Feel-Good Story?

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…" Luke 2:34


Some people and some things that are said make us all feel good. Let me tell you the first example I thought of: Jackie DeShanon’s 1965 hit “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love.” Most people think accounts of Jesus’ birth belong in that same category. Sweet little baby with angels, shepherds and wise men all around: what’s not to feel good about?

However, the passage we read from Luke reflects something else. The elderly Simeon prophesies that this child-to-become-a-man will cause the falling and the rising of many. There will be something about his message that will lead some to triumph but others to tragedy.


He offers good news to anyone and everyone, but not everyone will rise because not everyone will welcome the message of his kingdom. Some will be sure that they have a better way. They will either find him offensive or irrelevant. They will speak against him or ignore him. Though he came to condemn no one, on the last day the words he has spoken will judge them (John 12:48). If they protest the unfairness of this, they will surely be reminded that they had a choice and they rejected God’s extravagant generosity. While others rise, they will fall.

Jackie DeShannon had a feel-good song that became a big hit. The story of Jesus belongs in a different genre.

The Inconvenient Path to Peace

Luke 1:79 --“to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace."


Luke 2:14 -- "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."


We are not surprised at all to find statements about peace connected with the birth narrative in the Jesus story. “Peace on earth” may be one of the phrases most associated with the nativity story. But here is where we may need one of the most radical changes of our minds.

I’m afraid too many people sing about peace on earth and good will to men without seriously considering what Jesus taught his disciples about the pursuit of peace. Contrary to the Empire that believed the Pax Romana – the peace of Rome – was maintained through a strong standing army ready to violently crush any rebellion, Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and do good to them.

Contrary to his own Jewish countrymen who believed God’s peace on earth would be established by a forceful and violent overthrow of the pagan invaders, Jesus taught his disciples to pray for their enemies and to go the second mile for those very invaders.

Isaiah had prophesied of the coming kingdom where men would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and learn war no more. The Jews believed that would happen, but only after they had destroyed the Gentile unbelievers.

When Jesus came he was saying, “No, we are going to start living the kingdom right here and right now in the middle of the world and all its wars. We are going to be citizens of heaven and conduct ourselves by the standards of the age to come. And in the middle of all the fighting and the killing, we are going to practice peace and return good for evil. And in this way we will show them the real path to peace.”

Is anyone listening? Is anyone willing to change his mind this much?

FOCUS SCRIPTURES


Isaiah 2:3-4

Many peoples will come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

so that we may walk in his paths."

The law will go out from Zion,

the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4He will judge between the nations

and will settle disputes for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,

nor will they train for war anymore.

Matthew 5:43-48

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:27-36

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

God with Us

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:22-23

In our last installment we saw that the child born in Bethlehem was bringing more that season’s greetings or the “most wonderful time of the year.” He was bringing the kingdom of God. That kingdom is about the breaking of the age to come into this present age. It is about the divine intersecting the human realm. It is about Immanuel—God with us.


"God with us." Those three words tell us what life is not. It is not about people whose lives are as meaningful as a rock trying to use all the intellectual or literary or musical talent, they just accidentally have, to try and give it some meaning. It is not about trying to find enough entertainment, diversion or substances to help one forget it has no meaning.


"God with us." Life is about God who gives life its purpose. It is about God who wants to be with us. It is about a God we need to be with. It is about a God who comes to us. Specifically in this story, it is about a God who comes to us, first as a child. It is about a God we would never make up, who comes to us in weakness, even though he still has all power.


Life is about a God who comes to us, but who gives us a choice. In Jesus and in the Holy Spirit, he let’s us know: “God with us.” In our hearts we have to decide to say: “And I am going to be with God.”

Focus Scripture
 
John 1:7-14


He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Inflatable Jesuses and Kingdom Living

Driving near our home you can see an inflatable manger scene right there in a yard with about ten other inflatables including, Frosty the Snowman, Santa in race car and a train loaded with Christmas gifts. It is the time of the year when Jesus shows up in all kinds of places and in many songs.

