"You're Interested in Religion, I'm Interested in People"

Scripture:

Zechariah 7:1 On the fourth day of the ninth month, in the fourth year of the reign of King Darius, God's Message again came to Zechariah. 2-3The town of Bethel had sent a delegation headed by Sarezer and Regem-Melech to pray for God's blessing and to confer with the priests of the Temple of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, and also with the prophets. They posed this question: "Should we plan for a day of mourning and abstinence next August, the seventieth anniversary of Jerusalem's fall, as we have been doing all these years?" 4-6God-of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: "When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people.

Observation:

All through out Scripture, God makes religion personal. It's about relationship and here God is reinforcing that theme.

Application:

From the beginning of the Bible, God has desired a relationship with humanity. Yet, through our brokenness, we have worked to destroy that relationship. As a new church plant, I have had people tell me that we were not doing church right. I beleive they mean that we are not religious enough and if that is the case, I say "praise God". At my current church, our contemporary service has been referred to as "Christianity Lite". Is it different? YES! Does it have a different focus...Possibly. Our focus is to facilitate a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I have found that for many of the generations, we have to meet them where they are in life. Kinda like Jesus did. Jesus met people by the sea where they worked and offered to make them fishers of men. He hung out by the wells where people would come to gather their water and he offered them living water.
I heard a story of a church who started a Bible study at Hooters! Why did they do that...because that's where a great many men were gathering and they thought it would be a great place to share Jesus. I spend a great deal of my office time in Starbucks and other local coffeehouses. Why do I do this...because I have found very few people who don't go to the church where I pastor walking down the halls in the middle of the day. However, it's amazing how many people who don't go to church that I meet at the coffeehouse. I as in a local coffee house the other day when 5 ladies walked in with their Bibles and guess what? They began having a Bible study right there in the middle of the coffee house. I thought to myself what a witness that was! Then I asked myself, why aren't there more Bible studies being done in coffeehouses? They are after all the "wells" of he 21st century. What a way to reach people where they are. Where did we as a Church decide on he motto "if you build it they will come"? Somewhere along the line we have gotten the false notion that people who need Christ need to come to us instead of us going to them. I believe we will have to answer that question one day.

Don't Worry; Be Happy

Scripture:
Luke 12:25-28"Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

29-32"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

Observation:

Jesus has told a parable about a farmer who has such a great year that his barn will not hold all the crop harvested and so in such great excitement, he builds multiple barns. He even goes as far as planning his retirement and living the good life from hear on out. Then God shows up and tells the man he is going to die that night. Then Christ turns his attention to his disciples and begins to talk to them about fussing before the mirror. Did the disciples worry about retirement? Were they preoccupied with storing up for a rainy day and missing out? I do.

Application:

It's part of human nature to be worried about tomorrow. There is something in us that makes us want to be in control and to be in control, we must have some sort of control over the future. Our control comes from our wallet. Do we have enough for retirement. What happens if I get sick? What if my child needs something? What if the car breaks down? I find myself worring about things such as that all the time and Jesus is right...God knows all these things. Certainly God wants us to prepare for our furture lives. However and most of all, God wants us to put our faith in Him. So many times we put too much faith in ourselves and our solutions and God ends up being a footnote.

For me, I have to ask myself really hard questions that go something like this..."Do I trust God enough to take care of me and do my action so it?" "Why do I spend so much time in worry about things that are really out of my control? Shouldn't I find relaxation in that our God is so big and powerful and has all the hairs on my head counted (no matter how many or few).

So the big question becomes, what am I going to do about it? I am going to give a big worry over to God. I'm going to do everything in my control to prepare, but then I'm giving it to God. No more worry. The worry is stealing my happiness.

Prayer:

O God, you are so great and I am so small. I do find great comfort in knowing that you are all powerful and there is nothing on this earth that you can't handle. So Lord, this morning I come bearing my baggage. The stuff that has been holding me back, stealing my joy and bringing me worrry and sleepless nights. I give it to you and I trust in you that you have a better grasp on the reality of my life than I do. Thank you. Amen

Popularity Contest

Scripture:
Luke: 6:26"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular."

Observation:
Jesus had been on the mountain praying and as he came down, he was surrounded by his disciples and a crowd began to gather. Those who were looking to be healed, to hear him speak, to touch him. The words above are among the words he spoke to them that day. So man lived for the approval of someone in the higher class than they were in. Often times, their approval could be the difference between feeding a family or even life or death. At the very least, the approval of someone in a class higher than one's own meant some prestige or power. It still does today.

Application:
Even in ministry, it's very easy to fall into this trap. Most of us don't like conflict and want everyone to get along. But even more than that, if everyone can't get along with each other, we just want to be liked by all. Life seems easier when everyone likes you. It's a fact. However, it always comes to an end. You can't have the aproval of everyone all the time. I just did a Strength's Finder and one of my strengths is Belief. The strength assessment said that those with this strength have core values that set their direction. These beliefs have served me well in my life. They have set the course for and helped me not to live flattering and indulging others. I have also found that it is okay not to be popular and there are times when it seems no one likes you. The reality of the Christian faith is that it leads to a hill called Golgatha and a cross. If it was true for Jesus, why would we think it would be any different for us. However, it does not stop on that hill, but continues on Easter Sunday morning with the resurrection. So, live like there is no death and be true to your task of sharing the Gospel.

Prayer:
Lord, our human nature desires for this life to be easy and to be liked by everyone. Yet, that leads to compromise and most often leads to a compromise of how you would have us to live. What ou have called us to do...the path that you lead us down is not an easy one and one that there is no way we could travel without you. So, continue to lead me and guide me. Continue to give me the strength that I need to do our will no matter what the cost. Amen

It's Your Life That Counts

Scripture: Luke 3:7-9

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

Observation:

The people in this scripture were doing what everyone else was doing...getting baptized. Not because of a change in their heart or because the Holy Spirit touched them, but because it was the "in" thing to do. John blasted them by saying do you think a little water is going to help you? It's you life that must change, not you skin.

