"I Don't Want Them to Know..."

"I don't want them to know I'm a Christian..."
~ name withheld

A few years ago, I was speaking with one of my closest Christian brothers, and he related to me that he had considered putting some sort of Christian emblem (fish, cross, etc.) on the back bumper of his truck, but then changed his mind, because he drove so aggressively he didn't want people to associate his poor driving with his Christianity.

Another friend recently related that he saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker on a car in front of him. He tooted his horn, and the driver got out of their car and told him off, right there at the traffic light.

2 Corinthians 3:3 (The Message Paraphrase) - Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.

Are we truly living the believer's life, as "letters" that anyone can read? If someone were to observe us at the library, in traffic, or at the fast-food counter, would they they see a hand-signed testament from Jesus Christ, or do they see just another person (even atheists can act nice)?

Does our BELIEF show in our ACTION?

Philippians 2:15 (New Living Translation) - Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

The two stories at the top of this blog are a reminder that - throughout my life - I need to be living that difference, shining as a light, and not just showing my Christianity when I know I'll get a positive response.

"You gotta live this thing."
~ Elder Cleon L. McCoy, Jr (a.k.a. "Papa")

Amen to that, Papa.

Lord, I love you, and I want everyone around me to see your love reflected through my life. Help me to stay focused on you, so that each step of my life (in AND out of church) reflects your redeeming love.

Amen.
© 2010 Scotty Ward

Put YOUR Mask On First

If you've been on a commercial flight, you surely remember the flight attendant's well-rehearsed phrase, "In the event of the loss of cabin pressure, ......", which then goes on to say "Please put your mask on first, then help children or others around you..."

That makes such good sense: You're no good to others, if you haven't ensured your own oxygen source. But why do they need to tell you, over and over again when you take a flight? Because many of us place the well-being of others before ourselves. In some ways, that seems heroic and humble, but without our own supply of oxygen, we're incapable of helping ANYONE, even those we love the most.

When I became a young parent, I realized I'd been out of church for too long, and I didn't want my children to grow up without a spiritual connection. (This all occured before God saved me at the age of 35, but the lesson is still valuable.) I went back to church, because of my children. I wanted THEM to grow spiritually, but a year or two earlier, I had been content to ignore (perhaps minimize) my own personal Christian growth.

But I had the concept backward. If I didn't view my own faith as being important, how could I possibly expect my children to place their faith high on their list of priorities?

Luke 22:32 (New Living Translation; emphasis mine) - But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

So it's got to be me first. I have to repent, ask God to straighten my life out, and work to live my own life after Him each day, before I should make a move toward being "shepherd" or "encourager" of others' spirituality. In the verse above, Jesus himself says it best when he indicates to Peter: 'You first, then your brothers'.

1 Cor 9:27 (New Living Translation) ...otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified. (The Contemporary English Version says this beautifully as well: "...so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.")

Matt 6:33 (Amplified Bible) - But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

In order to be effective in guiding others toward a life in Christ, we must first be the example, living our own lives for Him. Like the flight attendants repeatedly stress: we need to 'don our own mask', then worry about those around us. Once I have my own 'spiritual Oxygen' flowing, I can then become an effective witness to my family, friends, and co-workers. And they'll see how valuable a personal relationship with Christ is, because they see it demonstrated in me.

Thank you, Lord for showing us the need to pursue our own salvation through you, before we concern ourselves with those around us (even our children or spouses). We can be true and faithful witnesses for you, but only when we're allowing you to work your magnificent work in us.

Pray this with me: "I'm ready Lord. I make myself available to You. I'm ready for you to work your work in me, in Jesus' Name."

Amen

© 2008 Scotty Ward

Thanks for Nothing, Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New Living Translation) - Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

As I drive to work each weekday, I turn one particular corner and invariably the next light is red. This has become a bit of humor in my morning commute, that nearly every single time I approach this traffic light, it's either RED, or TURNS RED as I approach. So this morning, as I rounded the corner and found the light ahead was GREEN, I kept going, making it through the light before it had time to turn red on me. As I passed the crosswalk into the intersection, the words "Thank you Jesus" escaped my lips. And the Holy Ghost immediately began to teach.

As Paul's letter to the Thessalonians says, each of us is instructed to be "thankful in all circumstances". Yet how many times do I reserve my thanks to God, until something occurs to my advantage? Yes, I remember to thank God for the "green lights": the promotion, the unexpected bonus, the clean bill of health from the doctor. I even thank God enthusiastically when I call and win something from the local Christian radio station (well of course; I'm being recorded!). But the Holy Ghost asked some uncomfortable questions this morning. Did I thank God that one Saturday evening when I received a call telling me my mother had suffered a heart attack? Did I thank God when my wife literally spent 36 hours in bed one weekend with a migraine? Did I thank God when I had to drive her to the emergency room Sunday morning because her migraine just wouldn't subside? Was I thanking God that we had to miss both services on Sunday because I was at her side in the hospital? Was I "thankful in all circumstances"? No, Lord, I wasn't. My thanks to you seems to flow freely when I GET SOMETHING, but not at other times, even though your word tells me my thanks should be more FREQUENT.