For the next four weeks I want to look at some Bible texts connected with the birth of Jesus, and hopefully see some things often overlooked this time of year.

Today let’s consider Luke 1:33 where the angel says to Mary, “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." That little child who would be “asleep on the hay” was coming to bring a long-awaited kingdom. He was coming to rule and reign. He was coming not to bring us the Christmas season and give us another yard ornament, but to become absolutely sovereign in our lives.


We know that Herod felt threatened when he learned men from the east had come seeking this child of destiny. Herod’s paranoia is well known to historians, but in this case he was right about something. This child was bringing a kingdom that would stand opposed to the kingdoms of this world.


The king himself would come as a little child, enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and wash the feet of his followers. Those who accepted his rule would live by values opposite of those of this world. They would be so captured by the age to come that they would not live so much as people of this nation or that one, but as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).


Let me challenge you this season to evaluate everything in light of the kingdom life and values that this child brings.

Focus Scriptures

Matthew 4:17

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 5:3 and 10

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:9-10 

9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (emphasis added).

Don't Freeze-Frame

by Sheila Jones from her new book My Bucket of Sand


The other day I was looking at a picture of my husband taken about five years ago in a park. My eyes were drawn to the background where I saw a child wearing blue jeans and a red shirt. He was running—frozen in the posture of pumped arms and legs.


Though he was moving quickly, though he had assumed many different poses within a few seconds’ time, in this photograph he will always be in this position—trapped—captured—no escape—freeze-framed.


Though he will change clothes many times in his life, in this photograph he will always wear blue jeans and a red shirt—trapped—captured—no escape—freeze-framed.


With each other, we can freeze-frame a hurtful action, a senseless statement, a stupid idea. Then forever in our minds, this is who that person is. He or she is characterized by the snapshot of that moment.


And yet there are so many more moments in a person’s life that define them fully. Millions of frames in the moving picture of their grace-filled, imperfect life—times of great sacrifice and love, times of noble deeds and insightful comments, times of deep faith and strong conviction.


I don’t want to be freeze-framed in anyone’s mind. And I don’t want to freeze-frame anyone else. Sometimes we don’t even know we have done it—that we have judged someone on the basis of frozen evidence.


I am so grateful that God does not freeze-frame me when I am being prideful, or when I am being selfish or jealous. Through the grace of Jesus, he lets the picture keep moving and forgives me as I go. I am never trapped or captured in my sin.


Let’s not freeze-frame each other. Let’s start the action and let people move on in our minds—let them continue to grow, mature, change…and be forgiven.

My Wife's Bucket

When you hear the title “My Wife’s Bucket,” you might guess that this is about all the things I have done wrong in our marriage, but you would be wrong. No, Sheila’s new book, My Bucket of Sand, has just been released, and I want to weigh in and say a few things.

Over the years I have heard Sheila share many of these stories, thoughts, and analogies in different contexts and have seen their impact on so many people. I cannot count the times when I was leading a group using my carefully prepared thoughts, when Sheila would think of an analogy or an image to share with the people to illustrate the point. Then in the discussion that would follow, what I would hear more than anything would be, “Like Sheila said.” Sometimes it’s a little hard on the ego, but that is what we want—to die to our pride. Right? God has given her a gift of taking the everyday things that happen to us and using them to illustrate vital spiritual truths.


If you read My Bucket of Sand, I have a feeling you will go away thinking this is more a bag of jewels. You will find images she gives sticking with you long after you have forgotten a carefully organized sermon. Now, don’t misunderstand me; there is a place for those. Sheila knows Scripture and understands the importance of careful teaching, and does that herself, but this book showcases her ability to bring a vital truth to down to earth and catch it in a memorable image or analogy.


