Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

May 2, 2011

Both / And

by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15

Consider the following sets of words:

Compassionate, communicative, kind, fair, long-suffering, patient, accepting, gentle, merciful, understanding.
Honest, holy, set-apart, stand-taking, consistent, dedicated, mature, righteous, unyielding, just.
Which set best describes you?

Sometimes it feels like we Christians divide ourselves into these two camps. Camp A rightly believes that "God is love," and as such they do a fairly good job of not alienating those they meet and know and care for. Of course, with every strength there's a weak side, and sometimes our well-meaning Camp-A brethren can become wishy-washy and overly accepting, even false.

CampB, on the other hand, rightly believes that "God is holy," and as such they do a fairly good job of reminding those they meet and know and care for that sin is sin, and God can not tolerate it. Of course, sometimes our well-meaning Camp-B brethren can end up sounding a lot like gongs and cymbals, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. People know we're here, but they wish we'd quiet down for a bit. Perhaps all the conflict between our own camps has torn at your heart and worn down your spirit, too.

Now consider... which set of words best describes Our Father? Think about it before answering. Honestly, isn't it both? We'll come back to that thought in a minute.

I have a close friend, a youth minister, who has served many years at his current church. Recently, he was summoned to a meeting with the personnel committee and several parents. The gist of their message was that he was teaching the students too much about discipline and truth and knowing what the Bible says and so on. The criticism apparently was that there wasn't enough about love and compassion in his messages.

Reading between the lines, it was clear that fear was at work: fear that these students weren't being prepared for college and a world that is more about tolerance and acceptance and where Christian students who literally believe the Bible are ostracized. After all, who hopes for their child to face unpopularity, embarrassment, and harsh criticism while they're already struggling to get ahead in the world? My friend would point out that he's not opposed to compassion and love, not in the least. But what kind of foundation do you want to build in the youth?

It's sad. Because at the end of the day... why can't we have both?

I'm not talking about vacillating. I'm not talking about compromise. I don't want to be lukewarm.

I am talking about balance; checks and balances. I do wish to be balanced. A position of balance is a position of strength. A balanced person stumbles less often. How much fun is a teeter-totter where all the weight is pushed to one side?

I am also talking about paradox. A paradox is a seeming contradiction that nonetheless contains truth. A paradox says an object or person or idea is both this and that. Jesus is the world's greatest paradox, being both fully God and fully man. With Christ as the example and the cornerstone, one learns to see that the whole Bible is full of paradox, including the fact that we can and should "Speak truth." "In love." Both/and. Just like Jesus.

He didn't excuse sins. But He did forgive them.
He was equal with God. But He didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped.
He was sinless. But He refused to cast the first stone at the accused.
He demanded His followers take up a cross and follow Him unreservedly unfettered. But He was sad for those who weren't ready to do so.
Truth. In. Love. Both. And.

Don't forget, Campers, you have the Holy Spirit, which gives you wisdom, which instructs you as to which set of characteristics is needed in a given circumstance. Pull up the tent poles. Become nomadic. You can put on the armor of God, but if your feet aren't balanced underneath you? Ask any beginner student of martial arts what the result will be.

But even if you find yourself gravitating more towards one campsite or the other, that's okay. The same chapter that talks of the need to speak the truth in love also mentions, just a couple verses earlier, that, "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

We're on the same team. And the goal is a "built-up body." One that won't stand unless balanced, unless level, unless unified. What's the result? Refer back to our verse today. When we "speak truth in love," we will "grow up." Bottom line, Campers, our body needs to mature.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Simply ask yourself the next time you proclaim the word: am I being loving? Are my motives pure? Likewise, the next time you get those good feelings about how fair and open-minded and communicative you're being with unbelievers and sinners, ask, "Lord, what truth do they need to know?" Love enough to tell the truth. Be truthful enough to not misrepresent how your Lord met people where they were. It can be scary to think about doing, but remember that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and discipline." 

