Dare I Labor In Vain?

Kind of an interesting thing happened tonight. After a little praise and worship, I picked up my Bible, which was still open from last night, and started to flip to the back to look up a topic. Then Papa said, “Oh, did I tell you to turn away from there? Maybe I have something else for you.” Turns out He did, funny how He does that. Here’s what he beat me up with…I mean…gave me…yeah.  1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my dear brothes, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.“ When I first read it I didn’t get it. “Ok, good. Lord’s work=good. I think I knew that.” It was the second time through, notice the end of that verse. “…because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” The author is showing the difference between my normal labor, and my labor in the Lord, as if to say, “When you labor after your own things, it’s in vain.” Here’s how that hit me and how it applies to me today. If you asked me what I do I would tell you, “I’m a manager,” or as Chan says, “a dispatcher at The Airport Valet.” Incorrect. Let me tell you how 1 Corinthians starts out, Chapter 1, verse 1: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…” Notice it doesn’t say, “Paul, a tentmaker or fisher who occasionally does some work on the side for God.” First and foremost, he is called to be an apostle. I’m not saying I’m called to be an apostle, but while I’m working up the TAV, can you believe I was foolish enough to think that I was just working and “one day” I’ll do some ministry. James 4:13-14 anyone, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. This is the revelation I got from all that, while I’m sitting in my chair, staring at computer screens and doing whatever, I’m supposed to be doing the Lord’s work. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord…” Dare I continue to labor in vain, knowing what I am called to? Anyone know what Chan would say here. “If a man knows what he is supposed to do, and does not do it, it’s sin for that man.”
Papa, forgive me for seperating you from the other areas of my life. I’m so sorry that I thought there were places where You were not my paramount concern, may I be reminded constantly that I am here to do your work. Please draw my mist of a life out longer so I can serve you better.

Gifts of God

My rhema shrike verse says to not neglect the gift that is in me…..  I know of one gift but, my friend shoe encouraged me to dig in a little deeper to the whole “gift” thing.  So what I found was that even faith itself is a gift from God.  I mean everything that I have is a gift but as far as spiritual things, I never really thought of faith being a gift.  I just that that I had it….little did I know that it’s not something that I muster up or make grow.  All that I have or ever will have is from HIM.  In fact the times that are hard and I say “my faith got me through” or I think that my faith has grown….none of that is even me.  I haven’t done anything,  it has all been HIM.  It’s always HIM, and there I was trying to steal HIS Glory by saying that it was my faith that did it.
Just learnin new things.
I’ve never really been a big gift kinda guy.  My dad always give gifts to show love but it was never sincere, it was just to ease his mind and make him feel good.  I think maybe I have viewed Pappa that way.   I mean I have not wanted to accept the “gifts” in me that HE has given because I feel like maybe they are not real.  HE’s just saying it but doesn’t really mean it.  I know, I know not right but, for so many years that was my reality.  It’s all I know growing up.  I have made the decision to walk in all that FATHER has given me and made me and I will glady and joyfully receive all that HE wants to give me.
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Of course here’s the kicker,  the word “good” is based on HIS definition of “good” not mine.  So it may be good to HIM and bad for me, or at least I may think it’s bad, but if it is from HIM it has to be good.  For me or people good gifts are things that we want or expensive things or big things, but to HIM it could be a trial that brings humility or repentance.  For humility and repentance are both good things.  I guess it just comes down to who point of view you look at it with.

God’s ways are not out ways

OK, 2 Chronicles 18.

To tell you the truth, this was a great story to read, but I got nothing super spiritual out of it.  I have read it 4 times and will probably read it again to see if something grabs me or if Father speaks some deep truth to me, but so far…  cool story.

Now, that said I am left with a question.  In verses 18 – 22 the prophet, Micaiah, tells the king that the only reason he is going to war is because God sent a lying spirit to deceive him.  God wants him to die because of his wickedness.  OK, that rocks my theology a bit.  Gonna take some extra thinking.

Good Arguments

Acts 15:36-41. For me the thing that most stuck out was the “fight” between the two guys.  I guess because it helps to know that ministers might argue and how to handle it.  Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, Paul and Barnabas, yet it ended well.  Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them.  I think we should be careful about being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward or ahead or what might be best.  Paul did not think him worthy of the honor, nor fit for the service, because he had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent earlier in their ministry see 13:13.  John Mark had showed himself by cutting out when things got rough for them.  Neither would back down, therefore there was no remedy but they must part.  We see that the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are.  Perhaps there were faults on both sides, which is common when there is an argument like that. Christ’s example alone is the way to copy our ministry. Yet we shouldnt think it strange if there are differences among wise and good men.  For some reason I have always thought if there was a split either in a church or a group or between friends that someone had to be wrong and some one had to be right.  But that is not the case, us arguing between each other will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we shall never be all of one mind till we come to heaven.  For me it reminded me of what mischief, the remainders of pride and passion which are found even in good men, do in the world, and do in the church! Believers must be constant in prayer, that they may never be led by the allowance of unholy tempers, to hurt the cause they really desire to serve.  Even after the argument Paul speaks with esteem and affection both of Barnabas and Mark in his epistles, written after this event.  I guess this just really encouraged me to see that there are many different ways to minister and that there isn’t a certain style that is correct or not.  Strong men will argue and may even part ways and do different things, yet all the while still proclaiming the gospel and furthering the Kingdom.  There are good arguments or debates to have, I just can’t let my pride get in the way.

