LENT: Mar 13 - 1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore,

under the mighty hand of God so that

at the proper time he may exalt you

1 Peter 5:6

According to this verse, what will happen if we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God? Peter tells us that God will exalt us. 

What does it mean that God will exalt us? It means that he will take us from our current corruptible flesh and give us an eternal incorruptible destiny. 

In short ... it means that God will bring us to heaven! When and why? When we humble ourselves. And because we humble ourselves.

In other words, "humbling ourselves" is another definition for "faith."

Here's the interesting part ... at least to me: Who is it, in this passage, who defines "faith" as "humbling ourselves"? Peter!

·       The same Peter was bold and proud enough to think he could walk on water.(But was humbled when the waves grew and he began to fear.)

·       The same Peter who was bold and proud enough to think he would never betray Jesus. (But was humbled when the stakes rose and he began to fear.)

·       The same Peter who was bold and proud enough to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah! (But was humbled when he couldn't comprehend that Jesus must suffer and die, so Jesus had to say, "Get behind me Satan.")

Peter knew that the path to faith and life was not pridefulness and boldness. It is willingly humbling oneself (instead of being pridefully humbled).

In Christ's Love,

a guy who eventually wants

a pat on the back from

the mighty hand of God

LENT: Mar 12 - Matthew 6:16-18

Jesus said, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:16-18

I guess modern Americans are not that different from first century Jews.

We tend to make things about us.

The point of this famous Lenten passage, is to remind us to make everything about God.

When we fast… when we pray… when we serve... when we give... when we tithe... it may make us feel better (every spiritual discipline has huge personal benefits), but ultimately, none of this is about us ... it's all about God. 

But here's the gift and the blessing: When we make life about God, we are given our own life ... and we are given it abundantly (John 10:10). But when we make it about us, we get neither the fullness of life that we desire (we are never satisfied) nor do we get God. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants both

... abundantly

LENT: Mar 11 - Isaiah 58:6-7

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Isaiah 58:6-7

Which human in history ...

·       looses the bonds of wickedness?

·       unties the straps that connect us to the burdens of the world?

·       enables the oppressed to go free?

·       and breaks everything that yokes us to the chains of sin?

Which human in history did (does) all that? The only human who was also the Son of God. 

And which human in all of history ...

·       shares the truest bread with the truly hungry?

·       covers the nakedness that started with Adam's shame?

·       when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

·       and brings the homeless and poor into his eternal house?

Who? The only human who was also the Son of God.

This passage is a Messianic prefiguring of Jesus. But here's my question ... What does it mean when (essentially Jesus in this passage) says, "This is the fast I choose"?

What is a fast? It is willingly giving something up for a greater spiritual purpose. And what did Jesus willingly give up for a greater spiritual purpose? His throne. He humbled himself. He came in human flesh. 

Why? To loosen the bonds of wickedness, untie the yoke of our oppression, share with us the bread of life, and invite we who were poor into his eternal home. 

That was a remarkable fast for a marvelous purpose. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wonders if and what

you've chosen as your fast

this Lenten season

(I'm fasting, and it'll surely be

imperfectly, from junkie foods)

LENT: Mar 10 - John 15:1-2

I am the true vine,

and my Father is the vinegrower.

He removes every branch in me

that bears no fruit.

Every branch that bears fruit

he prunes to make it bear more fruit.

John 15:1-2

Read that again.

•      If you bear fruit, you get pruned.
•      If you bear no fruit, you get pruned.
•      In other words, the purpose to live is to get pruned. 

Ouch.

Isn’t that the exact opposite of what most of want in life?

If you watch TV commercials, we’re told that life is supposed to be about comfort, pleasure, and ease. Jesus uses a different advertising agency.

•      Instead of Maxwell House’s “Good to the Last Drop,” Jesus says, “Good til the Next Pruning.”
•      Instead of Folger’s “The Best Part of Waking Up, is Folger’s in your Cup,” Jesus says, “The Best Part of Waking Up, is Pruning in your Day.”
•      Instead of Nike’s “Just Do It,” Jesus says, “Just Prune It.”
•      Instead of Coca-Cola’s “The Pause that Refreshes,” Jesus talks about “The Prune that Refreshes.”
•      Instead of American Express’s “Don’t Leave Home Without It,” Jesus says, “Don’t Leave Home (Each Morning) Without Pruning.”
•      Instead of General Electric’s "We Bring Good Things to Life," it’s Jesus saying, “Pruning Brings Good Things to Life.”
•      Instead of Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” Jesus says, “Where’s the Prunes?!!!”