Further Reading

1 Corinthians 13
Discovering the Value of Your Personality
Education and Relation - or - Truth and Love

[Judy Harder]

May 3, 2011

A Stubborn Intolerance for Joyless Christianity
Alex Crain, Editor, Christianity.com

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Should one's relationship with the infinite and personal living God be joyless? Francis Schaeffer didn't think so. Yet there he was, a joyless man. Technically, he was theologically sound, but there was no denying that he had become a completely joyless Christian man. If that had continued, no one would be speaking of Schaeffer or his writings, or his legacy today. Thankfully, he was stubbornly intolerant of joyless Christianity. 

In True Spirituality, Schaeffer tells how the spiritual reality, which would become the hallmark of his life, came about only after a time of great personal crisis. It was 1952. Schaeffer had become a Christian from agnosticism years before. After that, he had been a pastor for ten years in the U.S. and was now a missionary in Switzerland living with his wife and young children. Over a period lasting several months, Francis worked through the disturbing gap that he saw between the large amount of Bible data he claimed to believe and the lack of genuine spiritual joy in his life. 

One significant and challenging question that caused Francis to ponder long and hard is recounted by his wife, Edith, in her book, The Tapestry, p. 356 ff.)... 

"I wonder what would happen to most of our churches and Christian work if we woke up tomorrow morning and everything concerning the reality and work of the Holy Spirit, and everything concerning prayer were removed from the Bible? I don't mean just ignored, but actually cut out—disappeared. I wonder how much difference it would make?"   

Apparently during that period, it was making no difference in Schaeffer's life. His doubts had cut the nerve of faith. And over those months as he walked in the mountains, Francis re-thought the doctrines of the Bible, the reality of the Holy Spirit, and each of his reasons for being a Christian.   

At last, he declared...

"Gradually the sun came out and the song came... I saw again that there were totally sufficient reasons to know that the infinite-personal God does exist and that Christianity is true.

"In going further, I saw something else which made a profound difference in my life. I searched through what the Bible said concerning reality as a Christian. Gradually, I saw that the problem was that with all the teaching I had received after I was a Christian, I had heard little about what the Bible says about the meaning of the finished work of Christ for our present lives. 

"Interestingly enough, although I had written no poetry for many years, in that time of joy and song I found poetry beginning to flow again—poetry of certainty, an affirmation of life, thanksgiving, and praise. Admittedly, as poetry it is very poor, but it expressed a song in my heart which was wonderful to me."

          (from True Spirituality, p. 196 in The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer, vol. 3 © 1982 Crossway Books, Wheaton, Illinois).

That time of crisis—and more importantly, his rediscovery of the meaning of the finished work of Christ for his present life—settled the crucial issue of spiritual reality for Schaeffer. Francis saw and believed that the finished work of Christ really is the source of the Christian's life. Rather than pursue the trappings of Christian leadership while personally being a joyless Christian, he determined to wait for a greater reality of knowing God. With such a solid spiritual basis for his own life, he went on to become a great source of help for countless others.

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
Are you stubbornly intolerant of joyless Christianity in your own life?

What would happen if you woke up tomorrow morning and everything concerning the reality and work of the Holy Spirit, and everything concerning prayer were removed from the Bible? Not just ignored, but actually cut out... How much difference it would make in the way that you live?

How can you grow to become a greater source of spiritual help for others?

Further Reading:
John 6:68
Ephesians 4:17-24
Ephesians 5:18-21

[Judy Harder]

May 4, 2011

A White Bread Faith
By Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com Editor

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.- 1 John 3:10

When I was still in high school my mother became a vegetarian. Now, I have nothing but respect for vegetarians, but as a guy who likes his steaks extra-rare, this created a few problems in our household. Suddenly our family was exploring what people called "organic" dishes. Tofu, quiche, we dined on whole-grain pastas sprinkled with nuts, strange cheeses, and enough broccoli to kill an entire fourth grade class. It wasn't all that bad actually; my mother was very gracious and still cooked meat for the carnivores in the house, but I suspect a soy based meat substitute found its way into our meals on more than one occasion.             

