The Shocking Truth about Being a Disciple of Jesus

In the last post we found close analogies between a well-functioning family and the Church as God intends it to be, or more broadly, the Kingdom of God.  In particular, we saw the opportunity and responsibility Christian parents have to raise their children as disciples of Jesus.  This reflects and simultaneously models the command that Jesus gave the Church to go make disciples of all nations.  But what does it really mean to become a disciple?

Family: A Church Model

The more I look at marriage and family life (as it should be), the more convinced I become that it is meant to be a miniature model of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven.  Of course, many family relationships are not like that and, because of their extreme brokenness, are more of a reflection of the kingdom of darkness.  But in a marriage where both partners are committed to and faithful to each other, we can find much enlightenment on what life in the Kingdom is intended to be like, and visa versa.  What I’ve culled together below are some examples that I hope will illustrate the point.

The Marriage Gospel

In the past I’ve mentioned my conviction that much of what we see and experience here in this transient life and temporal world is patterned after eternal realities in Heaven.  (See my post, “Patterns.”)  Not the least of these is the fact that God made man in His own image.  Jesus continually used familiar objects and situations as illustrations to teach spiritual truth. 

But the pattern I’ve been impressed by lately is the relationship between Christ and the Church as it is reflected in the relationship between husband and wife.   The Scriptures speak of the Church as the bride of Christ.  Nowhere is the comparison with marriage more vivid than in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Chapter 5, verses 22-33).  But how are we to understand the nature and meaning of the heavenly pattern if our view of the familiar copy, the husband and wife relationship, has been badly corrupted by the world in which we live?  Where do we begin?

Thanks Giving

No, that’s not a misspelling!  Yes, this is being written on the eve of Thanksgiving week, but that is not what the title means… exactly.  You see, when our hearts are truly grateful for what we have, little or much, we will be better givers.  Thus, “thanks giving” means giving because of and as an expression of a grateful heart.

Poor In Spirit

Ever wonder exactly who Jesus meant when He said the “poor in spirit” are blessed.  We would be wise to learn because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matthew 5:3)  In this first of what we often call the Beatitudes, I had always thought that Jesus was talking about having a humble heart that accepts our spiritual poverty and inability to do anything without Him.  That is, until a few days ago… While I still think there is an element of truth to my original understanding, now I’m learning that Jesus had a more specific and poignant truth to teach us.

Trouble: God's Cure for Complacency

Are you comfortable?  Is life rolling along for you from day to day with no major upheaval?  You’re blessed with financial stability, generally good health in your family, decent relationships with family members, and you enjoy some close friendships.  Sure, there are daily irritations, unpleasant events or people at work and periodic colds or viruses in the family to deal with, but overall life is good.  If this in any way describes you, be thankful.  But if you are a follower of Jesus, I also have a word of warning for you…

Stones of Remembrance

As we concluded in the last post, reflecting on the past can be for either good or destructive purposes.  When it’s to recount the goodness of God in our lives, remembering to be grateful and give Him the praise for what He has done, it can bring great comfort and strength in times of trouble.

Looking Back: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Most of us would agree, it’s good to look back and recount the blessings in our lives.  Reflecting on God’s faithfulness to us over the past can strengthen our faith and renew our gratitude toward Him.  Then, there were those times where we were not even aware of His presence, sustaining grace or protection over our lives as the famous poem, “Footsteps,” so graphically portrays.

X-Out the External

If you read my last blog post, you know that I urged you to look for the blessings when trials and afflictions come your way.  But my caveat was that “God is reserving some things to reveal to us in heaven.”  That was probably my understatement of the year, as you will see. 
In addition, following that writing I had the opportunity, thanks to a friend’s recommendation, to listen to a recently recorded conference address given by John Piper on suffering, with a clear teaching on how not to lose heart as we endure afflictions and times of trouble.  With your permission I want to draw on some of the key insights I gleaned from his message that I believe you will find uplifting.

When Blessings Hurt

It was just over two years ago that I first heard the diagnosis. 

Those dreaded words, “It’s cancer,” come with such gut-wrenching, life-changing force – like a dark curtain suddenly drawn that shuts out a sunny spring day vista.  Whatever the eventual outcome, you know that life will be different from then on and wonder just how much of a future you have.  Yet, through all that has happened to me since that day, I have found God’s grace and compassion to have been more than abundant.

What Does the Bible Foretell about Syria?

Does the Bible have something to say about Damascus, the capital of Syria?  As our attention has been focused on the Syrian crisis over the past several weeks an interesting discussion has arisen about some passages in the Bible that seem to prophesy that Damascus will eventually suffer total destruction (Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49). 