So the question is … whether you like the campaign slogans or not, do you believe that the purpose to live is to get pruned?

Well, it depends on your perspective. If life is all about this earth, then give me comfort and ease. But if life is about eternity, then, “Jesus, help me realize that this life is just a fleeting moment, and do whatever it takes to prepare me for eternity.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes Allstate’s old slogan,

“You’re in Good Hands …”

… so, God, I trust you to prune

if you must

LENT: Mar 9 - Psalm 51:7

Purify me with hyssop,

and I shall be clean:

Wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

I like writing on randomly chosen verses. Why? Because occasionally, it forces me to learn things I don’t know! For example, what is hyssop?! A few details …

Basically, hyssop is an herb. More commonly, it’s a weed that grows in the crevices of rocks (which there are a lot of in the Middle East). A variation of marjoram, hyssop is in the mint family. Let’s call it a sweet and fragrant weed.

One of its most important uses came when God instituted the Passover. When the Jews were told to sprinkle their doorposts and lintels with lambs blood, they were told to dip the fragrant weed into the blood and shake it at the door.

More common, and still common, is to dip the fragrant weed into water and sprinkle it. Water, of course, is physically and spiritually cleansing (think of bathtubs and baptisms). Physically, water washes. Spiritually, as this Psalm tells us, God desires to wash us whiter than snow. Indeed, Psalm 51 is David desperately confessing his sin and begging God to shake his grace in his direction.

When I put those two uses of hyssop together, I notice three things …

•      Hyssop is a plentiful weed. Meaning, God wants his grace to be more than just available … he wants it to be plentiful.
• 
  
•      Hyssop is sweet and fragrant. He wants his cleansing to touch all our senses. Smell, for example, is known to fire off our memories in powerful ways. Therefore, I believe God wanted his people to walk the trails of Israel smelling God’s forgiveness (whenever they smelled the plentiful hyssop blooming in the rocks).
• 
  
•      While I’d definitely prefer to be sprinkled with water than with blood, I’m reminded of Revelation 7:14. While water is mostly a symbol of forgiveness and cleansing, the deepest, truest, spiritual healing that we can ever encounter is through blood – Christ’s blood. Indeed, as Revelation describes the saints in heaven, we are told that “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (And Jesus, of course, is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.)

Therefore, I cry with King David – claiming this 3000-year-old prophecy and saying,  “[Lord,] purify me with hyssop … wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who loves

the aroma of grace

     

LENT: Mar 8 - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved,

be steadfast, immovable,

always excelling in the work of the Lord,

because you know that in the Lord

your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Scripture tells us to excel in the work of the Lord. Why? Because our labor is not in vain.

That’s the first – and easiest to explain – of the three things that the Apostle calls us to do. Because no godly effort is ever wasted, we are encouraged to fulfill all of God’s callings joyfully.

But what does being “steadfast” really mean?

I mean, it’s obviously a common biblical word, but it’s a word most of us use rarely in daily life. So when Scripture says, “be steadfast” what’s really being asked of us?

Well, steadfast means

•      loyal and determined
•      consistent and persistent
•      stubborn and reliable
•      unwavering, unbending, and unbreakable
•      steadfast means immovable (which is the third of the Paul’s calls in this verse)

Steadfast means, if you’re going to call yourself a Christian, go all-in. Don’t let anything shake or deter you. Don’t let the waves of society knock you over. Be immovable. Resolute. And determined. Why? Because, as Paul says, no godly effort is ever wasted.

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who wants to be a lighthouse

– steadfast, unwavering, and always shining

(in spite of life’s waves)

LENT: Mar 7 - Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith; and this is not from ourselves,

it is a gift of God…
Ephesians 2:8

Step one of Lent – and a richer Christian life – is confession. Admitting you’re done wrong.

Step two is repentance. It is admitting that you’ve done wrong, and covenanting to fix it. Indeed, since repentance can be translated as “turning away from sin and turning toward God,” it is covenant to fix our sin with the help of the God which we’ve just turned toward. After all, it’s a life hopeless frustration to try and fix ourselves only on our own power.

The third step is freedom.

•      Justice is getting what you deserve.
•      Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
•      Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

Do you see the distinction?! Grace tells us that it’s not our actions that save us or condemn us. It’s God’s grace that saves.

