Love

Seeking the LOST!
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Seeking the LOST!

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Luke 19:10 (NIV)

I’ve been preaching a sermon series through the book of Luke with a focus of looking at the life and teachings of Christ to see how we ought to live as Christians.  Tonight we reached chapter 15 which contains the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost (prodigal) son.  As I looked at this chapter, I was reminded of the importance that seeking and saving the lost is to Jesus.  

I’m guessing that most, if not all, of those reading this would agree about the importance of the lost to Jesus.  The bigger question for those of us wearing the name Christian is if the lost are that important to us.  I’m afraid far too often we are more concerned with seeking people just like us than we are about seeking the lost — if we even think about seeking anyone!  

So, what do the lost look like that Jesus would be seeking . . . and because of that, we ought to be seeking as well?  I share the following outline as a starting point in our work of seeking the LOST!

  • Seek the Lonely

  • Seek the Objectified

  • Seek the Sinner

  • Seek the Tired

I am confident that no one would have to look very far to find a person that is in each of those categories . . . we may just need to look in the mirror!  As we realize that these describe people who Jesus came to seek, we must make it a priority of our life to seek them as well.  To live like Christ means we must also seek like Christ.  To seek like Christ means that we must seek the LOST that are all around us with the message of hope through the good news of Jesus.

In prayer,
Tom

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Stop!! . . . Or Not.

What do you do when you see a stop sign?  Do you come to a complete stop, roll through, or simply disregard it?  Why?  How about other rules or laws?  How do you decide what to obey and what not to?  What is your “acceptable level of disobedience”?

I’ve been doing a lot of walking on the area sidewalks along the river and one section of the walk is through a fairly residential section of town.  There is a stop sign at each intersection along the river road to try to keep traffic slowed down rather than having people use it as an express thoroughfare.  On a recent walk I observed about thirty vehicles come down the street and encounter the series of four stop signs.  Out of this number only one vehicle actually stopped at each sign!  Most treated the signs as simply a suggestion — or perhaps as a yield sign.  They slowed down and appeared to look for approaching traffic (or police cars) and then simply drove through without stopping.  A couple of them didn’t even slow down and I have no idea if they even looked for the potential of crossing traffic.

As I watched, my mind kept going to the one guy that did stop and I wondered what was different about him.  Why did he stop?  What was his motivation to obey the law?  Why do people decide to do what is right even when no one is looking and it would seem to make no difference?  Is it because of the law, or something more?

How about God’s laws?  Do we follow them?  Do we ignore them? Or do we do some version of pick and choose — keeping the ones we like and ignoring the ones we don’t?

I think the answer to the “why” of the driver at the stop sign and our own obedience to God’s commands may be unnervingly similar!  Many times we live life in the “slow down and look” mode.  If we think no one is watching then we simply go ahead and do what we want.  If someone is watching then we do the right thing for the sake of appearance or to stay out of trouble.  Our obedience to the law is based out of fear.  Occasionally we become so calloused that we don’t even care who is watching or what they think — we simply go on with what we want no matter what.

I believe the correct response in both scenarios is an obedience based on love and respect for the law-giver!  When our obedience is built on this foundation then it is never up for question.  We do what is right when people are watching and when they are not.  I believe this is how Jesus could keep the law to perfection as he lived on earth as a man — he had perfect love and respect for His Father who established all law through Him.  When I realize that God’s commands are for my good and to my benefit then I am eager to keep them even when I don’t understand why.

So what do you do when God’s Word says, “Stop!”?  When His Word says, “Go!”?  Do you slow down to see who is watching?  Do you just fly on through life and ignore it?  Or do you obey willingly out of love and respect for the One who issued the command?

I pray that you and I would be doers of God’s Word because of our love and respect for Him through our relationship with Jesus.

In prayer,
Tom

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Encouragement

Do not be afraid
      but take courage now.
It’s a message from God
      yet we wonder how.
Sometimes life is full
      of things that cause fear.
We’re so overwhelmed
      that God we don’t hear.
We should not be alone
      when we are afraid.
We have His Spirit
      and the friends we have made.

Sometimes we forget
      the friends God will give.
He puts them around us
      to help as we live.
A cord of three strands
      is not easily broken.
It’s not only true,
      it’s what God has spoken.
Everyone needs help
      when we get knocked down.
To pick us up gently
      and straighten our frown.

It is a good thing
      when we have each other.
To carry the load
      as sister and brother.
When one who is weak
      is helped by the strong.
It gives us great hope
      that we all do belong.
Sometimes we’re strong
      and sometimes we’re not.
It shouldn’t matter
      if a good friend we’ve got.

To carry a burden
      as if it’s our own.
Is a godly result
      of the seed that was sown.
My life’s not an island,
      I don’t live it alone.
When friends do surround me,
      each other we hone.
As we sharpen each other
      at work and at play.
We look more like Jesus
      each and every day.

So what’s growing in you
      as you look around?
Will you pick up a brother
      when he’s on the ground?
To help those who help you,
      is only a start.
To love the forgotten,
      you must open your heart.
And as your heart opens
      to let others in.
God’s courage will fill you
      and a victory you’ll win.

Before fear takes over
      and courage does end.
Take a good look around
      at who you call friend.
This may be a time
      when they really need you.
It’s also a time
      when you need them too.
So when fear arrives
      take a good look above.
And thank God for friends
      who show you His love.
©

I attended a ministers’ prayer time and fellowship this morning that I am privileged to be a part of every two weeks.  As I was thinking about the encouragement I receive from these guys, as well as the Deer Run congregation, I was praying that God would use me to encourage them as much as they encourage me.  As I was praying, God put this poem in my mind to share.  I pray that it encourages you and brings glory to God.