Next week, I want her to sit at this microphone and share with you her short chapter on “Freeze-Frame.” You may never take another picture without thinking about it. So come back after our Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S. and hear one of her special thoughts.

Marriage Calling Heaven

This week our topic has to be marriage. Sheila and I are returning from a weekend, as I write this, where about 75 couples focused on putting more of Jesus into their relationships with each other.


This retreat was not normal fare, but a bit on the unusual side, fitting with the theme, “Lovin’ on the Edge.” At this retreat there were no expert speakers. No one who spoke was even in a paid ministry position.


Those attending heard from seven couples who work regular jobs including that of stay-at-home moms. Five of the couples have known their marriages at one time outside of Christ before they were disciples. All of them shared how much they needed help and answers before they decided to follow Jesus.


But let me tell you one thing they did not say and one more thing that they did say.

They did not say that after they became Christians it was like they had died and gone to heaven. No, they were all gut-level honest in acknowledging that after their new birth they still had marital challenges. They had times of anger, conflict, defeat, despair and more.

But here is the other thing they all said: They are so thankful to be Christians. But why, if they still have problems? In spite of the challenges they are so thankful to be following Jesus because (1) there is grace sufficient to deal with every failure, (2) there is truth to guide them back on to the path, and (3) there are friends and fellow citizens of God’s kingdom to help them see clearly and sort out their challenges.

In Christ, our marriages don’t always look like they were made in heaven, but there is never is a time when we aren’t getting help from heaven.

Focus Scriptures



Ephes. 5:24-33

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.



Ephes. 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

For the Purpose of Dying

A day or two ago I had some time to go and sit by a small lake and pray. After years of being able to pray at the ocean or the Merrimack River of Thoreau fame, I had just about given up on finding any water in my Tennessee town. Thanks to the generosity of a local children’s home with a private lake, I now have a spot to watch the sunlight shimmer on water again.


Across the lake, behind a line of bare trees, was another row that still was adorned in their fall colors. Their coats will be gone next week, but that day they blessed me. On the way home I drove down some quiet streets where some of their cousins were past their peak but still on the glorious side.


On one of the last days of another fabulous fall, my mind went back more than forty years. When I was dating a college sophomore who would later become my first wife, and my only wife, she wrote a good number of poems. One my favorites was about the brilliant colors of the fall season. It ended with these lines:


Nature is all ablaze
for the sole purpose of dying,
while man timidly retires
and clings tenaciously to life.


As usual, God’s creation teaches some great lessons and Sheila captured it poignantly. The trees are never more spectacular than when they are dying. And we are never more glorious than when we stop clinging tenaciously to our lives, and become the seed that falls into the ground and dies (John 12:24). Some of us are clinging to something. If we will only die, our life, our marriage or our ministry can be ablaze.

Focus Scripture

John 12:23-28

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [25] The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

[27] "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. [28] Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

Advice for the Overwhelmed

Some time ago a person seeking help shared with me feelings he routinely has when under stress. As needs pile up, he usually feels overwhelmed and almost paralyzed by thoughts that there is no way he can handle all that is on his plate. He is a hard-working, industrious person who cares for a lot of people, but inside, in those moments, there is a strong desire to run away and avoid the pressure.


Just in case there are some others of you who have times like this, let me tell you what I suggested.


First, recognize quickly when such feelings start coming on so you can respond appropriately.


Second, right in the middle of all those feelings, stop everything and pray. That was something this person had not been doing, but we should try nothing else until we have laid the facts and the feelings all before God.


Third, make a list of those things that seem so overwhelming. Prioritize them. This helps us look at manageable pieces instead of just feeling this ominous ill-defined cloud over us.


Fourth, talk over a plan with a friend and get his or her perspective. This brings wisdom. Plus not feeling alone makes a big difference.


Finally, break out of the paralysis by beginning to work through your list, praying as you go.