So who condemns? Us. We often condemn ourselves. We can’t believe that God can forgive us … because sometimes we can’t forgive ourselves.

Often the world condemns us too. Many of us, for example, have grown up in families that do NOT forgive. Rather, every time there’s a fight, the same people drag back out the same old wounds and transgressions from 10-years-ago. Like elephants, some people never forget a wound. They throw every mistake back in our face … again and again and again. It’s no wonder people can’t believe in grace. So often we see so little of it modeled.

But God is gracious. And merciful. And slow to anger. And abounding in steadfast love.

•      And once you’ve brought the vampire of sin and shame out into the light through confession … wounding it mortally.
•      Once you’ve killed it, not by your own power, but with God’s help.
•      Can you, by grace, believe that you’re free? Can you believe, as Psalm 103:12 says, that God “removes our transgressions from us … as far as the east is from the west”?!

In Christ’s Love,

Jesus’ love was costly

so my price tag

can read “Free”

LENT: Mar 6 - Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to proclaim,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Matthew 4:17

Jesus’ main message – his first and repeated sermon – was “Repent.” Why? “Because the kingdom is here.”

What does “repent” mean?

Yesterday on Ash Wednesday, we talked about confession. What is confession? It is admitting that we’ve done wrong. And this is a first, critical step.

But repentance is the next step. Indeed, don’t confuse it with confession. After admitting our folly (confession), repentance is covenanting to fix the problem!

Read that again. It’s one thing to say, “God, I’m a hit man. I’ve killed twelve people.” That’s step one, but it’s clearly not enough – especially if I go on killing! My murderous heart needs to be fixed – whether I’m a hit-man … or a gossiper … or verbally abusive.

To help us understand part two of confession, repentance can be translated as “turning away from sin and turning toward God.” And that last phrase – turning toward God – is crucial.

We can’t fix ourselves by ourselves.

Ultimately, trying to fix ourselves leads to hopeless frustration. Sometimes, yes, we can reign in our behavior for a while … but have you ever screamed, “I swore I was never going to do that again! Why am I so weak?”

Repentance, however, involves turning to God. Yes, we turn to him as the true source of our worship and strength, which is part of repentance – re-centering on him rather than wrong priorities and false idols. (That alone is important.) But equally importantly, we turn to God for strength! We can’t fix ourselves by ourselves. But he can fix us, heal us, free us, reshape our hearts, reprioritize our desires. And if Christ sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Confession is good. It’s the necessary starting point. But it’s through repentance (with God’s power) that we begin to truly experience freedom.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who has learned that when

I turn away from our sin and turn to God,

I begin to see the kingdom that

Jesus says is right here!

ASH WED: Mar 5 - Joel 2:12-14

R E M E M B E R   A S H   W E D N E S D A Y   W O R S H I P ,   7 : 0 0 P M

Yet even now, says the Lord,

return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

rend your hearts and not your clothing. …

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him

Joel 2:12-14

Whenever people in the Bible are shocked by bad news, they stand up and tear their clothes.

As a kid, I always thought that this was strange.

But we have our own American customs when we are suddenly grieved or profoundly angered. Indeed, it’s anger that tends to spark the quickest reactions. Slamming of doors. Throwing of toasters. Kicking the dog. Cursing the cat.

And how about this one … Have you ever seen the famous punching-of-the-wall? Most of our families have at least one story of having at least one hole in the wall. (Or a broken hand in a plaster cast, if the angered person happens to hit a stud behind the sheetrock.)

On my first day of chaplain’s training at a Columbia, SC, hospital, an experienced African-American chaplain said to us interns, “Now before you go into the emergency rooms and start dealing with tragedies, you white folks need to know that us black folks grieve differently than you. When a white person dies, white people grab the tissues and hug and sniffle quietly in the corner. When a black person dies, we fall on the floor and wail and moan.”

I’m glad he told me.

The first death I attended was for a three-year-old African-American boy who was hit by a car. Their grief was profound. And the wailing and moaning on the floor was culturally appropriate. Normal. Necessary. Healing.

God told the Israelites (and you and me), however, that when we as individuals have sinned … or when we as a church have strayed … or when we as a nation have betrayed our calling … that the proper response is not to curse the cat, kick the dog, throw the toaster, or punch the wall. He says … you call fall on the floor and cry, if you want to … or stand and rip your clothing, if you you’re so moved … but that’s not God’s preferred response either.