The worst part though, was the bread. My family went from using your typical sleeve of wheat bread to buying those thick, iron cast loaves so brown they were almost black. I can remember sitting in the cafeteria during lunch, watching my classmates as they flagrantly devoured their delicious, white-bread PB&J's, while I chewed the same bite of sandwich over and over for almost an hour because chunks of grain were still floating around in it. Back then, I would have given anything for a sandwich made from white, Wonder Bread.

The thing is though, ask any nutritionist and they'll tell you white bread barely counts as grain at all. It tastes good, but that's because it's been almost entirely drained of nutrients. All the beneficial vitamins and minerals have been lost, and in the end we are left with a food that really isn't as healthy as we'd like to think it is.           

How many of us Christians are looking for a "White Bread" relationship with God? We show up at Church on Sunday and pray before each meal, then tell ourselves that should be enough to help us grow in our faith. It's a sweet deal with all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks. Don't fool yourself; God wants to be so much more in our lives than our Sunday morning service. He is looking to make us lights of the world, to bring peace where there is strife, hope where there is despair, and grace where there is hate. You won't be very prepared for that if you just stick to the Sunday Sermons. Don't deny yourself a good, healthy, relationship with God. Read the Bible, get involved, and above all, be sure to make him a part of your daily life.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Find ways to get involved with you home church. Volunteer for events, or try mentoring some of the younger students. Parents, are your children involved in a youth group? Encourage them to give it a try.

Further Reading

Revelation 3:15-17

[Judy Harder]

May 5, 2011

Who's That Lady?
Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30, NIV

Much has been written about the Proverbs 31 woman. And rightly so, as she's the kind of lady who makes you do a double take: How does this woman do it all? What is her secret? And may I please have whatever she's having?

Like me, I'm sure you know of someone who exemplifies her many qualities as described in verses 10 through 31. For me, it's my longtime friend Kelli.

When we first met as four-year-olds, she was the teacher's daughter at a backyard Bible club that I attended. I can still remember the first time I saw her, too. Kelli was the picture of perfection with a head full of curls styled just so and the prettiest sundress I had ever seen. She dutifully assisted her mother with the flannel-graph and the song boards, as the children followed along.

Over the years, and after Kelli's family began attending my church, we became close friends. We went through the fun, carefree elementary years together, survived adolescence and teen heartbreaks, and then forged an even stronger bond once we hit high school and college.

Today, although our lives are completely different, I am pleased to say that we are still friends. It is a joy to see Kelli thriving as a mother of five beautiful children who "arise and call her blessed" (v. 28). Her husband is held in high regard (v. 23), and I know he would be the first to tell you that she is the strong and calm wind beneath his wings (v. 12, v. 28b).

She lives outside the city limits on several acres of land, where she has a garden and has planted beautiful flowers and vines all around her home (v. 17). She has a menagerie of animals to care for (v. 27), and her talent for making something out of nothing and experimenting with different ingredients in the kitchen is always well received (v. 15).

Kelli homeschools and also volunteers in the children's ministry at her church (v. 26).  She sews lovely draperies and clothing (v. 19). She knows how to work a dollar, too, whether in negotiating sales of property (v. 16) or in seeking out incredible deals for budget-friendly family vacations (v.27).

Her neighbors and family members are the better for knowing her as she lends a hand whenever it is needed (v. 20) and always sows seeds of godly wisdom, encouragement and truth (v. 26). With the passage of youth, her inner beauty is coming to the fore as it radiates to everyone she meets (v. 30).

When I make the hour-long drive to visit my dear friend, I am always refreshed after spending time with her. And I am continually inspired as I observe her life.

Though we live in different locales and seasons of our lives and have been blessed with different talents and gifts, the Lord has shown me that I have much to learn from the character of my wonderful Proverbs 31 friend.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Looking ahead to Mother's Day in a few days, is there a woman of "noble character" who comes to your mind? Whether she is your mother or not, married or single, take time in the upcoming days to let her know that you are thankful for her life and how she is living out the qualities found in Proverbs 31.