An overwhelming surge of needs can emotionally produce in us a desire to escape. But, by the grace of God, we can choose to see it as an opportunity—an opportunity to turn again to God, an opportunity to be humble and get help from others, an opportunity for our character to mature. That choice is an act of trust that reverses a negative cycle.

Focus Scripture

Psalm 31:10-15

My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.

11Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
I am a dread to my friends--
those who see me on the street flee from me.

12I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side;
they conspire against me
and plot to take my life.

14But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
15My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.

More on "In His Steps"

Two weeks ago we looked at Peter’s famous statement that we are to follow in Jesus’ steps, and I said then that I wanted to come back to it for another look. In our first comments, we noted that in context the call is to respect, obedience, submission, suffering, and non-retaliation—all in our relationships with the authorities in our lives.

Peter is teaching us the Jesus’ principle that some have called “revolutionary subordination.” This may sound like some oxymoron leading you to just become a doormat for tyrannical and abusive people. In reality, it is living the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven and showing the world how God gets things done.

But while Jesus’ message calls us to a radical submission in most cases, it also calls us to disobedience in others. This is never disobedience to authorities for its own sake. It is a disobedience that grows out of our submission to the reign of God.

We should pay our taxes, show honor to the president, obey everything from the copyright laws to the speed limit, and always with a positive attitude as if we were obeying the Lord (think about that for a while), but when government says to do something opposite of the words of Jesus, we must disobey. In the midst of such a test, this same Peter said in Acts 5, "We must obey God rather than men! (v.29)

Christians will be to some, annoyingly respectful of authorities and laws, but at times regarded as unpatriotic and dangerous, and both of these because they live in a kingdom that is not of this world.

Focus Scriptures

Romans 12:18-13:2
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [2] Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Acts 4:17-20
17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Acts 5:27-29
Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!

Forward Thinking

All of us know much more about the past than we do about the future. When it comes to the future, we have plans, but the truth is we don’t know anything about what will happen. We don’t even know if we will be alive tomorrow.

Now when you know a lot about something and have many memories about it, and you know almost nothing about something else, you naturally focus on the things you know, be they good or bad. And likely, most of us even more naturally focus on the “bad”: disappointments and hurtful experiences.

But, God, as he often does, calls us to focus on something we do not naturally focus on. In this case, it is what lies ahead. God calls us to lay those past things aside and press on toward what lies ahead. This is a significant mind change.


But you may say “My problem is that I do focus on the future and worry about it.” Response? God doesn’t just call us to focus on the future, but to do it with the faith that he holds the future. There is one word for this: hope.


So you can focus on the past, hurts and all, and cook up a nasty stew. You can focus on the future with the eyes of an unbeliever and let worry eat you alive. Or you can look to the future with anticipation because of confidence in God.


We must decide how we want to live and choose our view.


Focus Scripture




Isaiah 43:18-19


"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
[19] See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.


Philip. 3:13-14


Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

In These Steps?

I preached yesterday on a familiar text in which Christians are called to follow in Jesus’ steps. Most believers know the passage, and it has given rise to such paraphernalia as the WWJD bracelets and tee shirts. Long before these, Charles Sheldon wrote a Christian classic with the title In His Steps.

What few seem to have taken the time to do is consider the context of the passage. It begins reminding believers that they are aliens and strangers in this world. They live by the principles of a kingdom that has come, but will come more fully. It calls them to an almost surprising course of action, and that is to demonstrate a great submissiveness to worldly kings, rulers and all those in authority.

On the one hand, Christians are citizens of heaven, and yet are called to submit to and obey the authorities that rule on earth. They are not to just do this legalistically but as part of a whole attitude of showing respect to everyone, loving the brotherhood and honoring the king (who, in the first century, just happened to be the infamous Nero). Peter even adds that slaves are to show this submissive spirit in relationship to harsh masters.