He says, “Rend (tear open) your hearts and not your clothing.”

When we’re boiling in anger or drowning in grief because of the sting of sin, only one thing ultimately heals, and that’s prayer – especially in the form of confession. God calls us to open our hearts to him. To confess our sin. To grieve over the sins around us. To rip open our hearts and pull out – and it’s usually painfully – all the wantonness and anger and rebellion and pride within each of us.

“Rend your hearts and not your clothing.” That’s the initial call of Lent. To see the sin of world … starting with the sin in us. And to repent.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes rending his heart

instead of rending his clothes

because it’s much less expensive

Mar 26 - DAY 42 - The People-Pleaser Trap

Day 42

The People-Pleaser Trap

For we are God's masterpiece.

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

so that we can do the good things

he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

The final, final chapter of Rick Warren’s book is another trap – The People-Pleaser Trap.

Again we ask, Why after watching people for ten more years after this bestseller’s first publication, did Rick Warren feel need to add this particular chapter? Why? Because trying to please people is one of our biggest barriers to pleasing other people.

Rick Warren asks it simply and profoundly: Whose approval are you living for?

•      I’ve watched adults be paralyzed as they’re still living for some parent’s reluctant approval.
•      I’ve watched teens be blown about in hundreds of harmful directions as they seek the approval of peers.
•      I’ve watched young girls give themselves away to the first person who even hints (often disingenuously) that they love her.
•      I’ve watched employees stab a co-worker in the back to curry a boss’s favor.
•      I’ve watched girls starve themselves half to death trying to look like the pictures in the magazines.
•      I’ve watched boys slip into depression when they don’t measure up to the (often athletic) standards that seem to define young men.

Therefore, Rick Warren asks, whose approval are you really living for?

One of my favorite lines is …

Live your life for

an Audience of One!

Another is …

If God has already justified you,

why do you spend so much energy

trying to justify yourself before others?

God loves you. Just the way you are! Do you know how I know that? He created you!!!

When we realize that we are God’s masterpiece, then we start looking for his approval rather than the world’s approval.

Make a list today: Who’s approval do you still seek in this life?

Chances are, if you’re still seeking that person’s approval, then either you don’t measure up in their judgmental eyes … or you don’t measure up in your own insecure eyes. If a judgmental person is your standard, then you have the wrong standard. And if you’re insecure, it’s a matter of faith (or faithlessness, or unforgiveness – indeed being unable to forgive yourself).

It’s time to trust God. Trust that he loves, forgives, and is not judgmental. He loves you the way he made you! (And in those ways that the world “unmakes” us, he’s literally dying to restore us. Just think of the cross.)

In Christ’s Love,

a guy for whom it took

a lot of years (and

eventually a lot of faith)

to be comfortable

in his own skin

… and now I can

live with joy and purpose

Mar 25 - DAY 41 - The Envy Trap

Day 41

The Envy Trap

O give thanks to the Lord,

for he is good;

for his steadfast love

endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

After writing one of the bestselling books of all time, why do you think – in the tenth anniversary edition – he adds a chapter called,  “The Envy Trap.”

My supposition is that he’s studied people for ten more years and this is one of the biggest barriers to joy and purpose that he still finds.

We can’t be happy If we’re

comparing ourselves to others.

There’ll always be someone taller, faster, smarter, better looking, and lighter in weight than us. There’ll always be someone who has a bigger house, newer car, and better job. There’s only one “best” in any category, and most of those folks are totally average in a million other categories.

What envy does is rob us of satisfaction.

But it’s even more insidious than that. Envy essentially causes us to spit in God’s face. (Whoa! That sounds harsh, but think about it …) Rather than being grateful for the way we’re created and for the gifts we’ve been given, we spend our lives complaining about the things we don’t have.

Children do this to their parents. In our society, all our kids have gifts and possessions than they’ll ever really need (even most very poor American kids are very rich compared to the world’s and history’s standards). So what do parents do when our kids complain about what they don’t have. At first, we roll our eyes. They’re being childish. But what happens when that complaining turns into their view of life. They’re dissatisfied with life and angry at you for not providing exactly what they want.

Have you ever had your kid essentially “spit in your face,” complaining about their gifts and “needing” more and bigger and better and different. We sure have. (Fortunately it occurred frequently enough and at an early enough age that our boys learned – through raised voices and strong consequences – not to complain! It always brought them worse results.)