Further Reading:

Proverbs 31:10-31, NIV

Matthew 5:12-16, NIV

1 Peter 3:3-4, NIV

[Judy Harder]

May 6, 2011

Be Still 
Sarah Phillips, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

Be still and know that I am God. (Ps. 46: 10)

The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. -- St Vincent de Paul

The past several weeks have been filled with jam-packed schedules -- a never ending stream of noises, technology, and motion. It seems the older I get, the more those lazy summer days of childhood feel like fairy tales from another life.

If you're American, you're probably just as busy if not busier than I am right now. We're a country filled with activity. Studies show we're some of the most sleep-deprived people in the world. We work long hours, come home to more work (completed with the television blathering on in the background) before collapsing into bed to repeat the process again the next day.

Why do we live such frantic, hyper stimulated lives? Sometimes it's out of a sense of obligation - we feel it's a sin to say "no" so we overextend ourselves trying to fill the roll of Savior for everyone around us. Sometimes our frenzied lives stem from a sense of inadequacy - "If I work hard and accomplish such-and-such, I will have value." Sometimes it's a mode of escape - burying ourselves in work or in a TV program keeps our minds off life's disappointments. And sometimes we've just lost sight of our priorities, defaulting to the heightened pace of the culture around us, unaware that we've let our down time slip away little by little.

Regardless of why we're living in the fast (and loud) lane, deep down we all know we need to get out of it. Our souls crave peace, stillness, and silence. And even if we can ignore the cries of our souls for awhile, our bodies demand it when they eventually wear out.

Why do we crave that stillness? It seems the "noise" of life is more often man-made than God-ordained. In Scripture we see that time and again, God calls us to find peace in Him, to lighten our burden with Him, to set aside our anxieties and meaningless business. We see God speak to the prophet Elijah through a "gentle whisper" and tell an anxious Martha that her sister Mary chose the "better" part when she abandoned household duties to sit at Jesus' feet. (Luke 10: 41-42)

After a long day of running here and there, I find myself longing to be peaceful Mary whose only job is to be with Christ. So how can we become more like Mary when the vast majority of us more closely resemble worried Martha? I love the opening Scripture verse -- it's so simple, it cuts through all the junk clanking around in my brain. Be still.

In the midst of the activity surrounding her, Mary made a simple choice. To sit and be still. You and I can make that simple choice too, even when life seems to be pressing on all sides. It may be awkward at first - we may be tempted to grab for the remote or cut our time with God short. But by seeking stillness we are effectively saying, "Nothing else is as important to me as You at this moment, Lord." When I've spent time at our local Adoration chapel - a place void of constant noise and movement - I find I am never sitting in an empty room doing "nothing" but a place filled with God's presence and love, a place I can truly know God.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Visit a local chapel this week where you can sit, reflect and be alone with the Lord for one hour.

Further Reading

Luke 10: 38 - 42
1 Kings 19

[Judy Harder]

May 9, 2011

Communication Isn't the Key?!
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Colossians 3:13

Wedding-hopping is a weekend pastime at this stage of my life. I've bounced through half a dozen weddings this summer, yet I'm struck by how different each has been from every other. Each couple has a different story that shone through their choice of venue, vows, and – of course – bridesmaids dresses. What I've loved most about the differences, however, is the unique wedding homily that each pastor has imparted. One homily in particular has stuck with me, because it upset a few of my presuppositions.

During one ceremony, the young minister told the story of his last trip to premarital counseling before his own wedding. Their mentor asked a familiar question: "What do you think is the key to a loving, healthy marriage?"

His wife paused for a moment. "If you'd asked me six months ago," she pondered, "I would have said communication. But now, I think it's something different. I think the real key is forgiveness."

Forgiveness?

Yep, that sounded about right after I thought about it. I had been married just two weeks at that point, but my sin nature had already made unwelcome appearances in our house. Communicating a sinful attitude to my husband didn't change it into a right attitude. Nor did communicating that I was upset with an omission on his part move me past frustration.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The minister continued by pointing to the greatest example of forgiveness – that of Christ forgiving His wandering bride. Where He would have been justified in communicating his anger and walking away from her, He chose a different method entirely. The key wasn't communication, although He told her of His love and what pained Him. He didn't wait for her response. Instead, He loved His bride enough to forgive her everything, even though it cost Him everything.