 Dad may all who claim to be Christians and confess your name be reconciled by that love that flows from you, which is not easily provoked, and which soon forgets and buries all kinds of  injuries.  That we may live in harmony with each other and an understanding that we are made different with different ideas and callings upon us.  Your name and Your renown above all else.

So a good argument isnt always bad or sinful, just different.  Thank you God!                                                    

Husband 101 – Part 5

I started this yesterday – and posted it to Running After Papa – but I added more as I mulled over the passages again.  I may later post something on my continued journey through Romans.  If you want to read Parts 1-4 of this series, its at http://runningafterpapa.blogspot.com.  Part 1 starts in October 2008.

Ephesians 5:25 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

This will be the final post in this series.  I want to explore a couple of words in this verse that have changed the way I understand and respond to this verse.  The first word is “as” and is used “… as Christ…”  This little word delivers a big meaning for me.  Look at how Strong’s defines it:

1 according as;  1A just as, even as; 1B in proportion as, in the degree that.

Look at 1B, “in proportion as“, or “in the degree that.”  Just inserting it into the verse changes it.  “… love your wives, in proportion as Christ loved the church…”

The second word is “gave.”  The idea of the word here is to give into the hands of another.  Its the same idea behind the word betray.  Inserting this thought into the verse would render it something like this.  “… and gave himself into the hands of another for her,…”

Interesting thought.  It just implies giving up ones self.  We know Christ gave himself to be beaten, scourged, ridiculed, and crucified, but he also gave of himself, 24×7.  When Jesus goes off to pray, it’s always in the wee hours of the morning.  I wonder if that’s because that was the only time he had for himself, because he gave his life away… literally.  He gave every moment of his life away.

Dr. Benjamin B. Phillips of Southwestern Theological Seminary wrote this in his Practical Theology class Spring 2007:

As recipients of God’s love we are expected to love (Matthew 5:44-48).   An example of this is in marriage. Husbands are to love their wives like Christ love the church. (Eph. 5:25). The word love in this instance is agape, which means seeking the highest good for another person. This love is revealed in the death and resurrection to life in Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-11).  In our marriages we should not withhold love or affection because of circumstances that may arise. We must continue to love no matter how we are treated by our neighbor we must still love and be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48). Our love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10).

This is how I am called to love my wife.  “… in the degree that Christ loved the church…”.

Here’s another point.  The church – the very one Christ gave his life for – is the very same church that beat him, scourged him, hated him, rejected him, and ultimately crucified him.  Hosea, by God’s calling, marries a prostitute and redeems her over and over to draw the picture of exactly what Christ did for the church.

This is how I am called to love my wife.  “… in the degree that Christ loved the church…”.

How does that look?  Its different for every husband.  Maybe its making the bed every moment.  Maybe its getting her a glass of water, even when it’s not a commercial.  Maybe its as Peter admonishes us:

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Again, Dr. Phillips wrote this in his Practical Theology classes of Fall 2007 and Spring 2007, respectively:

As we examine the practical side of holiness we see that husbands must have an unselfish attitude towards their wives.  Christ gave himself to the church unselfishly and husband must do the same with their wives. Husbands should be self-sacrificing and giving, Jesus Christ extended the greatest act of sacrifice and the giving of himself at Calvary.  Husbands are to be nourishing, cherishing as the Lord is to the church. Paul address the Colossians, he told the husbands, “husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them” (Colossians 3:19). He told them not to be harsh with them, which is not a sign of holiness. …  Jesus Christ loves the church so much that he caused himself to identify with it. To love our wives as Christ loves the church means to identify with them. Peter tells the husband that their relationship with their wives are so important that it effects there communication line with God, … The man of God must protect his family, to assist their personal growth. Christ’s goal for the church is to make her holy, “that he might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26).

In Ephesians 5, especially verses 25-27, Paul also contrasts the husband’s relationship with his wife with that of Christ with the  church.  Christ came to serve the church and to die for the church.  This is what Paul is calling the husbands to do for their wives.  The husbands should also be willing to put the needs of their wives before their own.  The husband’s role as head is a sacrificial one that should imitate how Christ loved his bride, the church.

I know partly what it looks like at my house (mostly because I don’t have it figured out yet).  I know this.  I have become a student of my wife.  I have looked with different and opened eyes at her and watched her… learning how I can better serve her and live with her with understanding.

This is how I am called to love my wife.  “… in the degree that Christ loved the church…”.