Building vs. Vandalizing

“No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred - and you, remember, are the temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17 MSG)

We are called to be building partners with God. However, some of us inadvertently fall in with the wrong company. We follow worldly priorities--puffing up our own self-image, creating pedestals for our own egos. We end up destroying and vandalizing more than we ever build.

“The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 NLT)

When we participate in deception--of self or of others--we are partnering with evil. The thief’s purpose is to steal, destroy, vandalize, and kill. God’s purpose for us is completely different. When we align ourselves with the Lord, we become copartners in His abundant generosity--building lives of strength that last forever.

Building

“You are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you.”

(1 Corinthians 3:16 MSG)

We have some family friends who are home builders/general contractors. They built our home and live in the neighborhood. As they build each home, they imagine the family that will move in and live there. Each client is a potential friend and neighbor. Even though they have to hire subcontractors like electricians, plumbers, roofers, etc., to do specific jobs, they make sure that everything is done to their high standards. Their reputation and their business depend on the quality of their work.

Every life, our own as well as the lives of others, is a building project. We are building lives that house God’s Spirit. Today we are subcontractors. Every person we encounter becomes an opportunity to create a space for the Holy Spirit. The materials we use--words, facial expressions, actions, attitudes--all matter. We can’t use inferior materials or do shoddy work and ask God to move in.

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live among them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” (Revelations 21:3 NLT)

What is Important?

“It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:7 NLT)

I was recently at a wedding that was catered by a professional catering service. All the servers were dressed in black. Each of them seemed to have assigned functions--serving drinks, appetizers, main dishes, desserts, clearing plates, etc. They did their jobs efficiently, yet unobtrusively. Who did what didn’t matter. As long as everything went well, the caterer who hired the servers got the credit.

Similarly, we who are followers of Christ are called to serve without calling attention to ourselves. The Lord assigns specific roles to each of us. Who does what is not significant; what is important is how well the job is done. Seeking personal recognition and validation while serving the Lord distracts from the work. If everything is done well, God gets the credit; likewise, shoddy work by those who represent Christ can tarnish His reputation. Thus, let us work humbly, unobtrusively, and with one purpose--to bring glory and honor to God.

Infantile Spirituality

“As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way?” (1 Corinthians 3:3 MSG)

Spirituality that is consumer friendly is easier to sell. We are naturally drawn to feel-good religious services and ministries that make us look important. We seek self-improvement and self-promotion. As long as everything is going our way, we keep returning for more.

“The church that can't worship, must be entertained. And men who can't lead a church to worship, must provide the entertainment. That is why we have the great evangelical heresy here today--the heresy of religious entertainment!” (A.W. Tozer)

Churches have tapped into the business model of giving consumers what they want. In turn, parishioners support churches financially, leading to the growth of these organizations--but not necessarily the spiritual growth of their members. This is how we end up with megachurches that peddle infantile spirituality. They know how to cater to their customers--provide them with social groups of like-minded people and entertain them with a show every week.

Mature spirituality, on the other hand, doesn’t always feel good. Everything doesn’t always go our way. This level of faith is influenced more by our spiritual needs rather than by peer pressure, physical desires, materialism, or worldly priorities. Ministers seek to serve rather than be recognized. This is not consumer-friendly. The focus on spiritual growth outweighs publicity, fundraising, and adding new members. God is worshipped; self is not.

Eclipsed

“We have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV)

An eclipse happens when a moon or planet gets in the way of the sun’s light. During a solar eclipse, the moon gets in between the earth and the sun, casting a shadow over parts of the earth. The sun gets covered up. Darkness replaces light. Eclipses only happen when the sun, moon, and earth are aligned in a straight configuration. Astronomers call this a syzygy--which means conjoined or yoked together.

When our thoughts take precedence--when our mind gets in the way of the Son’s light--the result is darkness. When God’s Spirit and our spirit are conjoined, and we allow the mind of Christ to take over, light streams through. We can see things from a supernatural perspective. Our capacity for spiritual wisdom increases. Imitating Christ becomes a priority. God’s purpose eclipses our own agenda.

“May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and power controlling

All I do and say.”

(Hymn by Kate B. Wilkinson)

Deep Dive

“But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT)

Not everyone has the capacity for spiritual understanding. Worldly wisdom is like a general education class offered to all undergraduates; it’s not difficult to comprehend. Spiritual wisdom, on the other hand, is like a higher level class that requires some prerequisite knowledge and experience. To those who don’t have a firm grasp on faith, every lesson will sound confusing. The mystery of God is available to everyone, but not easily accessible by human means.