After praising those who will suffer unjustly because of their faith, often at the hands of these very government officials, he makes his famous statement: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). “To this”—obedience, submission, suffering, and non-retaliation—we are called, because we are conscious of God. Hardly what some wearers of WWJD apparel are thinking much about.Please think about this real “mind change”and let’s talk about it more next week.

Focus Scripture:

1 Peter 2:11-25

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22"He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth."
23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Free Door

Driving through a neighborhood of rundown houses this week, I saw a large pile of dirt near the curb in front of one home (which by the way was for rent). Mixed in with the dark clay, in rather bizarre fashion, were sofas, chairs, plumbing fixtures and miscellaneous items. But what really got my attention was that on the front of the pile facing the street was a shabby door with the words “free door” spray-painted on it. If you think I am making this up, I am posting the photo on our new blog site.

Now call me desperate for analogies if you like, but the moment I saw it, I thought of something I wanted to share with you. Sometimes our circumstances are a real mess—about as attractive as that pile I saw. Things appear to be chaotic or depressing. But right in the middle of it all God has posted a sign that says “free door.”

In my book, Mind Change, one of the key principles is that in every situation there is a right and spiritual way to think. That is another way of saying that whatever our circumstances, God always provides a “free door” that can be opened to lead us to a right and better way of thinking. In our most confusing and difficult moments we can find something God promised or something Jesus said , or just Jesus himself, who can take us through the difficulty. And it is free, a gift of his grace. Thanks be to God for free doors.

Focus Scripture


John 10:1-10 NKJV

1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Thinking Pro-Life

To live the kingdom life as a disciple of Jesus is to be pro-life. Now as soon as you hear those words, you probably think we are about to talk about one of the great social and political issues of our time (at least for Americans). Abortion is tragic and the cavalier attitude that many have about it is even more tragic, but that is not where we are going today.

Another issue is not often discussed, but killing your enemy is also tragic and a matter that Jesus addressed with some stunning words, but that is not our topic either.

When I say that those who live by the Spirit and not by the old nature must be pro-life, I am talking today about how our thinking must be life-affirming. In Romans 8 we read, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…” Romans 8:6 (NIV). The Spirit is clearly pro-life, but for some of us, too much of our thinking is life-denying.

· “I just don’t have what it takes.”
· “Relationships hurt too much.”
· “Just look at me. God could never use me.”
· “That happened? That’s a bummer.”
· “I am so stupid. I will just mess everything up.”
· “Something must be wrong with me. I just can’t have faith.”

Such words, when replayed over and over, suck the life out of us. We are using thought and energy to deny life.

But, thank God, a mind can be changed and life can be affirmed. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…”

Focus Scripture

Romans 8:5-16
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.    .

Real Power Needed

I recently heard someone who lives in Eastern Europe talk how our lives can become cold and lifeless. He described being in Moscow last winter when it was -38 degrees Celsius (which is -36 degrees Fahrenheit). In that severe condition his car had no life. The battery was stone cold dead.

He went on. Was the answer to give the car a new paint job? Perhaps cleaning all the trash out of the passenger compartment would help. Since he was in Russia, maybe the answer was to open the hood and pour a generous portion of Vodka on the engine. As creative as that sounds, it would not work. The only answer was to get the cold dead battery connected with a strong power source that could recharge it.

We don’t have to be mechanics to see that, but his point was that when it comes to our lives, we often try all the wrong things to get ourselves going. We think a new look will perk us up or that the answer is to get more organized. Our brain remembers a nice feeling we have after a glass of wine, and we decide that more of that will be good for us.

When the battery is dead, finding a friend or at least an auto service, raising the hood, putting on the jumper cables and connecting with a strong live battery may not sound so glamorous but it is the only answer. Like the car in Moscow, we will find no cosmetic or alcoholic solution when we are stalled. We need a connection with power. Openness with a friend, focus on Scripture and patient time in prayer brings the dead back to life.

Focus Scripture

Psalm 42:1-5

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
4These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

5Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.