I got mad as a father at complaining kids. How do you think our heavenly Father feels about the poison of our envy. If it’s rare, he’ll roll his eyes at our childishness. If it becomes a pattern, he’ll grieve.

The antidote to envy is thanksgiving. If your soul ever seems heavy, make a list of your blessings.

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who’s favorite

thankfulness song

is from Bing Crosby …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXKxazgio2s

Mar 24 - DAY 40 - Living With Purpose

What’s your purpose statement? That’s Rick Warren’s final question – at least in the old edition of the book.

I developed my purpose statement for ministry a dozen years ago. It is …

Deeper Faith

Joyful Community

Reaching More

Is that my personal purpose statement too?

Yes. A pastor’s personal life is inextricably connected to his ministry. It’s hard to know where ministry ends and life begins.

That’s how it should be with EVERY life, though. Life should be ministry. And ministry should be life.

As I look at Rick Warren’s five purposes, they fit nicely into my own purpose statement:

Deeper Faith is Worship and Discipleship

Joyful Community is Fellowship

Reaching More is Service and Evangelism

Now … rarely do I hold all five in perfect balance. I’m better at some than others. And in various seasons, one tends to get emphasized more than another. The goal of my life is to balance all three (or really five), because when I’m unbalanced … I’m unbalanced!!!

You’ve heard me mention Jesus’ method of ministry – UP, OUT and IN.

•      He spent the morning pointing UP in prayer (worship and discipleship).
•      He spent the afternoon pointing OUT in service and evangelism.
•      He spent his evenings gathering back IN with his disciples (fellowship and more discipleship).

Those are two ways that I seek to fulfill the five purposes. What’s yours?!!! In fact, please send me your personal mission statement! Let’s celebrate how God is working in your life.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s UP too early

OUT too late and

IN too little

… ahhh …

now I’m reminded

to rebalance!

(That’s what a purpose

statement is for!!!)

Mar 23 - DAY 39 - Balancing Your Life

Day 39

Balancing Your Life

Jesus answered,

"You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your strength,

and with all your mind;

and your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 10:27

Today, Rick Warren starts with an interesting phrase: “Blessed are the balance; they shall outlast everyone.”

His reasoning? Like a pentathlete, we need to succeed in all five events – all five purposes – if we’re going to win the prize.

Greatness is not about winning and earthly prize. (In fact, in yesterday’s devotion, I wrote briefly about a disgraced Olympian.) Greatness comes from doing the most important things greatly.

And what’s most important? Two things that Christian tradition calls “great”: The Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

•      The Great Commandment says 1) Love God (heart, soul, strength, and mind) and 2) Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.
•      The Great Commission adds two more purposes: 3) Go and Make Disciples, 4) Baptizing them, and 5) Teaching them.

Rick Warren tells us that in these two simple statements is a summary of how to accomplish all five of life’s purposes. 1) In loving God, we worship. 2) In loving neighbor, we serve. 3) In going and making disciples, we evangelize. 4) Through baptism, we create community (fellowship). And 5) in teaching, there is discipleship.

After thirty-nine chapters, the “to-do list” could get overwhelming. But Rick Warren is saying, “Stop. Relax. Life is really pretty simple. Just worry about doing two things: follow the great command and fulfill the great commission.”

Now, those two things are big enough to fill a whole, big, wonderful life. But they’re really not that complicated. Love God and others. And the more you love God, the more you’ll want to learn about him. And the more you learn about him, the more you’ll want to tell about him. And finally, the more you love other people, the more you’ll simply want to help (and serve) them.

Near the end of the book, I found today’s reflections very helpful. “Don’t be overwhelmed. Just love!”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to wear

his heart on his sleeve

Mar 22 - DAY 38 - Becoming a World Class Christian

Day 38

Becoming a

World Class Christian

We fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Rick Warren’s theme for today is “Becoming a World Class Christian.”

That title reminded me of a friend. He was giving an important talk. He wrote it months ahead. He came up with great illustration. To powerfully describe character and perseverance, he decided to use the example of a world class athlete.

Just days before the speech, he cut the illustration, however. Why?

He was going to talk about an inspirational athlete from 2012 Summer Olympics, who ran magnificently even though he was born without legs.

You probably know why he cut the illustration.

While Oscar Pistorius was a world class athlete, he turned out not to be such an inspirational person! A few days before the speech, the “blade runner” allegedly murdered his girlfriend in a fit of rage.