Application:

The comes a time in our lives that we realize that something is missing...that something is just not quite right. We realize that we are sinners, a broken people who live in a broken world and we can't change it. We don't have what it takes to be whole on our own. When we realize this and ask for the forgiveness of Christ, we receieve a grace that is justifing. We're not worthy on our own but through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are made worthy. At this time, our goal becomes to strive for Christian perfection. To be more like Jesus. To live a life like Jesus. To love others as we love ourselves and to love God with all our heart, mind and soul. That takes life change. It doesn't come over night and each day we work toward that goal. Often times changing ever so slightly but yet still changing

While the grace of Christ is free, unmerieted and undeserved...the grace flowing upon us changes us and allows us to be more like Christ. It does not allow us to sit back and watch tv. This grace allows us to be disciples and to love others in the ways that Christ loved them. It causes us to get out of our comfort zones and do things that we would not have normally done and go places we would not have normally gone. Christianity is not a spectator sport where we watch the game on the field in the comfort of the stands, but where we get into the mud and muck of peoples lives to share with them our story of how God has changed our life.

Prayer:

Most precious God, you have loved me in such grand style. Even before I knew of your love for me, it was poured out abundently upon my head. As I grew and became away of your Son Jesus and what he did for me, I asked for forgiveness and once again, grace was poured out abundently. Now, Lord, I am walking toward Christ. Each day trying to be more like Him. Some days, I stumble and fall way short, but I keep trying. Lord, grant me strenght and a passion to be more like Christ each and every day.

Knowing More Than God

Scripture
Jeremiah 42:1-3 All the army officers, led by Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, accompanied by all the people, small and great, came to Jeremiah the prophet and said, "We have a request. Please listen. Pray to your God for us, what's left of us. You can see for yourself how few we are! Pray that your God will tell us the way we should go and what we should do."
4Jeremiah the prophet said, "I hear your request. And I will pray to your God as you have asked. Whatever God says, I'll pass on to you. I'll tell you everything, holding nothing back."

5-6They said to Jeremiah, "Let God be our witness, a true and faithful witness against us, if we don't do everything that your God directs you to tell us. Whether we like it or not, we'll do it. We'll obey whatever our God tells us. Yes, count on us. We'll do it."

7-8Ten days later God's Message came to Jeremiah. 9-12He then spoke: "This is the Message from God, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your prayer. He says, 'If you are ready to stick it out in this land, I will build you up and not drag you down, I will plant you and not pull you up like a weed. I feel deep compassion on account of the doom I have visited on you. You don't have to fear the king of Babylon. Your fears are for nothing. I'm on your side, ready to save and deliver you from anything he might do. I'll pour mercy on you. What's more, he will show you mercy! He'll let you come back to your very own land.'

13-17"But do not say, 'We're not staying around this place,' refusing to obey the command of your God and saying instead, 'No! We're off to Egypt, where things are peaceful—no wars, no attacking armies, plenty of food. We're going to live there.' If what's left of Judah is headed down that road, then listen to God's Message. This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies says: 'If you have determined to go to Egypt and make that your home, then the very wars you fear will catch up with you in Egypt and the starvation you dread will track you down in Egypt. You'll die there! Every last one of you who is determined to go to Egypt and make it your home will either be killed, starve, or get sick and die. No survivors, not one! No one will escape the doom that I'll bring upon you.'

Observation:

The people found themselves in a situation that was not good and the had asked Jeremiah to pray and get some answers. Just get us some answers and we will do what ever God tells us to do. God heard the prayers of Jeremiah and he asnwered those prayers with some pretty specific advice. "Stick it out in this land, I will build you up." God told them, you don't have anything to worry about. I'm on your side and will save and deliver you. But you can't go back to Egypt. Stay here in the midst of turmoil and I've got your back. Go to Egypt where things are peaceful and you will die there.

Application:

God gave some pretty specific instructions in this prayer. He didn't beat around the bush, cut corners and leave anyone guessing as to what was meant. God wanted these people to stay where they were and depend upon Him. Yet they thought they knew better than God...especially when God's Word was not what they wanted to hear. That is so often the case with humanity. We seek the guidance of God as long as God leads us in the direction we want to go. As long as everything is pleasant, we enjoy following and desire to follow God. Yet, when things go extremely bad (the times we need to depend on God the most) we want to handle them our own way; we want control of the situation. I believe some of this comes from our wanting to be in control, but I think more of it comes from a lack of trust that God will do what is best for us. Of course, we often times have a difference of opinion with God in what is best for ourselves and we often choose to do it our way.

In our relationship with God, we are going to find ourselves in situations where we have to trust in God and it's probably not going to make sense to the rest of the world (it may not make sense to you). I can't help but to think about Noah building this great big boat in the middle of the desert and the ridicule, torment, laughter and doubt that must have crept into his mind. Yet he trusted God, suffered through the laughter and continued building. Time and time again, there are instances in the Bible of people who have been put out there and all they had was their trust in God and God NEVER failed them.

Prayer:

Gracious and loving God. You have so much in store for our lives and so many adventures to take us on. Some will be hard and test our trust in you. Some will not make any sense and we will have an urge to do things our own way...the way that makes sense to us, usually the easist least painful way. But through those tough, hard times, we find ourselves being drawn closer to you. We find our relationship growing closer and stronger. So Lord, I ask that you help me resist the urge to do things my own way and to think that I know more than You. Help my trust to deepen in you. In Christ. Amen