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10 BSB)

Like a bird that dives into the water to catch a fish, the Spirit dives deep into the soul. He uncovers the truth that is already embedded in the recesses of our minds and brings it to the surface. That is why truth resonates at a soul level; our spirit recognizes it instinctively. The mystery of God, even though intangible, invisible, and immeasurable, is thus revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

Trusting the Source

“You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor. You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use.” (Psalm 104:13-14 NLT)

When my life feels full--all my loved ones healthy, safe, and happy, my days busy with meaningful activities, plenty of food in the fridge, an orderly home, money in savings, peace with my neighbors, and no crises on the horizon--I feel a sense of assurance and satisfaction. I crave this. I strive and hope for this. I pray for this.

God sends the rain and the light that fill the earth with plants which feed every other living thing. All our provisions come from Him. Yet, we often place our confidence in the fullness of our supply rather than on the Supplier. When our health fails, finances run dry, friends leave, and chaos reigns--we no longer feel at peace. We find out that our faith relies heavily on our circumstances going smoothly.  

We need to place our trust in the Source, not in the resources. Our circumstances will always be fluid--like a stream, sometimes overflowing and sometimes dry. Any sense of security or insecurity based on what we have or lack is illusory. God is the only constant. He is stable and dependable. Everything else is transitory. Thus, our faith, our confidence, our trust must be built on Christ alone.

Responsive Faith

“Your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:5 MSG)

The nights are getting colder as winter approaches. Soon it will be time for me to bring the potted plants indoors. Since my home doesn’t have many sunny, south-facing windows, I keep my plants under a fluorescent lamp in my basement. Even though this is not an ideal situation, the plants survive. By late winter, the leaves become a pale green and the stems grow leggy. However, when I put them back outside in the spring, they thrive under the natural light. Leaning into the sun, the leaves turn dark green; new shoots appear, and buds turn into blooms.

Many of us attempt to cultivate a life of faith under our own power. We imagine that our ability to influence others can lead them to Christ. While it is true that we can have some effect on those around us, it is significantly less than the potency of the Holy Spirit. Whatever we have to offer is as efficacious as indoor lighting on house plants--better than darkness, but nothing in comparison to real light.  The life of faith is a response to God’s power, not a result of human emotion, influence, intellect, or articulation.  When we are exposed to the Son, when we lean into His light, our faith puts out new shoots, buds, blooms--growing, thriving, and propagating beyond human comprehension.

Unlikely Prophets

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” (1 Corinthians 1:26 NIV)

Why does God use the most unlikely people to represent Him?

There once was a high school basketball coach who trained a team that won the state championship. One of her players was the daughter of an NBA player. She was over six feet tall, genetically athletic, and had an aura of someone who was born for greatness.  Not every player on the team came from a similar background. One of the players started out with minimal skills--she was short and could barely dribble a ball or make a free throw. However, under this coach’s tutelage, the unathletic, short girl also became a proficient player. At the state championship, the tall player did well as was expected. Everyone attributed her success to her lineage and natural abilities. The short player scored only one free throw, but it was a crucial one at the end of the game. There was no doubt that a large part of the credit belonged to her coach.

The Lord chooses the most unexpected people to represent Him for similar reasons. A person from an influential family, with inborn talent and mesmerizing charisma, may seem like an ideal representative for Christ. However, it’s difficult to discern where her natural abilities end and God’s supernatural power starts. On the other hand, a low-profile disciple, trained by the Holy Spirit, is more likely to draw attention to God. There will be no doubt that God is working through her, because she obviously has very little to offer on her own.

“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 NLT)

Prophets and Artists

“Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple...She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God. (Luke 2:36-38 NLT)

Louie Schwartzberg is a photographer who is known for his time-lapse videos of nature. He pays attention to things that often go unnoticed--the daily life of bees, a blooming flower, the changing sky. Louie condenses months of work into a few seconds of footage. This requires immense patience and commitment. He points out the marvelous wonders in our midst. His art reveals the glory of God.

Anna was a prophet who lived during the time of Jesus. She spent a lifetime fasting, praying, and worshiping God. Then she condensed  years of devotion and contemplation into a few minutes of insight. She praised God and shared what she knew to be true. She pointed out Jesus to everyone who was waiting expectantly for the Messiah. She revealed the glory of God.

