His Kingdom Comes First

Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
 
Jesus made this statement in a sermon (Matthew 5-7). To most Christians, it is a very familiar statement. It is so familiar that rarely does it provoke basic thought. We have heard discussed many times what the kingdom is and when it came. We frequently have heard discussed how a man or woman goes about the process of putting the kingdom first. Truthfully, most of us could lead a discussion on those matters.

Yet, rarely do we note what a strange statement this was. Certainly, Israel's religious leaders discussed for years what the kingdom was and when it would come. To declare that "kingdom understandings" were important to first century Israel is an under-statement. They, like us, had much to teach about the kingdom because their "kingdom understandings" were "excellent." Their understandings were deep and meaningful! They knew all about the kingdom!

Jesus made this strange statement to disciples as crowds listened. He said godliness was not about religious deeds that attracted attention or praise to self (Matthew 6:1-24). He said kingdom concerns were not centered in clothing, food, or the basic necessities for sustaining physical life (Matthew 6:25-31).

Dedication to God's kingdom was not contained in things godless people declared to be priorities (Matthew 6:32). Nor was it found in anxieties produced by life's troubles (Matthew 6:34).

We fail to realize how strange this statement was until we consider to whom it was given. Jesus declared this in a religious nation to people in its religious society. They were so religious that their "civil laws" were based on religious perspectives! They had priests who maintained the temple, elders who made religious decisions, scribes who preserved scripture, lawyers who were experts in scripture, and religious leaders who controlled society. Surely if anyone understood God's rule, they did! Yet, they did not.

How do we seek God's kingdom and righteousness above all things, as life's first priority? Through having right rules and regulations? Through having right forms and methods? Through worrying about things godless people worry about? Through making material needs our top priority in life? No. Then how do we do that?

Jesus said we allow God to rule our lives. We place God in control of who we are and what we do. We let God teach us what righteousness is. Then ... we allow God to provide us the strength to be a godly person who, in compassion, is fair to everyone.

Because we are Christians, who we are as persons is essential to life. That is more essential than what we eat, wear, or drink. Why? God rules us. We are His people. We exist to represent Him well. Who and what we are leads people to God, not way from Him.

In His Grip,
Bro. Jon

Congregational Vulnerability

Love trusts and nurtures. Fear is suspicious and defends. When love is wounded in a marriage, fear emerges. Trust is displaced by suspicion. Mutual nurturing is displaced by defensiveness.

Can the relationship heal? Certainly! Love can assume again its role of promoting trust and nurturing if fear and its suspicions die. If the couple is afraid to love, they will not risk being vulnerable. Recovery is questionable. If the couple has the courage to restore healthy love, recovery will occur.

Should the couple forget the experience? Should they wipe from memory the events and attitudes that wounded love and created fear? No. If memory is erased, the experience does not teach them. If the experience taught no constructive lessons, the mistakes are likely to be repeated.

Should those memories dominate their awareness? No. If love for each other does not dominate thoughts and emotions, the relationship will not heal or mature.

The same is true in a congregation. Love trusts and nurtures. Fear is suspicious and defends. When love is wounded, fear emerges. Trust is displaced with suspicion, and nurturing is displaced with defensiveness. Relationships heal if fear and suspicions are allowed to die. While constructive lessons must be learned from bad experiences, heartache and disappointment must not dominate thoughts and feelings. The congregation seeks more than healing. It seeks the success only growth and maturity produce.

Help fear and suspicion die. Help restore love's trust and nurturing. Do not fear congregational vulnerability--God is in control. Nurture living relationships that reflect the life and hope found in being God's family and Christ's body.

Pray for others by name. Let them know that they are in your prayers. Help them form relationships. Be as warm, excited, and helpful as is our Father. In other words, continue to encourage one another.

In His Grip,
Jon Lanier

Moving Forward

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. 

They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

How do you react to Paul being "disqualified"? Unthinkable? Not to Paul! Paul understood the distinction between "knowing" and "being." Unfortunately, it is not difficult to encounter Christians who do not understand that distinction.

"Knowing" enables us to do many things. We can judge--declare others lacking, inferior, deficient, pathetic, ungodly, unrighteous, or outcasts. We can teach--"here is how you need to change!" We can criticize--"you need to know, to realize, to focus, to redirect!" If we are not extremely careful, we allow what we "know" to serve as the foundation of an "authoritarian complex." That complex frequently declares decisions God did not declare or establishes criteria that God did not present.

Paul frequently challenged Christians to evaluate their lives and their motives. However, Paul also did two other things. (1) He made it quite clear that he genuinely loved those he challenged. (2) He was very open about his own weaknesses and struggles. Paul "knew" in order that he might "be."  He did not say, "You need to run with God's goal clearly in mind." He said, "I need to run with God's goal clearly in mind." He did not say, "You need to stop fighting the air and calling it boxing." He said, "I must not flail at the air and call it boxing." He did not say, "You must discipline your body!" He said, "I must discipline my body."