Never Give Up

Those words were immortalized by Winston Churchill through his bulldogged, determined resistance to the relentless forces of Adolph Hitler during World War II.  Yet, long before Churchill, the Scriptures have admonished us to persevere in our faith, another word for “never give up”.

Do you see what has happened since we began praying for the Syrian crisis?  God has answered.  He has averted, at least for now, what could have been the beginning of a major Middle East war and prevented the killing of even more people in Syria through what we euphemistically call “collateral damage” from an America attack.  

Keep Praying

This week I’m privileged to be spending most of the time with family and have kept this post brief but not because I think the message is any less important…

While we’re remembering to pray earnestly for wisdom for our nation’s leaders regarding the present crisis over Syria, there remains another deep concern for that area.  And that is for the people who have been and will continue to be affected.  Not only the tragic loss of life of more than 100,000 in civil war, but also the displacement of more than 5 million people.  Among these are many believers who especially need our prayers that the love of Christ will shine through them even as they endure untold misery, duress and bereavement.

A Time For Fervent Prayer

We might be on the brink of another war.  The Middle East is such a complex situation that no one seems to have a clear understanding of all that is going on or what to do.  If you listen to any news at all, you hear a wide range of assessments of the crisis in Syria and confusion about which option is the best.  There are many players with many interests.  Like in a stack of dry straw, one small spark could set the whole area ablaze.

Last Adam, Second Man

As we have been looking at the theme of doing life with God, we have talked about:  how accountability among believers can foster personal growth and intimacy with the Lord, the importance of realizing that God is not calling us to work for Him but to work with Him in what He is already doing, and the need to examine our lives daily to avoid the pitfalls of Christian atheism (believing in Christ, but acting as though we don’t).

But, I think we need to look at doing life with God from another, higher vantage point.  Remember during creation that God said, “Let us create man in our own image?”  Not once, but three times in Genesis 1:26 and 27, we are told that God created man in His image.   But something dreadfully tragic happened.  Man in his desire for more was tempted to covet against God, leading him to disobey, distrust and rebel against Him by eating the forbidden fruit.  As a result, he forfeited his life and his godly image.  Along with Adam and Eve all nature came under a curse and fell into corruption, as well.  We call this the Fall. 

What Is A Christian Atheist?

An oxymoron?  Two contradictory words that describe the same thing?  Not according to Craig Groeschel, author of the book, The Christian Atheist.  By his definition, a Christian atheist in someone who, although he or she claims to believe in Christ, lives as though God did not exist.  Or, to put it another way, the lives of Christian atheists look no different from those of others who claim no belief or affiliation with God at all.

Doing Life With God -- Part 2

As a child I remember thinking that pleasing God seemed to be connected somehow to numbers in the church where I grew up.  A sign that displayed the Sunday School and church service attendance and the amount of offering received each Sunday was prominently posted as if to say this is how well we’re serving God. 

Later, in my early adult years as a follower of Jesus I recall hearing a frequent theme from sermons and articles I read that carried the message: Get busy for God.  These always had the effect of making me feel guilty because I probably was not doing enough for the Lord and needed to get motivated if I really wanted my life to count for eternity and be obedient to Him

Doing Life...With God?

In our church we have many small groups that gather in homes to study the Bible and pray.  Over time, in flourishing groups there is a lot of sharing of personal issues, caring support among group members and resultant personal growth.  As many of you who read this know, we also do fun events together and go into the community to serve children or youth, or the homeless and other needy people.  We call all this “doing life together,” hence, the name:  Life Groups.

The life group model may be much closer to what church was actually like in the first century than the traditional, well-organized format in today’s typical church setting.  Yet, in spite of its seeming value and greater potential to foster authentic relationships and a deeper spiritual walk, I am aware that even life groups can fall short, degenerating into little more than social clubs or therapy groups.

A Two-Dog Parable

Did you hear the story of the man who owned two dogs that always seemed to be fighting?  Invariably, the older one, Jack, would put down Mack, the younger one.  It all started one day a year or so ago when the owner brought home Mack, a new puppy.  Now, he also really loved Jack, had always spent lots of time with him over the years and enjoyed his faithful companionship.

What's Your Discontentment Index?

What was Adam’s sin?  Was it simply eating a tempting piece of forbidden fruit, or something deeper? Whatever you may think about the different roles Adam and Eve may have had in the process of yielding to the temptation, one thing is abundantly clear: they were both held equally accountable and came under the same curse of sin and death that has been inherited by all of us.  

What Good Is Suffering?

This past week I had the rare opportunity to sit down over lunch with a pastor friend and talk about the Lord and what He is doing in our lives.  What a great time of encouragement and blessing that was. 

