Living Here, Aiming There

ALL – Psalm 78:26-58
ALL – Proverbs 24:27
OT – Jeremiah 8:8-9:26
NT – Colossians 3:1-17

Interesting passage for the day: Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. – Colossians 3:1-2, The Living Bible

Thought: If heaven is supposed to fill our thoughts, are we supposed to despise life down here? Are we supposed to ignore the people we love, the places we cherish, the joys we experience? Are we supposed to pretend that nothing in the world is ugly, broken or painful? Is this world pointless?

No. It’s not. We live here. For now, we live here.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not arguing with Paul (or with the Holy Spirit, for that matter). I’m saying that I don’t think that “setting your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven” and not “spend[ing] your time worrying about things down here” means ignoring the world we live in.

I think it means experiencing this life more fully. Not “worrying about things down here” means allowing yourself to see this world’s brokenness more clearly than you ever have before. Life down here can be totally futile! No matter how often I make my bed, it gets messy again. No matter how hard I exercise, I sooner or later lose my strength. No matter how much I teach my children, they end up making their own mistakes. No matter how hard I work, my work’s never done. And sometimes life is just plain painful. Unfair. Bitterly disappointing. Other people are jerks. I am a jerk. We’re supposed to experience all this more fully because we know Jesus. We’re supposed to stop pretending that we don’t see how overwhelming life is, how much of a struggle relationships are, how awful it is even to exist in a place of sickness and selfishness. And when we stop living in denial, it is then that we need to stop worrying—not because the world gives us less to worry about (we’re seeing reasons to worry more clearly now, remember?). No, we stop worrying because we are calling out to Jesus, and we know that He’s going to take care of us.

Which brings us back to the good side of this life. I love sports, the outdoors, friends, smart phones, and good stories. And food. I love food. Am I supposed to pretend that I don’t? Absolutely not! Instead, because I now know that every good gift is from above (acc. to James), I am supposed to enjoy them MORE. I am supposed to overflow with wonder at how good some things in this life are. And as I’m awed by the speeds, tastes, sights, sounds, displays of intellect, joys and satisfactions of life on earth, I should be grateful to the God who gave them to me. And at the same time, the wonders of His good gifts down here should remind me that the God who can make this world seem like a great place to live must have something tremendous in store for me above, where there is no sorrow or pain. And so I “set [my] sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven”—not just for myself, but for others, too. I set my sights on the wonders of heaven, even as I’m surrounded by the joys and pleasures God has given me down here, and urge myself not to be so stupid and selfish as to insist on enjoying life down here so much that I neglect to give my family and my friends and my neighbors the opportunity to know the joys I’m looking forward to with Jesus in heaven. I enjoy life down here more fully, but I crave it less. I’m looking forward to something better—way better, and I want others to get something better, too.

Question: How do you keep your mind on heaven when life down here feels like hell? Even harder, how do you set your gaze toward heaven when life down here feels like heaven already?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Make Your Loyalties Clear

The message, preached on October 3rd, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Sometimes practicing our Christian freedom can lead us unintentionally to support demonic lies, leading other people into idolatry (spiritual adultery). We need to realize that our behaviors are actually a sign of our associations, and to carefully live loyally. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

Worldwide Transformation

ALL – Psalm 76:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 24:21-22
OT – Jeremiah 2:31-4:18
NT – Colossians 1:1-19

Interesting passage for the day: The same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world and changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard it and understood about God’s great kindness to sinners. – Colossians 1:6, The Living Bible

Thought: This statement was written about 2,000 years ago, but it’s just as true today as it was then. People who learn about God’s great kindness to sinners are still being transformed entirely—from their hearts to their hands. Jesus Christ is still making all things new. Through Him we have not only been created, but we become a new creation all over again.

This change is happening in every nation on earth. The gospel is still the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Jesus Christ is still building His church, and the gates of hell are still not prevailing against it.