I am that bride. I need that forgiveness.

It's not that communication is worthless, or that dialogue isn't an expression of love. On the contrary, scripture is full of commands to encourage and exhort each other in love. In rare moments, communication even lets my husband – or my sister, or my best friends, or my fellow church members – completely understand each other's perspective. But that only goes so far.

Unconditional love manifests itself in that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: Yes, the sinner, that's me. I need that forgiveness just as much as anyone, and I need Christ's example to be able to forgive others. It's a two-way street that points out our own flaws even as we decide to overlook those of others. Humbling, isn't it?

Intersecting Faith & Life: How many times are we tempted to remember little annoyances that those closest to us have committed, the details they forgot to take care of, or the times they simply crossed our whims? Yet we have been forgiven so much more than that. I pray that as you interact with the people closest to you today, you will remember that "as far as the east is from the west, so far as He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)

Further Reading

Colossians 3:12-17
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
25 Affirmations about Forgiveness

[Judy Harder]

May 10, 2011

Dangerous Love
Sarah Phillips, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1 -2 NIV

Love.

It's a beautiful thing, right? Little girls dream of their future Prince Charmings sweeping them off their feet. Young men put their hearts and pride on the line to pursue beauties in hopes of finding happiness.

Although romantic love is a gift - a little slice of heaven at it's finest - let's be honest: it's also the primary place all our little demons come out to play.

After all, the one who knows us most intimately is not just privy to our gifts and strengths. He or she eventually sees us at our worst. And there's something about romantic love that seems to amplify the worst - even when our intentions are good.

It's astounding to me that marriages last a lifetime given the pain we are capable of inflicting on each other. Poets and writers have referred to love as a form of insanity. I was joking with a friend recently that infatuation probably is a form of insanity. But for the Christian, love is so much more.

If we look to Christ on the cross, we see that true, godly love bleeds. Love is vulnerable and suffers.

In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis observed:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable... If you want to make sure of keeping your heart intact, you must give your heart to no one...Lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness. But in that casket -- safe, dark, motionless, airless -- it will change. It will not be broken -- it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable... The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from love is Hell."

As much as we'd like to do away with the painful, dangerous side of love -- would we have known the depth of God's love for us without the cross? I doubt it. Scripture points out the hard truth about human nature: most of us wouldn't die for a friend. But Christ - fully anticipating the pain -- died for friends and enemies alike. That's love expressed more eloquently than the finest love letter.

Christ's example alone is enough to justify the risks that come with love. But thankfully, love isn't just suffering. If it were, then love really would be insanity.

Instead, God -- in a way only God can - uses suffering to bring forth life... life far better than had we avoided the dangers of the cross. Resurrection follows for the couple willing to mutually embrace Christ and the cross of love. And it is this transformation that makes sacrificial love "fragrant."

In our own brief time together, my husband and I can attest to God's redemptive work. We've dated for 3 years. We've seen ugliness. And we've also seen the sweet rewards of working through that ugliness. Of submitting it to God. Of allowing Him to make the cross our "glory."

Sometimes I wish we had one of those whirlwind romantic courtship stories. You know, where boy meets girl, and after 6 months of whispering sweet nothings, they get engaged and plan their fairy tale wedding.

Instead we got heavy discernment. Some tears and some wounds. But in being open to love and in submitting all the ups and downs to Christ, we also experienced growth, depth, and now a brand new life together.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Have you ever met someone who got burned in love and vowed to never give their heart away again? Perhaps this describes you. Spend some time in prayer this week asking God to break down any unhealthy walls built around your heart so that you can give and receive love more fully.

[Judy Harder]

May 11, 2011

Traveling Mercies
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day.
Psalm 91:5

With summer travel season nearly upon us - well, for those who haven't been grounded by the economy, anyway - I've been reminiscing upon all the times the Lord has watched out for me on the road through all my journeys. Here are just a few examples:

When I helped my wife - before she was my wife - move from Columbia, South Carolina to Farmville, Virginia, we rented an auto transport to trail her car behind the U-Haul so that we could both ride together in the truck. I had helped load her car onto the transport before we left. We decided to get out of town and onto the interstate before we gassed up. We'd traveled up and down hills, across several railroad tracks, on the interstate, in stop-and-go traffic... and it was raining. You'll understand the reason I tell you all that momentarily.