Artists and prophets have a lot in common. They take their burdens and struggles and use them to dig deeper. They pay attention, process, and record. They present what they see, hear, and feel in ways we can understand. They point out what the rest of us often overlook. They stir up the spirit within us. They reveal the glory of God.

Followers

“God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center - Christ on the Cross - be trivialized into mere words.” (1 Corinthians 1:17 MSG)

Celebrities often measure their popularity by the number of Instagram or Twitter followers they have. They use self-promotion to drive more traffic to their site and gain more followers. In the current climate, your social media presence is directly linked to your influence and success. Thus, collecting a following for yourself is strongly encouraged.

The current trend toward self-promotion is the antithesis of what Scripture teaches. We are not here to promote ourselves. Christ is not a supporting character, sidekick, or wingman to us or any other human. The cross is not a prop. We are not the central figure in this story. As Christ followers, we are not sent out to collect admirers, donors, supporters, or followers for ourselves. Instead, we are to teach the message of what God has done--collecting a following for Him. We are to show our faith by the way we live. We are not to use fancy rhetoric, but always keep Christ’s sacrificial love at the center. Human wisdom is hollow next to what God has to offer. Any time we spotlight our talents or ability, the message of the cross becomes marginalized. Thus, let us keep Christ at center stage, focusing all our energy into following Him and showing others how to do the same.

Love Languages

“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5 NLT)

Our neighborhood Bible study attendees come from various denominational backgrounds--Methodists, Baptists, Evangelicals, and Catholics. The churches we belong to have many theological and ritualistic differences. However, our group tries to focus on commonalities. We can all agree on some things:

-God loves us unconditionally.

-Christ represents God’s sacrificial love.

-We are called to imitate Christ by loving and serving God and others.

In his bestselling book, The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman describes the various ways we show and receive love. Even though each of us has unique love languages, we can learn to express and understand love in all its multitudinous forms.

Most denominational differences can be boiled down to how we express our love to God and others.  We may all have different love languages, traditions, and rituals--but at the core we all have One thing in common: God’s Love.

Divisive Christianity

“Has Christ been divided into factions?” (1 Corinthians 1:13 NLT)

12/2 =6, 6/3 =2

12 x 2 =24, 24 x 3 =72

Division is diminishing. Multiplication is expansive.

Every day we have the opportunity to influence others by the way we live. We can choose to sow dissension or commonality. We are called to multiply faith, not to be divisive. If each of us guides even two others to God, we have increased faith. In turn, if those that we influence share their experience, hope multiplies exponentially. Like a speck of yeast in bread, we spread and rise--feeding the world the body of Christ.

Private Pacer

“God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track.” (1 Corinthians 1:8 MSG)

I met Kathy during a group run in our area. She is half my age and twice as fast. She runs like a gazelle, her long legs easily leaping over the miles. She is one of those runners whom I may see at the start and end of a race, but rarely during the in-between miles. That is why I was surprised to see her half-way through a recent long-distance race. She looked like she was running in place, her legs intentionally taking the smallest steps possible. She was acting as a private pacer for a friend who was new to endurance running. Kathy kept a steady pace and conversation going. She stopped when her friend needed water and slowed down when her friend needed to catch her breath. It was a beautiful sacrifice.

I can sometimes sense God’s Spirit alongside me, acting as my private pacer. My pace is so slow; I wonder why He bothers with me at all. Yet, He  consistently keeps me steady and on track. He talks me through the rough parts, encourages me when I am tired, slows down when I need to, and stops when I need refreshment. This sacrificial relationship is very lopsided. My role is minimal. All I have to do is listen carefully to the directions and not give up.

Christ Verified

“The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.” (1 Corinthians 1:6 MSG)

Many people create fake social media accounts impersonating public figures or celebrities. In order to prevent misrepresentation, Instagram allows high profile users to request verification badges. They have to send in evidence that proves they really are who they claim to be. The goal is to confirm that the account is the authentic presence of the public figure it represents.

What if those who claim to be Christians had to confirm their identity?

How is the evidence of Christ clearly verified in your life?

We all have free and open access to God through Jesus. This has enabled us to be and do things that are beyond our limited powers. All of us have had miraculous manifestations of God’s presence in our lives and our surroundings, whether we have noticed or not. In addition, many of us have experienced inexplicable changes within us that can be attributed to the influence of Christ. Yet, unless we submit completely to God, we cannot represent Him fully. As long as we remain Christians in name only, we are merely impersonators. We are invited to be legitimate sons and daughters of the Father. Our choices, our attitude, and our behavior must reflect this calling.  The evidence of Christ must be clearly verified in the way we live.