In prayer,
Tom

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The Story

There is a true story
      that I have been told.
I do love to hear it,
      it never gets old.
It’s the story of Jesus
      and of His great love.
How He came to earth,
      descending from above.
He had a purpose
      and followed a plan.
His love came to save us
      as He became man.

Love was not created,
      it always has been.
From the very beginning,
      God knew we could sin.
But even with this fact,
      He gave us His breath.
Then gave man instructions
      so he could avoid death.
Satan did tempt Eve
      to eat from the tree.
She called out to Adam,
     “Come, eat with me.”

When they had eaten,
      the fruit on that day.
Their eyes became opened,
      they did disobey.
God came and asked them,
     “Just what have you done?”
I can almost hear them,
     “We were just having fun.”
But fun times were over,
      at least like they’d had.
It did not take long
      for life to be sad.

Life was not easy,
      because of their sin.
God said He would solve it,
      they didn’t know when.
Many years later,
      at just the right time.
God sent us a Savior,
      the story’s sublime!
Born in a stable,
      was God’s only Son.
The wise men acknowledged
      that He was the One.

He lived His life perfect
      and sinless and pure.
He always kept focused
      on what He must endure.
To sacrifice His life,
      to be hung on a tree.
His death had a purpose
      for you and for me.
But death could not keep Him
      bound up in the grave.
He rose up victorious,
      from death He can save.

From the beginning,
      when God called us “man”.
To show us His love
      was always His plan.
He died to save us
      and set us apart.
He wants us to seek Him
      with all of our heart.
We have the power
      to overcome death.
When our life is filled with
      His Holy Spirit’s breath!

This is the story
      that I like to hear.
It always reminds me
      that I need not fear.
His love from beginning
      will last to the end.
His love draws me to Him
      and calls me His friend.
A friend to this sinner
      is what He has been.
So I long for heaven,
      I don’t know just when.
©

I was in the middle of sweeping floors, cleaning, and singing to God when this poem filled my mind.  One of my favorite hymns is “I Love To Tell the Story” but I’m not even sure if that is what I was singing when this poem showed up.  I had to stop and type it out so I can go back to cleaning and singing.   I pray that this ministers in the way God desires for it to and that it brings glory to His name.

In prayer,
Tom

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All Or Nothing!

This week’s study in the Deer Run “View From The Top: What Does God Say?” series is, “God Says I Am A Lover of God”.

Our texts that we are using for daily reflection and discussion have been great, but here it is Friday and I’ve not yet written about any of them.  If I could blame my schedule, or simply the fact that I am having a hard time re-establishing the habit of writing, it would be easier.  It goes deeper than that.  I’ve sat down at the computer each day as I’ve gone through the daily scriptures and questions, thinking I would write about the truths God revealed to me that day.  Yet, there I sat and nothing was written.

Each day, that question would rise in my mind, “Why haven’t you written?”  I couldn’t answer it.  I’m still not sure.  It may be my inner desire to not write some glib words about loving God simply because that is the study topic this week.  It may be saving me from sounding hypocritical — it’s easy to write about loving God, but am I doing it?  It may be out of an inner wrestling of decision –does God really have all, or does He have nothing?

In the midst of it all, the words of Jesus to Peter, “Do you love me?”, kept standing out in my mind throughout the week.  My answer sounds so Peter-like, “Of course I do!”  And God’s response sounds so Jesus-like, “Then do something about it!” 

Do something!  Do what?

“Feed My lambs.  Take care of my sheep.”

But, I love You!  I don’t particularly like your lambs.  Your sheep — well, they actually scare me.

“So what?  You can’t do the greatest command, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and not do the second — love your neighbor as yourself.”

And then it hit me.  It’s the all or nothing dilemma.  All is so inclusive and exclusive that it leaves nothing out.  I can’t love God with ALL my heart and still have something else taking part of it.  All doesn’t leave room for other things.  All requires absolutely everything — nothing is left out, excluded, or hidden.

So, what about the sheep?  If I love God with the “all” kind of love, there is nothing left for the sheep?  No.  What is left for the sheep is God’s love in and through us.  That is the second greatest command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  It is given in conjunction with the greatest command to Love God with ALL.  When God doesn’t simply have first place, He has the only place in my heart, mind, soul, and strength, then the love required to care for His sheep cannot be mine — mine is all given to God.  It must be His!  It is His love that rejoices, cares, cries, ministers, and serves the people around  me.  It is not even the overflow of my love for Him.  That still all belongs to Him.  It is the overflowing grace and mercy of His love for me that is to be poured into the lives of others.

It is all or nothing.  If I don’t love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, I will not experience the fullness of God’s love to express to my neighbor.  If God doesn’t have the “all” of my love, the sheep get left out because I’m tired, selfish, greedy, uncaring, poor, or busy.  True love — God’s love — can only flow accurately from me and be expressed to others if He is all I love.  If I don’t love God with “all”, then the people around me end up with nothing because personally I’m bankrupt in the love department.

I pray that God has my all and your all.  May we hold nothing back so that His love and His Spirit can completely fill all the rooms, corners, and hidden areas of our life.  I am a lover of God.  God, help me to be a faithful lover of you.