What does it really mean to be “world class”?

We live in a culture of hero worship. We seem to always have sports idols and music idols and teen magazine heart throbs. But world class is more than being “famous” or being the “best” at something.

In fact, being world class in God’s eyes is really the exact opposite of being famous. It’s being humble.

Rick Warren says, “[to become] world class … shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking.” “Humbling yourself,” “taking the lowest seat,” “serving rather than wanting to be served” – Jesus’s principles – are the art of becoming “world class.”

Furthermore, what world class really means is caring for the world in a very passionate way. And we care for it best when we are sharing how to be saved from this broken world – how to know Christ and earn a “ticket” to heaven.

“World Class,” then, is really being “Heaven Class.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who doesn’t own

any pedestals

(it’s dangerous to put

oneself or anyone else

on them … because they fall)

Mar 21 - DAY 37 - Sharing Your Life Message

Day 37

Sharing Your Life Message

Be ready at all times

to answer anyone who asks you

to explain the hope you have in you,

but do it with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15-16 TEV

“One more for Jesus.”

That was the final cry of Rick Warren’s dying father. His passion – even at the end of his own life – was “one more.”

Think about it … in death, this old pastor was going to a place where only one thing on earth mattered – Did you know Jesus … or not?

The name of the book we’ve been reading – subtitled on the first edition, almost the title on the second edition – is “What on Earth am I Here For?” And indeed, the only thing on earth that really matters is, “Do you know Jesus?”

Then … once you’ve checked that box, only one other thing really matters, “Are you making him known.”

That’s actually the official mission of many churches: “To Know Christ and Make Him Known.” (In fact, that’s not a bad personal mission statement either: “What on Earth am I Here for? To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.”)

Now, if you’re following along with Rick Warren, so far I’ve been covering yesterday’s chapter, haven’t we? Today’s focus then is the beginning of “How?”

Let me encourage you to do something today. I obviously spend some time writing these devotions for you. I want you to spend some time writing a devotion for someone else.

A testimony is “the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus.” Write down your testimony. Tell how you came to know the Lord. (It doesn’t have to be big and dramatic. For many of us, it was slow and gradual.) But tell how you came to know God and what’s the difference he makes in your life.

•      You do this first for you benefit. It’s practice for sharing the story if and when God gives you the chance. 
•      Second, practice telling it … even among your closest church friends. You’ll see in their eyes the parts that resonate. And with practice, you’ll learn to tell it simply, quickly, and powerfully.
•      Finally, start praying about the first person you will share it with. You may have a person in mind. Or God may have a person in mind that you’re not even aware of yet.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who couldn’t

come to know God fully

until he was fully humbled,

and doesn’t want others

to have to be humbled

before they know God

Mar 20 - DAY 36 - Made for a Mission

Day 36

Made for a Mission

Jesus said,

As the Father has sent me,

I am sending you.

John 20:21 NIV

“God wants you to have both a ministry in the Body of Christ and a mission in the world.”

Look close. What’s the difference between ministry and mission?

Ministry is pointed in – in toward the church. And it’s critical. If the body of Christ is to function, the church desperately needs people to use their gifts. Some teach and other lead songs. Some fix church toilets and others balance the checkbook. Some care for the children; others love to visit the sick and elderly.

Scripture tells us that we each have gifts to bless the church. This is “ministry,” and as Rick Warren says, “God [definitely] wants you to have … a ministry in the Body of Christ.

“God [also] wants you to have a mission in the world.” What’s mission compared to ministry. Well, if ministry is “in,” then mission is “out.”

Rick Warren tells us that mission comes from the Latin roots that mean “sent.” Jesus tells us to go – to “go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples” (Mt 28:19). History calls these words – which include, “teach [the people of all nations]” – the Great Commission.

Lutherans are not always comfortable with mission – especially when we call it evangelism. Ethnically, Lutherans are from cold weather countries. We’re quiet, stoic, and humble.

In general, we’d rather let our actions speak for themselves. This can be a valid start to evangelism. And historically the Lutheran church has done some great things. But mission is also personal. Who are you telling? Who do you need to tell?

At the beginning of this week, that last question is a good place to start: “Who do you need to tell?” Starting today, begin praying for them. Praying and praying and praying.

In Christ’s Love,

A guy who loves the old saying,

“Before you talk to your friend about Jesus,

talk to Jesus about your friend.”