the zealots who attempted to crown Him king before He went to the cross.  His answer to us is the same.  We must await His timing, taking every opportunity possible to share the Good News of Jesus Christ before it is too late.

Quiet Life

 But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. 

1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12

Often times we imagine the people who make the biggest splash must be the most useful to the Lord.  We think that if we were just more like this or that "Christian celebrity" then we may be somehow more useful to the Lord.  However, the life of Christ in the believer has nothing to do with fame, nor does the Lord count success as we count success.  Even with all of the big named celebrities in the world, chances are your life has been most affected by a family, a co-worker or a friend.  It seems a quiet life can be the life that makes the greatest impact for the Lord.  Fix your eyes on Jesus, go about your business and see what He will do.

Fear and Trust

The fear of man brings a snare,

But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

Proverbs 29:25

I do sometimes wonder what it must be like to be an NFL quarterback.  Just to think that someone is going to hand me a little ball and then about half of the 200 pound guys are going to try to run into me until I get rid of that ball.  I think I would be tempted to just give it back to the guy who handed it to me!  We often see quarterbacks make mistakes when the offense breaks through the line.  The best quarterbacks seem to find a solution even under pressure.  In the tough moments fear based decisions are mostly poor ones.  In our lives fearing people (and circumstances) is a continual trap.  However, when we trust the Lord we realize that our fears are always misplaced.  What can man do to those who are in the hands of the living God?