Lord, help us to learn to give you constant thanks, for the most important GIFT you've already given us, the voluntary sacrifice of your son. Help us to not just thank you for today's green lights. No Lord, teach us to keep thanking you for your son's gift of his shed blood, because as a result, we now have the opportunity to live eternally in your presence. Your son's one magnificent gift was given long ago, so that we might have joy, that we might be able to pray to you, and yes, so that we might be thankful, each and every day of our life. Even those days when there's "nothing good happening".

Thanks, Lord. I'm remembering to thank you today for nothing at all. And I thank you for everything.

© 2008 Scotty Ward

"These are Just Reminders..."

Psalm 110:1 (NIV) - The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Seven years ago, someone hated my country enough to fly an airplane into my office.

I took off work today, intending to have a nice quiet bike ride, and "process" some of the emotions I've felt - and largely hidden - since that terrible day. But instead, this morning I found myself driving my wife to the dentist for surgery, and then stopping at the supermarket to pick up her prescription. I was feeling cheated: I yearned to get away, to ESCAPE, and be with myself, even if for a little while.

So I was a bit prideful when I mentioned to my pharmacist that I was in the pentagon on September 11th. But the Lord turned the tables on me. Isaac in turn related how sectarian-led tribal violence in his home country (Nigeria) had nearly torn the country apart, and how pregnant women with divergent beliefs had been singled out for murder, so these "patriots" could kill both the current and future generation of their ideological enemies.

Then he actually testified! He relaxed his face, and went back to his work on our prescriptions, saying matter-of-factly: "These are all just reminders, that God is still God."

Lord, I thank you for the Nigerian Pharmacist who can still testify of your sovreignity, even after having lived through much more traumatic situations than worthless old me. Thank you for jarring my existence every once in a while, even if it takes a surprise testimony, in the midst of my one-man "pity party".

Lord, I thank you. Please keep reminding us, that YOU are still in charge. If you choose, as it says in Psalms, you will make my enemies my footstool. But until then, I'll sit close at hand.

© 2008 Scotty Ward

Lesson from Weenie Beanie

Photo courtesy USA Today

THE VALUE OF PREPAREDNESS:

Weenie Beanie is the food joint next to a little park here in Arlington, where the day laborers hang out. Just as occurred in Bible days (Story here), a group of unemployed workers stand around waiting for someone to pull up and say "I need two to pour concrete " or "I need three carpenters", etc. A quick discussion occurs at the side of the truck to verify the terms of their day's employment, the laborers pile on, and awaaaay they go to earn a living for another day.


There are always men standing around the Weenie Beanie (Definition: there are always more laborers than there are jobs), but as I drove past one day, I was struck by one particular gentleman standing in that otherwise unremarkable group. He was wearing an old long-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans just like all the rest, but I tell you I've NEVER seen a pair of old jeans or an old shirt look as good as they did on that man. Everything on this man had been thoroughly washed and ironed, and practically shone, next to the dozens of other laborers around him. The man had worked very hard to prepare himself, so when a truck would drive by, the prospective employer would notice this man and (hopefully) choose him from among the dozens of prospects. When I drove past at about Noon, this man hadn't yet snagged himself employment for the day, but there was no doubt in my mind he was prepared for the very next truck, or the one after that, or the one after that.

This message comes to encourage those of us who may feel we're just "going through the motions" in our Christian walk. We may attend services, pray and study God's word, but we just don't feel the breakthrough others around us are reporting, and every gospel artist seems to be singing. But consider the wisdom of the man at Weenie Beanie: in order to be called, you must GO and be prepared to be called. From a spiritual standpoint, you know enough of the Bible to know where to go, and what is expected of you. Sometimes, it may feel you're just standing around (v6-7), going nowhere in a hurry, accomplishing nothing for the kingdom. But that's OK. You're in place, waiting for the landowner to come by, and He may be just around the corner. If you get discouraged and take yourself a nap, or go home to watch the tube (spiritually speaking), you could miss out.

Hold on. Do not give up, despite how boring your situation looks, or how sluggish you feel. Like the day laborers of Bible times and here at Weenie Beanie, you've got to be ready at all times.

Luke 12:37-38 (New Living Translation) - The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

So shine up those spiritual shoes, put on your Sunday best, and get yourself over to where you need to be, and be prepared.

Wait! Is that a truck motor I hear?

© 2008 Scotty Ward