When we pulled into the gas station, we realized we didn't have Valerie's key chain. It held the keys to her car, her new home, her old home, and several expensive keys to the University of South Carolina. Neither of us had any idea where they could be. I got out of the truck to think... and I spotted them, there on one of the two-inch thick beams of the auto transport. I yelled for Valerie, who came to look. I carefully touched the keys with my fingertips... and they dropped to the ground. Neither of us could believe our eyes, or that those keys had remained there of their own accord over the route we had driven. It had to be the Lord. If not, well, He got the praise and glory anyway.

Another time, when I was just a boy, my mother's station wagon had a flat tire on a remote stretch of road outside Tucson. My sister and I were in the car as my mother struggled to get the hubcap off. In those days, on that model, a special tool was required to be able to get to the lugnuts. We didn't have the tool. Just then, a guy rode up on a bike. He happened to have the tool. He handed it to my mother, who to this day swears he was an angel. I'm not sure I can argue with her.

At other times there have been individuals who showed up with just the right help during blowouts, or - believe it or not - airline personnel who actually made my trip better than it could have gone. The most memorable of these instances, truly, have come during times I prayed, read my Bible, and had decided in advance not to get bent out of shape about delays or other problems. One such cross-country trip resulted in an out-of-nowhere upgrade to first class from Philadelphia to Seattle, where I also ended up in position to calmly solve a dispute between passengers. Indeed, the Lord has been gracious to me in travel.

My wife's family has a tradition before every trip they take to read Psalm 91. It reminds them that He is their refuge as they go, wherever they go. And of course before every trip we take, my family prays for safety, and mercy... and the opportunity to minister, even if it is an inconvenience to our plans.

One way or another, this prayer is always answered. Still, it's hard to remind myself of goodness and opportunity in delay. Sometimes I still feel that the trip, the vacation, is my time... that whatever gets in the way shows that the Lord does not care, or did not "bless" our travels. That's when I remember Paul's travels. I am sure he didn't think shipwrecks and imprisonment were helps toward spreading the Word. But in the end, they were. Are our travels - no matter what purpose we think they hold - any different?

Jesus told a story about a traveler who had been robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the road. Those who passed him by had in mind only their own agendas and their desire not to be inconvenienced, even if they were priests by vocation. What would you do? Would you have the time, yearning, and empathy to interrupt your travels to do as the Samaritan did?

Understand that I am not discounting that the Lord must lay on your heart the decision to stop and help, especially in these troubled times. But do be open to it. So few times anymore do we make it outside our home or neighborhood. Those times we do should not merely be restful, but ministerial. Pray that God would give you opportunities to serve him - and yes, even to see His glory in watching over you! - as you go.

Intersecting Faith & Life: This summer especially, be on the lookout for fellow travelers who are stranded. Rising gas costs could cause more and more motorists to run out of fuel. Consider taking along a spare gas can and assisting stranded folks, who might be in need of the gospel message.

Further Reading

Luke 10: 25-37
Psalm 91
A Father's Summer Trip Road Rules
Tips to Keep Your Family Vacation Affordable and Fun

[Judy Harder]

May 12, 2011

Are You Reciting the Gospel by Yourself?

Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"...with Him... Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking
of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem."
Luke 9:30-31 NASB

It's good to see that the idea of 'preaching the gospel to yourself everyday' is becoming more popular. At least that's how it seems to me. Things that point to the gospel are popping up in all kinds of places and ways, not only in big and new movements but in short videos, articles and Twitter messages ("Gospel Tweets"). A caution in the way we think about the gospel was brought to my attention recently in chapter two of True Spirituality. If you're not following along in our weekly journey through this important and helpful work by Francis Schaeffer, I invite you to join us.

In chapter two, Schaeffer mentions our Scripture passage today (above) where we see Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration about His impending departure—His death.

