Lists!

Lists....I will admit that I love a list.  A list keeps me grounded, disciplined and helps to remind me of responsibilities and events on the horizon.  Grocery lists, Christmas card lists, household to-do lists... I always have a list or two in the works.  Whether your lists are on a smartphone, iPad, laptop or just stuck on the front of your refrigerator (old school style), they work to remind us that something needs our attention!  We read, process and prioritize, and then work that task into our lives. 

Paul felt the church in Galatia needed the same type of reminder list.  In his letter to the church , Paul is frustrated and disappointed with the path that the church has taken.  He wants to see them get back on track with the work that he started when he last visited.  Paul states in chapter 5: 7, "You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"  Like us, when faced with uncertainty and too many choices of our own making, they faltered.  The church had become susceptible to agitators and too many outside influences.  In Chapter 5 of his letter, Paul warns them against biting and devouring each other and indulging in obvious sinful nature.   I like the choice of the word "obvious."  In other words, they know it is sinful behavior and not from God.  Paul then gives a list of the sinful natures in verses 19 through 21, which includes about every form of the worst part of our human nature, including fits of rage, discord, hatred, sexual impurities, factions and the list goes on.  Obviously, this was a Not-To-Do list!!!! 

These acts move us away from a relationship with God and keep us from having loving relationships with each other.  By contrast, Paul gives us, and the church, a list of practices and attributes that God would have us use in our daily lives.  In Chapter 5: 22-23, he names the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  These are from the Spirit and will draw us closer in relationship to God and with each other. 

There is no law, Jewish or Gentile, against such practices.  God offers a harvest of plenty when we cultivate and follow the fruit of the Spirit.  Our witness to the world is evident when we follow this to-do list that Paul shares with the church in Galatia. 

This list shows us how to treat each other, show our love for our neighbor and stay in fellowship with God.  Love each other.  Spread Joy with your daily attitude of thanksgiving.  Surround yourself with a presence of Peace.  Have Patience with the things of the world which frustrate you.  Be Kind to everyone.  Show Goodness in your actions.  Hold onto a Faithfulness that God is in control and knows our every need.  Have a nature of Gentleness when caring for each other.  Practice Self Control in your words and actions. 

Keep this reminder list on your heart as we continue to walk together in step with the Spirit. Allow the Spirit to influence your daily life so we represent Jesus well. And don’t get frustrated when you drop the ball. We are a work in progress. We are free in Christ. Blessings on the journey.

Knocking on Open Gates.

The first century church was up against it in Acts 11-12. There was a major famine going on in the Roman Empire and King Herod of Israel had begun a vicious persecution of the church, starting in Jerusalem. So what do we do when difficult times hit?

In Acts 12:5, we find the church gathered and praying fervently for the release of Peter, who has been imprisoned. The other piece is that we lean in to discern the voice of God in our lives. If we put these two things together in tandem, we will find we have opportunity to see God in action and follow his leading. However, when opportunity knocks, opposition is always at the door with it.

So we can learn some things about our spiritual journey by digging into the church’s and Peter’s decisions while he’s in prison in Acts 12. Peter is hours away from a very public trial and if it ends like James’, he will have his head cut off. But what is Peter doing the night before his trial? Acts 12:6 says that he’s sleeping. How in the world do you sleep on what could be the last night of your life?

Remember the story about Jesus, the disciples and a storm? It’s night time and all 13 are in a boat in the middle of Sea of Galilee. A massive storm pops up. The disciples are scared. They are bailing water from inside the boat. They are battening down the sails. They are rowing against the current, wind and rain. And while they are straining against the storm, Jesus is sleeping in the boat. Peter had seen what Jesus does when there’s a storm in your life. So Peter sleeps while Herod knocks on the door of his life.

We also see that obedience always comes before freedom. Freedom from knowing the outcome before you take the next step. Peter is asked by an angel while he’s in prison to get up and then the chains fall off. Most of us would still be sitting there because we want details before we even moved. But Peter, gets up and the chains fall off. He puts his clothes on. You see, that’s faith. Putting your clothes on before you know where you are going.

And then Peter and the angel get to the iron gate of the prison. God opens the gate miraculously and Peter and the angel walk through the gate. You know, God will do for you what you can’t do for yourself. But he won’t do for you what you should do for yourself. Notice the angel didn’t say “get on my back”, I’ll carry you. No. They both walked through the gate. Sometimes, you just have to walk through it…the storm in your life.

So what do we discover in Acts 12 about our spiritual journey. One: there is real power in prayer. The church collectively gathered to pray Peter out of prison. Two: there is freedom in obedience. When we obey God’s calling, even when we can’t see the next step, we find freedom from the prison we are in. And finally: you have the peace the passes all understanding from deep faith in our incredible God.

Power, freedom, and peace are all available but only if you say “yes” to Jesus. Make him Lord of your life. It’s time to get up and leave the prison that’s been your home. Walk through the gate and find everything you’ve been looking for. Blessings on your journey.

Do You Like Me?

We often wonder if our friends really like us…if our coworkers admire us…if our boss respects us. So many of us are addicted to the disease to please. It’s a human condition to desire others to like us but how far will we go to make that happen?

There are three flags that might indicate you desire people to like you over and above the normal. If you obsess about what other people think about our clothes, your job, what you drive, your social media posts, you might find yourself in that position. If you are overly sensitive to criticism you might just care too much what others think. If you have a hard time telling anyone “no”, you probably will go to great lengths for others to swoon when you walk in the room.

King Solomon said in Proverbs 29:25, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” That word “trap” in the original language could be translated as a noose to catch wild game or a nose ring for a cow. Hoping for people’s approval can led you to an invisible prison. See, becoming obsessed about what other people think about you is the fastest way for you to forget what God thinks about you.

The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 1:10, “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Paul had given up on what people thought of him. He had lost so many friends and family because of his conversion to Jesus. He had placed himself under and in submission to Christ which meant his call was to live for him, not other people.

See, pleasing people is a form of idolatry. You may be saying you don’t have any real idols in your home you bow down to but anything you put in front of God becomes an idol See God wants to be your everything and if you are consumed with what other people think about you, there is no room for God.

But the good news is that the approval of God sets us free from the disease to please! Think about how freeing it would be if you just didn’t worry about what other people thought. You only recognize who God has said you were and that would be enough. Your worth is not based on what your family thinks of you or your coworkers or even your spouse. God has already said how worthy you are when he sent Jesus to earth.

You are not what others think or say about you. In Jesus, you are God’s workmanship. You are an adopted chid of God. You are a prisoner set free from your past. You are an overcomer. So, don’t think about how the world views you. Enjoy the freedom you have in Christ. Blessings on the journey!