Question: How has your life been changed by Jesus Christ? How have you seen Him change others?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

People Rewards

ALL – Psalm 75:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 24:17-20
OT – Jeremiah 1:1-2:30
NT – Philippians 4:1-23

Interesting passage for the day: Dear brother Christians, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and my reward for my work. My beloved friends, stay true to the Lord. – Philippians 4:1, The Living Bible

Thought: What more can I say? I’m in total agreement with this verse. I’m so thankful that God has put me in touch with all the brothers and sisters He has given me. I’m thankful for YOU, if you’re reading this. I am so thankful to know you. I wish we could see each other more often, and my deepest desire for you is that you be completely faithful to Jesus.

Question: Who has God put into your life as a result of your obedience to Him? How can you express your gratitude—not only to God, but to those you’re thankful to know?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Obedience Training

ALL – Psalm 74:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 24:15-16
OT – Isaiah 66:1-24
NT – Philippians 3:4-21

Interesting passage for the day: I hope all of you who are mature Christians will see eye-to-eye with me on these things, and if you disagree on some point, I believe that God will make it plain to you—if you fully obey the truth you have. – Philippians 3:15-16, The Living Bible

Thought: When writing to the Philippians, and through them to us, Paul firmly taught what he believed. But he understood that we might not get what he was saying, and that we might even disagree with him. He wasn’t concerned.

His concern was that believers take the truth they have and obey it—that we live what we’ve learned from God. Paul was convinced that if we did this, we would grow in our understanding of what God had to say to us through him. He believed that God Himself would teach us as we followed Him.

Let’s follow and obey our God rather than arguing about the points where we disagree. Maybe then we’ll learn and grow together.

Question: When disagreements begin to divide you from others, what ways have you found to do life together and fight the division? How have you chosen to love people you disagreed with, and learned more deeply from God as a result?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Don’t Think You’re Invincible

The message, preached on September 26th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Sometimes we need a little warning, and even strong Christians can fool themselves into thinking they’re stronger than they are. Paul urges believers not to fool themselves, but to look to the history of God’s people, to guard their hearts, and to look to the Lord Jesus for help each day. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

“Dayenu” - Persistent Joy

ALL – Psalm 73:1-28
ALL – Proverbs 24:13-14
OT – Isaiah 62:6-65:25
NT – Philippians 2:19-3:3

Interesting passage for the day: Whatever happens, dear friends, be glad in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you this and it is good for you to hear it again and again. – Philippians 3:1, The Living Bible

Thought: In the Jewish Passover Seder, at one point they begin to walk through a long list of God’s blessings:

“If the Lord had merely rescued us, but had not punished the Egyptians … Dayenu: It would have been enough.

“If He had only destroyed their gods, but had not parted the Red Sea … Dayenu: It would have been enough.

“If He had only destroyed our enemies, but had not fed us His food in the desert … Dayenu: It would have been enough.

“If He had only led us through the desert, but had not given us His holy day of rest … Dayenu: It would have been enough.

“If He had only given us His Words and Commandments, but not a Promised Land forever … Dayenu: It would have been enough.”

Who knows how many Passover Seders Paul had participated in throughout his lifetime? And having grown up with this yearly reminder that God has done enough—no, MORE than enough—for us all, and then coming to know that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise to give us the hope of eternal life … No wonder Paul insisted on gladness and rejoicing!

When we consider how unworthy we are of God’s attention, let alone of His love, then it becomes clear why we should be persistently glad and thankful, no matter what happens. The history of God’s provision and work for us is enough reason to be thankful even when we are going through the roughest times in our lives! In those times, we should be crying out to our Jesus for help, salvation and deliverance; the fact that we have reason to rejoice in God does not mean that we have to deny the reality of hard times. But even in the midst of our pleading, we have reasons to be thankful. God has done so much for us. And even if Jesus’ death and resurrection, for instance, were all He had done for us … “Dayenu: It would have been enough.” It is only right to give Him thanks persistently.

Question: What is the number one reason you give thanks to God? When nothing else about life seems worthwhile, what has God done for you that gives you hope? How could you incorporate the discipline of persistent and joyful thankfulness, even in hard times, into your life?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.