It's subtle, but notice that they're not just making a passing mention of the fact. Rather, they were actively and continuously speaking about it. They were dwelling on the gospel; at least the substitutionary atonement part of it. And with the Object of their redemption (Christ) standing right there, no doubt there must have been more than just theological accuracy in their conversation. Probably more like amazement and deep gratitude. As they thought of all that Christ was about to endure for their sin, I'm sure they had correct thoughts about the gospel. But Christ's own presence energized their orthodox theology.

At times, there can a detached, tearless way that we think about the gospel. When I have well-articulated and familiar facts about Christ's life/death/resurrection/ascension, and they are just empty echoes down the icy corridors of my thoughts, the diagnosis is simple: I have broken fellowship with Christ. It's evidence of unconfessed sin.

Schaeffer reminds us that when we rehearse the gospel, we must do so in the presence of the Living Christ; in humble worship of Him. He is not a distant figment of man's imagination. He is the God Who is there. Just as Moses and Elijah were "with Him"... in His presence, so we too must continuously rehearse the gospel while recognizing that we are in the presence of the God Who is there. The Christian life flows from the constant spring of dwelling on the gospel with the Redeemer Himself.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Remember this paraphrase of John Piper: the gospel is like blood, it's supposed to course through your veins not be carried in a bucket.

John Owen, (a 1600s Puritan) often prayed, "Lord, may I commune with You in the doctrines I espouse." Make this your prayer and experience today.

Further Reading

John 15

The Gospel in Six Minutes (John Piper, video)

"While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God art present there."
From the hymn, "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" by Isaac Watts

[Judy Harder]

May 13, 2011

The Poor, Widowed, and Orphaned
Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com Editor

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1: 27

It was Spring Break of my senior year, and I had decided to end college with a bang. A classmate of mine had invited our wing down to Florida to stay with his family over break. I was going to spend almost two weeks hanging out with friends, hitting the beach, and sleeping in one of the nicest houses in the area. It was going to be a Spring Break to remember.

God, however, had other plans. Spring break finally rolled around, but I wasn't in Florida. Instead, I found myself huddled together with a few other college students in the cold, gray countryside of western Russia. My college had set up a small mission trip over Spring Break with an organization called The Boaz Project, and despite my attempts to ignore it, God had pushed me into going.

The whole trip bothered me, and not just because I was missing a two week vacation in Florida. The Boaz Project served as an outreach to the orphans of Russia, and I wasn't exactly a kid person. I could barely handle one crying baby or a hyperactive youngster, and I dreaded to think what waited for me in Russia. On top of everything was the language barrier. I had barely passed Spanish 101, there wasn't a chance I'd be mastering Russian.     

All my worrying turned out to be pointless though. On our first day the children surrounded us as though we had brought Christmas presents. They didn't care if we couldn't speak their language; it thrilled them to have someone to play with them, to notice them. A wiry boy named Sasha kept asking me for piggy-back rides, and by the end of the day my shoulders ached. The trip passed in a whirlwind of games and activity, and then suddenly it was time for us to go home. 

We went around and said goodbye to all of the children. I hugged Sasha one last time, and as I did I couldn't help feeling as though I were abandoning him. As our vans drove away I saw him out the window waving at us, and when we reached the main road I put my head in my hands and started to sob. It was the first time I had cried in nine years. How could you fit and entire lifetime of love and affirmation into a few short days? Had I even accomplished anything by coming here? I knew the statistics, as these children grew older they would most likely be lost to a world of drugs, prostitution, and homelessness. And the worst part was that nobody would notice. No one would care.

At that point God touched my heart, and I realized why he had wanted me to come to Russia. These children weren't alone. There was God, and there was me, and there was a whole Kingdom of believers whom Christ had commanded to care for the poor, widowed, and the orphaned. We are the Church, and it is our duty to serve as lights and protectors in a very dark world. That is what Christ calls us to do; it is what God demands of us. Because if the Church does not help these children, who will?

Intersecting Faith & Life

Find out a way to reach someone in need. For more information on The Boaz Project, visit www.boazproject.org

Further Reading

James 1: 1-27