Why that emphasis? He understood he could present a needed message to others and experience no personal benefit. Paul "knew" in order to "be." Regardless of what he knew, if he did not use "what he knew" to "be," his knowledge did not profit him.

Never forget you do not "know" to teach, but to "be." The foundation of what we teach must arise from what we are instead of what we know. When we belong to God, we never "arrive." Instead, we always mature and grow toward God's nature and character.

Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Why did Jesus Christ "lay hold on you"? Are you pressing on? Are you moving forward?

In His Grip,

Jon Lanier

The Power of Christian Encouragement

Pictured, our new family room.

Wow, I didn't realize it's been this long. Alot has happened since the last post. We took on a new ministry and in the middle of the move. New church is Christian Church of Seaford. One of the first things on the agenda here in Seaford is in the area of encouragement.

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13).

“Those were the good old days! Ah, what wonderful memories of past times! When only Jews and proselytes were Christians (Acts 2:10), there was not all the 'baggage' those gentile Christians who were former idol worshippers brought into the church. There were only us Jewish and proselyte Christians who knew who God was and understood His spiritual priorities! Now those were the days when you understood the need for suffering and solidarity with fellow believers (see Hebrews 10:32-34).

“But times change! Now the Jewish community wants to force us Jewish Christians completely out! Back in the ‘good old days’ it was tough, but we could be both Jews and Christians! No more! Now we must make a choice—we must be one or the other, but not both! There surely is a lot to lose if we are ostracized from the Jewish community!

“We separated ourselves from the Christian community—we did not associate with Christians, go to Christian fellowships, or even worship where Christians were (Hebrews 10:25). Though we were sacrificial Christians, it reached the point it just was not worth it. We were so discouraged we seriously considered quitting the Christian community completely!”

There has never been an age or a culture/society in which it was simple and easy to commit to Jesus Christ! In all ages at all places there were moments of powerful discouragement—even in the early church!

Every Christian has two responsibilities to fill in commitment to Jesus Christ. The first: be a living example of what it means to place faith in Christ. Let your life be a model to those who do not believe, do not just tell them or say “Amen” when others tell them. The second: encourage those who are committed and those who struggle with their commitment. We struggle in an evil world that at times seems to have the advantage. We have enough to contend with without having to contend with each other. All of us need encouragement from each other, not discouragement.

In His Grip,

-Jon Lanier

God Cherishes Our Faithfulness

(a follow up from last article)

It is true that our struggles sometimes seem more than we can bear, but it is of utmost urgency that we remember; during our struggles that God cherishes our faithfulness.

If you had been Job, what would you have done? You lose all of your precious children; you lose your wealth; you are struck down with severe illness; and you have a spouse who is telling you to just die and get it over with. What would you do? It would be very easy for us to just sit back and start blaming God, wouldn’t it?

What did Job do? Scripture tells us that he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He held on to his faith – even in the wake of great calamity and despair. When we go through the tough times in our lives, we must also be faithful and keep our trust in God.

In Hebrews 11:6, it says, ‘Without faith, it is impossible to please God.’

It is so easy for us to give up when we don’t see quick results. In Revelation chapter 2, we are even told to be faithful “even to the point of death.”

An old preacher was faithful unto death. He found out he had cancer and was quickly dying from it. I want to read to you what he said in his last sermon.

“Some of you have asked me if I am mad at God for this disease. I have nothing but love in my heart for my Father. He didn’t do this to me. We live in a sinful world where sickness and death are the curse that mankind brought upon himself. “For years, I have taught how my Savior suffered and died. Am I better than Him, that I should ask not to suffer? I am glad to suffer if it means going home to Jesus. Please don’t feel sorry for me, but rejoice with me.” Then, in old and broken voice, he began to recite a poem, ‘Must Jesus bear the cross alone – while all the world goes free? No, there’s a cross for everyone – and there’s a cross for me. How happy the saints above – who once went sorrowing here But now they taste unmingled love – and joy without a tear. That consecrated cross I’ll bear – till death shall set me free, And then go home, my crown to wear – for there is a crown for me.’

Those were his last words from the pulpit that he loved so much. He slipped into a coma shortly after church that morning, and passed over the Jordan a few days later.

This old preacher left an example of what true faith looks like and how it works. The faith, that no matter what the problem, no matter how much the burden, it will pull us through and keep us whole in Christ.