Security Blankets

“For the LORD is your security.” (Proverbs 3:26 MSG)

It is natural for young children to be attached to certain objects that bring them comfort and make them feel secure. A favorite stuffed animal or blanket can be soothing during transitional times. However, as the child grows up, he realizes that these objects don’t provide any real safety. Thus, he abandons his baby blanket and seeks security and comfort in relationships, pets, wealth, jobs, familiar routines, health, homes, and a myriad of other sources. In time, he realizes that all of these things he relied on only provided a false sense of security.

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1 BSB)

Everything that provides safety for us on this earth is transitory. We may feel secure in the relationships we have built and the accomplishments we have labored over. Yet, this too is merely an illusion.  Life is like a tent that can be dismantled easily. Nothing made by human hands is everlasting. Providentially, we have eternal security in God. When our confidence is grounded in Him, we remain calm even in the face of calamities. We are fearless in danger, unafraid of evil, and stable in distress. For we know that the ONE we depend on is dependable.

Praying the Solution

“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.” (Psalm 17:6 NLT)

Making yeast bread from scratch takes a lot of effort--measuring, mixing, kneading, waiting for the dough to rise, shaping the dough, waiting some more, baking, and cleaning up the mess--the process is time consuming. The best part of bread making is after all the working and waiting is over, when you get to taste the bread. When you first start baking bread, you aren’t sure how it will turn out. It’s easy to get caught up in the labor and the mess instead of focusing on the results.  

Prayer is a lot like baking bread. It requires work and waiting.  If you get bogged down by the initial process, it can be disconcerting. Most of us get mired in our problems when praying. We repeatedly present our worries, frustrations, and fears to God. We get tired and discouraged in the waiting. We get stuck in the worry phase, kneading and pounding, instead of focusing on the end product.

There is a better way: Pray for the solution instead of the problem. Be confident in the Lord. Trust Him. Look forward to the taste and feel of what He is about to do. Be thankful in advance. Believe that God is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or imagine.

Cleaned and Set Apart

“I send this letter to you in God's church at Corinth, Christians cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life.” (1 Corinthians 1:2 MSG)

One of my cousins sent me a picture of his ‘prayer closet’--the space under the stairs of his home. It was being used as a storage space for odds and ends, but he cleaned it up and set it apart as space solely for prayer. He has several rooms in his home that he could pray in, but those rooms also served other purposes. Some spaces like the dining room and living room were too open. He wanted a room that was private--a dedicated space for prayer and adoration. He says it’s his favorite area in his home now.

I really liked my cousin’s idea of a prayer closet and immediately tried to copy it in my own home. However, I kept encountering issues: some closets were too small; others had no light or electric sockets. Finally, I settled on the room adjacent to our detached garage. It takes a bit of planning to carry my books and supplies over there, but it is private and quiet. I am able to focus on prayer and contemplation. I’ve also discovered solitary runs in nature and solo drives in my car are opportune spaces for prayer.

Jesus is looking for spaces to meet with each of us privately. This can be physical nooks or the recesses of our souls.  He looks at our cluttered minds filled with distractions. He wishes to clean us up and set us apart for a God-filled life. Our part is to submit to the cleansing. First, we have to remove ourselves from the external distractions. Then, we must shush our own internal dialogue, so we can be attentive to the Spirit. The Lord is eager to commune with us. He waits on us to make the time and space.

“When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.” (Matthew 6:6 NLT)

Lesson Plans

“The LORD God gives me the right words to encourage the weary. Each morning he awakens me eager to learn his teaching.” (Isaiah 50:4 CEV)

I am an assistant coach for an after-school running program for boys. The head coach brings me the lesson plans a few days before each scheduled session. Some days, I get so busy with other activities that I hardly have time to even look over the lesson before I show up for practice. I know I can count on the head coach to bring all the supplies and have everything organized ahead of time. On the days when I actually study the lesson plan, I feel more useful. I am able to fulfill my purpose as his assistant much better when I know what I am supposed to do.