One topic that was bound to come up was my progress health-wise, but more deeply, the progress of my relationship with the Lord through my illness and resulting disability.  He was especially interested in knowing anything that I might suggest from my experience that could be of value in ministering as a pastor to others who are suffering.  In my slow, introspective manner, and not wanting to give a swallow answer, I asked for some time to think about it.  This is what I ultimately decided would be my response.

Telling The Story

As I lay hours on end in my hospital bed unable to speak because of my breathing tube and too weak and exhausted to write or read much, I had a lot of time to think about what I call my “parallel journey.”

If you’ve read much of the early days of my blog, you know that my “journey” was an experience that arose from my being physically near death over a period of several days.  Though in a medically induced coma, I was none the less vividly aware of a different state of being and given insight into the reality of the spiritual realm of darkness that exists around us.

A Form of Godliness

In the previous article I introduced the idea that the practice of organized religion has in a broad variety of ways taken the place of authentic Christian living before a watching world.  The result has been a steady decline in church attendance and loss of influence by the church on the moral direction of our society over the past several generations.

Organized Religion Falls Short

What comes to mind when you hear the term “organized religion?”  No doubt it brings up different images to different people, but in general it probably elicits thoughts of moral codes, the practice of traditions, following of rules and restrictions, stiff and formal settings, “a bunch of hypocrites,” or perhaps even unpleasant memories or feelings of rejection. 

Guard Your Heart

No, I don’t mean the vital blood pump that certainly needs our attention and should be carefully guarded with proper diet and exercise if we want to live well.  What I’m talking about is that inward part of our being that we mean when we say, “I love you with all my heart.”  That “heart” encompasses not only our deepest emotions, but also includes our conscious thoughts, active choices and attitudes.  It’s what makes us the unique person that each of us is.  In reality it is the condition of that heart that determines whether we live well or not.

Meekness: The Misunderstood Virtue

The word often conjures up images of a weak, bashful person, hat in hand, fearful of asking for a small favor, even cowering before a domineering spouse.  A wimp.  That was what I visualized as meekness when I was growing up.  Maybe you did too.

Strength

In my journey of recovery, I have often asked for and given thanks for greater health and strength.  My biggest struggle continues to be running out of strength and breath to move around to do ordinary tasks of daily living.  Nevertheless, I still see progress when measured over months.  Recently, for example, I was able for the first time to take a shower, dry off and dry my hair without having to sit down for a rest midway through the process!

A Faith Riddle

Which is easier to do:  trust in Jesus for salvation, or trust in Jesus for tomorrow’s crisis? 

There are many reasons why we might say it’s easier to trust in Jesus for our salvation.  For one, many of us think about salvation as a one-time deal, getting a ticket into heaven, which we hope is still way out in the future and about which we have only vague notions and occasional thoughts.  In the day to day flow of life it can easily become obscured. 

Ignorance Is No Excuse

In our legal system we often hear the phrase, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”  While we may get by with a warning or reduced penalty on a first offense, we are not, therefore any less guilty of breaking a law simply because we did not know about it.  Probably in most cases, we had at least some responsibility for learning what the law required or prohibited before we actually broke it. 

Who's Responsible?

Everyday…we want to know who to blame. 

Whatever it might be, whether it’s a crime, act of terror, political scandal, financial rip-off, medical malpractice, or scam, we want answers.  Who was responsible for this, what’s being done to bring those guilty to justice and how can it be prevented in the future?  Along with these a host of other related questions arise, such as: What other factors contributed to this happening? Are there others involved? What systems failed that should have prevented it?  

Coming Judgment?

Recently, Sherril and I had the stimulating experience of being with a small group of young people from our church.  (For us, young means being in your thirties!)  They were discussing how they had seen a decline in morality in our culture, citing such things as sex and violence on TV and in the movies, foul language and dishonesty.  

Drawing Near...

In the Bible is an interesting statement:  “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  (James 4:8a)  Interesting, because so much of the Bible clearly indicates that it is God who has taken the initiative to draw us to Himself.  Didn’t Jesus say, “If I be lifted up,” speaking of His death on the cross, “I will draw all men to me?”  And aren’t the Scriptures full of stories and examples of God’s pursuing love that reached out to the people of Israel in spite of their rejection and stubbornness of heart to obey Him? 

Eternal Springtime

Springtime!  What a glorious season of the year!  If I had a favorite season, this would be it.  The sudden appearance of flowering trees in brilliant profusion against a backdrop of still-grey wooded areas is an incredibly amazing and beautiful contrast.  Life, springing forth from seemingly dead branches, appears everywhere.  Within just a couple of weeks even the backdrop turns into a waving sea of green, and more flowering trees and shrubs of every color and description populate the landscape.