And so let us remember that we will suffer many times between today, and the day we cross the Jordan. During our storms, let us remember that:

• God is walking beside us, even when we can’t see Him
• God’s timing is perfect, even if it seems that He is slow
• During the worst of storms, God cherishes our faithfulness

Some of you might remember a family of tightrope walkers. They were billed as ‘the Flying Wallendas.’ One of their special stunts was to use members of their family to make a four level pyramid - high atop a platform that they would then cross the tightrope with. They performed this stunt for several years.

But one night, about ¾ the way across, one of the young men of the family was on the bottom row of the pyramid and he yelled out, “I cannot hold any longer.” And with that, his knee buckled and the entire family fell the pavement below. Many were crippled for life and one died. All because the pressure was so much on one person that his entire world around him collapsed.

Have you ever felt like you were under such a great pressure that your world could collapse at any moment? Whether it be the pressures of school, a job, family pressures, or anything else, those are the moments when to cry out, “I can’t do this any more! Lord, I can’t do it without you!”

During the stress of our storms, it is of crucial that we remember what Jesus told us in

Mathew 11:28 ‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and, burdened, and I will give you rest.’


In His Grip,
-Jon

It's a God Timing Thing

Sometimes it seems that when we go to God with an emergency prayer for help, His help is agonizingly slow in getting to us.

You know, we forget that God’s timing is perfect and ours is not.

Do you remember the story of how Jesus’ close friend Lazarus got sick and his sisters, Mary and Martha summoned Jesus to heal him? What happened? They asked the Lord for help in a problem. So far, so good.

But then… before Jesus got there, Lazarus died. Mary and Martha thought Jesus had waited too long, didn’t they? But Jesus didn’t wait too long. He came at the perfect time. The perfect time for God’s purpose, not necessary the most convenient time for Mary and Martha. Yet the prayer was answered and Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead.
God is never late. However, God’s timing is different than ours, and so is His focus.

He is focused on what is best for us “eternally” and we are focused on what is best for us “instantly”.

God ultimately knows what is in our best interest, and we only think we know what is best for us.

In Romans 5, we learn that suffering builds our character. In James, we are told to consider it pure joy when we have troubles of many kinds, because it builds perseverance.

Our suffering is uncomfortable, but it is for our own good.

Have you ever taken the time to see how a butterfly comes out of a cocoon? It is a very slow and very tedious operation. It seems to take forever, and all the while, the poor butterfly is struggling to free itself of that covering.

A boy once saw this and after a long while, he felt so sorry for what that butterfly was going through that he helped open the cocoon to free the insect faster. What do you think happened? The butterfly was able to get out in less than half the time it would normally have taken, but when it did, it couldn’t fly. Why? Because it is during the time of struggle that its wings are strengthened enough to carry him off. But when the boy took the struggle away, the wings didn’t get strengthened.

The hard time the butterfly was going through was for its own good, wasn’t it? Without the struggle, the butterfly could not realize its purpose in life.

And without our struggles, we cannot realize our purpose in the kingdom of God. It is true that our struggles sometimes seem more than we can bear, but it is of utmost urgency that we remember; during our struggles that God cherishes our faithfulness.

Up, Up and Away!

Some years ago David Reisman wrote a book, "The Lonely Crowd." As a part of his research, he interviewed some children about comic strips. He asked one twelve-year-old girl, "What comic strip do you like the most?" After a bit she confessed that her favorite was "Superman." He then asked, "Why do you like Superman?" After thinking for a moment she replied, "I suppose I like him because he can do so many things that other people can't do… he has X-ray vision and his hearing can pick up things miles away, and I suppose because he can fly." The interviewer then asked the girl, "Well, would you like to be able to fly like Superman?" The girl thought a moment and replied, "I think I would - if everybody else could too. Otherwise it might be a little conspicuous, don't you think?"

She liked Superman because he was different; but she wasn't sure she wanted to be different, even though it would be a thrill to fly. Being different does have a way of making one conspicuous, doesn't it!

I do believe this is a difficulty many Christians seem to wrestle with. Christians know that they are not to be conformed to this world, but rather to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, yet it is difficult for many to do. It's so conspicuous! Thus the temptation is always there to fall in with the crowd and thereby augment the power of evil through our tacit approval, if not through outright applause. Christians hate to be a "kill joy" or take an unpopular stand. So, to be safe and inconspicuous, Christians go along with sheer silliness, vulgarity, or immorality.

Should Christians dare to be different, and take their Christianity seriously, there is no doubt. It will cause the Christian to stand out in the crowd. Come to think of it, do you suppose this is what Jesus had in mind when he called upon us to be light in the darkness? Or the salt of the earth?

The question which haunts me is, "Am I as conspicuous as Jesus wants me to be?", even if I can’t fly without an airplane.

In His Grip,

-Jon