Similarly, the Lord has called me to be His assistant. He shares His lesson plan with me early each morning. Some days I wake up and listen--unless I choose to sleep in or get distracted by other things. I know I can count on the Lord to supply everything. He doesn’t need me. However, on the days I study and prepare, I am more useful. The Lord gives me the right words to encourage the disheartened, to comfort the hurting, and to give clarity to the confused.  It is up to me to be attentive and studious, to take the time to internalize the lessons so I can be an effective assistant.

“The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.” (Isaiah 50:5 NIV)

Guided by Trust

“Our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 GWT)

Experienced runners know that recruiting the right muscles can enhance performance. Proper form and intentional focus is essential. This can be difficult, especially after fatigue sets in. If one muscle in your body is weak, and you compensate by overusing another muscle in its stead--this can lead to injury.

Similarly, when trust is weak, we tend to operate by our feelings. This can lead to all sorts of trouble. Fear and anxiety can be severely limiting. Anger and suspicion can lead to injured relationships. Choices made during times of grief can be unwise. Intentionally recruiting trust muscles requires focus.  As we move forward, we must learn to be guided by faith and not by our emotions--allowing God to do a greater work in us and through us.

The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things. (John 14:12 MSG)

Good Character

“So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.” (1 Peter 1:5-7 MSG)

Charles was the star baseball player at our high school. He was handsome, popular, and admired by everyone. He went on to play baseball for several major league teams. He was, and still is, the most well-known graduate from our high school. Because Charles was a ‘celebrity,’ much of his life was on public display. Over the last few decades, he has been charged with domestic violence against two ex-wives and doping with performance-enhancing drugs. In comparison, I have another classmate who has led a low-profile life. Over the last few decades, she has walked with God--nurturing and encouraging others to walk in the light. Her life goes largely unnoticed, but it is still noteworthy.

When I was younger, I thought that having a great life meant making a mark on this world and creating a name for yourself. Now I realize that it isn’t one’s circumstances, talents, accomplishments, wealth, or fame that defines success. Instead, becoming a person of good character is what really counts. This involves developing understanding, discipline, patience, reverence, empathy, and generosity. Be helpful, not harmful. Build up others rather than puff up your own ego. Contribute more than you deduct from the world. Your life may go largely unnoticed, yet, it remains noteworthy.

System Update

“Even though you're up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I'm not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. This is the post to which I've been assigned - keeping you alert with frequent reminders - and I'm sticking to it as long as I live.” (2 Peter 1:12-13 MSG)

My computer was stuck on the same screen for hours. It displayed the following message: “Please wait while we install a system update.” There was no progress bar showing what percentage of the update had happened or how much longer it would take. I felt impatient just sitting there watching the continuously spinning wheel. Eventually, the computer finished updating. Unseen things were happening behind the screen while I was waiting. I didn’t notice the changes until after I rebooted the computer. Even though it took much longer than expected, the laptop ran more efficiently after the updates.

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a rut, spinning your wheels with no progress in sight? Waiting can feel tiresome, especially when we don’t know how long or why we are in a holding pattern. Yet, like scheduled system updates on a computer, God-ordained phases of dormancy can be transformative. Unseen things happen behind the scenes. We are enlarged in the waiting--infused with renewed perspective, increased patience, restored trust, and expanded faith. When we are updated in truth, we are better able to practice it inside and out. Frequent reminders keep us alert to our need for continual communion and restoration. God works in us and through us making us ready for what we are assigned to do.

Underlining

“So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It's not criticism. I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me.” (Romans 15:15 MSG)

I often buy used books that previous readers have underlined. I like to know what other readers found interesting. Underlining and highlighting usually mean a reader has studied the text, not just skimmed over parts of it. When you underline a word or sentence, you are emphasizing that it is important. This is not a form of criticism but of affirmation.

As we go through each day, we have opportunities to underline truths that we find relevant. This has two functions: it reminds us that something is worth remembering, and it causes others to pay attention. There are many ways of emphasizing what is important--vocal repetition, writing, or any form of communication can highlight a point. Our daily choices and behavior can also underline our core beliefs. For example, if we believe that honesty is important, we can underscore this truth by reiterating it vocally, writing it down for ourselves and others, and being honest in speech and action. Highlighting the principle of honesty does not have to be a criticism of anyone. It can merely be an affirmation of something you find worthy of attention. However, if our behavior displays a lack of honesty, that is also something worth noting. Repetitive patterns in our speech and actions, whether positive or negative, underscore what we believe to be important. Thus, let us use our lives to highlight what is good, noble, and true.