Micro-Choices

Sometimes, choosing a blog topic for the week takes an extra bit of reading the Scriptures, meditating on an idea or just plain stretching the grey matter to arrive at a decision.  But occasionally there are seeming pointers throughout the week that keep reminding me of a certain theme.  You may think “coincidence,” but I’ve learned over time that God has a way of bringing my attention to a subject by dropping it on me from various seemingly unrelated sources.  When that happens I know it deserves my special attention, so here’s the latest one…

Time Well Spent

The last time the four of us were together, I was in critical care and had no clue of the rollercoaster emotional ride that my three sons, as well as my beloved wife, had been going through.  

A Short Report

God has graciously given our entire family the opportunity to be together for the first time in over six and a half years.  In light of this special occasion I will be taking a short break until April 1 from the weekly blog postings to focus on our family.  Thank you for your continued faithfulness in reading my postings and encouraging me with your feedback when God has used one to help you.  Blessings in Him to you and yours.  -- Hu 

Plans, Priorities and Poverty

When Jesus said, “the poor you always have with you,” was He diminishing the importance of His followers' doing good in reaching out to those in need?  Was He implying that it should not be a priority in our lives since poverty will never go away?

How Are You Treating God?

If you call yourself a Christian you might answer that question by saying, “Well, I try to live right and honor Him in the things I do,” or, “I spend time in prayer and Bible reading every day,” or simply, “with obedience in serving others and telling others the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”   These are all worthy answers, but they are answers to the question of what are you doing in response to Him, rather than how you are treating Him.

How To Love Your Wife

With Easter only a month away I have been thinking about the close comparison that the Apostle Paul makes between the husband-wife relationship and the Christ-Church relationship.  In his epistle to the Ephesians (5:22ff) he exhorts husbands to love their wives in the same way that Jesus demonstrated his love for the Church in giving Himself up for her.  While most men probably would heroically give up their own lives to save their wives', this does not seem to be the main point of Paul’s teaching. 

Help My Unbelief

In my last post, A Crumb Is Enough, I ended with a verse from the context of another story, a praying father who had suddenly realized just how weak his faith was.  Unlike the woman who believed that just a crumb of Jesus’ power was enough to cast out the demon from her daughter, this man had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples begging them to cure him of a similar affliction only to hit a stone wall.  They could not help him. 

A Crumb Is Enough

Do you have a family dog?  If you haven’t trained him to do otherwise, where will he be when you sit down at the table for a meal?  Exactly!  Right next to or under the table.  And if there are children, what will they be tempted to do?  Obviously, things can get quickly out of hand when they start slipping food to him.  Even in our household with no children but with my 99-year-old mother-in-law who occasionally likes to feed her “pal” Mo morsels from her plate we sometimes have a challenge.  Most of the time, Mo knows to stay away from the table at mealtimes, but the instant he thinks we’re finished he rushes over and begins to search for possible crumbs that may have fallen to the floor.

Admin Update

Last Sunday night when I posted “It’s More Than I Can Handle,” I did not receive an email notification.  I am wondering if you did.  If you receive this posting as an email notification would you do me the favor of forwarding it to me at harrill@earthlink.net.  Thanks so much for your help.  – Hu

It’s More Than I Can Handle

Recently, I was asked to take on a new responsibility that I was not expecting.  Since my illness, life in general has been much slower than before.  Working around frequent naps, scheduled therapy and just plain fatigue, I find my productive hours are often limited to around four or five a day. 

Inwardly, my immediate reaction was just to say no.  How can I take on more when I feel that I’m barely keeping up with essential things, as it is?  But then I thought, “What if this is something the Lord wants me to do?”  So I took the quick, non-committal route and said, “Let me pray about it.” 

Why Pray?

Why pray?  Great question!  Someone once asked me, “If God is sovereign and already knows everything, what is the purpose of prayer?  Do we think our praying will change God’s mind?”  I’m sure that question was not original, but it provoked me to some serious thought.

Want To Be On Top?

“I’d rather do it myself!”  You may remember that old commercial of the young wife who was reacting to the help she was being offered by her mother in the kitchen.  Do you know the feeling?

In many areas of our lives we think we know best, and at other times we may realize that we could use some help but don’t want to look weak or ignorant.  We all enjoy appearing successful, receiving the accolades, having it all together…being on top of life.

Sympathy without Compassion

“Let your feelings be your guide!”  “If it feels right, do it!”  Dangerous counsel or words of wisdom?  For many of us who have been raised in a church environment the answer is obvious.  From our youth up, we have been repeatedly admonished:  Do the right thing and the good feelings will follow.  This may be sound guidance in most situations, but is it necessarily always good advice?